Free The Protector by Dawn Marie Snyder Page B

move.  A million thoughts raced through my head as the reality of it all came crashing down.  I was in DC not of my own free will but because I had to be.  I had information that was valuable to another government and someone was chasing me. For a strange moment I felt like a character out of a Tom Clancy novel and Jack was my own personal Jack Ryan.
    The dizziness finally subsided and I slowly walked down the stairs. I could hear more voices besides Seth’s and Mrs. Walkers in the kitchen. I recognized one of them as the man who had met us at the airport. I had decided earlier that I was going to hand off the processor to whoever came with me back to Albuquerque and get on with my life. I would count this as one of those only happens to one in a million people types of things.
    I had almost reached the last step when the dizziness and tightening in my chest returned with a vengeance. My body began to sway and the steps began to move as if I was drunk. I didn’t hear Jack as he came down the stairs behind me.  As I tried desperately to take the last few steps, I felt his strong arms circle my waist.  He pulled me tight against his chest and held me firm as I took the last step down.
    “You alright?”
    I was able to catch my breath as he eased his grip leaving only one of his arms around my waist and the other now held my elbow.  “I’m ok.” I managed to spit out.  I didn’t try to walk forward and I didn’t try to sit down on the steps that were behind us. Instead I stood there cradled in his arm, catching my breath.  “Just dizzy.”
    “I have that effect on women.” Jack managed to say with half a smile.  I was pretty sure I wasn’t the first woman to fall victim to his good looks and sadly enough I figured I wouldn’t be the last.  I managed to pull myself upright. He let the arm around my waist go, but he still held on to my elbow. 
    “I’m ok. I think too much excitement and not enough air in the lungs.”  I managed to take another deep breath which stopped some of the burning. Although I knew I wasn’t having another asthma attack, I desperately wanted my inhaler which was still up in the room I had stayed in.  Another thought hit me as I realized my inhaler was almost if not already empty.  I felt my shoulders fall forward and Jack was quick to throw his arm around me once again for support. 
    “Conway is supposed to bring you a new inhaler this morning. I noticed yours was almost empty.”  It was as if he could read my mind.  And he suddenly had this all-encompassing protective nature about him. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
    Seth came around the corner and practically ran into us.  “I was just coming up to get you.”  He saw the look on my face and looked back at Jack.  Again their communication was unspoken and within seconds I could feel Jack’s arms leading me into the kitchen.  At the table in the brightly lit kitchen sat Conway shuffling through papers.  Mrs. Walker was finishing up breakfast and smiled brightly at me.  I had to remember to thank her for everything. Despite what was happening she managed to make me feel at home. I could see why Jack looked at her in pure admiration. 
    Jack didn’t say a word but instead guided me to a seat at the table and immediately took the seat next to me. He didn’t take his eyes off Conway’s, “Let’s get this over with. We have a plane to catch.” 
    A sense of relief washed over me as he said probably the most comforting words I had heard in the last few days. This had to mean I was going to get to go home.  But a fresh wave of panic and questions came over me as I realized that would be the end of the road with Jack. Would I see him ever again?  Mrs. Walker put a cup of coffee down in front of me and a piece of toast and brought me back to reality.
    “I want you to eat something Alison.” I watched as she put a bowl of oatmeal down in front of Jack. “Thank you,” we both managed to spit out in unison.