Shadow Men – 63 – Anders and Grant

Back to a motorcycle again, Grant decided late the next morning when he heard one pull up outside the house. Anders had disappeared an hour earlier, saying he had an errand to run and taking Corrie with him. Now he knew why.

He himself had spent the morning with Nicky as planned. His son had insisted that he meet Rafe now that he was awake and aware, taking his hand to try and tug him toward the stairs when Grant had protested the man probably wasn't ready for company yet.

"He is, Daddy. Honest." Nicky tugged harder and Grant relented.

Steele was seated in a chair beside Rafe when they got to the basement room, deep in conversation with him from the look of it. Grant turned to leave when Rafe said, his voice hoarse, "Stay. You have to be the Grant that Steele keeps talking about." He grinned. "I think I'm jealous."

Steele snorted. "As if."

"Hey, I can be jealous if I want to be. But I don't." He held out his free hand. The other one, which still had an intravenous needle in it, was firmly if gently in Steele's grasp.

Grant crossed to shake it. "I'm glad to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"All bad, I hope." Rafe winked then said conspiratorially, "So tell me what really happened in New York. Steele made it sound like it was a walk in the park." Then he must have realized Nicky was right there because he added, "If so, you must have tripped over a rock." He tapped Grant's cast.

Grant chuckled. "Let's just say there was a park involved and leave it at that for the moment."

"All right, though I want the full story as soon as someone," he turned a mock glare on Steele, "believes I'm really able to handle things again."

"Soon, Rafe, soon." Steele leaned in to kiss his temple even though it was still wrapped in bandages.

"See," Rafe grumbled. "He's even afraid to give me a real kiss."

Nicky shook his head. "Nuh uh, I saw him kiss you."

"Spying on us, kid?" Rafe asked in amusement.

Nicky scrubbed the toe of his shoe on the floor. "I just wanted to say morning and the door was open but…"

"We were busy. Got it."

Rafe's eyes started to close and Grant realized that despite the fact that he was now out of his coma he was still very weak. "We should go and let him rest."

Steele smiled in appreciation. "We'll see you when you get back."

Grant winced. He hadn't told Nicky he was leaving again. "Definitely," he replied as he turned his son toward the door. Steele mouthed "Sorry" and Grant shrugged. "It was next on the agenda."

Which it was.

When they got upstairs Nicky stopped to look up at Grant. "Where you going?"

"Somewhere with Anders, but it won't take too long, maybe a couple of days."

"Oh." Nicky's mouth drooped sadly.

"Hey, you have everyone here. They'll keep you so busy you won't even know I'm gone."

"Will too." Then Nicky brightened a bit. "Can we go home when you come back?"

"That's the plan."

"And Anders can come too?"

Oh boy. "He's my friend so he might visit, sure. I bet everyone will when they can."

"Okay." Nicky grabbed Grant's hand. "Come on, see what I found outside."

Grant sighed in relief as he followed Nicky. Hopefully his son now got the idea that that was all Anders was—a friend.