Tattooed Dreams....

Kali's mom was furious with her daughter. She was angry that her daughter didn't believe that she had slept with Kane, and she was angry that Kali blamed her mother for everything that had gone wrong in her life. It was no one's fault but her own. By the time Kali's mother arrived home late that night, she had made some decisions. She was going to permanently wash her hands of her daughter. She was going to see to it that Kali and Kane paid….the ultimate price. She was going to do what she should have done a long time ago.

***************

Kane stayed in the living room drinking a cup of coffee while Kali showered and went on to bed. What was supposed to be a night of heaven, had turned out to be a night of pure hell. Kane didn't like the terrible look of fear in Kali's eyes, or the way that her hands constantly trembled since their earlier discussion. Finally Kane got up and after checking on CJ, he went into Kali's room.

His heart broke when he saw her tossing and turning about in her sleep, obviously in the grip of some disturbing dream. Lying down beside her, Kane pulled Kali into his arms. Immediately she stopped tossing and her breathing became steady and even. Kane leaned forward and softly kissed her lips. Slowly Kali came awake and began to respond with passion and fire that instantly inflamed Kane. Kali's arms went around him, feeling all the love and warmth Kane possessed in his body. The two became lost in each other, momentarily forgetting the last few nightmarish hours. With all the love he felt for her, Kane rolled Kali over on her back and tenderly made love to her. Tears filled each of their eyes as their desires were fulfilled time and time again. Afterwards, they held each other close and fell peacefully asleep.

Kane and Kali wok up early the next morning, and after barely touching her breakfast, Kali went to wake up CJ. Kane showered while Kali fed and got CJ dressed. Then Kali showered while Kane took care of the baby. When she was done, the three of them left, arriving at the courthouse a short time later. After filling out the necessary papers, and paying a small fee, they were married. As they drove back to Kali's apartment afterwards, Kane and Kali discussed several things. Kali felt that it was very important that CJ stay with Taker for a few days and she intended to call him as soon as they got back home. Kane promised Kali that they would have a real wedding in a few weeks, but Kali wasn't concerned with that. She still felt certain doom hanging over them like a thick cloud of fog and she wasn't even sure they would still be around in a few weeks. Sighing heavily, Kali turned to Kane and told him how much she loved him…She wanted to make sure he knew that. Kane looked back over at his wife and found the look in her eyes very unsettling.

"What is it, Kal? What has you so worried?" Kane asked as he reached over and gently touched her cheek and then took her trembling hand into his own.

Kali was silent for a few moments, and when she did finally speak, her voice was quiet and strained. "Kane, if you think some of the stuff I did was bad, the things parents have done, or will do are ten times as bad. They know people….bad people, and they have the money to buy these people….if you know what I mean. My parents…or maybe more specifically, my mother, are going to do something to harm either you or I, or both of us. I don't know when or what, but my gut feeling tells me it will happen." Kali finished as she turned and looked back at CJ. She saw that the little boy had fallen asleep and her heart once again swelled with love for him.

Kane didn't say anything the rest of the way home. He was thinking about what Kali had told him about her parents. He had to figure out some way to stop what Kali was so sure that was going to happen. When they arrived back at the apartment, Kane carefully took CJ from his car seat. CJ awoke briefly and looked up at Kane. "Daddy!" CJ said softly and put his arms around Kane's neck. Then laying his head back on Kane's shoulder, he fell right back to sleep. Kane looked over at Kali and said, "He called me daddy again." Kane's eyes became damp as he looked down at the child that he had come to love as his own.

"Well, I've tried to teach him that Taker is the one who is his father, but he just will not accept it." Kali told him. She too was baffled by CJ's insistence to call Kane daddy.

When they got inside, Kane laid CJ down in his crib while Kali went to the phone to call Taker. "Hello?" Taker said, answering the phone in a rather grumpy tone. Kali looked up at the clock and saw that it wasn't quite noon and she had probably woke him up.

"Taker, I need a favor from you. I need for you to take CJ for a couple of days." Kali said softly, glancing up at Kane when he walked into the room and wrapped his arms around her.

There were a few moments of silence and then a heavy sigh from Taker. "Kali, I'm sorry, I can't. Judy is here for the week and I really need to have this time to spend with her. Please understand…any other time I would gladly take him."

"Taker, please! You know I wouldn't ask you, but it's very important that CJ isn't here over the next few days!" Kali said, pleading with the man.

Taker heard the urgency in her voice and suddenly changed his mind. "Alright, I'll pick him up tomorrow morning."

Kali thanked him and after asking what time to expect him, she hung up the phone.

***************

Kali's mother hung up the phone, a satisfied smile on her lips. All of the plans had been finalized. She had just hired a hitman who came highly recommended on the streets. She would be meeting him in a half hour to pay him the first installment of ten thousand dollars, and would pay him the second half after the hit had been made and Kali's son was brought to her unharmed. By the time tomorrow morning came around, her daughter would be gone forever and she couldn't have been more happy.

***************

Kane and Kali went to bed that night, unknowing of the danger that was headed their way. They passionately made love before falling into a deep sleep. They slept so sound, neither one of them never even heard the man that had been hired to take the two of them out. He expertly broke into the apartment, and walked down the short hallway to the bedroom where the two were sleeping. With a smile of pure evil on his face, he raised the gun that he held in his hand and shot the two sleeping people. Still smiling, he quickly located the baby that he was to bring back to the woman who hired him and then left the apartment.

***************

When Judy and Taker arrived at Kali's apartment the next morning, Judy couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The feeling became even stronger when she saw the door leading to the apartment standing slightly open. Judy knew that Kali had atleast three different locks on that door and she always kept it locked. Walking slowly in, Judy and Taker were further surprised at the silence in the apartment. Both of their cars were in the parking lot, so they knew that Kane or Kali couldn't have gone anywhere. And what about CJ? Taker knew he was always up at the crack of dawn, full of energy and ready to go.

"Do you think they're still sleeping?" Taker asked softly, trying to hide the fear he felt from Judy.

"I'll go check!" Judy replied as she quickly walked towards the bedroom. Moments later, her horrified scream filled the entire apartment.

Taker covered the short distance quickly. A low moan escaped his throat when he saw what had led to Judy's horrific scream. Kane and Kali lay there….both of them a bloody mess and both of them barely hanging on to their lives. And to top it all off, CJ was no where to be found.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter Thirty-Six~~~Judy

Taker carried Judy back into the living room, sitting her down on the sofa, warning her not to touch anything. Using his cell phone, he dialed 9-1-1 requesting ambulances and the police. Throwing a glance in Judy's direction, Taker looked all over the apartment for his son, but CJ wasn't there. Going back into Kali's bedroom, he checked for a pulse in the couple lying on the bed. Both were weak and thready.

Going back into the living room, he sat down next to Judy, pulling her against him. Tears ran freely down her face, and she couldn't stop shaking. Outside the sirens were rapidly approaching. The police was just entering the apartment as the paramedics worked with the couple, preparing to transport them to the trauma center.

*******

At the same time Taker and Judy were talking to the police detective, Kali's mother was meeting the man she hired to do the job. The little boy was terrified of the strangers! The woman gave the balance owed to him, then took the child and went back to her car. CJ started crying, calling for his mother and daddy.

******

The detective seemed concerned about the missing child. Taker had given him a photo of CJ and told him why Judy and him had showed up here today.

"Do the couple have any other family?" He asked, eyeing the huge man in front of him.

"Her parents live in Wisconsin, his parents are deceased. That's all the family I know of." Taker's voice was strained. Where was his son? "If you're finished with us, we'd like to go to the hospital!"

"That's fine! Where are you staying?" The detective asked.

"We don't have a room. We just came straight from the airport. I'm not going anywhere until I know where my son is!" Taker said, as Judy and he turned to leave the apartment.

Within minutes, they arrived at the hospital and went inside the emergency room. They were told to have a seat till someone came out to talk to them. After what seemed like hours, a doctor came out to tell them about their friends.

"They have been carried up to surgery. They are lucky to be alive! She has a bullet lodged very near her heart. She also has a crease along her left temple, indicating a botched head shot. He is in much the same condition. But in his case, the head shot left a deep laceration in his right cheek. The bullet in his chest passed through his lung. Both will be extremely lucky to make it through the surgery. They both have lost massive amounts of blood. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm needed in surgery! There's a waiting room on the third floor, if you'd like to wait there!" Then turned and rushed off.

Judy was as white as a sheet as she stared after the doctor dry eyed. Taker was greatly disturbed. He was not only worried about the condition of his friends, but disturbed over the absence of his son! Silently, the couple went upstairs to the waiting room. Several hours passed before they heard anything else on the condition of their friends.

Judy disappeared for about half an hour. Taker was beginning to wonder where she had gone off to. She had merely placed a few calls and found out the necessary information. Taking a seat next to her man, she appeared calmer, more at ease! Taker looked at her suspiciously.

"What have you been up to?" He asked, watching her closely, brows drawn together in a frown.

"I made a few calls! Has the doctor come out yet?" She asked softly, an all too innocent look on her face.

"NO! Who did you call?" He asked, not to be put off by her innocent expression! She was up to something, he'd bet on it.

"Well, Kali had a guest two nights ago! Her mother decided to pay her an unexpected visit. Several hours before Kane arrived. Then yesterday morning around 10:00am, she and Kane went to the courthouse and got married. She must have called you right after they got back to her apartment." She watched him intently, as he considered this information.

"She wanted me to take CJ. There was a sense of urgency in her voice, when I told her that I couldn't take him right now! She must have suspected something! But who could have done this thing? Who would have wanted her and Kane dead?"

Taker's eyes filled with tears of regret that he hadn't caught an earlier flight. Maybe then, CJ would be with him, rather than where ever he was now. Maybe then, Kali and Kane wouldn't be hanging on to life by a thread! A cold, all consuming rage filled his huge body! He couldn't wait to get his hands on who ever did this thing.

Judy had also called her cousin, Jake. She had given him the same information she'd shared with Taker. But she had also told him to check out Kali's mother. Judy's instincts told her that woman had something to do with this! That she had Kali's son! If she did, Jake would get him back. CJ took up with Jake that morning they all had breakfast together, the morning she introduced Kali to her cousin.

Jake would fly to Wisconsin with Gray Wolf, that very day! Gray Wolf was schooled in the old ways. Judy warned him to be careful. She told him she had a bad feeling about all this. Jake told her he would be very careful. "We will be in and out with no one the wiser!"

She had not told him to take any unnecessary risks, "But if you can get the child out of there, then please do so!"

Kali and Kane had spent seven hours in surgery. They were both taken to intensive care, and placed in the same room. Judy and Taker were allowed to spend a few minutes with them, but no longer. Kali had managed to tell them to look for her mother.

"Be careful. She's dangerous!" She said weakly, then drifted off as the drugs took over.

Taker gave the nurses his cell phone number and asked that they call as soon as there was any change! The nurse assigned to their care promised to do so. Taker and Judy left the hospital and took a room at a hotel near by.

The big man called the detective, letting him know where they would be! Next Judy called Jake on his phone. She told him what Kali said.

"I'm at the airport now! Our flight is scheduled to arrive at four this afternoon. My information says she has "connections" if you know what I mean! Cousin, you be careful! Is the big one with you?" Jake asked, concerned for her safety.

"Yes, he's here, why?" Judy looked over at Taker, wondering why Jake was asking.

"Let me speak to him!" Jake said casually.

Handing the phone to Taker, she shrugged her shoulders when Taker looked at her curiously.

"Hello!" Taker said, as he took the phone.

"This is Jake! You watch your back, and look out for Judy. From what I've been told, this was a professional hit! Do you understand what I'm telling you?" Jake asked, deadly serious.

Shocked silent again, Taker wondered what the hell they had gotten mixed up in.

"I'll return your son to you! Judy will know where to pick him up! And if you have a pistol, keep it close!" Jake quietly warned the big man.

"I understand completely! Do you have my number?" Then gave it to him anyway. "Call me when you have him safe!"

Judy suspected Jake had told Taker to look out for her. She hadn't told him, but she never traveled anywhere without her Glock! The pistol was packed away in her bag. If need be, she would use it! She had a bad feeling about all of this.

They went back to the hospital several hours later. There was no change in either one of them. Taker and Judy stayed as long as they were allowed to, then went back to the hotel. Taker once again called the detective to see if there were any leads. Unfortunately there weren't.

"It was a clean entry! No finger prints anywhere. Two shots each, one to the head and one to the chest! He must have been in a hurry, because the shots were sloppy! But this has all the earmarks of a professional hit." He fell silent momentarily, then asked the question that was most bothering him. "This couple had just got married. Then that same night, someone attempted to kill them both! Do you have any idea who might have wanted them dead?" The detective asked.

Glancing over at Judy, he wondered what to tell the man! "NO! But let me get back to you!" Then hung up the phone. "Judy, we need to tell him what we know! Maybe he can help in this! Do you know Kali's mother's name?" He watched her closely.

"No! I don't! I'm assuming the police have already gone through her personal effects at her apartment." She was being absolutely honest with him. "I don't even know where she from! Jake knows some people that know things! That's why I called him. Besides, he's the only one I know that could get your son back! CJ met him once, and seemed fascinated by him, so I thought he would go with Jake willingly! If anyone can get your son back, Jake can! And he'll protect the child with his life!" She thought a moment, then added. "He has Gray Wolf with him. That man can track the flight pattern of a bird in a wind storm. Together, those two should have your son back by this time tomorrow. Oh, one thing you should know! Gray Wolf is a mystic. He knows things and can do things, that no one would ever believe possible! Your son will be found and will be safe with them!" Judy reassured the big man.

Taker bowed his head, feeling completely useless! What could he do? Suddenly an idea occurred to him! Reaching for his phone, he called the detective that had found Judy. Explaining what he wanted, the man assured him, he would have some information for him in a day or so.

"One thing! Do not approach this woman or try to rescue my son! Someone else is already on that! All I want is as much detailed information as you can get on Kali's family without arousing any suspicion, or drawing attention to yourself!" Taker instructed the man.

"You got it!" Then the man hung up.

"Judy we need to tell the detective what we know!" Taker suggested quietly.

"We will, but lets wait till tomorrow. That way Jake will have a chance to check things out!" She said thoughtfully, lifting her eyes to meet his worried green gaze

Taking her in his arms, the big man carried her over to the bed, then lay down with her. He held her close, taking comfort in her nearness, not wanting anything more than to hold her. She felt his big body tremble. Her heart went out to him. She lay there, her arms wrapped tightly around him, giving him what comfort she could. Gradually his slow even breathing told her he was asleep.

Slowly, carefully, she eased out of bed and took her pistol out of her bag. If Kali's mother knew about the baby, then it was safe to say, she knew about Taker! And he could be in danger as well! Taking a minute to double check the door, she went into the bathroom checking that window as well. Satisfied at last, she lay back down next to the big man. Alert and wide awake for what ever might come, the pistol lay at her side, just in case.

********

Jake had no trouble finding the house. It was a two story brick with a huge back yard. He saw the swingset in the backyard. It looked new. Squatting down beside a tree, across the street from the house, Jake's keen eyes took in every aspect of the dwelling. They would come back during the darkest part of the night. He had seen a woman arrive a short while ago, carrying Kali's son. The boy didn't look at all happy!

Dark came early, yet Jake waited till well after midnight to go back to the house. Gray Wolf had some thing he had to do to guarantee the success of this endeavor, and for their own protection. Silently, they made their way inside. Luckily for them, there was no security alarm. Evidently the owner of this house thought their name alone would protect them. Quietly, the two men made their way up to the second floor in the dark house. The child would be up there.

Gray Wolf stopped in front of one of the doors. Jake watched as he mouthed some words in the old language, then made a sign. Standing there listening to only what he could hear, Gray Wolf, was finally satisfied. They, then, proceeded on down the hall. Opening another door, Gray Wolf entered the room, walking over to the crib. Picking up the sleeping child, while Jake took a bag out of the closet,and packed what the bag would hold, the two men were soon on their way out of the house, having rescued the little boy.

By dawn they were 200 miles away. Only then did Jake feel it safe enough to go to an airport. By the time CJ was awake and ready for breakfast, they were landing in Knoxville. An hour later, they were back on the reservation. Jake called Judy and Taker, letting them know they were home.

"Did it go alright?" She asked quietly! She was elated that they were safe! "How's CJ?" She asked glancing over at Taker.

"He's fine! Asking for his momma!" Jake said, laughing at the child's actions. The toddler was pulling on his grandmother's hand, wanting something out of the kitchen.

"We'll see you soon! Was there any trouble?" She asked anxious for all their safety.

"Nope! Thanks to Gray Wolf!" He said quietly, not bothering to elaborate.

"Good! I'll talk to you in a few days!" She was relieved that CJ and Jake were ok. Turning to Taker, she said simply that CJ was safe. "With Jake!" Was all she'd say.

Soon they were on their way back to the hospital. They got there just as the doctor was leaving. He waited for them when he recognized the striking couple.

"How are they this morning?" Judy asked, concern for the couple obvious.

"There's been some improvement. Their condition is still critical, but at least their vitals have stablized." He said calmly.

"Are they going to pull out of this? Are they going to make it?" Taker asked fearfully.

"The next twenty-four hours should tell, but yes, I think they will. Both were in excellent physical condition to begin with, and it's my understanding that they had just got married when this happened?" He asked, looking at them for confirmation.

"Yes the very day it happened!" Taker said.

"Well, they have a lot to fight for! That means a lot! Well, got to go!" And then rushed off to finish his rounds.

Judy and Taker visited the couple for a while then left heading back to the hotel. After closing the door behind them, Taker took Judy in his arms and loved her long and hard. They spent most of the afternoon behind locked doors. Later that afternoon, when they went back to the hospital, they found both Kane and Kali awake and alert. Both were much improved. They stayed till the nurses ran them out.

They were relieved by the improvement the couple showed. Walking toward the car, Judy took the man's hand in hers, squeezing it encouragingly.

"Depending on how they are tomorrow, what do you say we go home?" She asked gazing up into his handsome face. For the first time since arriving in Reno, the big man seemed to relax.

"That sounds good!" Taker wrapped both arms around her, pulling her close. Tilting her head back, he kissed her with all the passion in him. She was what he needed! Taker hated to think how he would have gotten through these last few days without her.

"Let's go eat! I'm famished!" She said in her most seductive voice, having pulled back to look up into his face.

Taker threw his head back and roared with laughter! "Yes, let's do that!" He lead her to the car still laughing softly.