Take Me (Take Me 1)

“Not to mention search and rescue teams.”

“An essential component to large-scale disaster-relief efforts.” Nikki gave an efficient nod. She was a striking redhead with pearl-white teeth. Her emerald irises appeared multifaceted and caught the light at every angle, sparkling almost distractedly.

She and Kate had gone to med school together. Nikki was, until very recently, the one person who knew more about Kate than anyone else. Jude now ran a close second. Too close, actually. Except that Kate had not shared the full extent of her “new adventure” with him.

Jude thought she was traveling Europe in chic, glamorous fashion to treat patients.

He had no idea she was talking to Nikki about providing immediate, pro bono counseling services to survivors of natural and industrial catastrophes. As an integral member of Nikki’s unit, Kate would be embedded within the search and rescue teams, having instant access to anyone in need of urgent emotional trauma therapy in an attempt to stem or, at the very least, minimize inherent post-traumatic stress disorders.

The initial phase of the program, however, would begin with hands-on training involving military Forward Surgical Teams that had seen combat and had dealt with every manner of horrific war and disaster scenario—in Afghanistan. An overseas stint for Nikki, Kate and the other therapists that would offer comprehensive emergency counseling experience in highly stressful and hazardous situations before they joined a designated SAR team.

There was a part of Kate that found this so incredibly exhilarating and invigorating, she reached for the first folio and flipped open the cover.

Unfortunately, her sensible side overrode her adventurous spirit, and Kate hedged. She closed the folder and rested her clasped hands over it.

“You know I have to read every single word at least five times,” she told Nikki.

“I’d expect nothing less from you, Kate. You also need your lawyers to give their interpretations, and there’s an abundance of medical requirements, estate planning in the event you don’t return, other consents to execute… A long and arduous process. Today’s about getting the ball rolling.”

“I’m astonished—and impressed—you’re doing this. It’s a privilege to be involved with your team, Nik.”

“Kate, you were an absolute rock for me while I dealt with Conner’s death after his chopper went down during a search and rescue mission.” Emotion tinged her voice. “You were the only person who grasped my desperate need to counsel his team.”

“They were devastated,” Kate gravely commented.

“Conner was a born leader—a damn charismatic one at that.”

As Nikki drew in a deep breath, Kate felt the emotion grip her just as fiercely.

Nikki said, “Losing my husband didn’t just impact me. There was a resounding ripple effect resulting from Conner’s death. Those who’d worked most closely with him… They saw an immortal fall from the sky that day. And had no clue how to cope with such a significant loss. The man’s death created a harrowing void in their lives. Not just in mine.”

“Or mine.” Kate choked down the lump swelling in her throat. “Another reason I’m here today, Nik. Regardless of how my commitment to you is going to send all my family relations into an even greater tailspin.”

Kate knew she faced one of her greatest complications as it pertained to sharing her new and highly dangerous venture with her family.

And oh, God…

Her eyes squeezed shut briefly.

What about Jude?

13

At the moment, Kate couldn’t fixate on Jude or his reaction to the full extent of her new professional mission. She already knew the direction she wanted to take, and it started right here.

Nikki and Conner had been the model couple. The very reason Kate had returned home her first winter break from college and directly ended the farce with Andrew. She’d seen the real deal with Nikki and Conner that initial semester at Princeton. And had vowed to herself she’d never settle for anything less.

What an amazing testament they’d been to the power of love from the very beginning! It hadn’t mattered that they were young and had different viewpoints and dreams of the future. Oddly, the disparities had been blessings in disguise, because every time they’d butted heads over their personal ideals and agendas, they’d learned something new and interesting they never would have considered on their own.

Sometimes, Kate had rolled her eyes at their incessant arguing. Sometimes, she’d gritted her teeth over all that arguing always leading to copious amounts of makeup sex Kate had to tactically avoid. And sometimes…she’d simply watched them out of the corner of her eye from the library or the student dining hall or the shared common room of their dormitory suite, in awe over two extremely different souls coalescing in a visceral way that made them gravitate to each other no matter the circumstance. No matter the complications. Whether they were on the same page or not, Nikki and Conner always found a way to agree to disagree so they could still support the other.

It’d been poetic and romantic and just plain sigh-worthy to so intimately experience them grow as a couple.

Kate wasn’t a believer in fairy tales, but she couldn’t help but clap her hands like she was saving a fairy’s life over every obstacle this couple cleared. Their triumphs were inspiring. And Kate had drawn upon all the lessons she’d learned from these two friends of hers to be a better, more rounded therapist.

Considering this—and extrapolating out to her current endeavor—she said to Nikki, “The training tracks you’re developing are robust, yet diversified and specialized. Counseling survivors of hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, plane crashes, et cetera, and their family members vs. counseling the family members of non-survivors. Counseling first responders, including doctors and SAR teams. And so on. We only discussed me completing the first track, counseling survivors and their family members, particularly via telemedicine if the survivors aren’t immediately reunited with their loved ones, such as tourists stuck in a different country.”

“Correct. And you can remain that precise, Kate. There’s plenty of need for it, believe me.”