I'd Rather Not (KPD Motorcycle Patrol 3)

“What is it?” Ford wondered.

“It’s a motorcycle patrol unit,” Luke answered, then frowned. “Shit, can he ride?”

“I can ride.”

Pace’s deep voice had us all turning toward the doorway where Pace, in his hospital gown, pulling his IV pole, was standing.

I looked down at Pace’s prosthetics and burst out laughing.

“What the hell are those on your…blades?” I finally asked, getting myself under control rather quickly.

It hurt to laugh, I knew if I continued to do it, I’d be hurting something fierce later.

Pace looked down at his feet.

“Sierra, the nursing student from hell, said that I had to wear non-slip socks,” he said. “They were department policy.”

He’d slipped his non-slip socks over the blades of his prosthetics.

That was why I hadn’t heard him move.

Sneaky man.

“Pace, I’m assuming,” Luke said.

Pace’s eyes went from me to Luke, and he let the hand go that was holding onto the IV pole, then offered it to Luke.

Luke was the one to step forward and take his hand.

“Pace Vineyard,” Pace said stiffly. “And I’d appreciate it when the next time my career is being discussed, that it be discussed with me.”

Luke’s lips twitched. “You were next on my agenda.”

“The answer is yes. I can ride a motorcycle,” he said. “Everything was difficult at first, but now, I can do pretty much anything. It just requires me to do it a little differently than I did before the accident.”

Luke crossed his arms over his chest.

“You have no problem entering into an experimental new program?” Luke asked. “It might not last. If that happens, we might not be able to fit you back into your previous spot.”

I shrugged. “I was already considering leaving for another department anyway.”

Luke scowled. “Don’t.”

Pace shrugged. “I do what I need to do to make sure that my life is best for me, not others.”

Luke couldn’t refute that logic, so he leaned his shoulder against the wall much like Ford was doing and started talking.

“The motorcycle patrol unit works for quite a few other agencies,” he said. “I don’t foresee it as going badly. The only thing I can see as being a problem is all the loners that are being thrust into the unit being forced to take on a partner. So far, there are five officers. Each one will work three different shifts, four out of seven days a week. Shifts change every week, but they are only during the daylight hours, and they’re ten-hour shifts instead of twelve.”

Pace nodded. “How many more weeks do you have until the unit is up and running?”

“Five and a half-ish,” Luke answered.

I smiled at his words.

I had the same amount, according to my doctor, until I was released. Granted, it may take a few more months after that to be back to my usual self, but I’d take that.

I would also take the lifetime of taking meds and having check-ups if it meant that I was going to be somewhat healthy again.

“That’s a good amount of time,” Luke said. “That should work out well then. You will be ready to come back to work at about the same time this unit gets started. I’m waiting on the motorcycles to arrive still, and uniforms will have to be ordered since these particular ones aren’t the kind that the uniform retailer will keep in stock.”

Pace looked worried for a minute.

“Why wouldn’t they keep these in stock?” he asked.

Luke smiled. “They’re not your typical uniform.”

“Why not?”

They talked back and forth for a bit, and I found myself closing my eyes, listening to the pleasant, deep rumble of Pace’s voice as I fell into slumber.

When I next woke, everyone was gone.

At least, I thought everyone was gone.

I turned my head slowly on the pillow, sweeping my eyes over the room in a slow arc.

At first, I missed him.

He was quiet where he sat in the chair. And so still.

But my eyes brought me back over his unmoving form, and a small smile kicked up my lips when I saw him watching me.

“Your parents and brothers went to grab some food and some shut-eye,” he said.

“They haven’t left the hospital in two days.” I smiled, then frowned. “I need a shower in the worst way.”

His eyes skimmed over the tubes and lines snaking out of me.

“Can you take a shower?” he asked.

I thought about that for a moment.

“They said that I could get up on the second day…technically, today is the second day,” I murmured. “I was just scared to get up.”

He grinned and stood up, bracing his arms on the side of the chair he was occupying and hefting his rather large bulk out of the uncomfortable looking chair.

“Let me go ask a nurse what you are and aren’t allowed to do,” he said.

I stopped him with a raise of one hand.

“I have a call button,” I said. “Watch and learn.”