Chapter Twenty Eight

Benji

I can’t stop blinking. Her voice rings in my ears. “Hi Baby.” No, no, no, no, no! Not these visions again. This moment should be about Mia and Clint. But her name...

I close my eyes, open them, and she’s still there. As beautiful as the day we met.

Wait! Why is everyone else looking?

“Benji?” Maddie’s voice pulls me back.

The moment she says my name, everything goes blank. When I come to, I’m on an examination table with Stephen and Trinity hovering over me. And Maddie!

“Fuck! What was in that joint? I keep seeing her everywhere!” I exclaim.

“Baby, you aren’t hallucinating. I’m right here,” Maddie assures me.

“No, no, no, no, no! They told me you died in surgery,” I protest.

“I know they did, baby, and every day I’ve wanted to reach out to you. But Lachie said it wa—”

“Lachie knew?” I interrupt.

“Hunny, please calm down. We have all the time in the world for me to fill you in. Right now, just please stay calm. I’d prefer not to leave you here tonight,” she pleads.

“I feel like I’m losing my fucking mind right now,” I admit.

“Mate, we know. Believe me, we were all shocked. But Maddie has had a talk to us while you were out of it,” Stephen says.

“How long was I out?” I ask.

“Long enough for us to know you need the fucking rest right now,” Stephen replies.

I run my hands through my hair, trying to gather my thoughts. Too many emotions, questions, ideas racing through my head and right now I can’t piece them together to make sense.

“Benji, if you stay calm right now, we’ll go get the doctor so they can discharge you. We can head back to the house and you and Maddie can have some time to talk, okay?” Trinity suggests.

I just nod. It’s the most I can do. I watch as Trinity and Stephen head out the room to the nurses station to get someone to come and check me over and discharge me. I look at Maddie's face and she is staring back at me.

“Come here, please,” I request.

She steps closer to my bed and gently sits on the side of it.

“What's wrong, Benj?” she asks.

I reach out and touch her face. My hand gliding over her soft skin, the warmth underneath my hand. Her hand reaching up to cup mine as she leans her cheek into my hand and I feel a tear fall softly from her eyes. I soon realize my own are falling as she reaches out, wiping it with her thumb.

“I just needed to touch you. I needed to know you were real,” I confess.

She leans forward and gently places her lips on mine. I feel the wet velvety touch of her lips on mine and I feel the tears start to fall heavier down my cheeks.

“Awww baby, please don't cry,” she coos.

“God, I felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest when I thought I would never see you again. I can't believe you are sitting here,” I admit.

“You were all I thought about, and the thought of you being in so much pain and I was the one that caused it and could do nothing... I felt helpless. So many times I begged Lachie—”

“But why? How did we get to this?” I interrupt.

As she went to answer me, Trinity and Stephen walked back in with one of the nurses. After conducting a few tests, they deemed I was fine to leave but had to take it easy for the next 24 hours.

“How about we go get the kids and Dave and Felicity and head back to the house? I’m sure you two have much to talk about,” Stephen suggests.

“I think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had,” I agree.

“Ever?” Stephen asks.

“Pretty close, mate,” I reply.

“Hahaha, welcome back, Benji,” Trinity laughs.

We head down to Mia's room and as we get there the kids come racing over to their parents. I was surprised to see Livy running over to Maddie before her dad. She has always been Stephen's baby girl.

“Hi, princess,” Maddie greets.

“Pretty,” Olivia replies.

She starts playing with Maddie's hair as Maddie picks her up, giving her a cuddle.

“You know, Livy, you need to wait your turn. I think I missed her more than you,” I tease.

“Haha, I don't know, this little cutie gives the best cuddles,” Maddie retorts.

“You haven't even given me a chance to yet. Holy shit! I am such an asshole too. Congratulations, guys, she's a gem,” I congratulate.

“Well, we would like to have a name for her, but well, the idea we had sprung a leak with the OG walked through the door tonight,” Clint jokes.

“I dunno, I don't think I would have a problem hearing the name Maddison more often. What about you, OG?” I ask.

“Hahaha, I would be honored. Thank you, guys,” Maddie replies.

“Welcome back, babe. I can't wait to catch up properly when I get out of here,” Mia says.

“We thought we would head back now, give you guys some time with my new niece and let Mia rest, plus I think wobbly legs here has had enough excitement for one night,” Stephen suggests.

“Hahaha, you big skirt, try and stay on your feet for the rest of the night, okay?” Clint teases.

“Shut up, asshole,” I retort.

“Hahaha,” Dave laughs.

We all say goodnight to Clint and Mia and let them know we will be back to pick them up tomorrow as Mia should be discharged quickly since everything went fine. Willie kicks up a bit of a fuss at having to leave as he wants to look after his baby, but when we bribe him with ice cream, the baby is soon forgotten.

We walk out and get in the cars and the whole way I can't take my hands off Maddie. It’s like a compulsive need to know she is actually here. I hold her hand the entire drive in her lap, enjoying the warmth of her skin against mine again and her touch, her head resting on my shoulder. I look down at her, kissing her forehead softly before whispering to her.

“God, I love you. I don't know how I would have continued living without you. All I have seen is blackness,” I confess.

“I know, Benji, you are my light that guides me home too,” she replies.

We soon arrive back at the house and the others take the kids up to get them settled in bed.

“What do you want to drink, babe?” I ask.

“Please tell me you have a good wine there for me,” she requests.

“I’m sure they do,” I reply.

As I say that, Trinity and Stephen come back down.

“Top shelf of the fridge, Benji, the kids can't reach it there,” Trinity instructs.

“And neither can his short ass,” Stephen teases.

“Cock head. One minute you fly halfway across the country acting like my best mate, now you want to show me up in front of my girl? Why do I still speak to you?” I grumble.

Stephen chuckled, “I love you too, bro.”

Trinity chimed in, “Anyway, I’m going to take my troublesome husband so we can get out of your hair and let you two talk. I’m sure you have much to discuss.”

Benji replied, “It’s alright, love. I wouldn’t want to subject you to having to put up with him on your own. I’m sure you both have lots of questions too. And I could do with a spliff right now. Let’s have a smoke and a chat and then call it a night. That okay with you, baby?”

Maddie nodded, “Of course.”

Stephen added, “Let me just let Dave know.”

Stephen dashed off to let Dave and Flick know who would be down in a few. Belle was playing up a bit and didn’t want to go to sleep. We took a bottle of wine and scotch outside and some glasses while Stephen rolled up a spliff for everyone.

Stephen asked Maddie, “You want one, hun?”

I don’t think they’ve ever seen her smoke, but I remember exactly how beautiful she is when she’s relaxed and stoned.

Maddie replied, “I could definitely do with one.”

It wasn’t long before Dave and Flick joined us. As everyone sat down, I couldn’t help but think to myself how good this felt right now. I had Maddie in my arms, safe and secure. I looked over at Dave and Stephen and noticed they each had their girls protectively on their laps with their arms wrapped around them also. We all had a few sips of our drinks and sparked up when Maddie finally spoke up.

Maddie introduced herself, “So, hi. I’m Maddison. My special talent includes coming back from the dead, providing the FBI with key evidence to support the corrupt CPD investigation, and returning to be the ghost Detective Grounds never wanted to see again.”

Maddie continued, “Oh yes, the bullets they removed. The serial numbers were traced back to his police issued hand revolver.”

Benji cursed, “That cocky little son of a bitch.”

Trinity asked, “So what actually happened that day? Obviously, we only saw what the news told us.”

Maddie began her story, “Benji and I were heading into court for a pre-trial motion for one of his other clients. We had just finished getting through the media circus outside and were in the lobby getting briefings that were to be made available for us to collect that day. Benji had just finished collecting them and we went to walk down to the courtroom when we heard someone say Benji’s name.”

Maddie continued, “As I turned around, I saw Young Grounds standing there with his weapon drawn at his hip and before we could even register what was happening, I heard the gun go off. On instinct, I just reacted and moved in front of Benji.”

“The next thing I remember was coming to and from consciousness being raced into the theater and Lachie there asking if I could remember anything. I mentioned to him Grounds’ name but then I passed out again. I woke up two days later from an induced coma in a private hospital the FBI had moved me to.”

“That was when Lachie came a few hours later and said that they had the bullets that were removed from me during surgery and were tracing them.”

“When he heard me mutter Grounds’ name, the FBI made the call to allow the CPD to believe I had died in surgery and they had succeeded. In order for it to work, everyone needed to believe it.”

“It killed me and Lachie and I butted heads many times over it as I wanted to let Benj know but like Lachie said, Benji would be the first one they looked at to see if it was serious or not.”

“The CPD had conveniently managed to drag into court that day an ex-client Benji had dropped a few years before once he became aware of his guilt and Benji chose to recuse himself from the case.”

“They are trying to peg it as a revenge shooting by him. Obviously, what they don’t know is I survived and the FBI had those bullets to run ballistics testings on the weapon they are saying was used versus the actual weapon that was used.”

Stephen admitted, “I am just beyond words right now.”

They all nodded and agreed.

Maddie added, “I’m sure you all have loads of questions and we have all the time now. Once Lachie saw the state of you all, he spoke with the field ops within the FBI who finally agreed to have me moved here under secrecy to be with you all until we are recalled to testify once it goes to trial.”

We all sat around talking in general about what happened that day before everyone started to quiet down and think about the implications of everything Maddie explained.

Benji sighed, “I don’t know about you lot but I haven’t slept properly since this all happened and I’m ready to just take this one to bed and hold her and wake up beside her tomorrow.”

Stephen agreed, “Go to bed, guys. We have all the time now to talk further tomorrow.”

I looked to Maddie and we stood up and said goodnight to everyone as I took her hand and led her upstairs. When we got to our room, we both quickly got sorted for bed and hopped under the covers, our bodies molded together tightly, clinging to each other, afraid to let go again.