The Secret Awareness of Protection

By Andie Renee

With persevering patience, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Reid Tabor (aka Slip) has always been a man of action: moving forward, shifting backward, and halting as the Lord leads him to, not the government. Privately strengthened and nourished within by his Savior, Reid’s self-control and self-discipline have always been an innate part of him which allowed Abba to uniquely establish a Divine sense of timing within him. But being motionless is unfamiliar territory to him because even when he had been called to halt in the past, he was still active. Although it is physically and mentally uncomfortable, Reid’s heart beats with remembrance that Abba loves him more than anyone else ever could, and through the quietness of His presence, he finds himself only able to trust his limitless Abba to secure His will within his life. Especially when it comes to the one, very intriguing woman Reid has been tasked to secretly watch over for the last few years.

Ella Strickland, a government scientist whose work is concentrated on discovering and improving the protective equipment used by the Secret Service, is privately and diligently led by her Shepherd. Unbeknownst to her, Abba’s creations through her are profoundly shocking and dangerously sought after, but having already been on her Abba’s beloved threshing floor for several years, she will not be robbed of enjoying every moment of the process He is specifically using to build her back up in Him. Her dependency unflinchingly remains in King Jesus, who reminds her it is all about God’s glorious grace, and with diligent help from the Holy Spirit her eyes and ears will soon be sensitive to always expect the unexpected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andie Renee
• Release date: Apr 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463589625

Andie Renee

Under King Jesus’ reign, our physical blood is fortified with His blood, our heart beats within His commanding Hands, and our ears are attuned only to His Truth, while our mouth is under our Savior’s authority, and our eyes ache to only see Him.As one of Abba’s daughters passionately declaring His Love, His Guidance, and His Protection, I’m only able to write as the Holy Spirit guides my fingers. May our novels give you a few hours of enjoyment as well as inspire you to have a deeper fellowship with King Jesus as you actively live in His presence, and He intimately Shepherds you.

Book preview

Chapter 1

"Yes, yes, yeeeeees!"

Jumping up and down, Ella raised her hands in excitement.

"Wooooooohooooooooooooooo! Praise King Jesus, praise you my Abba!!! We diiiiiiidd itttt!"

Falling to her knees with her gloved hands still raised and her eyes closed, Ella’s praises continued to burst out of her and fly directly towards her Abba. Her hands automatically clenched into rock solid fists in pure delight and overwhelming excitement, which then led her to jump up and do a huge victory dance around the lab.

Dark eyes quickly lightened at the endearing sight before him, and without any other thought, his praises to Abba, again, silently joined hers. It didn’t matter to him that he didn’t even know what new discovery they were praising Abba for.

Having been assigned to watch over her for these last few years, because of her extraordinary discoveries, Reid has been gradually experiencing the Lord starting to steadily increase his protection level over her. And so, for him, in this current moment at-His Hand, nothing mattered but that she was safe, dancing in victory with Abba, and physically alone. With him.

The last words waved through his mind like a broken record.

She doesn’t even know I am here with her, Abba.

Reid’s eyes fell again to her face. A face which was currently, completely filled with a joy that radiated from every pore as she exuberantly worshipped her Abba. To even think that she could become hurt had Reid’s body instantly responding.

Ready for combative action, he quickly brought order and neutrality to his overstimulated body while intimately focusing only on King Jesus. An exercise that was now an active part of him, and something he often experienced when the threat of a conflict loomed more heavily upon him.

In this current moment at-Hand, she is well. Reid’s focus was redirected to her physical presence, joyfully dancing around the laboratory. Only unlike the times before, this time his focus was unexpectedly sharpened, and he found himself suddenly homed in on the definitive appearance of the spiritual armor she unceasingly wore.

Reid’s breath caught. Things are about to radically change.

His chest responsively tightened while he continued to watch her, and at the same time, see more than what was physically possible for him to see as the Holy Spirit guided his thoughts. Jesus, she is actually stepping over the threshold and entering into a new phase of the battle surrounding her.

Reid’s eyes emphatically drank in her joy, which always uniquely touched and soothed him in unexplainable ways, but there was one thing it didn’t do.

It didn’t diminish the deep uncertainty unexpectedly screaming through him.

Reid wiped the sweat off his upper lip, I am not ready for this, Jesus. And just as quickly as he thought it, Reid instantly took control and responded to that admission, but I am not the one that needs to be ready, because you, my Shepherd, my King, lead me and Abba has already diligently created the moment that this moment leads into.

In one fluid motion, Reid’s phone was already in his hands and with his eyes still intently watching her, he set the next layer of protection over her in motion.

Ella loudly exclaimed, "Truly amazing, Abba!"

Finally able to calmly stand in one place, she stood directly in front of her workstation still amazed by what had finally happened tonight, while another part of her recognized the inability of her physical body to actually handle the sheer volume of excitement flooding her senses. But that matter was always privately handled by Him, and the moment she recognized the need for tranquility within her body, it was already being handled by the feel of His blessed blanket settling over her.

"Oh Abba. It is truly amazing. You allowed me to be an active part of this new creation. And although my boss, nor his colleagues would okay the ingredients I needed to order, praise King Jesus… How perfect! You were right, I certainly already had all that I needed right here in our lab."

Sitting back down on her stool with her head still hurting from the volume of emotions running through her, Ella visualized her heart responsively swelling in His Hands as He very diligently calmed her insides. Her mind was soon settling down to His blessed quietness, she had painstakingly learned to love and expect from Him.

We do amazing things together, but stripped down bare, for me all that truly matters is my intimate relationship with You, Abba. You reassure and calm me like nothing else, nor anyone else, ever could. Thank you for your diligence and faithfulness.

Although some might see it as an aggravation, for her it was a uniquely intimate blessing to know her body was unable to withstand the overpowering rush of exhilaration, and overflow of excitement resulting from His blessings. A very unique, safeguarding technique reminding her this was her number one priority, and always would be… her state of existence within His actively reigning presence.

I am so blessed to know I cannot handle things without you. Now, and forever. Her smile lifted, Oh Abba, you created this craving within me. Just by being You, the Great I Am, my loving Abba, my Creator. Your presence, your glory; it is richly abundant, in and of itself, my Abba. By your very presence, you set all things to right.

As clear as day, a picture of her parents laughing and dancing around her childhood home rose in her mind, and for an emphatically long split-second, her breath and heart both stopped. Oh my Lord, please guide my brother to finally embrace your healing presence, but then the words stopped, and instead, Ella found herself wordlessly sending up her requests and desires for her brother regarding the inner healing he still needed.

Her eyes opened back up, and as they rested on the new creation before her, Ella suddenly knew all would finally be well with her brother.

She privately smiled, he might not be able to focus on knowing that you love Him more than anyone else ever could, but he will. Only you, His Creator, truly knows what he needs, and you will provide it; and he will know that it is your direct provision he is receiving.

Ella amusingly shook her head, And again, you used something we created together to confirm something else I have been privately asking you about. Her hands rose high in the air, Oh Abba, again, you are beyond amazing! I love you and thank you!

Opening up her drawer, she pulled out her small, private notebook and grabbed a pen while the steps, formulas, and mixtures effortlessly flowed through her mind. But that is where it stopped, with her hand poised over her notebook, she found herself unable to write.

Instead, her mind was specifically led back through the years, and what she saw and became aware of was quite unexpected. The formulas, mixtures, steps, the ingredients and even the exact timing she had waited between each step, not to mention the crucial amounts of each ingredient as well as the tools used, they all lined up perfectly with her spiritual maturing process. She finally understood why the Holy Spirit would place certain words within her head to describe the tools, and then the waiting…

Oh my! How utterly perfect, Abba!

The pen fell from her fingers and Ella was off her chair, and on her knees with her hands lifted high up in the air, again, over the profound revelation of it all. How amazingly perfect, Abba! Thank you for this. Oh praise King Jesus. Thank you for all of the times you had to coax me to wait, then stop me, as well as pull me back from running ahead of you. I see it so clearly now, you specifically guided me through each and every step, King Jesus! Her eyes squeezed shut in triumph while her hands victoriously fisted and shook. No wonder why you would not allow me to condemn myself when I had wrongly thought I was the one not making any progress, or holding you up.

Her hands opened up and her palms raised high as her smile widened. It wasn’t me stopping myself. It was you stopping me. She openly laughed, How perfect! Your timing is perfect.

Several minutes later, with razor-sharp focus, Ella found herself looking directly at their latest creation within the glass tube, and the test fabric beside it. And at the same time, His Divine confidence began to visibly meld with her inner being, strengthening her in ways she had only ever dreamed about before.

Her eyes shifted back to the test fabric, and surprisingly, she started to see more than what was lying in front of her.

The softest flutter laced through her and wordlessly, Ella knew there was more to do and today wasn’t the day.

‘Expect the unexpected.’

She was instantly reminded of the latest scripture He had led her to memorize as she had been working during the final stages of what had been developed, and was now sitting before her. "My mind was wrong. I thought it was the final stages of developing this, and yes, at this stage it is whole. However, the scripture you led me to memorize over this last week was setting the stage for it to become so much more. Romans 11, verses 33 through 35, ‘O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen.’"

Ella’s gaze expectantly traveled to the front of her empty notebook as she obediently closed it. And as it had several times in the past several years, her gloved finger glided across the tooled message: Proverbs 16:3-4, ‘Commit all things unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.’

It privately explains so much to me. Her eyes lifted to the ceiling of the lab, I don’t understand what is currently happening, and I don’t need to because I trust in you, Abba. Smiling, she confidently declared, I will not step before you, King Jesus. You will reveal it to me if and when I need to know.

Ella looked over to her right and mused, I guess it’s time to tackle my mess from earlier.

Turning back to her other workstation, she took off her used gloves and threw them away, then put on another new set of gloves and began to clean up.

Happily singing, Ella’s feet soon joined in and as often happens, her whole body followed suit and she began to fluidly move while she worked. Spinning the trashcan around, she continued to dance with it until she reached the particular high note that, although her voice could not do it justice, her body sure could.

Giving the trashcan one extra nudge, she left it spinning in circles while her arms straightened out to the sides of her and her palms automatically lifted up, exposing themselves to the Great I Am. She threw her head back in abandonment.

The sound of shattering glass sliced through her ears and ricocheted around the room while a thousand tiny pieces went scattering into every single crevice of the lab.

"No, no, nnoooo!" With the room still shakily spinning in front of her, Ella slightly stumbled but she forced herself to remain upright as the shock of what actually happened slammed against her.

Her mouth instinctively dropped open as her stomach nauseatingly rolled, her new creation with Abba was no longer in the form it was created to be in. The thick glass that once held it was now brittle pieces scattered all over the flat surface of her working table and laboratory floor.

Chapter 2

"Can’t I get a do over?"

But then again, what would I do over? Certainly not my praises to Abba!

Ella continued to stare at her overly familiar mess.

‘It is no longer limited to the form of the thick glass beaker, but has the potential to become even greater.’

Her mouth rounded in shock, Amen. Oh praise King Jesus! It sure does. Her smile widening, Ella breathlessly whispered, You always make things right. Praise King Jesus, thank you, Abba. All will be well, and it is well, in this moment at-Hand.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Ella bent down and began to pick up her mess, but then jerked to a standing position when her phone began to loudly blare through the lab. And that is the one sound I didn’t want to hear tonight. I should have turned it off! Her eyes squeezed shut while she debated looking at it. I am sure it really can’t be a simple thing like my brother Jeff, nor even Priscilla on the line now can it?

Then again, definitely not Priscilla because she has a sweet date with her fiancée, Techy, tonight.

So… Her eyes closed shut while she loudly groaned and blindly reached for it, who is Jeff now suggesting call me?

Lifting it up, her mouth dropped open wide, "Grrrrrrrr! Jeff!!! Gary now?! Rolling her eyes, Ella automatically hit the reject button. Really?! What is he thinking?! Oh my goodness, is there a hole I can crawl into right now, Jesus? How and why does he suddenly feel the urgencies to do this to me lately? Slumping down in her black leather desk chair, Ella leaned back and began to twirl around and around while loudly blowing out her breath, Why, why must my big brother think I need to be set up with one of his friends?"

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, around and around she twirled in her chair with her eyes closed until her phone began to ring again. Well, that’s a little ahead of schedule, I only got to 25.

Not even looking to see who it was, Ella stopped twirling and accepted the call. Hi Jeff.

Ella. Why are you not answering your phone?

Letting her head and body adjust to the now, non-spinning room, Ella kept her eyes firmly shut and reminded her brother, I just did. I am talking to you, aren’t I?

Without any expression, nor emotion, Jeff continued to lounge on his couch in total darkness. You rejected the call.

"Yeeeeeppa."

His eyes narrowed. You aggravate me.

Her eyebrows rose. "Aannd you don’t me?"

You are in your secret lair, aren’t you?

Yes. Of course.

It’s a Friday night.

Yes it is.

Why aren’t you out and enjoying yourself?

I am out from home, and I am enjoying myself.

Jeff loudly growled, You know what I mean.

"Oookkaaay. In that case, why aren’t you?"

Love ya.

I love you, too. The call ended as abruptly as it began. Tossing her phone onto her workstation, Ella firmly nodded, Well, that settles that.

She wryly smiled, Until next time.

Shaking her head at the audacity of her brother, Ella grabbed the broom and dustpan already to go beside her desk, and started cleaning up her latest mess with her heart and mind singing of Abba’s praises. All within this body, your living temple, my Abba, sings of your glory! Twirling around, Ella’s mouth lifted into a huge smile as she swept the broken glass into one pile.

After dragging the trashcan back over to the pile, she bent and began to carefully sweep up the broken glass into the dustpan and then emptied it, but froze when she distinctly heard her voice screaming, Jesus, help me!!! I am broken glass, please Abba, when will I be healed?!

Ella’s heart stilled within her chest and her eyes widened as the memory of that tragic night, a few years ago, came blasting its way into her mind.

Oh my, King Jesus. For what seemed to be an exceptionally long moment in time, Ella began to visibly relive the heart wrenching pain associated with something she never wanted to experience again. But before her mind could even attempt to question it, she began to visibly understand and see it for the miraculous victory it had become in her life. Stunned, she looked within to King Jesus, I am new. I am whole. I have been healed.

The old pieces hadn’t been put back the way her mind limitedly thought that it would be. In contrast, she could suddenly, spiritually see how the Lord, Himself, had fine-tuned, hand-crafted and hand-polished each and every single part of her, placing every miniscule thing within her life effectively under His reign.

Tears rolled down her face while she fell to her knees in thankfulness. It has been so long since I realized how broken I had once been. Oh my King Jesus, it has been months… Her eyebrows knitted together, and she whisperingly added, "Correction, years. How…" The word ended with her face inwardly resting against His neck, where it had been placed years before on that very night her parents went to physically live with Abba.

‘You focused on Jesus.’

Ella slowly nodded, and delicately smiled. Amen, Holy Spirit. I fell head-over-heels in-love with you, King Jesus; all over again. Only this time, it was different than when I was a little girl. It was deeper, richer, so much so that I was consciously aware that the very crevice of it could no longer be shaken.

As clear to her as anything could be, Ella saw what she must do, so she hurriedly grabbed her phone and quickly pressed the button that would instantly connect her back with her brother.

I really shouldn’t be answering this.

Ella amusingly sighed at his deeply frustrated, and overly exaggerated response. "Jeff, stop focusing on me. Just focus on Jesus, just keep focusing only on King Jesus. All the time, just focus only on King Jesus."

Jeff stretched out his long legs, yawning. I, uh, I have been. Ever since the last time you told me to.

Good. Relief vibrantly washed over her. Praise King Jesus. Jeff is officially in the healing process. "Jeff, go a step farther. The energy you are wasting on me? Extend it to Him. Please. She softly smiled, You cannot focus on Jesus wholeheartedly, and not receive anything, that is impossible because all things are possible in Him."

Jeff tiredly rubbed his watery eyes, simply nodding because he was unable to form any words.

Instinctively knowing her brother wouldn’t be able to speak because of the memories, Ella continued, I love you so much. And I know you love me. I don’t need you to focus on me because I will always know that you love me. Goodnight. Sleep in Jesus, welcome Him into becoming the Lord of your night. Then tomorrow? Wake in Jesus, and then actively live in Jesus. He never leaves you.

Very slowly she disconnected the call while her eyes closed. Praise King Jesus. Jeff finally received the nourishment you allowed me to actively give him through you. Oh, Holy Spirit, praise God for your comfort. Sitting there, Ella simply rejoiced in the moment at-Hand as she focused only on King Jesus while her heart remained fully open to Abba and her breathing pattern was regulated by the Holy Spirit.

‘Healthy, well and whole.’

Praise King Jesus. Her eyes opened up as those three wonderful words flowed through her again. Standing, Ella began to finish cleaning up while her mind rested on them. They are words you often will send through my mind at the oddest of times. Including now.

Her smile widened, I am healthy, well and whole because of you, my Abba, my Creator. But you are preparing me to receive a new level in the understanding of them.

With the cleaning all done, Ella went to grab her bag out of the locker and put her laptop in it. But upon sliding it in, her hand stilled.

I’m not to take it home with me. Obediently, she put it in the bag, along with her notebook and then put it back into her locker and locked it. Sliding her arm into her purse’s shoulder strap, she couldn’t help but take one last look at her workstation.

Will there be 5 beakers in my beaker stand when I come back in on Monday?

Her heart began to excitedly flip, and she secretly smiled while very slowly she scanned the laboratory. How does he know to keep doing it? Because I enjoy it when he does that. Where is he when I am in here?

Better yet, who exactly is he?

And of course, nothing was out of place, nor was anything new, nor was there even a person who abruptly appeared. It was as it has been for a very long time, void of that one thing she couldn’t help but expect, her secret lab assistant as she often called him.

Her gaze traveled back to her workstation and she swiftly became aware of a vulnerability opening up within her. "Please, don’t disappoint me. Not this time."

Swallowing the emotional lump rising in her throat, Ella pushed the button to call for the elevator while her mind wondered if this would be the time it stops. Jesus, if at all possible, please let there be five replacement beakers lined up in the beaker holder on my workstation, welcoming me to work on Monday morning.

After the elevator doors slid open, she stepped in and immediately placed her badge into the slot, mindlessly entering the code needed to send her down to the level where her car was parked. But as the doors began to smoothly slide shut, there was a subtle movement to her left causing her ears to perk up even more, and she was rewarded with the very slight clinking sound of glass.

Oh praise King Jesus!!! Yes! Her smile widened and she excitedly clenched her fists, Oh King Jesus, praise you! Our routine, whomever he is, continues. Ella’s heart leapt, praise King Jesus, he didn’t disappoint me. I can’t explain it, I feel more emotional than normal, and well, I don’t need to tell you that. I needed this to happen. Thank you, Abba. And bless him, whomever he is.

And that was when it finally dawned on her… Her eyes fell to the control panel in the elevator, I just did the exact opposite of what I had always been consciously ready to do.

Her head rested against the cold metal of the elevator wall, Oh my goodness, how many different scenarios had I dreamed up, just to be able to get that one small glimpse of who he actually is? She looked up and watched the numbers light up for each floor as she descended, And I didn’t do it. When I had the chance in my grasp, I didn’t do it! Priscilla is going to let me have it.

Could it really be who Priscilla thought he was? The one and only person, in this whole world, who could ever do what he has successfully done over this long of a time without being seen?

Slip. Priscilla wouldn’t tell her his real name for obvious reasons, but said that’s the nickname he is only ever called by now.

Ella smiled, which is super fitting for what is happening. Especially after knowing it was him who had been previously used by Techy to slip in a few personal gifts and notes for Priscilla during the night time when the lab was closed and locked up.

Biting her lower lip, Ella nervously shifted her purse onto her other shoulder. Could it really be him?

A man whose face no one even has a photo of? Priscilla had come close a few times, but the picture had always been deleted from the time she would take the picture to the time she tried to show Ella.

"A digital glitch purposefully implemented in our phones," she had sarcastically explained after Techy admitted to it.

Walking out into the parking garage, Ella heavily sighed. Okay, so I am kind of embarrassed for joining Priscilla on those few exclusive CAT parties, especially since I felt like I had a sign on my forehead saying Don’t mind me, just lookin’ for Slip. But he was supposed to be there! She still could not forget the blank looks every man gave them after Priscilla had asked where Slip was, or when he would be arriving.

Rolling her eyes, Ella unlocked her car and got in. Slip. Her nose scrunched up, stop romanticizing about him already! If he wanted you to see him, then he would allow you to see him. Backing up, Ella sighed, Oh well, whomever it is, he is just being helpful and nice.

Her heart traitorously flipped creating a nervousness to crawl through her at just the thought of actually seeing him. Nope. She firmly shook her head no. Helpful and Nice.

That is all!

Chapter 3

Bang!

Ella’s car forcibly thrust sideways while the eerie crunching and scraping sound was accompanied by the extreme jerk and jolting feel of metal against metal, which rattled through her mind and body, permeating every one of Ella’s senses.

Her car lurched forward one last time before it finally slammed to a stop.

She wasn’t even sure if her leg was still on the brake pedal. The physical heaviness of being trapped was the only thing she seemed to be able to think about while she continued to sit locked within her car and seat.

What hit me?! Ella’s eyes erratically shifted from side to side, but all she could see, through the slight reflection of streetlights, was the white airbag which had been deployed. It had been clear, the light was green!

Painfully swallowing, Ella tried to breathe, but even that was too painful to continue. Closing her eyes, she immediately looked to Jesus, help me, please. Immediately putting her erratically roving thoughts under His reign, she tried to rationally think… Phone. I need to call someone.

Where is it? Did I even put it in my purse when I left?

Her fingers wiggled, but even moving them proved difficult. Okay, that’s not happening. And then again, even if I had my phone who would I call? Certainly not Jeff. He couldn’t handle this.

For the first time in a very long time, Ella felt her world grow very tiny while a harsh sadness slammed against her, and that is not Abba!!!

Instantly recognizing something the Lord had once taken her through, Ella focused only on Him and let go of every single thought not of Him. I have you, I will always have you. You are all I need. Through you are all things! Although I may not currently feel it, I do reside within you, therefore I reside in your victory.

His calming peace began to instantly flow into her. Praise King Jesus, nothing ever goes unnoticed by you, my Abba, the Great I Am.

Miss Ella.

Praise Jesus. I’m here. Uncaring how he would know her, or why, all Ella could think about was how, in the blink of an eye, everything could change. First for the bad and then for the good.

When the male voice was followed by the physical cutting away of the airbag, Ella was beside herself with gratefulness. But when it was finally cut away, she got a quick surprise when she realized that now she would have to hold her own head up which was rapidly proving very difficult. Forcing it back against her seat, Ella remained still.

Groaning, she kept her eyes closed while the spinning in her head increased and her stomach began to rebel. But with the help from a small bright light on his hat, she definitely hadn’t missed the clear image of a very distinctive black CAT uniform and badge with a name sewn in it. He said her name again, and suddenly she recognized him, "Liam?!"

Liam laughed, Yeah. I wondered when you would finally recognize me. Very carefully, he began to cut off her seatbelt while he began to apply firm pressure against her shoulder.

What are you doing here?

Helping you.

Through experience, Ella knew that was probably all she would get from him. After getting to know Priscilla, his cousin, she knew the Lockmans were a tightlipped bunch, and only revealed information on a need to know basis. She sighed, The light… it was green. And wanting only to get out of her vehicle and feel better, Ella pushed against him, mumbling. I need to get out. It’s hard to breathe.

Oh no, Ella. You stay right here. Just relax as much as you can. Everything will be more than alright. Pushing against her shoulder very gently, but firmly, Liam added, "You will get out as soon as the professionals arrive. And not before." He hurriedly glanced over to a few of the guys swiftly clearing the debris out of the roadway, and angrily throwing it up into the back of the government pickup.

Finally getting Stride’s attention, Liam questioningly motioned to the direction of where the firemen were supposed to arrive from.

Immediately he ran to a better vantage point and then quickly gave him the almost here sign.

Nodding, Liam turned back to her, They’re almost here.

Just pull me. You can get me out.

Oh no. We are leaving it to the professionals. We aren’t taking any risks with you.

The professionals? What?!

No sooner did her groggy mind begin to painfully ponder who these professionals could be, did she distinctly hear an overly familiar voice to the right of her coming directly in from the passenger side of her car, but then just as quickly he was talking from the other side of her.

Confused, Ella was still trying to figure out why there had been no sirens, nor lights warning them of their arrival, when Gary was suddenly beside her in place of Liam.

Her throat ached with unshed tears, and she hurriedly rushed out, Don’t call Jeff.

Gary chuckled, "Darlin’. His head amusingly shook from side to side. Seeing how our Lieutenant generally needs to know what we respond to, I think his position, alone, answers that little thought running through your gorgeous mind. Immediately working towards pulling her out, he added, In fact, he most likely knew a split-second before we even did."

Gary looked back over his shoulder to Collin, and the moment he saw a third fireman aid the medical techs in quickly bringing the wheeled stretcher over to their side of the car, he turned back to her. His finger lightly glided across her ashen cheeks, "Hey, Ella, sweetheart, listen to me, and just stay with us. Keep talking. Everything will work out. Look at it this way, it’s a good thing Jeff already knows, because at least you won’t have to go through the struggle of trying to explain what happened to him."

She amusingly giggled and blew out a shallow breath causing her lips to rumble against each other. Then maybe someone can explain to me what happened. I am kind of... Ella’s nose scrunched up, "No, make that a lot foggy about what happened. I just know my light was green and there was no one even close to me. Her eyebrows drew together as her eyes squinted to search his, What even hit me?"

Gary frowned, A drunk driver. Who has already been taken away by the local PD.

Then why are CAT guys here?

His gut instantly tightened, because he was kind of hoping she knew why. That was actually going to be his next question to her.

But seeing how she didn’t know, and how they definitely were not being forthcoming with any information, it was anyone’s guess. Not to mention their strange demands for their squad to not use any sirens upon approaching, and only allowing them to use their lights in very short intervals, and only when absolutely necessary in order to safely see them through any traffic to ensure they arrived as quickly as possible. It doesn’t appear either of them would find out. At least not right now.

All Gary knew was that there was no way they are here by accident, but were instead, fluidly controlling the situation while their attention was pretty obviously, and avidly, on Ella, and seeing to her welfare.

Unsure how to feel, or think, Gary could only be reassured by knowing what their positions, as well as their jobs, stood for. Protection. And directed to Ella? Well, they couldn’t ask for anything better, nor could her brother.

Caringly smiling, Gary softly rubbed his finger across her brow. "Just sit there and behave while we work to quickly get you out of this mess. Okay? Collin is about to pull some more metal away before I can pull you. Now stay still."

Tiredly, Ella closed her eyes and very briefly nodded. She sure did feel trapped, in more ways than one.

‘God is greater than all things.’

Oh praise King Jesus. Amen, He sure is. I love you, my Comforter. Abba, you are greater than all things. I trust only in you.

‘Lavish wholeness.’

Oh praise King Jesus. Ella began to actually experience a feeling and environment encasing that beloved Divine description. And at the same time she knew it wasn’t currently happening, but would happen in the future, allowing her to understand, in multiple ways, all would be exceedingly well with her, despite what she was currently experiencing.