Her Hero

[zydrate]

Aubrey Daniels
Age: 18


It had been a little over 4 years ago when it had all happened. I had been kidnapped at the age of 14...when this all went down, my nanny was killed right after they had taken out Jacob...the body guard assigned to watch over me...

Jacob was great. He was a lot nicer than the others that had been assigned to me...he was young for a guard. Almost like the big brother I never had...

I hadn't known the whole story back then but according to others, he fought hard to get me back...my hero. He took on those that got me and rescued me from them. Putting his life in danger just to save mine...

My father was grateful for all that Jacob had done but when he recovered, he let him go.

That was the last time I had seen him.

Now, 4 years later, I was 18 and had gotten in contact with Jacob..well, his secretary really. Seemed he was a very busy business owner for a security firm. I wanted to meet him...most of all, I wanted to show him how much I had grown since he had last seen me... I wanted to thank him properly.

 

[Deleted member 1126402]

Jacob Romero
Age: 26

It was a job, that’s all it was supposed to be. I was only 22 when I first started, sent to protect some little girl, simple… that’s what I thought until that night she was taken. Two men crashing into the place, killing the nanny and leaving me for dead as they grabbed Aubrey. It should have ended for me right after I gave my statement to the police, even after I was scolded by my superiors and yet I took things in my own hands. I searched for Aubrey myself. To this day, I still don’t know exactly why I did it. Maybe it was to redeem myself for letting her get kidnapped, or maybe it was because that little girl didn’t deserve what was happening to her.

After two weeks of searching and investigating, I finally found where she was being held. I still remember that day, the bruise, the gunfire, that shard of glass that was lodged in my side all of it just to get her out. When I found her, she was locked in a dark closet, eyes covered and hands tied. I only hand enough strength to free her before I fell over, the loss of blood finally taking me. She was a sweetheart, staying by me until the police came. The words “it’ll be okay…” constantly leaving my mouth as my arm clenched around her.

Not only did I find her, I found out why she was taken. Apparently her father owed quite a bit of money to the wrong people and because of what I knew, not only was I let go, I was fired. I didn’t even get to see how Aubrey was, and somehow that hurt the most.

It took 4 year before I got back on my feet, starting my own security firm. It wasn’t my exact choice of profession, but sometimes you have to work with what you know. I didn’t expect anyone today, but when my secretary told me that an Aubrey Daniels was here to see me, my heart stopped. I hadn’t seen her in years, not since that day. I cracked a little smile as I replied to my secretary, “send her in”.

 

[zydrate]

My mind was wandering as I waited to see Jacob. I was smiling as I thought of some of the things we had talked about. What I liked most about him was that he didn't talk to me like a child...like everyone else did, especially like how my father treated me.

To this day, my father treated me like I didn't know any better. Which was way I had agreed to this 'vacation' before college started in the fall. He had let me go where ever I wanted as long as I kept him informed.

I told him I was coming to Chicago, just to see the sights. Not once did I mention my real intentions. I didn't need any body guards anymore so I didn't have to worry about that.

"Ma'am...he'll see you now.."

I snapped out of my day dreaming and smiled at the secretary, "Great, thank you!" I said, probably a little too happy, I'm sure.

I stood up, I knew I had grown a lot since we had last seen each other. From a gangly redheaded little girl to a woman, filling out a lot more and developing curves. Today I wore a skirt, nothing that was too showy but more modest, a dark green sleeveless top with a neckline that dipped low, but not too low. My red hair was worn loose and hung just below my shoulders...

Opening the door to his office, I smiled and that's when I saw him, my smile growing brighter, "Jacob!" I cried out and ran to him, throwing myself into his arms and not letting go.

 

[Deleted member 1126402]

The click of the door knob turning had me standing up as Aubrey came in and once I looked at her, I was surprised. I knew she was going to look different, everyone grows up. But to see her now as a grown woman not only came as a shock, it made me feel a bit old. She was no longer that quiet little girl who would would only open up to me and talk to me about whatever popped into her mind; she had now grown up into a beautiful woman of which any guy would be lucky to be with. "Jacob!" she didn’t waste time coming toward me, her soft body was pressing against mine as I hugged her back.

It was family reunion in some way. I watched over her like a big brother and when she got hurt, it was either me or her nanny that she came to me. The last time I saw her was when I was being taken from the paramedics, that’s no way to say good bye.

I couldn’t tell you how long we hugged, but even as we let go it didn’t feel like we held each other enough. I looked at her for a moment. My right hand hold her left as I brushed the hair away from her eyes with the other. Her smile still warming the bottom of my heart after all these years. “It’s great to see you” I said softly, “How’ve you been sweetie?”

 

[zydrate]

"Oh my gosh Jacob, I missed you so much!" I exclaimed as we held each other. So it might have been weird but he still smelled the same, an air of danger and cologne. I held back tears as I was glad some things didn't change!

“How’ve you been sweetie?”

"I'm good," I told him as we finally let go. We didn't take our eyes off each other and when he pushed my hair out of my eyes, I lost it, it was just like old times with him watching out for me.

I pulled him into another hug as I laughed through my tears, "I'm sorry, it's just been so long! I didn't think I'd ever see you again!"

My mind raced back to the time when they were taking him to the back of the ambulance and I fought so hard against everyone because I wanted to see him so badly, to be with him...

After a few moments, I collected myself, "You are one hard person to find..." I told him quietly, suddenly feeling very shy.

 

[Deleted member 1126402]

"I'm sorry, it's just been so long! I didn't think I'd ever see you again!"

Aubrey’s words were the small pebbles that caused a crack in my glass heart. I could feel the heat coming from the back of my neck as she hugged me again. I didn’t realize she missed me so much, or maybe I was hoping she didn’t. It was usually stated in training to not get to close you’re the ones you protect, because you never know what will happen to either you to them. Maybe that was my biggest fault, getting so close to Aubrey, talking to her, acting like she was more that just a person to protect but like she was family. Despite it all though, I didn’t regret it, not one bit.

I motioned her to take a seat as I went to sit at my desk, my eyes still locked onto her’s as I gave her a friendly smile. "You are one hard person to find..." I laugh softly as I looked down at my desk, the various papers all cluttered on top as I looked back up at her. “Well one usually doesn’t announce themselves to the world, now do they?” I replied. “I mean after what happened I was let go by the agency. Apparently they look down on taking the law into your own hands”. That was only part of the reason for me being fired what with her dad demanding me to be let go. I wondered if she questioned why she was kidnapped, I guess the less she thought about, the better. “I really hope you being here is just a social thing. I’d to know that you still need me around after all this time”.

 

[zydrate]

I gave him a fake look of shock, "Of course I still need you Jacob, I'm here aren't I?" I smiled but deep down, I still was sorry he was let go...

My father never said anything about it, to this day I still don't know why but I was going to find out. I didn't care what it was, I had to know. All these years I blamed myself for him getting fired. I blamed it all on me. First for getting kidnapped and then having him come and rescue me...

"I say that because it took 3 private investigators to even know where to start but every time someone had a lead on you, my father found out and stopped it." I stopped as remorse filled my voice but I quickly shook it off. I didn't want any sad memories or times to interfere with all this. "So, tell me you're almost done, I want to take you out to dinner so we can catch up!"

 

[Deleted member 1126402]

"Of course I still need you Jacob, I'm here aren't I?"

My gut told me that there was more to that little statement than a simple need for me to be her body guard. The long hug, the innocent like touching that didn't seem so innocent; I felt like there was more to it. I felt silly that Aubrey would even remotely think of me in such a fashion, but for the longest my intuition was the only thing I could ever in this world. Maybe it was slipping.

I listened to her little search for me. Her dad really wanted me far away from her. Hell, it might have been easier for him to have me killed, but that wasn't her father's style; he didn't have the balls for that. He would rather buy people off or sweep them under the rug. I guess he didn't on Aubrey being such a snoop. I'd ask where she got that from, if I didn't already know the answer. "So, tell me you're almost done, I want to take you out to dinner so we can catch up!". I gave a soft laugh, I could say no to her. Besides it was already 5:30, the day was over. "Sure let's out of here." I said as I grabbed my coat from behind my chair. As we both walked out of my office, I spoke to my secretary. "Gail, I'm gonna head out. How about you take the rest of night off."
She middle aged woman nodded as she got herself ready to leave, leaving me to lock up the office. I looked over to Aubrey my hand in her's once more.

"So where we going?"

 

[zydrate]

"Well, I did a little research on my own and found this nice little restaurant called Milly's Place. I hear their food is wonderful!" I exclaimed.

Jacob knew I'd never been to a lot of places. My father liked to keep me hidden from the world it seemed like. Private schools, people watching over me 24/7...not the kind of life a person should have to live.

"So, how about we take a cab there, unless you're brave enough to drive in all this madness..." I told him, jokingly. If there was one thing I knew about Jacob, he was brave enough, at least in my eyes.

 

[Deleted member 1126402]

I thought about Aubrey's question for a moment before I decided on not wanting to pay for a cab, not to mention not wanting to leave my car at the office. "I think it'll better if I drive" I said as I led her to the my car. A red Lexus LS, some considered my color choice a bit odd, but I always did have an affinity for red. I opened the door for her before letting myself in. I got and started the car as we were off to dinner. I knew the place she was spoke of, awhile back I had met a client there for lunch. It was a nice place, quiet, and not to fancy.

I had to admit I was surprised at Aubrey's search for me even after her father's constant derailing. I guess watching all those detective shows with her and lending her noir murder novels had some impact on her. The ride was a bit quiet as I pointed out various places around the city. I could only assume Aubrey was seeing all of it for the first time, after all it was her dad who kept her on a tight leash. Maybe that's why she became close to me, I was her only window to the outside world, the only person who gave her some insight of the world. It's not healthy to keep someone in the dark for so long, because when they see a glimmer of light, they'll grab for it without thought. I couldn't bare to think what would happen if someone were to take advantage of her.

We arrived at Milly's and were immediately seated as we sat across from one another. The two of us bantering on about the "old days" until we began to talk about what we had been doing lately. "So are you planning on going to school in the or you doing the whole traveling for a year thing?"