Read Broken Protocols for Free Online Page A

child.
    She’d been sleeping so sound, then nightmares had kicked in and she’d surfaced feeling like she’d been through the worst night of her life.
    As the memories drifted in, she wondered if she had.
    Except for the male carrying her. Levi. His name drifted through her consciousness. He smelled so wonderful. And the strength, the ease with which he carried her…he wasn’t even breathing hard.
    His heartbeat pounded under her ear. Slow, steady, and strong.
    She sighed happily. She didn’t know who he was or where she was, but this part was good.
    Until the pain penetrated her consciousness. Everything ached. Had this person hurt her? Was she in danger? It didn’t feel like it. But then…
    Her body was jostled again…and that set parts of her to hurting in the worst way. Bones ached. Joints throbbed. Muscles burned. She tried to shift away from the pain. She moaned.
    “Easy, Dani.” Lowering his head slightly, Levi whispered, “Take it easy, we’re almost back. Just lie still.”
    “Where,” she murmured. “Back where?”
    “Back to bed. I took you to the healing pod. It should have helped.”
    “I hurt. Everywhere.” She shifted her legs restlessly. She wanted it to stop. “Put me down.” Then her voice broke at the pain. “Please.”
    “Shh. It’s all right. You’re going to be fine. We’re almost home.”
    Home sounded good. She felt the urgency in his movements as he moved faster. Then the air changed, calmed. Levi slowed down.
    In the background, she heard him call out, “Stealth on.”
    She was taken into a darker room. She could hardly open her eyes, but it was slightly easier here. Her body was shifted and laid down on a hard surface. She cried out as pain radiated into the corners of her body. “Oh, it’s hard. It hurts.”
    The surface softened, cradled her, eased her pain. She sighed in relief.
    “It’s okay now,” he said. “You’re back in bed. Just rest.”
    She tried to shift, her arms struggling with the blanket, until something big and furry was placed in her arms. She whispered happily, “Charmin.”
    There was no answer, but she knew it was him and his soft gentle breathing reassured her that he was well. Now if only her body would stop screaming at her. She rolled over, felt something tugged up and placed over her shoulders, and soft, gentle music filled the room.
    “Sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
    That made sense. She let herself drift away.
    Until a few hours later, when she woke up. Pain radiated throughout her body. She’d never done much jogging but her body felt like she’d done a full marathon. And it complained bitterly. She stumbled to a doorway that led to the bathroom, tears running down her cheeks. By the time she was back in bed, she could barely move. With every step, her muscles had seized up a little more. Charmin lay in the bed motionless, his huge eyes wells of pain.
    “I know how you feel, buddy.” She stopped and considered what she was doing. “I had to use the bathroom, what about you?”
    He had to go sometime. If he hadn’t already. She didn’t want to check the corners of the room too closely. “What could I do about a litter box for you, Charmin?”
    She looked around but there was nothing resembling a decent container that would work. She thought about the bathroom. “Charmin, can you use the toilet?”
    He shuddered and gave her a horrified look. “There’s water in the toilets.”
    She winced. Actually she wasn’t sure there was water in the bowl. She’d noticed a blue jelly substance she’d refused to check out any closer. “I know. But there is no sand or litter here. I don’t know what to do for you.”
    Charmin stood up and jumped off the bed. He landed then fell to his knees. She cried out and reached over to pick him up. “Our muscles don’t work right here.”
    “Yeah, I got that,” he grumbled. “How about that litter box thing?”
    “How about a water one?” she asked hopefully.
    The horrified