Char's Fun Time

Let me introduce myself, my full name is Charlie Wyman McCarty. I go by Charlie although my given name is Charlotte. A warning, if you call me that you might end up on the ground in pain. *smiles sweetly* Yes, I know, it sounds like I’m a guy. My parents landed me with an off the wall middle name, that is actually a family name on my mother’s side. Unbeknownst to them at the time, the translation of this family name would fit me very well in adulthood. War and Protection, the Olde English translation before the name was modernized.

A little bit about me before we get to the long sordid past. I have a few loves in life. I love shopping from shoes, clothes, to expensive lingerie. My closet is off limits, do not touch. I guard it with zeal and as my brother says my Line Backer take downs. I also love to cook, especially for those that love to eat. Finally, my love of music, coffee, Tequila, and laughter. I can be very reserved and blunt, once you have my love, it’s yours for life. I tend to be a caretaker wanting to spoil those close to my heart. I’m stubborn as hell and won’t back down without sound logic knocking me in the head. In short I have passion; I live and do my best to step forward in integrity and honor.

So moving on, my home life growing up was happy. Dad and Mom loved each other endlessly and worked to provide us a stable and healthy atmosphere growing up. Us…yes, my brother Emmett McCarty, @NerdyEmmett. He was a pain in my ass, a goof ball prankster, and the best big brother any girl could ask for. Brother Bear, my Emmy always there for me. He was blowing things up even as a kid getting us both in trouble even though I had Nothing to do with it. Some would think I was the older sibling with the way I tried and failed most times to corral his exuberance. *sighs* He just won’t listen more often than not. So growing up was pretty idyllic, normal in its simplicity. By the time I was a junior in High School, Em was off to college. He knew from the time he was a kid that he would be a Chemist, just can’t get away from the need to mix up slime and blow shit up. *chuckles* Still a big kid at heart, it’s because of him that I’m able to find my smile now, to find even a small part of the joy in my life after all that’s happened.

It was that junior year, 16 years old when my simple and idyllic life came crashing down around me. Mom was a teacher, she loved the sciences, that’s where Em gets his Kabooms from. Dad was a prosecutor for the state. He had been trying a big case that garnered attention, some very unwanted attention, but he was so well respected that the media left us, his family alone. Of course when it comes to the evil in this world, it will find a way…and it did, late one night. I to this day ask why they thought doing what they did would stop the trial, in fact all it did was spur it on, an angry uproar for justice to be served after the massacre of my parents. I don’t know how Mom reached the security button in her last moments but I know it and the fact that police patrolled our home frequently saved my life, but at the expense of her own. She might have survived if not for trying to reach that damn button. A knife to my throat and arms locked tight stopped Dad from moving an inch towards her, tears streaming down his face as he begged them to let me go. *breathing raggedly before continuing* Of course they didn’t……they smiled and laughed, making him watch as they cut me. The sound of sirens the only thing to stop them…..but too late to stop the gunshot that ended my father’s life or the knife driving deep so the last thing I heard was his gasping acknowledgment, he loved me, then nothing.

Being there, seeing my parents…killed like that, being injured myself and trying to recover physically and mentally, sent me spiraling into a depression that I only came out of because of Em. I still at times wonder how he did it, stayed in college took on the responsibility of an angsty, depressed teenage girl, dealt with being an adult handling all the things thrust upon his broad shoulders. He showed me how to move on, but not forget. It was these events that led me to my “calling” and where the name my parents landed me with ended up being prophetic. Graduating high school, I turned to college and a degree in Criminal Justice. While there, I continued the self defense courses Emmett had pushed me into and added to by taking firearms classes. I had my eye on the prize determined to someday be in the position to make sure what happened to my family was stopped from happening to another.

My perfect GPA got me accepted into the FBI and finding my footing was one of the most challenging yet rewarding endeavors in my life to date. I loved every minute from the start to where I am now. I found strong friendships in my fellow agents, including my partner, who became my best friend, Thomas or Tommy as I came to eventually call him. It’s funny now, but when they first paired us up, all we could do was bicker, the young rookie with the somewhat seasoned veteran. I had my rose colored glasses ripped off at a young age, but still had that fresh I can make a true difference in things attitude. He was more jaded and worn, but I like to think I brought a freshness to his step and way of looking at things. I was lucky enough his family took to me quickly and I was able to form a bond with his wife Karen, a love of shopping. He hated that on occasion, *laughs* said it was like having two gals spending his money. His true love and wife at home and me at work nagging him because I knew Karen was watching his sugar intake.

Then it all came crashing down… *biting my lip* our case, so close to being tied up, something so routine that we had done so many times before. Infiltrate and collect, find and take down the leaders of the gang, firearms being brought into the U.S. It was these things that played a part in my parent’s deaths; it was this that I wanted so badly to help eradicate one by one. The evidence needed had for the most part been taken care of, just that last nugget of information to make arrests. For it to go so wrong still doesn’t make sense to me, it swirls in my mind on a loop, nightmares haunting me, wondering what could have been done differently to change the outcome. I’ve been no stranger to blood, to gore, but behind my closed eyes I see him…falling, blood spraying across my face, before I too am down, the burning fire and pain of a bullet entering flesh, consuming me for a moment before I can focus. Facing him, his sightless eyes staring back into my own. *sobbing softly as tears whisper down my face* I don’t think I’ll ever not see Tommy’s eyes…..

Some say I’m lucky to be alive, and yes I suppose I am. But waking in the hospital to Karen’s sobbing voice will be another thing I won’t ever forget. Knowing that I was able to fight back, living with the fact that yes I took down one of the people that shot *breathing deeply* Tommy and I, but that it was the first life ended by my hand. No matter how vengeful I feel, I mourn for that person’s family. The rest were caught trying to escape by our fellow task force agents, you don’t get away if you kill or hurt one of us. If nothing else we will track you down. The perpetrators brought to justice by our legal system, some small comfort to Karen, her and Tommy’s kids, and to me.

So we come to the present. Yes, my body is fully recovered, another scar to show of my life and trials. My mind and emotions scarred even more, losing two of the most important men in my life. Hearing ones last garbled words and seeing the others empty eyes will do that to you. I tried to work and move forward. Visiting Karen and the children when I could, brought more grief and memories. Unable to fight off the nightmares, my thoughts, I had to get away. I won’t say I’ve ran, as I plan to return. I’ll say I needed my safe place and my Brother Bear who knows me best to come to terms with it all and face my demons, past and present.  The laughter he’s brought back to me once again with his fun and carefree ways was exactly what I needed. Although, if he’s not careful about the nicknames and TOUCHING my shoes, he might end up regretting me being home. He thought I was devious as a kid he knows nothing of what I can do now. *grins*

My journey to find me again had started, to find my heart, drive, my passion and zest for life, it came slowly. My boss calling weekly to update me, keeping me in the loop so to speak until I was ready to return. In the middle of that……I met @Texsper .  So many obstacles it seems in getting to where we are now, including our own hang ups and issues.  I wasn’t looking for love, a relationship of any sort, yet here is this wonderful man who went from friend to more so slowly yet so fast my heart is still spinning. *smiles*  He’s my sunshine, the one I know who will always be there to catch me before I fall, lift the clouds on a rainy day and hold me through the nightmares. He makes me “Smile” that should say it all.  Somehow I’ve been blessed, I might not have been looking for love but it found me. *smiles softly* And the most wonderful, extraordinary man somehow became mine. *winks* Yes, I do own a gun if anyone wants to mess with him.

Our life together is just starting, moving in together a big step. Telling Em that one was…interesting. *laughs* Then comes the head spinning, in the clouds literally and walking on air. That is me, and I thought the move was a step forward. *grins* The two of us go to Texas so Jasper can do a check on his ranch; that’s been in his family for generations and what does he do? A blindfolded adventure from our list, Hot Air Balloon ride that I’ll remember till my last breath and a question that will tie us together officially when the time comes.  A wedding and…*eyes going wide*…and I thought telling Em I was moving out was interesting.  Which will all have to wait as the stubborn, bull headed love of my life decided to get himself shot and is currently in a coma. *wiping the lone tear from my cheek* Just need him to wake……

Huge fight with my brother when he finally shows up, leading to Jasper finally waking and asking for his lawyer right off the bat after kissing me or was it me kissing him silly. *grins* I have a feeling what he’s up to but choose to ignore. Instead turning my focus to finding who shot him and setting up our Wedding. Which is done. *beaming smiles covering my face* As of 10/19/12 I am officially Mrs. Whitlock.  I love being able to call him husband. It was a beautiful wedding the for me the best part was Jasper, his smile and joy in the day. Honeymoon in Fiji…..*winks*

We will be home before I know it and who knows what will happen…..