Luna clutched Beckett’s shirt, sobbing into his chest. “I tied the knot. I did. I tied it and — it was a good knot. I promised. I know it was — I—”
Dan pushed up the bottom of the blanket exposing Luna’s leg and counted, wordlessly, “One two three.” Beckett wrapped his arms around Luna’s arms. “Shhhhh. Shhhh.”
Dan jabbed the needle in Luna’s thigh.
Luna looked shocked then burrowed deeper into Beckett’s arms, whimpering.
Beckett repeated softly, “Shhhhh. Shhhhh.” Until finally Luna’s eyes rolled back in her head. She grew heavy, and her head lolled forward, asleep.
Dan said, “Phew.” He gestured to the syringe. “I asked Dr Mags why sedatives were in the kit. If it was for me when I get belligerent and horny with Sarah, and she said I would need it if I needed it. I guess this is what she meant, huh?”
Beckett nodded and carefully shifted Luna to the ferns at his side. He wrapped the blanket tightly around her and sat for a second staring at her face. He shook his head slowly. “Man, this sucks.”
“I thought you were going to lose it.”
Beckett clutched his chest. “I thought so too, it was hard to breathe.” He felt his cheek.
“You’ve got a big scratch. It’ll mar your good looks for a while, keep you humble.”
Beckett let out another big gust of air.
Dan asked, “You know what she meant about that knot?”
“Nope.”
Dan clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, you’ve got a lot to learn, huh?”
“We need to pack up all this stuff and get her to the ship.”
