“Constantine,” he says, grinning. I think this is the first time I've seen a real grin from him. “We have so much to talk about before the doctor gets here.”
After talking with McKinney and Dr. Schultz, I feel lighter than I have in weeks. Lighter than I did even at the cabin, when it felt like a new goodbye. Maybe seeing Jo and Vinny did give me a little extra endorphin boost, because even my good news can’t top me seeing the two of them again.
It's scary, but at the moment, I have hope. Like the universe is finally going to give me a break.
“Let's get back,” Norbert says, and I try to not be disappointed that I didn't see Jo or Vinny as we were leaving. Even Sterling is MIA, but there's no specific reason I can think of that he would be here. As Sylvia pushes me out of the room, and Oswald flanks us from behind, I try to let some of those disappointments go.
Seeing my lovebirds will be enough for now.
I let my mind wander until I spot Jo and Vinny again. They are talking to a nurse at the end of the hall, white bandageswrapped around part of Vinny's palm. Just like last time, he seems calm.
I fight back a smile. It's like an extra gift from the universe.
As I focus on them, a new voice catches my attention. “I'm serious, if OT isn't an option within the next week, you have to go back to Quantico. I can't believe Pabst hasn't forced you to go back yet.”
We pass one of the beds and I turn enough to catch sight Sterling. He spots me in the middle of saying something to Gabe but cuts off as I roll by, and I know he didn't end up here by chance.
When my gaze moves back to my lovebirds, they’re watching me and ignoring the nurse. I can almost feel the burn of Sterling’s gaze behind me, and this is the closest the four of us have been in nearly a month.
So why does it feel like a fractured goodbye? I don’t think this will happen again.
I almost close my eyes and just enjoy the fact that we're all here together, until something catches my gaze. Blond hair, cold green eyes… and she walks beside me like a demon.
“Welcome back, “ Fake Porscha says, but even this can't ruin my good mood. Maybe loving more than one person at once makes me insane, but if this is my punishment for listening to my heart I'll take it. Seeing her here makes me feel a little less lonely as we head back to transport.
We're nearing the end of the hall and I know our exit comes before the area where Jo and Vinny stand. In mere seconds, my happiness will be gone.
A person rounds the corner before we reach the exit, and I say his name without meaning to. “Wallsburg.”
He keeps moving, and then his hand is at his side. Lance’s eyes are red and he looks like shit, and I’m not sure he even acknowledged that I spoke.
His gun is in his hand before I can process it. “Forgive me.”
The two quick shots that follow pop my ears, and he's only a few steps away from me. My ears are still ringing when slicing pain explodes across my chest in different spots.
He shot me.
The force shoves my wheelchair backward, and I hear Sylvia grunting behind me. As I try to process what's happening, I realize everything seems to be moving in slow motion. I can’t keep up with what's happening. Chaos is breaking out around me, and I’m still processing the fact that Lance Wallsburg shot me.
Twice? Was it twice?
It sounds like there's screaming around me, but all I can focus on is the ringing in my ears and the pain in my chest. Behind Wallsburg’s shoulder I see Jo and Vinny again, and it makes my heart ache despite the pain.
Jo is struggling against Vinny, his arm wrapped tightly around her to keep her from running to me. I’m relieved he’s holding her back—she doesn’t deserve to get hurt. But there are tears streaming down her face, and I think she’s screaming. She looks utterly shattered. Vinny doesn’t look much better.
Then Wallsburg moves, and I lose sight of them. He turns and aims at someone else, and then his body goes rigid. The noise makes me think my ears might be bleeding.
Suddenly I'm falling to the side, and I can't stop myself between the cuffs and the chair. I slam into the floor, my head bouncing off the tile, and pain blooms behind my eyes.
There's way too much chatter. I can't focus on what anyone is saying.
Hands are on me and I can't push them off. My chest is too heavy, and it hurts more now than it ever has. Two palms press to my cheeks and I can feel someone pulling at my restraints. I want to tell them it isn’t going to work but I can’t form the words.
Then I'm looking up, and brown eyes meet mine.
Sterling.
His eyes are wild, and he looks away from me, his mouth moving. His touch is gentle on my skin, and it's funny to think this is one of the only times he's ever touched me. We didn't touch much in the cabin.
