“Can I see Katie?”Sam asked.
“I’ll call her,” Vale said as he stepped away.
Cyril couldn’t follow him, even though he felt like crying.If he did, Sam would drop dead again, and Cyril wasn’t sure he had it in himself to reanimate him again.
* * * *
VALE COULDN’T SAY HEenjoyed the task of calling Katie, but he did it anyway.Cyril needed time with Sam, and not only to find out what had happened to him.He needed time to say goodbye to a friend.
The phone call was awful, just like Vale had guessed it would be.He decided to wait for Katie in the parking lot while Cyril stayed with Sam.He was thinking about what Sam had said.Sam hadn’t known the people who’d been there the day he died, but at least they had a place to start.They just had to find out who the Master was.
Vale snorted softly.Whoever they were sounded ridiculous.They’d killed a man, though, which meant they were also dangerous.Luckily, Vale was used to dealing with dangerous people.He’d been in his fair share of fights in his life, and he wouldn’t hesitate to take on another one if it meant giving Cyril what he needed.
He texted Rachel to let her know that the man they were looking for was the Master she’d told them about.Once that was done, he only had to wait a little longer for Katie to arrive.
Thankfully, she wasn’t driving but had taken a rideshare.She was already crying as she stumbled out of it.The man driving looked relieved when she left his vehicle, and Vale glared at him.He’d brought a woman to the morgue, for fuck’s sake.He couldn’t be surprised that she was crying.
Vale didn’t do well with emotions and comforting people except when it came to Cyril—and sometimes not even with him.Vale had been a loner most of his life, so he wasn’t quite sure how to do it.He couldn’t even try putting himself in Katie’s place.If something were to happen to Cyril, he’d tear down half the town to find the people responsible.He wouldn’t cry.He would bury his emotions until he had the people in front of him.
“He’s awake?”Katie asked when Vale reached her.
Vale hooked his hand under her elbow.“Cyril has reanimated him, yes.Come on.”
Katie allowed Vale to guide her into the morgue, even though he was pretty sure she’d already been there before.The woman behind the front desk had a careful expression on her face as she made Katie sign the register.Thankfully, she didn’t say anything.She had to be used to dealing with grieving families.
“This is the last time, right?”Katie asked.
Vale cleared his throat.“I suppose you could ask Cyril to reanimate Sam again, but what would be the point?”
“You’re right.I already asked too much of Cyril, especially with what happened to him.I guess I’ll have to say goodbye today.”
“Saying goodbye is necessary to start healing.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to heal.”
Katie would hurt for a while, and she’d probably never forget Sam, but she was young, and she had all of her life in front of her.She’d move on eventually.Telling her that wouldn’t help right now, though, so Vale kept it to himself.
The doctor who’d been in the room when he and Cyril had arrived was gone.Cyril was still standing next to Sam, who’d sat up.Cyril’s fingers were around Sam’s wrist because he couldn’t let go, and they were quietly talking.
Cyril looked more relaxed now that he had a little time to wrap his mind around talking to Sam for the last time.And having his ability back.Vale knew it had been a fear of his that he never would, and he looked relieved.
“Sam,” Katie said with a sob.
Sam turned to her.He reached for her, and Cyril tightened his fingers around his wrist.Now that Katie was there, Cyril was once again Vale’s priority.He moved so he was on his side of the table where Sam was sitting and pressed a hand against his back.
Cyril leaned against Vale and turned his face so they looked at each other.Vale had never thought about how awkward the situation could be.Cyril couldn’t stop touching Sam, but at the same time, he would want to give Katie and Sam privacy.He couldn’t go anywhere, and neither could Vale, and they couldn’t avoid hearing what Katie and Sam were saying.
Vale could hear Katie crying and Sam quietly whispering to her.He didn’t want to listen to what they were saying, but it would be impossible not to, considering how close they were.
“You okay?”he asked Cyril.
“I’ve been better, but I’ll be fine.”
Vale wrapped an arm around Cyril’s shoulders and hugged him sideways.He pressed a kiss against Cyril’s Temple, wishing they could be anywhere but there.Cyril had needed to know that his ability was back, but the fact that he’d found out with Sam had to hurt.
Vale wasn’t sure how long they stood there, listening to Katie and Sam talk.Eventually, Katie stopped crying and leaned against Sam.Vale knew that if Cyril could, he’d give them this forever, but he had to let go eventually.He wouldn’t say so himself, though, which meant that Vale needed to take the lead.
He cleared his throat.“It’s time.”
