Tears fell.She didn’t stop them.Wouldn’t have been able to if she’d tried.Edging closer, she leaned down even though the action made pain shoot through her shoulder.She got close to his ear.“Hang on for me, Brick.I love you.And Bray needs you.”
He probably hadn’t heard.She squeezed his fingers nonetheless, praying he’d receive the message in whatever dark recess of his mind was active.
When her shoulder screamed too much, she settled back in her seat.Taschen had promised to meet them at the hospital and to call Ellie to let her know Natalie was alive.
Bray.Her poor boy probably missed her so much.She just wanted him in her arms.She wanted all three of them to be snuggled in bed with the sounds of mindless kids shows in the background.
She wanted a life with them, dammit.
***
Hours later Natalielay in a hospital bed.She’d just gotten out of surgery.Although some of her muscles were still numb from the anesthetic, a slight burn began to sizzle around the gunshot wound.At least the bullet had been removed.
She’d declined pain meds because she needed to be alert and coherent in the event she got news about Brick.The last she’d heard, he’d received a blood transfusion.The bullet had also been removed from his shoulder.
Hell, if they lived through this, she might ask to keep both as souvenirs.
“Knock, knock,” Ellie said, from the doorway.
Natalie’s chin trembled as Ellie entered the room.Her sister’s phony cheery smile fell the minute she saw Natalie’s tears.
“Oh honey.”She rushed to her bedside.“I was so worried about you.”
Natalie accepted her sister’s hug and breathed in her floral shampoo, which smelled a hell of a lot better than the bleach the hospital staff sprayed everywhere.“I’m sorry you had to get up so early.”
She pulled away with a grin.“Are you kidding?I was already awake.That twisted son of yours had me up at five thirty!”
Natalie chuckled.“How is he?”
“Good.I didn’t want to bring him in until I saw you first.He’s eating pancakes with Zain in the cafeteria.Those two have become best buds.It’s quite the contrast, that big, scary-looking soldier with a chatty little boy.”She chuckled then folded her hand around Natalie’s.“How’re the drugs?”
She shook her head.“Shitty, because I didn’t take any.”
Ellie blinked.“You’re crazy.”
“There’ll be plenty of time to numb the pain after I hear about Brick.”
Her sister straightened.“Oh my gosh, they didn’t tell you?He’s awake!”
“What?”she cried, with both wonderment and annoyance.“I can’t believe Taschen didn’t tell me.”
“Well, I kind of strong-armed my way in here.Don’t be too mad at him.Let me flag down a nurse and we’ll get you a wheelchair.”
Fifteen minutes later, Ellie was wheeling her down the hall.She steered her into a large room.Taschen stood next to the bed, his arms crossed, but Natalie’s gaze went right to Brick.
The head of the bed was tilted up.Machines beeped.His eyes found hers, and he compressed his lips.“You should be resting.”
Ellie parked the wheelchair next to the bed.“We’ll leave you two a minute.”She jerked her head at Taschen and they left the room.
“You’re not happy to see me?”she asked, a little pained.
Brick reached for her hand.A large bandage covered the side of his neck, and he didn’t lift his head from the pillow.“You’re all I’ve wanted to see since I opened my eyes.”He squeezed her fingers.“I’m just so damn sorry you got hurt.I was worried when you weren’t next to me.”His voice was weak, tired.
“First of all, you didn’t shoot me.Keetan did.So you’ve got nothing to be sorry for.”She traced the edge of one of his rough knuckles with her thumb.
“You shouldn’t have been in the position for him to take you in the first place.”
Tears rushed to her eyes as she remembered the emotions that’d spiraled through her mind when she was with Keetan.Sadness.Worry.Regret.“I wouldn’t be here right now if you hadn’t come for me.”She pressed her lips to his hand.
