by Shelly Crane
"What happened to you?"
"Boys being boys," I drawled.
She didn't laugh. She dragged me back to one of the rooms and plopped me on the table. She was short and a little plump, but had the sweetest little face. "Let me take a look at what you've done to yourself," she scolded. "What were you doing? Camping with a bear?"
Daniel had followed us in and he watched her hands move with interest. "Uh…" I tried. "It was more like sandhill bogging. Got in the way. Whatya gonna do?" I tried the smile, but she wasn't having it.
She frowned, her hand on her hip. "My… Well, I guess I'll get the doctor to take a look at you. You're going to need some antibiotics and a fresh bandage," she peeled the jacket away and grimaced, "and this has to be cleaned. There's dirt and sand scrubbed almost down to the bone," she scolded again.
"Can't a guy get some sympathy around here?" I joked. I pouted my bottom lip out and saw her eyes glance at my lip ring. "I'm an injured man."
She smiled, but it was out of tolerance. "Well you're just a scoundrel, aren't you?"
"If I say 'yes' can I have a lollipop?"
She outright laughed at that and I grinned inside. I still had it.
"Oh, shush, you." She went to peek out the door and then opened it wide to let the doctor in. It was then that I steeled myself. He was about to scrub this sand out of my wound. The wound that had already started to heal.
Things were about to get ugly.
Next thing I knew, we were talking about what happened, he was taking a little look see, then Doctor Sly had stuck me with a needle in the arm and I was going down fast. He leaned over and smiled smugly. "See you in a bit," he taunted. I wanted to punch him, but the sneaky sleep he'd given me was quick.
So my brain dreamed of Lillian and our honeymoon, our first night together. Gah…I remember gripping her hips, bones very obvious, but sexy and right in my hands. I remember all the noises she made, all the times she grabbed the back of my neck and begged me not to stop…
But she kissed Daniel. Or he kissed her. That was something I'd have to deal with later. She wasn't a cheater. After what I went through with my fiancé', Lillian wouldn't do that. But letting him kiss her…
A sharp pain growled its release through my throat and my arm was on fire. I looked to see the flames, but it was a bottle of clear liquid, not flames that I saw. I looked at the Doc's face. He was all business. "I'm awake," I told him and he poured more of that demon liquid on my arm. "I'm awake and can totally feel that!"
"I know," he said calmly. "That's how I wake my patients up." He laughed at his own joke.
"Dude. Comedy school, pronto."
"Are you saying my jokes aren't funny?" he asked even as he still laughed. I didn't answer him, I just groaned like a sissy and tried not to curse like a sailor. "My patients usually don't mind. All done. I put you under because it was not going to be fun to clean that arm." He pointed to the nice clean bandage and sling. "Here's some ointment and bandages. Keep it dry and clean."
"Gotcha, Doc. Thanks."
"So…where are you from? Not from around here, huh?"
"Why do you say that?" I said with caution. Doc was acting weird.
"Well…we're an animal clinic." I jerked my gaze to Daniel. He looked confused. "The people hospital is about three miles on the other side of town." He grinned in a teasing way. "I didn't turn you away 'cause you were in bad shape and we weren't busy, but my patients used to come in on four legs."
"Nice going, Daniel," I said and glanced at him before settling back on the Doc. "Thanks. Sorry and yes, we're just passing through."
"Not a problem. I'm surprised the front door was unlocked. We usually lock it. Now we just run blood tests and do analysis for the Enforcement centers since animals are no longer around. We also stock pile meds for the hospitals since they've had so many break-ins. Well, uh, there's a motel that takes cash next door," he offered.
I eyed him. Man, if only Sherry were here, she could decipher this guy. "Ok, thanks."
"I'll let you guys get back to…passing through." He smiled and gave the nurse the papers. "Felicia will handle this for you at the desk."
I nodded, but had no intentions of staying and filling out some papers. And I didn’t have a dime on me, so that didn't matter either. We followed her out and I was amazed at how much better my arm felt. It hurt, oh yes, but the pain was more of a good pain now. It was no longer life sucking, it was manageable.
When she turned to go back to the front desk, we turned right and kept right on going. Swiftly we got back to the car and I wondered how I missed it. Right there in big letters on the sign it said "Meyer Clinic - K9s are our specialty". I glared at Daniel as he put us in drive once more.
"I know, I know," he said. "But you're bandaged and better now, so I think anything other than that is irrelevant."
I huffed and stared out the window. We passed the motel the Doc had told us about. "We'll need to stop somewhere to sleep eventually."
"Not there," he said. "He may have been nice enough for a human, but I got a strange feeling about it."
"Nice enough for a human?" I scoffed. "Really?"
"Humans have never been anything but hostile to me."
"You took over our freaking planet!" I yelled, the jolting of my voice squeezing a pinch through my arm.
"Yes, I know. And I'm not saying humans weren't founded in their actions to me, but they remain the same."
"Sometimes you can't just spout things even if they are true. Some things need a little bit of explanation," I told him.
"I will try to remember that," he said wryly, like it didn't matter.
"Did you say you were going to die earlier?" He stayed silent. "I could've sworn I heard you say you were heading to die."
"My death is my burden."
"Fine." I yawned into my good hand. "I'll look out my window and pretend that I never asked."
"You'll know everything soon enough," he grumbled. I ignored him and we rode on.
Tag-along
Chapter 24
Merrick
"Hey, gorgeous," I told her as I watched her from the corner. It was night time again. She was changing her clothes and looking at her stomach. It was so thin and I knew she was getting self-conscious about it. But it wasn't her fault. Everyone was struggling with that part.
"Thanks," she said half-heartedly and then tried to change the subject. "I'm glad you shaved. You look like you again."
"I'm being completely serious." I put my arms around her from behind. "I never loved you for your looks anyway, but you're still beautiful."
"I know, but…" she sighed, "it wasn't like I had a lot to lose anyways."
I turned her to me and took her fingers in mine. I pushed her back to the wall, lifting her easily and wrapping her legs around my waist. I pressed her hand to the wall by her head and took her mouth roughly. She gasped into my mouth, which was tinder to my fire. I used my free hand to run strokes from her cheek, to her neck, to her chest, to her stomach, to her hip, to her behind. I growled as she tightened her legs on me and I tried to find places in her mouth I had yet to discover.
My lips tingled, making my whole body tingle. Did she really think that I didn't love every piece of her, no matter how thin or fragile? In honesty it made me love her more. My caring little martyr who took care of everyone else so thoroughly and left crumbs of everything for herself.
I felt her fingers in my hair, tugging and claiming. What I wouldn't have given for a closet sized room right then so I could claim her properly. I let my lips lower to her chin and then her neck. Her lips parted and her eyes closed. I kissed as low as her shirt collar would allow me and then yanked the whole thing off in one smooth motion.
Yeah, we were in the 'bowl bath' area, but apparently, I had no dignity any longer because I was going to have my wife, right there.
"Bloody hell!" I heard and quickly covered her with my body. Miguel was barely containing his laughter as he turned away. "What kinda bloke bogs
into the wife in the wide open, huh?"
"Get out, Aussie."
He looked back and grinned. "Well, look at you. Grinning like a shot fox."
I threw the first thing I could grab; a metal mixing bowl. He laughed, ducking it easily and kept right on laughing as he made his way back to the others.
I looked at Sherry, expecting red cheeks and flustered breaths, but she was laughing. We laughed together, sharing breath, before she finally said, "This wasn't exactly discreet, Merrick."
"I was trying to prove a point," I said huskily.
"What was that?" she said, her breaths soft and panting.
I whispered against her mouth, "That I want my beautiful wife anywhere, everywhere, always, in all ways."
She chuckled. "We're never going to get dressed if you keep that up."
"Ok," I agreed easily and she laughed again.
She kissed my lips and held my face. "Thank you."
"I love you, wife."
"I know you do, husband. Now put me down." She grinned.
I did what she commanded of me. I would always gladly do that.
After getting ourselves situated, I took her hand and towed her to the new commons room. We had decided this morning that a stake out of the radio station was needed. Sherry and I along with Ryan and Ellie would go. I'd bring Sherry, for obvious reasons, because she could tell me when someone was lying, and Ellie, because she could hide my Keeper senses from the Lighters. They wouldn't be able to tell what I was. Jeff and Marissa were coming, too, to drive and watch out for things while we were inside.
Celeste and Danny were on Lily duty. As I watched Lily braid Celeste's hair on one side and Danny on the other, preening like a little girl as he did it, making Lily giggle, I knew they didn't mind.
Sherry and I both ate a small can of fruit with the others in our group that were going. Marissa was plowing through a can and then gladly accepted the rest of Jeff's. He grabbed something else from the box and ate it quickly.
I hadn't even thought about the ramifications to the baby in Marissa's belly. It was one thing for us to be hungry, but Marissa was another.
We finished and everyone was dressed as properly as we could be. We looked normal again which wasn't a luxury we were rewarded often anymore. Miguel ran to catch up with us and smiled in a jaguar kind of way. "Hey, why don't I tag along?"
"Me, too!" Billings chimed and slung his arm around Miguel's shoulder. I guess those two were on better terms. "If I don't get outta this bunker, I'm going to start eating my own flesh or something. I'm going crazy here, man. Besides," he said and cleared his throat, "maybe we could look for Cain a little while we're out."
"Well…you can come, I guess. We're not doing much today, just seeing what to make of this broadcast station that Chesser was making such a big deal about."
"Broadcast station?" Lillian asked. We turned to look at her and I tried not to grimace at the redness of her eyes. "Cain and I have been there."
"When?"
"When he took me to that club," she said, her voice choked a little. "The club is next to the station."
"A club…" Miguel mused. "We could hit the boozer while we're there," he said and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Have fun," she said and ran a hand through her disheveled hair before turning away.
Miguel told her to wait up. He went to her and wrapped his arms around her in a soothing manner. It was at that time that Rylee strolled up, all dressed and ready to go. She had her hair up and even had a little make-up on. Rylee looked up and an expression of devastation smacked into her.
She looked at Miguel as if he were betraying her. When he looked up, he saw the look on her face and his mouth fell open with an explanation, but no words came. It got awkward real fast.
"Rylee," he said and Lillian raised her head. She looked between the two and I could've sworn she rolled her eyes before detaching herself from Miguel and walking away. He kept his eyes on Rylee who crossed her arms, always the tough cookie.
"Are we going or not?" she spouted to me.
"Sure," I said uneasily. We'd never been to town like this together without going for food or necessities. I knew Ellie could keep us hidden from their senses, but it still felt strange to be walking into their turf so easily.
We got into the elevator and rode to the roof. It was dark now, but even though it posed more risk of getting caught on the road, it posed less risk of getting caught at the station. I went first and waited at the bottom of the ladder for Sherry. I gripped her tiny waist and brought her to me. I left her feet dangling in the air and she giggled before smacking my arm.
She gripped my fingers in hers as we made our way to the van. Everyone else followed behind us, but I refused to look at them. Marissa sat up front with Jeff and the rest of us sat scattered on the van floor. Sherry crawled into my lap and leaned against my chest. Ryan and Ellie were sitting side by side with their hands clasped. I smiled at him. I guess he got all his crap worked out. He'd been a basket case lately and I couldn't help but hear his inner turmoil.
I understood. I did.
I gripped Sherry tighter. But I understood this, too.
Rylee and Miguel glared at each other from opposite ends of the van so nothing had changed there. Jeff must've felt the tension when he turned onto the highway, because he flicked on the CD player. Some song I had never heard before and frankly, never wanted to again was playing.
The words said something about a tear in his beer and he was crying for her, dear. I grimaced and tried to tune it out.
"So," Ryan started and I was grateful to him for taking some initiative. "What exactly are we going to find at the station?"
I explained, "We're looking for something to justify what Chesser said about being able to organize a statewide broadcast. That way we can break the Lighter's compulsion on everyone. It would only be the state, but it's a start."
"I see," he said and I saw in his mind that he knew, he was just trying to get some conversation flowing.
"If we could get the compulsion broken," Miguel continued, "then people would fight back. We wouldn't be alone anymore in trying to take them out. And once the compulsion is broken, they can't be under it again right?" I nodded.
Rylee spoke loud and clear, "Maybe we could find a way to link the state stations and take this thing continental. And then Global."
"Maybe," I mused. "Let's just call that the plan." I smiled at her and she softened a little until she looked over at Miguel.
"Pretty smart, ginger."
"Die, pig."'
He laughed. "You're never going to give me a fighting chance, are you, love?"
"Nope," she spouted sweetly and smiled. "Besides, since Cain's gone, you can just move in on Lillian."
"That's not what I'm doing," he answered calmly. "Don't you just need a hug sometimes?"
"No," she said and gulped. "I don't. I can take care of myself."
"That's not what I asked," he told her softly.
"Whatever," she eventually said. "I don't need anything from you. Or anybody."
"Maybe not," he ventured. "Maybe not."
Billings just rolled his eyes and groaned as he scratched at the bandage on his arm.
The club was jumping, as they say. There were cars and people everywhere and I knew we'd made the right decision to come at nighttime. No one was going to be paying attention to us and what we were doing.
We parked the van on the outskirts of the parking lot and Jeff put it in park. We all sat, as if waiting for a clue that it was time to go.
"All right," I drawled. "Whoever's going, let's go. Jeff," I put my hand on his shoulder, "we'll be back soon."
"Guard you, brother."
"And you, brother." He clasped my fist in a grip. I heard him and Ryan doing the same behind me before I opened the door slowly. I felt Sherry at my back and knew she was eager and anxious about this. She always wanted to help in any way she could, but I almost felt like we were using her.
We heard hear th
e music from the club out where we were. The van's windows rattled a little from it. I got out and helped Sherry down with a hand. Ryan and Ellie came, then Miguel and Rylee. He tried to help her, but she snubbed his hand and went to the front of us. "How about you guys go stake out the station and I'll going into the club and see what's bouncing in there."
"No," I said and immediately changed my tone at seeing her face. "We need to stay together if we can. This is a delicate situation, Rylee."
She laughed and shook her head. "No offense, Keeper, but I am anything but delicate."
She turned to go toward the club. "Rylee!" I hissed as loud as I dared, but she didn't even look back.
Miguel ran and turned to say, "I'll get her. You do what we came to do. Don’t worry!" And then he turned back to catch up. She had already weaseled her way in the door.
I cursed and banged my fist on the van window. "I knew it was bad to bring those two."
"Just go," Jeff said, leaning protectively over Marissa. I guessed she had changed his mind about letting her come on missions. "We'll keep an eye out. She's just being dramatic, I'm sure they're fine. You don't need them to do the station mission anyway."
I growled and huffed before feeling Sherry's palm on my cheek. "Hey," she said softly. "Let's not freak out. We'll go and see the station and then if they still aren't out, then we'll freak and see what we need to do. Ok?"
I sighed and pulled her close. "Ok." I kissed her forehead and then took her hand. I nodded my head for them to follow us and we lead the way.
It was beautifully strange the normal and simplistic way we walked across the parking lot amongst all the other people from the town. I never thought we'd have a moment like this.
She must've gotten the same feeling as me because she looked up at me and smiled this gorgeously happy smile. "Don't you feel utterly normal right now?"
"It does feel weird," I agreed and laughed. I put my arm over shoulder and kissed her temple. "Weird in the best way."