by E. M. Leya
"Can I shift?" Randy glanced at him.
"Remember, don't use your fin. Float. Too much stress on your hips isn't good."
Randy nodded and closed his eyes. A slight shimmer flickered as he shifted. He let out a heavy breath and smiled at Tevon. "I feel a bit of a pinch in my stomach, but that could just be because I haven't moved or shifted in a few days."
Tevon reached over and placed his fingers on Randy's stomach, palpating the area. It was tight, but he didn't feel anything that made him worry. "If it gets worse, you let me know."
He stepped back and willed his own shift. His body welcomed the change as he sank into the water. "Hungry?"
"Not yet. I just want to float for a few." He rolled to his stomach and dipped his head under the water.
Tevon smiled as he watched him. His gaze traveled down Randy's body to the gold and bluish fin. The tail was thick, wider than most the others, but then Randy was larger than most the other mermen. His thick muscles and height making him the perfect one to teach and train the newer clan members. Few would argue with him, and his size presented a security to the younger males, giving them the knowledge that they would be protected. Just as they had been when Randy foolishly cut himself to attract the shark that nearly killed him. He shook his head, thinking just how close it had been. Once more feeling relief that he'd been close and not off hunting or even worse inland when it happened.
"You okay, Doc?"
Tevon hadn't realized he'd been staring at Randy. He brushed a wet hand over his face. "Yeah, was just thinking about your injuries."
"Close call, wasn't it. I thought for sure I was dying when I felt those teeth clamp down on me."
Tevon was a bit surprised at how casual Randy talked about it. "I can't even imagine. Don't want to."
"But I lived. You fixed me up." Randy rolled to his back again and floated easily to the step where he braced his arms on the side of the pool, keeping his body floating. "Just a few scars."
"More than a few." Tevon frowned. "Hopefully that will be all the lasting evidence you suffer."
Randy brushed his hands over his stomach. "I'm trying not to think about it, but something like that kinda weighs heavy on you. You sorta take it for granted that it will always work, ya know?"
Tevon met his gaze. "I know. I wish I could give you more of an answer than I don't know, but until you find out, we just won't know how the surgery took." He didn't want to tell Randy how horrible he would feel if it didn't work. Randy would have his own issues to deal with, without being bothered with his guilt. "Have you felt any stirring? Even a bit of arousal?"
Randy shook his head. "No, but I've been lying on that slab for days. Not much to stimulate me there. And with the pain…" He closed his eyes. "It shouldn't matter, should it? I'm alive. I will be able to walk and swim. It's just sex, right?"
Tevon didn't answer. He didn't need to. They both knew that a future without sex was something no man wanted to think about facing.
"Yeah, well, whatever happens, I'll just have to live with it, or go and see one of them human doctors you were talking about." Randy sighed. "This all stays between you and me, right?"
"Yes. I would never talk about a patient with anyone. Everything stays between us."
"Good, cause I would hate for my brothers to find out."
"I'm moving you out of the clinic chamber today. You will have more privacy. As long as you promise not to move your hips too much, I don't see why you can't try and…" He gestured to Randy's waist with his hand. "See if you can get any reaction."
Randy laughed. "Who would have thought I would ever have a doctor telling me to jerk-off."
"Who ever thought you would be foolish enough to sacrifice yourself to a shark?" Tevon raised a brow.
"I saved those kids."
"Yeah, that you did. But at what cost?" Tevon didn't wait for a response. He dove into the water and chased through the fish that swam below them. He caught two before rising back to the surface and offered one to Randy. "You need to eat."
Randy stared at the fish for a moment and finally reached out to take it. "Can I sit?"
"Gently." Tevon moved to the step beside him.
Randy carefully sat. "Thanks for this."
"The fish or the swim?"
"Both, but mostly the swim. I was starting to go nuts not being able to move."
"You heal fast. I expected you to be on your back a week or more. Must be those royal genes you have."
"Right." He rolled his eyes. "I don't think it makes a difference in the healing. I just got lucky. And let's not forget your skills. You're the one who put me back together."
Tevon swallowed the bite of fish he had in his mouth. "Still, I have seen a lot of men heal. None with the speed you seem to."
"Still give you the credit." Randy bit into his fish, chewing through the bone with his double row of razor sharp teeth.
Tevon blushed. He wasn't used to praise. He did his job and that was it. "Eat. I'll grab you a few more, then we need to get you back in bed."
"You know in the past, I would have been excited to hear someone say they wanted me in bed, but with you, Doc. Just doesn't have the same tone."
Tevon threw back his head and laughed. "Soon enough you will be up walking around, giving orders again. A few more days in bed will do you good."
"If you say so. I'd rather soak here for the day."
"If I didn't worry about you falling asleep or swimming, I would let you. Let me get a few more fish and then we can get you back. I've had your brothers bring over some of your stuff. You should be more comfortable in the new chamber. We can get you whatever you need."
"I want to walk." Randy sighed.
"Soon enough. If you keep healing like you are, we can see about letting you try to walk in a few days. I wish I had a way to x-ray you and see what is really going on with those bones." Tevon watched the fish swim around them. His own tail fin whipped back and forth in the water.
"I'm going to talk to Heath. Get you what you need, even if it means we have to have a clinic inland. You shouldn't have to go without."
"Don't bother him. I do fine. He has his hands full with all the changes being made." Tevon pushed away from the steps. "Let's eat. We can talk more once we get you back to bed."
Tevon dove down into the water, trying not to think about how nice modern convinces would be. Best he get Randy well and go back to his normal, simple life and put dreams of more behind him.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Wake up. You think just because you fed yourself to a shark you can sleep all day?"
Randy opened his eyes to glare at his brother, Barron, who stood over him with a huge smile.
"I thought you left already." Randy fought to hide the pain that surged through him as he tried to sit up.
"Whoa, bro. You supposed to be sitting up?" Barron reached out and braced a hand on Randy's shoulder to keep him down.
Randy shrugged it off. "Doc said I could sit as long as I didn't move much. Help me up." He held his hand out to his youngest brother.
Barron took his hand, braced the other around Randy's shoulders, and helped ease him into a sitting position. "You look better."
"Don't feel it." Randy rubbed his hand down his face. It was a lie. He felt a hell of a lot better than he had days ago, but being woke up by his brother started the day off rocky. "You at least bring me a cup of coffee?"
"No, but I can get you some."
Randy shook his head and waved his brother off. "Tevon will be bringing me breakfast soon."
Barron sat down on a stone stool beside the bed. "Sorry I haven't been over more. I've been helping Heath work on some of the new laws."
"It's good. Sage and Everest have been here every day. How come you haven't left?"
"Like I said, helping Heath. Besides, I can't leave until I know you're going to be okay." Barron pulled his long hair back from his face.
"I'm going to be fine. Went to the pool and shifted yesterday. Felt good to get
off my ass."
"You shifted?"
Randy nodded. "Tevon was with me to make sure there weren't any problems."
"You know I'm going to kick your ass once you're healed for that stupid stunt with the shark."
Randy eyed his brother's smaller frame. Barron was a historian, traveling the ocean, writing down the history of the clans. "You couldn't take me."
"Maybe not, but I can get a few good blows in before you kill me." Barron grinned. "Really, Rand, what the hell were you thinking?"
"Save the kids." Randy shrugged. "It was me or maybe several of them."
"Still…" Barron shook his head and looked away. "You need anything?"
Randy understood how his brothers must feel. He would kill any of them for doing what he did. But as he remembered the faces of the new clan members, he had no regrets with what he did. "Nah, think I'm good. I just want up, move around a bit. Sage brought me some books, Tevon visits often to keep me from going crazy, and Heath brought me a folder filled with information on all the boys who should be transitioning the next few months."
"You still want to train after what you went through? You think the doc will let you?"
Randy glared at him. "Why would I give it up? I told you, Tevon thinks I will heal just fine. He just wants me to give the bones a chance to heal." He wasn't about to tell Barron about the other issue. He could only imagine the jokes his brothers would come up with if they knew he couldn't get a hard-on.
"You sure you're going to be up to it?" Barron bent forward, resting his hands on his knees. "Getting nearly killed by a shark isn't something to take lightly."
"I'm a merman. What the hell do you expect me to do? Stay on land and never swim again? We both know that's not happening. I love what I do. I would never be happy sitting in an office or running a shop like Everest does. Training those kids is what I do."
"Easy there. I know you love it. I'm just worried about you. What if you can't swim as well as you used to? There could be pain, issues you don't even know about."
"Tevon will help me deal with it." Randy pressed his hands down on the slab and lifted his ass off the stone for a moment. "I just need to get the hell out of here so I can build up my strength again."
Barron shook his head. "You think you're indestructible, don't you?"
"No, I was ready to die. When the fucking shark bit me, I was sure I was done for. I just know I would never be happy sitting in an office. There will come a day when I get too old to do it, but until then, no injury is going to keep me from it." Randy settled back on his ass with a grunt as pain speared through his hip.
"You okay?" Barron was at his side.
Randy forced himself to breathe through the pain. "Yeah, fuck that hurt." He should probably call Tevon, but he didn't want to risk having to be stuck on his back again. "I'll be fine. Don't worry 'bout it."
"You're sweating. Let me get the doc." Barron started for the entrance.
"No." Randy's voice came out louder than he meant it to. "I'm fine. My muscles are just stiff." He prayed that was the truth and he hadn't gone and messed himself up more.
"You sure." Barron glanced back at him.
"Quit babying me. I'm fine. Now get back over here and tell me where you're planning on going when you leave."
Barron sat down, still watching him cautiously. "China. Tiko invited me to come stay with their clan for a while. They don't have a historian, and he wanted me to get some stuff down before it's forgotten. Guess they have quite a few older clan leaders he wants me to interview."
"You've never been there before?"
"Yeah, just for a couple days. A stop over on my way to other places."
Randy nodded, not really listening as he continued to try to breathe through the pain that still coursed through him. "How much do you put in those damn books of yours? You going to write about me being attacked?"
Barron's face went red and he bowed his head, letting is long hair fall forward. "I already did. I made a note in the clan journal the day it happened."
Randy cursed. "Really?"
"It was important. Not every day someone tries to sacrifice himself to save others. The boys are trying to get Heath to honor you."
"What? I don't need some damn reward for that."
"Heath knew you would say that. He's trying to hold them off." Barron smirked. "But you know how well boys that age listen."
"Don't you let them." Randy reached for the cup of water on the small table by his bed and took a long sip. "I want to forget about it. Not have a constant reminder of it displayed somewhere."
Barron stood and moved to lean against the wall. "The kids look at you as a hero. You can't blame them. They had to be scared to death when that shark came."
"Still, I don't need any award or honoring. Just forget about it. I'll heal up and those boys will know right away what an asshole I can be and forget about seeing me as their hero."
Barron raised a brow. "You've taught half the clan how to survive out in those waters. I don't think anyone will argue you deserve to be noticed."
Randy waved his hand, done with the conversation. "So what else am I missing? Sage go back home?"
"Sage and Everest left last night, both promising to be back to check on you in a couple days. Heath is working out a plan to buy several more safe houses around the area, and also looking into maybe buying an apartment complex where those who want to live inland can live together. He's not sure there is enough interest. Surprisingly, very few are choosing to live there, though many support the option."
"I need to talk to Heath. We need another doctor, maybe two."
"Tevon not holding up?"
"No, he does fine. It's just that he is the only one. He doesn't ever get a break. We need to have more trained in case something happens to him. Even maybe have someone here and someone inland. Tevon said he could do a lot more if he only had access to equipment that can't be moved here."
"Makes sense." Barron played with the stitching on his long, dark blue robe. "Things sure have changed since Heath replaced Father. Everyone seems happy."
"Except Father." Randy frowned, thinking of his dad who had left the clan after being forced to step down as king. "You think he will come back?"
"Yes, but I worry for what. I don't think he is done causing problems. When we all stood against him, he swore he would not go quietly. We've got people in place to alert Heath if anything changes."
"Good." Randy rubbed his hand down his chest. "I hope I'm wrong."
"So do I."
"Breakfast." Tevon stood in the chamber entrance with a tray. "I heard you talking, hope I'm not interrupting, but I know how you are before you get your coffee."
Barron laughed. "He's got you trained already, Doc."
"At least he was nice enough to bring me some, unlike you." Randy glared at Barron. "Come on in, Tevon. I was just telling Barron I will recover. He doesn't seem to believe me. Maybe you can assure him."
Tevon set the tray down on the table and handed Randy his coffee before glancing over at Barron. "I don't see any reason he won't make a full recovery. It will take some time for his strength to come back, but in time he shouldn't have any sign of his injuries, other than the scars."
"Thanks." Randy took a sip of his coffee and cringed as the hot liquid burned his tongue. He ignored the pain and took several more sips. "He was talking about me getting an office job." Randy eyes twinkled with amusement.
"I could use another assistant," Tevon teased.
Randy covered his mouth to keep from spitting out his coffee.
Barron laughed. "On that note, I think I will go see if I can distract Heath. I'll drop by later this afternoon. Sure you don't need anything?"
Randy shook his head. "I'm good. Next time you show up at the crack ass of dawn, bring me coffee."
Barron flipped him off and smiled as he ducked out of the chamber.
"Such love between you and your brothers." Tevon's voice held a touch of sarcasm.
Anyone who knew him and his brothers could see that they would die for each other. When one needed the other, they were always there. "Even you know not to come in without coffee. You would think my brother would know as much."
"Barron isn't around much, give him a break." Tevon sat down. "How's your pain today?"
Randy thought back to the blinding pain he'd felt when he moved. Afraid that Tevon would insist he stay in bed, he shook his head. "Just the muscles being tight." He reached for a slice of apple and bit into it, keeping his eyes lowered.
"After you eat, we can get you into the water again. It seemed to do you good."
Randy glanced up at Tevon and nodded. "I'd like that. Just float for a bit." He hoped the doctor would join him, but he didn't want to ask in case he had other things to do.
"You want something for pain before you go? I've done this long enough to know when someone is hurting. You don't need to hide it from me." Tevon folded his hands in his lap and smiled.
"I'm not trying to hide it from you. I hurt a bit, but nothing like it did. I hate how sleepy I get from the pain meds."
"I can give you a smaller dose. Take the edge off."
"Nah, maybe after I soak. I want to try and get used to this. I don't need to be drugged up."
Tevon frowned, but didn't say anything.
"You eat already?"
"Yeah, I was up early. Went out and swam for a bit. Melan and I are going through the back storage chamber today and I wanted to get an early start."
"Anything I can help with?"
"Mostly lifting." Tevon stood. "Thanks for the offer though. You finish up your breakfast and I will be back in a few and get you into the pool."
Randy nodded. "Thanks again for the coffee."
"You may be injured, but I wasn't about to face you without it. I'm here to keep my patients happy, not have them growling at me."
"I don't growl."
A slight blush worked up Tevon's neck. "You do in your sleep." He smiled and turned away.