Page 65 of Custodian

Mordecai grunted, “I don’t get hit every time I visit him.”

Snickers and good-natured ribbing followed, and Ryker closed his eyes, leaning against the wall as he took in the familiar sounds. He felt a lump form in his throat because he knew one voice was missing. He was trying to find a way to push past the sudden flare of pain in his chest, when he heard Cali groan and gasp.

“This sucks!”

“Okay, anyone who is not the baby-daddy or the push-partners – get out.”

Ryker recognised the voice as the human doctor Max had conveniently forgotten to tell him about. He was sure he hadn’t made the best first impression on the woman. What with all the yelling and the smashing of furniture and beating on his family and stuff. In fact, the outrageously beautiful, African American woman had been so terrified of his antics, she had stabbed a giant needle filled with elephant tranquilisers into his butt. Well, to be fair they were probably human sedatives rather than elephant ones. But all he knew, was that shit had knocked him out for twenty solid hours.And after that? The woman who was a strange mix of timid and terrifying had refused to give him more.

“Ryker.”

Ryker opened his eyes to find Darius, Axel, Lark, Beyden, and Ivy standing in front of him. Beyden was on crutches and looked drawn and ill, but he was standing. Suddenly remembering how badly his fellow knights had been injured he quickly looked them all over in more detail. Beyden was by far the worst, and Ryker was scared to ask what the white bandages around his foot and lower leg were hiding. Darius looked thinner and not as tanned as usual but otherwise okay. Ryker knew at least those two had suffered through chade poisoning for days after the battle, just as he had. He figured the only difference was that he had hoped the toxin would kill him, but they had fought to survive. Axel, Lark, and Ivy appeared unharmed, but then again, they may have had injuries which had already healed. Ryker still had no idea how long he had been out of it.

“How long?” he asked, his voice sounding rusty to his own ears.

“Four weeks, three days,” Axel offered.

Ryker simply nodded his head. What else was there to say. But as he saw the four men move as a unit as if to embrace him, he held up a hand. “Don’t,” he warned. “I’m not back.”

They stared at him in silence for a moment. Axel finally saying, “But you’re here. It’s a start.”

Ryker nodded, the only reply he could articulate.

“Ivy?! Get back in here, woman!” Cali’s screech sounded from inside the room.

Ivy looked positively horrified, “Fuck no!” she shouted back. “I am not your push-partner!”

“Yes, you are!” Cali’s response was impossibly louder.

Ivy looked around frantically for a moment before her dark gaze landed on him, “Ryker’s out here!” she yelled.

“What the fuck, Ivy?” He gaped at her.

The ranger shrugged, “Every man for himself, Ry.”

“Ryker’s out there? Ryker! Ryyykeeer!” Cali bellowed.

Darius yanked him away from the wall, “Gut-up,” was his sage advice, before he pushed Ry bodily into the room.

Ryker was no expert, but Cali looked absolutely terrible. Her sweaty hair was plastered to her face, which was flushed and red-looking. She breathed in pants and was clutching at her considerably rounder tummy like she wanted to claw it open with her bare hands. Dex appeared about as useful as tits on a bull as he hovered next to the bed, arms flapping and breathing stupidly. About thirty seconds later, Cali seemed able to breathe normally again and she spotted him standing inside the doorway.

“Ryker,” Cali sobbed. He rushed over to her, and grabbed her hand. “You came.”

He couldn’t smile, but he did squeeze her hand, “I wouldn’t miss it.” He looked up and saw Diana looking at him, a little misty-eyed. He nodded to her, receiving a nod in return.

“Ahem.” The sound of a throat clearing loudly echoed in the quiet room.

Ryker turned slowly, “Doctor Ross,” he murmured, hoping the respectful title might thaw the middle-aged woman toward him a little.

Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed for a moment before she looked away, studying the notes in her hand. “You can stay. But if you go postal again, I’m injecting you with gonorrhoea.” She looked up, suddenly making eye contact, “Your dick will shrivel up and die. For real.”

Dex stifled a laugh with his hand while Ryker tried to think of an appropriate response. In the end, he figured there wasn’t really one, so he settled for a nod. He stayed for another ten minutes, just long enough for Cali to squeeze his hand so hard he thought he felt his bones crush into dust. But when he started to hear words likecrowninghe hightailed it out of there to join the rest of the team in the hallway. Twenty minutes – and much screaming – later, a thin cry echoed from the room. Ryker stood up straight, feeling himself begin to sweat; there was a baby in that room. It was another thirty minutes before they were all invited back in, and Ryker stayed in the background as everyone crowded around Dex and the tiny bundle he held in his arms.

“Ryker? Come and hold him,” Cali said, gently.

“Oh, no. Hell no,” he added and then wondered if he should be saying words likehellaround a baby. Could they understand swear words so young? He had no fucking idea.

“Ryker, come and hold your nephew,” Cali’s voice had gone from to gentle to drill sergeant.

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