Page 5 of Dark Visions

He could see the fear and concern in her face, something that normally he could compartmentalize and ignore. Aislinn was not someone he could ignore, and damned if he could figure out why.

“Alright, we play it your way. But you’re coming to my apartment,” he said, waiting for the argument.

“Fine, just now, please,” she stood, shaking and unsteady. He held out his hand to her, and she gripped it firmly, reaching for her pile of clothes still held tightly in his other arm. “I… I need help with my clothes.”

He nodded and released her hand. Aislinn turned, untying the gown as she did, letting it drop to the floor. Kane knew he should look away, but she stood with her smooth, milky-white skin beckoning him to touch. Her chocolate brown waves of hair fell to the middle of her back, and she pulled it forward as she reached a hand behind her.

“Ummm, my bra, please,” she said quietly. He said nothing but handed her the soft, white cotton bra.

Kane couldn’t help but notice the full, molded cups as she took the garment from his long fingers. He watched as she expertly hooked the bra and then reached back again for her shirt. He handed her the coffee-stained sweater, the scent still pungent. She shrugged her head and shoulders into the sweater and turned, pulling the hem down as she did. Standing in only the sweater and her white cotton bikini bottoms, he swallowed hard.

“Sorry,” she said calmly, “I’m not a very modest person. I’ve had episodes before where I wake up and don’t know where I am. I’m almost always fully clothed, but there have been a few times when I’ve been half-dressed. I just can’t get worked up about showing a little skin. I’m sure you’ve seen a lot better.”

“Not really,” he said under his breath.

She jerked her head up as if to say something, a quick retort, but thought better of it. He was going to help her, or at least help her get the hell out of this hospital. If she stayed any longer, inevitably, the doctor would touch her, and the visions would come back full force. Aislinn could survive one brush with a vision maker, but two? Two might kill her.

Pulling on the slacks, she winced at the dampness of them as chills chased up her legs to her spine. Slipping into her pumps, she looked around Kane’s large body as if trying to hide from the nurses.

“We should get you signed out,” he said.

“No!” He stopped and looked back at her, the fear more evident now. “Please, Kane, just get me out of here.”

He nodded at her, eyeing her cautiously. Kane peered out into the circular nurses’ station. Two nurses were trying to hold down a crying child so that they could draw blood. A third was assisting the doctor that Aislinn had pointed out to him. He held out his hand to her and nodded.

Lacing her fingers with his, playing the part of girlfriend to the end, they casually strode from the emergency room into the evening light. Rain still fell in a steady beat, and Aislinn shivered, pulling her purse tighter to her body.

“My truck is over there,” he said, guiding her across the parking lot.

She nodded and stumbled. Kane noticed for the first time the depth of her agony and pain, the toll it took on her body, and stopped, lifting her into his arms. Her form molded against his perfectly, and she wound her arms around his neck and nestled closer to his warmth.

“Th-thank you,” she whispered against his neck.

He felt the hot flash of breath against his mangled skin. No one had ever touched him there, ever. Not since leaving the hospital. Opening the door to the truck, he sat her inside and buckled the seat belt. Stepping to the other side, he opened the driver’s side door and then heard someone yelling.

“Hey! Hey, you! She needs to be signed out!” The doctor that had so terrified Aislinn was walking towards them, his long strides moving fluidly across the parking lot.

“She just wants to go home. I’ll come back tomorrow and sign anything you want,” said Kane.

“This is highly irregular! You need to come back inside right now and sign the release papers,” he demanded.

“Look, doctor…”

“Dr. Krauss.”

“Krauss. Dr. Krauss, my girlfriend just wants to be in her own bed. I know that you can note that she left without a doctor’s permission or approval. So do it.”

Kane stared the other man down hard. He could see the other man squirming under his scrutiny. He wasn’t as tall or wide as Kane, but he was easily six feet and well-built. His dark hair, now plastered to his head, his blue eyes glaring into the truck, he tugged on his white coat and nodded.

Kane noticed that Aislinn had turned her face away from the doctor, her eyes closed in pain once again.

“We’re leaving. Here’s my card if you need me,” said Kane. He handed the doctor the business card. The tips of their fingers touched briefly, and Kane felt the familiar zing up his arm. It was so startling, so unexpected, he nearly pulled his weapon right in the parking lot. Instead, he stepped back and got into the truck driving away.

“I’m-I’m hurting,” said Aislinn quietly.

“Tell me what to do, Aislinn. What do you need?”

“Quiet, quiet and dark. Soft, soft music… anything soft…”

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