Page 30 of Marlin's Faith

“Talk to me, please?”

“Just enjoying the quiet, and that sensation, you know?” I looked down at the water rushing back in towards my feet, a different skirt clutched in my fingers than the teal and white chevroned dress of days earlier.

“Sensation?”

“Yeah,” I felt my face break into a nostalgic smile, “Remember when we were kids, and mom took us to the beach and we’d stand in the water and feel it pulling us?”

Hope smiled too, “Yeah, we’re a long way from the Pacific,” she said.

“Feels just the same, anyways.”

Hope put her good arm around my lean shoulders and we stared out over the water for a minute or two.

“Cutter and Marlin are grilling,” she said and kissed my shoulder, “The rest of the guys from the club will be over for dinner. You going to be okay?” I nodded and touched the leather and metal band around my wrist.

“Bonfire later; how does that sound?”

“Okay,” I murmured and let her steer me back towards the house. Cutter was, indeed, at the big stainless steel grill, and had it going. Distortions from the heat making the air above it shimmer. Marlin raised a dark glass bottle to his lips and drank deeply of it. Cutter turned his head and asked the blond man something, and I saw Marlin’s lips part in answer, but his gaze never left me as Hope and I trudged across the sand towards them.

“Hey, Firefly!” Cutter greeted and I felt the ghost of a smile play across my lips.

“Hi,” I replied faintly, but Marlin was raking his gaze over me. I was under the distinct impression that he was almost… taking stock. Making sure I was well. I inclined my head gently and let Hope tug me into the kitchen to wash and cut greens and veggies for a crisp summer garden salad.

I looked out the kitchen window above the sink, and there was Marlin, angled again, so he could watch me. I breathed deep and slow and focused on the menial task at hand and thought about it. I was surprised to find that his intense scrutiny didn’t make me uncomfortable. In fact, it did just the opposite. I felt… relieved and safe. I glanced up and my breath caught, when his gaze captured mine. Stupid, so stupid, I cut my damn finger and jumped with a little cry dropping the knife with a clatter.

“Shit!” I swore and he was just there, dish towel in hand squeezing the cut.

“Nothing here?” he called out.

“Just walked in the door,” another man I vaguely remembered answered.

“Easy, Baby Girl, let Nothing have a look,” I looked up at the ceiling and blew out a breath.

“Oh, jeez, it’s probably nothing. Just a little cut.” I bit my lip and forced a smile.

“Hey, that’s my name, now let me have a look at it and see.” I glanced at the man who’d spoken. I remembered him, quiet, and sad. Dark hair and clear grey eyes. He took my hand from Marlin and peeked under the dish towel which was soaking red rather rapidly.

“Yeah, you got yourself good, but I don’t think you’re gonna need stitches. It’s just a bleeder. Here, Marlin, keep pressure on it and I’ll go hit the medicine cabinet. I’m sure the Captain has a boatload of crap to doctor her up with.”

“I’m sorry,” I stammered.

“Don’t be, accidents happen, Bubbles,” Hope said gently, she was staring at my hand in Marlin’s and I was trying to look anywhere but.

“What happened, Baby Girl? Shaky?” he asked.

I nodded mutely for a moment before finding my voice, “I-I think so.”

I knew he knew it was a lie, because a small smile played across his mouth. I closed my eyes and swayed on my feet a touch, flushing at the memory of the feeling of them on mine, however brief it may have been.

“Easy, Babe. You need to sit down? You getting woozy on me?” I nodded but didn’t open my eyes. A gentle tug on my fingers and I stepped, trusting for that fraction of a moment, blind to wherever it was he wanted to lead me. I opened my eyed and looked down and felt myself blanch; I wasreallybleeding.

The man I recognized but had no name for pulled out a chair at the big dining room table for me, he smiled and ducked his head in polite greeting, “Radar, good to see you looking better,” he smiled broadly and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Faith, it’s nice to…” I wasn’t meeting him, not technically, “…see you again.” I finished, and his smile got bigger which in turn made mine jump minutely. Marlin sank into the chair across from mine and I closed my eyes tight.

“Raise her injury up above her head, and keep pressure. Might help slow it up,” Nothing called and strode up to the table, dropping what he’d found across its glass surface. Hope’s good hand fell on my shoulder and she called my name twice I think.

“I’m fine! I’m fine!” I said a little breathy.

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