Page 92 of Pain
Matt stepped back, exchanging worried looks with the rest of the team that had gathered around the foot of the bed. He was amazed at Faith's bravery, but also very aware of the connection she shared with Xander. They'd talked about counting stripes, but now, as he watched his daughter move her hands over Xander's tattoos, he realized he'd seen Xander do the same thing many times. There were nights when he would wake up to find Xander sitting on the edge of the bed. He'd thought he'd been rubbing his arms, but now, he realized that Xander had been tracing the lines, just the same way he'd taught Faith to do with her zebra. It was a coping mechanism they'd both found helped them deal with things.
It was obvious when the medication started to work, and the pain eased. Xander relaxed, his breathing coming evenly and his eyes clearing from the fog that had filled them. Faith released his beard, but Xander continued to stare at her as she continued to run her fingers over his arms.
Matt leaned back against the wall, wishing there was something he could do to help, but not knowing what.
"How is he?" Kasey flew through the door of the med room.
"He'll be okay." Beau looked up from where he was now working on the wound.
"Fuck, how did this happen?" Kasey turned to Dyson.
"There was another person there. We didn't know. We had both our perps drugged. Had just set them on the ground when there was a gunshot from behind us. I turned to see Xander go down as I pulled my gun and took the third perp out." Dyson looked at Bryon. "I had no choice."
"No, I agree." Bryon frowned.
Matt wondered how this would change things up for the team. They weren't in the habit of leaving dead bodies behind.
"I got Xander's bleeding stopped, but he insisted I finish the job. I made quick work of the perps, then made sure I painted a trail to the room the kids were in for the cops to follow. Once I had all that done, I dug the bullet out of the man I'd shot, got Xander out to the car, then went back in for cleanup."
"Bad?" Carter asked.
"Not too." Dyson shrugged. "We were prepared. I used the kit from the trunk of my car."
"What kit?" Matt asked, having never heard of it before.
"It's something we make Xander, Dyson, and Kasey keep in their trunks. It's got supplies to clean up a scene if for some reason DNA evidence is left behind. Kasey cut his hand years back and had to use household items that time. After that, we created a kit for them to carry so no one could trace their DNA."
"I dumped the sodium hydroxide solution over the area Xander had been, used it to wipe down the splatter from when he'd been shot. I'm pretty sure I got everything, but you never know." Dyson sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You did everything right. There is always a risk. What we need to find out is how we didn't know about the third person. We checked the house right before you arrived and there were only two heat signatures other than the children." Trenton looked around the room.
"Maybe he showed up after, but we didn't see anyone else around outside. It was quiet." Dyson glanced at Xander.
"Let's go downstairs and debrief." Bryon gripped Dyson's shoulder. "You need one of us to stay, Beau?"
"No, I got this." Beau didn't look up from whatever he was doing on Xander's shoulder.
"I'm staying." Faith didn't look away from Xander, who was still looking directly at her.
"Faith, it's best if—"
"Let her stay," Xander whispered, sounding tired.
"Beau?" Matt asked, not wanting her to be in the way, but sure that Faith would argue if he tried to move her.
"She's fine if you don't mind her staying," Beau said. "She's keeping him calm."
Matt walked over to Faith, touching her shoulder. "You're sure?"
She nodded. "The blood doesn't bother me, Dad. I want to watch what he does and help Xan." She continued to run her fingers up and down Xander's arms, not so much tracing the tattoos now, instead just caressing him.
"Okay, I'll be downstairs if you need me." He hated leaving her alone, but something told him she needed him to trust her. Beau and Xander would take care of her. Neither man would let her get hurt or be traumatized by anything. "I love you both." He reached out and ran his fingers through Xander's hair before kissing Faith on the top of her head.
"Love you," both Xander and Faith said in unison.
Matt walked downstairs, realizing his hands were shaking as the adrenaline worked through him. He took several deep breaths. Xander would be okay. He had no idea what this meant for the team, what this meant for the future, but only one thing honestly mattered. Whatever came their way, Xander would be by his side for it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
