Page 55 of Lucky Charm
She swallowed hard, reached across to the tray for her water, and downed as much as she could before her stomach rebelled. She lay back and considered the implications of Hunt’s sitting by her for the night and his urgent kisses, her mind shying away from his return to the field. She couldn’t go there yet.
What she needed was to escape. To her quarters.
She rose carefully and travelled hand-over-hand across the furniture to the small closet where her clothes were. They hung dirty and sad in the tight space, but she needed them against the chilloutside. She could dress in about an hour or two, and it would only take about an hour or two more to walk to her quarters. That wasn’t so bad, was it?
“You’re contemplating breaking out. I know that face.”
Half a gasp escaped before she stifled the reaction. She turned and faced Jo. Friendship aside, the colonel handled all the doctors like they were her kids, none more so than Cait. There was no way she would get past her.
She tried her best doctor smile, going for easy camaraderie. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m fine.”
“Well, bless your heart, sure you are.” Jo’s drawl was a curious blend of sarcasm and the accent of her Alabama home. “Get back in that bed. I have your labs, and you still need more hydration. We’re going to hook up another IV.”
Cait groaned. She needed poked again like she needed another night in the mountains. “I’ll drink more, Jo.”
“That’s Colonel Cartwright to you, missy.” She marched to Cait’s side and helped her back into bed. “Try to get yourself killed in those treacherous mountains. Do you ever back away from anything?”
Cait adjusted her covers, resigned to a lecture. “I never back away from a patient in need or a fight.”
“Well, sounds like the fight found you. For once, do as I ask.”
Cait examined the tight lines of the colonel’s face. Realization dawned. She was such a putz. “Jo, I’m sorry.”
Jo waved her off.
“Is she giving you a hard time?” Dr. Duncan Moss skirted past the colonel and pulled out the chair Hunt had vacated. He had this Mayberry thing going on that encouraged confession, and he’d been her best buddy since Afghanistan 1.0. They planned to open a surgical partnership when they were both civilians. His dark red hair was cropped close to his scalp, and his brown eyes remained dulled by flu and overwork. “You heard her, Cait. You need some more rest and more fluids before we let you go back to your quarters. Quit whining, cupcake.”
“I thought this was supposed to be the best care anywhere?” She couldn’t contain her pout.
Duncan turned to the colonel. “Anything wrong with our care?”
Jo snorted. “No, and she knows it. She needs to whine, poor baby. I don’t think this is about having to stay here.” The woman turned and marched away, calling to another nurse to get Cait’s IV started.
“I don’t want poked again, Dunc.” She couldn’t confess she didn’t want her movements restricted. She was restless and frantic to be somewhere safer.
“Poor little one.” Duncan leaned forward, all teasing aside. “You scared the hell out of me, my friend. You need the fluids, Cait. Your electrolytes are way off. Could you go back to your quarters?Sure. But if we do a couple more IV infusions, you’ll be solid. Do it for me. Just overnight.”
She grimaced, knowing he was right. “You had to pull the friend card, didn’t you?”
“Did it work?”
She shifted back on the bed. “Yes. You look like you should be in bed, too.”
He shrugged and rose to help her tuck her legs back under the covers. “I’m okay. What did Jo mean?”
“About the reason I’m whining?”
“Yeah, you’ve had a visit from every person in the hospital and every SEAL on the base.”
“I have not. Only the guys from my team.”
“My team, huh?”
“Yep. They’re mine from now on. We bonded over snow.”
Duncan snorted. “Haven’t seen their LT yet, though. Hospital Commander wants a report.”
Cait wiggled in bed, depressing her pillow a bit more. No way was she sharing that Hunt had been in her room last night. “I imagine their Commander wants a report from me, too.”
