Page 172 of Bones
About what?I wanted to ask but the words sat in my chest heavy like rocks.
“I miss him too.”
The emotion in his voice made my throat ache, but I just closed my eyes.
* * *
I must’ve drifted off because I woke with a gasp, struggling to keep my scream locked in my throat.
“Hey, you ok?”
I blinked away Trey’s bloody face, trying to get my bearings. I was sitting straight up in my bed and beside me, Mac sat in the chair staring at me with wide, alarmed eyes.
“Bones?”
“I’m fine,” I said, my voice hoarse.
I pulled the blankets off and scooted my way to the edge of the bed. Mac stood, getting out of the way.
“Careful,” he warned, “you had a fever for a long time, and you’ve got a bullet wound in your leg.”
I didn’t remember getting hit, but as I stood, my legs trembling, a sharp ache came to life in my left calf. I started limping toward the door.
“You need the outhouse?” Mac asked, and I realized he was walking with me, hovering close.
I nodded.
“Can I help you walk?” he added, an edge to his voice.
“I can do it,” I muttered.
While I sat in the outhouse, I pulled up the skirt I wore to see my leg. It had been cleaned and bandaged, and I wondered who did it, now that Trey?—
I sucked in a sharp breath and forced myself to shove the memory of his bloodied face and empty eyes back down.
When I came out, a small crowd of people stood in front of the clinic. Mac took my arm without asking if I needed help, and I didn’t argue about it. As we approached, the crowd shifted, revealing Nemo. He leaned heavily on a cane, his face pale, but he smiled at the sight of me.
“Good to see you up, Bones. I’m sure you heard I’m taking over, but I just wanted to make sure you knew you’re an important part of the hold and your place here is solid.”
I didn't say anything. Did he think he needed to remind me that I belonged to the Vault? Clearly, I knew. I'd learned my place. An awkward silence fell, but finally, Nemo said something about letting me rest and left. The crowd of people followed him, and I watched them leave. Mac still had my arm tucked in his.
“Bones?” Mac asked.
I flicked my eyes up to him. I couldn’t find the energy to do much else. His brow furrowed as he studied me.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“Are you sure?” he pushed. “I mean besides your leg.”
I shook my head again and looked away. I hurt inside and out, but he couldn’t do a thing about it. We stood there for a while, and my mind wandered away again.
“Bones, you can talk to me. Nobody expects you to be ok right now.” Mac finally said in a low, urgent voice.
I wasn’t ok, and I wasn’t trying to pretend anything different. I was justempty.I didn’t understand what they wanted from me.
“You want to go see some of the kids?”
