Page 88 of Bones
I blinked, about to reassure Mac he did not have to wipe my nose, but he took the handkerchief and kneeled beside me. It surprised me to see he didn’t look uncomfortable.
“May I?” he asked.
When I nodded, he gently dabbed the blood from my nose. He had to do it again several times when blood started trickling out again, but he never hesitated or complained. Again, the intimacy of the simple act overwhelmed me.
“Trey, she’s gonna be ok,” Mac murmured.
I glanced up to see Trey’s face creased with worry, and I started praying that Mac was right as more blood dribbled from my nose.
After what felt like forever, Clarity focused on my face. Her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Bones?” she whispered.
"S'ok," I rasped, "you're sick, but I'm healing you."
“Clare?” Trey leaned forward.
“Trey,” she whispered, her head rolling to see him, “hi.”
“Hi,” he said back, his voice thick with emotion.
“Hey, Clare Bear,” Mac said from beside me.
Her eyes widened at the sight of Mac, but a tiny smile played on her lips. “Hi, Macaroo.”
I had to fight the urge to smile.Macaroo?
“Sorry,” she murmured.
“Don’t say that. You got nothin’ to be sorry for,” Trey scolded.
“Scared you again.” Her voice was so faint.
“We’re your big brothers. It’s our job to worry ’bout you,” Trey said with forced lightness.
Those words stabbed right through my heart, and I must have made some sort of noise because both Trey and Mac focused on me.
“Bones,” Mac snapped.
“I’m almost done,” I growled. I could feel the sickness shrinking, yielding to the warmth of my powers. “Let me work.”
Thank the gods he listened, though he hovered at my shoulder, watching and waiting. Finally, the last speck of darkness gave way, and I let go. Immediately warmth fled my bones, and I started shivering so hard my teeth rattled. Trey looked between me and Clarity, his face pained.
“It’s ok. I’ll take her back.”
I glanced at Mac, surprised, but he was looking at Trey.
“You stay with Clare,” he added.
“Thanks, Mac,” Trey said, his voice rough.
I tried to get to my feet and my legs wobbled. Mac grabbed my arm and helped me stand. He had to wrap an arm around my ribs and half carry me down the stairs so I didn't tumble down like a drunk. I could hear coughing from multiple rooms and made a note to come back later and check the other brothel workers. They'd gotten better about asking for my help when sick or injured, but many of them still tried to handle it on their own. By the time we got to Violet, my knees were buckling, and my vision was fading in and out.
“Mac.” I gripped Violet’s mane for support as I stood facing her, shivering. I hated asking for help, but the horse seemed impossibly tall all of a sudden. “I don’t think…I can…”
“It’s ok,” he said, his voice calm and steady. “Can you step on my hands again?”
I managed to get my foot in his hands, and he slowly stood, lifting me so I didn’t have to pull myself up as much. The whole world spun, and for a moment I thought I’d be sick, but suddenly I was sitting on the horse. Mac swung up behind me and wrapped his arm around me again. Thank the gods he did, because as soon as Violet started moving, I tipped sideways and would have fallen right off.
