Page 89 of Bones
“It’s ok,” Mac repeated, his arm tightening around my waist. “I got you.”
“I’m sorry if I puke on you,” I muttered.
He chuckled, or maybe I just imagined it. “I can handle it, Bones.”
I let my head fall back, wincing as it thudded hard against his shoulder. “Sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” he said, but he didn’t sound mad.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, my eyes closing.
He shifted and one of his hands slid under the wild strands of hair that had escaped my braid to press against my forehead.
“I’m fine.” I tried to reassure him that I didn’t have a burnout fever.
“Course you are,” he said dryly, dropping his hand to hold me more securely.
“Just tired.” My words slurred like a drunk.
“Hush.”
“Don’t ‘hush’ me,” I grumbled, insulted.
I thought I heard him chuckle again as I slipped under.
* * *
I woke up to someone taking my boots off. I bolted straight up, my heart seizing, to see Mac staring at me with eyebrows raised, one hand still gripping my ankle.
“It’s just me, Bones.” He sounded irritated. “Didn’t want you to get mud all over your bed.”
I lay on my mattress at the clinic. I glanced up at the loft out of habit to see several little pairs of eyes peering down at us. They looked worried.
“It’s ok,” I told them, “go back to bed.”
They retreated out of sight. All except a little blond head that stubbornly stayed to keep an eye on me. Apple acted so protective of me, and I didn't know how to deal with it. Mac pulled my other boot off and moved to throw more logs in the wood stove.
“Apple, go back to sleep,” I said, pulling my blanket over me and laying back down.
“Where’s Trey?” she asked, her little voice suspicious.
She’d warmed up to Trey and tolerated Griz and Sam, but she remained very wary of all other men.
“Trey’s stayin’ with Clarity,” Mac answered for me.
I liked it when he talked to the kids. His voice got soft and gentle.
“I’m watching the clinic tonight. That ok, Miss Apple?”
I couldn’t make out her expression in the dim light, but I imagined her pursing her little lips in disapproval. A slight smile crossed my lips at the picture in my head, but I fell asleep again before I heard her answer.
* * *
It took another three weeks for the sickness to disappear. I’d never been so relieved as I was after I healed the last person and no one else seemed to get sick. Then I slept for two whole days, only waking up to use the outhouse. In the days that followed, I noticed a difference in how the people of the hold treated me. More people said hello or they waved and smiled. A large part of me didn’t like it, the attention pricking like needles on my skin, but a small part of me felt soft and light every time someone greeted me with genuine happiness. I tried to squash that part of me down, but it persisted like a stubborn weed.
My strength came back so slowly, much to my annoyance. A couple of times I passed out just from standing up too fast, and I fell asleep anytime I sat. I had to take Violet on rounds, even though I wasn't healing much because the walk exhausted me. I knew I didn't have to keep checking in on people, but it made me feel better to see with my own eyes that no one was sick.
Zip didn’t come by the clinic, and while I knew that probably didn’t mean anything good, I didn’t go see him either.
