Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,350

hurt,” Kemper said in a no-nonsense tone.

“I don’t want you getting hurt, and I don’t think I could handle storming in there and defending you against Maverick, Babe,” Cyler said.

I knew I was being stubborn. Staying with a temperamental person suffering from X was reckless. They moved in a mindless haze and attacked without reason. “He’s not at that point yet. He stopped just now, and I startled him mid-sleep with a needle. I’ve seen Jacob wake up throwing punches because I giggled.”

“Shit, Ash. I thought we weren’t going to mention that,” his mindspeak said, making all of us grin a bit. Jacob pressed his forehead against the glass. “I don’t think I could handle it if you got hurt.”

I let out a huff of air, which fogged up the glass. Using my blood-stained sleeve, I wiped it clear before speaking again. “I promise to leave before it gets to that point. If he starts showing any signs of aggression, I’ll get out of here as soon as possible,” I eventually promised. I could understand their point, and deep down, I knew that Maverick wouldn’t want me to be in any sort of danger, especially if that danger was him.

“Thank you, Babe,” Cyler said. Patrick blew me a kiss, and Jacob glanced at Maverick.

“We’re gonna finish the prep for when Payne gets here. We’re going to make sure that we have everything ready according to Maverick’s instructions,” Kemper said before going back to work wiping down countertops. I knew that they had been ready hours ago. Hell, the clinic looked better now than it did before the riots. They were making sure to cover all the bases during this critical waiting game we were playing.

I glanced over at the shower in the corner. It was one used in labs in case of emergency, but I was so covered in grime and soot that I didn’t care that it didn’t have a door. The only people here were my men, and I was anxious to get clean. Keeping my back to the door, I stripped from my shirt and pants, then slowly removed my bra and underwear. With every layer of clothing gone, it seemed like another pound of emotions was lifted from my shoulders. I could feel my guys’ eyes on my back. And when I looked down the drain, I saw Maverick’s blood.

I covered my hand over my mouth and sobbed. My chest was shaking as I poured the hopelessness I felt into my palm. Everything hurt. My heart. My brain. My muscles and soul. I could feel the loss of the last few months like a ton of bricks, and nothing could ease the pain.

“Ash,” a whispered prayer said. Soon, two blistered arms wrapped around me as I shook. Maverick.

“You should be resting,” I said before turning around. I nuzzled his neck as his clothes got soaked.

“I’m...ok. The pain meds…” I knew what he wanted to say and nodded. The pain medicine was working at least. Just a little longer. I worked the buttons on his shirt. It wasn’t a sexual act. I just wanted to wash his feverish body. I turned the temperature to cool and helped him out of his pants, tossing the drenched fabric to the side before grabbing a nearby washcloth.

“Love you,” he gritted out through clenched teeth.

“I love you, too,” I replied. I ran the cloth over his arms with tenderness, gently washing the multiple blisters covering his body. There were so many I couldn’t count them. Some were oozing, but his skin wasn’t nearly as feverish. That was the thing about X, the symptoms were what made a person’s last days so torturous. The best way to make a person’s passing easier was to manage the fever as best you could and keep the infected blisters clean.

He hugged me, and I dropped the washcloth. We stood there like a shaking mess in the freezing water as his skin cooled off. “You’re going to be okay,” I promised, though I didn’t honestly know if he would.

The compartment under the door opened, and I turned to see that Kemper had slid a fresh change of clothes and two towels under it. I quickly went to it and helped Maverick get dressed, watching as his eyes flickered in and out of awareness. It was hard, watching such a vibrant and compassionate man slip into that state of nothing. That was the worst part of Influenza X, it claimed the mind long before it claimed the