SEAL's RESOLVE - Rebecca Deel Page 0,41
then draped the blanket over her.
“I’m not cold.”
“You will be by the time I remove the cold packs.” He turned as Jackson came into the room with his bag.
The medic pulled out a packet of capsules and handed two to Kristi. “Take these when Rio brings your tea.” Reaching into the bag again, he grabbed a white packet and ripped open the package. Jackson held up a small square patch. “This is an anti-nausea patch. My teammates swear by these things. Want to try it?”
When she nodded, the medic peeled off the paper backing and pressed the patch to the skin behind her right ear. “The medicine could take up to an hour to kick in. Hopefully, the tea will help until then. If it doesn’t, you might have to sip a carbonated drink to settle your stomach. When was the last time you took pain meds?”
She frowned, trying to remember. “I’m not sure.”
“Did you take anything for pain after Rio gave you the pain pills earlier today?” Rafe asked.
“No.”
Jackson grimaced. “No wonder you feel lousy. The meds wore off.”
Rio walked into the room holding a to-go cup in one hand and two cold packs in the other. “Chamomile-mint tea and life-saving cold packs.” He handed the cup to Kristi. “This room has an attached bathroom, and all the trashcans in every room are lined. Makes it easier to take care of sick operatives and trainees.” Rio smiled. “You can ask Rafe about that when you feel better.”
“Shut up, Kincaid,” Rafe muttered.
The medic chuckled. “Need anything else, Jackson?”
“Nope. She’s wearing a patch now. Once she takes the pain pills, we’ll arrange the cold packs.”
A nod. “Kristi, if you need something, send Rafe to find me.”
“Thank you, Rio.”
After he left, Kristi took the pain medicine with a swallow of tea. Thankfully, the steeped tea was the perfect temperature to consume easily. She sighed. The mint and chamomile combination was exactly right.
“Relax against the pillows.” Jackson closed his bag. “Rafe, one cold pack behind her neck and one to her forehead. Twenty minutes on. I’ll be back in a few minutes to check on you, Kristi.” With a pointed glance at Rafe, Jackson hefted his bag over his shoulder and left the room.
“What was the look about?” Kristi murmured.
“He ordered me to keep a close watch on you.”
She grimaced. “I didn’t mean to scare anyone.”
“We watch over each other when we’re injured.” He adjusted the pillows at her back. “Better?”
Kristi nodded. “You make a good nurse.”
He chuckled as he slid a cold pack behind her neck. “You wouldn’t say that if I had to stitch you up on the field.”
She eyed him. “Have you done that?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Who?”
“Me and a few teammates over the years.”
“Are you serious?”
“Oh, yeah. Drink your tea. Do you mind if I sit beside you? Holding the cold pack on your forehead will be easier.”
She patted the mattress beside her and obediently sipped her drink. “Were you injured badly on the field?”
Rafe settled beside Kristi with his back resting against the headboard and pressed a cold pack against her forehead. “It was touch and go a time or two.” He shrugged. “Goes with the job, Kristi. What we do isn’t a walk in the park.”
“Were you injured while you were training at PSI?”
He growled. “Rio and his big mouth. Yeah, I was injured there.”
“What happened?”
“Another trainee became frustrated during an exercise in Crime Town. He shoved me down a flight of stairs. I ended up with a concussion, and Rio brought me here for two nights to keep an eye on me.”
Fury burned inside Kristi. “Was the concussion bad?”
He grimaced. “Oh, yeah.”
“I’m glad you’re all right now.”
“Me, too. I hate concussions.”
“You’ve had more than one?”
Another shrug. “Goes with the territory.”
Kristi shivered. “I’m freezing.”
“A few more minutes.” Rafe inched closer to share his body heat.
“Oh, man. You’re like a furnace.”
He chuckled. “That’s good?”
“Wonderful.” She finished her tea and set the mug on the nightstand. “I’ll be fine if you need to leave.”
“Close your eyes and let me hold you.”
He wouldn’t get an argument from her. Rafe holding her was a miracle. “Will you get in trouble with the others?”
“Nope. I’m not on duty tonight.”
“Because you were on duty last night?”
“That’s right. Relax and let the medicine and cold packs do their job,” he murmured.
Kristi kissed his jaw and closed her eyes.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Rafe returned to the kitchen where his teammates and Rio were gathered around the table. After tossing the cold packs into the freezer, he joined them.
“How is Kristi now?”