Shadow Walker (18 page)

Amber’s eyes went to the monitors attached to Dean, and her heart skipped a beat. The monitor blipped once more, and then flat-lined. For the first time in years she felt utterly helpless. There was nothing to do now but pray Casey had managed to get enough rest in order to heal him.

She choked back a sob and looked at her friend, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

Fumbling the bedrail down, Casey reached over and pulled the oxygen mask from her brother’s face. With a deep breath, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

Amber saw static electricity spark on contact. Dean’s body reacted like he’d been hit by defibrillator paddles. His torso rose, and then slammed back onto the mattress. Everything shook and vibrated during that moment of connection.

Casey’s knees buckled, and her eyes rolled back in her head. Braedyn caught her before she hit the floor.

The monitors connected to Dean went haywire. All the alarms blared. Amber bit her lip waiting for them to even out before a team came charging in.

“Casey baby, please answer me,” Braedyn urged. “Please…”

“I’m okay,” she murmured, opening her eyes. “It stunned me for a minute, but I’m okay.” Tugging on his shoulder for leverage, Casey pulled herself back to her feet.

Dean’s eyes fluttered beneath his lids for a moment, and then slowly opened. A small smile curved the edge of his mouth, and he looked up at his little sister. “Knew you’d come through, sis.” His voice sounded hoarse.

Amber stifled a sob and reached for his hand.

His gaze found hers. He smiled. “I heard you, every single word.”

She held his hand to her cheek, more scalding tears fell. Closing her eyes, she kissed his knuckles. “I…love you.”

His gentle smile grew. “I love you, too.” Squeezing her hand, he took a deep breath.

Peyton stepped away from the door when two nurses came barging in and were quite surprised to see him awake.

“Mr. Maynard?” the middle aged Asian nurse asked. “Are you all right? Do you understand where you are, and what’s happened to you?”

He tried to swallow and moistened his lips. “Yes. I’m in the hospital. I was attacked.”

The nurse checked over his monitors and frowned. “Must have been an electrical surge or something.” She took a deep breath and looked at Amber and Casey holding onto both his hands. “He needs his rest ladies. Don’t make him talk too much. If you need anything, you know what to do.” Motioning to the call button, both nurses left the room.

With each passing moment, Amber watched Dean heal. The bruising on his face lightened. It was amazing. She offered him some water and sat down in the chair next to his bed, holding his hand tight, afraid to let go, fearing it was all a dream.

Casey sighed and laid her hand on the top of his head. “This was better than when I healed Amber last month. I blacked out from that. Braedyn said I was down for a few minutes.”

Hearing her name, she looked up at Casey and watched her place another kiss on Dean’s knuckles. “You saved Braedyn prior to me, and you literally felt my last breath,” she said softly, once more unable to express the correct level of gratitude to her friend. “You’ve also saved another life in the last week too. On top of everything else…you have to be exhausted.”

“I got in a few hours. You said when I shift, it’s supposed to correct everything. I’ll be all right in just a little while.” Leaning forward, she placed a kiss on her brother’s cheek. “I’m just glad to have been able to do something. You have no idea how devastated I was this morning.”

“But you did, sis.” Dean smiled, looked around the room, and noticed three more faces at the door. “Wow, the whole brigade came to the rescue.”

Peyton laughed, walked over to the foot of the bed, and looked over at Casey. “You did it hon.”

Nodding, she swayed a bit, trying to stand on her own. “It wasn’t easy, but yeah.”

Braedyn put an arm around her waist and reached down to touch Dean’s arm. “You had us all scared there for a while.”

“I know…” He cleared his throat and winced. “The pain is getting more and more tolerable with each passing minute.”

“Good, we’ll be able to get you out of here tomorrow,” Peyton said, patting Dean’s foot.

Amber just sat and watched the conversation around her, not caring to participate. In this moment, she couldn’t be happier holding his hand and knowing he was alive.

Dean squeezed Amber’s hand. She was quiet while everyone chattered around them. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against the bedrail.

Once more his gaze traveled to the doorway to the three men standing there. He’d worked with each and knew them to be very gifted. Terry Hallman had served in the Marine’s with him and was his best friend. Tall, broad-shouldered, with jet black hair, deep blue eyes, he could impose his will on others. He would be the man to convince the hospital staff to let him leave. The second man, Alan Dawson, a rather large and hairy guy who seldom spoke had the ability to make someone see what he wanted, both good and bad. And last, Pierre Bollemei, an imposing Frenchman with the ability of telekinesis. All three were strong men in their own right. Dean was surprised to see them there.

“So, ya’ll are my jailbreak team?” he asked with a grin.

The three just smiled.

“That, and we’re your keepers this evening. We can’t have you getting into any more trouble while you’re still healing, now can we?” Terry asked with a shrug.

Casey frowned. “The staff won’t let all three of you stay.”

Their dad smiled and shook his head. “Don’t worry about that, the staff won’t say anything. We’ve got it covered.” He winked. “Remember, they work with us.”

Amber had been quiet for a time, her thumb rubbed over the back of his hand. Clearing her throat, she glanced down at her watch. “Braedyn, you’re going to need to get Casey and Aaron away from here soon.” Her voice still sounded rough.

The Alpha leaned over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’re getting ready to leave now, and you get some rest, okay. You won’t do us any good exhausted like this.”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “I can rest now that I know he’s okay.”

Braedyn nodded. “Well it looks like Casey and I are going to take our leave.” He looked over at Peyton. “Which one of these guys am I carrying with us to keep an eye out back at the Sorenson mansion?”

The Frenchman stepped forward. “That would be me,” he said in accented English.

Braedyn eyed him with caution. “Are you sure you wish to do this alone?”

Pierre smiled. “Though I have no doubts of your brother’s skills,” he said, motioning at Dean. “Understand I have worked alongside Weres since I was but a child. I have no fear of him.”

Braedyn nodded, though still skeptical. “We’ll need to get going if we’re to make it in time.” He gave Dean a smile and a nod. “Rest and get well.”

Dean smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

Casey kissed her brother’s cheek once more. “I’ll be back to see you tomorrow.” She glanced over at Amber. “Take care of him, please.”

Amber nodded, and he squeezed her hand.

Casey gave her father a quick hug and followed Braedyn out the door with the imposing Frenchman tagging along behind.

* * * *

Amber dosed off and on in the chair next to the bed. He smiled, looking at their laced fingers. Even in her sleep, she would periodically tighten her grip to make sure he was still there.

His father, Terry, and Allen paced the hallway corridor and the stairs. On occasion, one would briefly peek in to check on them.

He was still drowsy from the painkillers Amber insisted he take. While he was healing, there was still a great deal of pain. She assured him rest was what he needed more than anything else and to let the medicine do its job.

Curled in the chair next to his bed, Dean heard her gentle purr when she rubbed his knuckles against her cheek.

A nurse came to check his vitals some time later and covered Amber with a blanket. “Poor thing, she’s been worried to death about you. Hasn’t left you for a moment since you’ve been here,” the nurse commented with a smile.

“I’d do the same if the roles were reversed.”

She smiled and turned the lights down low. “Call if you need us Mr. Maynard.”

The door clicked shut behind her. Looking at Amber, he smiled and squeezed her hand again. Hating that he’d been mauled, Dean couldn’t help but draw comfort from the fact she’d not left his side.

* * * *

Amber’s eyes snapped open when she heard soft murmurs and the rustle of papers outside the room. It was seven-thirty, change of shift. She stretched and turned to Dean, surprised to see his face almost healed, save for some light bruising. Feeling better about touching more than his hand, she leaned over the rail and grazed her lips against his. Shocked, she let out a light gasp when Dean cradled her face, extending the kiss.

She giggled and pulled away. “Good morning, handsome.”

“Morning, baby.” He yawned and rubbed his eyes. “Everything is starting to feel like normal again.”

Amber nodded. “You’re healing very quickly. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the wounds have already closed up now. You’ll still be a little sore for another day or so. I just want to get you home so we can all rest easier.”

Dean furrowed his brows. “Did they catch Elan last night?”

“I don’t know. I’ve not heard from any of them since they left, though your dad and the others are still patrolling the hospital. We’re going to try and get you out of here today.”

“I can’t go home yet,” he said, pulling himself into a sitting position. “Not while there is something I can do to help.”

“You can better help, by getting well, Dean. Have you any idea what it took for me to remain out of the loop all day yesterday and all of last night? I sat right here, with you, because I couldn’t bear to leave you again…” She ground her teeth against the tears that threatened to fall. “Please Dean, I can’t handle the thought of losing you again so soon.”

Pulling her into his arms, he sighed. “Neither one of us does well being docile,” he whispered in her ear. “I won’t be well for a while, I get that. But I will try and stay down until I can’t stand it anymore.”

She dabbed at her eyes. “I’ve cried more in the last twenty-four hours than I have since I was a child. Please…don’t make me do much more of it.”

He gave her a gentle smile and kissed away a few of the tears. “I promise to do my best to only make you cry tears of joy.”

Peyton knocked and stepped into the room. “Hey son, how are you feeling this morning?” he asked, stopping at the foot of the bed.

Dean grunted and grinned. “Kinda like I got my ass whipped.”

Laughing, his father patted his leg. “We’re going to get you out of here soon. Alan and Terry are doing their thing. I suspect your dismissal papers will be here any time now.”

“Have you heard from Casey or Braedyn yet?”

“No, but then again, the sun has just come up. So they’re resting. I did get a report from Pierre overnight. Apparently, Dori is comfortable with everything and refuses to leave and kept him quite busy making him use his telepathic ability to move pretty much the entire house around.”

Amber laughed and shook her head. “I’m glad to see she didn’t leave, but then again, Dori seemed to be the type to roll with whatever situation came around.”

Peyton nodded and smiled. “Odell Xanthis is her father. He and his wife got a late start in life when they had Dorian. She probably thinks he’s nothing more than a furniture maker who told fanciful stories. He just retired and went back to Greece with Dori’s mother.”

Feeling her jaw go slack, Amber shook her head. “You’re not kidding? Dori’s father was a Guardian?”

“He was, so maybe drawing the connections with some of his tales wasn’t too much of a leap for her. Aaron lent us the use of one of the estate cars, so getting you out of here won’t be too much of an issue.”

Dean grunted. “Good, because I don’t think I could handle Laveaux’s type of transport right now.” Letting out a deep breath, he ran a hand through his hair. “I wonder what Elan is waiting for before he strikes again?”

Setting her jaw, Amber shook her head. “He’s hard to predict.”

He scoffed and motioned to himself. “Tell me about it.”

A nurse knocked and entered. “Well good morning there, Mr. Maynard. It’s good to see you’re up. We’re in the process of getting ready to discharge you. I just need to take a quick peak at your stitches, and you can get dressed.”

Amber stepped back from the bed and watched the nurse remove Dean’s bandages. She grimaced and clenched her fists. Peyton walked over and draped an arm around her shoulders.

“He’s alive honey, that’s all the matters,” he murmured.

Blinking away tears of rage, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself.

The nurse cleaned the wounds and commented on the healing process. “These on your chest are coming along nicely. The ones on your neck have just about healed up.” She replaced a smaller amount of bandages and cleaned up her mess. “Well then, you can go ahead and get dressed. We should have you wrapped up and ready to go within the hour. Are you in any pain?”

Sitting up again, he grunted. “Nothing I can’t handle for the moment.”

“You let us know if it gets too bad. Okay?”

Once the nurse closed the door, Peyton stepped over to the small closet, pulled out his pack, and set it in the chair Amber had been sitting in. “I can trust you to the chore of getting him dressed?”

Heat seared her cheeks and she struggled not to smile. “It might be a tough job, but I think I can handle it.”

Peyton laughed, walking over to the door. “I didn’t think you’d turn it down. I’m just going to make sure everything is still moving along.” He winked and closed the door behind himself.

Dean grinned. “Do you think you can manage the task at hand?”

“Hmm.” She pulled his clothes from the bag and set them on the bed. A pair of jeans, a white long-sleeved T-shirt, a thick flannel, boxer briefs, and a pair of thick winter socks. “I think so.” Turning to him, Amber dropped the banter. “How
are
you feeling?”