Page 141 of One Last Chance

“What?”

“That half heart doesn’t belong to me anymore.”

Flynn frowned.

“It belongs to him.” She pointed to Axel, now being covered in a blanket and strapped into the chopper.

Oh.Flynn closed the chain inside her grip, then slipped it into her pocket.

“By the way, I see you bought one of my pieces.” Kennedy touched Flynn’s necklace. “Did I hear Axel call you Sparrow?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Mmm. Not even a sparrow will fall outside the Father’s care.”

Flynn frowned.

“It’s a Bible verse. Probably a good one for you to remember.”

“You too.”

Kennedy smiled. “Tell Mom and Dad I love them.”

“You should tell them yourself.”

Kennedy looked at Sully, who held her hand. His eyes shone, his gaze on her. “Maybe I will.”

“Let’s go, Flynn,” Shep said. “We need to get Axel some antibiotics for all the goo he ingested. Deke is flying out here to take care of business.”

Flynn nodded, then turned back to Kennedy. “Sorry for the trouble.”

“No, you’re not. But I love you for it.” Kennedy squeezed her hand, then stepped back as Flynn got in, closed the door.

The rotor wash lifted Kennedy’s red hair, stirred it, and she leaned back into Sully’s arms, Jericho’s dog barking wildly.

Flynn settled back, pulling on her headphones but hearing Barry’s voice, deep and resounding through her.“When God is in control, even death and decay can turn into good.”

Maybe, yes.

Boo had set Axel up with oxygen, and he lay strapped into the litter, eyes closed. Flynn watched him for a moment.

Yes, breathing.

Her Jack. Rescued.

She turned, her eyes wet, and looked out the window as the sun crested behind the high mountains, refusing to fall, refusing the darkness.

Then she leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and slept with her face to the light.

* * *

Axel woke up out of a pretty decent dream. He’d been diving, deep in the blue, the water cool but not frigid, so not in Alaska, thank you. Someplace warm, the sun on the water, its rays hitting deep into the reef, illuminating the rainbow fish and blue gills, and he could breathe. Deep, full breaths that satisfied his lungs, settled into his bones.

He’d drifted, letting the current take him.

And then pressure on his arm woke him, and Axel opened his eyes to a nurse—the same one as a week ago—but still, it felt like a small millennium—who’d taken care of Flynn.

He couldn’t remember her name, but she seemed familiar, her eyes kind when she stripped the cuff off him. “Good morning, sunshine.”

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