Page 64 of Out of Sight

Eventually they got her back into a room of her own and I was allowed to sit with her until she woke up. The Colonel had commandeered a conference room on the same floor and set himself up there, making calls and looking very important when I snuck a look in at him through the glass window.

But after that I waited with Claire. I sat next to her and held her hand and kissed her lips and crossed my fingers and toes and legs and fucking eyeballs that she would wake up. The doctors said she would, but I needed to see those beautiful honey eyes myself. I stared at her face, willing her to wake up for who knows how long until those gorgeous eyelids finally lifted. Her eyes were unfocused at first, but then her gaze finally locked onto me.

She smiled.

“You’re here,” she mumbled, the effects of the anesthesia still slowing her down.

“I am,” I assured her. “Your Rose made it out of the water safely.”

She gifted me a little smile. “And Jack survived, too.”

“For once.” I rolled my eyes, trying to act a lot more put together than I was. She didn’t need to see me wimp out and start crying. Again.

“I’m tired, Will,” she said, her eyes drifting closed.

“Then go to sleep, Claire. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

She smiled again before passing back out.

I smiled, too.

She was okay. She’d be just fine.

I opened up the door to her room, signaling one of the cops hanging around to come closer.

“I'm not really supposed to have these,” I told him, handing over Jim's gun and badge. Claire was safe and on the mend, so I was going to do everything the right way from now on. “They belonged to our US Marshal. I took the gun for self defense and the badge in case we needed some sort of proof of our identities.”

Not that the cops gave us a chance on the side of the road,I rolled my eyes.

He didn't make a big deal out of it—he probably didn't know my history and had no idea I was breaking the law by holding onto a firearm—and checked the safety on the Glock before pocketing both. “I'll make sure they get to the proper people.”

I nodded, relieved to have that off my conscious. Now it was time for something else that was long overdue.

I called Kaylie.

twenty-four

Claire

Iwas surprised to see Lucas Blake at my bedside when I woke up. Where was Will?

“Glad to see you awake,” he said, a friendly smile gracing his face.

“Yeah, bet you never thought you’d see me—” us, if Will is still around “—again. What are you doing here?”

“Will called. He didn’t know anyone else who could vouch for you guys, so here I am. Apparently you were in an armed standoff with some cops?” He was smiling, trying to make light of the situation, but I had other, more important things to focus on.

“Will, huh. Where is he right about now?”He said he’d be here when I woke up.

“He was here until just a minute ago. He had to go to the bathroom, but he’ll be back. He’s going to be upset he missed you opening your eyes.”

“I’ll bet,” I grinned. He was going to be pissed and it would be adorable.

“It seems like a lot has happened since I last saw you guys. Care to fill me in?”

“Maybe later,” I said, seeing Will hovering in the doorway. “Right now I just want to rest.”

“Okay,” Blake said, glancing at Will and standing up. “We’ll get out of your hair.”

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