Page 6 of The Devil on my Chest

“He’s not going to be very happy,” Mal said. “He has a long and very affectionate relationship with his own mattress.”

“Oh, that’s expected,” Amy said with a smile. “I don’t think anybody’s woken up in here in a good mood.” She had a delightful laugh. “However, if you get the chance, you need to ask your friend about the curse. Just ask him pointblank, when he was cursed.”

“Rocky knows something is wrong, but would he know he’s actually been cursed?” Mal frowned. “I’m not sure that is a good idea. I don’t want to upset him.”

“It’s the only chance we’ve got at this point of finding any clues as to when or what caused his issues,” Amy said. “Most people are aware that they have been cursed. I haven’t met a magic user yet who’s cast one and hasn’t gloated about the fact that they’ve done it.

“However, it’s possible, because Rocky hasn’t said anything to you about it all these years, that part of the curse’s hold on him is preventing him speaking of it. If you ask him point-blank about it, tell him that’s what the doctors have found, this will give Doctor Nelson a chance to see how his body reacts to being faced with the truth of his situation.”

“I’ll do my best,” Mal said. “Believe me, I want to know how to help him more than anything. But I worry that questioning him so bluntly will upset him and make the situation worse.”

“If you think about it, that’s not possible,” Amy said kindly. “What he’s going through right now is basically torture here on earth. Just remember that the moment he starts to get agitated, starts yelling for cake or however it is his curse manifests, DoctorNelson is right outside with the injection necessary to force his shift. The really good thing about us living with dual spirits is that his wolf won’t be craving cake and will also have a more simplistic view of why he’s here at all. Doctor Nelson is sure once Rocky’s wolf knows you’re here and keeping him company, he’ll probably just appreciate being out and stretching his legs.”

Mal wished he could feel as confident. He’d been going through his journals, reading page after page, and he couldn’t work out the last time Rocky had actually shifted.

He knew that Rocky had shifted when he was tracking down Simon, when Simon got abducted, but he couldn’t find any other indication of shifts for work reasons or pleasure. He could’ve shifted when the sheriff’s office got bombed, although Mal was fairly sure that it had been him that had shifted. The bottom line was Mal was just so tired. Events, incidents, and chances when Rocky might have shifted for his job were all blending in with each other. Didn’t he shift when Deputy Joe was having a problem with the buffalo shifter out on that sheep farm? Again, random thoughts popping in and out of Mal’s mind and he really couldn’t keep his timeline straight.

He watched as Amy efficiently unplugged the sedative line and moved it away, although he noticed that the monitoring systems were still taped to Rocky’s chest.

“You’ll notice that he’s coming out of his sedation when his heart rate starts to increase,” she said as she patted Rocky’s arm and turned to leave. “If you need anything at all, just call. There’s somebody right outside the door.”

“I appreciate your patience and taking the time to let me know what’s going on. Thank you,” Mal said.

“You’re more than welcome. Now, I’m off to find you a breakfast sandwich. It sounds like a really delicious idea,” Amy said. “Imight just grab one for myself.” Mal smiled because he knew it was expected, but he let out a long sigh as she let herself out of the room.

The next hour or so was going to be the longest in history. Mal pulled out his phone. He had messages from their friends in Arrowtown to reply to.

/~/~/~/~/

It was fifty-two minutes when Rocky started to twitch. Mal noticed because he’d watched every second tick away on his phone. The movements were slight at first, almost imperceptible, but Mal knew his friend better than his friend knew himself. He watched as Rocky twitched and then his nose started flaring.

He’s trying to work out where he is,Mal thought fondly. That was always Rocky’s routine, stemming from when they had been living on the streets together. Rocky always wanted to know where he was, who was around, and what their situation was from the moment he woke up.

Mal could tell the moment Rocky realized he was in the room. A small smile tugged at Rocky’s lips and his shoulder’s relaxed a little into the mattress. Mal quickly finished off the last of his sandwich and gulped the dregs from his coffee mug before dragging his chair closer to the bed.

Holding Rocky’s hand, he watched the man’s face until Rocky’s eyes finally opened.

“Hey there, sleeping beauty,” Mal said quietly. “How are you feeling?”

“Like someone hit me over the head with a set of dumbbells.” Rocky groaned. “Gods, what is this place?” He looked around.“Did we make it? Is this where Doc’s friend is? The research place? Where are we?”

“Yep, we’re in New York. You got to fly on a really fancy plane, and you barely noticed it. Never mind, you can experience it properly when we head back.”

“I’m not healed.” Rocky’s frown was immediate. “I can feel it, Mal. That thing’s still inside of me.”

“Hey, hey, hey.” Mal stroked Rocky’s shoulder. “It’s all right. We’ve got people working day and night to find a solution to this problem of yours. Speaking of which, when were you going to tell me you were cursed, you silly doofus? Honestly, don’t you think we would have been able to find some help before this if you’d just said something? The things you’ll do to get out of writing the monthly reports for the mayor’s office.”

“You write the reports. You like doing it. You say that I mess up all the statistics and those charts you make if I try to do them.”

He’s evading the question.

“Fair enough, I do like making those little charts and tables. But what about this curse, Rocky? Don’t you think you could’ve told me? I didn’t think we had any secrets from each other.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s no such thing as that…that word you said.”

“It’s a curse, Rocky.” Mal met Rocky’s frantic eyes and tried to keep his voice calm. “Doctor Nelson confirmed it. We need to know when you were cursed and why, so we can break it. Don’t you want to get well?”

“Of course I do.” Rocky’s voice was rising. “You’re everything to me. I would tell you anything except…that…I…” He started to wheeze and then started to choke.

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