Page 107 of Body and Soul

At last, we broke through the trees and emerged near where I’d left the SUV parked. I yanked open the rear door of the SUV and dove inside, cradling Eli's trembling body against my chest as I sprawled across the backseat. Gavin was half a heartbeat behind me, vaulting into the driver's seat and slamming the vehicle into gear before his door had fully closed. The engine roared as he punched the gas, the sudden forward lurch pressing me back into the leather upholstery.

Tires screeched and spat gravel as we fishtailed out onto the narrow track leading away from the compound. I clutched Eli tighter, pulling him hard against me.

Eli shuddered and whimpered in my arms, his breath coming in sharp, panicked hitches against my neck. Each broken sound was a blade to my heart, a reminder of how close I'd come to losing him. I buried my face in his filthy, matted hair, uncaring of the grime, and breathed in his scent beneath the layers of blood and terror. The primal need to soothe and comfort him, to wrap him in my scent and shelter him from the world, was a physical ache in my bones.

“Shh, little rabbit. You’re safe now. I’ve got you, and I’m never letting you go again.”

My eyes fluttered open.My brain was foggy and unfocused. I blinked slowly, trying to clear the haze from my vision. Soft white light filtered in from somewhere, too diffuse to determine its source. Where was I? The last thing I remembered was Keres carrying me through the dark woods, the smell of blood and dirt all around us. Then…nothing.

As shapes and shadows gradually took on discernible forms, I realized with a start that I was in my room at Shepherd's apartment. The slate gray duvet cover, the minimalist metal bedframe, the art print on the wall… It was all exactly as I had left it. But how had I gotten here? And when?

I tried to lift my arm, wanting to rub my bleary eyes, but found there was an odd tugging sensation in the crook of my elbow. Glancing down, I saw an IV line snaking out from under a strip of medical tape on my skin, the slim plastic tube filled with clear fluid. Saline, probably. I was likely dehydrated thanks to the forced fasting.

I blinked again, my mind slowly catching up to my surroundings. I turned my head to the side, wincing slightly at the stiffness in my neck, and saw Gavin sitting in a chair beside the bed.

He looked up from the book in his hands, his eyes meeting mine with a calm, assessing gaze. “Eli. It's good to see you awake.”

I swallowed thickly, my throat dry and scratchy. “How long was I out?” I rasped, the words feeling strange on my tongue.

Gavin set his book aside and stood, moving closer to the bed. “About eighteen hours,” he replied, reaching for a cup of water on the nightstand.

“Eighteen hours?”

He nodded and held the straw to my lips, and I drank gratefully, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat. “You went through quite a lot.”

I nodded slowly, my gaze drifting back to the IV line in my arm. “What's this for?”

“Saline and electrolytes,” Gavin explained. “To rehydrate you and replenish what was lost. I started the IV when we brought you in.”

I looked at him questioningly. I hadn't known Gavin had medical training.

As if reading my thoughts, the corner of his mouth quirked up slightly. “I'm a registered nurse. Part time, when I'm not assisting Shepherd. It comes in handy in situations like these.”

“Oh.” I absorbed this new information, trying to piece together the fragmented shards of my memory. Everything felt hazy, like I was viewing it through a frosted glass. “Why can't I remember much of what happened? After the woods, it's all... blurry.”

Gavin regarded me with a thoughtful expression. “It's not uncommon, after a traumatic experience, for the mind to block out certain memories as a defense mechanism. Give it time. Itmay come back to you.” He leaned in closer, studying my face intently. “I'm going to do a quick neuro check, alright? Just to make sure everything is functioning as it should.”

I nodded my assent and followed his instructions as he shone a penlight in my eyes, had me track his finger, checked my reflexes and grip.

Satisfied with the results of his examination, Gavin sat back and regarded me thoughtfully. “Everything looks good, Eli. Your vitals are stable and your neurological responses are within normal range. How are you feeling otherwise? Any pain or discomfort?”

I took a moment to assess my physical state. My body felt heavy and sluggish, like I was moving through molasses, and there was a bone-deep ache that seemed to permeate every cell. But it was a far cry from the misery I’d felt in the RV.

“Just tired,” I replied honestly. “And sore. But nothing too bad.”

Gavin nodded. “That's to be expected, given what you've been through. Your body needs time to heal.” He stood and began tidying the medical supplies on the bedside table, his movements efficient and precise.

I watched him work, a sudden thought occurring to me. “Where's Shepherd?” I asked, a tinge of worry creeping into my voice. “Is he... okay?”

Gavin paused in his task, turning to face me with a reassuring expression. “Shepherd is fine,” he said calmly. “But it's not him fronting in the body at the moment. It's Bryce.”

I blinked in surprise. Bryce was fronting? A wave of relief washed over me, followed quickly by a pang of longing. Bryce's steady, nurturing presence was exactly what I needed right now.

“Do you feel up to seeing him?” Gavin asked, studying my face carefully. “I know you're still recovering, so there's no pressure if you'd rather rest more first.”

I shook my head, already pushing myself up to a sitting position. “No, I want to see him,” I said, wincing slightly as my stiff muscles protested the movement. “Please.”

Gavin nodded and moved to disconnect the IV line from my arm, his touch gentle and sure. He placed a small bandage over the insertion site before offering me his hand. I grasped his hand gratefully and let him help me to my feet. The room swayed alarmingly for a moment and I swallowed hard against a wave of dizziness. Gavin kept a steadying arm around my waist as I found my balance, his solid presence a comfort.

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