Page 31 of Bullets and Dandelions

“They were covered in blood.” He led me across a hallway and opened a door.

“Oh.” I frowned and pointed. “That’s a urinal.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Why are we in the men’s restrooms? I’m a girl.”

“That you are.” Grinning, Stone guided me over to a stall and opened the door. “In you go.”

“No peeking.” I shut the door.

“No, ma’am.”

I sat on the toilet and did my business. “Are you laughing at me?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Why are you ma’aming me?”

“Because you’re high on morphine and too damn cute.”

Was he being nice to me? No way. I pulled off some toilet paper and stared at it for a moment. “Well, stop it.”

“Are you done, soldier?”

I wiped myself. “Yes.” I stood, flushed the toilet and pulled up my panties. Wait a minute. These weren’t my panties.

“Open the door, Tess.”

I did as he asked. “These aren’t my panties.” I yanked up my tee shirt. “See?”

His grin got bigger. “We got you fresh underwear.”

“Why?”

“Because your clothes were covered in blood.”

“Oh.” I sat on the floor. “Tired.” I laid down.

“No, you don’t.” Stone scooped me up. “You need to take your pills.”

“Don’t wanna.” I laid my head against his shoulder. “Promise you won’t let him kill me.”

“I promise.” Stone sat me on a bed. “Open your mouth.”

“What if I have bad breath?”

“You don’t.”

“You sure about that?”

“I am. Now take your pills.”

I opened my mouth.

Stone dropped two pills on my tongue and handed me a bottle of water. “Swallow them and you can have some chocolate.”

“Okay.” I washed the pills down. “Where’s my chocolate?”

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