Page 43 of When You're Broken
Rob offered a playful scowl.“I guess you’d say that.But you try having half your side patched up with staples.Then we’ll see who’s cracking jokes.”
Amelia laughed gently, letting her gaze sweep over them."We're just happy you're up and talking.This time, three weeks ago, you were barely coherent."
“Blame it on the morphine,” Rob deadpanned, and they all shared a short laugh.
Eleanor cleared her throat, stepping forward with a flourish.“Since we’re all gathered, I have just the thing for this evening: a special bottle of wine I’ve been saving for… oh, who knows how long.But I figure if the last two weeks aren’t a cause for a ‘thank god we’re alive’ celebration, nothing is.”
Amelia perked an eyebrow at that.“I like the sound of that,” she said, though her tone carried a mild caution that Finn spotted.He stored the detail away as a curiosity.
Rob made to push himself up from his seat.“I’ll fetch it,” he said firmly.“You all just watch.”
“Easy,” Amelia admonished.“No rushing around.”
“He’s milking this,” Finn added.
But Rob already had his palms braced on the sofa arms, wincing as he stood.“And I thought a bullet to the gut was painful… But now I have to listen to Finn’s jokes again.”He grinned through clenched teeth, clearly still in some pain.
Finn rose hastily, flinching at the mild throb in his own leg.He still had a slight limp from the wound.“I’ll help,” he offered, trailing after Rob as they walked, or more accurately limped, toward the kitchen.
“Please do,” Rob said, exhaling with relief.“Never realized how heavy a wine bottle can be.”
“Race you,” Finn joked as they limped along.
Once they were out of earshot, crossing into the small but well-lit kitchen, Rob let out a long breath.The overhead lamp glinted off the counters, stainless steel appliances standing at polished attention.The range hissed lightly from residual heat of cooking.Finn paused to ensure Rob was stable.
“You sure you’re all right?”Finn asked softly, leaning his weight on the counter.“We’d understand if you’re still not up to it.”
Rob shot him a sidelong glare that lacked real venom.“I’m fine.I just needed to stand.And besides, you’re limping yourself.Some pair we make, stumbling around like geriatric men.Next, we’ll be fighting over who gets the walker first.”
Finn grinned, rummaging in a cupboard for glasses.“I’d say you have me beat for dramatic injuries.Coma from a gunshot to the stomach trumps a battered calf.”He sobered for a second.“I’m just… so damned relieved you pulled through.You had us all terrified.”
Rob set his hands on the counter, gaze drifting toward the archway leading to the lounge.From there, the murmur of conversation provided a calm background.“I didn’t realize how precarious that line was until waking up in that hospital bed.It’s humbling, I guess.But seeing them—” he nodded toward the voices, “—makes it worth it.Even if I nearly died for it.”
Finn glimpsed Eleanor’s silhouette, seated next to Amelia and Brendan, the three of them exchanging quiet words.“It’s good to see your place full of life again,” Finn commented.“And seeing Amelia reconnect with her brother… That’s part of what we fought for.Well, that and the fact Wendell needed to be stopped.Hopefully he’ll never see the light of day again.”
A flicker of warmth passed across Rob’s face.“Family is a complicated thing, but it’s important,” he said.“Not all family is blood, though.”He let that statement hang, glancing at Finn meaningfully.“You, me, we’ve been like family for a while now, yeah?”
Finn felt his chest tighten with an emotion he seldom voiced.“The medication must be really strong.”He hesitated.“You going sentimental on me, Rob?”
Rob’s lips twitched in a half grin.“Trust you to ruin a nice moment.Let’s see about that wine.”He rummaged in a lower cabinet, retrieving a dark green bottle and holding it up to the overhead light.The label had turned yellowish at the edges, the writing in an elegant script.“Eleanor’s prized vintage.She’s threatened me with bodily harm for trying to open this before, so I’m guessing it’s the prized vintage.”
Finn grabbed the corkscrew from a drawer.“We deserve something nice after what we’ve been through.”He paused, glancing at Rob’s bandaged torso.“But let’s not overdo it on the alcohol, right?”
Rob huffed.“Don’t fuss.I’ll have a glass and I’ll enjoy it.Then maybe I’ll slump on the couch while you kids talk your heads off.”
“You’re definitely not going on duty next week, right?”Finn asked with a raised eyebrow.“Because if I find you at your desk, I might shoot you myself.You can barely stand.”
A wry grin touched Rob’s face.“I wish everyone would stop coddling me.The Home Office says I can do light tasks.No heavy field work.Desk duty’s possible.”
Finn shook his head.“You should rest.If you throw yourself back in, you’ll do yourself no favors.The bullet that nearly killed you is reason enough to lounge for as long as you can.”
Rob’s eyes flicked with frustration, but he acquiesced.“You’re all conspiring against me, I see.”
Before Finn could retort, they heard Amelia calling from the lounge.“What’s taking you two so long?We’re starving!”
Rob winked at Finn, as if to sayLet’s go.They gathered the bottle of wine and some glasses, stepping back into the lounge where the others waited.Finn took slow steps, trying not to aggravate his own leg.He spotted Amelia, hands folded on the table, looking mildly impatient but also a touch amused.
Eleanor rose to help, gently tugging Rob’s arm to guide him to his seat again.“Sit, you stubborn man.Let me handle the pouring.”She offered a supportive hand under Rob’s elbow.
