Page 34 of Tribute
He was breathing hard, his gray eyes narrowed. “Yeah, don’t look so shocked. That’s the kind of guy I am, Anna Lee, so don’t make me out to be a hero.” He turned away from her. “Now get out and go back to bed. I’ll be ready to take you to the hospital at eight hundred hours.”
She barely waited to be told, but ran back to the safety of her bedroom before he could see her tears.
The next morning he was waiting for her, dressed in his usual black uniform, his expression unreadable as he checked and primed his weapons. She forced down a cup ofjavron, put on the heavy sweatshirt he offered her, and followed him over to the front door. He turned off the security system right in front of her so that she could read the codes, and waited as the door unlocked.
“After you, Lee.”
Anna took a step toward the brightness and then hesitated long enough for Akran to walk right into her. His hand curved over her elbow.
“It’s okay. We’re going to walk to the transport system and pick up a military vehicle to the hospital there.”
“They couldn’t pick us up here?” God, was that her squeaky voice?
“I thought you might like to take a look at the city.”
“Why?”
His voice was patient. “Because you might want to live here one day.”
“Next door to you, right? How sweet.”
He let go of her arm. “We’re going to take the elevator to the street level.”
She allowed him to walk slightly ahead of her, unwilling to share how afraid she was and how angry and ashamed that fear made her. Everything except Akran felt like a threat. The most innocuous objects they passed could hide anything . . .
“Lee, are you doing okay?”
She looked up to find that he was waiting for her about ten meters down the hallway and that she had stopped to stare at an abstract pink painting on the wall.
“Sorry, just admiring the artwork.”
He shot a guarded look at her as they waited in front of the elevator. “It was pink, Lee, and that wasn’t admiration I saw in your eyes. It was pure terror.”
She opened her mouth to make him shut up, but he held up his hand.
“Look, it’s going to be hard enough for you to get through today without us fighting. Shall we call a truce? If you feel bad or worried or anything spooks you out, tell me, okay? I don’t want you jumping off the roof here.”
“Is that what Solly did?”
The elevator dinged. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
“No.” She hunched her shoulder at him. “And yes, I’ll tell you if I’m freaking out.”
“Thank you.” The doors opened and he ushered her inside. “Now hold my hand, and don’t lose yourgreezwhen the doors close.”
The city was huge and totally overwhelming. Anna was worn out before they even reached the hospital. It seemed that every single thing she feared featured on Akran’s innocent walk and ride to the hospital. Small spaces, tunnels, the press of the crowds . . .
She glanced up at his face, which had gone back into his usual austere military mode. He’d done it deliberately. There was no way the military wouldn’t have picked her up at his place. She was a valued and much-honored citizen for life now.He’ddecided there were a few things she had to face. But he hadn’t let her deal with the shit alone. He’d been right alongside her, anticipating her reactions, calming her down, holding her freaking hand . . .
“Are you sitting in on the testing today?”
“If you want me to, I can certainly try.”
“Unless you have other stuff to do. You must have put your life on hold to babysit me.” God, now she was babbling like some sort of teenager with her first crush.
His smile was brief. “Thisismy life, Lee.”
“No family to visit?”
