Page 105 of No Mistake

“OK, go get cleaned up and get some rest. All of you. You heard the doctor, he's going to be out for a while. There’s nothing more you can do here, and you all need some sleep,” Sam ordered.

“I’m staying.” Dex met Sam’s eyes. No point battling with him on this one.

He nodded. “The rest of you go. I’ll stay with Dex and if there’s any news, we’ll let you know. Liam, you guys need to go home, get rested. If we get a lead on Perez, Nyx will be up.”

Before Dex had a chance to protest, Sam silenced him. “No, Dawson. None of you will be a hundred percent focused right now.” Dex’s jaw tightened, and he anticipated an argument, but Dex surprised him by staying quiet.

Liam addressed his team. “You heard the boss. Come on, let’s go.” Liam stopped in front of Dex. “That tough son of a bitch will make it and if they find Perez, we’ll get him, you have my word.”

OPENING THE DOOR QUIETLY, Sophie stepped into Ryan’s room, not surprised to see Dex there. He looked up from where he sat next to the bed.

“Hey, Sophie.”

“I just wanted to come and see him.”

“Of course.”

She moved closer to the bed. The bruises on his face were darkening. The cut above his eye had been stitched, the skin red and raw. The thought of him being stabbed and left to die still shredded her heart. It didn’t matter how strong he was, how tough. He was human and it killed her to think of the pain he’d endured. For Chloe. For her. A strangled sob bubbled in her throat.

“You of all people know it looks worse than what it is.” Dex stood, putting an arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah, it’s still a shock when it’s someone you know.” She swallowed, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

“He’s a tough bastard. And I have a feeling he’s not ready to leave you.” Dex squeezed her shoulder.

Sophie looked at him sheepishly.

“Boys talk, too, you know.”

She gave him a weak smile. “Brothers in all but blood,” she whispered, a little embarrassed at just what Ryan might have discussed with him.

Dex smiled. “Yeah. And we’ve been through a lot of shit together and come out the other side. And he’ll come out of this.”

“What you guys have. The team. It’s something special. I mean I see it at the base, but I’ve gotten to know you all a lot better over the past few months, it’s pretty amazing.”

“It’s a special bond. You can’t do what we do and not become close. We trust each other with our lives. We’re a family, and whether you like it or not, you’re a part of that family.”

Sophie turned her gaze back to Ryan. “So everyone keeps telling me. I don’t know why. I’m not out there serving like you guys, risking my life all the time.”

“It’s not about that, Sophie. And it’s not even about you and Ryan being together. It’s about the people we trust. The people we can rely on. You’re one of those people. You’ve cared for me and my team for years now. You’re always there. When we’re injured, Tyler might patch us up in the field, but do you know we refuse to go to closer hospitals, instead waiting until we’re back in Coronado for treatment because we trust you. And what you did for Kelly. Sophie, if it wasn’t for you and Ryan, I’m not sure we would have made it back together after what happened to her. That’s family.”

Sophie didn’t know what to say, overwhelmed once again at being considered a part of this wonderful group of people.

“I’ll leave you for a while.” Giving her shoulders a final squeeze, Dex left.

Sophie sat in the vacant chair, taking Ryan’s hand in hers. Even with his bruised face, the man was so damn handsome and stirred feelings in her she’d never felt before.

“God dammit, Ryan, why did you have to choose me? You just wouldn’t give up and, Christ, I’m so in love with you, and I don’t know how to handle that.” She really didn’t. Damn she’d dreamed of being with him, but now that it might be a possibility, nerves were creeping in. Her emotions were all over the place. Guilt still gnawed at her for getting him involved, and she felt sick with fear at the risks he’d taken and would always take with his job.

Kissing his hand, she reached up and touched his cheek. “Please be OK,” she whispered. “If you’re not, I don’t know how I can live with that, knowing I dragged you into this.” If he didn’t make a full recovery, she’d never forgive herself. He lived for what he did. To not be able to do that again would destroy him. That would be on her. The family Dex spoke about, what would they think of her then, if Ryan didn’t pull through this?

“I’m sorry, Ryan. I’m so sorry. If you hadn’t brought me coffee that day, you wouldn’t be laying here like this.”

She stood up, wiping her eyes. Leaning over, she touched her lips to his forehead. “Forgive me, Ryan.” Dropping his hand she left the room, her heart shattering into a thousand pieces.

HE WAS DROWNING. BEING sucked under, deeper, but not in water, in blood. It was everywhere and he couldn’t stop it. He tried to move his hands, which seemed to be pinned down. And it hurt bad. Fuck. Really bad. The blood just kept on coming, making patterns on the floor. His eyes were drawn to the patterns, the lines swirling, a face forming. Then it was there, in full vivid color. Sophie. Her beautiful face looking up at him. Her soft smile lighting up those sparkling blue eyes, making everything else disappear. Mmmm, no more pain, no more blood. Just Sophie. The image faded. He fought to open his eyes to see her better, but couldn’t. Why couldn’t he open his eyes? She disappeared and he sank into darkness.

Words. Someone was talking. No, wait, two people. Couldn’t make out the words. Where the fuck was he? Underwater? Was that Sophie’s hand he could feel? Her voice? The voice was muffled. Fuck, he wanted to get out of the water, break through the surface, get to the voices, to Sophie. But it wasn’t water, it was red. He was drowning again. Fight, dammit, fight, Ryan. It was no use. He was sinking in his own blood, deep into darkness.

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