\u201cI\u2019m not going to disappear into the tunnels like some kind of terrified mouse this time,\u201d Jacqueline said as she examined the edges of J.T.\u2019s wound, which was finally starting to look normal<\/i> after weeks of looking otherwise.\u00a0 When silence met her statement, she risked a quick glance up to see Marin frowning at her as the other woman braced J.T. on his side.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s that look for?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be safe for you to stay topside,\u201d Marin said.\u00a0 \u201cWhat if something happens to you?\u00a0 The people that\u2019re already hurt won\u2019t have someone to take care of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll have Jay,\u201d Jacqueline said stubbornly.\u00a0 \u201cHis fever\u2019s broken and the wound\u2019s finally healing.\u00a0 You guys are going to need me in case something goes terribly sideways.\u00a0 Remember Kellin?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marin winced and Jacqueline momentarily regretted bringing it up.<\/p>\n
Of course she remembers Kellin.\u00a0 We all remember that, and Kel wasn\u2019t right after what I did for her for weeks after, but she eventually sorted it all out.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t mean it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u00a0 But unfortunately I also know that something like that happening again is a distinct possibility\u2014one I didn\u2019t want to think about.\u201d\u00a0 Marin sighed.\u00a0 \u201cAre you done there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWill be in a minute,\u201d Jacqueline said, pouring a measure of still-steaming water out of an insulated carafe into a small bowl that she\u2019d already filled with crushed herbs.\u00a0 She mixed it up into a hot paste, then began smearing it onto J.T.\u2019s wound with her fingers.<\/p>\n
His chest braced against Marin\u2019s knees, J.T. hissed.<\/p>\n
\u201cChrist,\u201d he muttered, his voice thick with pain and addled by long sleep, \u201cwhat the hell are you doing to me, Kel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking sure you stay alive,\u201d she retorted, trying to sound stern even as relief flooded her.\u00a0 The last few times he\u2019d woken up, he hadn\u2019t been this lucid.\u00a0 Take that as a good sign.\u00a0 He really <\/i>is on the mend.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cHold still.\u201d<\/p>\n
He shivered, then held still.\u00a0 \u201cWhen is it?\u201d he asked a few moments later, his voice a little clearer.<\/p>\n
Marin seemed to know the answer.\u00a0 \u201cCariocecus hits us tomorrow whether we like it or not,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n
J.T. swore softly.\u00a0 \u201cI have to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStay put,\u201d Jacqueline finished for him.\u00a0 \u201cUntil we need you to go down to the tunnels, you\u2019re going to stay put.\u00a0 You\u2019re not going to be any good to anyone in the state you\u2019re in and we both know it.\u201d\u00a0 She covered the long cut with a bandage and nodded to Marin.\u00a0 \u201cYou can lay him back down now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marin eased their friend back down again and J.T. cursed softly a second time, squeezing his eyes shut.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not going to do any good to the people who need it,\u201d he said stubbornly, softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, we don\u2019t get a vote,\u201d Jacqueline said.\u00a0 \u201cRight now, you\u2019re a liability in a fight.\u00a0 It\u2019s not like we can go and ask the bloody Shadow Man if he wouldn\u2019t mind holding off his assault because we have a couple of friends who\u2019re hurt but would love<\/i> to be involved in this fight so could you pretty please postpone your plans to rain fire and destruction upon us?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marin stared at her for a long moment, then burst out laughing\u2014so hard that she almost choked on it, tears gathering in her eyes and spilling down her cheeks.\u00a0 J.T. just stared at her, then sighed and looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u00a0 Fine.\u00a0 Whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know it\u2019s true, so don\u2019t you dare get like that.\u201d\u00a0 Jacqueline stood up and wiped her hands on the seat of her jeans, gathering the tools of her trade.\u00a0 \u201cYou stay put.\u00a0 Carolyn\u2019ll be back soon.\u00a0 We told her to go get herself something to eat while we were in here, but I\u2019ve got to go check on Cameron and Neve now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid your magic help her?\u201d\u00a0 J.T. asked, a strange tone of reverence in his voice.<\/p>\n
Jacqueline smiled weakly and nodded. \u201cSeemed to do the trick.\u00a0 She and Thom are a lot alike\u2014it\u2019s hard to keep her in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly sometimes,\u201d Marin said, calmer now.\u00a0 \u201cShe sticks pretty close to Cameron and worries.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like someone else we know,\u201d J.T. murmured.\u00a0 Marin blushed, but laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d she agreed.\u00a0 \u201cThere is that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacqueline smiled a lopsided little smile.\u00a0 \u201cAre you going to stay with him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor now, anyway,\u201d Marin said.\u00a0 \u201cUntil he pisses me off or Carolyn shows up, whichever happens first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u00a0 Do me a favor and stick around until Carolyn makes it back?\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to leave him alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a child,\u201d J.T. said petulantly, momentarily sounding like one.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it, too,\u201d Jacqueline said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re too big for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as we\u2019re clear,\u201d he said, closing his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re clear,\u201d Jacqueline said, her gaze flicking toward Marin, who smiled faintly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll stick around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d\u00a0 Jacqueline tossed her a jaunty salute and slipped out the door.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI\u2019m not going to disappear into the tunnels like some kind of terrified mouse this time,\u201d Jacqueline said as she examined the edges of J.T.\u2019s wound, which was finally starting to look normal after weeks of looking otherwise.\u00a0 When silence … Continue reading