Kellin and J.T. sat by the fire when he came back under cover ten minutes later.\u00a0 He\u2019d lingered out by the edge of the tents long enough to watch the dark clouds starting to build in as the sun inched higher in the sky.\u00a0 J.T. didn\u2019t look like he\u2019d slept at all as he cradled a mug of hot, strong coffee between his palms, peering blearily over the rim at Thom as he approached.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere were you?\u201d\u00a0 J.T. asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching the sun come up,\u201d Thom said, scrubbing his hand over his face.\u00a0 \u201cWas thinking to get some work done out there today, but there\u2019s a storm rolling in.\u00a0 It\u2019s not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSurprised you weren\u2019t still in bed with Marin,\u201d J.T. said, watching as Thom sat down next to the fire, stretching his booted feet out toward the flames.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat surprises everyone every time I\u2019m not there and she is,\u201d Thom muttered, staring at the flames for a long moment.\u00a0 Cold still nibbled at his toes inside his boots from standing so long in the snow outside.\u00a0 \u201cShe was asleep and safe.\u00a0 I decided to let her keep right on sleeping.\u201d\u00a0 He glanced down at the sketchbook in his lap.\u00a0 How much of what we\u2019re building today am I building for her?\u00a0 For our son?\u00a0 For no one else but them?<\/i>\u00a0 He swallowed hard.\u00a0 As much as he liked to tell himself that it was for everyone, more of it was for them\u2014for her, for the son that hadn\u2019t been born yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because you\u2019re more protective of her than a mother bear protecting her cubs,\u201d J.T. said, shaking his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cBut I\u2019m glad that you trusted what we told you enough to leave her alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom nodded absently, still staring at the flames.\u00a0 \u201cIt was easier when Matt found me asleep in the chair and told me to go to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat time was that?\u201d\u00a0 Kellin asked as she handed Thom a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust after the first watch,\u201d Thom said.\u00a0 \u201cMatt had it and he came to check on Marin and I after he was relieved.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust after we finally finished up with Phelan,\u201d J.T. mumbled.<\/p>\n
Thom looked at him sidelong.\u00a0 \u201cHow is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll make it,\u201d J.T. said, trying to smother a yawn.\u00a0 \u201cSorry.\u00a0 I had the overnight.\u00a0 Jac\u2019s with him now, making sure he doesn\u2019t try to flop out of bed.\u00a0 She\u2019ll probably sit on his legs if he does.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to see him try to lift her off of him with a hole in his side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kellin winced.\u00a0 \u201cWas it that bad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty bad,\u201d J.T. said.\u00a0 \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t look like it hit his spleen or any other organs, so it\u2019ll heal and he\u2019ll live.\u00a0 We\u2019ll need to get fluids into him when he wakes up, but I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll complain too much.\u00a0 He\u2019ll just be happy to still be breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aren\u2019t we all?<\/i>\u00a0 Thom shook his head and sipped his coffee.\u00a0 \u201cThis shit needs to stop happening to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pretty sure he knows, but do you want to remind him?\u201d\u00a0 J.T. smiled tiredly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019d love<\/i> to hear it from you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many I told you so<\/i> moments has he had already?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis time or all the other times?\u201d\u00a0 J.T. stretched and took a deep draught from his mug.\u00a0 \u201cThis time I think it\u2019s number three or four, if you count it by people.\u00a0 Thordin alone told him he was an idiot and needed to be more careful half a dozen times, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cThen I\u2019m thinking he doesn\u2019t need to hear it from me, too.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cEveryone else seem to be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeems like,\u201d J.T. said.\u00a0 \u201cCameron\u2019s sleeping it off and Rory\u2019s sleeping the sleep of the freaking dead, but after what he tossed around yesterday, I can\u2019t exactly blame him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kellin shivered.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think any of us quite suspected that he could do<\/i> that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t count on that,\u201d Thom said quietly.<\/p>\n
Kellin arched a brow at him and he shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cOdds are, she knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kellin sighed and shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe, maybe not.\u00a0 Do you really think it\u2019s worth asking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably not,\u201d Thom admitted, eyes returning to the fire.\u00a0 \u201cProbably not.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kellin and J.T. sat by the fire when he came back under cover ten minutes later.\u00a0 He\u2019d lingered out by the edge of the tents long enough to watch the dark clouds starting to build in as the sun inched … Continue reading