{"id":701,"date":"2011-09-21T00:00:54","date_gmt":"2011-09-21T04:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=701"},"modified":"2011-09-09T23:18:42","modified_gmt":"2011-09-10T03:18:42","slug":"day-15-chapter-10-marin-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=701","title":{"rendered":"Day 15 – Chapter 10 – Marin – 07"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cEdges are starting to firm up nice,\u201d J.T. said, his quiet voice carried on the breeze as I approached.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s going to be a scar, but not as bad as it could\u2019ve been.\u00a0 Been keeping the antibac on it?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah, and uncovering it when I\u2019m not working on something so the air can get to it.\u201d\u00a0 Matt\u2019s gaze flicked toward me as I ducked into his cubby.\u00a0 J.T. was seated next to the mattress on the ground, his back to me and my brother\u2019s hand in both of his, examining the healing gash there.\u00a0 \u201cHey Mar.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I smiled faintly and stepped around J.T. to Matt\u2019s side.\u00a0 \u201cHey.\u00a0 Giving Jay any trouble?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cTons.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t smell as pretty as Jac and Leah.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned up at me, then looked back down to his hand.\u00a0 I winced a little as I watched the stitches down near the lower corner tug, but it apparently didn\u2019t bother him that much.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. glanced up over his shoulder at me and shot me a smile, then turned back to Matt\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cWell, you\u2019re doing all the right stuff, and that\u2019s as much as we can really do.\u00a0 Just keep on keeping it clean.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt nodded and withdrew his hand.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, J.T.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo problem.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I forced a grin.\u00a0 \u201cIs he going to live?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. snorted.\u00a0 \u201cWithout a doubt.\u00a0 I\u2019ll let you two be.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cActually\u2026I came looking for you.\u201d\u00a0 I tousled Matt\u2019s hair.\u00a0 \u201cSeeing my little brother is just an added bonus.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt muttered a curse and tried to put his hair back in order, getting up from the mattress.\u00a0 \u201cHate it when you do that, Mar.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019re you going?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGoing to watch people try to dig a well.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned at me and headed off.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. glanced at me while he was packing up his kit, chuckling.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m really glad I got off that detail.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I smiled wryly, nodding.\u00a0 \u201cI think I would be, too, but I think Matt\u2019s a little upset he can\u2019t be getting down and dirty with the rest of them, even if it is<\/em> hard work.\u201d\u00a0 I crossed my arms.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s really going to be okay?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGood as new in a few weeks, when everything\u2019s fully closed up, yeah.\u00a0 They were deep, but not too<\/em> deep, and he\u2019s doing everything right.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. straightened up, his smile warm as he touched my elbow.\u00a0 \u201cSo you can stop worrying about your little brother and get back to worrying about Thom.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My nose wrinkled and J.T. laughed, shaking his head.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYup, that\u2019s how Matt said you\u2019d react to that suggestion.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, at least everyone\u2019s sense of humor is intact.<\/em>\u00a0 I snorted softly and shook my head.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019d know it, too.\u201d\u00a0 I glanced off in the direction Matt had disappeared in, then looked back at J.T.\u00a0 \u201cCarolyn said you might need to talk.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T.\u2019s mirth faded and his expression blanked out, eyes momentarily going cold.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s why you came looking for me?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I shrugged slightly.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s either me or it\u2019s Kellin, Jay, and I guess Carolyn thought I was the better choice.\u00a0 She knows something\u2019s bugging you.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBullshit,\u201d he muttered, looking away.\u00a0 \u201cShe told you more than that.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Damn straight she told me more than that.\u00a0 <\/em>I shrugged helplessly.\u00a0 \u201cShe thinks you need to talk to someone, Jay.\u00a0 Especially about whatever dreams you\u2019ve been having since one of those shadows chased you guys back here.\u201d\u00a0 I frowned.\u00a0 \u201cDid she tell you that she talked to me?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShe tried,\u201d he muttered, shaking his head.\u00a0 \u201cI was trying not to listen, but I heard anyway.\u201d\u00a0 He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes and sighed deeply.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re just dreams, Mar.\u00a0 I want to believe that they\u2019re just dreams.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBut they\u2019re not,\u201d I said quietly.\u00a0 Damnation, Jay.\u00a0 What\u2019re you seeing?\u00a0 What\u2019s woken up inside of you?\u00a0 Bottling it all up inside is too damned dangerous.\u00a0 We\u2019ve agreed about that, you and I, when it comes to Thom.\u00a0 So what makes you think you\u2019re different when it comes to all of that?<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His hands dropped and he looked me square in the eye, exhaling slowly.\u00a0 \u201cIf we\u2019re going to talk about this, we should take a walk,\u201d he rumbled, shaking his head slowly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0 I asked quietly, taking a step closer to him.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. wet his lips and stared at nothing, looking toward the fire without really seeing it.\u00a0 \u201cBecause I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a conversation that you\u2019re going to want Thom to overhear.\u00a0 My gut tells me it\u2019d just make things harder.\u00a0 More complicated.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My stomach started to knot up again.\u00a0 Shit, J.T.\u00a0 What <\/em>are you dreaming?<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ghosts, Carolyn said.\u00a0 She said he was dreaming about ghosts.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cJay?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shook his head slightly, eyes sliding shut.\u00a0 \u201cBetter safe than sorry, Mar.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want him to overhear us and think that it\u2019s not safe to talk to me anymore.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been over this\u2014he needs an outlet sometimes, and that\u2019s me.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRight,\u201d I whispered, nodding slightly.\u00a0 He was right\u2014if Thom couldn\u2019t talk to him, who would <\/em>he talk to?
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLet me stow my kit, then we\u2019ll walk.\u00a0 Down to the river, maybe.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAll right,\u201d I said softly.\u00a0 I squeezed his arm and he smiled slightly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe doesn\u2019t think there\u2019s anything wrong, does he?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWith you?\u201d\u00a0 I shrugged a little.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u00a0 He hasn\u2019t said anything.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. nodded, sounding tired and relieved all at once.\u00a0 \u201cGood.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cEdges are starting to firm up nice,\u201d J.T. said, his quiet voice carried on the breeze as I approached.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s going to be a scar, but not as bad as it could\u2019ve been.\u00a0 Been keeping the antibac on it?\u201d … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-10","category-day-15"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-bj","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=701"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":708,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions\/708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}