Page 25 of Sawyer’s Mistake

“You ought to go see her at some point,” Zander said casually. “She’s probably out hunting a bird to make you chicken soup.”

Jake shrugged. “There’s no reason for her to feel guilty. I didn’t do anything any of us wouldn’t have done in the same situation.”

Zander nodded. “Maybe you ought to tell her that, then.”

“When did you get your degree in psychology?” Jake joked.

“I do have a disarming bedside manner, don’t I?” Zander grinned. “Seriously, man, go see her. So she can see you’re really okay.”

“Is she really okay?” Sawyer put his hand up. “I know, I know, patient confidentiality. I just want to know …”

“She’s okay, yes. Bruised and scared, but she’ll be okay. I’m more concerned about Alix. She hasn’t said much about what went on during her captivity. I’ve told her she can say anything, but …”

“Maybe she needs some time.”

“Yeah, maybe. I’ll see you later, man.”

Sawyer took his time dressing. His faded jeans were starting to look a little rough around the knees. He wondered if they’d last through the winter.

He’d refused a pain pill, determined to enjoy every moment of pain if it meant his wrist was healing. He’d had a lot of time in the last couple days to consider alternative scenarios where his wrist simply didn’t heal and Zander ended up amputating the arm to the elbow. What good would he have been to the team in such a scenario? Dead weight for his friends to carry around.

And then he’d never get to go back home. Only Storme knew that it was his intention to make it back to Toronto. He didn’t know how he was going to cross the ocean, but somehow he would make it back.

Sometimes he dreamed of his twin sisters. In his dreams they were still fifteen, the way they’d been the last time he’d seen them, though he knew they’d be nineteen now. If they were still alive. He couldn’t help feeling his body would have known if everybody he cared for had simply ceased to exist from one breath to the next. Plus, his parents were preppers. They lived out on a farm near Toronto, for God’s sake. If anybody had been able to survive this shit, it would have been them. But he’d also seen one of the Remur motherships land in Seattle. Just a stone’s throw away from his home.

He shook himself from his daydream and went to find Saoirse. He didn’t like to think he was causing her pain. He found her in the makeshift laboratory Meir had set up in the back of the van.

“I finally got the shield working,” Meir said. “Our new vehicle should be almost invisible to the eye, unless it drives by something that’s the same color.”

“So we avoid driving next to black things?” Saoirse asked.

“Only during the day. It’s okay at night,” Meir smiled.

“How long will the battery last?” Saoirse asked.

“Two days, give or take a few hours,” Meir said, standing up. “Sawyer. Good to see you, man.”

Sawyer nodded at Meir. He tried to keep the shock off his face when Saoirse turned around. She was deathly pale and looked like she’d lost ten pounds since he’d last seen her. Her clothes hung on her already slim frame.

She rushed to him but stopped just shy of touching him, clasping her hands together as if to keep herself from doing exactly that.

“Jake! How are you feeling?” She looked down at the cast. “I’m so sorry. Your arm—”

“It’s fine,” he said, more gruffly than he intended. “It’s healing.”

Saoirse took a small step back. She looked hurt. He didn’t want to hurt her. Not like this. He might have dreams of tying her down and making her beg, but he never wanted to hurt her.

“You don’t look like you’ve been getting much sleep,” he said.

“I’ve been busy in the lab, and I … haven’t been sleeping that great,” she admitted.

I’ll make sure you sleep well tonight.

The idea came to him unbidden, and for a moment he was afraid he’d said it out loud.

She’s going to think you’re a moron if you don’t close your mouth.

Meir coughed loudly. “Storme’s asking us to join him in the main room, if you’re feeling up to it.”