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“What happened?” she asked, already bending to run a hand along Adam’s swelling right leg.
“A group of men broke in and beat him,” Matt said.
The fey behind her grunted, crossing his arms. His gaze flicked to me as I moved out of the woman’s way.
“Adam hit his head a few days ago,” I said. “He was out for a while and asked the same questions over and over again for a few hours afterward. Threw up, too.”
“Do you know if they hit his head?”
“I don’t know. They held me down. I couldn’t see anything.”
The fey growled.
“Stay objective and focused, Kerr,” the woman said.
“We haven’t moved him,” I said. “Based on the sounds, I’m guessing they were hitting and kicking. The area over his ribs is pretty red. I’m worried something might be broken.”
“I don’t like the idea of moving him, either.”
The woman opened the bag she carried and pulled out scissors. Chewing my bottom lip and trying not to cry, I watched her cut away Adam’s t-shirt, sleep shorts, and boxers. Bruises were already forming everywhere, including his hips and ribs. She eased the clothes free and gently started feeling everything.
“I’m not a doctor,” she said as she looked up at me. “I’m a nursing student who has learned more in these last few months than I ever did in school. I want you to know that because everything I’m going to tell you is a guess.”
I nodded.
“The cut over his eye should be fine without stitches. Chances are good that something’s broken. If we’re lucky, it’s his nose and a cracked rib or collarbone. Those tend to fix themselves. Bruising means broken capillaries and blood rising to the surface. He’s going to have a lot of that. Again, if we’re lucky, outside bruising is the worst of it. Internal bleeding is beyond my skill set.
“The best we can do now is make him comfortable, keep using these cold washcloths, maybe even some bags with snow, and hope he wakes up within the next twenty-four hours.” She stood and came close to where I was sitting on the bed.
“I’d like to talk to you alone for a minute if that’s okay.”
I nodded and stood.
“Kerr,” she said. “Help Matt get Adam into bed. Move his limbs and joints, including his head and neck, as little as possible. If he makes any noise, stop what you’re doing. Okay?”
The fey nodded and started bending down.
“Stay objective and focused,” she said, touching the back of his head as we moved past them.
As soon as she closed the bathroom door behind us, I knew what she was going to ask.
“Did they sexually assault you?”
I shook my head even as tears started to fall. She opened her arms, and I flew into her embrace, sobbing out my fear. Fear that they’d come back. Fear that Adam wouldn’t wake up this time. Fear that I’d made the wrong decision. That we should have stayed in the bunker and waited for the infected to leave.
She let me cry for several minutes before easing away from me. Her eyes were wet, too, as she gave me a sad smile.
“I wish I could give you the assurances you need. What I can say is that he’s young, in good shape, and not underfed. That all works to his advantage.”
“I know. Thank you.”
When we left the bathroom, Kerr was standing in the hallway. His expression was one of sheer anger.
“Is he okay?” I asked, already moving to the bed.
“Did something happen?” the woman asked from behind me.
I didn’t look back at the pair but studied Adam’s swollen face and gently ran my fingers along his throat.
