Chapter 20

Jac opened her eyes. They felt gritty. Her tongue was so dry it hurt. Turning her head, she tried to focus. She was in her bedroom. A dream? Was that just some dream? She looked at the clock. Three ten. She closed her eyes and tried to remember coming home and going to bed. Opening them again, she looked around in the dark. There were cups on the table. More nightmares. She should have known.

Letting her eyes droop closed again, she took a few long deep breaths and tried to force her head to remember the events that led up to her being here again. She smirked. Since when was it her fault she was like this? Okay, so sometimes she didn’t walk away when she really should. Running her hands over her face, she stopped. She had a, what was it? A band-aid was on her cheek? She frowned. How did that happen? What was going on?

Flipping the covers off, she slowly pushed herself up. Her arms were shaking. The room spun a few times, stopping, she just sat there trying to breathe through it. She thought she heard someone talking. Where were those voices coming from? She squeezed her head between her hands. That’s new, hearing voices. Maybe she was finally going nuts, it had felt like it many times in her life. She sighed, realizing it was probably just Sandy babysitting her, staying awake by watching the TV.

Slowly, she moved to hang her legs off the bed. She wasn’t sure if she was even going to be able to stand. But with her throat so dry, she couldn’t call Sandy for help. Looking over, she reached with a heavy, shaking arm to see if any liquid was left in either of the cups. They were empty. Great. She stopped and wondered for a moment if people put little water coolers beside the bed, it was a perfect spot for one. Shaking her head, she huffed out a breath. What was wrong with her brain?

An inch at a time, she pushed herself to the edge of the bed. She could buy herself a walker for moments like this. She grinned, despite the fog plaguing her head; she was not buying a walker.

Pushing herself to her feet, she stood there with wobbling knees and her whole body shaking. Her legs felt like lead as she took the first step. Panting out a breath, she reached out to steady herself against the wall. Okay, she could do this. Another step. She wasn’t sure if she was lifting her foot or dragging it, but as long as she moved forward, that was just fine.

It felt like it took her an hour to get halfway down the short hallway. She debated for a few moments on whether sitting on the floor to rest was a good idea. With the way her body felt, she was afraid she’d never get back off the floor. Then she’d be left there until Sandy came to check on her again. What if Sandy had fallen asleep? No, sitting was a bad idea. Standing there, she rested her forehead and both hands against the wall. Take a minute, regroup, she told herself silently.

“Don’t you know any doctor friends that could come here?”

That was Reid’s voice.

“She would never forgive any of us.”

That was Sandy. Right Sandy, no doctors.

“Reid, just give her body some time to rest.”

Brent. Brent was here too? When was this?

“She’s been resting for almost twelve hours now, other than waking up a few times, she just lies there!”

Twelve hours? That was a record. What had she done to put herself under for twelve hours? Why wasn’t her brain giving her answers?

“Reid…”

“She doesn’t speak, just drinks that tea and has this empty look in her eyes, like she’s not there.”

Reid sounded really upset. What was wrong with her? With her shoulder resting against the wall, she slid a few more steps. Even her shoulders began to feel leaden, and her arms suddenly felt removed from her body. She lowered her eyes to the floor, either she wasn’t moving her feet, or she was sliding down the wall. She focused on the corner. It was getting closer; she just hoped she didn’t reach it face first because she honestly didn’t think she had the strength to lift her own arms to stop a fall.

She barely reached the corner when she saw Reid running towards her.

“Jacinda.” He got to her as she slid down the wall. Scooping her up against his chest, he quickly walked to the couch. “What are you doing up?” He sat down, still holding her against him.

She looked up at him and smiled. “Out of body experience.” She whispered hoarsely.

Sandy hovered above her and held out a bottle of water. She wanted that water like she hadn’t had a drink in a week, but her arms were imaginary and weren’t really attached to her body. Sandy grinned at her and then knelt, holding the open bottle by her mouth. Swallowing hurt, but the cool water felt so good. “Thanks.” She looked back up at the man holding her. His eyes were darting over her face, a mix of concern and relief swimming in them. She smiled at him. “I’m missing a few details here.”

He rested his forehead against hers. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Jac smiled at him again. “I seem to be good at that.” Brent moved into her view and stood above her.

“Maybe you could let her stretch out on the couch, Reid.”

She smirked at the snarl Reid gave his partner. Brent held up his hands and backed away. Reid looked back down at her and sighed. With a sigh, he shifted so she was lying back on the cushions and he was sitting on the edge of the couch. Sandy reappeared with a cup in her hand. “Uh, not the tea.”

Sandy smirked. “Yes, the tea. You drink it; we’ll fill in the details.”

Jac moaned. “Just set it down and give me a minute.” Closing her eyes, she took a few breaths. A cool hand moved across her forehead and down her cheek. The touch she knew. She opened her eyes to look at Reid. She didn’t need to ask if it had been rough for her, she could feel it in his shaking hand. His thumb stroked over the band-aid. “Let’s start with that,” she said to him quietly. “Where did that come from?”

He looked down at her for a moment and then sighed again. Standing up, he paced to the end of the couch. “That came from Edward Lawson’s knife as you passed out and slid to the floor.”

The images and memories flooded into her mind all at once. She hugged her arms against her stomach. “It really happened.” He nodded with his jaw set. Even though everything was cloudy inside her, it didn’t go unnoticed that he had moved away from her to discuss this. She looked at Brent. “Did I at least pass out gracefully?”

Brent smirked and then caught the glare from his partner. “You passed out right as Reid barreled through the office door and almost gave Mr. Lawson a coronary.”

“Ah.” She looked at Reid again. “Do I have to buy a new office door?”

Reid looked at her for a moment and then shrugged. “It’s still intact, just needs a new handle and lock.”

“Well.” Blowing out a breath, she looked at Sandy. “You called the cavalry for me?”

Sandy nodded. “After I stood there for half a second wondering what drugs you were taking. They were already in route when I called though.”

Jac gave Reid a puzzled look.

“We had just heard the entire story from Alan Howard when I received your blank text message. When I called, you didn’t answer.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “If we hadn’t gotten stuck behind an accident, we would have been there sooner…”

“He was ready to run there on foot,” Brent added in. “I was waiting for him to bolt out of the car.

She chewed her lip. “Alan told you about Edward, the profiles, and…”

Reid nodded. “Everything.” He sat on the edge of the couch again. “He left out the part where they knew about you until the very last.”

“Which would be perfectly timed to your blank message.” Brent gave her a serious look. “When Doctor Gains’ call was put through to Reid’s cell phone, I was ready to run there on foot.”

She smiled at him. “Well.” She let out the breath she’d been holding. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the relief wash over her. The satisfying feeling that she had done something good, something right. Regardless of what people thought of her or the freaky ability she’d been blessed or cursed with, this feeling made it all worth it. It made all the rest easy to store away for a while, to a place she never willingly went on her own. She opened her eyes and looked at Reid again. “Case closed.”

Sandy picked up the cup again. Jac moaned. “Fine.” She pushed herself up with numb arms and reached to take the cup slowly. The liquid in it sloshed around the rim. “I’m a little hungry,” she said as she focused on getting the cup to her mouth.

“I’ll go make some oatmeal.” Sandy stood up.

“I’m going to go home and grab a few seconds of sleep before I have to be awake again.” Brent stood up. He nodded to Jac. “Try to behave.”

She sipped the tea slowly, glancing momentarily towards Reid, and then smirked at Brent. “Like I have a choice right now.”

Reid stood there looking down at her. She was white. She was shaking. But she was awake. “You added ten years to my age today, yesterday.”

She set the cup down, leaning back to look up at him. “That’s good, now you’re older than me.” She smirked.

He sighed and sat down on the edge of the couch. “I’m serious, when I suspected something was wrong, I was just determined to get there quickly.” He gently brushed the hair back from her face. “When Sandy called—I have never been so scared in my life, Jacinda.” He leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t ever do that again.”

She had never had the feeling of really mattering to someone before, but it flooded into her with his words alone. She saw the love in his eyes and felt it burst through her. Just feeling it was more than she’d ever allowed herself to hope for. Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and cradled his head. “It wasn’t exactly intentional, believe me. But I am definitely sticking to furniture from now on.”

He grinned. “Please.” Lifting his head and looked down at her, the hard look in his eyes softening. “I took a few days off, so you can take your time recovering.”

She raised her eyebrows, looking back at him. “You’re staying to babysit me for a few days?”

He nodded. “For my own benefit more than yours. I’ve decided I’m not letting you out of my sight again. Ever.”

She smirked. “That’s going to make working rather difficult…” His mouth covered hers before she could finish speaking. Gently his lips moved over hers. She closed her eyes and let the emotion he was feeling pour into her. She had never felt so cherished, and he gave that to her.

“Do you think limiting her oxygen supply right now will help her recovery?”

Reid lifted his head and grinned while still looking at Jacinda. “Probably not, but if I keep her weak enough, she can’t give me gray hair.”

Sandy laughed. “Why do you think mine is more dye than natural blonde now? Keeping up with Jacinda Brown is a full-time occupation.”

Jac’s mouth dropped open as she pushed Reid, barely moving him. “Jacinda Brown is right here people, can we not talk like she isn’t?”

Reid sat up and laughed. “You just listen to the doctor and eat your oatmeal; I’m going to pop home and grab some things.”

Jac frowned at him. “She’s a head doctor.”

“Hey.” Sandy stood above her grimacing. “I’m your only doctor, so you’d better listen.”

“Fine.” She held up her hands in defeat. She watched as Reid almost ran from the room and then turned to Sandy.

Sandy was standing there smirking at her. “Eat your oatmeal before I get all sappy or something.”

Jac laughed and sat up a bit further. “Absolutely, the last thing I need is a sappy head doctor on my hands.”

Sandy sat silently, watching her for a few moments. “I’m going to take advantage of your being weak.” She smirked. “I just spent twelve hours watching that man …” She pointed to the door Reid had gone out. “Losing his mind worrying over you, so you owe me a few tidbits.” She grinned when Jac rolled her eyes at her. “I’m not asking for intimate details, just how it is.”

Jac paused and put the spoon down. “It’s wonderful.” She smiled. “He can just shut off all emotion, Sandy, and to me, that’s amazing.” Sandy’s eyebrows went up. “I know your education says that’s all bad, but to me, it’s a miracle.”

Sandy pursed her lips for a moment. “I suppose it would be.” Sighing, she leaned back and rubbed her tired eyes. “I’d just like to see you happy.”

Jac smirked. “I am. I’m not saying this is happily-ever-after, I won’t put that on either of us, but I am happy.”

Sandy just sat back and smiled at her. “It’s about time.”

They both laughed.