Gratitude surges through my chest.
Because he followed us when I gave him the order to stay behind.
Tobias takes advantage of the opening, now that Christian’s lost his balance, grabbing his arm without missing a beat and twisting it behind his back to lock him in place.
“I told you he'd fit right in!” Tobias grins wildly at me.
It's a shot of warmth through my entire body.
Because somewhere along the way, Christian burrowed under our skin.
Somewhere, through the chaos and the hard times and the late stake-out nights...
He became one of us.
I’m finally within reach when Gabriel turns, grabbing Christian by the shirt to throw him in my direction while Tobias shoves him from behind towards me.
When Christian collides into my arms, the moments are slow.
I fall to my knees, crushing him into me so he can inhale my scent. So he can hear my voice clearly.
“Estrellito.”
Christian’s movements stop. His entire body becomes stiff with stillness for a single moment.
A single panted breath.
Then another.
And another.
I can hear his heartbeat in my ears and I'm sure he can hear mine.
“What would you do without me keeping you all together, hm?” The familiar words on my tongue are the final blow.
It is the breaking of a dam that has struggled to hold the currents back for much too long.
All the tension in his body slips away, like the smoke from an extinguished candle, as he finally relaxes into my arms.
“Reu... ben...” The barest hints of recognition finally filter through his voice, his consciousness barely returning.
“I'm here,” I hold his head to pull him in tighter, “I've got you.”
“… late.” His voice is a weak rasp and even in my hands his pulse is weakening. The adrenaline is leaving him and his consciousness is starting to fade again.
But this time, a creeping terror is sinking into my bones. Making me tremble.
Because I know if I lose him now, he won't wake up again.
My face contorts with pain, holding him tighter as I choke on a whisper, “I know, I know… but stay awake for me, baby. You've got to stay awake.”
I don't know what to do.
I should get a doctor.
But I don't have a doctor.
He’s bleeding so much.
