He spoke before opening the door, letting Ansley know he was there. “Hey, it’s clear. I’m coming back in.”
She had her back against the wall, and her eyes wide. He held out a hand, and she took it, pulling herself up. She winced when she took a step, and he wanted to pull her close and hold her, but she needed to be able to stand on her own. If she couldn't walk on her own, it would be harder for them to escape.
He watched her take a few steps, which were okay, but her limp was a little exaggerated. "You sore?"
“Very. It’s worse than it was before.”
"I can give you some painkillers, but I don't want you passing out."
She blew out a slow breath. “What is the pain medicine?”
“It’s a narcotic. It’s heavy, and the dose is for me, so it could be more than you should take.”
“I don’t know. That sounds like it would be an overdose.”
“It could be.”
“Why do you have something like that?”
He shrugged. It was another truth he was uncomfortable with. "If something happens, like one of our arms or legs is blown off, we need to cut the pain. It doesn't happen often, but it's a possibility."
She stopped walking and lifted her chin, meeting his gaze. “That sounds dangerous.”
“Yeah, but your job is dangerous, too.”
“True. That’s why I’m leaving in a few weeks.”
“Oh, really. Don’t like the Marines?”
They were in the hall and he looked to the left, wondering if they should settle in the room with the window close to the market, or the room at the other side. He chose the room away from the market.
“I like the Marines. I’m just ready for something else.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And this adventure settled my thoughts on the matter.”
“It sucks being taken hostage.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Have you ever had to deal with being held captive?”
One shoulder went up as he helped her settle on the ground. “Only for a few days.”
He held the shiver back. Those few days had left him with a few scars on his chest and some post-traumatic stress thatprobably would never go away. He might be able to sleep, but there were times the experience still haunted him, keeping him awake at night.
If Ansleystill had her pack, she would have some mild pain pills. She didn’t want to take the heavy opioids Link had offered. Not that she had a problem with opioids, but they weren’t kind to her. She ended up having issues anytime she took them. She’d found it better to skip the heavy doses and stick to over the counter meds after injuries.
She decided to do a little stretching since there wasn’t much more she could do. The stitches on her arm hurt some, but the pain in her leg muscle was worse. Walking hadn’t been good for her. She would survive, but she hoped they didn’t have to do any running. There was no way she could keep up.
After she finished stretching, she turned to Link. "What do you do for fun when you aren't playing dangerous games or rescuing people?"
His laughter made her smile. Then he blew out a breath and sat back, resting his head against the wall. "Fun, huh? It has been a while. I like camping. Camping is fun. I have a condo at the beach, not too far from base. I also like Hawaii. It's chill."
She snorted a laugh. “You don’t seem chill.”
His smile warmed her. “On mission, never. But I know how to unwind and enjoy myself.”
“How? How do you unwind and enjoy yourself?”
