“Okay.So, let me get this straight in my head.I’ll be able to walk properly again?”
“Yes.It’ll take some time,” Apollo answered.
Rocko’s tension wound down considerably as the information sank in.Talk about a mindfuck.
“Was anyone else hurt?”He had to make sure.
“No, you managed to push Renee out of the way in time.My sister and Rosaline were still a few feet behind her, so they stopped walking after you saved Renee.”
“Good.I’m glad no one was hurt.”
“Youwere hurt,” Apollo corrected.The confusion on his face would have been comical if Rocko wasn’t in so much pain.
“Yeah, but that’s acceptable.I knew the odds were high that the shingles would hit me.”
“No, it’s not acceptable, but you did it anyway.Why?”
“Better me than her.”
“Okay, yes, if those are the only choices.I’m unsure if Renee’s smaller stature could have survived the blow or even if she can heal herself, and I don’t want to find out,” Apollo agreed.“But that’s not an answer to my question.”
“It’s as good as you’re going to get.”If anyone had to be hurt, it damn well shouldn’t be the healer.Besides, he was at least twice her size, making the damage to him less severe than it would have been for the small woman.Instinct was a powerful thing.His drive to protect was ingrained in his being.
Rocko’s eyes were getting heavy again.He was losing the fight to stay awake.The ringing in his head grew louder by the second, until it drowned out everything around him.
“Rest.There’ll be plenty of time for you to heal,” Apollo assured.
“How long have I been out?I’ve only got two weeks left,” Rocko said.If Renee could heal him in time, he’d be catching a flight back to Florida sooner rather than later.
“Two days, and don’t worry about the timeline.It’s fluid.”Apollo’s hand reached out and touched his shoulder.Both of them jumped at the static energy flowing between them.Apollo took his hand away.“All you need to do is stay here and recover.”
“We’ll see how fast I can heal so I can be on my way,” Rocko said, yawning.Healing was taking up a lot of his energy.He hated feeling so vulnerable.It brought back painful memories of being back in the Noah Group’s clutches.
“We’ll discuss that later.Rest now,” Apollo ordered.
“I don’t think I have a choice,” Rocko slurred.
He wanted to say more, but his eyes closed, and sleep enveloped him.
***
Renee was hovering over him the next time he woke, the glow from her hands filling the room in warm light.He couldn’t help but wonder whether it was similar to the white light people describe in near-death experiences.Wouldn’t that set those Noah Group flunkies on their collective asses to realize mutants were closer to angelic than any of them knew?
“Hello,” he said roughly.
Her smile lit up her entire face.“Hello, Rocko.How do you feel?”
He cautiously moved his body, running internal checks on each appendage, hoping for a reset from the last time he was awake.Rocko quickly realized that his lower body was moving with relative ease.Of course, it wasn’t perfect, but it was better, which took a shitload of stress off his sore shoulders.He was healing like Apollo had said he would, proving he was still a man of his word.When Rocko glanced down, it hit him that he wasn’t wearing the same clothes as the last time he’d been conscious; he was in shorts but hadn’t brought any on this trip.
“Much better, thanks to you.”
“Thanks to you, I’m alive,” she said.“I won’t forget that.”
“I’m glad I was close enough to help.”Which was absolutely true.Rocko didn’t even want to imagine the damage it would have done to her small body.“Um, quick question, whose clothes am I wearing?”
“Jagger was kind enough to loan you some, you’re about the same size.And if you’re wondering who changed you, that’d be me.”She grinned.“Don’t worry, consider me your nurse.I’ve seen my share of survivors in the buff, including members of this team.”
Rocko didn’t miss that disarming smile but he had a bigger issue quickly taking over.
