Jamie keeps shaking.He’s sweating, and I’m no longer sure it’s just the fever.
“Don’t touch her,” he whispers, ever so faintly.
And a horrible thought begins to take shape in my mind.
I rest my hand on his forehead and slowly drag it down his face.He calms again, his breathing evening out, while mine feels like it’s bursting from my chest in a rough rush.
I let go of the shower, the clothes.I let go of everything.His words replay in my mind, crashing against what he told me before he closed his eyes.
Can you put me back together, Doctor?
And I’m afraid this is one of those cases for which there is no remedy.
Chapter39
Jamie
After a restless sleep filled with absurd nightmares, I roll onto my right side, sensing a presence beside me.My eyes fly open, and I see the Doctor sitting on the bed next to me, his back against the headboard, his head tipped forward so that it brushes mine.I shift to ease my aching bones, and as I move, he wakes at once.
“Welcome back.”
“How long did I sleep?”
He checks his watch.“Three hours, give or take.How do you feel?”
“Still shitty.”
“Figured as much.Fever’s down, but not enough.You’re still a mess.”
“Good thing I know a doctor who makes house calls.”
“Then you’re not feeling so bad if you’ve got the strength to fuck with me.”
“I pulled out all my reserves to get this shit out of me.”
“You could’ve kept them.”
I lift my head a little and look at him.“You stayed here?”
“Where should I go?I’m at home.”
“I mean… close to me.”
“Oh.”The Doctor flinches and pulls back.“Sorry.I know you don’t like this kind of thing.”
“Maybe I like it now.”
“Are you delirious again?”
“Maybe.”
“Can you manage to eat?I can make you something.”
“No.My throat is closed and my chest hurts.”
“At least drink?”
I wince, and as I hesitate, the Doctor takes a bottle of water from the nightstand, uncaps it, and hands it to me.“Come on, Captain,” he says, encouraging me.
