“Come oooon,” Anna said as she rushed in front of him, like a bunny trying to trip up a werewolf. “Just one bite. These are bread and butter pickles. A bit of sweet. A bit of salty.”
“I will throw up on you,” he growled as he stopped and stared down at her.
Anna just smiled up at him as she crunched into the pickle once more. “Promise?”
“You’re so fucking gross,” Brutus muttered as he stormed away.
“Wait for me!” Anna exclaimed. “We’ve got pickled onions, too, if cucumbers don’t suit your fancy!”
I looked up at Doc and I found him smiling. Fondly. His eyes tracked the two of them, and I stared up at him for so long that I saw Anna’s trailing reflection in his metallic eyes. I looked back at Anna, only to watch her disappear around the corner with a grumbling Brutus trying to get away from her. And when Ilooked back at Doc, he still had that dopey little lopsided smile on his face.
My military training kicked into gear before I knew what hit me.
I slipped away from his presence, and he just… stood there. Like he was in a trance. Anna’s laughter kicked up, and I actually watched the peaks of his cheek twitch. Man, he had it bad for that woman, that much was for certain. I stayed completely silent as I used the banister to hoist myself up the stairs. I looked back every once in a while, wondering if Doc even realized I wasn’t there any longer.
He didn’t even look up at me.
That hurt more than I cared to admit.
You’ve got bigger fish to fry. You have to find a way to get in touch with your lieutenant.
I limped down the hallway, heading toward the first one that jutted off to the left.
With Doc nowhere in sight.
4
DOC
I smiled softly as I watched Anna chase Brutus around the corner. I shook my head as a small chuckle bounced up my throat. Man, sometimes when I wasn’t careful and I caught Anna at just the right moment, I swear I saw my sister. Grown. Happy. With friends and a purpose.
Something sharp pulled through my chest and dragged me back.
“Come, Miss Eliza?—”
I turned to reach for my patient, but I saw nothing except bare bones steps behind me. My eyes darted around, my head on a swivel as I searched for the shock of blonde hair that belonged to her.
“Miss Elizabeth?” I asked as I bolted up the stairs.
I took them two by two before I finally caught a hint of a shadow turning the corner to the left. Fucking hell, how long was I standing on those stairs by myself? I heard her grumbling as I rushed down the hallway. I grabbed the corner and took a hard left, watching her lumbering form come into view.
I watched her knees buckle.
“No!” I exclaimed.
I moved like lightning. Like a bolt of electricity had surged through all my veins at once.
“Damn it,” I grunted as I swept her up just before she collapsed to the ground.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” she grumbled. “I’ve got it. I’m almost?—”
“Hush,” I said as I scooped her into my arms.
I drew in a deep breath of relief when I felt her tumble toward my chest. Her hair blanketed my shoulder as she mumbled and grumbled like a grumpy little caterpillar, but I chose to ignore it. She was in pain, and I lost myself to my memories on the stairs.
I called it even in my head as I nudged the door of her bedroom open with my hip.
“Home sweet home,” I said as I walked over to the bed.
