Moving his attention back to her left arm, Trevor began to treat and put pressure on the deep wound there. A soft moan slipped out from between her lips and a surge of hope exploded inside Jake’s chest.
“Liv? Baby, it’s Jake. Can you open your eyes?”
For one long, excruciating second nothing changed. Then, her eyelids began to flutter.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Let me see those gorgeous eyes.”
Slowly, Olivia’s eyes began to open. Her left one was so swollen, it only revealed a small slit. The other opened wider, and stared directly into his.
Jake hated the pain and fear he saw there.
“Jake?” she barely whispered his name.
He started to reach for the hand closest to him, pulling back at the last second, remembering it was broken. Instead, he gently began brushing some hair away from her forehead.
“Yeah, baby,” his voice cracked. “I’m right here.” More tears marked his face, but he made no movement to wipe them away.
Olivia closed her eyes, again, the movement sending her own silver streams down her temples. “Found...me,” she rasped out.
It took a few tries before Jake could speak again. “Of course I did, sweetheart. I’llalwaysfind you.”
Sounds from the approaching chopper quickly filled the air, but he didn’t turn away from her.
She opened her one good eye. “C-Cetro?”
“Dead. I made sure of it this time. He willneverhurt you again.”
Olivia’s lid fell shut, and her bottom lip quivered. “S-sorry, Never...should h-have...l-left...you. Under...stand—”
Jake reached across her torso and grabbed her uninjured hand. “No, baby. You havenothingto be sorry for.”
The noise from the chopper cut off anything else he wanted to say. Jake and Trevor both arched their bodies over Liv’s to protect her from the blades’ powerful wind.
When it was somewhat calm, again, Trevor stood, jogging to the medics making their way across the grass.
Jake remained glued to Olivia’s side, whispering comforting words. Loving words.
He kissed her forehead. “It’s okay, now. You’re going to be okay.”
“H-hurts,” she rasped, and Jake’s nose burned as he tried to stave off the newest onslaught of tears.
“I know it does, baby. I know. But the medics are here now, and they’re going to take you to the hospital. You’ll be good as new before you know it.”
Jake looked away from her for the first time since carrying her outside. He recognized Burns, one of Ryker’s medics. Experience told him the guy knew his stuff.
Following closely behind Burns was taller, lanky man. One that looked too damn young.
As if reading his mind, Burns said, “This is Santos. He’s good, McQueen. You can trust him.”
Jake nodded and turned his attention back to Olivia, whose eyes had closed again.
The two men hurried to them. Jake scooted over to give the younger man room to work, but refused to completely leave her side. Burns looked at him knowingly.
“Trevor updated us on her known injuries, Jake. We’ll take good care of her.”
With swift, methodical movements, Burns and the other man took her vitals and started an IV.
Jake continued to smooth the hair on the top of her head, his touch a gentle reminder to her that he was still there.
