I gape after him, my brain struggling to come back online, much to Alex and Theo’s amusement.
“First time you’ve seen Rhys possessive, huh?” Theo chuckles.
I nod in a daze before shaking myself. Holy shit. Andy’s finally awake and talking! After two weeks of fearing that he wouldn’t survive, he’s getting better.
I hurry towards the bathroom as Alex helps Theo off the bed and throw myself into the shower. Alex joins me a few minutes later, and between the two of us, we’re clean, dried and dressed in record time.
Tobias, Rachel and Tamsinare already waiting at the medical centre when the four of us get there. Rachel is practically vibrating with excitement, her eyes alight with joy as she bounces on the balls of her feet. Tamsin has an arm over her shoulder, no doubt to keep the other woman grounded as she watches her with an indulgent smile.
Even Tobias looks lighter than he has since we arrived back at Haven nearly five days ago. There are still dark circles around his eyes, and hisface is lined with more wrinkles than it was before the Scourge kidnapped him, but he’s almost smiling.
“What took you so long?” Rachel demands as we step into the waiting area of the medical centre. “Actually, never mind. I knowexactlywhy, and you’re giving me details later.” She shoots me a knowing look.
Tobias wrinkles his nose. “Make sure I’m out of earshot when you do. I’ve already seen and know too much.” He shudders dramatically.
Theo snorts beside me. “Come on, man. It wasn’tthatbad.” He pauses, his eyes sparkling, and I justknowthat none of us want to hear what’s about to come out of his mouth.
Alex clamps a hand over his mouth before he can say whatever inappropriate thing he was about to say. “No one wants or needs to hear whatever filth you were about to spew.”
Theo’s eyes narrow at him, and he pouts beneath Alex’s hand. And then he does something that causes Alex to yelp and snatch his hand away.
“What the hell, Theo? Youbitme!”
“Maybe next time you’ll think twice before gagging me,” Theo says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“That wasn’t gagging,” Alex shoots back. “There wasn’t anything in your mouth.”
The two quickly descend into an argument on what counts as gagging, much to everyone’s amusement. Even Rhys chuckles as he shakes his head in exasperation at his two best friends when they try to drag him into the argument.
The atmosphere is light and joyous. Something that has been missing for far too long.
The doctor emerges from one of the many doors that lead off the waiting area, a warm smile on his lips as he catches sight of our group. “Glad to see you all made it here. Andy’s very excited to see you.”
That immediately stops the argument, and the group of us follow the doctor to the back area of the centre where the patient wards are.
The rooms are painted in warm, bright colours with pictures and paintings hanging from the walls. Comfortable sofas and chairs line the edges of the room and flank the various comfortable-looking beds. It’s a stark difference from the barren isolation room. This place is warm and welcoming, giving patients the perfect place to get better.
A few of the beds are occupied, mostly by older people who need a little extra care during their recovery. Most of them are asleep, although one or who wave and smile in greeting before going back to whatever activity they were doing before. The last bed at the end of the hall is where we find Andy.
He looks smaller than he did before the bite, having lost some of his mass from lying in bed for over two weeks. His cheeks are gaunt and his face is pale, but that doesn’t detract from the huge smile on his lips as he spots us coming towards him.
“You came,” he says, his voice a little scratchy.
“Of course we did, Dad,” Rachel says before gently throwing herself at him. The two of them embrace and murmur quiet words to one another, tears shining in their eyes. The rest of us hang back, giving them some space until they finally separate.
Tamsin greets him next, and he hugs her like he did his own daughter while thanking her for looking after Rachel. After letting her go, Tobias steps up next, and the two shake hands.
“It’s good to see you’re awake,” he says, patting the older man on the shoulder.
“It’s good tobeawake, although I can’t wait to get out of this damn bed.”
The two part, and then it’s my turn.
“Come here,” Andy says as he opens his arms and draws me into a hug.
Tears prick my eyes as I hug him back, hating how much thinner he feels compared to the last time I hugged him.
“It’s good to see you happy,” he murmurs, his arms tightening. “Although I hope you haven’t been stabbing people with arrows while I’ve been gone.”
