Jules looks at him, blinks hard.
He’s in shock.
Lachlan gives a friendly smile.‘There we go, hey.’He puts himself between Jules and the moron who won’t see tomorrow.Jules is shaking all over.Lachlan slips his jacket off to drape around his shoulders.‘I was looking for you.’
‘He…’ Jules utters, breath tight and jagged.
‘I know,’ Lachlan tells him, assessing.The split lip is from a backhanded slap.The boy’sfraternity ringmust have caught it.Three bullets might be too kind.‘But you fought him off, didn’t you?’
Jules’ face is wet with tears, but otherwise expressionless.
He’s disassociating.A part of Lachlan wants to let him but knows it’s better if he can feel his way back to humanity to navigate this properly.
‘Nailed him in the balls, huh?’
‘Th-throat punch too.’
‘Ah, sothat’swhy I can’t hear him whining,’ Lachlan says appreciatively.
‘He got mad.’
‘That’s all over now.Jules, can I take your pulse?’
Jules shakes himself a little.‘Huh?’
‘I want to take your pulse, but you can say no, OK?’
Jules is watching Lachlan’s mouth make the words, blinks several times as if seeking clarity to no avail.‘What?’
‘I’d like to take your pulse,’ he repeats patiently, knows well the debilitation of shock.‘That’d be my fingers on your wrist.Is that OK?’
‘Oh.Um.Y-yeah.That’s fine.’
‘Thank you.’Jules’ pulse is racing.‘Can I feel your forehead?’
‘Yeah.’
Jules doesn’t flinch but the backs of Lachlan’s fingers stir surprise all the same even though he was warned.The boy is in a flop sweat, boiling hot, probably feels ice cold.‘So what’s the deal with tarot cards, then?’
Jules frowns deeply.‘…what?’
‘You never told me what it is you like about them.’
‘I… what?’
‘You like tarot cards.’
‘OK?’
‘What do you like about ‘em?’
‘They’re.I’m.’He looks away.‘I’m gonna throw up.’
Lachlan guides him into the bathroom, knows all about navigating Jules when he needs to hurl, and it’s better he get it all out.Lachlan keeps a soothing hand on his back, makes circles at the base while assessing for other injuries, but the small scratches he sees are minor and, shock aside, he’s fairly intact.
‘You did so well,’ Lachlan tells him, lets pride and care shine through in a way he never typically allows.‘I mean it.’
Jules wipes his mouth with a shaking hand.Lachlan hands him a damp washcloth which does a better job.
