A Secret In Your Throat

Chapter 14

I awoke to the smell of food cooking.
Not the microwaved rations I'd been given as a refugee. This smelled like real food, like meat sizzling and vegetables steaming.
I opened my eyes. I had been carried down to the plush couch in the windowless living room. I had no idea what time it was. I was weak and shivery, but wrapped in a cocoon of blankets. Mikey was sitting on the floor beside me, and he turned as I moved. He sat up on his knees beside me, his hand moving to my forehead.
"Doc, you are just about the gutsiest person I ever met. I cannot believe you cut your own wrist to let him feed. That's so fuckin metal."
I laughed weakly. I couldn't really talk. I didn't need to.
"That's okay," he said, "You don't have to talk." He held up a cup with a lid and a bendy straw. I was so parched, I didn't even hesitate. I drank the whole cup of water until the straw pulled noisily at the air.
"They're making you some dinner. Frank and I swiped some food on our way back. And you have to eat it, doc. You have to replenish your blood. Gerard took a lot, your lips look really pale."
I cleared my throat, just the water making me feel so much better. "Is he okay?"
Mikey grinned, "Almost as good as new. God damn you're something else. He could have waited awhile until we got someone who really deserved it back here, you know, but you just fuckin cut it up and let him have it. That was the ballsiest move, doc."
I checked my wrist. There was only a faded pink line there. No bandage or anything. "How...?"
"The venom heals. He used just enough to close your wound. There's not enough in your body to hurt you."
"When did you get back?"
"Couple hours ago. Gee figured you'd wake up soon. I said I'd sit with you." His eyes grew soft, and I could tell he was thinking of how I'd nursed him back to health in Colorado. I reached out for his hand and he took it. We smiled at each other.
This bond was not breakable.
Gerard came in then, with a plate of food that smelled so good, I sat up carefully with Mikey's help and stared at it. I was starving. I hadn't had non-frozen or pre-packaged meals in so long.
There was a thick steak, still sizzling on the outside, a stack of steaming buttered broccoli, a mountain of mashed potatoes and -oh my god- a tall, cold glass of orange juice. Mikey pulled the coffee table over for me to eat on and Gerard sat the food down and helped me sit up shakily on the edge of the couch.
I looked him over, though the food was almost irresistible. Both of his eyes were open and clear. The skin on his left side was almost totally healed, still just a little tender looking.  His hair was thick and shiny. He looked perfect. He smiled at me, his hand on my back, "Eat. Then we can talk."
I was ravenous after losing so much blood. I drank the juice down first for the vitamin C, while Mikey refilled my water cup. I ate everything on the plate. It was so delicious, I couldn't stop. Nothing had tasted so good to me in my life. After years of snack food, whatever we could steal and then frozen processed rations, I felt like weeping when the food was gone.
Gerard rubbed my back gently, "They got a lot more. Ray looked up the best foods to help you replenish your blood, and Mikey and Frank really came through."
"How long have I been out?"
"All day. It's around ten. Frank and Mikey had to sleep in the ground. They couldn't get back before dawn."
I looked alarmed, "But-"
"Don't worry doc. We've all had to do it. It's no big deal." Mikey assured me.
Frank and Ray sauntered into the room, Frank grinning and Ray looking somber. Frank smacked me on the back, "You're a fuckin lunatic, Rae. That was so badass."
I frowned. I hadn't been trying to impress anyone. I just wanted Gerard to heal. Frank waved a hand, "I know, you weren't trying to be awesome. That just makes it more awesome."
I glanced up at Ray. We exchanged small smiles. He'd let me do what I needed to in peace, and then took the next steps to figure out what I would need to get better. Ray really was the brains behind this whole operation. My respect for him was beyond measure in that moment.
"So did you destroy the camp?" I asked, eager to change the subject.
"Yes. All the humans that were still alive were given what they needed to make it to Seattle. We hope." Gerard said softly. He smoothed my hair a little, "Would you like to go back upstairs and rest, my love?"
I glanced at him. I wanted to stay with my new little family, but I could tell by his face that he had things on his mind he didn't want to say in front of the others.
"Don't you want me to do the dishes?" I teased half-heartedly. I didn't know how well I could even stand up.
"It's done, Rae. Don't worry about anything at all. You saved Gerard from a very long recovery. We'll take care of you." Ray said gently.
My throat got all thick then. I couldn't reply, and tears welled up in my eyes. I just nodded, and I knew that they understood.
Frank stood up, "Get some rest, doc. We swiped you plenty of food. We got clothes that should fit you. You have all the time in the world to get better before you're changed. You're safe, okay?"
That did it. The tears spilled over. This man I knew least of all of them even loved me. He laughed and barreled over to me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders from one side and rocked me playfully back and forth. I laughed softly through the tears.
***
Gerard set me down on the bed, and he helped to undress me and put clean clothes on me. These were new shorts and a new dark red t-shirt, freshly washed. They fit me. He must have snuck looks at the labels on my old, ratty clothes.
I burrowed under the Star Wars comforter, still feeling cold. He laid down beside me, facing me, and said in a whisper, "How can I ever repay you for the things you've done for us?"
I blinked at him, "Gee, we're a family. You've fought harder and protected us almost at the expense of your life, more than once. We just have different roles to play. We don't owe one more than the other."
"You spent so long nursing Mikey back to health. I couldn't have sewn his head shut. I couldn't have set splints. None of them could have cut their wrists to heal me. I'd still be half dead, still in so much pain..." he trailed off, and then he had buried his head against my chest, turning his ear to listen to my heart. His arms held me around my waist, my fingers gently stroking through his dark hair. I held him tightly against me, too touched by his words to respond.
"I've never drank the blood of the innocent. Not ever. Evil taints every part of evil people, Rae. I didn't know until now it even poisons their blood. Your blood... god it was so sweet. I've never felt anything like last night. Not ever."
I sighed, my eyes closing. "Neither have I," I breathed. The same stab of desire I'd felt last night washed over me.
I was so tired, so weak, but I wanted him too much. My fingers tightened in his hair, and that was all it took. He was lifting my shirt, his lips soft on my stomach, and then his fingers hooked the band of my shorts away and off of me. His kisses moved down my hips and thighs, and with a groan, his tongue moved to the hot center of me.