A Spy's Home---Book 2: Wounds, Both Old and New

Chapter 29

Rory's point of view

"I'm going to put pressure on the bone, tell me if it hurts." the doctor warned me; I then felt his palm press against a sore spot, before I felt a stinging pain. I grunted a little, and the doctor removed his hand. "You need to have the sling on just for two more weeks." he informed me.

I nodded, before the doctor helped me get the sling back on. I saw my mom giving me a concerned look, but I knew what she was thinking; I'm being pouty again, but can she really blame me for worrying about Little Z?

After the sling was back in place, my mom stood from the chair she was sitting in, and asked, "Can I talk with him alone for a minute?" uh-oh, mom's going to give me the "it'll be alright" lecture. The doctor nodded his head, to my dismay, and left my mom and me alone in the room.

She sat down on the bed beside me, and said, "I know that you think that you're about to hear the lecture, but I'm not going to give it to you." Mom ran her fingers through my black hair, and I looked her in the eyes for the first time since Zylina had snuck away.

"After we're able to leave I'm going to find Zylina." I exclaimed, without thinking. My mom shot up off the bed and gasped, which I should have seen coming. "No, you won't. Just trust her, Rory. She's a big girl that needs time alone after a traumatizing event, and can do things on her own." she snapped.

I flinched a little, and watched as she settled down and breathed. "Mom, she's been gone for a week now. I mean she could have been kidnapped, or attacked, or-" "Or maybe she's right here." a voice cut me off.

I snapped my head up while Mom turned around and I stared in shock as I saw Zylina with her arms crossed in front of her chest, and forcing a smile on her face. Mom was the first to react, breaking into tears, and rushing over to her before embracing her. "Oh, honey! We were so worried about you!" she exclaimed.

Zylina continued to look at me, and I stared right back at her with shock still plastered on my face. Zylina patted mom's back, and said, "It's good to see you too, and I'm sorry for doing that, but....I need to talk with Rory."

Mom looked between Zylina and me, before nodding her head and exiting the room like the doctor had. Zylina shuffled over to the plastic chair, and sat down; it looked like she was about to release some held back tears.

"Zylina?" I questioned, scooting closer to her. She ran her fingers through her hair, and replied with, "Rory, I know you might be mad at me but-" "Just mad? Zylina, you scared the crap out of my parents. You terrified me! We had no idea where you were or if you were even alive." I exclaimed a little harsher than I tended.

When I saw Zylina flinch, and break eye contact with me. I scolded myself; I then realized I had jumped to my feet during the rant, and sat back down again. Tears stung my eyes and a few traced down my cheek. "Zylina, I wasn't mad. I was just scared." I explained, rubbing my face with my good hand.

"Rory, I thought I was leaving because I saw a missing children case and I wanted to help, but I just wanted to run away from my problems. I've been having nightmares of the shootout, and there's this voice that's been telling me it was my fault for what happened to you." she explained. My heart broke; she's been suffering, and I wasn't there for her.

I cupped her cheeks with my good hand, and pushed her head into my good shoulder. I felt silently cry in my shirt, and I stroked her hair. "Zylina, it isn't your fault that this happened to me. I mean, I put myself into the crossfire." I tried to reassure her.

Zylina lifted her head, and looked into my eyes. "I know that now thanks to my recent mission." she told me. That got me curious, and I asked, "So, what happened?" Zylina broke eye contact with me a second time, and she replied with, "Maybe it would be safer if you didn't know all the details."

Okay, now I was really curious. I wanted to question her further, but considering the no eye-contact deal she was doing, I figured it was best not to interrogate her. "I will tell you, though, that I met someone there, and they helped me a lot." Zylina told me.

"Okay, as long as you're okay. I won't push any further." I reassured her. Zylina then hugged, and pushed on my bas shoulder, but I ignored the pain, and just focused on the moment, happy that she was in my arms.

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Zylina's Point of View

I was scared at first when I entered the hospital and traveled to Rory's room, but now I felt comfort and contentment being in Rory's arms, well, arm.

"Zylina, if you ever need to talk about the nightmares, I'm right beside you." I heard him whisper in my ear. I nodded, and I felt his gentle hand stroke my hair. There was deep silence that fell over us, as we clung to each other. 

TBC...