I Thought You Died

Hole in One

Chapter: 11

River's POV:

The next time I opened my eyes, I was lying on the living room couch. I was still completely soaked and the couch was wet too. I sat up with some difficulty and threw my legs off the couch. My hand ached and my head was still throbbing. I felt weak; I hadn't eaten anything all day. And with a hole in my palm... I just didn't know what I was going to do.

A pair of footsteps brought me out of my reverie as Xander came out of his room, drying his dark hair with a towel. He'd changed into black jeans and a white shirt with a flannel. He was still barefoot as he walked.

"Oh, you're up," he spoke as he came forward. He threw the towel aside and I sighed at his manners. He didn't seem to notice though as he kneeled in front of me and looked at me with a serious expression. "Are you okay?" I looked down at my hand. "I mean emotionally."

I sighed, "This is my fault."

"No, it's not, River. You couldn't have-"

"Xander, I don't fall for people like this and you know that." I interrupted and he sighed. "I don't know why I didn't see what you saw in James."

"Riv, you made a mistake-"

"This wasn't a mistake, Xander. I fell for him-"

"You didn't fall for him," his voice was firm. "You made a mistake. That's it." I sighed and looked away. I just couldn't bring myself to face him now.

"This is my fault," I mumbled.

"River," Xander said softly. "Forget about it, okay? At least now you know his true colours. Everyone could-"

"Xander, you know-"

"Ah!" he said putting up a finger to silence me. "Stop. Just stop blaming yourself, okay? Let's go to the hospital."

I knitted my eyebrows, "Now? it's 3 AM."

"I know that, Captain Obvious." He said mockingly. I couldn't help but laugh at that.

When Xander and I first met, we had to go and find Alex who'd run away when her father tried to take her powers. During the creepy trip, Xander had said that we were almost there. At that time, I had called him Captain Obvious, but in a lot ruder way. No one could blame us; we just didn't get along back then.

"Besides, we can't leave a hole in your palm untreated," he told me and I nodded. there was no point to argue. And even if there was, I wouldn't, because I was too tired. I just let him lead, partially because I was done, and partially because he always led when my condition was like this.

___*___*___

Xander's weariness was visible on his face as he drove. We were coming back from the hospital. My hand had been treated and it was in a bandage now. I was supposed to change it frequently-it was already starting to get soaked with blood-and avoid using a lot. No one needed to tell me that twice; it hurt like hell whenever I used that hand.

"Does it hurt?" Xander asked. He was looking at my bandaged hand that I had been rubbing my thumb over unconsciously as if to ease the pain.

"Only when I use it," I replied in a low voice. Then, I asked, "How did you know I was in trouble?"

"You never stayed out this long. I got-" he broke off as if not wanting to say the word he was about to. "I called but you wouldn't pick up."

"Wait, you were the one calling?" I asked, suddenly, with a somewhat shocked expression.

He snorted, "Yeah, who else do you think would call you? Justin Bieber?"

I was still staring at him, my eyes filled with astonishment. I remembered what the men were saying.