TEN STEPS, The Kenny Ackerman Story BOOK THREE ~MAYBES by Melly O' Hara

AWAKENING

CHAPTER 2 AWAKENING

He loved me. He knew I loved him. It weren' jus' a dream, were it?
His face swam afore me as I reached out ta embrace him, touchin' only the mornin' sunlight. As the dawn's golden shards slivered their way through the shade o' the ol' oak tree; forcin' me back inta consciousness, I were aware o' the warmth o' her soft body curled up next ta mine. Her long hair, tanglin' it's way across my shoulder, her beautiful face troubled as she slept. Awareness also brought the first stabs o' pain; as I ran my hand down my chest an' along my flank, ta where the mound o' dried blood still caked my shirt, an' where my side were screamin' in agony.

'Yeah, I guess he didn' get the game plan. Seein' as though he done killed me! Or tried ta!' I remembered, as once more, Levi's face swam afore my eyes.

The breeze blew soft an' warm, an' though the fire still burned its last embers; I shivered 'neath the blankets. The shakin' o' my body woke her an' she pounced inta alertness; like someone that were in the middle o' a war zone, awoken at their post.

"You're still alive!" she murmured, relief floodin' her features,  as she inspected my face.
"Do you know me? Kenny? Do you know where you are?" she questioned gently.

"Could neva forget ya, Owl", I tried ta smile back at her, my eyes seein' through the memories that felt so close, despite the ever increasin' pain that now tainted my consciousness. Not jus' in my side, but my face, shoulders an' even my hands, that felt like fire.

Tears streamed silently down her cheeks as she lay her body next ta mine, an' held me, indulgin' her selfishness, her relief. Then pullin' herself tagether, she assumed an air o' proficiency an' organisation that she usually only used for work; when dealin' out the tasks for her staff an' checkin' the horses for the Monarch, an' proceeded ta inspect my wounds. Cleanin' an' bathin' me an' re-dressin' my wounds, thorough as a trained doctor, gentle as a lamb!

Bitin' my lip as she poured more o' the whiskey inta my side; I let a fair few choice words fly, "Fucken God o' the Walls, Owl!" I exclaimed as the alcohol burnt its way inta my flank.

"Oh, don't be such a baby, Kenny. It's for your own good!" she replied with mock irritation, her eyebrows knitted in concentration.

"Hey, go easy, would ya?!" I complained as she wound a fresh bandage tightly around my side.

" Keep still!" she commanded, placin' her knee upon my legs to keep me in place.
" Geeze, I think I liked it better when you were unconscious! At least then you were compliant!And I didn't get any complaints!" she quipped, smilin'.
"There! All done!" she pronounced, sittin' back on her heals, admirin' her handiwork.
"Well, it's healing, not quickly, but at least there's no sign of infection. But we need more supplies if...",she mused.

"An' more whiskey", I interrupted her. " There's no way I can do this sober!"

"...if", she continued, glarin' at me. "If you're going to heal properly! And I'll have to leave you to go and find fresh bandages, food and...yes, yes, I know", she said wavin' away my raised hand with her own, a look of exasperation on her face. "And whiskey!" she finished.

Our eyes met an' smile met smile, now that the worst had seemed ta have passed. Lookin' inta her precious face; I could see the grey shadows that lined her exquisite green eyes an' the slight hollowness o' her cheeks that were testament ta her lack o' sleep an' worry that last few days had brought her.
Reachin' for her, I pulled her down ta me; holdin' her close with the one arm that still seemed ta have some strength left in it. Feelin' her shoulders gently shake, I were aware o' her tryin' ta control her tears.

"It's okay, baby",  I whispered. "It'll be okay. I'm not gonna leave ya. I ain' goin' nowhere", I soothed, gently strokin' her hair.

Re-groupin' she pulled away an' wipin' her tears, kissed me on the forehead an' began ta tend ta the burnin' fire that consumed my face, shoulders an' hands. Finishin'; she brought the rest  o' the water for me ta drink, afore takin' some for herself, an' sittin' beside me. Reachin' for the long, black trench coat I'd trusted her ta take care  o', afore I left for the Cavern that night, she pulled out my tobacco tin an' rolled me a cigarette.