Jade

Chapter 13

“Are you ready,” Aris asks before the motor in the chair has me sitting up all of the way.  That was fast.  “Yes,” I answered, “are you all so fast?”  He just smiled as an answer.  He wrapped the blanket around me more snugly and picked me up.  I can probably walk, you know.  I do not want you falling down the stairs.  He carried me out and down the staircase, then sat me down on the bottom steps.

Again Ripley lit a cigarette and handed it to me.  He lit one for himself and handed the pack and lighter to Aris.  I took a long draw off of my cigarette, “So what is the big decision?”  They all took long draws off of their cigarettes.  “I am going to be staying in a cabin not far from you and Yaris,” Ripley answered.  “The rest of us are going to headquarters,” Theo continued.  “Unless you feel like you need us to,” Antony started.  “I think it will be fine,” I cut him off, “Aris and Ripley have it covered.”

“We will also have Jax,” Aris explained.  “And Reese,” Ripley added.  “Who are Jax and Reese?”  “You will see,” Ripley answered, “and you will love them.”

We finished our cigarettes and boarded the jet.  Antony and Kale took the seats closest to the door.  Theo and Ripley took the second row of seats.  Aris put me in the seat next to his, then sat down.  “Have you flown before?” he asked.  I shook my head no.  “Would you like to watch out the window?”  I shook my head yes.  He moved me to his seat and he took mine.  He buckled my safety belt then did his own.  Are you scared?  I'm a little nervous.  Hold my hand.  I took his hand and looked out the window.  There was an instant calming effect to holding his hand.  It was actually pretty cool to watch as we took off.

I watched for a few minutes once we were up in the air.  It was still dark, so I could only see city lights.  Are you ready for  me to work on your back.  I looked at him, brought back to present, not even aware that I has been lost in thought.  Yes.  Come with  me.  I unbuckled my safety belt and stood.  He offered me his arm and I accepted.  I still walk painstakingly slow.  He's right.  I wouldn't have made it down the steps.  You have the patience of a saint.  Would you like for me to carry you.  Yes.  It's becoming hard to breathe.  He picked me up and rushed me to the mystery door at the back.  He opened the door, carried me through and shut the door behind us.  He rushed me to a large bed in the middle of the room and laid me down.  Focus on breathing.  In through your nose, then out through your mouth.  What's wrong with me?  Do not panic, just breath.  I am going to have to feel you up.  He pulled my sweatshirt up.  Can you make this disappear?  I made the sweatshirt go.  I'm glad I wore a bra.  I smiled at him, wheezing.  He smiled back.  Do not worry.  I can fix this.  Fix what?  I think a broken rib has punctured your lung.  He ran his hand over and along my left side.  This is going to be very uncomfortable.  Just try to relax and keep breathing.  Okay.

He flattened both of his hands on my left side just below my breast.  I felt an intense flash of heat and saw a flash of light at the same time.  Just as I was about to pass out from pain, it stopped.  I took in a deep unobstructed breath of air.  Aris relaxed and slumped over me.  Aris, are you okay?  I just need to rest for a minute.  You can get into bed with me.  I will cover us up.  He crawled up next to me, clearly exhausted.  I covered us up.  He wrapped his arms around me and instantly fell asleep.  Sleep alluded me though.  Maybe because I was the one comforting him instead of the other way around.  Even then, I could feel my back getting better.  He was still healing me in his sleep.  If you sleep, you will heal faster.  I will try.  I will help you.  I am not sure what he did, but I began to relax.  I felt my eyes get heavy and I dropped off into sleep.

Jade, I need you to roll over on to your stomach.  Still groggy, I do as he requests.  I feel electrifying tingles in various spots all over my back.  I think he may be kissing me.  That is because I am kissing you.  I feel him kiss a spot where I am ticklish on my side.  I giggle a little.  He does it again eliciting the same response.  He does it again.  Now you are just messing with me.  I might be.  I open my eyes.  How do you feel?  A lot better.  How is your neck?  It hurts in the back.  He gathers my hair and lifts it up off of my neck.  I hear him hiss through his teeth.  He kisses the back of my neck.  It starts to feel better.  He kisses it again and again a third time.  How is that?  A lot better.  I am going to check your lower back.  I will have to pull your pants down a little.  He does so without waiting for a response.  He kisses each side then puts my pants back into place.  He kisses the back of my neck again.  I shiver.  That feels good.  That is better.  He moves my hair back down.
Overall, do you feel better?  A lot better.  You can put your sweater back on.  It is time for the plane to land.  We need to take our seats.  I picture myself with the same sweater on and it reappears.  I get up off of the bed, still stiff and sore and he leads me back to our chairs.  Some of it will just take time.  How do you feel?  I am fine now.  I just needed to rest.  I sit by the window again.  We buckle our seatbelts and he, again, offers me his hand.  I take it and turn my attention out through the window.  I watch the airstrip get closer and closer until we touchdown.  We gradually slow down to a stop.  It is then that I realize that I have a death grip on his hand.  I loosen it, looking at him apologetically.