Running into the Fire (Skye Blue x OC)

xxviii

Skye couldn't help her pacing. It had been nearly two hours since Ryder had been taken back to see a doctor and they hadn't heard a thing.

"You know he's going to be fine. They just take fucking forever as always." Julia commented as she got ahold of Skye and pulled her down into a chair.

"It would just be nice if we'd hear something." She groaned as her arms crossed and she sat back in her seat. Anna came in with an armful of snacks and dropped them into Julia's awaiting arms.

"Thank fuck." The blonde said as she immediately broke into a chip bag. "Now calm this one down because she's worse than you."

"Can you blame her?" Anna commented before Skye simply rolled her eyes. "He's going to be fine though Skye. He's just finally stopped being stubborn and has realized that doing something he hates like going to the hospital makes you happy." It was almost as if on cue that Ryder walked into the waiting room. His arm was around his midsection his hand resting along his ribs. His expression was emotionless and it threw both Skye and Anna off.

"Can we go?" They all nodded at his words before they quietly walked out of the hospital. Skye once again slipped beneath his arm and could almost instantly feel him leaning into her. She opted to stay silent on the walk knowing he wasn't going to say anything around the others. Once in the car he curled into her almost immediately. Skye and Anna exchanged a glance as Skyes arms wrapped protectively around his shoulders. Both women knew he wasn't acting anything like his normal self. Julia looked back for a moment flashing a sympathetic smile to Skye before Lee started the car and went off towards their hotel.

"Are you okay Ryder?" Skye said quietly into his ear as her head tucked into him. When his head shook her head just about snapped towards him. "What's going on?" Anna's eyes were on the both of them as she heard Skyes words. Instead of answering he simply leaned more into her. The two women exchanged a glance before Anna's hand went to gently move along Ryders back. Both of them knew he wasn't going to talk.

As he got heavier and heavier Skye could tell that the pain medicine had been working and he was falling asleep. Her lips pressed to his temple as his head moved to rest along her shoulder his nose burying into her skin. Her fingers slowly moved into his hair before a long sigh came from him. He adjusted slightly and she could've sworn that his lips pressed to her neck.

"Sleep Ryder. I've got you." He nodded slowly at her quiet words and it was seconds later that he was asleep.

"Lord.... You're so his person." Anna's words came once she knew Ryder was fully asleep. Julia looked back and almost instantly nodded.

"You two are fucking perfect together." A smile appeared along Skyes lips but the other two could tell she was still worried. "He'll be alright. He's probably just doped up on pain killers and can't form a sentence."

"I hope so." Skyes words were quiet as her nose buried into Ryders hair. Both Anna and Julia could tell it had been more than a long night for the both of them.

"You need to sleep too...." Anna started. "We'll wake you up when we get there." Skye slowly nodded as she leaned back into the door trying to get comfortable. "You sure you're okay?" Anna asked as she saw the other woman still trying to get comfortable. 

"Just feel like I took a few bumps. I'm alright. Was lucky I was leaning against him or I'd have gone head first into the dashboard." Both Julia and Anna looked at Skye who's arms were protectively wrapped around Ryder.

"Wait.... Wait.... You mean...." The blonde started as her eyes met Skyes.

"There was an accident that had happened right in front of us. He was able to stop but the guy behind us didn't. I was looking for a place to eat not paying attention and he all but became an airbag for me." Anna's eyes fell to Ryder before looking back at Skye who was watching her boyfriend.

"The airbag didn't go off?" Julia questioned.

"The car wasn't moving. It won't go off unless you're going a certain speed." Lee answered getting a quiet 'ah' from all three women. "He's probably more hurt because he went into the steering wheel. Fucking thing doesn't give."

"And it probably didn't help that he had me buried into him." Anna's eyes met Skyes and she knew exactly what the younger woman was thinking.

"You realize that he wouldn't change the way shit went down even if you wanted to. The only thing he...." Anna paused as Julia set a pillow behind Skye who flashed her a grateful smile. "The only thing he cares about is that you're alright. He's stupid as fuck but is also the best because shit will happen to him first before anything will happen to you. It's just how he is and unfortunately nothings going to change that." Anna could see Skyes fingers thread in his hair before slowly moving as she looked down at him.

"I wouldn't want to change him at all." Anna couldn't help her smile. As the car fell silent and they all settled in she could see Skye watching Ryder as he slept. Though she wanted to tell the younger woman to sleep she knew that it wouldn't help. Nearly an hour into the drive Anna couldn't fight the sleep anymore and joined Julia in a peaceful slumber.

Skye however still couldn't sleep. Her fingertips carefully moved along Ryders features before trailing along his arm staying where she knew it was safe to touch. She adjusted slightly only to feel him wince causing her entire body to stiffen.

"You're alright...." He mumbled tiredly into her skin before his lips found their way to his cheek relaxing her. "You need to sleep." A sigh escaped her lips.

"I'm just worried about you Ryder." He looked up at her for a moment before she saw him look over his shoulder. "Lees the only one awake and he's got his headphones in because Julia bitched him out for the radio." A single chuckle escaped Ryders lips and she could tell even that was painful.

"You remember when I inhaled those chemicals awhile back?" She nodded slowly as her fingers moved soothingly though his hair. "I put off going to the doctor because I felt fine even though I was supposed to, to get a scan of my chest...." He paused and she could tell he was trying to catch his breath. "I-I have a bunch of scarring in my lungs from all of that. T-they said that I have around fifty percent function in my lungs from all of that. I.... It was just a lot to take in."

"W-What does that mean?" She was slowly digesting what he had said.

"I'm done firefighting. I have to see a specialist when we get back home and I'll be lucky if I can run a marathon in the next year. I've got a lot of shit to figure out." Her arms tightened around his shoulder as her lips pressed against his temple. As Skye carefully responded she could feel Ryder completely relax in her arms.

"No matter what, I'll be here for you Ryder."