The Southern Imprint (Paul Lahote x oc)

Chapter 22: Exhaustion

I was so tired from running patrols day and night. Sam was insistent that we stay ready in case the red head shows again. I really don't see the purpose of this. We already know when she is going to show, so why waste time.

Anywho, I was currently recovering from my last 4 hour patrol and was trying to squeeze in a nap in-between that and my next patrol in 8 hours. Crazy I know. Sam had us working 4 hours shifts in groups of 3. Around the clock patrols means little time to sleep and eat and rest.

I have been so tired the past few weeks, as soon as I get off patrol and collapse a bed, I'm out. A bed. Not my bed. Sometimes even a couch. I'm with Jared and Paul so whoever's house is the closest is where we crash.

I grabbed a piece of fruit from Paul's kitchen and plopped on the couch. I nibbled on my snack while fighting back a yawn.

"Man, I'm tired." Jared said as he plopped down next to me, yawning.

"Me too" Paul said as he sat down by my feet. I leaned back against the couch and grunted in agreement. I finished my snack and made my way upstairs. I landed face first in Paul's bed and groaned into his pillow. This sucked.

"I agree." Paul chuckled as he entered the room. He laid down next to me. I was about to fall asleep when, "do you want to sleep under the covers or no?" Paul asked.

"I don't care." I muttered. I felt Paul get up as he crossed to my side. He scooped me up and lifted up the covers then set me down and tucked me in.

"That should be more comfortable." He muttered and I hummed my thanks. He slipped back in on his side and we fell into a peaceful sleep.

The blaring sound of Paul's alarm woke me up 6 hours later. You're probably thinking: 6 hours, that's a lot of sleep. But when you are working yourself to the bone 8 hours a day with minimal food, it is an exhaustingly small amount.

I groaned and shut off the alarm and sighed. Back to work I guess. I shoved Paul to wake him up and he groaned. If I had to be awake, so did he.

"C'mon, it's time to get up." I said sleepily.

I rolled out of bed and got ready for another patrol. I went downstairs and saw that Jared was still asleep. I grabbed a through pillow and wacked him on the head with it. "Time to get up." He groaned but complied. It was either that or face Sam's wrath and work a double.

I grabbed another piece of fruit and scarfed it down as I waited for the boys. When they came into the kitchen we all headed out and made our way to Sam's. He insisted that we check on at his house at least 15 minutes before our patrol, and since none of us were awake enough to drive, we were walking. It wasn't bad though, the walking actually helped me wake up some more before setting out.

When we got to Emily's the boys did their weird bird call, it sounded more like just a holler to me, and we went inside. She always had food so we each grabbed a muffin and made our way to the back porch. We sat there waiting for our time and when it was we all shifted and started the long tedious shift.

'I still don't understand why we have to have a 24 hour rotation.' Jared complained through the link.

'We need to be ready for "if the red head shows up early."' Paul said, mocking Sam.

'He could at least give us more rest time.' I remarked. '3 hours won't kill him.'

We continued our conversation as the minutes ticked by. Every few minutes my eyes would get heavier and heavier and I was having to fight to keep them open. I was over a hundred feet in the air. If I fell it would be bad.

I began to sway as I flew and I knew I should fly lower but that would lessen my view and that was the whole point of having me on patrol, so I could see threats before they came. I must have been projecting my thoughts through the link because Paul was suddenly telling me to fly lower.