Borrowed Time Part 2

Chapter 271

Thank God for heavy pain meds.

That was never something that Juliette had ever really thought, but she was sure that there were dozens of other people that were sitting in similar hospital beds to her, thinking the exact same thing. If it weren't for the pain meds, she'd be able to feel the stab wound, the cut on her neck, the probable millionth fucking concussion in a way that would probably overwhelm her and make her shut down, but thanks to the marvel of modern medicine, she could just sit there, in the dark, unable to sleep from the beeping of machines, but unnervingly calm.

Esme was passed out cold beside her, bent over her bed, head in her lap in a way that she was sure was going to give them back pain for days, but she couldn't convince them to lay down on the ground, in the recliner, anywhere, they'd insisted on Shelby taking anything comfortable. She knew it wasn't chivalry though.

They were scared that the moment that they weren't touching her, she'd freak out, bleed out, or just... Die. She knew the look that they'd had in their eyes very well, she used to wear it constantly around her mother.

It was like if she didn't look away, she could've kept her alive, nothing bad could've happened if she was just looking. She used to blame herself for ever blinking, so really, she couldn't fault Esme for not wanting to be away from her right now.

She brought her hand down, careful of the IV in her arm, and ran her fingers through their hair, smiling a little at the way that they mumbled against her, turning their face to tuck into her stomach, scooting closer instinctively.

My love. She looked over at where their hand was still protectively resting on her thigh, frowning at the bruising on their knuckles, her heart sinking impossibly... She wasn't feeling the pain, but that was reminding her that even though she'd done everything in her power to keep Esme out of it, she'd still failed. They'd still gotten hurt.

She blinked hard, forcing out a breath a little too hard.

Too hard only because she heard Shelby stirring from her spot on the recliner.

"You awake?" Her voice rasped out from across the room, and Juliette cleared her throat, straightening up as she tried her hardest to sound like she'd just woken up before whispering back.

"Hardly." She heard a tired laugh leave Shelby's lips as she sat up, stretching slightly.

"Don't bullshit me, you've never slept well in a hospital bed." She said, and Juliette sighed, settling back against her pillow.

If she was just going to let her know that she knew that she was lying, what was the point of asking her if she was awake in the first place? Was she just trying to catch her in a lie? That felt cruel, she was in the hospital, she deserved some grace.

"If you knew, why'd you ask?" Juliette widened her eyes. Shit. When had she told herself to say that out loud?

Right.

Pain meds. She was much less filtered on pain meds, she couldn't hold back the things that sounded bitchy even when they weren't. Luckily, Shelby only smiled, the glint of her teeth in the dark being the only indication that she wasn't plotting to finish Ethan's handiwork.

"Common courtesy." She leaned forward in her chair. "We could talk to the doctors about something for sleep." Juliette frowned, looking back down at Esme in her lap... Part of her couldn't help but wonder if this part was hard for them, the drugs, the discussion of them, how much she'd have to be on, that she'd probably have to bring a bottle home with her.