Hypersonic Missiles

Ada

I almost made the same mistake, went to put my hand down on the mattress first to crawl towards Sam, but he caught me, scooped me up before I could hurt myself.

"Careful little one..." he said softly, his arm wrapped around my waist as he cosied me in close to him.

It didnt feel quite so strange to settle down in Sam's lap. Perhaps because I had spent so much of the time since he'd found me using his body as a shield from the rest of them. His big arm resting around my waist felt a little like the safety barrier on a roller coaster. There was something about it which felt protective and secure and it settled me slightly. Made me feel a little less like a wild animal and more like a girl.

"Whats the matter little lass?" He asked as he held me and rested his chin in my hair.

Eli was watching us. I couldnt work out whether he was watching me or watching Sam. Had the impression it was perhaps the both of us and for very different reasons.

"Withdrawal..." I said wincing and shutting my eyes as I allowed him to tuck me in against himself carefully.

"Our little lass was on some pretty strong medicine," said Bondy quiet enough to keep it between the three of us though there was really no need to worry about my privacy anymore. They already all knew the worst of it. "Gonna have a rough few days whilst she comes off it but then she'll be reet as rain won't you pet..."

"Yeah." I said ever so quietly, my voice sleepy and soft. "Done it before I'll be reet."

Sam rubbed my arm gently, absentmindedly trying to comfort me as I closed my eyes and tried to do as I was told. It was difficult however. Now that he was awake...

"How did it go last night?" I asked softly, thinking about how scared I had been for him and Ryan when they'd left the night before. The dread which had twisted in my tummy all night.

"Aye we were alreet titch divnt worry about us like...."

"Did you find what you were..."

"Aye pet," he said with a little chuckle, "so y'can stop mitherin now yeah, chill oot..."

"Ada..." Eli spoke up then, his voice that strange mixture, gentle warning, just intimidating enough to shut me up. Enough to leave me shrinking into Sam's hold. "You don't need to worry about any of that for now alright, just try an get some rest... you need it love." He added the last bit a little softer than the rest but it didnt stop me from feeling a little like Id been scolded. Didn't stop me from feeling a little like I was in trouble just for asking. Especially when neither Sam nor Bondy laughed him off and instead agreed.

"Aye pet," said Johnny, yawning again, always so sleepy no matter how many naps he snuck in, "grumpy guts is reet, you need y'sleep..."

Sam didn't say anything at all. Just shifted me in his lap so that I had no choice but to slip and lean back against his chest. He rubbed my arms as if trying to warm me and then reached behind him for one the blankets strewn across the unmade beds on the floor.

"Ceemon pet," he exaggerated his yawn, "reckon I could do with a nap an all..." he said as he wrapped the blanket around my shoulders and then lay down on the mattress taking me down with him.

"But you only just..."

"Aye..." he grinned, "keep it down princess divnt grass me up like!" He was giggling at himself before Id even had the chance to process the joke, but when I heard his laughter it tugged a shy smile onto my lips and I couldnt help the quiet giggle which escaped me as I relaxed into his hold on me.

We were lying, lazily, me beside him, my body hidden from view by the curve of his. He wasnt spooning me but he had draped his arm across my body and he was resting close enough to me that I could feel his warmth nearby. A comforting presence when I shut my eyes and found myself transported in my mind to lonelier places.