What Dreams May Come

Chapter 24: potatoes and beans?

I opened my eyes, squinting at the bright light and the odd weight on my left hand. Once I was more adjusted to the light, I turned, seeing Levi slumped over next to me, holding my hand. We were still in the medical bay; my side was taped up, but still ached. My head throbbed as I moved to sit up. As I did so, Levi opened his eyes and squeezed my hand.

"Good morning, ma belle."

"I don't think it's still morning," I replied. "I'm hungry."

"Do you still want potatoes and black beans?" he asked with a grin.

"What? that's... Did I say that?"

"You were pretty out of it," Levi agreed. "Shelley said you'd probably be nauseous, so perhaps we should wait to eat. How do you feel? Do you want me to get her?"

"Non, I'm pas mal," I answered, swinging my legs to one side.

I was stable once I touched the floor, but walking was more painful than I was expecting. My ribs seemed to be connected to every other muscle in my body. Levi helped me take the first couple of steps, and then I leaned on him with a groan.

"Ribs are stupid," I said.

"We can stay here if you want."

"Non, I want to go home; we're not too far."

Levi slipped an arm around my waist and I grabbed his shoulder to walk out into the hall. The lights were still orange, though the siren was no longer sounding. I didn't know what that meant. Perhaps we were still in danger, but the siren was too loud to get work done. It was hard to think with such a noise playing constantly.

"Do you remember your father coming by?" Levi asked.

"Barely. Did he say what happened to the primary scrubbers?"

"Something about debris," he recalled. "Sorry. I don't know enough to have asked the right questions."

"Given this morning, I doubt my papa would have answered you if you had asked," I pointed out. "It feels like yesterday, doesn't it?"

"A bit," he nodded.

The path to our berth was farther than I remembered and by the time we got there, I was taking short pained breaths, wishing to lie down and sleep until tomorrow. Levi punched his code in the door and helped me to the couch.

"What can I do?" he asked.

"Sit," I said. "We'll worry about food later. The world is spinning."

"Water?" he pressed.

"Sure."

I closed my eyes, listening to the sound of Levi rapidly searching the cabinets and then manipulating the faucet. When he walked back towards me, I opened my eyes again and accepted the cup of water.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"Levi, I'm just injured, not dying. Sit down."

He did so, and wrapped an arm around me, resting his head on my shoulder.

"My hair has blood in it," I noticed.

"It does," he agreed, but didn't move. "Thank you, by the way."

"For what?"

"For pushing me out of the way. I stood there like a lump and you got us out of there."

I snorted and then regretted the motion with a whimper. Levi jerked his head up to peer worriedly at me. My ribs ached and I leaned back into the couch, trying not to breath too deeply.