An Unlikely Time

Chapter 8- A Sideline Rescue

"Is she gonna be okay?"
"I believe she is healing up well."
I opened my eyes, to see Rachael and a man hanging over me. I touched my head, and there was white wrapping circled around my head, along with my side. My glasses were off, so things were blurry.
"Good morning sleeping beauty." Rachael said, jokingly. I sat up, looking at them. I didn't remember what had happened. I knew I had passed out, but why, I wasn't sure.
She frowned slightly at my state. She walked to the door. "I'll be outside." With that, she shut the door behind her.
The doctor handed me my glasses, smiling. "I fixed up your glasses. They were broken, so you have a new prescription."
I put them on, and to my surprise, I could see much better. It had been a very long time since I had seen so well.
"Wow, thanks. I haven't seen this well since..." I trailed.
He caught on. "No problem." I stood up, nodding to him. He grabbed my arm.
"Oh, and could you please take this? It's a first aid kit. I think you guys could use it." I looked at it, slightly confused, but accepted it.
"Thank you." With that, I followed my friend outside.

I opened the door, looking over at Rachael, who sat against the wall, staring out at the horizon.
I blinked, sitting next to her and looking forward. I said nothing for a long while. I looked over and noticed my bite mark on her hand. I gasped.
"What's that?!" She didn't change her expression.
"Yo-Yo."
"What happened?"
"You fainted and he went into protection mode. I got bit trying to pick you up." I stared at her in shock. I never thought Yo-Yo would attack her.
"I'm so sorry, Rach." She shrugged.
"It's fine. I've had worse." I looked at her for a moment, then stood.
"Let's get going." She sighed.
"Actually Ash..." She began. "... I think I'm gonna go alone." I raised an eyebrow.
"What? Why?"
"This is my deal. I'm doing this to save my family, not yours. I know you wanna help, but I could tell by how you acted yesterday that you weren't physically or mentally fit for a journey like this. I just... You're my best friend, and I don't want you to get hurt."
I paused, but started cackling, startling her.
"Are you seriously thinking about leaving me behind?" I nodded.
"Rachael, everything you've said is true. I'm not mentally or physically fit for this. And I do wanna help. And it is your family, not mine. But you've forgotten the most important thing."
"Huh?"
I grabbed her shoulders. "YOU are my family too, Rach. I have to protect you too. And also, I'm always physically and mentally unstable." Rachael gave me a nervous look. I just smiled back. "We're gonna do this. Together."
She paused, but nodded, with a smirk of determination.
"Alright." We grabbed our things and started walking toward the dusty beaten path.
"Hey, remember when you said I was stubborn?"
"Yeah?"
"I could say the same thing about you."