midst of death

Chapter Twenty-Two

~Alex~

My eyes snapped open as I jolted awake.

I was tucked into a bed, a cold compress lying beside my head. My eyes flitted across the room, my mind barely registering that I was still in Dez's room. Kain was asleep beside my bed in a chair, his hand resting beside the compress. Dez was across the room, sitting on the floor with his back against the wall.

I tried to sit up, blinking sleep from my eyes, but suddenly two hands pushed on my shoulders, forcing me back into the pillows. I automatically started fighting back when he took my wrists and pinned them to the bed.

Dez. "Jesus, you scared the crap out of me!" I exclaimed, exhaling deeply, seeking solace from my pillows.

"Well, you've got to stay down," he said, pulling his hands away. "You're fever just broke last night."

Last night. "How long was I out for?"

"Two days," he said cautiously, his hair falling endearingly into his eyes.

"Two days," I replied flatly. Two days I've been oblivious to the world.

I groaned, smacking my forehead with my palm. He looked at me uncertainly. "I hate getting sick," I muttered meekly, closing my eyes again.

"Doesn't everyone?" he retorted, brushing sweat-soaked bangs from my forehead. "Just lay down, rest, and get better." He caressed my cheek in an affectionate way, and I was too exhausted to move away from his touch. His fingers reminded me of Chance, and my heart squeezed pitifully.

I turned away before Dez could see the tear squeeze out of my eye.

He took it as I was tired, and softly walked back over to his wall. I heard him sigh quietly, and heard his breathing calm into the soothing rhythm of those lost to sleep.

And it didn't want to be found.

My mind tortured me with thoughts of Chance; the haunting feeling of his mouth on mine, his fingers intertwined with mine, his ocean blue eyes.

I cried silently, or so I thought. I started when I felt the bed morph under someone, and instinctively knew it was Dez. I turned to him and cried into his chest, and he curled his arms around me.

After a few moments, or millennium, I couldn't tell, I finally fell into an exhausted and dreamless sleep.

When I awoke, Dez was talking animatedly to Kain, his back facing me. Kain was nodding when he realized I was awake.  He nearly ran across the room to kneel beside me. "Alex," he said, his voice husky with emotion.

I rolled my eyes half-jokingly and said, "Ah, knock it off, you big baby. I'm fine." 

He laughed half-heartedly. "Yeah, well..."

I was suddenly aware of my rumbling stomach. "Can I eat? I'm famished." My stomach grumbled a confirmation.

Dez and Kain spoke at the same time.

"Umm... I'm not so sure..." Kain trailed off.

"What would you like, Schatzi?" Dez asked, his eyes gray with concern.

They glanced at each other and laughed.

Confused, I asked, "Didn't Kain just hit you? And now you're all buddy-buddy again?"

Dez smiled, which lightened his eyes to a blue-green. "We're dudes, remember?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, something like that." I will never understand men, post-apocalypse or not.