Matthew Silver and the Monster Hunters, Book One: The Darkest Waters

Chapter Twelve

JadeCHAPTER TWELVE

A million thoughts spun through her mind, as they raced to the docks. An ambulance was to meet them there as well. The police, medics, press, and crowds of people were all waiting there for Silver’s expected arrival. Word had spread pretty quickly.

What if it’s not him? she thought.

“Shut up,” she quietly told herself.

Scott stopped talking and looked back. “What?”

“No, not you. I was just—never mind.”

“Listen…I know what—I mean, I never meant to come off like—”

“I know,” Jade said.

“You do?”

“Yep. I understand perfectly where you were coming from.”

“Oh good. That’s good,” he said, looking relieved.

“After all, friends aren’t nearly as important as the mission.” Jade immediately regretted saying it, but she didn’t take it back.

Scott‘s face darkened. “I’m just as worried about Matthew as you are.”

“Oh, really? Then how come—?”

“Both of you stop it!” Sandy snapped. “Scott, what you said early did seem insensitive. What would you do if I, your partner—” she enunciated forcefully, “—was missing?”

“But—!” Scott protested, pointing at Jade.

Sandy ignored him and turned on Jade. “You seriously need to take in the fact that we’re Matthew’s friends too. Maybe we’re not as close to him as you are, but don’t think for one second that we wouldn’t give everything to see him back here safe and sound.” Sandy turned back, huffed loudly, and crossed her arms.

Jay clenched her jaw so tightly, her teeth ground together. She stared out the window irritably.

Scott just sighed wearily and turned around.

Blair never said a word and just stared straight ahead, seemingly focused on his driving, which they all appreciated.

Needless to say, it was a slightly awkward drive to the docks.

They arrived at the Falmouth Docks just north of the station. People were all crowded around, trying to find out what was going on. Chief Blair cleared a path to a medium-sized fishing trawler. Two men were carrying a kid by the arms and legs off the boat onto the docks.

Jade’s heart lifted. There was no doubt about it.

It was Matthew.

She ran over, and one of the nearby Coast Guard tried to stop her, but she judo threw him bodily into the water. As she approached, paramedics were setting him on a stretcher and strapping him in. He smiled weakly when he saw her and tried to sit up, but the restraints held him down.

She ran by his side and held his hand, blinking back tears of relief and new worry at seeing his condition.

He had the nerve to laugh at himself. “Hypothermia…Too much exposure to the cold. Stupid, right?”

She smiled, “Very.” His hand was ice cold and shaking. He needed to get treated and soon. The Coast Guard had already cut off his clothes, and had wrapped him in a heavy wool robe. Even though he was already recovering, the hypothermia could still do serious damage to his nervous system and heart.

The paramedics layered heated blankets over him to stop the heat loss. They were going to head back to the hospital again, but Jade wasn’t about to leave his side again. With a little work, she managed to get permission to ride with him in the ambulance.

Blair volunteered to take Scott and Sandy to the hospital. She didn’t really care to ride with Sandy and Scott at the time.

She turned on Matthew instead. “You had us all so worried!” she raged. The two orderlies in the ambulance looked at each other and kept working on getting an IV ready.

“I couldn’t really do much about it. You know, being miles out to sea and all—Ow!”

She had punched him in the shoulder, causing the orderlies to hesitate, each wondering if they should intervene. “God, I hate it when you’re right!”

“Good to see you too?” He gave her his puppy dog eyes and a smile that cooled her fiery temper.

She hugged him tight, which was uncomfortable for him, since he was strapped down to a board.

“Ma’am, could you refrain from touching the patient?” one of the attendants finally asked. He was trying to put the IV in Silver’s arm, but she kept getting in the way.

Jade turned several shades of red. “Sorry.”

“How long was I out there?” he asked her.

No one had even told him yet? “Two days.”

“Two days?” His expression was priceless. “What? Did no one care to come after me until now?”

“Excuse me, miss,” a paramedic said. Jay stepped aside for them, and watched as one stuck an IV into Silver’s arm, to which they were surprised that he didn’t even wince. “You must be one tough kid to have made it after being out there for so long,” one commented.

“You could say that,” he said with a smile.

“You’ll be alright,” the orderly said.

Matthew closed his eyes and relaxed. “Awesomeness.”

Oh, Matthew, you idiot.

She smiled at last.