Found

Chapter Eleven: Love and Recovery

Josh is still recovering from the surgery and getting shot. It has been three weeks. Belle has been watching Josh very carefully, to make sure there is no complications from his surgery. He's been doing great. He is under a lot of pain killers so he's very loopy. He's very funny too.

I lay next to Josh in his bed. His arm pulling me close to him. The only way I can get him to sleep is to lay next to him, but I think he just says he can't sleep because he wants to keep me close to him. Which I'm perfectly fine with.

"Raven?" Josh whispers in my ear.

"Yes Josh?" I whisper back.

"You're the best girlfriend/partner in the entire world." Josh says joyfully.

"Well you're the best boyfriend/partner in the entire world." I say, looking at Josh with a smile. I hear the sliding door shut and see Belle in the corner of my eye.

"Raven, may I have a word?" She asks.

"Sure, that okay Josh?" I ask.

"Yeah." He answers.

Belle leads me outside the door and closes it behind her.

"What's a matter, is Josh okay?" I ask, worried.

"Yeah, he's fine. I was just wondering if maybe we could have a sisterly chat?"

"Yeah, what do you want to talk about?" I ask.

"Just tell me a story." She says. I have to think about what story to tell her, there are so many. I start at the beginning, the Box.

Belle stares at me amazed.

"So, you have almost died like three times and have gotten knocked out and kidnapped more than once and every time the man in that room has been there, saved you?" She almost cracks up.

"Pretty much." I laugh. I look behind me at Josh. He looks so peaceful asleep. All I feel is joy. "So, how did you get here? What's your story?"

"It's really not that interesting. After you disappeared, I entered myself in medical school after going to Stanford and became the best veterinarian/human doctor in the Eastern hemisphere. I got an invitation to come to a science research and testing facility in California. And here we are." She answers.

"You sure have succeeded at life. I'm proud of you, I just wish I could have been there to support you." I say. I lean over and hug her. She seems shocked at first, but she finally puts her arms around me. I smile.

Josh is still asleep, so I just curl up beside him. I lay my head on his chest and let his heartbeat calm me to sleep.

After Josh is healed, I want to go after the man named Max, find out if he really is behind all of this. The kidnapping, my father, everything. If he is, and we find him, I don't know what I'll do. I'm betting Josh has some idea.

"Raven." I hear someone whisper. "Raven."

I wake to Josh next to me in his bed.

"Yes Josh?" I ask.

"When did you get here?"

"I snuck in after Belle and I talked. You were still asleep, so I just went to sleep next to you."

"Okay." Josh pulls me closer and kisses me. I kiss him back, still feeling that spark between us. And all I can think about is how much we love each other. I run my fingers through Josh's hair.

"I love you." I whisper.

"I love you too." Josh whispers back, a smile on both of our faces.

"Well that was... Romantic." I say, happily. I laugh and smile. Josh looking down at me. Our heads resting on the same pillow.

"Yes, very." Josh smiles. Josh kisses me and I smile under the feeling of his warmth. I trace with my finger Josh's scar, still red. My body under blankets, Josh traces on the blanket where my scar is. I feel the tingle of his finger. I love him and all I can feel is happy and in love.

"Who do you think is behind this, us getting captured, you 'turning', getting me to answer questions, and you getting shot?" I ask.

"I don't know, and I don't really care right now. I would rather focus on you. And how happy I am when I'm with you. We can figure all that out when I'm healed." Josh smiles. I smile so big I'm afraid my mouth might cramp up and stay this way forever. I kiss him and I feel him smile.

"You're such an awesome boyfriend." I say.

"I do try." He says, laughing. He tickles me and I scream out of joy. I'm happy. So is Josh and to me, right now, that is all that is important.