Maggie’s eyes narrowed; her hand stilled momentarily. Jake, who was sitting in the corner – one of his brothers was with Michael at all times, Maggie noticed – was biting the inside of his mouth, presumably to keep the smile off of his face.
Maggie failed to see the humor. She did smile, however. It was a very wide smile, showing every one of her perfect white teeth, and it did not reach her eyes. “Oh, I don’t think so.”
The nurse hesitated for a brief moment, but then got a determined look on her face. She began to argue, but Maggie cut her off immediately. “Sorry, honey, no playtime for you today. I will give him his bath.”
The nurse looked from Michael, to Maggie, back to Michael again. She was several inches taller than Maggie, but Maggie had the mother-bear look about her that said it would be no contest. If the nurse was smart, she’d turn quietly and leave. She wasn’t, apparently deciding that sponge-bathing Michael would be worth the trouble.
“That is not acceptable. You are not qualified –“
Maggie’s smile grew as she stood. Thankfully, Jake chose that moment to speak up.
“Actually, nurse, she is. And I’m afraid you do not have the necessary clearance.” Ignoring her protests, he took her arm lightly and escorted her to the door.
“I could totally have taken her,” Maggie said when Jake pulled the door closed shut again.
“Of that, I have no doubt,” Jake said, grinning. “Removing her from the room was for her protection, not yours.”
Maggie’s face relaxed as she grinned back at him. Her expression turned to a look of total surprise when she felt a tug on her hand.
“Maggie.”
Michael’s eyes were open. His voice was rough, raspy. Maggie took a small cloth and dipped it in ice water, holding it to his lips. He swallowed gratefully.
“Michael,” she said, tears forming in her eyes. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me just yet.”
“You shouldn’t be here. It’s not safe. You need to go.” He sounded so weak, like the very effort of speaking was costing him greatly.
“You need to be quiet,” she told him. “I’m not leaving without you, so you can just forget that.”
“Need to go. Tell Jake. Get home.” He was working himself up, and Maggie knew that was not a good thing.
“Michael, if you keep fighting me on this I’m going to have your brothers put you in restraints and I’m going to stick a needle into your arse to put you out, just like you did to me. And unlike you, I’m not very good with a needle. I may have to jab it in there several times till I get it right.” Michael glared at her, but kept his mouth shut.
“That’s better,” she said. “Now listen to me. If you want me out of here you are going to have to get your arse out of that bed and drag me kicking and screaming out the door yourself. Until then, I am afraid you are stuck with me.”
Michael looked pleadingly at Jake, who held up his hands. “I’m not taking her on,” he said. “Especially after what she almost did to that nurse who wanted to give you a sponge bath.”
The tiniest hint of a smile curved Michael’s mouth. “Sponge bath?” he said, his gravelly voice sounding hopeful.
Maggie bit her lip. “Uh-huh.”
“I think I’m going to wait out in the hall,” Jake said wisely. “Yell if you need me.”
––––––––
Maggie lavished constant attention on Michael, refusing to accept the lodging the brothers offered her. She spent her nights at Michael’s side, her days bathing him, massaging him, reading to him. She made him special teas, spent hours stroking his hair and pampering him.
More than once Ian suggested that Michael really wasn’t half as sick as he pretended to be, just so Maggie would fuss over him some more. In response, Michael generously offered to shoot him so that Lexi might give him the same treatment, but Maggie discouraged it, saying that Lexi had enough on her plate already.
Between Maggie’s attentions and the medical care, Michael improved rapidly. Within a matter of days the doctor cleared him for transport back home, though he would have to take it easy for a while.
*
Seeing the lights of the Pine Ridge Valley as they topped the crest of the mountain and began their downward descent was the second most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. The first, he confessed, was waking up to Maggie’s face in the hospital.
A low-key welcome home celebration was awaiting them. Maggie was awed by the love and support Michael’s family had for him. All families should be like this, she thought, and the world would be a much better place.
There was a substantial amount of appreciation for Maggie, as well, though the attention made her very uncomfortable. Several times she tried to slip into the shadows, to let Michael receive the attention. He never let her stray far, his eyes ever watchful.
No matter how many times they asked, she could not give them the answers they sought. She could not explain the dream she had any more than they could. Some things, she said quietly, should simply be accepted and not questioned.
*