“I keep fixing you, and you keep getting broken,” he teased, shaking his head when she snorted. “I need to get that bullet out of you.”
“Ugh…really?” Jill looked down at the hole that had already started to close. “It doesn’t hurt as much. Can’t I just keep it as a war wound…a conversation starter?”
His right eyebrow rose as he looked at her, a slight smile forming on his lips. “We’ll see.” He stood. “We need to get an x-ray though. I want to make sure it’s not close to anything important. You are half human, you know.”
Jill let him help her up; her human legs started to shake, making her wobble. “Believe me, I know.” She tried to take a step, but her leg gave out. He caught her picking her up. “Sorry.” Her voice hitched as his strong arms held her carefully, holding her with ease.
Slade carried her outside to Damon’s car he had left for them. Putting her gently in the passenger seat, he walked around and climbed in. “You okay?” He looked her over before starting the car.
“I’m good.” She frowned. “Shouldn’t you be helping them find Tessa?”
“I’m a doctor first,” Slade replied, turning the key. “They don’t need me.”
Jill stopped him before he could put the car in gear. “But Tessa might. If they find her and she’s hurt, then she is going to need you.”
“You have been shot, Jill,” Slade growled at her in frustration. “We need to see where that bullet is.”
“But I’m half vampire,” Jill shot back. “Tessa is human, and she was beaten up pretty bad.”
“Dammit!” Slade slammed his hand on the wheel. “I can’t just choose whom I’m going to help and who I’m not.”
“You’re not making the decision,” Jill replied. “I am, and I’m refusing treatment until this is over.”
Slade didn’t say a word; he just slammed the car in gear and took off. His jaw clenched, causing the muscle to bunch. Jill turned to look out the window, and then closed her eyes, wondering if she would make it by the time he got back. Catching her breath was becoming harder.
*****
Jill heard her name being called, but opening her eyes took way too much effort, so she just grunted.
“Jill, dammit.” Slade’s voice was becoming clearer. “Don’t you fucking die on me.”
“Die?” Jill finally opened her eyes to see Slade standing over her, staring down at her. He looked blurry. She blinked repeatedly trying to bring him in focus. Panic seized her, quickly followed by fear; she tried to sit up. “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I see?”
Slade held her down. “Stop before you rip out your stitches.”
“Stitches?” Jill blinked again, her vision finally clearing. “Did you knock me out and take the bullet out?”
“No, you crazy little….” He actually laughed cutting himself off. “You passed out in the car. You failed to tell me you were having a hard time breathing. Instead, you talked me into putting you to the side to help someone else. The bullet nicked your lung.”
“It did?” She still looked confused, her brain trying to catch up.
“Yes,” he hissed, staring down at her. “Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t breathe?”
Jill felt so tired. She closed her eyes just wanting to go to sleep. “Because more people would be affected if something happens to Tessa,” she mumbled. “You need to help her. She has people who love her.”
Slade frowned at her words as he watched her fade. Knowing that she was going to be okay, tempered the building rage that had been forming since he had discovered her with a bullet hole. Touching her cheek, he told himself he was just making sure there wasn’t any temperature, but he knew that was a lie. The beautiful, brave little Warrior unconscious before him, had somehow weaved herself into his every thought.
“Dr. Buchanan.” A nurse walked up with papers. “I need someone to fill the paperwork out.”
“Has anyone called her family?” Slade asked, looking up from Jill’s pale face.
“Yes, we have.” The nurse looked down at Jill and frowned.
“Then they can fill them out when they get here.”
“They won’t be coming, doctor.” The nurse handed him the papers. “We can wait until she is able to do it herself if there isn’t anyone else.”
“Why won’t they be coming?” His eyes narrowed, realizing he really didn’t know anything about her at all.
The nurse hesitated for a second. “One of the nurses in the ER went to school with Jill’s sister. She gave me the contact information and…” The nurse looked down at Jill frowning. “They said they do not have a daughter by that name.”
“Are you sure you had the right number?” Slade felt his anger return, building, but he kept calm. Surely, parents would never disown their own child, especially someone as remarkable as Jill.