18. Dev

The uppercase A in a circle didn't have any human features, of course, but somehow it still managed to convey disappointment as strongly as April's tone of voice. "You're lucky everything turned out as well as it did, Agent Campbell."

I winced at the bite in her words. "I know."

"Taking a civilian with you into a combat situation? A civilian minor, at that?"

"I promised her extra credit."

A heavy pause greeted my words. "I'm sorry, you what?"

Another wince. I glanced at Hallie, who hadn't left my side for more than a few minutes, and then only to check on Ward, who was still unconscious. She was looking at me with something like pity in her eyes, and…yeah. Maybe I should shut up. But I found my tongue forming more words anyway. "Uh, it's only fair, right? She did good work."

More silence. For a second, I honestly wondered if April was going to fire my ass over a video call. I mean, I probably would have already, because yeah, looking back on my decisions and actions, they were not the smartest. I couldn't even argue that I thought they were at the time, because I'd known they weren't. But I went ahead anyway.

"I'll understand if you want my resignation." I hoped not, because I liked being part of SPAM, but I truly would understand.

"No," Hallie barked. She leaned forward and swung the laptop around on the little table suspended over my bed so she could glare daggers into the camera. "I was the one who insisted. You can't punish—"

"Ms. Parker—"

"Don't ‘Ms. Parker' me." Hallie squinted at the screen. "I know what you're going to throw at me—I'm only seventeen, he's an adult, he was the one in charge and making the decisions, blah, blah, blah. But it was the right thing to do. Maybe not the thing that was safest, or what-the-fuck-ever, but right. If we hadn't acted, Ward would be dead, and Crimson would be running around with the last of his powers. Would that have been in anyone's best interests? I think not."

"Are you done?" April asked drily when Hallie paused for breath.

"No. You want me in your agency, April, and if you throw the book at Dev or Ward, you won't get me. I won't work for anyone who doesn't appreciate agents who have the ability to make decisions for the greater good. There. Now I'm done." She turned the laptop back to face me.

I was torn between applauding her and being horrified that she'd basically told off the de facto head of SPAM.

"Well," April said after a few minutes, clearing her throat. "I believe I've been schooled."

"Damn straight," Hallie muttered, crossing her arms and leaning back into her chair.

While Hallie was far more direct than I could ever be, I didn't disagree with anything she said. So I simply shrugged. "I think you were, yeah."

April huffed, but it didn't sound annoyed, more amused. "You're officially on sick leave, Agent Campbell. I'll expect you back at your station in six weeks' time, with a note from your doctor clearing you for duty. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Cadet Parker, you're expected at the academy in five weeks. Until then, where do you want to stay?"

She bit her lip. "I want to say with Dev, but Ward might need my help too. Can I tell you after he wakes up?"

"Certainly. I'll be in touch." She signed off without so much as a Have an okay day.

I closed the laptop lid and leaned heavier into my pillows. Talking with April was exhausting on the best day, and there was no question that this was not the best of days. Even after two full days in the hospital, I was still exhausted, and I would be in far more pain if I wasn't on the good meds filtering through my IV.

I guessed that was what getting shot did to you. Zero out of ten, do not recommend.

Hallie stood and stretched her arms above her head. She didn't look much less exhausted than I did, but at least she was more mobile and not in pain. The what-ifs had plagued me from the moment I'd awoken in the hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines. What if the guy with the weird face-stealing power had focused on Hallie instead of me? What if the woman who'd shot me had hit Hallie instead? What if Hallie hadn't been so good at dodging Crimson's bolts? What if Ward hadn't managed to wrestle his powers back from Crimson, if only for a moment, to save Hallie's life?

I was going to need some extra good therapy when I got home.

"I'm going to go check on Ward. You need anything?"

I shook my head. "Thanks. I think I'll close my eyes for a bit."

"Good idea." She squeezed my knee through the wool blanket draped from my midsection down. "I'll be back in a few."

"Take your time."

I watched her leave and let my eyes drift shut. It seemed like they'd been closed for less than a minute when Hallie burst back into my room. I jolted out of the light doze, my heart in my throat.

She grinned. "He's awake."

As much as I wanted to see Ward right away, the doctors got dibs. We waited outside of his room, me in a wheelchair, with Hallie standing behind me, ready to push, until we got the all-clear to go inside. I didn't know if April had cleared us with the nurses and doctors or what, but no one put up a fuss that we weren't family.

Then again, SPAM was family.

I'd seen Ward once in the two days we'd been in the hospital. A few hours after I'd first awoken, I'd insisted on coming to his room to see for myself that he was still breathing. I remembered watching him fall in the snow, then my memory faded in and out until we'd gotten to the hospital. I had flashes of Hallie tugging Ward by me, then she'd returned without him, explaining that she'd dragged him all the way to our borrowed SUV. She managed to get me to my feet, and we stagger-walked to the vehicle to join him. Then her swearing and getting out of the SUV to melt the snow around it, maybe? Then nothing until the bright lights of the hospital.

I wasn't joking with April—Hallie definitely deserved extra credit for all she'd done.

When I'd visited Ward before, he'd been pale and wan, looking smaller in the bed than he actually was. He didn't look much better now—too pale, too drawn, with one side of his face drooping and unresponsive. More scruff than usual covered his cheeks, and his hair was a mess.

But he was alive, and that was everything.

Something in me eased as Hallie wheeled me closer to the bed, and my eyes burned with tears of relief. Had to be the drugs from the IV stack attached to the chair. That was my excuse, anyway.

Hallie got me close, then engaged the chair's parking brake before rushing over to Ward's side. She bent to kiss his cheek, but he didn't smile or tilt his head toward her. If anything, his lopsided scowl deepened.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she rushed out.

He grunted. "No' okay." His words were slurred and unclear. He wouldn't look at either of us, choosing to stare at the wall beside him instead.

My gut clenched, then dropped to my feet when I went to reach for his hand, and he pulled it away gracelessly. "Ward?"

"Go 'way."

I frowned. "Why would we—"

"Don' wan' you h—h—" He let out a frustrated growl. "Here."

It had to be the drugs talking. Where they made me chatty and open, clearly they had the opposite effect on Ward. I smiled and rubbed his arm. "We're not going anywhere. We're going to help you get back on your feet—"

"Ha-fuckin'-ha."

"Okay, maybe not the best choice of figures of speech," I admitted, grimacing. The droopiness of his face might be a sign of weakness elsewhere in his body too. Nothing we couldn't deal with together, though. "But hey, you'll feel much better in a few days, and—"

"Ge' ou'."

My breath caught. "Ward—"

"Are y'deaf 'n stoo—stoo—" He pressed his lips together hard. "Ge'. Ou'."

I gritted my teeth. "No. We made promises, you and me. Do you think I'm going to toss those out the window because you're hurt? We'll get through it. I—"

Ward lifted one hand and felt around for the call button above his head. It took a few seconds, but he found it and pressed it. A nurse popped into the room a second later, and he gestured wildly at Hallie and me. "Ou'."

"Certainly, Agent Sullivan." The nurse gave us a sympathetic look. "Let's leave him for now. You can come back tomorr—"

"No," Ward growled. "No' wel—welcome."

Pain spiked through my chest at the words, and for an instant, I wondered if my meds had stopped working. I couldn't suck in a lungful of air, and it felt like someone had socked me in the gut.

"Ward." Hallie stared down at him, sniffling. "Why?"

Ward ignored her, staring at the wall.

"Come on," the nurse said gently, guiding us into the hall. Once he closed the door behind us, he leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I'm sure this is only temporary. The doctor's news wasn't…well, it wasn't the best."

"What did the doctor say?" Hallie asked, her arms wrapped around her torso.

The nurse hesitated. "I can't go into details. But he's got a long recovery ahead of him."

Fuck. And there I'd gone, implying it would be easy, without knowing what the hell I was talking about.

"He's going to need support. Maybe talk to your boss? See if she can convince him to accept your help?"

Somehow I didn't think even April could sway Ward, but it was worth a shot.