Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

T heir fevers broke after a couple hours, but neither Cody or Jesse woke up. After the first day, Cal was sure it would be any time and they would come around, open their eyes, and demand food and probably a strong drink. Cal didn't go far from their sides, sleeping when he was able to on a bed he moved over to be between them. During the day, he'd read from the Wayward Entomologist in a desperate attempt to annoy them awake.

Cooper came to visit Jesse, not letting Marybell see him in the state he was in. Even though the fever had broken and his skin got some of the color back, he still looked like death warmed over, and the bandage over his shoulder hinted at a serious injury. The wounds were past danger of infection, no longer swollen and oozing but healing slowly from the damage done to the muscle and flesh. Cooper would stay for long bouts, talking to his brother about things Cal had no business listening to. When Cooper was there, Cal stepped out to eat or bathe to give them their privacy.

Cal had told Cooper about the necklace, how Jesse took the bite meant for him, and apologized for letting it happen. If anyone was going to have to tell the man's brother the truth, it was going to be Cal. Cooper only laughed and told Cal that sounded like something Jesse would do. He didn't blame Cal, even though he rightly should.

Cody had his visitors, but the kid seemed to be struggling more than Jesse. His fever took longer to break, his breathing still seemed shallow and labored, and his heartbeat was weak. Cal had nightmares of waking up to a cold body, so much so that he got in the habit of waking up multiple times to check on his breathing during the night.

Cal sat back in a chair, watching as Sky whispered to his spirits or gods over each of the fallen men, his hand on their foreheads and eyes closed. He brought Cal tea to help him sleep, somehow knowing the man wasn't getting enough.

"How could you let him give me that necklace, Sky?" Cal whispered as he watched Sky looking over the sleeping bandit that stole his heart.

"When he came to me with his father's watch, what he was asking for was impossible. He wanted something that would make you immortal. Something so nothing could possibly harm you. I told him so, but he asked about a blood seal ward. Asked for something that would allow the transfer of a death blow to take him instead. I was impressed he knew about that, but apparently he had known a Swaili before who shared much with him. I told him no. Never. Cal would never agree to that."

Sky smiled slightly as he turned his brown eyes to Cal, his handsome face laced with beautiful melancholy. "Then he told me he loved you, and I saw the truth in his eyes. And he made me promise not to tell you."

Cal forced the cold lump growing in his throat down and clenched his jaw. "What if they don't wake up, Sky? What the hell am I gonna do?"

"Keep talking to them, Cal. They can hear you. Allow them to show you how strong they are. "

"How do you know they can hear me?"

Sky turned his gaze back to Jesse and put his hand to his chest. "I don't know. But I do."

"Thanks, Sky," Cal whispered, overcome with the urge to take Jesse's hand and lace their fingers together. Jesse didn't move, his hand limp in his, but it still made him feel better.

Elliot had been on his ass to go get some proper sleep by day six, and while Cal had told him he was fine, he was starting to feel the effects. His body hurt, as did his head, but he didn't want to be out of arm's length of either one of them. It was early afternoon, the windows open to let the breeze in, and Cal was letting his mind drift to a soft sleep. Windchimes dipped into the wind, mixing with the passing songbird, and Cal could imagine the way the sun would look painted across Jesse as he rolled out of his bed. The image made him smile, let his mind relax, and he dreamed of a lazy Sunday afternoon with his bandit.

In his dream, Jesse caught him not paying attention, his focus having been caught on how sweet the dimples above his ass looked when his jeans rode a little too low.

"Were you listening?" Jesse said, eyebrows raised with a playful look. "Cal?"

"Cal…?"

Cal jerked awake at the sound of his voice, his head snapping toward Jesse. Jesse's head was turned toward him, eyes opened in a squint, but they were open, and he was awake.

He was awake.

Cal nearly fell out of his chair as he scrambled over to his side, taking his face into his hands.

"Jesse? Jesse, are you alright?" he stammered, floundering with worry and shock.

"What happened?" Jesse whispered, blinking slowly and trying to sit up, but Cal wouldn't let him get far.

"I got bit by a goddamn Lamia, and you took the hit for it, you bastard, that's what happened. "

"Did we get him?"

"Yeah, darlin', we got ‘em. We got ‘em." Cal leaned down and kissed him on the lips over and over, not caring they both had days' worth of beard and hospital grime on them. "God, I'm so happy to see you again."

Jesse brought his hand up to tangle in Cal's hair and pull him in for another kiss. "Me too."

"You've been asleep for days. Six days , Jesse. I thought I lost you… I thought…"

"I heard you talking to me," he whispered quickly. "I heard you. I don't remember what you said, but… I heard your voice."

Cal brought their foreheads together and swallowed, letting out a little laugh.

"I will never trust another piece of jewelry you get me."

Jesse laughed, shaking his head and rubbing their noses together. "Probably a good idea."

"I love you," Cal let out all at once with his breath, fighting back the pricks of tears threatening to fall. Jesse responded with a kiss, sweet, real, too tired to do more than taste his lips and keep contact with him. Cal pulled away after a while to call for Elliot, refusing to let go of Jesse's hand as the doctor came to check on him. The antivenom had done the trick, but he was going to need bed rest until he got his strength back.

Elliot begrudgingly said Jesse could go with Cal after one more night over at the hospital, and Cal slept practically in the man's bed, holding his hand the whole night.

Cody still didn't stir, and Cal was having issues allowing himself the freedom to go home with Jesse so they could both rest properly. He only finally left once Mack swore he'd stay by his side and run to him if anything changed, and insisted Cal was a better man rested.

Cody would want that.

Getting Jesse back home wasn't hard for a Centaur. Even in his weakened state, Jesse could stay astride on Cal's back in his Centaur form, his hands clutching his mane at the small of his back. The town had cheered when they saw Jesse awake and heading home, and Cal was beaming at how proud they were of his bandit. Jesse, on the other hand, kept pulling his hat down to cover his face, embarrassed at all the unfamiliar praise.

Cooper had unleashed Marybell on Jesse as soon as they got to the house and got inside. The little girl was a mess of tears and excitement, wanting to hear all about the shootout but refusing to get off Jesse's lap the entire time. Cal had Jesse set up snug in bed, pillows fluffed and was at his beck and call, never going far.

Cal hadn't been surprised to learn Mack and Gunner were keeping things in order while Cal had been MIA, and the town was keeping themselves out of mischief after the events with the Iron Bandits. Jack had personally escorted Jeb and his remaining lackey to Worthington for trial, assuring everyone he'd send a picture back with their bodies in caskets.

The sleep they got the first night in bed together was the best sleep Cal had ever had. Curled around Jesse's body like a shield, he slept like he'd been deprived such luxuries for a century. When the morning came and he got to see the sunlight dance across Jesse's smiling face, Cal knew this was where he wanted to be until he was on his last breath.

There with Jesse, in the early morning sun of Stallion Ridge.