The Bond That Heals Us (18 page)

“Sara, look at me,” Haylie squeezed her hand. “What happened between you? I thought you were going to try to convince him to stay.”

“I think,” she swallowed past a lump in her throat. “I think he’s scared of his ability to heal. His mother could heal others and she died.”

“Shit.” Haylie sighed. “I can appreciate how much that will mess you up.”

“But I think it’s more than that. I just haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Well talk to him. Kamran can keep the quarantine in place for a while at least.

Maybe we can buy you some time.”

Sara leaned in and gave her friend a fierce hug. “I appreciate that.”

“Anything for you. I know what it’s like to love someone and feel trapped by circumstances you can’t control. And you do love him.”

Sara pulled back and nodded. “Everything just seems to be happening so fast.”

“At least it’s been a couple weeks for you. I only had a few hours to figure things out when they happened between me and Kamran.” Haylie pushed a strand of Sara’s hair away from her face. “Look, let’s figure out about this parasite first. Then we can beat some sense into your captain after.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“Excellent. We better get back out there. My mate is getting impatient with me blocking him from my mind.”

118

When they emerged from the side room, Kamran immediately stood and made his way to Haylie’s side. Before he had a chance to do anything, Sara wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

“For you, anything. Now,” he looked at Haylie and smiled when he was finally able to put his arm around his wife. “I believe the scanner is done.”

“Thanks.”

Sara walked over to the cell scanner only to find Davin quickly at her side.

“What was that about?” his whisper was harsh at her ear.

“What?”

“Hugging Kamran.”

“A personal matter.” Her whisper took on a hard edge. “You don’t want to be a part of my life so what does it matter to you?” She pounded her fingers hard against the computer panel. “Sean, you’re infected too. But only a few of the parasites seem to be there. Like you only recently came in contact with the source.”

“Probably at the same time you were hit.” Sean ran his hand through his hair. “It could be fucking anything in that place.”

“Or they could have been dormant until recently. Or simply dying out. God only knows at this point.”

“This is going to take a while,” Davin said, his voice grim.

“First thing, we need to get them out of your body before they start to spread. It won’t take them long to multiply.” She picked up a syringe and walked over to where Sean sat. “Based on the tests I’ve run, I think this might help. But I haven’t tested it on a sample yet, let alone a living person.”

“Shoot me up.” He held out his arm.

“Are you sure?” It didn’t feel right to her testing a theory on Sean before knowing the side effects.

“There are men in those mines who could be dead before those tests are done. Just shoot me up and we’ll deal.”

She felt Davin suck in a breath, as if he was about to say something. But when she looked up at him, he closed his half-open mouth and shrugged.

“Okay, Sean. I want you to lie down.”

Sara took a breath and pressed the syringe to his arm. She hoped the amber-colored antibodies produced by the computer would take care of the parasites. They all stood there waiting as Sean lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.

“So how will we know if it’s working?” Davin asked after the silence seemed to fill the air.

119

“I’ll run some blood work again in twenty minutes. That should give it enough time to reach most of the parasites.” Sara turned to look at Haylie and Kamran. “Why don’t you head back? I’ll let you know once we have some news.”

Kamran nodded and looked directly at Sean. “Get better. I have a feeling I’m going to need your help with this one.”

Sean didn’t respond verbally but nodded once. Once they left, Sean let out a long breath.

“No pressure there, man,” he muttered.

“I think he wanted you to know he still trusts you,” Davin said sauntering over to the chair. “Not a bad thing, is it?”

She didn’t quite hear what Sean muttered, but it sounded something like,
I don’t
deserve it
.

The trio waited in relative silence for time to pass. Sara did her best to ignore Davin’s gaze as it followed her around the isolation room. She was acutely aware of him, how he held his body, his scent as she moved around him. This was going to drive her crazy. Needing something to do, Sara grabbed the syringe and drew some of Sean’s blood.

“It hasn’t been twenty minutes,” Davin said in his teasing voice. As if he knew what was putting her on edge.

“This will give me something to compare. Hold still, Sean.” Looking down into his eyes, she noticed they were staring blankly into space. “Sean?”

“What’s wrong?” Davin was on his feet and beside her in a heartbeat.

“Sean? Come on, you, talk to me.”

She gave him a hard shake, but nothing happened.

“Oh no, don’t do this to me. Sean?”

“He’s gone into some sort of shock.” Davin grabbed the back of Sean’s head as Sara removed the pillow. “Did you get some blood?”

“Yes. I’ll run it.”

“Sean? Hey, buddy, don’t give up on us now. You haven’t learned how much of a pain in the ass I am yet,” Davin said with mock teasing voice.

Sara barely saw the glass slide as she smeared several drops of blood on it and jammed it into the cell scanner. Punching the keypad didn’t help her frustration and it didn’t make the computer complete its analysis any faster. Her heart was racing and she had to force herself to calm down enough to keep perspective on what she needed to do.

“Sara, he’s getting pale. His breathing is shallow.” Davin’s voice was strained, his words coming out clipped.

“I need another five minutes before this is done. Heart rate?”

“Ah…sixty beats per minute and falling. That bad?”

120

“Shit. BP?”

“What?”

Sara pushed away from the computer and raced to Davin’s side. Sean’s face was more than pale—it had taken on a distinct gray tinge and he was barely sucking in any air.

“He’s going to have a heart attack. Get me the defib unit.” She raced around to the other side of the table and pulled Sean’s shirt open. “Davin, get it now! He doesn’t have time to wait.”

Davin didn’t make a move toward the kit. Instead, he pulled off his gloves and slipped off his utility belt.

“What the hell are you doing?” She heard the panic in her voice and quickly quashed it. “Never mind, I’ll get it.”

Just as she picked up the defib unit from the table, the computer let out a warning sound. Sean’s heartbeat was becoming erratic. Sara tore the sensors out of their wrapping and started to head back to the table when she stopped dead in her tracks.

Davin was standing with his back to her, but even still she could see the faint glow coming from his hands. Her gaze flicked between him and the computer monitor and she hoped he was going to be able to pull this off.

“Davin,” she whispered, coming up beside him.

Sara didn’t want to disturb him, but she needed to know that they were both going to be okay. Davin’s eyes were closed, a deep frown etched on his face. He had one hand hovering over Sean’s chest, just above his heart, and the other one gripping the edge of the table. He didn’t seem to be aware of what was happening around him, even of the fact his body was beginning to sway. Sara slid her arm around his waist to steady him.

“Sara,” he said her name so faintly it barely left his lips.

“I’m here. Tell me what I can do to help.”

“Analysis complete,” the computer’s sterile voice filled the silence of the room.

“Computer, relay analysis,” Sara said from over her shoulder as she tightened her grip on Davin.

“Parasite designate PH5-98 is multiplying in subject’s blood. Estimate total hemoglobin consumption in three minutes.”

“Oh shit,” she whispered. She swallowed hard and gave him a gentle squeeze.

“Davin, did you hear that? The antibodies the computer manufactures only sped things up.”

“So many.”

“I know, baby. Can you get them all?” When he didn’t respond, she gave him another squeeze. “Davin, can I help?”

121

The hand that he was gripping the table let go and rose slowly until it came in contact with one of hers. He barely touched it, tugging it in the direction of his outstretched hand.

“Help,” he whispered.

“You want me to put my hand on yours?” She couldn’t figure out why, but really she didn’t completely understand what Davin did anyway.

Without further argument, Sara reached out and gently rested the palm of her hand on the back of his. The contact sent a pulse of energy charging through her body.

Instantly she became aroused and didn’t think she’d be able to focus, when everything went black.

Med bay faded into the distance until she found herself standing in a cold, dark space. Buzzing around her unseen were some sort of insects. They would come within a short distance of her but would suddenly veer away. Panic began to build in her and Sara had to fight the urge to scream. How the hell did she get here?

“Davin?”

“It’s all right.” His deep, rich voice was beside her.

She felt his arm come around her shoulders and the panic fizzled as quickly as it had arrived.

“Where are we?” she asked, purposely keeping her voice low. While she didn’t know what the hell those insects were, she knew she didn’t want their attention.

He chuckled, his body brushing up against hers. “I’m not sure if you’d believe me if I told you.”

“Of course I…wait, we’re in Sean?”

“I knew you were smart, wild one.”

“How is this possible? This shouldn’t be—”

Davin reached up and brushed a strand of her hair, wrapping it around his finger.

“This is how my people heal. We are able to project ourselves into the patient’s body.”

“Why is it so dark? I can’t see you.” she shivered as she said the words.

“Sean is…dark inside. He’s been through hell and still holds a part of that time inside him. Punishing himself.”

“Oh god.”

“I can help him but not until we get his body healed.”

“All your healers can do this?” Sara asked in awe. The implications were staggering too.

“Not like this, no. I’m…special. I’ll tell you about it after we fix our friend up.”

A thousand questions were bouncing in her head, but she knew Sean didn’t have that kind of time. “What do you need me to do?”

“There are so many parasites, I don’t have enough energy to kill them all.”

122

“The antibodies I gave him seemed to act as a stimulant. They are eating the hemoglobin in his blood.”

“That explains a lot.” Davin sighed. “It’s been so long since I’ve had to do this. Now with it being so close to me having healed you…”

Sara turned against his body. Feeling for his face in the dark, she reached up on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his mouth. “I’m here to help. Please just tell me what to do.”

Davin’s hands captured her face as he brought his lips hard against hers. Sara felt her body respond to his kiss, how his tongue teased her mouth. Wave after wave of arousal began to circulate through her body, all pooling at her pussy. His hands found her nipples and began to tease her into a frenzy. He tugged and rolled the sensitive tips while continuing to kiss her deeply. Sara’s head was spinning when he suddenly pulled back.
Fuck, she’d almost come!

“That’s it,” he sighed. “I need you charged up. I need your energy.”

“You needed me horny? Well, I’ve got you covered.” She licked his bottom lip.

“Can you heal him while you do this to me?”

She felt him shake his head.

“I can come back once the energy is drained. Charge you up again. But when I’m healing I need to concentrate.”

“So you just need my sexual energy?”
Fucking weird.

“Normally no. But it’s the fastest, strongest thing we have. And Sean is running out of time.”

Sara couldn’t believe she was about to suggest this. She took a deep breath and tried to relax her body. “Go heal, Sean. I can take care of keeping my body charged.”

Davin’s body stiffened. “What?”

“I can arouse myself. You just do what you need to do.”

“But—”

“Now, Davin!”

She felt him step away and wished he could have stayed beside her. It would have made what she was about to do easier. Sara slid her hand over her breasts and to her nipples where Davin’s fingers had been only a short time ago. They were still erect and begging for her to touch them. She drew a lazy circle around her nipple and felt the shiver of pleasure pass down her back.

“God, I can feel you,” Davin ground out. “Tell me what you’re doing. I can’t see.”

“I’m touching my breast, pulling my nipple with my fingers.”

Davin cursed in his own language. “Stop, I’ll never be able to heal him.”

But it was too late for her to turn back now.

“I’m so horny. If I just touched my clit, I’d come.” She moaned as she slid her hand down the front of her body until she reached her damp pussy.