There was a nationwide manhunt for Nick the Mad Bomber. Lucas was still in a coma. It was induced. I was not. I was plotting revenge between visits with plastic surgeons, trauma doctors, burn doctors and witch doctors that took me for maggot baths. I was learning to get over my issues with maggots. Malachi was out helping to look for the bomber. Gabriel was out there too. I was pretty sure if either found him and could get away with it, he was going to die. It would probably be a very slow death.
I had two positions. I could sit up, with nothing touching my back or I could lay on my stomach. After three days, I wasn’t able to get comfortable doing either. I had at least a few more days in this wretched place. My revenge would have to be exacted at another time.
“Good morning,” a nurse called as she entered the room. It was sterile and everyone had to go through a decontamination process before they could enter. The nurse had confided the day before that most people she dealt with were not awake. She was enjoying having a patient that could talk to her. I was on my best behavior.
After learning of Xavier’s death, I had agreed to get a morphine drip. It dulled the physical pain as well as the emotional. Nyleena had come by. My mother had come by. I hadn’t been able to do anything but cry during their visits. I made them both promise not to come back. I’d be home before they knew it and would need help for a few days. They’d get their fill of me then.
I didn’t know if Xavier’s family had been notified. Michael was helping Gabriel and Malachi. I was cooped up in a hospital room without a phone. My only entertainment was a TV that rarely had anything worth watching on it. This meant I spent a lot of time in my own head.
“Good morning,” I said to the nurse. She was about my height with long brown hair, tied up expertly and put under a cap. Glasses made her look intelligent and emphasized her eyes. I guessed she was a few years older than me, but not much. However, she always smiled when she came in.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Better,” I told her.
“Feel up to company this morning?”
“Not really.”
“Well, there’s a gentleman here who’s a patient, his name is Leiland Watson. He says he needs to see you, it’s urgent. He was among the first of the bombing victims brought in. He woke up this morning in a flap from what I understand. Immediately began demanding to see a member of SCTU.”
“Frances,” I said. “Let him in, but make sure there are guards in the room. I don’t want to be attacked by some guy who lost his family in this ordeal.”
“I’ll make sure they all get ready.”
I wanted to call Gabriel or Malachi and see how the manhunt was going. I wanted to clear this with one of them. The last thing I needed was a grief stricken father whose children had been blown to bits or a man wanting to pour gratitude on me. However, I felt that I couldn’t just ignore him either. Maybe he had information about one of the killers.
I turned off the TV and got as comfortable as possible. I could hear voices outside my room. The door opened. A gaunt figure, covered in the sterile dressing gown, a white paper hat, white shoe covers and a mask came into the room.
“Thank god I found you,” Xavier said.
“Oh my god!” I screamed. “You’re alive!”
“Now tell these people that I’m not this Leiland Watson,” Xavier was on crutches. “I don’t know what happened with my identification, but they have me listed as Leiland Watson and they keep telling me I suffered head trauma and don’t know who I am.” He was obviously angry.
“They told us you died,” I took a breath. My body was trembling from head to toe. “You died in surgery.” My voice broke. There was nothing I could do to stem the tide of tears that began to flow. My chest felt tight again. My stomach was fluttering.
“You’ve thought I was dead since the bombing?” Xavier looked concerned.
“Yes. While I was being treated when I first got here, they told Gabriel you hadn’t made it through surgery.”
“Oh man,” Xavier said. “Some family doesn’t know their relative is dead.”
“Oh,” I hadn’t thought of that.
“Oh shit, my family’s been notified that I’m dead. How is Lucas holding up?”
“They put Lucas in a coma, he was burnt worse than me. The big dope saved my life by shielding my head as an explosion happened near us. Burnt his scalp, lost most of his skin there. I haven’t seen him, but Gabriel and Malachi have been keeping me as informed as possible. Unfortunately, in a sterile environment, I don’t have much contact with the outside world.” I looked at Xavier. “I’m going to hug you, please don’t hug me back.”
Xavier smiled at me. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and squeezed as gently as I could. My tears soaked into his hospital gown.
“I take it you missed me.”
“Xavier, you are never allowed to die again, do you understand me? If you do, I will dig you up and desecrate your grave before beating you to death in my shed.”
“You don’t have a shed.”
“I’ll buy one.”
“Deal.” Xavier gave his madman giggle. I couldn’t help but giggle with him. “Now let me have a look at your burns.”
“Don’t trouble yourself,” I waved him away. “They are taking good care of me and the maggots are doing a great job of keeping it clean. I get a bath in them almost every day. I guess as the tissue goes through the dying process, the maggots eat it away. Who knew they were so helpful in modern times?”
“You did,” Xavier said.
“True. How are you?”
“Sore, but at least I’m alive.”
“And you have no idea how grateful I am for that. I was preparing to leave this hospital and go beat a mass murderer to death.”
“Did you have a weapon in mind?”
“My boots.” I told him.
“You saved my life Ace. Did some damage by burning the worst wounds closed, but I would have bled to death if you hadn’t done that.”
“Is that how you burnt your hands?” Frances exclaimed. I groaned.
“Your hands?” Xavier raised an eyebrow. He took hold of one and began peeling back the gauze. I couldn’t stop him without causing myself pain, so I didn’t. He gasped when the final wrappings fell away.
“They aren’t as bad as they look. I still have full use of them, I didn’t destroy any major vessels or arteries. It’s mostly skin damage. I won’t have finger prints or palm prints, but I didn’t really need them anyway.”
“You did this saving my life?” Xavier looked at me.
“I needed something hot,” I said. “The only thing near us that was hot was part of an exploded ride. It worked.”
“Ace,” Xavier teared up.
“Don’t cry, I just stopped and I’ll start again if you start.”
“I know you aren’t the touchy-feely type, but thank you.” Xavier said.
“You’re my friend, Xavier, I couldn’t do nothing. You didn’t have any of your magic clotting powder. I had to do something. Besides, it goes around. Lucas saved me. I saved you. One day, you’ll save Gabriel or Michael. It’s what we do.”
Xavier sat down on the bed. He held my hand in his.
“You aren’t just my friend, Ace. You’ve become my family, as much family as Lucas or any of my blood relatives.”
“I know,” I told him. “And I sent a psychopath and a very pissed off US Marshal after your killer, so you might want to call Gabriel.”
“I will,” Xavier stood. “Ace, one more thing.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
Xavier leaned over. Using his crutches for balance, he kissed my cheek. I felt a tear slide down my face and it wasn’t mine.
“For the record,” Xavier stood up. “I’m glad you’re not dead either.”