Page 39 of Her Steadfast Hero

Chapter Nine

“I’ll go to my room, as long as you go with me and tell me what is going on with you and that big hunk of a guy,” Carys said as soon as they were alone.

Sarah laughed. It would be good to talk to her friend. “Same goes, it seems like you made a friend pretty fast.”

“The SEAL?” Carys asked.

“His name is Aiden,” Sarah corrected. “He seemed pretty damned protective.”

“I think it’s in their DNA.” Carys walked slowly towards the stairs.

“Let’s take the elevator,” Sarah suggested. Carys just rolled her eyes and continued towards the stairs. Sarah laughed again. Despite the horror of the last twenty hours, Carys wouldn’t let herself be bested. But Sarah was going to kick her ass and ensure that she got some rest, and some professional care. They trudged up the stairs to the room that Carys was sharing with Alena, who was busy at one of the clinics.

“You don’t have to babysit me,” Carys said when they got to her room. Sarah didn’t say anything, she just followed her friend into her room. As soon as they stepped in, she wrapped Carys into a hug. The doctor stiffened. Sarah held on for long moments, waiting. She felt a deep shudder, and finally heard a wrenching sob.

Sarah murmured words of comfort and stroked her friends hair.

“I should be stronger,” were the first words Carys said.

“Dammit Carys, I’m going to shake you,” Sarah said through her own tears. She maneuvered them to the bed, and got Carys to sit down.

“I need to get clean.” Carys yanked at the shirt she was wearing and it got tangled as she tried to pull it over her head.

“Let me,” Sarah coaxed. She could see the blood caked on her friend’s pale skin as she pulled the shirt off her. As soon as it was off, Carys sprung off the bed and rushed to the bathroom. Sarah followed and held her hair as she threw up in the toilet. When nothing was left, wounded eyes looked up at her.

“Can you help me into the shower?”

“Of course. Then you have to rest.”

“No, there’s too much to do.” Carys was resolute. “I had my mini-breakdown. I’ll have a full-blown meltdown when this disaster is cleaned up.”

“I won’t allow it. I’ll tie you to the bed,” Sarah growled.

Carys laid her hand on Sarah’s shoulder.

“What would you do if the roles were reversed? Be honest.”

Sarah looked inside herself. “I’m not sure I’m as strong as you.”

“You’re stronger, my friend.” Carys pushed up from the floor and Sarah helped her into the shower.

* * *

When David arrived at the prison, a lot had been accomplished. Joaquin was finished briefing Gray and his men on the terrain and the convicts who remained at large. Riggs and Harrison were safely back with the young men, and all but six of the men who were going to still help with the manhunt had arrived back at the prison.

“Joaquin is a good man, you really lucked out,” Gray said when he and David had a moment to themselves.

“I agree. What’s your assessment of Riggs and Harrison?”

“I haven’t had enough interaction with them to tell. But I read over their records, and I liked how they handled themselves to get those two kids. Damn shame about their fathers.” Gray must have seen the guilt on David’s face. “Stop it. You’ve done a hell of a job in a terrible situation. You’ve had to trust that the locals knew what they were doing.”

“I appreciate what you’re saying, but it still happened on my watch.”

Gray nodded, respect evident in his eyes.

“How do you want to play this? I know these are your men. I don’t want to be the one giving orders,” David said. “What’s more, you have a lot more tactical experience.”

“The men of Las Flores look to you as their leader. I’ll lay out the plan and assign my men, but you can assign the locals to their tasks.”