“I’m sure the Healers will take good care of you.” She went around to the other side of the bed so she wouldn’t come between them and stooped down to hug her trembling friend. She wished she could do something to take her fear away, but the only person in the room who could do that was Hannah, and she was likely too busy concentrating on preparing herself at the moment.
Cadence didn’t say anything to Shane, but she did smile at him and then moved on to Dax. “I bet you’re just here so you can keep up with Tara,” she teased.
“You know it,” he replied, forcing a grin.
She wasn’t as familiar with the Guardian since he was new to the team, but he seemed like a good guy. “It’ll be fine.” She clasped his hand, and he squeezed hers. “And don’t be ashamed to cry in front of your new girlfriend.”
His eyes widened, and she laughed like she was kidding, even though she wasn’t, and then moved on. She wished Ashley and Mickey good luck but didn’t linger near them. Mickey didn’t like to talk, and Cadence was still perturbed at Ashley for her comments about Aurora and Elliott. She could tell the other Hunter wanted to say something, but it would have to wait. Maybe Ashley would awaken as a person Cadence could stand, but she doubted it.
Cadence slipped her hand into Aaron’s. “Hey, Hannah. You seem calm.”
The Guardian smiled up at her. “I feel calm.” Her strawberry-blonde hair was up on top of her head, which made her look elegant in a way, despite the T-shirt and sweatpants she was wearing. “Just ready to get on with it.”
“Did you tell everyone that it doesn’t hurt even a little bit?” Aaron asked, a cocky smile on his face.
“Yes, I did. Because I am a big fat liar,” she replied, smiling back at him.
He laughed and leaning in close to her ear asked, “Who do you think will scream the most—other than Meagan? That one’s too obvious.”
That would’ve been Cadence’s immediate answer, so she looked around for a moment before making her selection. “Ashley,” she whispered. She wasn’t sure, though. Someone might shock them all and come undone, maybe one of the muscular guys, like Mickey or Shane.
“Interesting. Even with Jamie here?” Aaron asked.
Cadence shrugged. “Why not? He can’t do anything to help her, right?” She wished he would’ve used his powers to make her hurting stop when the pain was so intense she was contemplating ending it all, and Jamie had done nothing, afraid it would mess everything up.
“He’s not supposed to,” Aaron agreed. “But I guess we’ll see.”
“I don’t think he’s even administering her shots,” Hannah said, joining them as if they hadn’t been whispering.
Cadence wondered if Jamie had decided to steer clear of her so as not to interfere, but before she could wonder anything aloud, the team of doctors came over. There were six of them, including Dr. Morrow and Kathy who were not Healers, and that meant a few of them would have double duty, administering the serum to more than one patient.
Cadence wasn’t sure where she could stand so that she could lend her support but still be out of the way. Her first instinct was to go over to Brandon and Aurora, but Elliott and Cass were already there. Shane and Meagan were focusing on each other, and Dax had Lucy and Tara with him, which left her Ashley and Mickey or Christian, other than where she was already standing next to Hannah. “Hey, you should go over there with Christian,” Cadence whispered to Aaron.
“Why?” he asked, looking at her like she’d grown a second head.
“Because we shouldn’t both stay here, and I don’t wanna.”
“Well, I don’t wanna either,” he replied. “I already told Hannah I’d be right here if she needed anything so….”
Cadence let out a huff and crossed the room, trying to plant a smile on her face, though it probably looked more like a snarl. Christian didn’t seem to notice anyway. He was staring up at the ceiling, taking deep breaths. That was a sure sign to her that he was scared and just didn’t want to let anyone know.
“So what happens if you don’t hit a vein?” Cassidy was asking Jamie, who was now poised between Brandon and Aurora’s bed, the small table between them set up with the shots and other items he would need to send them both off to Sleepyland, right after a quick detour to Killmekillmenowville.
“I don’t know,” the Healer answered without turning around to look at her. “But I wouldn’t want to find out.”
“Do you think it would kill the person?” she continued, looking at the needles over his shoulder.
“I don’t know,” Jamie repeated, possibly annoyed. “But we’re not going to find out.”
Cass scrunched her face and let out a teenage girl growl before moving out of his way. She went around to the far side of Brandon’s bed and took his hand, and it looked to Cadence like they were probably talking through their IACs.
Elliott was standing with his arms crossed at the foot of Brandon’s bed, but his eyes were shifting back and forth between his son and Aurora, and Cadence could tell he was nervous as well. Across the room, Dr. Morrow was standing between Meagan and Shane’s beds, whispering something quietly to Meagan who had tears rolling down her face. Ona was with Hannah, Martin was with Ashley and Mickey, Kathy was standing near Dax, and Sicilia was on her way over to Christian. Cadence braced herself for the screaming and cursing to begin.
“How you doin’, Christian?” the petite brunette asked. The last time Cadence had seen her was when she was working to reattach Hannah’s severed arm down the hall in this same building. She was good at putting people back together, Cadence was certain. But this wasn’t as much a Healer skill so much as a doctor’s work, and Cadence hoped she was just as good at that.
“I’m fine,” Christian replied. “Ready to get the show on the road.”
Sicilia laughed politely, but there was an edge to it, like maybe she’d drawn the short straw to get Christian as her patient. “All right, well, I’m going to get started right now. I’ll begin by swabbing your arm, and then I’ll find a vein. Remember, there will be two injections. It will probably sting…”
“I know.” His tone was borderline rude, but Sicilia’s smile didn’t falter. Since Christian was wearing a short sleeved white T-shirt, it was easy for her to do exactly what she said she would, and Cadence watched as she cleaned his arm and tied a tourniquet in order to find a vein.
“You know, you really don’t have to stand there,” Christian said, looking up at her as Sicilia worked. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” Cadence asked, wondering where else she might go.
“Never been better.”
She didn’t have to be told again. Rather than approach Mickey and Ashley, the only other ones without support, she went to the front of the room and stood in the middle where she could see everyone.
