CHAPTER 37

The next few day followed the suit of the first. The three sirens went out and honed their skills. The boys mostly sat in Moxxis, or took part in her under-dome events just for abit of action, and drank their fair share of booze.
But after three successful rounds in the Under-dome, Brick and Mordecai were back at the headquarters. Mordecai was checking on the position of the dust storm when Brick joined him.

'Looks like its finally sub-...' A blinding flash in the doorway made both men cover their eyes, and the energy wave pushed even the bigger man back a few paces. Lillith had phased the three women back to the headquarters, and it didn't take the men long to understand why.

'Montayva!' Mordecai rushed forward, seeing the large gash in the sirens left leg.

'Shit' Brick added, as Maya let Mordecai sling the girls arm over his shoulder, to guide her to the faded old loungechair.

'What the hell happened?' Mordecai demanded, slightly angry at the two older women for allowing something to hurt his Montayva!

'You fill him in, I'll go grab some inst-health' Lillith hurried out of the room.

'I'm fine!' Montayva tried to convince them, but no-one was buying it 'It's not as bad as it looks'

'She was helping me with my shield Maya admitted guiltily, 'I dont know what happened, but I lost it. And a freaking huge bad-ass skag was right on top of us. Lillith phase blasted it. But it got Monty first' Maya was on the girls other side, as Mordecai examined the wound. Brick stepped forward too.

'You really should clean that up, in case you get an infection' Brick pointed to a scar on his shoulder, where three huge gashes had been etched permanently into his skin.

'Yes, definitely' Maya stood to help the girl up.

'I'll take it from here' Mordecai pushed in, and scooped Montayva up in his arms. He knew it wasn't Mayas fault, but it disturbed him to see Montayva in pain, even though she was doing her best not to show it. Mordecai carried her down to the wash room on the bottom floor. He grabbed some towels as Montayva removed her shredded pants.

'Ouch!' She winced as she pulled a piece of fabric that had become in-bedded in her wound. With her pants removed, Mordecai was able to assess the damage more easily.

'Babe, what have they done to you?' he dabbed at the largest gash carefully. In her upper thigh, were two large gashes, easily and inch deep, and her flesh gaped open horridly. Lillith came bursting in, two health vials in hand.

'Took your time!' Mordecai growled.

'Dont be angry' Montayva pleaded, 'It could have happened to anyone' Mordecai sighed, she was right of course. He just felt bad that he wasn't able to do more to ease her pain, as she had done for him.

'Do you wanna do it or will I?' Lillith held out the needles.

'You do it' Mordecai said, and sat behind Montayva, circling his arms around her. She tuned her head away as Lillith prepared the needles. The red haired siren stuck the first one in the higher of the two gashes. Mordecai felt the girls body tense, and he held her tighter again, trying to offer what little comfort he could. But for her current demeanour, you would have thought she only grazed her knees.

'One to go.' Lillith informed, wanting it to be over swiftly herself. She injected the next vile as fast as she could. That done, she set to cleaning the wound. Montayva squeezed her eyes shut, in effort to block the pain out. Mordecai stroked her hair affectionately, wanting to take her pain for her. Lillith worked quickly, and it wasn't long before she was wrapping a bandage about the girls leg.

'Some R&R should take care of the rest' Lillith stood, and went to wash her hands. 'Sorry kiddo' Lillith apologized, feeling slightly guilty as she watched the young siren struggling to stand. Mordecai stood to help her.

'Here, lean on me' He offered, looping his arm around her waist as she tried to limp away. They made it up the first flight of stairs at an agonizing pace, Montayva refused to let the hunter carry her again. She was determined, he would give her that. But before they started up the next flight of stairs, she almost collapsed for the pain.

'Stop being stubborn would you?' Mordecai scooped her up.

'Er, Maybe it would be a better idea if you put her in your room for now?' Lillith suggested 'I mean, it would save her the trouble of the extra stairs is all.' Mordecai didn't say anything against her suggestion. He only turned towards the doorway of his and Bricks bedroom.

'Sorry, amigo.' Mordecai apologised to Brick, who was propped up on his bed, flipping through a magazine. Brick looked quite startled for a moment, before remembering the youngest sirens injuries.

'Give me an hour or two and I'll be fine' Montayva tried to persuade them. Brick exited the room awkwardly as Mordecai lay Montayva on the bed.

'It wont hurt you to rest for awhile though.' Lillith stood, arms crossed, in the doorway. She watched as Mordecai fussed about the girl, making her comfortable. He certainly had changed. He wasn't the rambling, cranky, depressed drunk he had been a few weeks ago. But it wasn't just Mordecai that this new sirens presence had had an effect on. She had made such a difference to them all, in her own little way. Being close to her made people feel calm, made certain challenges feel achievable. Lillith wondered if that on its own had a connection with her mood reading powers. But she shook her head, and turned to leave. Lillith didn't like pondering on such deep thoughts for any length of time.

'Well I'm gonna go and get cleaned up, then I'll grab Maya, and I'll see if we cant "lend you some energy"' She made invisible quotation marks as she said the last part.

'I'll be fine, really. You saw how quick I healed from a shot in the chest!' Montayvas voice sounded weary, despite the words she spoke.

Mordecai was sitting by her bedside, when the older two sirens entered to check up on Montayva. He stood up, to make room for the women beside the single bed.

'She's been asleep for a little while now.' the hunter informed them, looking weary himself. He stepped back as Lillith and Maya approached her.
Lillith was the first to take the sleeping girls hand, and closing her eyes tightly, she began to concentrate. Maya and Mordecai watched as Montayvas siren markings began to glow.

'It's working Lillith' Maya stepped forward also, sitting cautiously on the bed beside the girl. She reached over, taking her other hand. Together, Lillith and Maya shared their energy with the younger siren, aiding in her recovery. Little did they know of the deeper connection this energy sharing would intone on them in the future.

Feeling completely helpless once again, Mordecai left the room.