Max's arms were starting to ache from holding Ben. They had been there since mid-afternoon, it was well past midnight now. Max wondered idly when Ben was going to wake up. She had hit him pretty hard, to put him under for awhile. Hopefully, in her haste to hide them, she hadn't fractured his skull.
No, his scalp would be swelling by now from the blood , she told herself sternly.
Max had sunk herself into the mindframe of a doctor caring for an unruly patient. A cool interest in his unusual behavior, concern for his health (blame her if he died). It was the only way not to clutch him and ask Why, why, why? until Manticore found and captured them both. Max figured it would be safe to run as soon as he had woken. She'd set his leg; mildly pleased with herself for a clean, even break through his bone. He could lean on her, they'd get to a town. Max didn't want to think about options once Ben was healed.
He turned his head and mumbled something.
Max shook him gently. Ben? Can you hear me?
Ben opened his eyes. He smiled. Max. You didn't leave me.
She avoided his gaze and helped him to the ground. Ben accidently put weight on his broken leg and winced. Max threw an arm around his shoulders and they limped out of the forest. They reached a gas station around daybreak. She helped him to the door.
Let me do the talking. she cautioned. Ben had long since gotten Max's unspoken reprimand that he was here because Max was a lot more forgiving than he. He nodded.
Still supporting him, Max walked into the gas station.
Hi, what can I- oh my God, is he alright? a middle aged-woman (presumably the owner) asked.
Yeah, me and my brother were hiking, he fell. Can I use your phone? I think his leg's broken. Max asked, pleasantly for her.
Go ahead. The woman's still wide eyes were trained on Ben.
Max grabbed the worn-looking rotary phone. She dialed Logan.
he answered.
It's me. I found Ben, but he's hurt. Pick us up, quick. We can't take him to a hospital, so get Bling to set up something at your place. Bring morphine. A lot of it. Max hung up.
Ben meeting Logan was not going to be pretty.
