Creedy lay in Rosie's lap, trying desperately to get settled, get relaxed, reliving his desperation to escape death and reach the bunker in his head. He had been reckless, he had nearly gotten himself and B killed, yet while he lay here with Rosie stroking his hair it seemed worth it.
As Creedy ran, the sudden jolt had woken B up who
had cried out for his father. Creedy's blood froze but he kept
running. When he reached the bunker he kicked it, furiously
screaming.
The dragon had turned and was staring at them. At that
moment Creedy knew they were dead, until hands had grabbed him from
behind and pulled him down, slamming the door shut. Creedy fell to
the floor cracking his head on the rocks and again he blacked out.
When he awoke, everyone was deathly silent, he was lying
where he fell with Rosie above him. Tears were falling down her face
and she had blood on her hands.
Creedy realised he had cut his
head open, and felt faint and sick. But B was safe, he could see the
child huddled with his sister in the corner of his eye.
Nausea
crept up him and he felt himself baulk, he tried to sit up.
"No,
God, Dave please, please stay where you are, you can't lose more
blood just wait, please stay."
Creedy began to lie back down,
Rosie dived under him and cradled his head.
"Rosie?", Creedy
held out his hand, which Rosie grasped. "B is safe right? You're
safe?"
"We're fine Creedy, we are."
"Quinn's
safe?"
"Quinn's took men, they are going to find bandages in
the castle."
"Why? Why risk his life, it's out there
waiting. Toying with us..."
"Quinn doesn't care, you need to
live, Dave. Dave? Open your eyes Dave."
"Sorry, Rosie my rose
I'm just sleepy, and I've got a banging
headache."
"Understandably" Rosie smiled and stroked his
hair. "It's not a deep cut, it's just gushing blood. Quinn says
you should be fine, we just need to bandage it, and you mustn't
fall asleep."
"I won't, Rosie."
When Quinn returned, he found Creedy lying in Rosie's arms staring up at her. Though Rosie was smiling back Creedy couldn't see her dress soaked with blood where he lay. Her eyes looked up at Quinn, pleading.
Ma rolled
Creedy face down and cleaned his wound as best she could with the
water and clean rags Quinn had brought. Then with a needle and thread
she sewed up his wound, trying to ignore his whimpers of pain.
All
throughout, Rosie held Creedy's hand, not shouting out when his
grip became unbearable.
Creedy
rolled over and stared at Rosie who had sat up all night with him,
stroking his hair and whispering thanks in his ear.
"Every time
a dragon appears you and yours seem to get me injured."
"I'm
sorry Dave, but you should leave the superhero work to Quinn then,
shouldn't you?"
"Hey, a sidekick can never do a hero's
work, have I taught you nothing!"
Rosie smiled, "How can you
be joking at a time like this? I nearly lost you tonight."
"But
you didn't, I'll be fine. Plus I have another hero's scar I
shall flaunt shamelessly tomorrow. Bloody hurts though."
"Will
you shut up about bloody heroes, Dave."
"Yes mum."
"Go
to sleep."
Creedy lifted himself off Rosie's lap and shoved
her down on the straw, lying behind her he wrapped his arms round her
slender frame and kissed her neck.
"I'm not going anywhere,
Rosie."
A and B
sat staring from afar.
"Tom?" whispered A, "Do you think
Rosie and Creedy will be like mummy and daddy?"
Tom's face
became solemn. "I think Lucy, it's best we think of them as mummy
and daddy now."
Hand in hand the little twins walked over to the
sleeping couple and pushed in between them. Creedy woke, the pain in
his head unbearable, but seeing the twins made him smile and scoot
over. Finally with the twins between them and their arms around both
Creedy and Rosie fell into a deep sleep
