Chapter 6
A streak of sunlight coming through the living room window woke Myles the next morning. The storm had finally passed sometime in the early morning hours leaving countless downed trees and debris in its wake.
Moving soundlessly from his chair to the couch, he checked on the still sleeping Tara. Annie had wrapped her arm in a sling, effectively immobilizing it and easing some of her pain in the process. Caressing her soft cheek with his fingertips, Myles was relieved to see some of the color had returned to her face. However, the dark purple bruise creeping up the side of her neck from her shoulder still had him worried.
"How's she doing?" Annie whispered from behind him.
"Still asleep, but her color is coming back," Myles replied stiffly as he turned from the still figure. "Now that the storm is over, I really need to get her to a hospital," he insisted, moving to stand before her.
"I already sent Craig and Hank out to check the road," Annie threw her hand up to cut off any argument. "You really don't want to risk moving her if there's no way to get down the mountain, do you?" she questioned, her stance indicating she was prepared for a fight.
Annie had witnessed the way the tall blonde had cared for the petite woman last night. His gentle hands and his soothing tone when he spoke to her belied his assertions that they were just friends and co-workers.
"When will they be back?" Myles spoke quietly, struggling to control his frustrations at not being able to help Tara.
"Soon," she said simply, leading him back to the chair he'd just vacated a few minutes before. He suddenly looked so weak and she was concerned that he was pushing himself too much to help the young woman. Sitting on the coffee table across from him, Annie searched his tired face, asking, "How are you feeling?"
"A little stiff," Myles waved off her concern. Reaching to rub his neck wearily, he winced noticeably when he came into contact with the thick bandage on the back of his neck.
"Let me take a look at that," Annie asserted. When he pulled his head away, she added, "You don't want to end up worse and not be able to help Tara when she needs you, do you?"
She knew playing on his emotions wasn't very nice, but when it came to men and injuries, she'd learned to use whatever she had. Satisfied that she had found the chink in his armor, Annie had no problems using his feelings for the other woman to make sure he got the first aid he needed. Last thing I need right now is a dead F.B.I. agent because he refused medical treatment, she thought to herself wearily.
Seeing him nod his consent, she shifted around behind him. Gently lifting the bandage, she lightly probed the slight welt with her fingers.
"It's stopped bleeding but it's pretty swollen back here. Do you have a headache or any blurred vision?" Annie inquired securing a new bandage in place.
"A little bit of a headache," Myles admitted, growing uncomfortable with her attention. "I'm fine though. Thank you," he settled back into the chair when she finished, glancing over at Tara as she stirred slightly in her sleep.
"Let me get you something for your head," Annie offered, smiling slightly at his keen awareness of the other woman. "Then I'll fix you something for breakfast," she called as she headed back down the hallway to the bathroom.
"I don't want to be a bother," Myles stated when she returned. "We'll be out of here as soon as we can," he assured her, taking the pills and water.
"You're not a bother. I like the company," Annie winked with a smile as she turned towards the kitchen. "How do you like your eggs?"
Myles smiled at her retreating figure as she was off again. Other than the few seconds she sat in front of him, he hadn't seen her sit down the entire time they'd been there. I've definitely got to agree with the nickname, Froggy, he thought with a grin. She hops from place to place so fast it is hard to keep up.