A/N - Shane POV again. After the acid attack. Just a reminder, I'm doing this beta-less so as hard as I try to be perfect, I may miss things. I invite you to kindly point out mistakes.
Thanks for reading!
Fuck Fuck Fuck, Shane swore to himself as the medical staff of the ER hovered over Claire. He'd messed up, let her get hurt. No, not hurt, seriously injured and permanently scarred. His job was to protect her and he got so caught up in watching her he'd let one of Monica's evil little minions attack her.
Michael was going to kick his ass. Whenever he decided to show his damn face. Eve had been pretty pissed off, when he called and told her on the ride. He wondered when she learned that kind of language.
In his defense, Claire had been adorable in her science class, so focused and so freaking smart. He didn't believe the genius label until he saw her in action. She was miles ahead of all her classmates and the TA. She could have probably taught the class herself. He watched her with a big goofy grin on his face, not paying attention until that stupid bitch Gina poured freaking acid on her back. Acid! As in the shit that made Two Face, well…Two Face.
Claire had passed out from the pain and asked about makeup work on the way down. She looked like she would fall over if you sighed too hard in her direction but damn, girl was hardcore. Shane gave the paramedics her information and her phone so they could contact her parents. He was so not doing that himself. They tried to prevent him from going with her but there was no way in hell was he letting her go anywhere without a bodyguard for the rest of her life. They allowed him as soon as he gave "try and stop me" face.
He never let go of her hand as they examined her. He wasn't sure she knew he was there but he didn't want her to feel alone for a second. She was precious to him, he realized. He cared for her; it wasn't the sibling vibe Michael had with her. Which Michael had assured him several times would never be anything more than a sibling vibe. Michael was all about Eve.
No Shane was crushing. Crushing hard. He was so screwed.
Michael also assured Shane if he did anything to hurt her or violate her he would stake his ass and offer him up to the nearest vamp. Then burn his game console and video games for good measure. Shane wanted her, he was a teenage boy after all but if he ever hurt Claire he'd burn his games himself.
He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. He thought she was crushing too, he caught her sneaking looks at him. He wouldn't push though. He wasn't sure she'd ever had a boyfriend, he eve doubted she'd had even had her first kiss yet.
"She'll be fine." Dr. Mills interrupted Shane's thoughts. "She might have a nasty scar. You are going to need to keep in clean to prevent infection but it's not as bad as it could have been." Dr. Mills pulled off his gloves. "She's under a pretty heavy dose of painkillers, I'm going to keep her until she sleeps it off. It's going to be very painful when they wear off. Might as well let her rest now."
"Yes sir. Can I stay with her?" Shane asked as he brushed a sweaty lock of hair off her face.
"Of course." The doctor checked over her chart. "Her parents were contacted but they are not in town? She's underage, into whose care will I be discharging her to?"
"Mine. I'll take care of her." The doctor made a note and left with a promise to check in again later. Shane watched her, occasionally rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. She mumbled what he assumed was science shit in her sleep, equations and formulas. Could she get cuter?
"So, so screwed." Shane mumbled to himself. She whimpered as she rolled from her side to her back. He felt the rage boil up inside him. He hated Monica with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. He hated her more than the vamps. That murderous witch needed to be stopped. She could not be allowed to hurt another person Shane cared about.
He was going to have to make a deal. It went against everything he'd been taught. Everything his father told him not to do. But for Claire…for Claire he would do it. He pulled out his cell without letting go of Claire's hand.
"Yo, Gothika." Shane said as Eve answered.
"What asshat? You get Claire murdered this time?" Yup, she was still mad.
"Bite me. Your boss at the coffee shop?"
"Yea. Duh." She responded.
"Brandon, too?"
"Shane." She said after a moment's hesitation.
"Is. Brandon. There?" He asked through gritted teeth. He wasn't thrilled about doing this.
"Shane. What are you doing? Have you spoken to Michael about this?" He could hear the stress in her voice. He glanced at Claire and seeing the bandage reinforced his decision.
"Listen, just pick us up when Claire gets released and I'll handle the rest." Shane didn't give her an opportunity to respond, he disconnected the call. Lightly enough to not disturb her sleep, he brushed a quick kiss on her hand. "I'm going to take care of you Claire. I promise."
