Okay, sorry it's taken a few days to update. I've been busy with the ACT and some other things...
Here's chapter 6! And please, please let me know what you think! And be honest. If you think it's horrible and I should throw it away, don't hesitate to say so. And if you think there's a chance it might be good, most definitely let me know! Thanks.
John was the only one to return.
"Where's Red?" I asked.
"Probably checking on Abe." I nodded, which I seemed to be doing a lot of. At least it didn't make my head hurt. "How did you know I was being reassigned?"
"Right to the matter, huh? You've always been like that… I honestly don't know. It was just in the 'dream' I had and I didn't know if it would be true."
"Well, it is. I leave tomorrow."
"Night?"
"Yeah…"
"I'll just have to be sure I'm up so you don't worry."
"What are you going to do?"
"After you leave?"
"Yeah."
"I'll either stay here or go back to my aunt and uncle's place."
"Good. I was hoping you'd say that."
"I know." He fidgeted, so I opened my arms. "Give me a hug in case I don't see you tomorrow." He gently hugged me and left. Crap. Now that no one is here, I'm hungry!
--
"Hello Liz!" I said, just as she was walking in the door. It had been a few hours and I had slept fewer.
"Hello Laura. How are you doing now?"
"Pretty good…well, better than I was. I am kind of hungry, but I don't know what to eat. Do you know where Red is? He left quite suddenly."
"He's making sure Abe sleeps for a while. Do you need anything besides food?"
"My Braille books, if you don't mind. I've read them at least a hundred times, but they're all I have to read."
"No problem."
When she came back, Red and Abe were behind her. I was startled, so I said something.
"I thought you were asleep and you were watching him!"
"Well, I went by Red, he asked me what I was doing, and I told him. Abe overheard and had to come check on you," Liz said and handed me my books.
"Thank you." Abe walked over and checked the machines. "I'm fine. You won't be if you don't sleep."
"Liz said you were hungry. You don't need solids yet because your stomach was ruptured. Jell-o, pudding, or soup?"
"I'll say nothing until you get some sleep."
"I did get some sleep."
"A few hours don't count."
"Will you please get some Jell-o?" he asked Liz. She nodded and escaped with Red.
"I'm seriously—" A spasming wave of pain went over my abdomen and stopped me midsentence.
"No, you're not fine." He looked under the bandages. "It's becoming infected." Then he gave me a shot of antibiotics. "Sit up a little more so I can change the bandages." I complied. When he was finished, I sat back in relief. Liz decided to come in right then, so I didn't say what I was going to.
"Now you can go back to sleep," I said instead.
"Not until you eat something and are asleep yourself." He took what Liz was holding and gave it to me. She left and we were alone once more. "Eat you Jell-o." His back must have been turned because he wasn't very loud. I took a bite.
"Mmm…lime. I like it."
"Good."
"There. I've eaten something. Now, will you get some sleep?"
"You're not asleep yet."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"You're being quite overprotective and watchful."
"You're my patient and you're not completely healed."
"No doctor I've ever met has been like you." I carefully swung my legs over the side of the medical bed. It hurt, but I managed to get on my feet. He must have heard me groan, because he turned quickly.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm trying to show you that I'll be fine while you sleep for about 8 hours."
"That's not going—"
"Yes, it will happen, even if I have to drag you back to your tank!" He sighed. "Even if I don't know where it is…"
"Fine. I'll sleep if you'll eat and rest." I held out my hand.
"Done." He shook it.
"All right." He helped my back onto the medical bed. As soon as I finished the Jell-o, he left and I fell asleep. There must have been something in that Jell-o…
--
I woke up later. I don't know why, I just did. Then I felt the presence at the door. It was John.
"Laura, are you awake?" he asked.
"Yeah." I sat up slowly. "What is it?"
"I'm leaving now instead of tonight."
"Oh. It's tomorrow already?"
"Yeah. It's around 6."
"Do you think you'll be back soon?"
"I don't know."
"Well…goodbye John."
"Goodbye Laura." He walked over and gave me a hug, similar to the one from earlier, only longer. Then he was gone. I couldn't fall back asleep, so I picked up a Braille book and read.
--
A few minutes later, I heard and felt someone enter the room. By the way he moved I figured it was Abe.
"Did you sleep well?" I asked, pausing my fingers.
"Yes. I also slept longer than I said I would."
"How long?"
"Around 10 hours."
"So, it was about 8 o'clock last night?"
"How can you read a clock?"
"I can't. John was in her earlier. He told me what time it was."
"What time is he supposed to leave?"
"He was leaving tonight, but they changed it. He's probably gone by now."
"I'm sorry." He began to check the machines.
"It's fine. At least I've made new friends. And I'll see—well, he'll be back."
"Do you slip up like that often?"
"Sometimes."
"How long has it been?"
"10 years."
"Wow. And you weren't born with it?"
"No. The fire took my sight. Can we talk about something else?"
"What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know." He finished and sat beside me.
"Tell me about your 'dream'."
"Ah. Another difficult subject."
"Please."
"Don't laugh at me."
"I won't."
"Don't get mad at me."
"I won't!"
"Is the medicine you're giving me some kind of classified stuff?"
"Don't change the subject."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Anyway, after John and I talked, we must have left, but I don't remember it. I guess that's when the 'dream' started. I remember going to my room, but I didn't make it there."
"Why?"
"I heard a sound that turned out to be Hellboy filing his horns. We talked a little and…"
"And what?"
"He asked me to read to him."
"Why didn't you say so before?"
"I didn't want to sound stupid or anything."
"You don't sound stupid."
"Please don't say anything to him."
"I won't." I nodded.
"Thank you. That happened almost every night that week. I read until he fell asleep, then went back to my room and slept as well."
"What happened during the day?"
"I told you that you and I met at the library and you read to me…almost every day."
"Why did you ask, then? Shouldn't you have known it was me?"
"Not necessarily. The brain can change a voice."
"True."
"There were two instances that we had to go out and fight. I was just the distraction and either Red or Liz got them. I guess that's what was happening when I was hurt."
"I wouldn't say that."
"What would you call it, then?" I snapped. "From what I hear, we weren't doing well until its attention was on me. Then Liz burned it. Isn't that what happened?"
"Not exactly…"
"Well, it's close enough!" He was very quiet and I put my hands over my face.
"I've never seen you like this," he said quietly.
"I'm sorry." My voice was barely audible. He placed a bare hand on my arm. Different emotions flooded through me before he jerked his hand back.
"I apologize. I didn't mean for that to happen."
"It's fine. I shouldn't have snapped at you." I paused, then decided to continue anyway. "I just feel so useless."
"You're not useless. It appears you've helped a lot of people."
"What?"
"I…accidentally read you."
"What?" He held up his hand as if to show me, then put mine over it. I took both my hands and felt of his. It was partially webbed, only to the middle knuckles of his fingers. On the palm of his hand were four little nubs, level with the knuckles on the back. When I directly touched one, he jumped. "Is this how?" I touched one of the nubs again, gently so he wouldn't jump.
"Yes. I don't even have to touch someone. It's just stronger when I do." I let go of his hand.
"What did you learn about me?" I asked quietly.
"I learned that you're an empath."
"A what?"
"An empath. You're more attuned to how a person is feeling than others. That's why you felt the urge to help those in need."
"Okay… I didn't know that."
"I also learned that…that you didn't tell me all of your 'dream'."
TBC
What has Abe learned?
What does this mean for Laura?
Find out next chapter!