Ch.16:I'm In Love, Doctor

Rebel's P.O.V.

"Rebel, I thought you just got blood on yourself from the fight," Ava said quickly, looking at my arm.

"I wish." I sighed, knowing that my bird-kid miracle healing crap was already kicking in. The blood loss was slowing.

Ava immediately began working around me, filling the bathtub to the brim with clean water and pulling out countless bandages.

"Take off your clothes," She ordered, staring at me.

It was like my IQ level just dropped to -7.

"Uh...you want me to take this off...?" I asked, pointing at my stained t-shirt like a moron. Ava nodded and I pulled off my shirt, staring at her.

"Reb, your pants." She waved her hands in front of my face to get my attention. I couldn't help the fact that I was staring blankly at the wall.

"Oh..." I whispered, pulling them down and tossing them aside. At least I was smart enough to take off my combat boots first.

"Sit on the edge of the tub," Ava continued.

I was the color of a stop sign by now. How was she not blushing?! I eased myself down, looking up at her. I was half freaking naked. Just my day. Just my darn perfect life.

"Your turn," I tried, lightening the mood slightly.

"You're a real pervert." She gave a light laugh before she dipped a wash cloth in the tub.

I watched, biting my lip as she began wiping the blood off my arm. She was really focused. I tried to look into her eyes, but her attention was glued to my injuries. I settled with gazing at her face. Yes, that sounds creepy, and yes, it looked creepy, but she was bending over me so I made sure to stare at only her face.

Meanwhile, she had wiped my entire arm down and went to dip the wash cloth again.

"This is going to need stitches," Ava whispered, narrowing her eyes at the cut.

"No it doesn't."

She smirked, ruffling my dirtied hair. Her smile went sour. "I'm going to have to give you a bath."

Thank you hair. A girl finally runs a hand through my hair, not in a hint to use me, and you go and screw it up. The one day I should've showered.

"I'm eighteen. I can clean myself. I'm not in the retirement home yet," I grumbled, reaching for my clothes.

"Rebel would you stop moving that arm!" She snapped, now wiping the blood off my nicked leg.

I sat still, rigidly looking down at her.

"How'd you get so lucky? It only grazed," Ava mumbled.

"It still hurts."

"Yeah, I got that by your constant flinching." She took my hurt hand and poured cleaning alcohol over it.

"I'm not-OW!"

"Shh! You'll wake the others. Now how did you get blood on your chest? And hair?" She wet the wash cloth again, wiping it gently across my chest.

"I think I can do that myself," I grumbled, jerking it from her hand.

"Fine. Go right ahead. I'll go check on Beth." Ava rolled her eyes and walked out, leaving my aching self here to attempt in moving.

I reached back, attempting to angrily plunge it in the water. My arm said different, immediately sending a sharp pain through my body. I recoiled, gasping slightly at the feeling. I couldn't use my other hand because it was already wrapped and I wasn't supposed to get it wet. How in the living heck am I expected to do this?!

'You expected yourself to do it,' a female voice sounded in my head.

Holy piece of shimmering crap, what was that?! No, it wasn't my inner do-good thoughts, and I wasn't talking to myself, so...

'It's Angel,' the voice continued.

"Please, God, I'm not ready to go!" I wailed.

'Not an angel, just Angel. As in the mind reader...'

'Oh,' I thought back, 'Sorry. I'm feeling a little lightheaded.'

'I know. I heard about what happened.'

'So why aren't you down here saving us?!' I thundered, 'Or did you plan this? Traitor!'

'Rebel, calm down. I didn't know the H.R.S.C. was even near there! It's not wise to point fingers where shame isn't due,' Angel hissed.

'Yeah, well getting on a hijacked plane and being whipped isn't too peachy itself!' I thought with a snide.

'How are you all, Rebel?' That question calmed me down quite a bit. A sigh escaped my mouth. It showed my distress and tire, and Angel picked up on it. 'What happened? Who's with you?'

I paused a moment. I hadn't thought to even ask who didn't make it with the others. Maybe that was because I already knew they were dead.

'We lost Tigger and Capricorn on the way out. We're about to add Bethany to that list. It's just me, Ava, Aries, Lani, and the little one.'

The mind reader cursed slightly. 'Peter and Krystal are missing also.'

'They're dead,' I replied simply. It was a fact, in my mind. I heard two bodies hit the ground. Peter was a Bareback. He wouldn't have any possible way to get out of there if he did make it. Krystal must have been shot out of the air. It was like we were just a tiny group of birds, and the H.R.S.C. was out pigeon hurting, picking us off one by one.

'You don't know that,' Angel sent after a while.

'No one could have gotten out of there. I'm surprised that we've only lost three-'

'Two,' Angel corrected, 'We are not loosing Bethany.'

'I think it might already be too late.'

'Where are you? I already have some CSM agents dispatched to find you.'

I revealed our location to her, thinking it would be days before we got out of here, but Angel surprised me with only a few hours.

But, in actuality, that was three more hours Bethany had to struggle to live, and fight to breathe. She could bleed out by then, or her heart may choose to stop beating. Beth was already weak from the concision she overcame on Christmas. Her statistics weren't really showing a guaranteed survival. Angel was gone and we were left waiting, holding our breath.

I finished cleaning the blood off me. It was a pretty painful process. Lets just say, when all was said and done I needed an Advil, or Tylenol. Whichever helps with pain would probably be best. I wasn't really used to the feeling. Usually when I got hurt really bad I was too drunk to feel it. A dull throbbing pain couldn't hold me back, but this sharp, teeth-grinding alert my body sent me was different; it was slowing me.

"Mom always told us that pain was just a message," Ava said from behind me.

"Max doesn't know pain then. She always got off lucky, flying away from everything without a care in the world." I admit, that was a little harsh.

"You didn't grow up being poked and prodded!"

"I experienced it for a couple months. It's not as bad as she makes it sound." I shrugged.

"My mother is a hero!" Ava defended, her voice rising.

"When she was younger, yes. Not now. When she became an adult she never fought again. Heck, it all stopped for her when she was sixteen. Bethany. The girl is practically a baby. Maximum never had to fight against death at that age, I'm sure," I argued.

"Mom is a hero. She's in every history book. You're just mad because you have no recognition. Oh, here's your blue ribbon Rebel for tying your shoe! Congratulations!" Ava cried sarcastically.

"Here's the difference," I explained, "When they went after your mom they at least wanted her alive. We have no hope. If we get caught there is no later escape. Get it? The minute they spot us we are dead."

"It's a new age," Ava said simply.

"We're a dying race."

•••

"Ow! That stings!" I cried, flinching as Ava pulled the needle through once more.

"Calm it, you baby. I'm almost done."

Im being sewn up like a stuffed animal! I have the right to scream a little.

"And…done!" Ava announced, marveling at my arm.

"I'm glad." I pouted slightly, rubbing at it.

"Why did you stay, Reb?" Ava asked in her serious tone. I was a little shocked. Was she implying that I was so shellfish as to leave my family for dead?

"Why wouldn't I?" Raising an eyebrow, I glanced up at her.

"You have wings. You could've gotten away. I know you, Rebel. I know that three weeks ago you would have turned your back and flew off without another thought. What stopped you?" Ava grabbed my hand, trying not to meet my eyes. Her thumbs slowly caressed over the bandage.

"Im not that ruthless!" I snapped, gritting my teeth. "I wouldn't have done that. I wasn't that bad!"

"Yes you were. The old you would have turned around and went on, grumbling about how we couldn't fend for ourselves. Tell me why you stayed with us."

She was without emotion. Here I was bubbling with anger, which I'm sure she could feel, and she was freaking monotone with me. Dang her self control!

"You," I answered in a whisper. Now that knocked her off her all mightily emotionless pedestal.

"What?!" Her green eyes flashed up to mine. She squeezed my hand a little too tight. Now it was my turn to be cool and collected.

"I stayed because of you."

"I'm not a baby you know-"

"I got that. I didn't choose to remain with you guys because I wanted to protect you. Don't get me wrong, I do want to keep you guys safe. I even told myself that that was why I was coming, but I really wanted to be with you..."

"Because?" Ava pressed on.

I opened my mouth, but Aries shouting about vans pulling up interrupted me. The two of us rushed from the bathroom, pressing our faces to the window.

"Is it the Collation?" Lani asked.

"No. They have guns." Aries shook his head.

Another set of vehicles pulled up.

"That's the CSM," Ava pointed out.

"This should get interesting."

Review!

NEXT UPDATE: Whenever I can get one in. (Sorry guys, I've been busy lately :( )

REQUIREMENT: 3 reviews.

UP NEXT: CSM vs. H.R.S.C.