Something was pressing down on his chest, Shane realized, as he gradually came to.
It took him a second to realize what it was. Then he slowly opened his eyes and smiled.
In the early morning light, he could see that Kim's head was resting on his chest. She was turned on her side, her blond hair cascading over and obscuring her face. Kim's right arm stretched lazily across Shane's ribs.
Shane traced a soft line down her spine with his index finger, eliciting a soft murmur from Kim that turned into the sound of a contented sigh.
How the bloody hell did I get so lucky? Shane thought. Kim lying next to him. Andrew and Eve in their bedrooms just down the hall. It was beyond anything Shane had ever expected.
For such a long time, Shane had pushed away thoughts of love and family. After Emma, he was sure he would live a solitary life.
And then Kim came into my life and everything changed.
Perhaps sensing his thoughts, Kim stirred again. He watched her sleepily shift back and forth, push her hair from her face, and then raise her head. She then looked up at him and smiled radiantly.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
Shane smiled. "Just thinking that I'm the luckiest man in the world."
Kim lifted herself a little and slid her body along his until her face was directly in front of his. "So you're feeling lucky, are you?" She grinned saucily. "Care to try your luck some more?"
"Did anyone ever tell you you're psychic?" Shane joked.
Kim leaned her head forward and whispered. "I must be, because I have a pretty good idea of exactly what I'm going to do to you in the future." For emphasis, she slid her hand low beneath the sheets, and added, "The very near future."
Words eluded him as Kim took charge. Then he closed his eyes as she kissed him. This has to be a dream, he told himself, even as he continued to feel her lips on his. Nobody is this lucky.
He should have known it wouldn't last.
Beep.
Beep.
"Nooooo." Shane's own groan mixed with Kim's.
Beep.
"That blasted alarm." Shane grimaced, still with his eyes closed.
Beep.
He stretched his right arm out to where he knew the alarm would be and tried to hit the "off" button.
Beep.
Beep.
"Oh, bloody hell," he muttered, as the beeping continued and he felt Kim pull away. Shane reached for her but she must have gotten out of the bed. Confused, Shane opened his eyes.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Where am I?
He was no longer in their bedroom, but he had no idea where he was. The room was dimly lit and he kept hearing that incessant beeping. Why didn't Kim turn off the alarm?
Where's Kim?
"Kim?" he asked, but he could not tell if he formed the word. His throat was dry and raw. And he felt that same weight on his chest, like in the dream. He tried to breathe, but the weight seemed to constrict his chest.
Panic began to set in. What's going on?
Someone loomed over him. I know him, he thought, but he could not place the dark-skinned man. The man was talking, but not in words. Shane could only hear some garbled sounds between the constant beeps.
Gasping for breath, Shane twisted his head to look past the man. Where's Kim? Shane needed to know. She had been with him. Was that a dream? Where is she now?
". . . understand me?" The first comprehensible words from the dark-skinned man cut through the fog in Shane's brain. Shane tried to focus on him. Who is he? Then a name came to him. Marcus.
"M. . . Mar-"
Marcus nodded. "That's right, Shane. It's me. Try to calm down. I know this is all confusing, but you're in the hospital."
That did not register. Shane shook his head. He had to find Kim. He needed to find her.
"Try to stay still," Marcus said. "Shane . . . try to focus on me." That came out as more of a command.
"Need . . . find. . . ." Shane heard his own voice; it sounded so weak. "Kim. Find Kim. . . ." He tried to pull himself up, but his words broke off as a sharp pain ripped through his chest and he cried out.
"Try to hold still." Marcus pushed Shane back down, even as the pain continue to lance through him. "Shane, you were shot."
Shot? Shane shook his head. Shot? That made no sense. I'd remember being shot. Wouldn't I?But that was not important. "Kim?" he asked weakly. "Where's Kim?"
"I'm right here."
Her voice came through clearly and drowned out whatever Marcus was saying. Shane jerked his head from side to side, trying to find her. If he heard her voice, she had to be there.
"I'm right here," Kim said again, and she came into view. At the same time, she took his hand in hers. "Try to calm down, Shane. I know it hurts, but I'm right here."
Her touch had a soothing effect. Shane felt his body relax. The pain seemed to lessen.
"Kim," he rasped, his eyes locking on hers. She was crying, he realized. Why? He did not understand. He just said, "Shhh. . . . don't cry."
She leaned over him and brushed his cheek. "I thought we'd lost you."
The pain was growing even more distant as Shane focused on her. He could hear Marcus' voice, but the words ran together. It did not matter. Kim was here. Kim was safe. A niggling voice asked Shane why he thought Kim might not be safe, but he had no answer. Something had happened, but he could not remember what it was. His mind was all cloudy and it seemed to be getting murkier.
"You need to rest," Kim said. "You need to rest and get better."
Rest sounded good. In fact, Shane found himself struggling to keep his eyes open. They felt so heavy. He tried to squeeze Kim's hand, but had no strength.
"Don't leave," he begged in a voice just barely audible as his eyes closed again.
He felt Kim's soft touch on his cheek and heard her murmur, "I'll be right here when you wake up. I'm not going anywhere."
The pain was gone and he felt like he was floating with only Kim's touch keeping him in contact with the ground. But she would be there when he woke up, so he could let himself go. And he thought he heard her say something about Jeannie and "your daughter," but he was already floating away into unconsciousness. As he slipped away, he had one last fleeting thought that explained everything.
It must have been a dream.