Chapter 43 Day 34, continued

I wake up later, lying on my stomach. I reach over, expecting to find Linka, but my arms come up empty. I pick my head up quickly…big mistake. Not only is it sore, but now I'm dizzy. I saw that Linka was sitting at my desk. Knowing that she is still here should be enough, but I need her next to me. When I fake a groan in pain, Linka is at my side immediately, cupping the back of my neck and once again kneading the muscles there.

"How are you feeling?" She asks.

"I hurt…all over," I mumble.

"Do you need to take another pain pill?"

"No. Well, yes…but I don't want to."

"Wheeler, do not be brave and noble on my account…they take away your pain. They will make you feel better in ways I cannot…I am not as good at this whole 'comforting' thing as you are…take the pills," she says as she leaves for my bathroom then returns and hands me a glass of water.

I reach over and grab the bottle of pills off my nightstand. I didn't hide them because I didn't feel the need to. I trust Linka. The affects from the concussion are still with me. I'm drowsy and the pills add to that groggy feeling. I want to stay awake though.

"What were you doing at my desk?" I ask.

"I was writing."

"Love letter?" I tease.

"Nyet. Music. I thought we could make music together."

"Mmm, beautiful music," I mumble. "Come here."

"I am right here."

"No, I mean sit in bed and write."

"Ok," she says as she goes to the desk to gather the notepad and pencil she was using.

She props up the pillows at the head of the bed and sits with her back against them. I drape my arm over her waist and can feel the sleep starting to overtake me. I nuzzle my cheek against her side as I wrap my arm more firmly around her.

"Sorry, I'm not very good company," I mumble.

"Shh Yankee…rest," she says as she runs her fingers through my hair.

"Chyort voz mi!" I hear her mutter under her breath as she scribbles something out.

"Hmm?"

"Oh good. You are awake…do you have a rubber?"

"Nightstand…top drawer," I murmur.

Wait…did she just ask me for a condom?

I hear her gasp then chuckle.

"Nyet Yankee…like this," she says as she points to the now completely gone pencil eraser.

"In America, that's called an 'eraser' Babe!"

"Well, we are not IN America," she argues.

"No, but you're talking to an American…you ask an American for a rubber and you're gonna get…well, what you got!" I laugh.

I glance up at her and see her cheeks are turning red.

"It's ok…there's 12 in a box and all 12 are still there if that's what you're wondering."

"I was not…it is not any of my…"

"I'm not embarrassed Babe…what's on your mind?"

"How long…I mean…when did you…get them?"

"A while ago…before all this, if that's what you're wondering…I didn't get them because we've been…uh, sleeping together…in bed…and actually sleeping, not 'sleeping together' in the…other way. I wasn't thinking that anything would happen. I just…it's good to uh, be prepared…in case…I'm not sayin' you and me…I'm just sayin'…better to be safe than sorry."

Ok, so much for not being embarrassed…but the truth is I did get them with the intention that one day, she and I would have a reason to use them. I got them after our mission in Thailand. I thought after that, it wouldn't be long…I should probably check the expiration date.

"Da. I guess that is the…um…responsible thing…to be prepared if you should ever bring a girlfriend to Hope Island…or just any girl."

Huh? A girlfriend? When would I have time for that? And a random girl? Again, I don't have time to even meet girls, but for her to think that I would…that hurts.

"You know what…" I say as I get out of bed, walk over to the opposite side where the nightstand is, and take them out. "These are just taking up space…it's not like I need them."

I toss them in the trash, rip off my bandages, and head for the bathroom.

"Wheeler, wait. It is not that big of a deal…I am sorry. It is none of my business."

"Yeah, it is your business actually," and add silently, Since you're the only one I want.

"Jason…"

That's the last thing I hear as I turn on the shower.

I'm surprised to still see her there when I exit the bathroom, still on my bed and still writing.

"I found an ERASER in the drawer of your desk."

"Uh…ok. Good," I say as I finish towel drying my hair.

"You are bleeding," she says as she starts to get up. "You should have had them look at it in the hospital. They would have been able to stitch it up so it can heal properly.

I look down to where my wound had re-opened after our last mission and then grab a handful of tissues to press to it.

"Don't worry about it. I got it," I say as I hold my hand up to stop her, but she doesn't listen.

"You need to keep pressure on it and put the salve on it to stop it and bandage it…you cannot do all three at once. You need my help."

She grabs my arm and leads me to the bed, pushing me to lie down, rushing to the bathroom to get more gauze, swatting my hand out of the way and replacing the bloody tissues with a wad of gauze.

"Now hold this here," she instructs as she scoops a dollop of the ointment onto her fingers. "Lift."

Once I lift my hand up, she hurries up and slathers the medicine over my wound, pressing the edges closed while rubbing the ointment in. After giving it a few minutes to dry, she removes her hands and is satisfied when the small gash stays closed. She then takes a clean piece of gauze and puts it over the wound.

"Hold that."

She then proceeds to tape it into place.

"Done."

"Thanks."

"You are welcome."

I continue to lie there, still too mortified to look at her. I just wanna be any where but here right now…and I'm hoping Linka is ready to let the subject of what happened earlier drop. She's not.

"Soooooo," she begins.

"Linka…"

"Extra large eh Yankee?"

"Huh?"

"That is a bit…generous, nyet?" She says with a chuckle.

I can't help but laugh at her forwardness, and have a quick retort.

"Hey, you've seen for yourself," referring to that time she walked in on me shortly after I got stabbed and was trying to bandage myself after showering. "Besides, it's my understanding that you don't have much to base your opinion on anyway!"

"True. I guess I will have to take your word for it then."

I cover my face with my hands and groan inwardly. We both start laughing. Thankfully, this little incident is behind us.

To Be Continued…

And don't forget, to get the full affect of the story, you HAVE TO read Linka's side of the story in Chapter 43 of LouiseX's Codependence!