CHAPTER SEVEN
Rocko
He wasn’t sure what time it was or even the damn day, but Rocko knew he wasn’t alone by the thunderous snoring echoing in the room.
When he finally pried his crusty eyes open, Rocko quickly realized he wasn’t in the trailer he’d been assigned.
This room was bigger, the bed softer and massive, and while he enjoyed the comfort, he knew damn well it wasn’t his.
When he looked over at the nearby chair, things became clearer.
Apollo sat with his arms crossed, head tilted to the side, fast asleep, a freight train roaring every time the man breathed in.
Shit. This had to be his bedroom. Why the hell would he be in Apollo’s bed?
He could think of a few very valid reasons he’d like to be in the big man’s bed, but he doubted that’d ever happen.
I have to get up and out of here. The moment he attempted to move, the intense pain stole his breath, the events that had brought him to his current situation flooding back like a mountain slide.
The falling shingles, the blood, pain, and grotesque gurgling he heard every time he tried to take a breath.
. That explained the pain, but at least he was able to breathe a whole lot easier than the last time he was conscious.
Shit was looking up. He hadn’t been this severely injured since taking two rounds in his side back in that hellish jungle fifteen years ago.
A lifetime, really, and all in due course of his time serving for Uncle Sam.
Rocko stretched out his fingers and toes, an automatic response to ensure everything was working properly.
Except it wasn’t. His feet didn’t respond fully or nearly as quickly as expected.
They hesitated, clumsy, moving slowly, and it took more concentration on his part to make the smallest of shifts.
Shit. His mind raced. He was positive Renee would have tried to heal him, which was likely why he was still alive.
Was there permanent damage caused by the falling shingles?
Was he paralyzed? What would he do if he couldn’t walk? ? He was nobody’s burden.
His heart raced wildly along with his growing distress, alerting Apollo to his being awake. The other man’s dark eyes flew open as he stood in one fluid motion, arms wide, ready, scanning the room for threats before finally zeroing in on Rocko.
“You’re awake. Are you in pain?” he asked without changing his stance.
“My legs aren’t moving properly,” Rocko said tightly. The pain he could handle, but being paralyzed was another matter entirely.
Apollo nodded. “It makes sense, you had multiple broken bones and two crushed vertebrae from the accident.”
“I’m paralyzed.” Everything stopped. His brain stuttered. Fuck.
Apollo moved so fast that Rocko only registered that the man was now kneeling beside the bed when he placed his hand on Rocko’s shoulder.
“No. Shit, no. Renee has been healing you but was forced to first concentrate on the life-saving aspects. Your lungs had been punctured, you had internal bleeding, causing your lungs to fill with blood and making it impossible for you to breathe, which she healed during the first round.”
“First round?” Again, how long had he been out?
“Yes. She’s completed three sessions, but each time exhausts her, and she rests in between because it takes a lot out of her.”
“Okay. So, let me get this straight in my head. I’ll be able to walk properly again?”
“Yes. It’ll take some time,” Apollo answered.
Rocko’s tension wound down considerably as the information sank in. Talk about a mindfuck.
“Was anyone else hurt?” He had to make sure.
“No, you managed to push Renee out of the way in time. My sister and Rosaline were still a few feet behind her, so they stopped walking after you saved Renee.”
“Good. I’m glad no one was hurt.”
“You were hurt,” Apollo corrected. The confusion on his face would have been comical if Rocko wasn’t in so much pain.
“Yeah, but that’s acceptable. I knew the odds were high that the shingles would hit me.”
“No, it’s not acceptable, but you did it anyway. Why?”
“Better me than her.”
“Okay, yes, if those are the only choices. I’m unsure if Renee’s smaller stature could have survived the blow or even if she can heal herself, and I don’t want to find out,” Apollo agreed. “But that’s not an answer to my question.”
“It’s as good as you’re going to get.” If anyone had to be hurt, it damn well shouldn’t be the healer.
Besides, he was at least twice her size, making the damage to him less severe than it would have been for the small woman.
Instinct was a powerful thing. His drive to protect was ingrained in his being.
Rocko’s eyes were getting heavy again. He was losing the fight to stay awake. The ringing in his head grew louder by the second, until it drowned out everything around him.
“Rest. There’ll be plenty of time for you to heal,” Apollo assured.
“How long have I been out? I’ve only got two weeks left,” Rocko said. If Renee could heal him in time, he’d be catching a flight back to Florida sooner rather than later.
“Two days, and don’t worry about the timeline. It’s fluid.” Apollo’s hand reached out and touched his shoulder. Both of them jumped at the static energy flowing between them. Apollo took his hand away. “All you need to do is stay here and recover.”
“We’ll see how fast I can heal so I can be on my way,” Rocko said, yawning. Healing was taking up a lot of his energy. He hated feeling so vulnerable. It brought back painful memories of being back in the Noah Group’s clutches.
“We’ll discuss that later. Rest now,” Apollo ordered.
“I don’t think I have a choice,” Rocko slurred.
He wanted to say more, but his eyes closed, and sleep enveloped him.
***
Renee was hovering over him the next time he woke, the glow from her hands filling the room in warm light.
He couldn’t help but wonder whether it was similar to the white light people describe in near-death experiences.
Wouldn’t that set those Noah Group flunkies on their collective asses to realize mutants were closer to angelic than any of them knew?
“Hello,” he said roughly.
Her smile lit up her entire face. “Hello, Rocko. How do you feel?”
He cautiously moved his body, running internal checks on each appendage, hoping for a reset from the last time he was awake.
Rocko quickly realized that his lower body was moving with relative ease.
Of course, it wasn’t perfect, but it was better, which took a shitload of stress off his sore shoulders.
He was healing like Apollo had said he would, proving he was still a man of his word.
When Rocko glanced down, it hit him that he wasn’t wearing the same clothes as the last time he’d been conscious; he was in shorts but hadn’t brought any on this trip.
“Much better, thanks to you.”
“Thanks to you, I’m alive,” she said. “I won’t forget that.”
“I’m glad I was close enough to help.” Which was absolutely true. Rocko didn’t even want to imagine the damage it would have done to her small body. “Um, quick question, whose clothes am I wearing?”
“Jagger was kind enough to loan you some, you’re about the same size. And if you’re wondering who changed you, that’d be me.” She grinned. “Don’t worry, consider me your nurse. I’ve seen my share of survivors in the buff, including members of this team.”
Rocko didn’t miss that disarming smile but he had a bigger issue quickly taking over.
“Am I strong enough to make it to the bathroom?” he asked because he really needed to take a piss.
“Likely, but I’d rather you have help,” she said before yelling. “Apollo.”
He heard heavy boots running up the stairs, followed by Apollo barreling into the room.
“What’s wrong?” He scanned the room, his dark, stormy eyes landing on Rocko, scanning him from top to bottom. The inspection felt like a caress, shocking Rocko.
“Nothing’s wrong, but I need someone to help Rocko into the bathroom. I don’t want him to fall. We’ve worked too hard to heal for it to be risked.”
“I’m sure I can make it on my own.” Rocko didn’t want to be babied. He could take a piss by himself.
“You had two crushed vertebrae,” Renee said. “There’s no way in hell I’m letting you risk setting your recovery back.”
“I’d do what she says,” Apollo advised. “When she gets that look, nothing will change her mind, and you really don’t want to piss her off.”
Renee gave him a look that dared him to argue the point.
“Noted, let’s do this,” Rocko said as he slowly pushed himself up off the mattress, leveraging his weight on his arms.
He was stiff, and his muscles complained with every move.
Renee helped guide him to the edge of the bed, and Apollo reached under his arms to help lift him.
Rocko couldn’t help the deep groans that escaped through his gritted teeth, but he figured in the grand scheme, it wasn’t bad for knocking on death’s door.
Apollo put his arm around him, supporting his weight as Rocko stood.
He braced himself against the bigger man to steady himself as Rocko’s head swam for a moment, and he waited for it to clear.
Warmth rushed through his body, and looking back, Rocko found Renee with her hands glowing against his lower back.
She smiled and shrugged. “Just making sure everything stays in place.”
“Thanks.”
Slowly, he placed one foot in front of the other and the strange trio made their way to the bathroom across the hall.
If he were honest, it was the longest damn walk of his life.
Renee stopped following at the doorway, assuming it was to give him some privacy, but Apollo seemed to have no qualms about following him straight in.
Once Rocko maneuvered himself in front of the toilet, he had to piss so bad he didn’t give a damn who was holding him up.