10. Hayden
10
HAYDEN
“C ’mon, kid, let’s get you up off the floor so the doc can look you over,” Conrad said.
I pushed myself up with his help, and the silver fox I’d noticed standing in the corner earlier flashed a light in my eyes and asked me to follow his finger. I did as I told, even though I didn’t need a doc to tell me I’d suffered a concussion. Another one. I was woozy as fuck, and the lights were already starting to hurt my eyes.
“You’re going to need an MRI,” the doc said.
“Yeah, no thanks. It’s not the first concussion I’ve had.”
All that gives me is another lecture about traumatic brain injuries, and I’d had enough of those to last a lifetime.
“All the more reason…”
“Thanks, but no thanks, doc. I know the signs and symptoms.”
Like the back of my damn hand.
“Hayden.”
Walker fucking Holt, just fucking great. It was bad enough that Jackson was here, but if there were any more… I glanced around the room. Fuck.
Fucking Holts every where. Just not the one I was married to. Declan would hear I was here. Not that he’d give a fuck. Not after how we, I , left things.
“Hayden, since it was Jackson who put your head through a wall, if it’s a matter of cost…”
I glared at him for offering to pay my way. Walker should know better. I didn’t take handouts.
“I can afford my own test, Walker. I don’t need anyone’s charity.”
Well, the VA could afford it for me, but it’s the same difference. I’d just mention it the next time I was there.
Walker crossed his arms over his chest, staring at me pointedly.
“Not charity. Responsibility. And I’ll always help out a fellow Marine. Same as you would.”
I wanted to smart off and say I wasn’t a Marine anymore, but I knew the mantra Marines lived and died by. Once a Marine, always a Marine. I tried my best to school my features, but the slight tic of his jaw told me I failed.
“You have a problem with that, Sergeant?”
“No, sir, Colonel.”
Fucking officers.
“Good. Now, go with Liam and get a CT, then get your ass back here so we can game plan.”
“Yes, sir.”
I turned to the doc and stopped dead in my tracks.