Chapter 21 #2
“You're not disgusting. You're recovering.” Poet's tone was matter of fact but kind.
“But I can help with that if you're feeling up to it.
We've got a pretty nice setup in the back.
A private area with a shower, and all the products you could ever want.
I can help you keep the IV and the surgical site dry and make sure you don't overdo it.”
The thought of hot water, real shampoo, feeling clean again … Willow's eyes actually stung with unexpected tears. “That sounds like heaven.”
“Then let's make it happen.” Poet moved to check the monitors one more time, then called the front of the cabin. “Maliki? Willow's stable enough for a shower if we're careful. I'm going to help her get cleaned up.”
“Keep the IV and surgical site dry, watch her balance, don't let her overextend.” Maliki's voice carried from wherever he was working. “And Poet? Make sure Berserker doesn't try to help and end up hovering outside the door like a worried mother hen.”
Willow heard Levi's low growl of protest, then Maliki's laugh. “I’ll force him to give you five minutes to get her back to the showers.”
“Perfect.” She hung up the phone. “Come on.” Poet helped Willow sit up slowly, waiting for any dizziness to pass. “Let's get you feeling human again.”
The shower setup was more luxurious than Willow had expected.
The shower was a proper enclosed stall with a rainfall showerhead, a built-in seat, grab bars for stability, and a small shelf stocked with an array of bottles.
Poet helped Willow out of the hospital gown and into the stall, after carefully wrapping the IV site in waterproof covering.
“I'll be right outside. No more than six inches away from the door,” Poet said. “You squeak if you need anything, okay? Don't be brave and stupid.”
Willow sat down, exhausted but determined to feel clean. “I'll save brave and stupid for when I'm back on my feet.”
“That’s a deal.” Poet laughed and showed Willow how to turn on the water.
She closed the door, and Willow moved the small dial.
When the hot water hit Willow's skin, she actually moaned with relief.
It was such a simple thing, just water and heat, but after everything, it felt like heaven.
She let it run over her for a long moment before reaching for the shampoo.
Poet had left the door cracked, and her voice drifted in conversationally. “So, that shampoo is my personal favorite. It's got argan oil and keratin. Really good for damaged hair.”
Willow worked the shampoo through her tangles with her good arm, marveling at how good it smelled. “This is amazing.”
“Wait until you try the conditioner. Leave it in for a few minutes if you can. Believe me, it'll make a huge difference.” Poet paused. “There's also a hair mask in there if you want to use it after. We've got time.”
“You don’t mind if I just sit here in the warm water?”
“Goodness no. Just make sure you don’t get the water too hot. We don’t need you getting dizzy or passing out.”
“Deal.” Willow turned the dial a bit. The water was still warm but not hot.
They fell into an easy conversation, Poet talking her through the various products, Willow asking questions about ingredients and brands.
It was so normal, so mundane. Just two women talking about hair care products, and Willow found herself relaxing in a way she hadn't in weeks. Hell, make that months.
“So, how long have you been with Guardian?” Willow asked as she squeezed the conditioner from the bottle to the top of her head. She was one-armed, but she was going to get clean and brush her hair. That was the mission, and she was attacking the shower with the focus she usually flew with.
“Many, many years. Maliki longer, but I joined him after we met and fell in love. He was a doctor before he joined Guardian, and I was a cop, believe it or not, but we wanted to do something different. Guardian offered us the chance to develop the Mercy Team protocol.”
“What's that exactly? Wait, hold on, I’m going to rinse.” Willow tipped her head back and let the water flow over her. “Okay, go ahead.”
“Rapid response medical teams for Guardian operatives and assets in the field. When someone gets hurt or needs transport, we go get them. Full medical support, secure transport, continuity of care from extraction to recovery.” Willow could hear the pride in Poet's voice.
“Maliki designed most of the protocols. I handled the logistics and support systems. We started with just the two of us and one converted jet.
Now, we've got teams operating all over the world.”
Willow picked up the bar of soap and started to lather, although her energy reserves were almost tapped. “That's incredible.”
“It's necessary. The work Guardian does, the work people like Levi do, it's dangerous. They need to know that if something goes wrong, we'll come get them. No one gets left behind, and no one has to suffer through inadequate care.”
“Do you know Levi?”
“Oh, hell yes. From the famous Dhaka incident.” Poet laughed.
“Maliki still tells that story. Levi got shot three times during the exfil of his mission. He was holed up in a safe house that was barely standing. He proceeded to try to coordinate rescue operations for another asset while Maliki was literally holding his intestines in place. His teammate had lost comms, and Levi was convinced he needed to mount a rescue operation and go back for him. Well, Maliki puts Levi out so he could work, and his teammate shows up three hours later, perfectly fine. The first words out of Levi’s mouth when he came around were, ‘Give me a gun. I’m going after Phantom. ’”
Willow found herself smiling. That sounded exactly like Levi. “He takes care of his people.”
“He does. But especially you.” Poet's voice softened.
“I've seen a lot of operatives come through our care, Willow.
The way Levi looks at you? The way he's been positioned outside this door since we got you in here, even though Maliki told him to sit down and rest?
That's not just a professional concern.”
Something warm bloomed in Willow's chest. “We're … together. It's rather complicated.”
“The best things usually are.” Willow could hear the smile in Poet's voice. “Now, are you ready for that hair mask? Trust me, your hair will thank you.”
“I wish. I’m exhausted.”
“If you can still sit upright, I can put it on. I’ve seen my share of naked bodies.”
“Girl, open the door and pamper me, please.” Willow leaned back against the cool tile and sighed as Poet adjusted the spray to keep her warm but allowed her to apply the hair mask.
Fifteen minutes later, Willow emerged from the shower feeling more human than she had in weeks.
Poet helped her into soft sweatpants and a matching hoodie, both in the same gray as Poet’s scrubs.
Then she got a treat. Thick, fluffy slippers that made Willow want to cry at their comfort.
“Better?” Poet asked.
“So much better.” Willow settled into one of the recovery recliners, accepting the warm blanket Poet draped over her. “Thank you. Seriously. I didn't realize how much I needed that.”
Seeing Levi at the door, she smiled at him and blew him a kiss. “I’m fine. Clean and tired, but fine.”
He winked at her and smiled that radiantly idiotic smile. “Just making sure.”
“Thank you.” She leaned back in the recliner a bit. “I might take a nap.”
“You do that.” Levi walked in, gave her a soft kiss, and stared at her. “I love you.”
“And I love you, so you need to get some rest, too.”
“Maybe.” He chuckled and stood away from her. “Thank you, Poet.”
“Anytime. Believe me, I know how she was feeling. Now, let me comb out your hair. Sometimes the small things matter most.”
“They do,” Levi agreed and winked at her before dipping out of the area.
Poet handed her a bottle of lotion. “This is good for dry skin. We also have lip balm, hand cream, whatever you need.”
They settled in together, Willow working lotion into her hands while Poet carefully combed her hair. The conversation drifted from favorite books to best vacation spots to the challenges of maintaining relationships.
“How do you and Maliki make it work?” Willow asked. “With the Mercy teams traveling all over the world?”
“We travel together. We make the time we have alone count.” Poet's expression turned thoughtful. “It's not always easy. But we built something together, you know? The Mercy teams aren't just our job; they're our passion, our purpose. Having that shared goal helps.”
Willow thought about Levi, about the uncertain future ahead, about the complexity of building something real in the middle of a paused life of chaos and danger. “What if you're not sure what comes next? What if everything is uncertain?”
“Then you take it one day at a time.” Poet met her eyes. “And you hold on to the people who matter. The ones who come for you when you need them. The ones who stand outside bathroom doors because they need to know you're okay.”
Willow's throat tightened. “He did come for me. I was in that place, and I hoped … No, I knew he'd find me. I just had to hold on.”
“And you did.” Poet reached over and squeezed her hand. “You held on, he found you, and now, we're taking you both somewhere safe. The rest? You'll figure it out together.”
Through the gap in the privacy screen, Willow could see Levi’s profile.
He’d only left the area after he was sure she was okay.
Now, he was talking with Maliki near the medical equipment.
Even relaxed, there was a readiness in his posture, a coiled awareness that never fully rested.
As if sensing her attention, he turned his head, his eyes finding hers across the cabin.
The intensity in his gaze made her breath catch. Not possessive, not demanding … just present, seeing her, confirming she was real and safe and here.
Willow smiled at him and watched something in his expression soften.
“Yeah,” Poet said quietly, watching the exchange. “You'll definitely figure it out.”
The jet hummed steadily northward, carrying them all toward whatever came next. But for now, clean and comfortable and surrounded by people who cared, Willow let herself rest.
She'd fought hard enough to get here. For now, that was enough.