赤裸裸的滑稽故事

Ashleigh smiled and moved to sit beside him.

“Where are Bell and Galen?” she asked.

“Her doctor wanted to run a few more tests on Bell, just to be sure that she and Ren are continuing to improve,” he said. “They should be back any minute.”

“Check out that timing,” Bell laughed as Galen wheeled her back into the room. “It’s like we planned that or something.”

Ashleigh stood and ensured the path to the bed was clear as Galen moved the wheelchair beside the bed and helped Bell back into bed.

“You all do understand that I wasn’t actually hurt, right?” Bell laughed as Galen adjusted her pillow and moved the table closer to her so she could access her water and snacks without needing to move too far.

“Bed rest is doctor’s orders,” Galen smiled as he moved around to sit on his own bed.

“Doctors don’t always know what they are talking about,” Bell sighed and leaned back in her bed.

“Wow,” Ashleigh laughed. “Doctors really are the worst patients.”

“Hush you,” Bell chided. “I am a freaking pleasure to treat.”

“Oh, of course, you are,” Ashleigh smiled, nodding as though she agreed.

Bell smiled and then threw a small stuffed animal at Ashleigh.

“Aww, how could you?” Ashleigh asked, catching the small bear and holding it up. “He’s so cute.”

“He really is,” Bell smiled, “give him back.”_.

She stretched her hand out and Ashleigh laughed but stood up and brought the bear to her friend, sitting down at the end of her bed instead of returning to her chair beside Caleb.

“Galen,” Caleb called.

Galen looked up at Caleb, who motioned his head toward the door. Galen nodded and then stood up.

“I’m going to go for a walk. Give you two some privacy,” Galen said sweetly as he leaned forward and kissed Bell’s head.

He pulled away and found himself stopped. He glanced down to see that his hand was held tightly. Galen lifted his eyes to Bell.

She wore a smile and a playful expression. Still, the heartbeat he felt through her hand, the slight elevation in intake of breaths, and the look in her eyes all told a different story.

Galen swallowed the anger he instantly felt toward the bastard that had caused this reaction.

He smiled at her and squeezed her hand.

“We won’t go far,” he whispered.

Bell took a deep breath and licked her lips.

“Go, go,” she said, her mouth twitching ever so slightly as she smiled. “Take him, Caleb. The boy is smothering me.”

Caleb laughed, and Galen gave her a wink, knowing how hard she was trying to keep up her brave front.

Bell kept her eyes on him until he had left the room entirely.

She took a deep breath, trying to maintain the smile and the playful mood, but without him beside her, it was difficult.

“So,” Ashleigh said. “Did you hear Saul dresses in an elephant costume every night to get his daughter to sleep?”

Bell blinked and stared at Ashleigh.

“What?” she asked.

“Yep,” Ashleigh nodded with raised eyebrows and pursed lips.

“Is that true?” Bell questioned.

“I have no idea,” Ashleigh shrugged, “but it lowered your heart rate to think about it.”

Bell closed her eyes and let out an honest laugh. She took a deep breath.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said honestly and openly. “I don’t even want to think about it.”

“I understand,” Ashleigh replied. “As long as you are ok and talk to someone about it.”

Bell nodded.

“All my tests have come back fine,” she said, taking another deep breath and looking up, unable to prevent the shine of tears in her eyes. “Ren is beautiful. He’s healthy. I’m fine. I just…”

Bell licked her lips and turned away, wiping away the one tear that managed to escape.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Got it,” Ashleigh said. She reached out and took Bell’s hand. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Uhm,” Bell said, looking up as she tried to think of a different topic. Suddenly she smiled and looked at Ashleigh with a devious grin. “What about you… and Caleb… during the hunt.”

Bell bit her lower lip and waggled her brows.

“No!” Ashleigh shouted through giggles. “Nuh-uh, not happening!”

“Come on!”

“No!”

“I would tell you!”

“You wouldn’t give me a choice!”

“That’s true,” Bell laughed.

***

Down the hall, only a few doors away from the room he shared with her, Galen listened to his wife’s laughter with a sigh of relief.

When she had first woken late the night before, she was lost in her fear, in her tears, in her screams.

They had been awake most of the night. Galen held her in his arms and simply reminded her that she was safe, that he was with her, and that Roman was nowhere near them.

She had barely spoken, clinging to him for dear life with one arm while the other held her stomach.

He had never seen her so vulnerable, so openly afraid.

His heart had broken, and he was more determined than ever to make sure that Roman or any other threat to his wife or child would be dealt with immediately.

“How is she?” Caleb asked.

“Terrified,” Galen said.

“How are you?”

“Terrified,” Galen replied honestly.

Caleb nodded.

“Is it true?” Galen asked. “That she can’t leave Winter?”

“It seems that way,” Caleb said. “The Priestess apparently said that she is safe from him here. He can no longer enter Winter, so he can’t touch her as long as she stays within the territory.”

“Not alone,” Galen replied.

“Right,” Caleb said. “But that is why I will ensure that the defense system is up and running in the next few days. In the meantime, Axel has increased patrols at the borders and added guards at every entrance to the hospital.

“If Roman is stupid enough to try and take her again, we will know and stop him before he ever gets close.”

“Good,” Galen sighed. Her laughter fluttered into his ears once more. She was happy and comfortable with Ashleigh, but he heard the hesitance in her laugh. The concern. He needed to go back. To reassure her that she was safe.

Galen looked at Caleb.

“Thank you,” he said. “You have no idea how much I appreciate you being here. Yesterday, today, tomorrow…. I just…”

Galen paused, clenching his jaw as he felt his emotions swelling in his chest.

“Hey,” Caleb called gently, placing his hand on Galen’s shoulder.

Galen sniffled and lowered his head.

“Yesterday, today, tomorrow,” Caleb said, squeezing Galen’s shoulder, “we are brothers. I will always be here when you need me. No matter what.”

Galen nodded and sniffled, trying to hold the emotions at bay.

“It’s ok,” Caleb whispered, pulling Galen in for a hug.

Caleb gently patted Galen’s back. “Let it out, Galen… just let it out.”

Galen clung to his brother as he released the tears and the anger that were threatening to suffocate him.