After the Storm (KGI #8)(49)

“I need to get you home,” Donovan said gently. “All of you. Travis needs rest. Cammie needs rest and medication. And so do you.”

He turned to Maren, not waiting for Eve’s agreement. Whether she gave it or not, things were going to be done his way from now own. That likely made him a huge ass**le, to press this woman when she was infinitely fragile and on the verge of breaking. But he’d use that to his advantage and not suffer one iota of remorse for making certain they were safe and taken care of. No matter what it took. He’d spare no available resource in his quest to ensure their well-being. And that they stayed right where they belonged. With him.

“Write her a prescription for pain medication. She probably needs an injection but I’d rather wait until I get her settled at the house. I’ll have my hands full getting Travis and Cammie to bed as it is.”

Maren nodded and pulled out her prescription pad and scribbled several lines on it. Then she handed it to Donovan.

“I wrote them out to you so there’s no record of their names at the pharmacy,” she said. “There are meds for Travis and Cammie as well. I’ll go start her IV now and get the bags of saline and antibiotics for you to take home. If you have any problem at all, don’t hesitate to call me. I’ll check in on them every afternoon if that’s okay with you, but I’ll call before I come so you’re expecting me.”

Donovan pulled Maren into a hug. “Thanks, sweetheart. I really appreciate all you do for us. Don’t know if we say it often enough, but I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

Maren smiled as she pulled away. “You’ve done far more for me than I can ever repay. I owe my and Olivia’s life to KGI. Steele’s too. I’ll never forget that. You know I’ll be happy to help any way I can. All you have to do is call, okay?”

Donovan gave her another affectionate squeeze and then went back to Eve while Maren stepped into the hall to call for Swanny to return with Cammie.

Knowing Eve would want to be right by Cammie’s side when Maren inserted the IV, he positioned her at the head of the exam table and then stood next to her, his arm wrapped securely around her slight waist.

He could feel her thinness. She felt precious and breakable in his arms and he tightened his hold on her, more for his own peace of mind than her own, though he wanted her to have no doubts of the support network that was closing ranks around her.

Swanny carried Cammie into the room and her eyes brightened when she saw Donovan and Eve. Relief shadowed the little girl’s haunted eyes and she reached eagerly for Donovan. Donovan loosened his hold on Eve long enough to take Cammie from Swanny and lay her on the table so she’d be close to him and Eve.

Eve brushed her palm across Cammie’s fevered brow and then leaned down to kiss her forehead.

“It’s going to be all right, darling,” Eve said in a soothing tone. “Maren is going to insert an IV in your arm. Just a little prick. I’ll be here the entire time.”

“And Donovan?” Cammie mumbled around her thumb.

Donovan smiled and added his own hand to her arm, squeezing reassuringly. “Me too, sweetheart. Eve and I aren’t going anywhere. And after, you’re going back to my house so you can get lots of rest and all the grilled cheese sandwiches you can eat.”

Cammie smiled and Eve’s breath caught and hiccupped. Donovan withdrew from Cammie and slid his arm back around Eve’s waist, presenting a united front for Cammie. So she’d know they weren’t leaving her alone.

Maren prepared the catheter and the bag of saline and the piggyback of the IV antibiotic. After swabbing Cammie’s arm and securing a rubber elastic above the area she planned to stick, she spoke to Cammie in soft, reassuring tones.

“Just a little stick, but I need you to be brave and hold very still, okay, Cammie?”

Cammie nodded solemnly but tensed as Maren set the needle against her flesh. Her eyes widened in fear and panic flooded her face.

“It will be over in just a moment,” Eve murmured. “Be a brave little girl. Maren will be easy.”

Maren deftly inserted the needle, probing for the vein. Cammie let out a surprised cry, but to her credit she didn’t jerk away. Thankfully she got the vein in one stick, and Cammie’s expression eased.

Swanny stood on the other side of Cammie, right above where Maren worked, his hand cupping over Cammie’s forehead as he stroked her hair.

“You’re doing great,” Swanny said.

Maren quickly attached the IV line, taped the IV lock so it was secure and then adjusted the flow of fluid. Then she hooked the piggyback so that the medication flowed into the line along with the saline.

“All done,” she announced with a smile at Cammie. “You’re a champ at this, Cammie.”

Cammie beamed at Maren’s praise. “It didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would.”

“That’s because Maren is quite good at what she does,” Donovan said. “Now you’re all done and we can go back home and get you to bed.”

Cammie looked delighted at that declaration. Then she looked shyly up at Donovan, clearly wanting to say something, but she was unsure. Her thumb angled further into her mouth.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Donovan asked in a gentle tone. “You can ask me anything at all. I don’t mind.”

“Could I have a feather pillow?”