While I Was Away(83)

“L.A. traffic,” he answered. “What a bitch.”

She barked out a laugh, shocking herself, and then they were both laughing. They were upside down and she could already tell her body was gonna be one giant bruise tomorrow, but they were alive, and as best she could tell, they weren't all that hurt.

“How do we get out of here?” she asked, trying to glance out their windshield. It was a complete mess, though, just a giant spiderweb of broken glass. Someone outside was calling out, asking if anyone needed help. Jones didn't answer her right away, so she started fiddling with her seat belt.

“Don't,” he said in a calm voice. “You'll fall, could injure yourself even more.”

“But I'm not injured,” she panted. “At least I don't think I am. My foot feels stuck, though.”

“Just ... don't ...”

Adele jerked her head around to face him. He was speaking in whispers now, and when she looked at his face, his eyes were closed.

Not me. I'm not the angel. I never was. It was always him. My guardian angel. How could I be so stupid?

“No, no, no,” she breathed. “Jones! Open your eyes, right now!”

Much to her surprise, he did.

“Listen to me,” he spoke slowly and carefully. His eyes were soft and unfocused. Almost dreamy looking. “You have to listen to me, Adele.”

“I'm listening!” she shouted, yanking at her seat belt. Fuck potential injuries, she would not let this happen. She was going to save both their asses.

“I think I'm going into shock,” he explained. “And my left leg, the knee is damaged. Possibly fractured.”

“It's going to be okay,” she assured him, then she finally got the seat belt unbuckled. With a shout, she fell hard against the roof of the car, then she let out a shriek as her left foot refused to budge. It was lodged between the floor and where the dash had gotten crunched in above it.

“You have to tell them when they come,” he was breathing hard now. “Tell them where I work, and if I can handle the journey, to please take me there.”

“Handle the journey, what does that mean!?” Adele demanded as she yanked at her stupid leg. “Of course you can handle it. You're going to be fine, Jones. Fine.”

“Adele.”

She stopped moving and stared up at him. He'd closed his eyes again. Blood was dripping from his head onto the roof of the car, and his arms had gone limp – only his seat belt was holding him in place. Ignoring her foot, she scooted so she was almost directly beneath him.

“I'm here,” she whispered, curling under him and around him so his head was brushing her chest. “I'm here, I won't go anywhere.”

“My head ...” he breathed. “My head hurts. I'm ... I'm having trouble focusing, my vision is bad. My heart is racing. Tell them all that, can you remember?”

“Tell who?” she cried, gently brushing her fingers over his hair, not wanting to cause him pain, but unable to stop herself.

“The paramedics. Someone will have already called, they're already on their way. Tell them about my head first – tell them to be careful moving me. Tell them I'm a nurse,” he insisted.

“Stay awake and tell them yourself,” she demanded.

“Adele ...” he sighed, and he finally opened his eyes. Even in the dark and with the blood and all the horror around them, they were still so bold and green. “I'm so, so sorry, Adele.”

“You don't have anything to be sorry for,” she told him. “You're going to be fine. We're going to be fine. It's just the blood rushing to your head, that's it. When we get you on your feet, you'll be fine.”

“I have to go away now, Adele,” he whispered.

“No!”

“Yes,” he said. “Maybe ... maybe this is how it's supposed to be. Maybe I have to go where you've gone in order to be with you.”

“No, that's not how this works!” She was shouting now. “You belong here, with me!”

“I believe,” he said, seeming to rally for a moment, the strength coming back to his voice and giving her hope. “I believe in us, and I believe in this moment, and I'm so glad I got to be in it with you. I don't care about what's happening – not this accident, and not these injuries, and not anything else. Just this moment, and just you, that's all I care about. That's all I need.”

“Stop talking,” she begged. “You have to save your strength.”

“One real night with you was better than all twenty-eight years without you.”

“Stop talking like this! You're not going anywhere!”

“It's okay, Adele. It's okay,” he assured her. “I'm not scared. Know why?”

“I don't want to know,” she cried.

“Because wherever I go, I know you'll be there with me. And if I can't come back here, I know you'll be in the next place, too.”

“Please,” she begged. “Please don't do this. Please don't go. I just found you.”

“And you will again,” he breathed.

“Please.”

“Adele,” his voice was weaker now, shakier. “I have to go now.”