The Badass Protector

Iris

I PURSED my lips to stop them from bubbling. I was just so relieved that I saw Colt again and everyone when they thought they had lost us.

“It’s been a day, and Colt has not moved a muscle. We transferred you to another room, away from him, just in case, you know. And here he is. His fever drops down a little bit.”Content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

“I’ve never been scared like that. He started deteriorating, and I couldn’t think of anything when I seemed fine.” I sat beside him on the bed, feeling drained. “Are you all safe to get closer? I guess I passed through that after what I did yesterday, right?”

“We took extra precautions. It’s airborne, but I think we are safe now since he had no bleeding and seemed to cure himself.”

“I didn’t get a chance to attach the blood.”

“Max did. The transfusion was done when we arrived.”

“Oh, God. I should thank him.” I rubbed my hand against my face, feeling guilty for how I treated him.

“We already did,” Frost answered.

I looked at them. “Where’s Max?”

“They left after I helped his girlfriend give birth. They said to relay his message of thank you, and they named their baby girl after you, Iris,” Dr. Hull said.

I smiled. “Really? I wish I got a chance to see the baby before they left.”

“They said you’re a hero,” Frost said, grinning.

“I am far from a hero. Colton would be dead if it weren’t because of him. Max is my hero.” I smiled bitterly, remembering how I frightened him, but he still helped me save Colt despite what I did.

“Oh, come on. You’re our little heroine.” He chuckled. “You did something incredible, Iris. Take the compliment.”

“Stop it. Anyway, how’s he?” I looked back at Colt lying unconscious in the bed. “Did he open his eyes?”

“Not yet. We’re not so sure of what to expect, Iris. I was able to draw a sample, and there’s a little abnormality in his blood.”

“What do you mean?” My chest tightened.

“Given that he lost a lot of blood, his blood count would drastically drop.”

“But?”

“I never heard anyone survived the virus, Iris.”

I nodded. “Me either. And?”

“We don’t know if the blood you donated will only slow down the bleeding, but we should prepare ourselves for something inevitable,” he sighed. “I don’t want to give you false hope.”

“Does he need another blood? I will give again,” I rushed my words out. If it helped him, I would do it in an instant.

“We will see if it drops, but he only needs close observation in the meantime. His vitals are acceptable except for his temperature, and his heart rate is a little too fast,” he explained.

Colt’s face was still pale, but his skin was warm. It would mean there was still good circulation.

“Is it possible he’s been cured?”

I exchanged looked with Dr. Hull when Frost asked.

I stared at him. “I don’t know, but I’m glad he’s getting better.”Is he, though? “He had all the symptoms I’ve seen in the infected people.”

“So I’ve noticed.” He nodded, seemingly dazed.

“What is your blood type?”

“O positive?”

Dr. Hull nodded subtly.

“Why?”

“No wonder he didn’t get any reaction during transfusion. You’re a universal donor.”

Oh, I haven’t thought about it.

“And sometimes, the body doesn’t react even receiving blood while febrile.”

“I’ll tell everyone that you’re awake,” Frost said.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him before he walked out.

“Dr. Hull, can we keep it between us? Between you, me, and the group?”

He nodded and smiled. “Of course, my dear. It’s for the better.”

“Thank you.” I sighed and gripped his hands, feeling grateful.

“I’ll leave you two alone, and you might wanna spend time with him. And you must be starving. I’ll tell Lois to bring you something to eat.”

Lois must be so relieved that Colt might be able to get through this. I couldn’t fathom how she felt after we left because I knew Colt meant a lot to her, and she meant a lot to me too. The fact that we left without a proper goodbye made her fall on her knees, and I was also hurt that we had to separate that way.

Gael-he must have been so devastated after we left, losing the only family he had, considering Colt was like his own son.

When Dr. Hull left the room, I examined Colt by myself. A perk of having parents in the medical field, I knew a few things when I was not panicking.

“You’re gonna be fine, Colton. Just hang in there and get better.” I checked his skin-it was warm and dry, with no lesions and cracked lips, but he had no bleeding from his nose and gums. His bruises seemed to fade fast.

I opened his eyes-swollen lids, still blotchy, but the bleeding definitely stopped. Then I pinched him, and he reacted to pain. That was a good sign-he had a pain threshold.

“Aren’t you hot in pink?” Dr. Hull changed him into a pink hospital gown just like mine. I giggled like a schoolgirl as I lay down beside him because I thought it was cute. But deep inside, I was still terrified. He was not safe.

“You should open those damn eyes, Colton Snow because I already missed you so much. Please, stay strong for us, and don’t ever leave me,” I whispered, hoping he could hear me.

I placed my hand over his chest just on top of his heart and watched as it rose and fell. “You’re definitely alive.” I kissed his shoulder. “I know you can hear me. If you don’t wake up in a few days, I have to go away, far away from here, far from everyone. I can’t face them with all the guilt inside my chest, Colton. So you better wake up if I still matter to you.” I let my tears fall as I wrapped my arm around him before I closed my eyes.