by Ellie Pond
“Leave. But I can’t do that. You know if you leave a dragon you can’t come back.”
“Is there anything at all I can do?” Elizabeth’s brow furrowed.
“Do you know how to change the captain’s mind?”
“I’m having problems with that myself.” Elizabeth nodded and wandered towards the door. “Good morning, Violet, thank you for the tea.” The witch squared her shoulders, but her exhaustion still radiated.
* * *
It was her turn in the infirmary to watch over the MOB. He still hadn’t regained consciousness since his arrival. But the rest of his vital signs were positive. They would transfer him off the ship to Port-Au-Prince and their hospital would take excellent care of the human. The captain was going on the assumption that he was the missing passenger from a cruise ship that had gone by the day before. But it wasn’t confirmed yet. The bridge was waiting on photos from the other boat. They were probably having problems with the internet, but that was another thing she wouldn’t bring up to the captain.
Katie sat in a chair outside the MOB’s room, her feet propped up on the wall, the lights in the infirmary dimmed for the night.
“Long night?” It was only 4:15 a.m.
“Not too bad. He’s improving. Just updated his chart.” Katie’s feet plopped to the ground, and she shook her right leg. Elizabeth used that trick frequently. When your feet fell to the ground, it woke you up if you’d fallen asleep.
“Get some rest. We still have a cub to deliver.”
“Thanks, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth checked in on the patient as Katie left. His color was returning. She warmed up her stethoscope and listened to his lungs. They were clearing. His eyes fluttered open and closed again. Elizabeth waited. They didn’t open again.
She turned on the remote monitor of the MOB’s vital signs in the background of her computer, along with the room camera, and settled to her research.
The lights in the hallway turned on. 5:00 a.m. Prompt as always. Movement rustled from the nurses’ station, and the main line of the infirmary rang. She watched the light blink on her phone and turn solid. A few minutes later, a head poked into her open office.
“Doctor Cottage, Mike called down from the Honeycutts’ suite. She’s progressed, effaced, and dilated to eight,” Stephanie said.
Elizabeth glanced up at Stephanie. It was impossible to not look at her as a patient. It hadn’t taken much to convince Stephanie to participate in her clinical study of shifters who’d lost their spouses.
“My sample is in the lab too.” Stephanie waved as she left.
* * *
Elizabeth turned the corner to the rooms on the bow of the ship and was surprised to see Tad standing by the door wearing his loaned scrubs.
“How’d you sleep?” he asked.
“Good. What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d see if I could help. After I visited Violet last night, I came back to see if Mike wanted company. We watched some baseball, two old Kunyon ball games, and a recording of the on-board musical where the singer floated over the audience above a pool. It was confusing. Have you seen it?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“Mike called me a few minutes ago.”
“How are they doing?”
“I wanted to clear it with you that I could go in.”
“Thank you.” She squinted at him. Something was different. What Violet told her rang true. He had more of his old air about him, the way he was before the incident with Samantha.
She lifted her hand to knock.
“Mike said that the door was unlocked. They’re in the back bedroom.” He opened the door for her to enter.
With quick steps, they entered the massive bedroom at the end of the suite’s hallway.
“Hey, Doc, Doctor Tad.” Now Mike was calling her Doc too? “You’re in time.” He had the room set up with the cart and the baby-warming bassinet on the other side of the room. This wasn’t their first cub born on the Dark Wing. And after one was born on Elizabeth’s very first cruise, she had the captain get the right equipment. This would be Dark Wing’s fourth cub. The last two were crew members. Mike was positioned at the end of the bed.
“We’re moving into the ninth inning,” Mike said. “Do you want to push, Rosa?”
Elizabeth put on gloves—habit from her human medicine days. Rosa nodded, her face clenched.
* * *
Mike lay the cub on Rosa’s chest. Tad suctioned the newborn’s mouth. Elizabeth motioned for Cooper to cut the umbilical cord as the little guy let out a loud wail.
“He’s got his father’s lungs,” Rosa laughed, her hair damp with sweat. The pink cub held her little finger.
Elizabeth stepped away for a moment to text the infirmary to have Stephanie come over and help Rosa get cleaned up in half an hour. Rosa moaned as another contraction hit her.
“I’ll clean this cutie up while you birth the placenta,” Tad said.
“Okay,” Rosa huffed.
She knew that voice. That was the voice of a first-time mom who’d forgotten her work wasn’t over. Like the host who spent all day cleaning and cooking but forgot the looming mess to clean up until the guests departed. Their adrenaline dropped and they just wanted to hold their new baby—okay?
“I’ll have . . . do you have a name?”
Cooper kissed his wife’s head. “You know how I feel—you pick.”
“Ryan Michael Honeycutt.”
“Ryan.” Cooper followed Elizabeth to the warming bassinet.
“Ah, Doc . . . you might want to see this.” Elizabeth swaddled Ryan and turned to Mike and Tad. What Rosa was pushing out was not the placenta, but another head, covered in hair. How had she missed the second club?
“What’s going on? This . . . I need to push. I . . .”
“It’s another cub.”
“Another cub?”
“All right, Rosa. You’ve got this. Give us a good breath and do it just like last time,” Mike said, clearing the area at the base of the bed.
“Another cub?”
“Another cub?” Cooper repeated.
Both parents were going down the wrong path. She needed to bring them back and quickly. Little Ryan lay content in the bassinet.
The three of them rotated, with Elizabeth at the base of the bed. “You’re a pro now. You’ve got this.”
“Another cub?” Cooper repeated again.
Tad took his arm. “Help me check on Ryan.” He led him over to the baby.
Elizabeth glanced across to see that Tad had Cooper cleaning up the boy and was showing him how to put on the miniature diaper.
Elizabeth held eye contact with Rosa. “Next contraction, go ahead and push. You’re doing great.” And she did. Elizabeth caught the baby and placed it on Rosa’s chest.
Cooper was at Rosa’s side. Tad rocked Ryan.
“What’d I miss?” Stephanie stood at the door.
* * *
Elizabeth leaned against the kitchen counter and drank a second glass of water. She glanced at her watch. 6:00 a.m. That’s a morning’s worth of work.
Mike and Tad strolled in, each holding a bundle. Elizabeth peered at baby Ryan in Mike’s arms.
“Can you take him?” asked Mike. “Cooper is taking a shower while Steph cleans up Rosa. The infirmary called me. We’re fully docked in twenty minutes and the captain wants the MOB transported off first. I’m going to go help move him.”
“I should go.”
“Doc, Katie’s got it under control. She said he’s stable and awake. He’s the missing passenger from that other boat.”
Mike handed Ryan Michael to Elizabeth. “Bye, little Mike. I’ll be back to see you later.” He rubbed a giant finger under the little cub’s chin.
“Mike, you know they named him Ryan Michael?” Tad looked over Elizabeth’s shoulder at the little bundle.
“Nicknames are good for kids.”
“Exactly,” Tad laughed.
Mike waved to them
as he headed down to the infirmary. The door clicked shut.
“Did they pick a name for the girl?” Elizabeth asked.
“No. Cooper told me that his dad’s name is Ryan and her dad’s name is Michael. But we’re not supposed to tell Mike.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Elizabeth swayed absentmindedly with Ryan. She glanced over and Tad was doing the same thing with Ryan’s unnamed sister. Watching Tad hold the baby made heat pool between her legs.
He wasn’t all arrogance and narcissism like she’d pegged him during that first dinner. Yes, he was prickly. But he was also sweet. The way he held the cub. How he expertly calmed Cooper down.
Cooper swayed out of the bedroom that Mike had slept in, a towel wrapped around his neck.
“Enjoy the shower?” Tad spoke softly to not wake the babe in his arms.
“So much. May I?” Cooper gestured to the cub.
Tad smiled. He handed the girl to her father. “Any idea of a name yet?”
“Oh, I’m forbidden from naming things. One of my mother’s rules. As a child I named my cat ‘Kitty’ and my teddy bear ‘Pinkish-blueish,’ and I called my baby brother ‘Brother’ for the first five years of his life. I still have issues calling him by his name. When we had our union ceremony, my mom had Rosa promise that I wasn’t allowed to name any girl cubs ‘Honey.’ It’s cute. Honey Honeycutt.”
“Better leave it up to Rosa, then.” Tad’s laugh sent chills through Elizabeth.
“I will, but I’m still going to call her my little honey.”
Elizabeth smiled. It was a cute name.
Stephanie slipped into the kitchen. “Can I steal Ryan? Rosa needs to give them a feeding. He reminds me so much of my Joseph when he was born. All this curly brown hair. A perfect cub.”
Elizabeth and Cooper headed back into the bedroom with Stephanie. Rosa was propped up against the large headboard with pillows supporting her arms. Elizabeth helped Rosa get Ryan settled.
“Stephanie will hang out with you for a while. I’ll come check in on you later today.”
She motioned for Stephanie to join her in the doorway of the bedroom. “You’re doing okay? Not too tired? I could have another medic come up if you’re too tired.”
“Dr. Cottage, I’m fine. I haven’t had any more fainting episodes. I’ll tell you if I do, and I’ll page the infirmary if we need help.”
“I’m worried about you, not you doing your job.”
“I know. Can I give you a hug?”
Elizabeth hugged her tight. She was worried about her and Joseph, her student, too. A cure was a long way off. But she wasn’t going to give up hope and would work as hard as she could.
Elizabeth joined Tad in the main room. He sat perched on the edge of a dining room chair. Little Honey had made a mess down Tad’s scrub bottoms.
“You’re amazing.” He was at her side, his hands on either side of her head and his body bent to keep her away from his dirty scrubs. He possessed her lips, slowly at first, until her mind blurred.
“I think I’m . . .” She couldn’t say it. Changing her mind? Falling for him? Rational thought was gone.
“Me too,” he clipped out. “I’m a mess.” He held the side of her head. His stare penetrated her. Her breath hitched.
“Me too.” She wanted to consume him. It could work. Fudge, is this the pheromones taking over? She needed space to think. Elizabeth pulled away.
His hand snatched hers before she could put more distance between them. He shook his head. “I want more. I can’t walk away from you.”
“Tad, I think I do too, but I need to process it.”
“I get it.” He laughed. “Is it because I reek? Come on, Doc, let’s get out of here.” He held out his hand for hers. Her small hand nestled in his. He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, and goose bumps covered her arm.
Tad led the way into the luxurious corridor.
Captain Matthias stood in the doorway of the lobby to his own luxury suite, his shoulder filling most of it. Was he waiting for her? The scowl on his face told her that it would indeed be bad if he was. At least there wasn’t smoke coming out of his nose.
“How’s the cub?” Matthias scanned Tad and Elizabeth, his eyes landing on their locked hands.
“Cubs. And they’re perfect. Twenty toes and twenty fingers.”
“Cubs?” Matthias’s eyebrows rose. “I’ll have to send them a gift.”
“They’re enjoying the suite tremendously.” Elizabeth tugged on Tad’s hand, trying to get him to move. But the stupid male didn’t, his shoulders square.
“I’m glad. I’ll tell First Officer Laurit that his gift of my sister’s suite was welcome.”
What the heck? His sister had never visited the ship, and the suite was rented sometimes. Not always.
She glared at him.
“You smell like shit. Go clean up while I talk to your mate.” His nodded his head to dismiss Tad like one of his crew.
“I’d rather not.” Tad didn’t let go of her hand and glared at the captain.
Matthias scrutinized them both. He sighed. “It’s gotten back to me that you are going to do both your research and mine.”
Her pulse thudded. How did he find out?
“I haven’t agreed to do yours yet.” Elizabeth held her ground, even with her weariness.
“I’m not asking, Doctor Cottage. I’m telling. I need you to work on my issue. My sister has a lab working on it too. But you’re better than her people. Doesn’t mean you can’t work together. Congratulations on delivering healthy cubs.” He entered his quarters.
Elizabeth thundered away from the captain’s door, her hand still in Tad’s. She stopped in front of the elevator, her chest heaving. She had too much to process. She pushed the button to the elevator, but Tad let go of her hand and glanced at the stairwell.
“Are you taking the stairs?” she asked.
“Sure?” He leaned in and kissed her cheek.
“I . . . can we see each other at dinner time? I need time.” The elevator opened. She kissed him on the cheek and dashed inside. She pushed the door close button like a coward. Her heart thundered in her chest.
* * *
Tad pounded on the captain’s door. He refused to gulp at the captain’s stern expression.
“A word, sir.”
The dragon shifter’s arms crossed in front of his chest.
“I have a proposal.”
Smoke trailed out of the captain’s nostrils.
“No disrespect. Do you mind if we talk about it over an ale?”
21
Land in Ruins
Anna handed Elizabeth her schedule for the day, and she sank into her desk chair.
“What’s up with this?” Elizabeth turned over the practically blank piece of paper and took a sip of coffee. 8:00 a.m. and the infirmary was just opening for scheduled appointments.
“With what? That’s your schedule,” Anna said.
“How is this my schedule?” Elizabeth ran her hand over the piece of paper.
“Captain called down an hour ago. He told me you were to take the entire day off. I explained that you had patients on your books from yesterday and that you would flip if you didn’t do your follow-ups with Rosa and the cubs. He relented and said that as long as you’re off the ship by ten a.m. doing something relaxing, that would be good enough.”
“What?” Elizabeth sat with her mouth wide open.
Anna drawled, “The captain wants you to take a day off.”
“Why?”
Anna put her hand on her hip and glared. Yesterday had been a doozy, and the captain’s words rang in her head. On top of it all, she’d been counting on being busy. Now there’d be time to analyze what to do about Tad.
“It won’t be so bad. And the three cage match bears called down and said they were fine and they weren’t coming down for a checkup. I told them your standard: that if they weren’t coming down, they should hang in their cabins until at least noon befor
e leaving the ship and doing something stupid.”
Elizabeth nodded. That left only one appointment: Aurora Berry. Elizabeth spent the next few minutes going over her e-mail. Other than the horrible dream she had in the middle of the night that woke her up, everything was clearer. Even her headache had gone. But her stomach ached. Her bond was calling out for Tad. She wanted to see him, but she had told him to meet her for dinner. With the hectic schedule of the last few days, she’d forgotten about Aurora’s checkup.
She could feel him in the waiting room before she heard his voice through the closed door. Anna came and got her. Aurora sat on the edge of the exam table alone.
“Good morning, Miss Berry,” Elizabeth said, as if she was any other patient. She glanced around for Tad, but he wasn’t there.
Elizabeth smiled as she put on gloves. She examined Aurora’s leg. It appeared completely healed—normal for a shifter but not a human. Mate healing, she’d bet anything. “You’re doing extremely well. Did you have any sort of treatment last night or this morning?”
“Just a massage. It must have been a light bruise. It’s better now. I didn’t use the crutches to come to the infirmary, even.”
“I see. It really seems to be healed.”
“Healing, you mean.”
“No. I said healed. I can’t find anything wrong at all.” Elizabeth looked towards the hall. This type of healing only came from shifters and their mates. But Tad had said that Aurora wasn’t mated.
“Dr. Cottage, is there something else you would like to ask me?”
Dr. Cottage twisted a loose piece of her hair. “Yes, you aren’t a shifter, are you?”
“No, human.”
“And you don’t have a mate?”
“No. Why?”
“The only time I’ve seen healing like this in a non-shifter is mate bond healing.”
Aurora wiggled off the table and stumbled, both of her legs suddenly weak. “Oh.”
“Anna, can you please get Tad from the waiting room?” Elizabeth helped Aurora to the purple chair beside the exam table.
