Episode 69

“Connor, wake up.  Wake up.”

Connor groaned.  He didn't want to move.

There was a bright light in his eyes, defying his plea to be left alone to sleep.  It wasn't working.  As he opened his eyes, he vaguely remembered being brought into a room and waking several times, though he did not remember falling asleep. 

“Can you sit up?”  He looked to see Gail standing with a concerned face beside his bed.

“I think so…”  With a grunt, he pushed himself into a sitting position and leaned against the headboard of the bed.  He blinked in the light.

Gail looked around at the room.  “I don’t know where we are, but there are people helping us, somehow.”

“Mm.”  His mouth felt like sandpaper.  “Can I have some water?”

“Right here.”  She handed him a glass of water.

It tasted like it had been sitting for a long time, but it was good for him, so he forced it down.  After a few gulps, he felt his side.  It was then he saw his shirt hanging over the back of a chair on the other side of the room, bloodstained and tattered.  “Did someone bandage this?”

With a nod, she took his glass.  “I fell asleep for a while, but when I woke you’d been bandaged up and stuff.”

“Hm.”

“They gave me my own room, next to here,” Gail added.  “How is it feeling?”

“I feel great, really.”  Connor scratched his head.

“You think you can stand?”

“Well……maybe not that great.”  Connor yawned, rolled his shoulders and bent his knees.  “I’ll try, though.”   Swinging his legs over the side of the bed slowly, he grimaced at the pain of supporting himself.  Nevertheless, he stood slowly, swaying slightly.

“Let me help you,” Gail murmured, taking his arm.

He nodded, straightening.  He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

“I don’t think you’re ready to walk yet…”

“No, I’m good.”

“Well…”

Taking a few steps, Connor reached for his shirt and walked to the door, gripping the handle to steady himself before opening it.  Stepping into the hallway beyond, he turned to Gail. “Time to leave.”