Protection

42.

Sam

"You'll need new stitches," Burkhardt mutters, wrapping my arm with new bandages. "If you keep this shit up, you'll get an infection and lose the arm."

"You cleaned it."

"How many times have you sewn up your arm, already?" I roll my eyes. We already know the answer to that, he's just being a dick. "How's your head?"

"Nothing I can't handle." I'm still a little dizzy and seeing spots in the corner of my eye, but I'm fine.

"Why didn't you fight back?" He asks suddenly, like he was holding that one in for a while. "Why did you let him get to you?"

"I couldn't fight back. Not this time." We fall silent while he finishes my arm off. "Put your feelings for her to the side-"

"I don't have feelings for her."

"Shut up. Did you ever feel the same way? Did you ever think I was using her?"

"The moment I found out about your relationship, you were covered in blood, losing pints of it by the second, in the middle of the woods, and it was freezing cold yet you were barely wearing any clothes. Despite all that, you were more worried about keeping Sidra warm."

"You knew all that yet you still kissed her," I growl impulsively. "...sorry. I'm still a little-"

"I deserve it...I just wish Sidra wasn't so forgiving."

"No, shit."

Without another word, we clean up the spare bedroom then leave. Strolling down the hall, I'm reminded that the rooms near Sidra's are vacant, almost the entire floor is empty for her. Rita wanted to give her privacy, and I'm grateful for it. Not just now, for every time Sidra and I had sex or when I slept over and we stayed in bed. We lock the door but no one is allowed to go into her room because of her mother's rules. It gave Sidra and me our time together. And if she somehow convinces Jackson to keep our secret, with the help of the lack of neighbors, no one will know about what happened this morning.

We approach Sidra's bedroom door when it abruptly swings open. Jackson steps out, spots me, and, shoving Burkhardt to the side-very similar to the time he barged into Sidra's room and found me with her on her bed-shoves me into the hall. My vision momentarily blurs but I quickly recover. Over Jackson's shoulder, I see Burkhardt regain his balance and start to charge at Jackson. I hold out my hand, stopping him.

"If you ever hurt her," Jackson growls in my face, "I'll beat you into a coma like you did you to your corporal." That was a low blow but I deserve it. I nod, my face hard. He hesitates then reluctantly steps back, releasing me. "And you!" He turns to Burkhardt. "You're a spineless bastard." Burkhardt looks at me, and I shake my head. Sidra did it, she somehow convinced Jackson to not tell on us, and there's no way I'm going to ruin that because of some threat and name-calling.

Jackson scoffs then leaves, cursing under his breath. Sidra quickly takes his place in the hall.

"Sidra," I sigh in relief and pull her in my embrace.

"Your arm," she pouts, carefully examining my bandaged arm. With her side pressed to my chest, I hold her and kiss her head. There's no point in telling her I'm fine, she saw me bleeding, she won't believe me.

"What did you tell him?" Burkhardt asks her.

"The truth...if he tells, I could never forgive him."

I frown. "I'm sorry, baby."

She shakes her head and peers up at me. "I'm tired. Can we go to sleep?"