Don't Break My Hart

Chapter 17

It has been three days since the blood transfusion. I feel as if I have forgotten how to function. I refuse to leave Chogan's side. He hasn't gotten better, but he also hasn't gotten worse. Azrael said he could sense the infection in Chogan, but it was off. Different from me but also different from a biter. He said it was as if the infection was all over his body yet it was dying off as fast as it was spreading. An infinite cycle.

It sounded to me like some comic book shit, but we wouldn't know the effects of what I did until after he woke up. If he woke up. I scowled to myself. Don't think like that, Hart. The shadows under his eyes seemed to have darkened, but his complexion isn't as pale as it once was. I smoothed a hand over his Mohawk and down his cheek. The door clicked open behind me.

Kaito set down a can of peaches, can of tuna, and a bottle of water next to me before making his way to check on Chogan. I leaned back to give him room, cracking the water open a taking a small sip. It made my stomach churn. I hadn't been able to eat or drink much, the stress causing me to be sick. Kaito notice my grimace and signed.

Try to eat. He had been teaching me the basics of sign language the past few days while the others went out and brought back provisions and scouted the area. They were anxious to get to the farm and go back to the base. I assumed it was mostly to confront the sergeant, but we didn't have any proof. Plus? I refused to leave Chogan.

I shook my head at him. "I still feel nauseated."

It won't do you any good if you starve yourself. He motioned towards the canned food. I gave in, knowing he wouldn't stop badgering me until I ate. I made a show of opening the can of peaches, picking one out with a fork, and plopping it into my mouth. Satisfied, he turned back to Chogan and started monitoring his vitals. There wasn't any equipment for him to use, so he felt for a pulse and counted in his head.

After wards, Kaito gently flipped Chogan onto his side and laid his head against Chogan's chest, listening to his breathing. After a few moments, Kaito laid him back down and turned to me, signing, He seems to be doing better. His breathing has evened out more. I need to change his bandages.

I didn't quite catch all of hand signs, but I used context clues and the few I did know to guess what he was saying. "I'm not leaving the room." I reminded him.

He nodded, expecting as much. If you want to stay, then eat. He gestured towards the forgotten can in my hands. I scowled and scooped up a couple more pieces of fruit and swallowed them whole. It was Kaito's turn to scowl. Eat more carefully. I don't want to take care of you too.

He lifted an eyebrow and waited. I finished off the last of the fruit and even managed to drink the sugary syrup. My stomach gurgled in protest. Kaito started leaning towards me to check on me but I waved him off. "I'm fine. I'm fine. Just finish with Chogan please."

Kaito was quick and efficient with his work, stripping the old bandages on his thigh and abdomen and changing them out for new ones. I caught glimpse occasionally, swallowing my bile back down at the open wounds, but Kaito had reassured me numerous times they were healing and not infected. Chogan had not adopted my healing abilities like I had hoped he would, but he seemed to be able to stave off infection that should have killed him by now. On the second day, Rowan, Kaito, and Finn had gone out in search of medical supplies. They had raided a small gas station and managed to find some peroxide, Neosporin, and over-the-counter pain meds.

Despite the way Azrael had reacted towards me after we had sex, he had gone back to his cool and calm demeanor. If I wasn't so preoccupied with Chogan, I would be trying to figure out what had happened between us, but I didn't really have the time for that. Not while Chogan's life was uncertain. Kaito finished up and replaced the blanket to cover the damaged man. He sat in a chair next to mine.