Curiosity Killed Shaney(86)

Shaney gasped. He hadn’t thought...

“Are you saying I recreated myself?” He had little memory of what happened between the time he’d died and he woke up. His first clear memory was of seeing Hudson in the ambulance.

Hudson’s grip on Shaney’s hand tightened.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, and I have to admit, I’m quite freaked by the prospect. And Hudson, he was dead. From the excited chatter about the miracle man at the nurse’s station, I’m thinking you had something to do with that.”

Shaney nodded. He couldn’t comprehend just how massive the implications of bringing Hudson back to life were. He so didn’t want to focus on that now. Change of subject.

“How’s Maximus?”

“Grumpy, but he’ll be okay. Truthfully, he’s had worse injuries in the past, despite how awful he looks. This will lay him up for a couple of weeks. The rest will do us both good.” Shaney could see the emotional fragility of Caleb in his face. A rest for all of them would be good. That kicked the butterflies into a frenzy in his stomach.

Shaney licked his lips. “Todd?”

Caleb’s silence and his refusal to meet Shaney’s eyes caused him to grit his teeth against the wave of building panic. He clamped his eyes shut to the visions of that red ball of energy slamming into Todd.

“Todd is stable, for the moment.”

Shaney’s eyes popped open. “What?”

Caleb shifted uncomfortably. “He has physical injuries. Burns on his back.” Caleb finally looked up at Shaney. “I’m quite sure after the repairs that you rendered to Hudson’s heart you can easily heal that damage.”

Could he? He had no idea how he’d healed Hudson. In his fear-driven desperation, the healing had just seemed to happen. Nervousness practically vibrated from Caleb and Shaney knew there was more.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Shaney asked, rubbing at the knot forming under his sternum. God, there was always something else.

Caleb nodded, as if assuring himself he could go ahead. “He was having uncontrollable seizures. An EGG of his brain shows increased activity in portions of the brain that rarely show that type of activity. He’s been given heavy doses of antiepileptic drugs and the doctors believe the medication is responsible for decreasing the seizures.”

“The doctors believe the drugs are helping…but that’s not true, is it?” Hudson asked, as if he already knew the answer.

Shaney grimaced. “If they aren’t helping, then why have the seizures stopped?” Shaney asked then his eyes widened. “What happened to Todd? Is this because he stepped in as my Mediator when I didn’t want him to? What did you do to Todd?” Shaney’s voice rose and echoed through the room. Shaney’s chest heaved and he was close to hyperventilating. What had he done to his best friend? How many more of his loved ones would be harmed because of him? Hudson wrapped an arm around Shaney’s shoulder. It should have been comforting, but felt stifling.

“Calm down, baby. Silas did this...whatever it is.”

Caleb bit at his lower lip and Shaney wasn’t too sure. “The energy Silas hit Todd with did cause a reaction in Todd.” Caleb shook his head. “I haven’t been able to ascertain the true nature of what is happening, but, Shaney, you’re correct. Opening Todd up as your Mediator probably facilitated what is now happening with Todd.”

Shaney fisted his hands and worked to keep the anger from spilling all over Caleb, since his ire generally came with blue side effects. Several bleeps emanated from the heart monitor, to which Hudson was no longer hooked up to.

“Your energy is pushing outward,” Caleb warned. “Todd is okay. The symbol I’ve left with him has stopped the energy causing the seizures. We’ll figure out what is happening. I promise, Shaney.”

Shaney shook his arms, trying to relax his muscles. Nothing good would come from blowing up the ER.

“Is he awake? He shouldn’t be alone.” Probably scared shitless.

“He’s sleeping, and he’s not alone,” Caleb said, and quickly clamped his mouth shut, as if he’d said something he shouldn’t.

Shaney narrowed his eyes. “Who’s with him?’

Caleb exhaled noisily. “Dan is with him, but Shaney—”

Before Caleb could finish, Shaney bolted from the room, followed by Hudson. How could Caleb leave Todd alone with the asshole who’d betrayed all of them?

Out in the hall, Shaney opened every door, startling patients, until he found Todd laying on a gurney. His back, which was covered with bandages, was turned toward Shaney. A heart monitor beeped, slow and steady. Hudson placed his hand on Shaney’s shoulder. Shaney relaxed when he didn’t see Dan in the room.