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"Fuck you, Stone"

Caleb sighed and stood, hisover Noelle's bed "Don't be dumber than God made you, David You love her and if you're smart, you'll let her know before it's too late Don't walk away You'll be sorry"

That last part sounded tooDavid wonder just what had happened to Caleb over the past two years

David stood and left the roo Noelle was going to be fine and he needed to be gone before she woke up The least he could do for her was to be gone by the TSain

And he wouldn't have to say good-bye

Noelle opened her eyes to find Grant and Caleb standing over her bed "Where's David?"

Grant's jaw clenched in anger and Caleb regarded her with an even, black stare "He's leaving For good I don't knohether or not you want to stop hiot a three-one, none of us will ever be able to find hi? Why?"

"He doesn't want you to end up like Mary did," said Grant

Noelle was still groggy, but she forced her mind to clear and take stock of what she'd heard She knew David felt guilty over his wife's death and likely over what had happened to her as well She also knew that he was a total bonehead to think it was his fault "I can't let hio I love him"

"You sure about this?" asked Caleb "You need to think about what you're saying and be completely sure Don't toy with hi, as clear and ot

"Shut up! Which one of you is fastest?"

Grant sraceful leap and was out the door in a heartbeat

"Help me up, Caleb" She used her best authoritative professorial voice

"You're in no shape to be getting out of bed Let Grant bring David back here"

"You really think Grant will be able to drag him back if he doesn't want to co not to rip the IV out of her hand "Caleb, I swear that if you don't help le one of my massive brain cells to make you suffer for the rest of your life"

An adrin curved Caleb's mouth, and he started to obey He helped her stand on unsteady legs Noelle wasn't sure how she would walk, but she was going to figure out so

Caleb stripped a blanket off the bed and wrapped it around her "Asyour naked backside, I doubt he'd enjoy sharing it with others He's a little jealous when it comes to you, in case you hadn't noticed"

"Jealous enough that he's willing to leave ood-bye kiss?"

Noelle started to unhook the tube from the IV, but Caleb stopped her "You need that" He took the bag from the metal stand and handed it to her "Here, you holdthis, and I'll carry you out Seeing you in the arrin on his face told Noelle just howDavid appealed to him

He lifted her, blanket and all, and headed outside

David had al toward hi to try to stop hi, but a s had happened to Noelle He hesitated, and it was that hesitation that ended hirass in front of the hospital parking lot

Adrenaline flooded his systeth His elbow hit Grant's nose in the process and blood dripped down onto his buddy's gray T-shirt

If Grant noticed the injury, he didn't react He just ca with joy He slas as he absorbed the force of the blow

Grant and David had grappled often enough during their training for David to know that they were evenly matched

Grant was a few inches taller but had nothing on David in the weight departht, David would have a fifty-fifty chance of winning This was no norht

Grant's hand found the bullet wound in David's injured arround his teeth to keep froain," said Grant

"Stop that!" ordered Noelle imperiously

David froze at the sound of her voice and looked toward her She was cradled in Caleb's arainst her chest Her face was bruised, and he could see it was an effort for her to keep her head upright

"Get off o and stood offering David a hand up David glared at Grant and refused his hand Grant just grinned The bastard had always enjoyed fighting too ood

David's first instinct was to rush to Noelle's side, but he bit back the urge and planted his feet a good two yards away from her