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"Well, let’s get to it then," Maren declared "I’ll exao from there"

Donovan made no move to reclaih she’d protest until Donovan put his hand to her cheek

"I need you to let Swanny carry you, honey I need to help your sister Is that okay?"

Eve would have spoken up but as if sensing she’d do just that, Donovan silenced her with a look

"’Kay," Ca her thuood care of you," Swanny said in a grave tone

Caainst Swanny’s chest Tears stung Eve’s eyes They were all sonice So very gentle and understanding with all of the out of their way for co such a personal stake in their well-being It flabbergasted Eve and rendered her unable to coenerosity and kindness

"Steele, can you help Joe with Travis?" Donovan asked as he bent over the couch where Eve sat "He’s in a lot of pain and it would help if he doesn’t further aggravate his injuries"

Handing the baby over to Maren, Steele moved to Travis’s other side and he and Joe helped Travis to his feet

"Lean on ht"

Then Donovan turned his focus back to Eve He extended his hand down but at the saently eased her forward until she was on the edge of the couch

"I’m really okay," she said quietly "My head hurts and I’m sure I have bruises in places I don’t even know about yet, but nothing feels broken or too badly hurt"

"You’re in shock," Donovan said bluntly "I’d beit yet But when the reaction sets in, you’re going to know it Now let ue"

She conceded his point and allowed hi ar her firood To lean on thisheld up by an i could hurt her That Donovan wouldn’t allow it It was a crazy assu differently She--they all--needed a moment where they felt safe and secure

TheyCammie Travis, with the help of Joe and Steele, filed out after Swanny, and Maren, holding the baby, walked on Eve’s other side, hovering as if worried Eve would face-plant Did she look that bad? She didn’t feel so terrible But ht When the adrenaline di for htened her lips, determined that no matter what happened she’d reh without her adding to their worries And the truth was, she was farslowly, each stepa fever and it was doubtful a night in the rain helped matters any

"Will Travis be okay?" Eve whispered as Steele and Joe helped hi to Maren and Steele

"He’ll be fine, Eve I’m more worried about you at the moment You’ll see that we have practically a damn mini hospital here on the compound Sam, my oldest brother, outfitted it fro Maren could possibly need to treat our teaet hurt so often?"

Donovan carefully put her into the front seat of his truck while Swanny cliot in with Travis, and Maren and Steele cli two vehicles to the infirmary

It wasn’t until Donovan slid behind the wheel that he answered Eve’s question He regarded her with a serious expression as he cranked the ignition

"I told you e do I realize you don’t fully comprehend the scope of what it is I do--that we all do--here, but our job is to help people who need it To protect people It’s a dangerous job and yes, we incur injuries from time to time Maren used to have a rural practice in Costa Rica Before that, she worked in Africa We used her whenever ere in close proxi here with Steele, we’ve taken her on as our doctor in addition to the patients she sees in the private sector"

"Have you ever been seriously injured?" she asked in an anxious tone Granted, she didn’t know Donovan, but the thought of hi hurt bothered her It bothered her a lot

He grinned "Nothing too serious All of us have suffered a bullet wound or two Nothing that has ever takentiunshot wounds Took them out of action for a bit and laid them up They weren’t too happy about it either"

She shuddered "How can you be so nonchalant about it? You ged "Like I said Hazard of the job We’re all very aware of the risks we take e go on a mission If eren’t prepared for that possibility, then ouldn’t be doing our jobs very well"

"Not er," she murmured

"We do," he said simply

They drove across the compound back in the direction they’d co Eve had noticed on their way in The one with no s that rese, concrete block What she hadn’t seen at the tiht behind it This one had s in the front Was this the infirmary Donovan had mentioned?