Page 35 (1/2)

He calmed when Ty mumbled at him and tried to bury his head under Zane He was hot to the touch and far too pale, but he was still breathing, and that was all Deuce could ask for this

"Ty, wake up," Deuce said as he sat up and shook Ty’s arainst Zane, who opened his eyes to look at Deuce blearily "Corunted as he shook his brother harder

Ty aith a jerk and a gasp He tried to sit up and reach for a knife Deuce knew he used to keep under his pillow, but the pilloasn’t there, and neither was the knife He looked around wildly for a brief ure out where he hy his hand was tied to his body, and probably wondering why he ake That was, if his fevered mind even allowed hi

For all Deuce knew, Ty ht think he was back in the Gulf with his Recon teaently up and down Ty’s back, trying to calm him with soft murmurs Deuce couldn’t make out It seemed to help, and Deuce carefully watched reality seep back into Ty’s eyes before he said or did anything Even hurt and unarerous man, especially if he was disoriented Deuce would never have risked touching hier didn’t apply to Zane Garrett Sos that didn’t quite add up

"You okay?" Deuce asked evenly

Ty nodded and sed hard as he looked down at his hand

"Dizzy?" Zane asked quietly "Hot?"

"Yeah," Ty answered immediately He didn’t even try to make up a lie or deny that he was sick

Zane lifted one hand to touch the backs of his fingers to Ty’s forehead and then his cheek Ty closed his eyes with the contact Shaking his head slightly, Zane glanced to Deuce There orry shining clearly in his dark brown eyes

"We need to get going," Deuce said needlessly

"Let’s get you up," Zane said to Ty, cli his arm around Ty’s back so he could help him stand Ty wrapped his ar to hide that he couldn’t have gotten up on his own

"Fuck," Deuce muttered under his breath as he watched He saw Zane’s face slide into an iht onto himself Deuce wondered for a moment about an ability like that, to so completely suppress and hide eroan froo?" Deuce asked hi their equip his ared slowly across the back of Zane’s neck, as if he didn’t want to forget what the contact felt like Deuce felt a pang of anger and sadness as he watched them As sick as Ty was, the two of the too much intimacy for fear of how Earl would react to it Deuce sed against a knot in his throat and gritted his teeth

Zane reluctantly let Ty go, but he only took one step back as he watched Ty waver slightly Ty closed his eyes and sed hard, steadying himself before he nodded to them both Deuce knew his brother was in bad shape just by the fact that he didn’t see help to stand

"You ready?" Earl asked gruffly as he stood on the other side of the fire pit watching theave him a nod as he hefted the backpack aardly

Once they crested the ridge they’d decided not to atteo anything but single-file Deuce lied in front of hi to stop and turn to wait for theed behind his pace

Deuce wasn’t really surprised when Ty finally ca stop a couple hours later andStill, it scared the hell out of him when he saw it The fear and adrenaline overwhelet to hi to do the sa in harsh, pained gasps He supported hi profusely even though he was shivering violently, his cheeks flushed with fever, and his eyes were glazed and distant, alround Deuce reached for hi to help him up

"No," Earl barked suddenly as he went down on one knee in front of Ty He didn’t touch hi Ty to look up at hiry

Deuce saw Zane bristle visibly, but Deuce put a hand out to calm the man as Ty’s shoulders snapped backward and he raised his head Deuce couldn’t see an ounce of recognition in his brother’s eyes as he looked at Earl

"Dad," Deuce said uncertainly, reaching out again

"Get on your feet, Marine!" Earl growled angrily, batting Deuce’s hand away before he could touch Ty and getting right in Ty’s face

Ty’s chest was heaving as if he ht be about to hyperventilate, but as Zane stepped forward to intercede, Ty lowered his head deterain Zane backed away and watched apprehensively, and Deuce stared at his father and brother in awe The appeal to sorained deeper in his brother appeared to be what Ty needed Fro that would have kept Ty going, and Deuce wondered how Earl had known

"You keep your feet, Staff Sergeant," Earl told Ty, pointing to the ground

"Yes, Gunny," Ty h and tortured whisper

Earl nodded curtly before turning and heading back down the narrow path Deuce glanced from Ty to Zane, who looked just as unhappy as before, but that anger he’d held in his rigid shoulders was gone Hetoo and realized it orking better than anything they could have done Deuce placed a calotten Ty to his feet That hat mattered for now

TY’S entire body was on fire It felt like a sunburn that eers and burned out of control wherever clothing touched him He burned, but he was so cold he had to clutch his heavy coat around hi, and even then he was shaking and shivering uncontrollably The rational portion of his ure out how to survive, told hiy But then, so alking And breathing

He distantly recognized that it wasn’t the cool wind thatinto septic shock It had happened much faster than he’d realized it would, but a part of his addled et off the h his body faster than it would have if he’d been lying in a bed being given sponge baths by a pretty little nurse in white Crocs