Laurann Dohner - Moon (Laurann Dohner)

“Understandable.”

Joy glanced at the phone on the table, debating if she should ask the officer to hand it to her. She should call her family and tell them she was in the hospital. I’ll have to explain about Moon. She discarded the idea. It was best if she waited to see if they even had a future before she involved them in her personal life. It would only hurt their feelings that she’d kept him a secret for so long. It had been to protect Moon’s privacy but they wouldn’t understand.

“Do you want some juice?”

She forced a smile. “I’d love some. Thank you.”

She stared at the door while she pondered what was going on out there. Had Moon left Homeland without permission? She dismissed it. There wasn’t any way to get over those thirty-foot walls without someone knowing about it. The 466 she’d known would have enjoyed the defiance of the act. It had been almost a game to him to lose the guards and explore wherever he wasn’t allowed at site four. As much as she wished time could stop so they could step right back into the past, things had changed a lot and so had he.

She’d said “I love you” to Moon. The words had slipped out when she realized she might never get the chance to tell him if things went wrong. It had suddenly been important that he know how she felt. His reaction had been one she’d never forget. He’d taken a step back. It had been a very slight motion but she hadn’t missed it.

She closed her eyes. Slow things down. Don’t rush him. I never stopped loving him but he’s probably tried really hard to forget about me.

Moon knew he was in deep shit when Tim Oberto stomped down the hallway with six team members in full riot gear in formation behind him. The male didn’t hide his annoyance. “Moon.”

“Hello, Tim.”

He caught Trey’s eye. The male didn’t show any signs of his normal humor. His lips pulled into a grim line as he stared at the task force leader’s back.

“Where is Harley?” Moon was pretty sure he’d asked for him though the details were a little vague since he’d been so stressed at the time.

“He’s been ordered to stay inside the helicopter, out of sight. We didn’t want to draw any more attention than necessary. There are four news crews camped out down in reception.” Tim’s tone implied his disgust.

Moon muffled a groan.

“Let’s move out before it gets any worse. Every minute on the ground will bring more of them. You’re to go straight to Justice’s office when we land.” Tim jerked his head to indicate Moon should walk first. “That way.”

“I’m not leaving without Joy.”

Tim’s features reddened and his voice lowered as he glanced around to make sure they couldn’t be overheard. “Your orders are to immediately return to Homeland.”

Moon growled and took a step back. He’d fight anyone who attempted to prevent him from returning to her room, if they dared. “Not without Joy.”

Trey stepped up next to Tim. “We don’t want to leave Dr. Yards here. The reporters will be all over her if we do. They’ll try to sneak past security and you know they are way more lax about that stuff than we are. Hell, all they have to do is put on a pair of jeans with a T-shirt, stop at the gift shop to grab flowers and a teddy bear, and they could walk right into her room before anyone is aware.”

“She’s not my problem. He is.” Tim pointed at Moon.

Trey sighed. “Think, Tim. I know we’re all grouchy after being pulled out of bed to fly here. She’s important enough to Moon that he left Homeland to come all this way to see her. She’s also hurt. How do you think he’s going to react when he sees her on the news tomorrow, lying in a hospital bed with a camera shoved in her face? Do you really believe he won’t find another way off Homeland to get to her?”

“Fuck.” Tim gave in. “Fine. Grab her and let’s go. I mean that—grab her now. I’m not sticking around for them to do paperwork to release her into our care. We’re off the ground in four minutes. No excuses.”

Moon spun around and rushed down the hallway. Heavy footsteps followed him into Joy’s room. He eyed the stuff hooked to her and began jerking off the clip on her finger that tracked her oxygen level and the wires from her chest that monitored her heart rate. The machines protested loudly. Trey was there to push buttons to silence them.

“I have some experience at this,” he explained when Moon glanced at him.

“What are you doing?” John didn’t attempt to stop them.

Moon paused to study the human. “We’re leaving. She’s coming with me. She’ll be safer at Homeland.”

The officer turned and grabbed a bag of fluid that was hooked to Joy’s arm. “Don’t pull out her IV. Take this. Keep it elevated.”

“Thank you for everything, John. I deeply appreciate it.”

“No problem. I was glad to finally get to meet a New Species.”

Joy lifted her arms when Moon shoved down one side of the bedrail so he could scoop her up. It warmed his heart that she didn’t argue. The bedding came with her since he didn’t want her to be cold. Her good arm wrapped behind his neck and she cradled the injured one against her stomach.

“I wish I’d been able to get clothes,” she mumbled. “Now I’ve lost my only good outfit because I bled all over it and my car is at my condo. I don’t even have my purse or keys.”

Trey accepted the bag of saline from John. “We have a few men at your place already, Dr. Yards. Tell me what you want and I’ll have them grab it before leaving the scene.”

“Why are they there?” Moon frowned, not enjoying the idea of team members trampling through her personal quarters.

“To clean up the mess and make sure they deal with any issues that have arisen. They are answering questions from the police and handling the press.”

“Call me Joy.” She flashed Trey a grin that sent a flurry of jealousy through Moon. “I’d love it if they could get my purse and both suitcases in my room. I have a travel case under the counter in my bathroom too. It’s blue. They can’t miss it.” She turned her head, peering at Moon. “Am I too heavy? I could walk.”

He growled, stalking around the hospital bed with her in his arms. Did she really expect him to put her on her feet after she’d been so hurt? It was irritating and insulting. Trey had to scramble to stay within a close distance since the bag in his hand was hooked to Joy.

“I can’t wait for the drugs to leave your system.”

Her smile faded and she tucked her chin. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m in a bad mood,” he admitted. He hadn’t even gotten the satisfaction of killing the bastard who’d shot her. She was too soft-hearted. “You handle stressful situations in a way that I find difficult to understand.”

“I’m feeling really good.” She looked at his mouth. “I bet I could think of something to do that would cheer you up.” She used the hand resting on the curve of his shoulder to knead the muscles there. “Mr. Grumpy needs to relax and find his sense of humor.”

Trey laughed. “Morphine?”

“I don’t know what they gave her. She’s very happy.”

“Enjoy it,” Trey laughed. “It beats the alternative.”

It was a reminder to Moon that Joy could have died. The two of them were going to have a long talk once the pain medication left her system. She never should have taken a bullet meant for him. He could withstand more damage to his body and heal faster than she could.

Trey glanced over at him as they hurried down the hallway side by side. “I meant she could be bitchy or worse, whining from the pain. I didn’t mean, hell…you know. I saw all the blood at her place. I bet it was scarier than shit before the medics arrived.”