Author's Note –
Greetings everyone! I hope you enjoy this next chapter after the cliffhanger I left off with. If you have been following along with the Marcus of Duros series you'll know what I'm talking about.
If you have not read any of the previous six chapters I would recommend going back and reading them before reading this one. Since we are so far into the series there will definitely be some confusion and spoilers if you start the series with chapter seven.
As always, I appreciate the support and advice that comes in the form of votes, comments, emails, and suggestions. They are invaluable when I'm writing, and I try to keep each piece of feedback in mind throughout the process.
Happy reading,
Hawkeye
******
Marcus woke with a start as the moist ocean breeze brushed his cheek. Looking over to the window he saw that it had been thrown open; the curtains fluttering in the wind.
Looking down he saw the soft sheets his bed. He didn't remember how he had gotten there, but someone had dressed him in soft cotton pajamas, something he certainly would not have dressed himself in. Pulling himself up from where he had been reclined against the headboard by a small mountain of pillows, he gasped in pain.
Looking down at his chest he could feel an uncomfortable tightness. Pulling his arm out from under the covers he unbuttoned the top of his shirt, revealing two ugly wounds stitched together neatly with sutures.
With a jolt all of the events of the previous day came back to him; walking to the War College with the other commanders, stepping into the ring, the horrific pain of a sword biting into his flesh...
Reaching a hand up, he felt his right eye in a panic. He remembered being hit there and not being able to see afterwards. Right now he thought he could see fine, but was his mind playing tricks on him? Were they unable to save his eye? With relief he found his eye intact, a line of stitches cutting through his eyebrow and passing over his eye socket and beginning again at his cheekbone and terminating around mid-cheek.
Finished with his self examination, Marcus fell back against his pillows from his sitting position. Laying quietly, he considering his situation. Suddenly, he realized that Chloe was not in the bed with him.
Where is she?! What am I going to tell her?
Thoughts flew unrestrained through his mind until he was able to calm himself and focus on the situation at hand.
Chloe isn't here. First I need to know where she is, then I can explain everything to her. Wait... why am I alone? Evidently the infirmary stitched me up, but if it were someone else I would have stayed with them until they woke up...
His question was answered in the form of Valentina who came walking through the bedroom door.
"Well, good morning, Marcus." Valentina said with relief. "Just when we thought you were never going to wake up..."
Marcus managed nothing more than a grunt; his mouth was dry, and his lips were cracked. His voice caught in his throat as he tried to greet her. Shrugging apologetically at her, he raised his eyebrows significantly, wincing as the motion strained the stitches in his split eyebrow. Clucking at him as a mother would, she moved over to the dresser where a pitcher of water stood. Pouring a splash into the glass that stood on the nightstand next to him she leaned over and helped him sit up again.
"I imagine your fairly thirsty, Marcus, but the physicians said not to drink too much when you woke up, just enough to keep you wet. All those days on a liquid diet made your stomach weak; drink too much and you'll throw it back up."
"What do you mean 'all those days,' Valentina? And where's Chloe?" Marcus asked, his throat no longer bone-dry.
"I am referring to the ten days you've been in and out of consciousness. The execution was on the 19th, today's the 29th."
Marcus inhaled in surprise and choked on the water he had been sipping.
"What do you mean ten days? I couldn't possibly have slept for so long!"
"Yes, you could have, and did. But not exactly. You woke up every two days or so, just long enough for us to get you to choke down some protein concoction the physician prepared and spout gibberish for a couple of minutes before falling asleep again. The physician said it was because you had lost so much blood. It was a lot, but according the Infirmary administration it wasn't worth compromising the stock at the blood bank in the infirmary. You're a very rare blood type, did you know that?"
"Yes I did..." Marcus said, absentmindedly.
He was turning this new information over in his mind.
Ten days? That's a very long time, no wonder I'm so hungry. Wait, Valentina didn't say anything about Chloe.
"Valentina, where is Chloe? I want to see her, I have to explain-"
"You'll see her soon enough."
"Well then, where is she?"
"She's at our house with Anastasi and the children. She was here for six days straight. Hardly slept at all; she worried herself sick running around the house, pestering the physicians about when you would wake up. The others and I had been coming over during the day to help, but Chloe finally wore herself to a frazzle and nearly passed out herself. Anastasi took her to our house a couple days ago to get some sleep and play with the kids. She needed some distraction; she couldn't possibly relax here with you being delirious whenever you woke up. She was so tired she managed to convince herself you would be like that permanently."
"Oh..." Marcus said quietly, saddened by the amount of hardship he had caused Chloe.
"Wasn't
all
your fault, Marcus. Don't go beating yourself up about it. She was just worried that's all. Dorthea, Sophia and I were worried too, of course, but we've seen you idiots get cut up before, so we were better off. It's just that she's new to this and she hasn't seen it before. She sure got a crash-course these last few days though." Valentina chucked to herself darkly.
"When will she come back? What if I pass out again?"
"You won't. Your physician said that once you woke up and started making sense you wouldn't lose consciousness again. He said to come get him at the infirmary and he would come by to check on you, then we can start feeding you real food if he says so. Your men have been extremely supportive as well, especially Lieutenant Paxton. He insisted that there be two legionnaires posted outside the door at all times. I think it was more a gesture of support than anything, since you obviously aren't in any danger. They've been going to fetch groceries and running messages for us while you've been sick. Hold on a minute."
Chloe hurried out quickly, returning in a few seconds with a fresh pitcher of water.
"What have my captains been doing?" Marcus asked. Clearly their wives had been tending to his needs, but she hadn't mentioned them at all.
"Well, Jarrod has been very busy filling your shoes since there is a lot of business at the Barracks to see too, what with the battalion going on campaign in a few weeks. Anastasi has been helping us here from time to time, but mostly he's been with the kids at home. Krieger has been seeing to the campaign logistics, and helping Jarrod at the barracks. And Philips has been talking to the physicians and the Infirmary about your care. Oh, and I sent the two boys at the door to go get the physicians and Chloe, so they'll be here before too long."
"Did I miss anything important while I was asleep?"
