“Open your eyes,” he whispered. Please. Because he needed to see that green gaze again. Needed to see her, without the fear in her eyes.
Slowly, her eyes opened. She stared up at him in surprised confusion. “Gun...ner? What’s happening?”
The medic was running down the hallway toward them.
He wanted to kiss her, wanted to bury his face in the soft curve of her throat.
But more than that...he wanted to find out what the hell had caused her to faint. What was wrong? He had to find out, and he had to make her better.
Because he could take torture, betrayal, any number of sins and punishments tossed against him, but he couldn’t take anything happening to Sydney.
Not. Her.
* * *
“I DON’T FAINT.” Sydney knew her words sounded angry, but she was angry.
And a little scared.
She was in the med room at the EOD. The doctor, a brunette with wire-framed glasses, was a woman whom Sydney actually considered a friend. So she figured she could just be blunt with Tina.
“I’ve been in combat zones. I’ve been shot. I’ve been under attack from all sides.” She was currently sitting on an exam table. “I have never fainted before.”
“Well, you did about twenty minutes ago.” Tina offered her a small smile. “So I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
Sydney shook her head. “That wasn’t me.” She didn’t want to be weak. With everything going on with Slade and Gunner, she couldn’t afford any weakness.
“Sure it was.” Tina lifted her clipboard. “I know you like to think you’re pretty much Superwoman, but no one can be strong 24/7.” Her eyebrows arched. “Not even you.”
Sydney sucked in a deep breath. “I feel fine now.”
“Except for that shiner on your jaw? Want to tell me how you got it?”
Slade punched me. He went crazy. He was coming to hit me again, but Gunner stopped him.
“No? Okay...” Tina drew out the word. “Then let’s start focusing on what might have made you faint.” She put down the clipboard. “Have you sustained any head injuries lately?”
The back of her head was throbbing now. “I hit my head when I...fell.”
“You mean when Slade hit you.” Crisp, without any emotion.
“If you knew, then why’d you ask?”
“Because we’re friends, and I thought you might want to talk.” Her fingers were carefully sifting through Sydney’s hair searching for the injury. “A slight concussion could explain your fainting spell.” A pause. “At least this way, I don’t have to ask if you’re pregnant.”
Pregnant.
Sydney’s heart stopped. “What?”
Tina’s fingers carefully probed the bump on the back of Sydney’s head. “Pregnant. You know, as in, with child? That’s usually the reason most women get light-headed. It happens pretty early in term.”
Sydney caught Tina’s hand and pushed those probing fingers away, even as she frantically counted up the days in her mind.
“Uh, Sydney, why are you looking like that?”
She swiped her tongue across lips that were way too dry. “Can you test me here?”
Behind the lens of her glasses, Tina’s eyes widened, but she quickly schooled her expression. “Of course.” Then she hurried away only to return with a specimen container in her hand. But before she gave it to Sydney, she asked, quietly, “Are you okay?”