Trouble

FIFTEEN

FIFTEEN

I woke up to the sound of laughter coming from outside. It took me a minute to remember where I was. I couldn't see Emily anymore, but I knew she was close. I still missed her, but I didn't hurt as badly anymore.

I stood up and made myself as presentable as I could. I got a look at my reflection and cringed. Yesterday, my shirt had been white. Nearly every inch of it was red now. My body had healed a bit. I wasn't sure if that was because I'd died and needed to be healed to be resurrected or what, but I wasn't in nearly as much pain as I'd expected to be. Still, there was enough pain to make it a little hard to move around. My hair was beyond a mess and blood had crusted into it. It was no wonder Shane had seemed so freaked out when he saw me.

I decided the first thing I needed to do was take a shower, and since the guestroom had a bathroom, this wasn't a hard task. I took my ruined shirt off and saw the bruises that had formed across my chest and stomach. Khoya had really done a number on me, and since most of those injuries hadn't been life-threatening and I suspected Drew wasn't really a healer, they were still there.

No wonder Storm told me I looked like shit, I thought. My pants weren't as bad as my shirt, although some of my blood had fallen onto them from my chest and head. My legs were relatively unharmed. I finished undressing and got into the shower. It hurt. The water turned red as I washed the blood off of myself. I stayed in there for as long as I could stand the pain, then got out and dried myself off. I was clean. It was progress.

I dressed the lower half of my body, but there was no way I was putting that bloody shirt back on. I'm a wrestler. That was more than enough clothing for me anyway.

When I walked outside, someone whistled. "Looking good, Hutter," Sellie said as she spotted me. She was downing a Vegas Fuel, because just like me, that's how Sellie rolls. I suspected it was her fourth or fifth. She looked much more like herself today, with her trademark pigtails and a Captain America t-shirt. Best of all, she was smiling. This was the Sellie I knew. This was the woman who'd risked her career and life to try to do the right thing.

I hugged her. "Thanks, Sel," I said.

Abigail ran into my arms. I realized she'd been sitting with Drew and James. I hugged her as Drew said, "I came ta check on ya. How are ya feeling?"

"I'm okay," I reassured him. I could hear his thoughts again. He'd never had to bring someone back from the dead before.

"Thank God," James said. I could tell he hadn't slept.

Shane walked into the living room with the last person I expected. "Michael!" Dixie cried out. She ran to me and pulled both me and Abigail into her arms. "I came as soon as I heard."

"Did you just drive here from Nashville?" I asked in shock.

"Of course not. I took the jet. Oh, sweet God, Michael, are you alright?"

"Thanks to Drew. How did you guys get to me anyway? Not all of you were close by, and no one knew where I was."

Drew smiled at me sadly. "She told us, lad," he said.

"Who did?"

"Emily. She appeared to Jeff, Matt, and I and begged us to save ya. Somehow, she opened up a portal. She got us to ya, and the others were right behind us."

I was stunned. I held Abigail tighter. "Even though she's gone, she's still got my back..." I smiled sadly.

"You can't leave me, Michael," Abigail told me. "Okay?"

I looked at Sellie. She nodded and motioned toward a bunch of paperwork. "I'm not going anywhere, Creature. I never have to leave you again."

Abigail seemed satisfied by this. She released me, and Dixie resumed hugging me. Abigail walked over to Sellie.

"Permission to hug?" Sellie asked her.

"Granted," Abigail said after some consideration. She hugged Sellie back as she said, "Thank you for helping us. I know you weren't supposed to."

"It was the right thing to do. You're going where you belong now." Sellie turned to Shane. "You did a good thing today, Shane. I know this is hard for you. I'm very proud of you."

He nodded. "I know. I just want to do right by her," he said.

Abigail surprised me then. She walked over to Shane and gave him a very quick hug and a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Shane. Maybe you aren't so bad," she said.

He looked like he might cry. "Would you mind if I still see you once in a while?" He asked.

Abigail looked at me. I nodded. "Okay," she said. "Just keep your evil sister away when you do."

He smiled at her sadly. "I promise."

"Now go get Michael a shirt before he gets cold."

I laughed. Shane nodded and went to go find me one. That was when Dixie really looked at me for the first time.

"You could have died, Michael," Dixie said as she took in my wounds.

"Technically, I did," I admitted.

Dixie looked horrified. "Oh my Lord... Sweet Jesus, I almost lost you..." She looked at me sternly, as only a family member can, and said, "Do not ever... ever do anything that stupid and suicidal again, Michael! You have a family, and we have your back in any fight. You call us, do you hear me?"

"Yes, Aunt D," I replied.

As Shane returned with a shirt for me, even he was laughing at that. Dixie just pulled me closer to her. I let her, relaxing in her arms. I hadn't realized how shaky I still was, but I felt better now. As Dixie held me, my body finally registered that it was over, and we were all safe.

Of course, it wasn't really over. The battle between good and evil never ends. But we'd won this battle. We'd faced off against the leader of Team Baddie and we were still standing. Now, there was one issue left unresolved.

I will find you, Carlos. I swear it with everything I have, I thought. I'm going to save you. After all, I had made a promise.