Page 10

The doors to the infirmary whispered open. The walls were a soothing green and I saw medical staff in white coats bustling around. Several neat bunks lined one wall. A doctor and nurse were treating a young girl.

“What do we have here?” a female voice said.

I turned and saw a middle-aged, blonde woman headed our way. Her white coat flared around her body. Her hair was in a trim bob and she had a strong, attractive face.

“Your next victims, Doc,” Jameson said.

“You bring me the best gifts, Jameson.” She tilted her head, and Jameson pressed a kiss to her cheek. Then her blue gaze took me in before shifting to North. Her lips quirked. “This one makes the worst patient. All doctors and medics do.”

“No, I don’t,” North muttered.

The doctor hugged him.

With a sigh, he hugged her back. “Hi, Aunt Emerson.”

“Sit on the bunk. I’ll make it as quick and as painless as possible.”

“Treat Jess first.” He sat on the edge of the bunk. “She sustained significant burns to her left side and back.” He rattled off the medications he’d given her.

Bright-blue eyes focused on her. “Hello, Jess, I’m Doctor Emerson Jackson-Green. Call me Doc Emerson.”

“Jess Ramos.” I realized this was Zeke and Marc’s mother. She seemed much too small and elegant to have given birth to them.

“Jess is our newest squad member,” Jameson said.

“So I’ve heard.” Emerson cocked her head. “How are you holding up with this bunch of ruffians?”

“They’re great.” I flicked a quick glance at North.Well, most of them.

“I’ll leave them in your capable hands. See you two at Hemi’s.” Jameson paused. “Once the doc clears you.” He sent a hard look North’s way, then left.

“Okay, Jess, let’s see what you’ve done to yourself.”

I laid back as the doctor tugged my shirt up. “North treated the burns in the field, I?—”

“She needs nano-meds,” North interjected. “The burns were caused by some acidic substance from a monster.”

Emerson made a sympathetic noise, carefully peeling back the bandages North had applied.

“And he needs to get checked too.” As the doc probed my side, I controlled a wince. “I’m pretty sure he’s hurt his hip and cracked a rib.”

“I’mfine.”

Doc Emerson rolled her eyes. “My years of experience have led me to believe that it’s in the male DNA to constantly say they’re fine, even when they’re not. My husband is the worst. That man can be bleeding all over the place and still tell me he’s fine.”

I smiled.

“Men,” the doctor muttered.

“I can hear you,” North said.

Doc Emerson winked. “I know.” She probed my side again. “Oh, this does look nasty, although Dr. Connors there has done a good job. You will need nano-meds. It’ll neutralize any other nasties that might have come from the monster.”

I nodded.

“So you’re Cruz’s niece.” Emerson pulled a trolley over, then lifted a vial.

“Sort of.” I felt a tickle of nerves. Nano-meds squicked me out a little. “I think we’re actually some sort of second cousin.”