26.

                                    

                                          
Sidra
                          
"Well, it's official morning," Burkhardt groans, rising from his seat. "You've been here all night." He moves towards Sam who's sleeping peacefully in his hospital bed. "Yeah, he needs to shave."
                          
"Shut up," I grab a pillow from the seat next to me and toss it at him. He chuckles softly then crosses the room to the window. He's been in a lighter mood with me since he found us in the woods. 
                          
********
"You really care about him, huh?" He asked me while the guards carefully carried Sam away. I wanted to stay with him but Burkhardt had held me back. I almost didn't hear him over my heart pounding in my ears. I wanted so badly to be with Sam. 
                          
"I-I-I-I care about all of you," I said. 
                          
When there was a safe distance between Sam and me, Burkhardt released me and removed his coat. "That's not what I mean, Sidra," he said, grabbing my arm and sliding it into his coat. 
                          
I looked at him. "It's not-"
                          
"Save it."
                          
"He's hurt!"
                          
"And you're crying out your eyes. You were so worried about him being taken away from you that you didn't notice him speaking to me."
                          
My breathing was heavy. "What did he say?"
                          
"He told me to cover you up-" he yanked the zipper to his coat that I was suddenly wearing up "-that is the first thing he said to me."
                          
"What else is he supposed to say?"
                          
"Sidra," he gave me a duh look. "Just stop. Sam's not a real bodyguard, he hasn't done this before. He doesn't know how to put his feelings to the side."
                          
"Please, don't tell anyone," I begged. "Please, don't do that to him!" 
                          
"Listen to yourself. How the hell have you two been getting away with this for so long?" 
                          
"It hasn't been...please, Burkhardt."
                          
"I'm not going to tell anyone. You don't have to worry about me."
********
                          
"You should get some sleep," Burkhardt says in a kind tone. "You've been up all night. The doctors said he'll be out for another few hours."
                          
"Can your lower your voice? There are guards in the hall."
                          
"They can't hear us. Sidra," he moves to my side, "I can drive you back to the cabin-"
                          
"I'm not leaving him."
                          
He sighs. "Fine. I'll be back." 
                          
He leaves the room. I've been up all night and I'm tired, but every time I shut my eyes, I see Sam waking up alone. I don't want that. I'm right here and I can handle a few more hours. A few minutes later, Burkhardt returns with a cot. 
                          
"Here. Sleep," he orders. 
                          
"I'm not tired," I lie. 
                          
"Oh, yeah? Why don't you give that bullshit to the bags under your eyes? Now go to sleep." I get up and gently sit on the edge of Sam's bed. "Sidra, when David comes back and sees you like this, he's going to rip me a new one. Please at least sleep for an hour-I'll set an alarm."
                          
"Fine," I groan. "But only because David will say something."
                          
"Thank you!"
                          
I brush Sam's hair to the side then carefully place a kiss on his forehead. It's his right arm and right ankle that are wrapped up. I was expecting a cast for his arm because I swore he had broken it, but the doctor said only a sling was necessary because he's only healing from open wounds. He got like nearly four dozen stitches too, I think more. But most of the damage is in his arm, his ankle needed no stitches. They're going to test him for crutches when he wakes up but they're positive he doesn't need them.