Chapter 37 A Later Time

Sebastian felt his heart rate increase in anticipation. He was sure he had seen the movement. She was waking, slowly but it was happening.

Even after kissing her hand he stood there holding on. It was so hard to believe how strong the mate bond felt. They hadn't even completed the mating but it didn't matter. The bond felt solid as if it had decided for them. To his knowledge that had never happened. He would choose her if given her permission to complete the bond. Maybe she could come to love him someday. For now he would be her friend if that is all she would allow.

"I heard she shows signs of waking." Steven said entering the room.

"Sebastian saw hand movement. There's been nothing since." Natasha said.

Steven pulled a penlight from his pocket. He leaned over, placed the chart on the bed, held open Sara's right eye and shined the light in. He moved it left, right up and then down. "Good pupil reaction." he walked to her feet and pulled up the cover. He ran the tip of his finger over the soul of her right foot then did it again in the opposite direction.

Stop it. Sara demanded over a mind link when he had repeated the action. Everyone froze.

"Did you hear that?" Natasha demanded. "I didn't open the link, Steven, I didn't."

"It may be her gift." Sebastian found himself whispering. But he was only half listening to Steven or Natasha. He wanted to talk to his mate.

Sara, Can you hear me? He asked. Mate, Mate speak. Taron ordered anxious for mental contact with his mate. She didn't respond to either of their pleas.

"I can't reach her over the link." He finally told the others.

"If you're right and it's her gift It could have been a purely instinctive response to stimuli. Either way it is a good sign." Steven said and reached down to stroke her foot again. There was no response this time. Steven shook his head. "Don't be disappointed, Seb. She's coming around and the fact that she instinctively reached out with her gift is good." he sounded like he had already decided that the incident had been Sara's gift at work. "It's one step closer. If I had to guess I'd say she'll be awake before nightfall or soon after." He said and picked up the chart on the foot of the bed. He moved up to the head of the bed. He adjusted Sara's IV medication and the machine beeped in acknowledgment.

Hours later Sebastian sat slumped in the chair he had pulled close to the bed.  He had fallen asleep holding Sara's.

"Sebastian?"

He pulled himself from sleep. His first thought was Sara and he looked over at her.

"Steven said you refused to leave. I brought you some dinner." Gina Lutes, Sara's boss, said standing at the foot of the bed. She held a large brown paper bag in one arm and a large bottle of water in the other. . "They are only letting me drop this off for you. I can't stay." she said. Though she was speaking to Sebastian her sad eyes were on Sara. He watched as she swallowed. "I cant believe this happened." She held out the bag as Sebastian stood.

"You're not the only one. Alpha and Luna are choleric. Her wolf is crazy. She tried to ignore an alpha order. It took a combined alpha/luna order to maker her release Sara." he took the bag and water.

"So it wasn't Karen's fault?"

"It was. She's just as crazy as her wolf-" he shook his head, "No, she actually feels remorse. Her wolf doesn't."

"What are they going to do with her?"

"They want to wait and have Sara's input."

"And you, what do you want?" Gina asked in a soft voice.

He pressed his lips together and shook his head.

"I'm sorry Gina," a nurse said behind Gina as she entered the room. "You have to leave now."

Gina turned and gave the woman a smile. "Sorry" She turned back to Sebastian. "If either of you need me just call. Let me know when she wakes up. Ben told me to tell you that he watered the plants in her apartment and put her mail on her table. He put your mail on the counter under your microwave. He didn't want to mind link you while you spent time here with her."

Sebastian nodded. "Tell him thank you for me. If we're lucky we wont be here much longer"

"Gina?" The nurse insisted.

"Eat, Sebastian. You'll be pleased with the food I'm sure." she gave him a smile and left. Sebastian watched her go and then turned to the nurse.

"You could have let her stay a little longer. She's Sara's friend, too, not just her boss."

"Not my call, Seb. The Luna doesn't want anyone here until Miss. Allen okays it." she gave a small shrug. "I agree with her actually."

"Hearing friendly voices may help her."

"But until she wakes up we don't know." She turned around and exited the room.

Sebastian sat back down on the chair with the bag and water. He had smelled the food as soon as he had woken up. Now his hunger made itself know as his stomach rumbled.

Inside the bag he found three flip top Styrofoam containers. With a little work and the aid of a patient tray table he was able to sat the containers side by side. He knew the food came from the dinner because of the logo on the containers. Someone had even added silverware and napkins to the bottom of the bag.

The first smelled sweet, the second and the third smelled savory. He opened the third to reveal lamb tips in a thick gravy over rice, buttery Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes with a bit of gravy over the top.

His hunger, Taron mostly, demanded he eat the meat first. The lamb was so good it almost melted in his mouth. When he took his fifth bite he opened the water and then took a drink.

As he sat the bottle on the tray table he saw Sara's hand lift off the bed. If the tray table hadn't been on wheels everything would have crashed to the floor. He made it to the bedside in enough time to gently grab Sara's hand before she touched the bandages over her face.

Steven, she's wake. He yelled barely giving the man time to open the link. "Sara, hold on, babe. I don't think you should touch the bandages." He caressed her fingers with both of his hands.

Only one of her eyes remained uncovered by bandages. "Lights too bright." She whispered.

He told her he would fix it and crossed the room, flipped the main switch and returned to her side. He felt a push on his mind but didn't open the link. "Okay, Sara. Try again." He watched in fascination as her eye opened. She blinked a few times and he smiled when she focused on his face.

"Hey Stranger." He said his voice light. "How are you feeling?" he asked. He kept his own anxiety well hidden.

She tried to smile but the bandages made it difficult. "Like I was mauled by a wolf." She tried to joke. His smile disappeared. "Seb-ast-ian." She found the more she spoke the harder it became.

"Miss. Allen." Stevens voice boomed as he entered. "I'm glad you could finally join us." he said as he moved to stand by Sebastian.

"Face-tight." she struggled to tell him.

She watched as he nodded. She lifted her hand to scratch an itch on her cheek. Before she made contact Sebastian took her hand in his.

"Thank you, Sebastian." Steven said. "Sara, Here are the rules. No touching the bandages. No scratching, rubbing, itching. You don't get the bandages wet or dirty. You don't take wolf form until the bandages are off and the sterile strips as well. You heal faster then a human but slower then many Lycans. If you continue to heal at the rate you are going you'll be free to shift in about five days. Your bandages need to be changed twice a day. You can have it done here or at your apartment. Any questions?" The last he directed at both of them.

"Scars bad?" She asked not having the energy to form complete sentences.

"No. You will have scars but with your healing rate they wont be very bad. If you decide you cant handle the scars then you can have plastic surgery to reduce them farther." he looked at them questioningly.

"See her?" She asked.

"Who?"

"The wolf." She said. As soon as the words left her lips Sebastian growled.

Steven looked at him and back at her a few times. "I think this should be something left to discuss at a later time."

"Hungry." She said. She really did feel famished. It had been days since she had eaten anything. She could smell food and her mouth watered. Both Sebastian and Steven were now smiling.

"I have something I think you'll love, Sara." Sebastian said turning away from the bed.