Just the thought of spreading infection made his heart beat faster in fear. He couldn’t help remembering that an infection had killed his mother. He had to push those old memories ruthlessly aside to keep his hands steady for Chloe.
When his hands were empty again, he made his way slowly back to the stream, where he removed one of the strips of cloth from his splint and soaked it in the cold water. And then, setting his teeth against the pain, he returned to her.
She was trying to rouse herself, having worked her way up to one elbow. Donovan pressed a hand gently against her shoulder. “Lie back down. You’ll get dizzy again.”
“I can walk.”
“Chloe. Lie down.” He laid the cool fabric against her face when she reluctantly complied. “It’s still very early. We’ve got time for you to recuperate awhile before we start moving again.”
She closed her eyes, looking suddenly frail and vulnerable. But her chin was firm when she murmured, “I’m not giving up.”
An odd pang shot through his chest. His reply was gruff. “I know you aren’t. You never give up, do you, General?”
She didn’t smile at the nickname as she had the last time he’d teased her with it. Instead, she whispered, “Sometimes I do.”
He stroked the cloth against her fever-reddened cheeks. “Not this time.”
“No. Not this time.” Drawing a deep breath, she opened her eyes again. “I’m sorry. I keep holding us up.”
“Hey, I’m the one with the gimpy leg, remember? I’m hardly moving at top speed these days.”
She tried to laugh, a rather pathetic attempt. “We’re both in pretty sorry shape, aren’t we?”
“I won’t give up if you won’t.”
She reached up to push the cool cloth away from her face. “Then let’s get moving, shall we?”
He tried to talk her into resting a little longer, but she was determined to prove that she could keep walking if he could. She swayed just a bit when he helped her to her feet, but she quickly steadied herself, spreading her feet and squaring her shoulders as she pushed her hair out of her face and started walking.
He followed close at her heels, ready to catch her if she staggered again.
Damn, but it was getting harder every minute to keep himself from falling for her. It had to be circumstantial, he assured himself. His feelings would pass when they returned to their own world.
But his feelings sure as hell felt real now.
To Chloe’s chagrin, they hadn’t walked very far before her vision started to blur again. Her ears buzzed and perspiration beaded above her lip. She tried to clench her teeth and forge on, but everything began to go gray around her. She knew she had to stop before she passed out again. “Donovan?”
He put a hand beneath her elbow. “Dizzy?”
“A little. You think we could rest for a minute?”
“As long as you need. Sit down. Put your head between your legs.”
She followed his instructions, and was relieved when the world finally stopped spinning. “I’m sorry. I—”
“Would you stop apologizing? I need a rest, too. My leg hurts like hell.”
That brought her head back up. “Do you think you’ve re-injured it? Is there anything I can do?”
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You worry about your health and I’ll worry about mine, okay?”
Though the words were brusque, his gentle tone belied them. She knew full well that he was more worried about her than he was about himself. “Right,” she answered lightly. “I’ll be completely selfish. Doesn’t matter to me if your leg falls right off.”
“That’s the spirit,” he replied with a hint of a smile.
Her own smile faded as another wave of weakness coursed through her. She put her head down again.
Donovan’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “Want me to get you some water?”