I Remember Love 42 I'm Not Going Anywhere, Not So Long As You Need Me.

Amalia was limp in Hunter's embrace, trembling as his lips devoured hers. He explored her mouth with his tongue, desperately, like a man who had been starved of water for far too long. Her hands were moving on their own, exploring the sinewy muscle in his arms as soft whimpers of need escaped from her lips kiss after breathless kiss.

It wasn't until she molded herself to his body that she was startled out of their carnal revanence. Having pulled into her as her hands slid up his sides she heard a groan. It was strained and full of pain. Looking down sheepishly she gently pushed him away she panted as she fought to catch her breath.

"Shouldn't...Shouldn't we find you a hospital?" She bit her lip looking at the injury in his side, his t-shirt which had been seeping with blood earlier had now dried and grown caked to the wound on his side.

Amalia stared down at her feet embarra.s.sed that she had forgotten he had been badly hurt. Hunter looked down at the sullen girl in front him, her cheeks flushed deep red and lips swollen from his kiss and chuckled.

"Alright" He whispered into her ear. "I'll go to the hospital, but no more running" he smirked and as he did his right hand reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "We need to talk, and we most definitely will finish what we started here tonight."

Hunter's words held an unspoken promise in them that made Amalia's heart race. Her eyes went wide as she stared up at him. Her breath caught in the back of her throat as she nodded.

With that Hunter took hold of her hand propelled her forward. Together the two of them headed toward the hospital.

Once they arrived Amalia suddenly found her voice. She immediately pulled her hand from Hunters and rushed off to find a nurse. The wound wasn't anywhere near as bad as she imagined but she couldn't help her mind from running rampant. She had seen far too much death in her short life. It was like she lived in continuous fear of people dying around her. More, she merely was terrified of being left alone.

Hunter watched as she raced his face filled with concern. There was obvious residual trauma from what she had experienced as a kid. When you added onto that trauma having to be the only one to witness her grandfather's last breath, coupled by Charlie's foolish chivalry it was no wonder she would be frightened.

Once she returned to his side, Hunter drew her close to his body. She was holding together as always but he could tell that just below the surface was a tempest of emotion she was struggling to keep under control.

Hunter pressed his lips to brow. He could feel the cold sweat which was beginning to pool on the surface of her skin and stroked her back.

"I'm alright Lia, it's ok. I've had far worse than this before."

Amalia clenched her fists at her sides and nodded, on instinct, she clung to this shirt as a surge of relief hit her at his words. They brought a calm quiet to her she was dying for. He always seemed to arrive just in time to save her from herself. Hunter never failed to have the right words. It was uncanny.

Hunter sighed feeling her relax.

A few moments later they were joined by a nurse who carefully cleaned his wound and st.i.tched him. Her eyes looked to the young girl at his side and then to his wound.

"You were lucky. If he had been a little more determined, that knife would have needed much more than st.i.tches." the nurse scolded.

Hunter nodded his head before looking to Amalia for a moment.

"Sit tight a minute, I need to talk to the Doc about something."

Amalia nodded her head tiredly and hopped upon the empty bed in the hospital room. She brought her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly as she placed her cheek on her knees. She was watching the door as though she were afraid Hunter would not return. How much more was she expected to take? Couldn't someone, anyone, up there cut her some slack? She wondered. It would sure be nice.

Meanwhile, Hunter was out of the hall whisper with the doctor on call and his a.s.sisting nurse.

"Lia has had a rough past few days. And I worry, that some of what she experienced, might be triggering some bad memories. Is there something we can do to help her sleep?" He inquired, his eyes turning to look from one to the other.

Hunter had seen enough men with PTSD to know the signs. The girl in the room now was calm, but she would crumble any moment. She needed rest. Her body and mind needed downtime to process the events of the past week. No matter how he tried Hunter couldn't erase the image of her shaking and pale from his mind. Even if was just for the night, he wanted her to find some reprieve.

Right now, the only thought in Hunter's mind was for her. She filled his heart.

After discussing with the doctors a few moments Hunter returned to the room. He was certain she wouldn't be able to spend another night in that apartment now so together, with the Doctor and nurse they concocted an adequate lie.

Hunter was well aware Amalia wouldn't spend the night in the hospital willingly, so he only had one choice. Clearing his throat he walked over to her and whispered softly.

"Doc says I'm in the clear, but they want to keep me here overnight for observation. I don't have anyone else right now I can trust to guard you, so I got permission from the Doc for you to stay with me tonight. They'll bring an extra cot into the room"

Hunter had rattled off the lie in such a smooth way that Amalia instantly nodded in agreement. However, she wasn't prepared just yet to be separated from him. Even if it was just on another bed in the same room. She looked up to him a little sheepishly and mumbled softly.

"Can I...Can I just stay with you?"

Hunter could see tears beginning to gather in her eyes. He didn't know if it was the sudden request, her candor or even just the vulnerability she exuded. It didn't matter. Immediately he pulled her into her arms and pressed his lips to her forehead. It would mean a long, rough night for him but he would not turn her down.

"Lia, you just hang onto me. As long as you need me, I'm not going anywhere."

Several moments later the two were escorted into a room in a more private vicinity of the hospital. It wasn't the more romantic, but Hunter wanted to be sure Amalia was properly cared for. The nurses came in shortly after the bed was prepared with pajamas in case they wanted to change and a gla.s.s of water for the two of them, under the pretense of providing painkillers for Hunter.

Hunter took the painkillers with the stealth of a trained expert, deceiving Amalia into believing he had actually swallowed. In Amalia's gla.s.s, after much coaxing and persuasion on Hunter's part, was a sedative to help her sleep.

Together the two of them prepared for bed. The lights went out and Hunter climbed onto the cot. Amalia drank the water and immediately followed Hunter's lead. Her arms clung to him like he was the only thing preventing her from drowning.

Resting her head upon Hunter's chest, feeling suddenly drowsy, Amalia whispered softly as she was lulled to sleep by the soft rhythmic beating of Hunter's heart.

"Say it again, Promise me, Hunter?"

Hunter felt his heart melt at her words as he whispered into her ear.

"I promise. I won't leave you, Lia, not ever."

As Hunter closed his eyes as he drifted off to sleep. But as he did, he was certain he saw the faint shadow of a smile clinging to Amalia's lips.