Juan glanced at his watch and said, “Okay, that’s dose number two at nine p.m. Your next one is at nine in the morning. Can you find your father and bring him in for his second dose as well?”

Kathy stood, rubbing where she’d just gotten a shot. “I will, but…” She put her hands on Juan’s cheeks. “You need to go to bed. Get some sleep. You’re killing yourself.”

As Juan looked into Kathy’s green eyes, he felt as though time stopped. He could look into those eyes forever.

He gently grabbed her hands, lowered them, and gave them a light squeeze. “I’ll be fine. Trust me, I don’t need a bed. I’m exhausted enough that just by putting my head on the table, I’ll be out instantly.”

“You know,” Kathy said, “you could sleep at my parents’ house. My mom would love to have someone to fuss over, and she’s a pretty decent cook.”

Juan laughed. “No, it’s late, and besides, the last time I was there your mom greeted me with a shotgun and the biggest dog I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Kathy smiled. “Well, you must have gotten past her bark if you pried away any of my baby stuff from her. And Jasper is just an overgrown puppy. If he’s wagging his tail, you know you’re fine.” She took a step closer. Very close. “Seriously, you should go there and get some rest.”

Juan shook his head. “No, I’m staying here. I want to be here if anything happens. You or your dad get a sniffle, the fever drops, whatever, I don’t want to be an hour or more away.”

He couldn’t tell her his real fear. That if he left her alone here, an “accident” would happen. A chill ran through him at the thought.

Without warning, Kathy wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Juan’s surprise—and joy—banished his exhaustion. His heart threatened to beat itself out of his chest as he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. At this moment he felt closer to her than he had to any girl he’d ever been with. And they’d never even kissed.

Kathy’s body trembled, and she tightened her embrace. Her voice muffled, she said, “I’ll never forget what you’ve done for us.”

Juan kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes. He didn’t want the moment to end.

But she pushed away and wiped at her eyes. “Well,” she said, clearing her throat, “I’m getting you a cot at least. Even if I have to drag one out from under one of those guards.”

With a smile, she turned and walked out the door.

And as he watched her go, Juan could only think one thing. What if this treatment doesn’t work?

###