I hadn't slept. I hadn't moved more than a few feet in the last few hours. But I didn't care. Not when Meredith Stevens was lying in front of me, fever burning through her like wildfire and a black SUV waiting outside like a shark in the dark.
She was pale and shivering, her hair stuck to her forehead. But the gold in her eyes, the part that came out when she was scared or hurt, flashed every time she moved.
Around 2:00 AM, Meredith started talking
At first, she was just mumbling. Then she started moving her head back and forth. Her skin was shiny with sweat, but she looked... different. Not like a CEO. She looked like a girl having a really weird dream.
I leaned forward and put a wet, cold cloth on her head.
"No," she whispered, her eyes still closed.
"Too cold. Stop, Dave."
"It's for your fever, Meredith. Stay still," I said, trying to stay calm.
Her eyes shot open. They weren't hazel. They were that bright, honey-gold again. But she didn't look scary this time. She looked... out of it. Like she'd had way too much to drink.
"You have really nice eyes," she said. Her voice was soft and a little loopy. "For a guy who probably eats cereal straight from the box. They're... blue. Like the ocean. I hate the ocean. It's too big. But your eyes are okay."
I felt my face get hot. Is she seriously flirting with me right now?
"You're high on the meds James gave you," I muttered. "Go back to sleep."
Elena came back into the room. She'd been on the phone with someone, judging by the panicked look on her face. She was holding a juice box like it was her only lifeline.
"She's talking about your eyes, Detective?" Elena whispered in a very tight voice. "Oh no. We're so screwed. If she remembers this tomorrow, she's going to move my desk to the basement. Meredith, please stop talking."
Meredith groaned at Elena. "Elena, shut up. You're shaking. Go find a hobby. Or a boyfriend. Not Dave. He's... busy."
"She's just delirious, Elena," I said, not looking away from the gold eyes.
Meredith suddenly grabbed my arm. Her grip was still crazy strong, even though she was lying on her back.
"Elena worries too much," she said, leaning her head toward me like she was sharing a big secret. "She thinks I'm a goddess. I'm not. I'm just... tired, Dave."
Her eyes opened a little. She reached a shaky hand for me and grabbed my wrist. Her grip was weak, but it still said, I'm not helpless.
"Don't leave," she whispered, almost lost in her fever. "You... you're... my safety blanket."
I blinked. Safety blanket? That was new.
Elena groaned softly. "Oh my God... she's delirious. She's actually talking like a teenager."
"She's fine," I said, pressing my hand on hers so she wouldn't twist. "Just... hang in there, okay?"
Meredith's lips curled into a small, playful mischievous smirk. "I... never... had... sex," she said, slow and deliberate, like it was the most important confession in the world.
Elena's hand flew to her mouth. "What? Did she just say what I think she said?"
I coughed awkwardly. "She... she's got a fever. Don't... don't take it seriously."
Meredith laughed-a dry, rough sound that hit me hard. "I'm... lonely, detective. But strong. I'm... Iron... Goddess." She flopped back on the pillow, groaning. "Even when... I'm dying... I'm still... being a pain."
Elena, hovering nervously at the edge of the bed, whispered under her breath. "What kind of drugs did that illegal doctor give her?"
Elena muttered under her breath as she paced. "Is she always like this, or...?"
"She's fine," I said again, my hand still over Meredith's. I wasn't leaving her to fight this alone. Not now. "It's just the fever. She's still in there."
Meredith's eyes opened again, gold for a second. She made a low sound, like a warning. "Don't... leave... me... Elena's... boring... talk to me..."
Elena froze. "Boring? I-I was just trying to help..."
"I said... keep talking..." Meredith rasped. "Tell... stories... detective... I... I like your voice."
I gave a tired chuckle. "Fine. You want boring? I can do boring. Did I ever tell you about the time I almost set the evidence locker on fire back in training?"
Meredith let out a small laugh. "Bad... detective," she teased. "You... you'd be lost... without me..."
"Yeah, probably," I said, smiling. "But let's focus on you staying alive first, okay?"
Her fingers twitched against mine. "You... have nice... hands," she murmured. "Hold me... don't... let go..."
I stayed close, careful not to let her move too much or hurt herself. She was all over the place-joking, honest, soft, then sharp again. But underneath it, I could see her. Not the Iron Goddess. Just a girl. Tired. Lonely. Still fighting.
Elena hovered nearby, nervous. Every time Meredith moved, Elena held her breath. "I... I can't believe she said that," she whispered.
"She's delirious," I said softly. "It's the fever. Just let her talk. It helps."
Meredith rolled her eyes, or tried to. "You're... too serious... detective... relax... life's short..."
I laughed quietly and leaned closer. "I'll relax when you're not burning up and flirting at the same time."
She smiled a little. "Fair... enough..."
After a while, the gold faded from her eyes. The sounds stopped. Her hands loosened in mine. She slipped into a light, shaky sleep.
I stayed there, my hand on her arm, feeling her breathe. Fever or not, she'd let something real show. And it made one thing clear.
The Iron Goddess wasn't just a boss or a legend.
She was just a girl.
Strong, stubborn and very human.
Elena peeked in from the doorway. "You... you actually handled her," she whispered. "And she... said some things..."
I looked down at Meredith and shook my head. "She's fine. And she's sharp. Even like this, she's still herself."
Elena let out a shaky breath. "Okay... I guess that counts as... bonding?"
I gave a small smirk. "Yeah. Bonding. Now let's hope she sleeps long enough to make it."
