Free Sometimes We Ran (Book 3): Rescue by Stephen Drivick

should just let you stay with the kids. That seems to be all you can handle.” Michael was getting all red and bloated in the face.
    Claire jumped off the bed to do battle. Her arm had been magically healed by the anger flowing through her tiny frame. Michael had awakened a monster. I stepped back, as I knew Claire's fury could be legendary.
    She got right in Michael's personal space, and he stepped back in surprise. “I've been on the road, and I can take care of myself - and John too if necessary,” Claire said in a slightly raised voice.
    “Yeah, well, maybe you can't handle it anymore.” Michael's voice was now raised as well.
    Claire fired back. “I don't see you picking up a gun and volunteering to go outside. When was the last time you did anything outside the gates?”
    “I do plenty around here to keep us safe.” Michael gave Claire a light shove to get her out of his way.
    Claire pushed Michael right back. “Enlighten me. What do you do around here to help us?” Claire and Michael looked like they were going to rumble right there in the infirmary. I grabbed Claire by the waist before she started to rain blows on him.
    Denise had also seen enough. She stepped between Claire and Michael and shoved them apart. “That's it! We're going to cut this out right now. It does us no good to yell at each other. Michael go somewhere else. Claire, if your arm feels okay, go home to your family.” Michael gave a last dirty look to Claire and, then stalked off. Claire wrestled out of my grip and without a word, left the infirmary. She grabbed her bat on the way out.
    Denise turned to me. “I want to see you in my office.” She sounded a bit like a vice-principal I used to know. I might be in trouble. Denise walked out of the infirmary to cool off before our meeting.
    Doctor Connelly handed me my weapons. “That Michael is some piece of work,” she said.
    I holstered my gun and placed my knife on my belt. “It's Claire's fault, too. She has a bit of a temper. When she gets home, Ryan's going to get an earful.” I nodded to the isolation ward. “What do you make of our new friend?”
    Doctor Connelly looked at the quarantine room and its only occupant. “He has a few cuts and bruises, mostly superficial. The bump on his head was a little worse, but I think he'll wake up in a few hours. Maybe a day or two and you can talk to him. He's a little undernourished, but who isn't these days? Any idea who he might be?”
    “Not a clue. No identification. Just some keys, a shotgun, and a small dirt bike. Don't know why he helped us. Looks like I might be in trouble for bringing him back,” I said.
    The Doctor escorted me to the door. “I want to go on the record. I think you did the right thing.”
    “Thanks. I hope Denise feels the same way.”
    I crossed the lobby of the Admin building to Denise's office. As I passed Jaci at the desk, she gave me a hopeful smile. She must already know about our unconscious friend in the infirmary and that I brought him here. News traveled fast in Cannon Fields.
    I knocked gently on the door frame. She was sitting quietly at her desk rubbing her eyes with her hands. It had already been a long day. She looked up, then gestured to one of the shabby chairs in front of her desk. “Come in,” she said, no anger in her voice. She put her glasses back on.
    “Door open or closed?” I asked.
    “Open. Warmer that way.” That was good news. Maybe she wouldn't yell so much with the door open. I took a seat in one of the chairs. No one spoke at first.
    I broke the silence by speaking first. “Denise...I know Michael is in charge, but if he talks to any residents like that again, it's going to be a problem.”
    Denise shifted in her chair. “So noted. I will speak to him about the incident in the infirmary. But...” She trailed off.
    “What?” I asked.
    Denise didn't like heavy confrontation, but sometimes it was part of her job. “Michael is not entirely in the wrong. You did bring in a