Free Defensive Instinct (Survival Instinct Book 4) by Kristal Stittle Page A

prion-virus hybrid, as well as a blood sample from a newborn that she needed to type. Without being able to keep a supply of blood on hand in case of injury, the doctors filed everyone’s blood type so that they all became potential donors. Along with the blood were some Pap smears, and a couple of tissue samples, one from a persistent rash and one from a persistent sore throat. The scariest thing that Riley had to exam was a biopsy. It had been performed on Bill in the shipping container they had made sterile and covered in plastic. A growth had been discovered in his lymph nodes. His reason for coming along on the trip was to get a full work up, but this biopsy might be all they needed. If it turned out to be cancer, there was nothing they could do about it except maybe give him a rough estimation of how long he had left. Riley tried not to let her worry show, even after Edward had completed his own tests and left her alone in the lab.
    Getting inconclusive results for the rash and sore throat was annoying, but not unexpected. When there was nothing left to do but monitor the machines, Riley crossed the hall and examined and ran additional tests on her patients. Robin and Edward assisted. With four doctors, it didn’t take long to get people the x-rays, scans, and various examinations they needed, including an endoscope of a woman’s stomach. It all provided more data for the lab to process.
    Josh walked into the lab, carrying the last of the x-rays, and found Riley sitting on a stool with her face propped up and buried by her hands.
    “Everything all right?” he asked, pausing on his way to the light table.
    “Bill has cancer.” She moved her hands away from her mouth to speak clearly but continued to cover her eyes, not wanting Josh to know that she was crying. “It’s inoperable.”
    “I’m sorry,” Josh spoke sincerely, then continued on to the light table where he proceeded to examine the films. Riley took the opportunity to clean up her face. After some time, Josh leaned against the computer-laden table behind him and asked “So how are you? I know you said fine earlier, but you know… You’re not always honest.”
    Riley thought for a moment that she had failed, that it still looked like she had been crying, but then realized that Josh was just trying to make some light conversation.
    “Really, I’m fine. Same old, same old, I guess. You? Still seeing Anne?”
    “We’re living together now, actually.” Anne used to be the girlfriend of Tobias, a member of their group. When Tobias was killed, their little extended family had agreed to look out for her. Apparently, Josh started looking out for her more than most, and after an appropriately respectful amount of time had passed, they began seeing each other.
    “Congratulations,” Riley told him. She really was happy for him. Josh used to have a crush on Riley, which had sometimes made her feel guilty about being with Mathias. She was glad he had found someone who could return his affections.
    “We’re not married or anything, we haven’t even discussed it,” Josh was quick to add. Quick enough to make Riley think he wanted to marry Anne, but was still unsure about how she would respond to the idea. “I don’t suppose you have any prospects?” he changed topics, managing only to strengthen Riley’s idea.
    Riley gave him a look to remind him that she had no interest in other prospects. She had loved then lost and was okay with leaving it at that. She didn’t think she could handle another love in her life.
    They continued to chat about other things, like what Hope had been up to, how the crops were growing, and who had decided to leave their respective colonies. Riley personally hated that word, colony, because it made it sound like they were in some newly discovered land, but there were times it was the best description despite that.
    “Anyone new over there?”
    “Nothing but zombies showing up at our wall. What do you know about the