Free Capturing Today (TimeShifters Book 2) by Jessica Keller, Jess Evander Page B

any other reason. But my stomach groans—loudly—as if to warn me that if I deny its needs any longer, it’ll escape from my body and search out a snack on its own. I press my hands to my middle to mask any more noise. Michael has a stash of beef jerky in his backpack. It would take way too much effort for him to eat it in his condition, so really I’m doing him a favor by eating eight … nine pieces. Right? 
    I’m tucking the container with the remaining jerky back into his bag when Michael starts to thrash. I drop the lid on the trunk and am at his side a moment later. How does someone move so much and not wake up? His fists clench and unclench, his lips move without words, and his head lolls from side to side.
    “Relax.” I whisper, repeat once, and squeeze his forearm.
    I’m so helpless. I could run back to the infirmary and find a doctor, but they’ll want to move him there. And that’s not going to make him any better. Didn’t Michael say a bunch of people died of this particular strand? Probably because they were all packed together. Besides, we don’t have a cure for the flu in my time, so they certainly don’t have anything now. Not to mention the hygiene practices in this time seem a bit … lacking. Yeah, no hospital.
    I’m his best chance.
    Is it bad to admit I’m scared? More like terrified. No, it’s okay to be scared. Fear isn’t the enemy. Not acting in the face of fear is.
    I kneel next to the cot and lay my hand on his forehead. Burning.
    Michael stirs at my touch. “I tried,” he mumbles. “If I …” His head rolls toward me. “My mission.” His eyes are closed, but his brow becomes a deep wrinkle. I’m not sure if he’s talking in his sleep or if he’s awake and his eyelids feel too heavy to lift. “Thought I … shift to you.” He turns in the bed, his knees drawing to his chest. “What I wanted. Why I stayed.” A sigh. His voice fades further into sleep. “I’m sorry.”
    I rub my hand back and forth along his arm. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
    “I tried,” he mumbles again. “I tried.”
    The muscles in his arms completely relax. Even though he sounds like an old man with emphysema, his chest rises and falls in an even rhythm. He’s sleeping.
    I push to my feet and start to pace in the four feet of space next to the bed. It’s time to admit this situation is more than I can handle. I can’t make Michael better. We either need to get to Keleusma, or we need to shift to another time and hope we move years forward, to a time with better care for him.
    Which leaves me two options. Figure out what Michael’s mission was and accomplish it so we can shift.
    Or there’s Erik.
    He said I can call to him and he’ll come. Because of my blood. I stop walking, stare down at my bracelet, and rub my thumb over the black mark. But he meant for me to use that particular gift when I was ready to go with him. To Mónatos. Which is not going to happen until it’s the last option I have for locating my mom. Michael would never agree with accepting Erik’s help. He’d be so disappointed in me.
    Then again … he’d be alive.
    So Erik is a very real plan B. Especially since I’ve proven that I can’t successfully complete a mission. If Michael—who always does the right thing—couldn’t figure this one out, then a mess-up like me seriously has no shot. Zilch.
    He will die because I’m only capable of failing. All my missions. My Pairing. Taking care of my father.
    Tears burn behind my eyes. I clench my fists. Swallow a few times. I have to get ahold of myself. A pity party is the most selfish way to be spending my time.
    I can do this. For Michael. Because he’d do it for me. No, it’s more than that. His life has worth. He has worth. Because he’s Michael. And that, right there, is enough to solicit every ounce of my energy and brainpower to fight for him.
    There’s no way he’s here to win the war. One person can’t make that happen. So what?