Raylin Chike

It was such a bizarre feeling to be held like a child in the arms of someone, Raylin hadn't been carried like this in years. She might have protested under different circumstances and yet, the warmth radiating from Brennan was absolutely delightful. Unintentionally, she lets her head loll closer to his chest, her cool cheek pressed against the Irishman's frame. He managed to bring just enough warmth back to her to cause a shiver to shake her body for the briefest of moments. It was a good thing her body could drum up the extra energy to shiver, it meant she wasn't as near to death as she felt. Though, it was a thought she would have later as her mind drifts in and out of consciousnesses. Brennan's askance of his rhetorical question is lost on her ears, though some part of her brain repeats the question in her mind. Land shark? What was that? Oh wait... must've been... the vampire. Even her own thoughts are broken and muddled, what was going on?

Instead, she murmurs that she wants to sleep, her consciousness surfacing for a moment to hear his reply. She wanted to whine, why couldn't she sleep? She was so tired! Raylin instead, doesn't speak, that darkness so desperately wanting to pull her under again. She isn't even aware by the way Brennan leaps deftly onto the boat, Barney right behind him. He manages to carry her down the steps without so much of a faltering step, again, it's all lost on her. Only when his warmth suddenly vanishes does a quiet moan escape her lips, "No," she utters the one syllable quietly, her arms to weak to reach for him to pull his body warmth back to her. Instead, a stern voice cuts through her daze for a moment, the command in his voice causing her eyes to peel open to watch him through blurred lines. Raylin did try to focus on him as he moves quickly around the boat, gathering supplies and whatnot but it was incredibly hard to keep her eyes open, her unusually pale face turned in his direction though her head lolls against the cushioned seat.

Her exhaustion wins as her chocolate eyes flutter close, just as Brennan approaches her again. Just as that excruciating pain hits her, a flood of adrenaline courses through her blood as she lurches upright, her eyes wide as she tries to scramble away from him. She doesn't get far as her back is pressed against the couch and only struggles for a moment more as the curse leaves her lips loudly, with a volume she didn't realize she had access to during this... crisis. Her eyes roll wildly as they land on Brennan, realizing it was his hand causing the pain in her shoulder, her own fingers reaching up weakly to hold onto his forearm as if she wanted to pull it away. Despite the adrenaline within her veins, she hardly had enough energy to yank his arm away. Sucking in a deep breath, her eyes flit up to his face just as he comments on her choice of words. She knew what he was doing, trying to distract her from the pain. It wasn't going to help much, she already knew this and yet, she can't help but part her lips in a response, "My parents would be horrified if they ever found out," her voice cracks with pain, but it was beginning to dull now, the constant pressure feeling almost better than without.

His casual comment on her look has Raylin frowning slightly, a crease forming between her brows as she watches him, the man now at eye level with her as he continues to keep his hand firmly pressed against her shoulder. She was almost disappointed to hear his vague answer to her question, Raylin rather curious despite the current circumstances. "That... isn't helpful," she pants with airy breaths, trying very, very hard to keep her gaze locked on his face rather than the bloody mess of her. She knew the worst of it was coming, causing Raylin to throw a joke into their midst. It was better than talking about her actual wounds and how she had gotten them. It wasn't something she was ready to relive in her mind, at least not yet. Brennan's response brings a ragged bark of laughter falling from her lips only for her to immediately regret it as she winces in pain quickly after. The jostling of her body didn't particularly feel good. Pausing to allow her body to readjust, "You think very highly of yourself it seems," she says, her gaze landing on his for a moment as he hands her a bottle of whiskey. She doesn't hesitate even for a moment as a weak hand lifts up to grasp the bottle, her good hand anyway, and without a breath to spare, she tilts her head back and allows that amber liquid to burn all the way down her throat into the pit of her stomach.

She takes two impressive swallows before she sets the bottle down, her face distorting though she does manage to suppress the cough. Handing to back to him, she takes her good hand and wipe it across her mouth, not that it really mattered, she looked terrible, a bit of whiskey running down her chin wouldn't have added that much to her look anyways. Listening to his instructions, she knew the change of the pressure of their hands was going to bring a new wave of pain. She regretted immediately giving the bottle back to Brennan so soon but it was far too late to ask for it back. Putting on a brave face, she lifts her trembling arm and settles it next to his hand, adjusting quickly. The fire that lanced through her shoulder wasn't nearly as bad as the first time but it still hurt, her jaw clenching to keep from shouting more profanities. It took all her effort to keep the pressure on her shoulder and by the time the pain was beginning to subside, she was panting again, sweat coating her forehead from exertion. Her eyes had fallen shut in the exchange, her head leaning back against the cushion again. It takes some effort to peel them open, her gaze having shifted downward in that moment, only to meet Barney's gaze for the first time.

She can't help herself, a small smile tugs weakly at the corner of her lips as she desperately wants to reach out and stroke his soft head. Unfortunately, her good arm was occupied. So she settles for the next best option, "What a good boy," she coos quietly, "I suppose I have you to thank," she murmurs, watching the massive dog quite literally hover over her and Brennan. Rayling wasn't sure she had seen a more concerned animal before, the anxiety radiating out of him almost palpable and despite it, it was almost comical the way he hovered, wanting to be apart of this. She can't help herself as her smile widens slightly, "Barney reminds me of my dad," she says, her gaze shifting back to the Irishman, "He was always hovering whenever I got hurt as a kid but since he could never actually help, he just stood as close as possible and just got in the way all the time," she says tiredly, the second wave of adrenaline was beginning to wear off as she slouches farther into the couch. "Alright, doctor," she teases, her gaze settling on Brennan again, exhaustion crinkling at the edges of her eyes, "I'm waiting for you to make me scream your name for the remainder of the night... but maybe... give me another drink or two of that bottle, I might need to be a little intoxicated for this," her grin turns sheepish, though it fades quickly.