Part 59 (1/2)

Joey nodded. ”You were beyond exhausted. Your physical body had been taxed to its limits and your spirit took over to protect you. Very interesting.”

Jenny frowned. ”I thought we'd lost you, Annja.”

”I didn't do it deliberately, Jenny.” She looked around. ”Where are we?”

”Still on the trail behind the hotel,” Joey said. ”You want some water?”

Annja nodded. ”That would be great.” Joey offered her a small cup of water and she drank it down, tasting the cold against the back of her throat. She gulped a few sips and then paused. ”Thanks.”

Joey glanced at his watch. ”We should get going.”

”How long was I out?”

”A few minutes.”

Annja stretched. She felt as if she'd spent a long day napping in her apartment in Brooklyn, surrounded by a plush comforter and the throw pillows she liked to keep on her couch. A yawn welled up from within her and she let it out, stretching as she did so. Small pops sounded in her back.

Joey eyed her. ”You look...rested.”

Annja nodded. ”I actually feel pretty amazing.”

Jenny frowned. ”Nice you could take a nap and all. I'm certainly tired, too, but you don't see me lying down on the job.”

”Well, after I had to save your b.u.t.t from certain death, I figured I deserved it,” Annja said. ”Help me up, will you?”

Jenny pulled her to her feet and Annja brushed her pants off. ”Thanks.”

Jenny smiled. ”Glad you're okay.”

”You and me both. For a while there, I didn't know what was happening to me.”

”Where were you?”

Annja shook her head. ”It was completely and utterly black. I couldn't see anything. Couldn't feel anything, either. It wasn't until I heard you shouting that I suddenly felt something snap me back to life.”

”Yeah,” Joey said, ”Jenny slapped you across the face pretty hard.”

Annja put a hand to her face and felt the tender area by her cheek. ”Hey.”

Jenny held up her hands. ”I was worried. And besides, you know you would have done the exact same thing to me if you were in my position.”

”I don't know,” Annja said. ”Let's test that theory out, shall we?”

”Ladies,” Joey said. ”Can we just get to the hotel? The sooner we hook up with Sheila, the better.”

Annja eyed Jenny. ”I'm not forgetting about that, slap happy.”

Jenny tried to grin. ”Yeah, I know you won't.”

Joey led them closer to the hotel. Annja felt much stronger. Her muscles responded well. She could feel the energy coursing through her veins now like liquid heat.