Days went by with Eric keeping watch over Kai. Every so often, Kai would drift awake, mumbling something barely coherent before slipping back under. At first, it freaked Eric out, so he went to Mark, only to be told, "There was anesthesia, plus the extra sleep's helping him heal faster." Not exactly the reassurance he'd hoped for, but it was something.
Finally, after ten long days, Mark announced Kai's wounds were healed, and it was time to get him out of the pod. Eric stood there, nervous as hell, as Mark worked to pull Kai free.
The moment Kai was lifted out, a thick, sticky liquid covered him, dripping slowly from his hair, his shoulders, and all the way down to his bare legs. His skin looked pale, and he was shivering slightly as the cool air hit him. Eric's heart twisted at how fragile Kai looked, his face groggy, blinking up at Eric with bleary eyes.
