Page 100 of Psychic Obsession
He blew out a breath."Fine."
A couple of minutes later, Isaac strolled into the room with a plastic-covered rolled-up rug."I'm no expert, but this looks newer than the first one you touched.I didn't see the one you touched yesterday, so I can't compare it to this."
Nikolai tried to let Isaac's words soothe him, but he'd said he was no expert.
"Okay."Frode bit at the fingertips on his glove and pulled it off."If I pass out, please don't let me hit my head on the table."Nikolai moved closer again and held onto his shoulders."And if I throw up, try to get me to do it in the trashcan.Makes cleanup easier."He smiled at Nikolai, but it was all wrong.No matter how flippant he tried to sound, this scared him.
"I've got you."
Frode's gaze softened, then he took a deep breath and nodded."Let's go."
He reached out and touched the rug.There was a hitch in his breathing, and Nikolai tightened his hold on his shoulders.Frode's teeth snapped closed, sweat pearled on his forehead, and the trembles rocking him transferred into Nikolai.Fuck.
A drop of perspiration trickled down his temple, then he sucked in a choppy breath, and Nikolai glanced at the trashcan.Was it throwing-up time?
Frode slumped in the chair with a groan, then he leaned forward.Nikolai didn't let go of his shoulders, but he allowed him to slump over the table.He must be aware enough to know what he was doing because he placed the back of his bare hand facing up on his left arm, nowhere near touching anything.
"Frode?"
A grunt.
"Are you with us?"
"Mmm."
Nikolai stroked his back."Anything I can do?"
"No.Give me a minute."
Nikolai glanced at the clock on the wall.It took eight minutes before Frode turned his face to the side and opened his eyes."Raisins."
Nikolai reached for the red box and shook out some raisins on the table.Frode picked them up with his left hand, ate them one by one, and breathed in deep, calm breaths."Fuck."
"How are you feeling?"Isaac was hovering some distance away.
"I'm fine.It was the best one yet."
Nikolai met Isaac's gaze.Saylor couldn't know for sure which rug had been through the most, Nikolai understood that, but...
"I need to lay down."Frode reached for him with his left.
"Put on your glove and I'll take you to the couch."
Frode did as told, and Nikolai more or less dragged him to the conference room with the couch.He removed Frode's shoes and helped him curl up.He was shaking.
"Cold?"
He gave him a nod."A hot shower would be nice."
Nikolai got his jacket and draped it over Frode."Rest."
Isaac returned the rug to evidence, and Nikolai went to Medlin's office.
"Did it go well?"
Nikolai nodded and met his gaze, then he stepped back and closed the door behind him.Medlin's eyebrows traveled his forehead.They didn't do closed doors often."What did he see?"
"He hasn't talked yet.He's resting on the couch in the conference room."
