A Cold Awakening

The steady drum of rain against the hospital window pulled Gideon from the dark void of his coma. He opened his eyes to a sterile white ceiling, his senses assaulted by the harsh scent of antiseptic. A dull, throbbing ache radiated from his abdomen, a sharp reminder of the silver pistol and the bullet Tess had planted in his flesh. The physical wound burned, but the crushing weight in his chest ra