The Reef

yourself."
    Tate stopped her restless pacing to sit beside Matthew on the bench outside CCU. It had been a full day since Buck had regained consciousness. The better the outlook for his recovery, the deeper Matthew sank into depression.
    “I don’t see anyone else around here to blame.”
    “Things sometimes happen that aren’t anyone’s fault. Matthew . . .” Patience, she warned herself. The snap of her temper wouldn’t help him. “What happened was horrible, tragic. You couldn’t stop it. You can’t change it now. All you can do, all we can do, is see him through it.”
    “He lost his goddamn leg, Tate. And every time he looks at me, we both know it should have been me.”
    “Well, it wasn’t you.” The thought that it could have been haunted her relentlessly. “And thinking it should have been is stupid.” Weary of reasoning, drained from the struggle to stay strong and supportive, she dragged a hand through her hair. “He’s afraid now, and he’s angry and depressed. But he isn’t blaming you.”
    “Isn’t he?” Matthew looked up. Grief now warred with bitterness in his eyes.
    “No, he’s not. Because he isn’t as shallow and self-important as you.” She sprang up from the bench. “I’mgoing in to see him. You can sit here and wallow in self-pity by yourself.”
    Head high, she sailed across the corridor and through the doors to Critical Care. The moment she was out of Matthew’s sight, she stopped, took time to compose herself. After fixing on a sunny smile, she nudged Buck’s curtain aside.
    His eyes opened when she came in. Behind his thick lenses, his eyes were dull.
    “Hey.” As if he’d greeted her with a wink and a wave, she marched over to kiss his cheek. “I hear they’re moving you down to a regular room in a day or two. One with a TV and better-looking nurses.”
    “Said they might.” He winced as pain in his phantom leg plagued him. “Thought you and the boy’d gone back to the boat.”
    “No, Matthew’s right outside. Do you want him?”
    Buck shook his head. He began to pleat the sheet between his fingers. “Ray was in before.”
    “Yes, I know.”
    “Said there was some specialist in Chicago I’m supposed to go to once they let me out of here.”
    “Yeah. He’s supposed to be brilliant.”
    “Not smart enough to put my leg back on.”
    “They’ll give you an even better one.” She knew her voice was overbright, but couldn’t control it. “Did you ever see that show, Buck? The one with the bionic man. I loved it when I was a kid. You’ll be Bionic Buck.”
    The corner of his mouth twitched briefly. “Yeah, sure, that’s me. Bionic Buck, king of the cripples.”
    “I’m not going to stay if you talk that way.”
    He shrugged a shoulder. He was too tired to argue. Almost too tired to feel sorry for himself. “Better if you didn’t. You should get back to the boat. Got to get that booty up before somebody else does.”
    “You shouldn’t worry about that. We’ve got our claim.”
    “You don’t know nothing,” he snapped at her. “That’s the trouble with amateurs. Word’s out by now. It’s out all right, after this especially. Shark attacks are always news, especially in tourist waters. They’ll be coming.” Hisfingers began to drum a quick tattoo on the mattress. “You locked up what we got already, didn’t you? Someplace nice and tight?”
    “I—” She hadn’t given the treasure a thought in two days. Doubted anyone had. “Sure.” She had to swallow on the lie. “Sure, Buck, don’t worry.”
    “Got to go down, get the rest up quick. Did I tell Ray?” His eyes fluttered and he forced them open again. “Did I tell him? Fucking medication makes my head foggy. Got to get it up. All that gold. Like blood to sharks.” He laughed as his head lolled back on the pillow. “Like blood to sharks. Ain’t that a kick in the ass? Got the treasure. Only cost me my goddamn leg. Get it up, lock it away, girl. You do that.”
    “Okay, Buck.” Gently, she stroked his brow. “I’m going to take care of it. Rest now.”
    “Don’t go down alone.”
    “No, of course not,” she murmured and slipped his glasses off.
    “Angelique’s Curse. She don’t want anyone to win. Be careful.”
    “I will. Just rest.”
    When she was sure he was asleep, she went out quietly. Matthew was no longer on the bench, nor in the corridor. A check of her watch told her that her parents would be there in less than an hour.
    She hesitated, then