My eyes find Jenna. She's staring at her feet, her face red. A few of the other kids snicker.
Glancing at Brianna, I see her smirk before she turns away.
Oh, hell no. I shake off my sleeping bag and start towards her, only to be stopped short when someone's arm wraps around me. I'm pulled back against a hard body I instantly recognize.
"Not the time or place," Captain Mathis says softly.
"You don't fuck with a little kid like that!" I whisper and strain against him. It's one thing for her to pick on me, but on a sweet six year old? Who does that?
He holds me tight against him. "Stop, Katya. We'll handle it a different way."
With a frustrated growl, I stop struggling and rest my head back on his shoulder, craning my neck to look up at him. His chiseled jaw is clenched, his brown gaze on Brianna as she walks away.
"Jenna needs a hug, and Marines don't do that shit," he adds, nodding his head towards the little girl.
Jenna's eyes are watering, her chin trembling.
Seeing her like that crushes me. I can't stand to see someone hurting. I sigh. "Let me go."
He complies, and I leave him to kneel on the floor beside Jenna. I'm too wet to sit on her bed, so I take her hands. She crawls into my lap, not caring that I'm cold and drenched. She's warm and smells like a child, her soft hair tickling my nose.
"You're doing good, sweetie," I whisper. "Okay? Trust me."
"Ms. Khav, do you think this will dry before bedtime?" Rory asks, tapping me on the shoulder.
I manage to stand with Jenna in my arms and turn. His cot is the one beside hers, and he's stretched out the sleeping bag.
It's completely soaked. There's no way that thing will be dry in time. It'd take a few cycles in a dryer, which I'm guessing isn't an option.
This is why camping sucks. "Probably not. You can use mine," I say without hesitation. "Can you grab it? I left it in the aisle."
He nods and goes to fetch it.
"If you want to change, I can take care of Jenna."
Of all the kids on the team, I'm not expecting the tall but skinny Tanner to volunteer.
"I've got a little sister," he adds. He's staring at me in mild awe, like a teen with a crush.
Amused despite my condition, I decide I'd rather duck out and change socks at least before going to dinner.
"Sure." I hand off Jenna to him. "You all get ready for dinner, okay?"