by Rayne Reilly
“I'm glad you got him...," Austin brought a hand to his forehead and wiped it. "I thought he was just stalking her…I can't believe I let this happen...," His face looked pained as he spoke. "I want to go to the hospital with Marcy. Can we discuss this later? You know where to find me,” Austin said.
Marcy was wheeled into the ambulance, now that they’d stabilized her.
Jake nodded.
“No problem. I understand. I hope she’s going to be okay,” Jake said. His mouth was a thin line.
Austin nodded at him and returned to Marcy’s side, inside the ambulance. She still hadn’t regained consciousness.
His chest hurt. The thought of losing her was more than he could bear.
***
The hospital emergency room was busy but Austin tuned out all the noise. All he cared about was hearing that Marcy would be okay. He sat in the waiting room with his elbows on his knees, head down.
How could I let this happen? If she dies…
He fisted his hands and clenched his jaw. He was brought out of his thoughts by a voice standing next to him. It was the ER doctor that had met the ambulance when they arrived.
The doctor moved to stand in front of him. He was not a large man, only about five foot ten. He wore a white lab coat over a dress shirt and dress pants. Austin could see spatters of blood on a small portion of the coat. He wondered if it was Marcy’s. His mate's life was in this man's hands now.
Earlier, the doctor had spoken to him in a friendly tone, but he felt it had a hint of condescension in it as well. Austin stood to face the doctor.
“Is she okay?” Austin asked.
He watched as the doctor swallowed hard. His hands were in the pockets of his lab coat.
“We’ve stopped the bleeding, but need to run some scans…you may as well go home. I’ll get someone to ca – ”
“No…I’m not leaving,” Austin interrupted the doctor with his deep voice coming across more gruff than normal.
The doctor looked a little taken aback.
“Fine. I’ll let you know how she’s doing as soon as we assess all her injuries. She’ll probably be in the hospital for several days at least,” he said before walking away.
Austin rubbed perspiration from his brow. He’d didn’t recall ever feeling this upset about anything before.
It’s my fault she’s in here. She has to be okay.
Putting his hands in his pockets, he clutched his cell phone. He pulled it out and scrolled through it. Finding Bern’s number he glanced up at the clock on the wall as the phone rang. It was ten o’clock.
“Austin…what’s up?” Bern answered.
Taking a deep breath he paused before responding, “I’m at the hospital. It’s Marcy…she’s been beaten…I don’t know – ”
Bern’s response was quick and strong, ”I’m on my way.”
The phone went silent. Austin put his phone back in his pocket. He began to pace.
About fifteen minutes later Bern rushed through the emergency room doors looking around a little wide-eyed. Austin stopped pacing and looked at his friend as they made eye contact. They exchanged a quick hug and Bern stood back to look at him.
“Any news yet? Is she okay?” he asked.
Austin shook his head, “They’re running scans. I don’t know anything else yet.”
He looked at Bern, “It was Mick…I found him kicking the crap out of her…she hasn’t regained consciousness since I found her. I should have insisted on driving her home…she’s so stubborn…” Austin’s throat caught a little and he choked up at the thought of what she’d endured.
Bern put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, “Don’t blame yourself for this. Only one person is to blame and that’s Mick. Where is he now…did they arrest him?”
Austin looked away, “I think they brought him here…yes, he’s under arrest.”
Turning back to face Bern he said, “I beat him…I would have killed him…”
Bern nodded. “I’m glad you didn’t. He’ll get exactly what’s coming to him, but I don’t want to lose my friend and business partner to prison,” Bern said grimly.
He led Austin to a couple of chairs and both men sat down. Austin ran his hands through his hair and folded his arms, sitting back in the chair.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on her every night since I first saw that idiot Mick at her apartment door… Just making sure she gets home safe. Then tonight, she left later than usual and I waited too long to check on her,” Austin said as he stared straight ahead.
Bern stared ahead as well, his hands on his thighs. “But you saved her…if you hadn’t have gone when you did – ”
Bern didn’t finish as Austin interrupted. Turning to look at Bern, “If I’d taken her home and walked her to her door, she wouldn’t be in the hospital right now,” he said. His lips were pressed together and he looked tired.
Bern nodded and sat in silence next to his friend. Austin was grateful for the support but more than anything, he just needed to see Marcy again.
A few more hours went by and the doctor emerged with a nurse at his side. Both men stood to face them. The doctor approached them, “She’s being taken to a private room, just as you requested when you arrived.”
He looked at Austin as he spoke, “The scans seem to show no brain damage or other issues. But she received a severe concussion and cuts to the head that required eight stitches. She’s been given pain medication and will be monitored all night. She should be okay.”
“Can we see her?” Austin asked. The nurse frowned and looked at the doctor. The doctor didn’t take his eyes off Austin. He put his hand on one hip. “She isn’t awake now. You can sit with her. But please, let her rest. She has several broken ribs, amongst her other injuries. The woman’s body has been very badly damaged. It’s going to take time before she is okay again. You’re lucky that you got to her when you did. A few minutes of that kind of beating…” He shook his head without finishing.
Bern winced at the news and put a hand on Austin's back. Austin nodded at the doctor. The doctor’s face changed back to being more neutral and he smiled a little.
“Nurse Tyne will take you to her room now. I will be checking in on her until the end of my shift.”
Austin and Bern entered Marcy’s room behind the nurse. Austin picked up a chair and placed it close to the bed. He sat next to her touching her hand gently. He was not going to leave her side, no matter what anyone said. Austin’s heart ached as he gazed down at his mate's swollen face and cut lip. He couldn't believe that this beautiful woman was lying in a hospital bed bruised and battered. It physically hurt him to see her in this state. The thoughts of what she’d gone through weighed heavily on his mind.
I should have insisted on taking her home, he told himself.
He looked at Bern who was standing at the end of the bed. Austin motioned to the chair against one wall of the room and Bern went to it to take a seat. Watching Marcy’s face, Austin whispered to Bern, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost her… It took so long to find her."
His chest ached. His heart hurt. If only he’d done a better job protecting her.
“When she comes out of this, I’m telling her how I feel. I won’t lose her, no matter how stubborn she is about dating the boss.”
Austin let out a small laugh at his words. Bern did as well.
The hours went by as the men sat in silence watching Marcy sleep. Austin listened to the humming and clicking of the machines around her bed. The lull of them reminding him that he’d been up for twenty-four hours. He wouldn’t sleep. He couldn’t. Not until he knew that she was okay. He clutched her hand tenderly in his and pulled it to his lips.
The moment was broken as Bern spoke in a low voice, “Do you want me to go get us coffee…food?” He pointed a thumb toward the door.
Austin mouthed, “Coffee,” and moved his eyes across the room to his friend. Bern nodded and left the room.
Austin sat up a little straighter when he felt his hand be
ing squeezed slightly. He looked at Marcy to see her eyes slowly opening. Her eyelids were heavy and he could she that she was having difficulty focusing.
At last, her eyes found Austin. She tried to smile and winced.
"Don't try to move. You're pretty banged up."
Austin leaned forward and tenderly touched her cheek. She looked surprised to see him.
"What happened?" she asked.
A look of panic crossed her face and he realized she had just remembered some of what had happened. A couple of silent tears slid down her swollen cheeks.
"You don't remember?" his forehead furrowed.
"I was in the parking lot of my building...Mick…he…" she paused and closed her eyes. More tears began to trickle out the sides of her eyes and roll down her face toward her ears. Austin grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and stood wiping the tears away.
"You’re okay now,” he murmured gently, “He’ll never be able to hurt you again."
"Sor...sorry..." Marcy said through her painfully swollen lips.
Austin stopped wiping her cheeks and leaned in closer, "For what?" he asked in a low voice.
Tears continued to trickle out of her eyes and down her cheeks, "For pushing you away…I…”
He understood why she’d pushed him away even though he didn’t like it. He had hoped that she would come around eventually and want to date him. Now that he’d been faced with nearly losing her, he couldn’t bear to be away from her again.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
They were both silent for a minute before Marcy’s weak voice warbled, “You…found me, didn’t…you?”
Austin nodded and choked back the emotion that threatened to reveal itself. His inner bear was silent.
Marcy laid perfectly still while Austin tenderly moved strands of hair off her face and dabbed at her eyes. He didn't want to hurt her already fragile skin.
He sat back down as the door to the room opened. Expecting it to be Bern, he was surprised when a nurse entered the room. Austin gently held Marcy’s hand and smiled at her.
The nurse looked at Marcy, taking no notice of Austin. It was a different nurse than the one who’d shown him to her room.
"You're awake? How are you feeling this morning?" she didn't wait for a response. She looked at Marcy's chart and crossed checked the listed medication on it with what she held in her hands, along with a syringe. She moved to the opposite side of the bed and injected medicine into Marcy's intravenous tube.
"Has she spoken?" the nurse asked Austin as if she’d suddenly noticed he was there.
"Yes," he narrowed his eyes at her. He didn’t like her abruptness, it angered him. She turned her attention to Marcy to examine her quickly and take her blood pressure.
"Looks like you're doin' fine dear," she said as she finished her check-up and left the room without another word.
Austin turned to Marcy and placed a hand against her cheek, stroking it softly, “You need to rest. Doctor's orders.” Austin smiled but didn’t move from where he sat. He didn’t want to leave her but he knew that the medication they’d given her for pain, would make it difficult to keep her eyes open. He felt a great sense of relief that she was going to heal and be okay. Standing up, he leaned down and kissed her lips.
She tried to kiss him back but winced, “Thank you…for being here,” she whispered.
Austin smiled and ran a hand over her hair. “If I have my way, I’ll never leave your side again.”
Marcy soon was fighting to keep her eyes open. Bern entered the room with two cups of coffee in his hands. He glanced at Marcy and smiled.
“She woke up?” he asked.
Austin who was still standing next to her, took a cup of coffee from Bern and sat down again.
“Yes, she spoke. The nurse just gave her some painkillers so she’ll be asleep again soon,” Austin said.
They heard a laugh come from Marcy.
“I can hear you,” she said in a sing song voice. She forced her eyes to stay open for a moment.
“Bern? Why are you here?” she asked in a childlike voice.
Austin could tell that she was feeling the effects of the medication and grinned at her surprised voice.
“Bern’s here to see why you aren’t at work,” Austin teased.
Marcy tried to scrunch up her nose but winced when it didn’t quite work right. She rolled her eyes instead.
“I’m here because I wanted to make sure you were okay,” Bern said, as he grinned at both of them.
“I’m great…I’m happy to see you both,” her voice slurred a little as she closed her eyes.
Chapter Eighteen
The doctor stood at Marcy’s bedside, just as he’d done each day of the week since she’d been brought in to the hospital. Austin sat nearby as he spoke to her.
“You’re healing up nicely. I’d like to release you today but I want you to rest for another couple of weeks. You’ve received a bad concussion and a couple of broken ribs. Those will take some time to heal completely. Do you have someone at home to help you out?”
Marcy bit her lip, “No. I live alone.”
She hadn’t thought about how she’d manage at home, but she would.
Austin spoke quickly and stood up next to the bed, in front of them both.
“She can stay with me.”
Marcy turned to look at him and saw the love in his expression.
“That’s not necessary. I can manage,” she said looking at the doctor, rather than him.
Austin had come in every day to see her. Sometimes, they would just sit in silence, or she would sleep and he would read. He’d also read to her, told her stories about his life and kept her spirits up. She knew he felt guilty for her getting attacked. She didn’t want him to feel responsible for her as well.
“She’s coming to my house,” Austin said firmly.
The doctor smiled and looked back and forth between Marcy and Austin.
“It’s settled then. You’ll go home today. I’ll get the paperwork ready and send the nurse in to help you get ready to go.”
“Thanks,” Marcy said. Turning to face Austin she added, “But I don’t want you to feel responsible for me…”
“You’ve been badly hurt, Marcy. Being independent is great, but sometimes we have to accept a little help from the people who love us.”
Love?
Marcy felt herself blush. She looked away.
Austin stepped toward her and put a finger under her chin to turn her toward him. “I love the way you blush so easily…I want to take care of you…let me,” he said with a hint of sexy in his voice.
After a week in the hospital she was ready to go home. The last thing she wanted to do was argue. She couldn’t deny that her feelings for Austin had grown into something she’d never expected.
When she had woken the morning after she was attacked to find Austin there at her side, she was filled with love for him. No man had ever shown her such kindness and love. He held her hand and spoke so softly to her. It sounded strange to hear his deep voice spoken in a low register like that. Filled with so much emotion. She still felt her insides go to mush around him. She finally realized it was because he was special to her.
At first, she couldn't remember what had happened to her that night. The memories came back in bits and pieces and she remembered that Mick had hurt her. She wanted him to suffer like she had. Austin and Bern both reassured her that he was locked up and would not be set free again.
Austin even brought in her cell phone and made calls on her behalf to her family and best friend Amara. Everything he had done since she entered the hospital, told her he cared for her a great deal. She never imagined herself falling in love with someone so completely. So quickly. He was there for her in her darkest moment and she would never forget that.
The nurse helped Marcy to get dressed in the outfit that Austin had brought for her when he went to pack some things from her apartment. He had taken ca
re of everything so that she could focus solely on resting and healing. Helping her into the wheelchair, he wheeled her to his car and lifted her into the passenger seat.
“I can walk, ya know?” she grinned.
He reached for her seat-belt to pull it around her and grinned as he closed the door. He thanked the nurse and gave her the wheelchair, then stepped around to get into the driver's side of the vehicle.
“Is there anything you want me to get before we head home?”
Home? That word sent tingles through Marcy now that she was going to be staying with Austin for a while. She was happy to be going home with him.
“I don’t know. Did you get everything on my list, from my apartment?”
Austin gave his signature sexy grin, “I did.”
Marcy nodded once and pointed to the street in front of them, “Then I should be fine. Let’s go home…”
She paused then added, “Thanks again for that, I don’t know what I’d do without you taking care of things for me.”
She smiled and touched his hand.
Austin took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.
“I would do anything for you Marcy. I hope you know how much you mean to me.”
His face turned serious. His amber eyes gazed at her lovingly and she felt a swarm of butterflies flutter in her stomach again.
“You mean a lot to me as well. More than I wanted to admit.”
Austin raised one eyebrow and grinned, “Really?”
“Really,” Marcy said.
Austin started the car and headed home.
Chapter Nineteen
The guest room at Austin’s had been set up with everything Marcy needed to be comfortable. He’d hung her clothes in the closet and put away other items in the room's dresser. Marcy felt at home very quickly and was glad to have a change of scenery from the hospital room.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about going back to her apartment after what had happened. The idea of being there even with Mick locked away scared her. She didn’t want to say anything to Austin because she knew he’d insist on her staying with him. She cared for him a great deal but let’s face it, they weren’t really in what one would call a relationship. Secretly, she hoped that staying an extra week or two at his house would allow them to get closer.