Chapter 23
Patch jumped from his chair at the watch station and picked up his phone, calling Sparky. When she didn’t respond, he hung up the phone and dialed Cole.
“Hey, Patch. What’s up? I checked in with Leo about the dogs. He knows I’m here,” he answered.
“It’s Hannah. She pushed the panic button in cabin four. She’s delusional. I’m heading down while Harry watches the board,” Patch informed him.
Cole heard him running and his gut twisted in knots. “I’ll be there. Don’t do anything until I arrive. She’s afraid of big men.”
“I’ll do my best. She’s not responding and thinks the rebels have found her,” Patch said, entering the cabin.
Cole hung up. “Archer,” he shouted. “I have to bug out. Watch the dogs,” he ordered.
“I got them,” Archer replied as Cole and Brody ran outside and jumped into his truck. He sped out of the parking lot and headed toward the cabins. The short drive didn’t take long, but it seemed like forever as he slammed the vehicle into park and ran toward the cabin with Brody at his heels.
Patch spoke through the door, “Hannah, it’s Patch. I’m coming in.” He knocked three times.
Cole shoved him to the side and wrenched the door open. He fell to his knees at the sight of Hannah. Her eyes appeared empty and he knew she retreated back into her shell.
“Hey, it’s Brody and me. Don’t leave us,” he pleaded.
“You haven’t named Nine yet. The new dogs arrived and they’re sick.
I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you. One has an infected cut on his leg,” he said softly, inching closer to her.
He saw the blood on her pants and noticed the knife. He signaled to Patch, letting him know.
“I’m taking the weapon. You don’t need it anymore,” he said gently.
She gripped the knife tighter, her eyes still blank.
Brody lay on his stomach and moved forward as if sensing her disappearing before their eyes. He whined and nudged her hand, entreating her to pet him.
“Brody’s missed you. He keeps running to the door and asking to visit you.” On cue, the animal gently licked her hand and then her cheek.
Her hand shook as she let the knife drop to the floor, and her hand clung to Brody’s fur. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I don’t want to go back,” she whispered.
“I’m taking you to the hospital. Kassie will check out your leg. You cut it by accident,” he told her.
She shook her head. “No. I’m not going back. I can’t stay in a little room again. I need the air and want to see the moon. My father’s determined to make me leave. You must think I’m crazy,” she whispered.
“Never. You served your country and saw some shit like the rest of us. No one judges or points fingers here,” he assured her.
She pressed her face against Brody’s coat and sobbed.
Cole removed the knife and passed it to Patch. “Can you stand? I’ll help you up, we’ll let Patch see to your leg, then we’ll decide on what to do.”
Hannah nodded jerkily as he rose and helped her to her feet.
Patch moved out of the way while Cole assisted her to the bed. Brody jumped up on the mattress and pressed to her side.
“I’ll grab my bag. You know I have to call this in,” Patch warned him.
“You can do it, but I’m not letting her go back. We’ll lose her if they put her in the hospital,” he explained.
Patch shook his head as he texted Leo and Doc. He cut through Hannah’s pants to check her wound.
A few minutes later, multiple doors slammed outside. Sparky and Ice entered with Kassie and Doc. Leo followed behind them. Cole stopped them from entering all at once.
“Patch stitched up her leg. It’s nothing serious, only three stitches. She thought the rebels found her. Brody’s helping to calm her down,” he reported.
“Have Patch come outside to the hall. I’ll finish wherever he stopped. Scarlett can talk to her. You stay out, too,” Kassie ordered.
“No,” Cole refused. “Brody and I brought her back. I’m not leaving her. Why didn’t you tell me she moved here?”
“Last time I checked, you’re not part of her medical team. We have no idea what set her off. When I left today, she seemed fine,” Kassie explained.
“Maybe you made a mistake by leaving her here alone,” Cole blurted.
“Easy, Cole. You’re treading on thin ice,” Leo growled.
“I mean no disrespect,” he said. “Hannah needs air.”
Kassie’s face softened. “I’ll see she gets it. I need to evaluate her. You’ll need to stay here until I finish.”
“Thanks, Kassie,” he murmured as he glanced back at the broken woman clinging to Brody.
Leo clasped his shoulder, leading him into the living room. “How are the dogs?” he asked, attempting to distract him.
Cole arched his brow at him. “Jake took the last IV out. I rebandaged the cut. They’ll need rest and play. We’ll reestablish trust and start training next week.”
“Good. The owner pressed charges, refunded the transport fee, and paid the vet bills,” Leo reported.
“What’s your deal with this woman? Last I heard, you volunteered to read to her.
Next thing I know, you’re upset about the women bringing her to the facility.
Now, you’re nearly blocking the founders of the hospital from treating their patient. ”
Cole sighed and pinched his nose. “I can’t explain it, boss. Hannah and I connected somehow. It started way before I read to her. Brody disappeared and ran to her room, bringing her a pinecone. Once I met her, we… meshed. I promise I’m not taking advantage of her in any way.”
“Yeah, you better hope not,” Leo threatened.
“I’m not in it for the kicks. She means something to me,” he admitted, glancing toward the bedroom.
“You only met her,” Leo said, staring at him as if he lost his mind.
“Brody feels the same way. He’s taken to her, too. It’s like we have an invisible string pulling us together,” he defended himself, sounding like an idiot.
“You’re an idiot,” Leo swore. “Kassie will have you carved up like a Christmas ham and buried before I even realize you’re gone. I won’t be reporting your disappearance either. What were you thinking? Or are you thinking with another piece of anatomy?” he chastised.
“I’ll never force her into anything. I may not have access to her medical records, but I’m not stupid,” he said, watching down the hall.
Patch approached them and smacked him upside the head. “What the hell? I called you because you seemed like a friend. She’s a patient first.”
“I saw her like this when I first arrived. I didn’t want Hannah to stop talking again,” he confessed. “Besides coming here, has she left the hospital?”
“No,” Patch admitted. “Claire wanted to ease her into her surroundings. They planned on going with her to get groceries tomorrow and introduce her to the community center.”
“I only hope it doesn’t go as well as my first day. You can’t rush her,” Cole argued.
“For someone who says you’re her friend, you seem protective of her,” Patch accused.
“Yeah, I do. From what I hear, you have no room to talk. Apparently, you and Claire met here. It doesn’t mean I don’t realize she has problems. Name one of us who doesn’t,” he demanded.
Leo growled. “It’s not a pissing match. Cut it out, both of you. We’ll see what Kassie decides.”
Sparky and Ice entered the hall and approached the men.
“Hannah doesn’t want to return to the hospital,” she announced.
“Kassie’s concerned about letting her stay alone.
I went with Kassie to see Melissa when we got the call.
She’s more than welcome to stay with Ty and me, but who’ll watch her when I report to work and Ty leaves for the restaurant? ”
Patch glared at Cole, already knowing what he planned to say. “Why can’t she stay with me at my cabin?” he asked.
“Because it’s not appropriate for one thing,” Kassie exclaimed as she approached the group and touched Sparky’s arm. “Can you stay with her?” When Sparky and Ice returned to Hannah’s room, she turned toward Cole. “You barely know her.”
“I’m jumping in here, Kassie,” Patch said. “How’s this any different than me knowing Claire and staying with her? Marcus and Gabby didn’t even like each other and we stuck them together.”
“You didn’t attack Ivan the first week you arrived.
How can he protect her? A blind woman kicked his ass.
How will he handle her if she has an episode?
If you think I don’t know how angry he got over the dogs, you’re naive, Patch,” Kassie seethed.
“He’s an ass kisser. Like, I don’t know what Victoria carries in the new tumbler Cole gave her as an apology.
Or shall we ask Ivan about the cookies?”
Cole stepped forward. “I did everything you’re accusing me of.
If you recall, I have insisted on seeing Hannah from the moment I met her.
How many people have continued to visit her besides you, Sparky, and Claire?
The other veterans avoided her room because they didn’t know what to say.
I may not have the words, but I’ve proved with my actions, I’ll always be here for her. ”
“What exactly are your intentions?” Kassie demanded. “She’s gone through hell and back. You have no idea what kind of person it takes to bring someone from the brink.”
Leo moved toward Kassie as her eyes teared up. He pulled her to him. “Where’s Doc?” he asked softly.
“He’s home with the kids,” she hiccupped.
“What about the grans?” he asked.
“Victoria and Ivan plan to stay until I return,” she whispered.
Leo nodded toward Patch, who took out his phone and disappeared.
“It’s all I can do to stand here and wait for you to say I can go to her,” Cole said solemnly.
“She’s scared. I’m not stupid. It doesn’t take a doctor to tell me what happened to her.
I’ve seen the scars. I noticed the wariness in her eyes.
Fear radiates from her body when she feels overwhelmed, like the day you brought her to the facility.
You may have believed it might help her to meet the team.
You forgot their bulk and numbers might terrify her more.
I didn’t get mad for no reason. I assumed you might have guessed it on your own. ”