Chapter 5
Becky took a deep breath and pulled away from Sloan. The relief of not carrying this alone hit her hard, followed just as quickly by guilt for not telling him sooner. Now he was blaming himself. She could read him like a book, and dammit, this wasn’t on him.
Giving him a small smile, she turned and sat back down, facing Slade, waiting for the questions. He continued typing, eyes on the monitor, making a few notes before finally looking up at her.
“Am I just being paranoid?” Becky asked again deep inside hoping that maybe she was, and everything was okay. She searched his eyes as he studied her from across the desk. His gaze flickered briefly to Sloan, then back to her.
“No, you’re not,” Slade repeated his answer. “This could just be an administrative mistake, but always trust your gut, Becky.”
Nodding, Becky sighed. “So, what’s next?”
“I want to run some blood work and set up a transvaginal ultrasound. Are you okay with that?”
“I’m fine with the blood work, but are you doing the ultrasound?” Becky asked. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Slade, he was the only one she trusted medically right now, but the idea of him doing that? It was uncomfortable enough without it being someone she saw every day.
Slade shook his head. “No, Becky. You need an ultrasound technician and an OB.”
She felt Sloan step closer, his hand settling on her shoulder. “Only someone you choose. Someone you trust.” Sloan informed her, then looked at Slade. “Do you have someone who can do this?”
“Absolutely,” Slade replied, his voice even and understanding. “Already have someone in mind and I will be in the room so I can interpret what’s on the screen.”
Becky nodded slowly. “Okay… but I don’t want it done at Tri-State Outpatient Surgery Center,” she added quickly. “I don’t want to run into Dr. Phillips.”
“Did he do something to you that you’re not telling us?” Sloan growled, his hand tightening slightly on her shoulder.
Her gaze shifted to Slade, and she knew he understood where she was coming from. “Sloan, I honestly don’t know. I just don’t want any chance of seeing him.”
“I’m not familiar with that surgery center,” Slade said. “I know a few doctors who’ve used them for outpatient procedures. From what I’ve heard, they have a good reputation.”
She knew he was trying to put her at ease, but it wasn’t working. Until she knew what was going on, she trusted no one… except the two men in this room.
When Becky didn’t respond, Slade glanced at Sloan.
“You got anyone who can check the place out?” he asked, already typing on the computer.
He grabbed a pen and paper, scribbled something down, then handed it to Sloan.
“I want to know how busy it is, how many front staff, everything. Anything they can get without drawing attention.”
“If not, I’ll pull someone,” Sloan said, taking the paper.
Slade’s attention went back to Becky. “How have you been feeling lately, Becky?”
Becky swallowed. “As I said, I had cysts removed in my twenties. I remember how I felt after.” She hesitated. “I didn’t have any symptoms this time. No soreness, spotting, nothing. I actually felt fine.”
Slade’s frown deepened as he listened to her.
Her fingers twisted together. “It wasn’t until almost three weeks later that I started feeling off. Nausea, tired and restless. Almost like I was back on the medication he had me on before the procedure.” She looked at Slade. “Is that normal?”
“To have no symptoms after an ovarian cyst removal? Not likely.” Slade grabbed the pen. “Do you remember what medications he had you on before the procedure?”
Becky didn’t miss the way he said the procedure, like he didn’t believe it had happened either. Her stomach dipped, anxiety and nausea rolling through her.
“I’m not losing my mind,” she whispered, more to herself than them. Then she swallowed and looked at Slade. “He had me on birth control at first… said it was to regulate things. Then he switched me to something called Prometrium. Told me it would help before the procedure.”
Slade went very still, the pen in his hand hovering over the paper. His eyes lifted slowly to hers.
“Prometrium?” he repeated, his voice quieter now.
A look passed between him and Sloan, something sharp and unspoken, before Slade looked back at Becky.
“That’s not typically used for cyst treatment,” he said carefully.
Sloan’s body went rigid beside her.
Slade leaned forward slightly, his focus locked on Becky. “How long were you on it?”
Becky frowned, thinking back. “A couple weeks… maybe a little more before the procedure.”
“And during that time,” Slade asked. “How did you feel?”
Becky let out a slow breath. “I was nauseous sometimes. Tired and restless. I felt rundown like I had the flu.” She glanced at Sloan. “You saw it. Hell, I think everyone saw it.”
Slade’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes sharpened. “And after the procedure? That was all gone?”
Becky hesitated. “Yeah, until now.”
Slade sat back slowly, his gaze dropping for a second before lifting again.
Sloan didn’t miss it. “What?” he demanded.
Slade looked between them, then back to Becky. “I want to run those labs,” he said. “And we’ll get that ultrasound scheduled. I need to make a few phone calls and then I’ll meet you at my office to take some blood. Just meet me there.”
“Can I grab something to eat first?” Becky stood slowly. “I didn’t eat this morning, but I’m starting to feel a little hungry now. I’d rather eat before the nausea hits again.”
“Yeah, you can eat.” Slade nodded, but Becky noticed he wasn’t looking directly at her, like he was avoiding her gaze. That paranoid feeling crept in again.
“What exactly are you testing my blood for?” She knew her question caught him off guard, but he recovered quickly, slipping right back into that Warrior facade.
“It’s general blood work, but also hormone levels,” Slade answered.
Becky stared at him for a moment, then nodded and headed for the door. Sloan took her hand and opened it for her. As they stepped out, she noticed Daniel and Duncan talking nearby. Kent walked in through the front door, giving them a nod as he passed.
“Kent,” Sloan called. “I’ve got a job for you.”
Kent turned and headed back. “What is it?” He took the paper from Sloan and glanced at it.
“I need you to check this place out,” Sloan said. “It’s an outpatient surgical center. Slade wants to know how busy it is, how many front staff they have—anything out of the ordinary. Take Daniel with you.”
Becky noticed Kent grimace, not looking at Daniel, who just stood there staring at him. “I can handle it,” Kent said, slipping the paper into his pocket.
“I didn’t ask if you could fucking handle it,” Sloan growled. “I ordered you to take Daniel with you. Do you two still have a problem?”
“No problem here,” Daniel said, sounding bored.
“Yeah… no problem,” Kent muttered, though it didn’t look that way.
Steve appeared then. “What’s up?” He glanced around. “We having a meeting I wasn’t invited to again?”
Becky smiled when Sloan rolled his eyes. No matter how bad she felt, Steve always managed to make her smile.
“Steve, go with Kent and Daniel,” Sloan ordered, leading Becky toward the kitchen. “Make sure they don’t kill each other.”
“Seriously?” Steve called after them. “What if they team up and kill me? Daniel scares the shit out of me.”
Becky let out a soft laugh as they turned the corner, Steve still complaining behind them.
“What are you laughing at?” Sloan glanced down at her, eyebrow cocked, though a hint of a smile touched his mouth.
“Steve… what else,” Becky said as they stepped into the kitchen.
Sid stood at the counter cutting up a raw chicken. The second Becky saw it, her stomach twisted, nausea surging hard and fast. Letting go of Sloan, she turned and rushed out, heading for the nearest bathroom, but she didn’t make it.
She bent over, dry heaving so hard her vision blurred. Her knees gave, but Sloan was there, catching her.
“Hold on, honey,” Sloan said, already moving. He rushed down the hall, pushed open Slade’s office door, and set her on the exam table before grabbing the small wastebasket and pressing it into her hands. Pulling out his phone, he cursed. “Get to your office. Now.”
Another wave hit. She gagged, her body jerking as she tried to throw up, but nothing but air and pain exited her body. When it finally passed, she sagged, her body going limp.
Sloan caught her, easing her back as the wastebasket slipped from her hands and hit the floor.
Knowing he was panicking, she forced her eyes open. His expression full of pure worry and panic hit her hard.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, her voice rough. “Just… give me a minute.”
Her eyes drifted shut again as she felt his hand smooth her hair back, his body close, and solid beside her.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
And she knew he did, but it didn’t stop the fear curling deep in her chest.