Page 45 of Rescuing Ryder

“I’ll get something to help you for the pain. You have a couple of cracked ribs, a concussion, and several abrasions. The one next to your eye required stitches. We also stitched up your ear. Your jaw appears swollen from the blows. Nothing’s broken but it’ll feel like it is. I want to keep you here for a few days and then you’ll stay with us as our guest,” Chase informed her.

“Can you call Detective Stewart in Seattle? I went to see him. Whoever’s in Kilner’s room isn’t him,” she informed him slowly.

“You went to the police?” Chase asked.

She nodded slightly while holding her head. Kassie disappeared momentarily, returned with a syringe, and inserted it into the IV.

“Relax, sweetie. Members of the team will stay outside your room at all times. We’ll make some calls and try to make some sense of this,” Kassie soothed as she glanced at her husband.

Claire closed her eyes again, letting the drugs numb her from the pain. It wasn’t the cracked ribs or her head that hurt the most. Waking up to hear Ryder confide to Kassie, he never felt anything for her stung worse than her eye. The damage to her heart felt worse than anything she imagined.

Ryder pacedthe floor of Chase’s office. “I don’t understand why you won’t let me see her. You saw how she clung to me after the shooting.”

Chase leaned forward onto his desk. “Claire’s traumatized. I’m not allowing you to take advantage of the situation.”

“What makes you even consider I’m out to hurt her?” he practically yelled at Chase. “She’s done nothing but help me. I’ve stayed by her side this entire time.”

“Did you request to switch Dr. Hill because of your feelings for Dr. Meyers?” Chase asked him bluntly.

Ryder stopped and stared at him. “What the hell does this have to do with allowing me to sit with her?”

“It matters because I’m concerned about her methods to reach you. I’m afraid you might’ve misinterpreted her actions. I don’t want anything to jeopardize Claire’s career,” Chase didn’t mince words.

He placed his hands on his hips, wanting to grab Doc by his shirt and ask what he insinuated. He knew what Chase thought and he remembered Kassie’s statement. “I care for Claire. We grew close as she worked with me, but nothing happened. As a corpsman, I know how feelings transfer from patient to caregiver. Claire didn’t act inappropriately at any time. When I realized my attraction to her, I removed myself from the situation and asked to switch. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want you to come to this conclusion.”

“Good. I know she experienced something traumatic and you helped rescue her. We appreciate your assistance. She’s part of our family and I don’t want to kick your ass for messing with her head,” Chase sent the warning.

He received it loud and clear. “We share a friendship, and I don’t understand why you don’t want me there.”

“I want her to feel safe. I know how you feel, believe me. Ryder, you’re stay here concludes when you heal. If she depends on you now, it’ll make adjusting harder for her when you leave. I don’t want to see her hurt,” Chase explained. “Claire’s reaction to you after Kilner’s attack worries me. She doesn’t deserve to suffer any confusion where you’re concerned.”

“I appreciate your honesty, but I don’t intend to play with her emotions,” he replied, stroking the scruff along his jaw. “I’ll abide by your rules unless she asks for me. Then I’ll stay at her side until she asks me to leave.”

Chase stood and walked around the desk, closing the door. “Once, I sat in a very similar situation with my wife. Her godfather, Joe, asked me to make a promise. If you plan to stick around, I want your word you'll leave if your presence hurts her more than helps. We'll figure it out if it occurs before your stay here concludes.”

Ryder nodded. “I give you my word.”

“Then we’re good,” Chase dismissed him.

He opened the door and went straight to Claire’s room. It no longer appeared the same as when he left it. Flowers decorated the room. Three women quietly went about pinning cards to the peg board; a homemade quilt covered Claire, and a basket of lotions and oils sat beside her bed. A pretty blonde woman, he recognized as Whiskey’s wife, gently brushed Claire’s hair into a messy bun. She wore a pretty set of blue pajamas with white flowers. The Serenity women embraced their friend and saw to her comfort. Kassie smiled at him before entering her room.

“Ladies, Claire needs rest. She’s due for a couple of tests and the pain meds started kicking in. I’m afraid we’ll limit visitors for the next couple of days.” Kassie took charge, ushering the women from the room, giving them each a hug and promising to call them if the patient needed anything. When they left, she checked Claire’s vitals and spoke quietly with her patient while Ryder paced the hall, now uncertain if his presence would be welcomed.

Kassie put blankets over the recliner, added a couple of pillows, and laid another quilt over the arm. She exited the room, and Ryder waited for her to order him to leave. Instead, she grabbed his hand and led him to the chair.

“Claire’s meds kicked in and she’s not in any pain. The ladies took over, and she’s tired but fighting sleep. She’s scared, Ryder. Not because she doesn’t feel safe here; it’s what she sees whenshe closes her eyes. You’ll need to chase the monsters away. I’ll relieve you in a few hours, and then Catherine will pop in.”

“There’s no need. I’m not leaving,” Ryder informed her gruffly, expecting her to fight him.

“We’ll bring in meals, give you time to shower, and Leo expects you at PT at 0600. He said something about you having a hearing problem and I need to schedule a test for you. I’m closing her door to give her privacy since we’ve already chased a few of the teens away and a couple of veterans. Only you and the hospital staff will be allowed in. Please press the button if you encounter any intruders,” Kassie gave him instructions.

She started to leave when Ryder took her by the arm and pulled her close.

“Why did I receive the third degree from your husband and then you’re making a bed for me and encouraging me to stay?”

“Because I once lay in a bed, like Claire. I refused to see my husband and spent days and nights terrified out of my mind despite the SEAL team who sat with me. She needs you right now as much as you want to stay. Chase knows how helpless he felt but he’ll never know the depth of my terror. Only Claire understood, and now I’ll ensure she has what she needs the most.”

He pulled the petite redhead into his arms for a hug. He didn’t know her story, but if Kassie felt the same fear as Claire, she deserved the protective guard the team held around her and their significant others.

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