Page 14 of Rescuing Ryder

“What type of physical exercise do you participate in?” Dr. Meyers erased the medication list.

“None.”

“Is it due to your physical injuries?” she peered at her notes.

“No. I didn’t feel I needed to stay fit. I don’t intend to go back,” he bit out.No, I have an entirely different exit, which doesn’t require me to stay in shape.

“Can you tell us about your social life? Do you like to go out? Do noises, smells, or phrases bother you?”

“I’m not into socializing. All my friends died and I’m not interested in making new ones,” he sniped at her.

She waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, she asked him again.

“Do you have any triggers we need to know about? It seems your past physicians failed to note any in your records.” Claire flipped through her records and her nose squinched up in thought.

They didn’t note it because he didn’t talk about it. He didn’t think they wanted to hear about the smell of charred flesh, or how the thought of it brought him to his knees. He didn’t care for watching his brothers bleed out and die, either.

“No,” he answered curtly.

She put the eraser and marker down. “It’s important we know if you have any triggers. We recommend your placement depending on your sensitivity to sounds or other factors.”

“Sorry to disappoint you. I don’t suffer from any of those.” Ryder crossed his arms as he leaned back in his chair.

Kassie made a note on her pad. “How did you find your accommodations last night?”

“I rested. Thank you,” he said as he kept his eyes on the blonde. Claire flitted through her notes until she came upon something she searched for.

“Most of the physicians consider you suicidal. Kassie’s asking to place you in the cabin for your stay with us. I recommend you start in the hospital rooms and graduate to the subdivision,” Claire suggested.

Something in his gut tightened at her directness. She didn’t go around the words like everyone else did. They listed off his mental health issues as if they ordered from a menu. He turned to Kassie.

“I prefer the cabin. I like the space and view,” he said, before turning to Dr. Meyers. “I lost my entire team and my best friend. I believe anyone coming from such a traumatic experience might hold some of those feelings.”

“Tex shares the same concern,” Dr. Meyers stated as she tapped the capped end of her pen to her mouth. “But the cabins are nice, and I believe you’ll feel more comfortable there. We have a veteran who visits the residents by the name of Whiskey. I want him to mentor you while you’re here. Will you consent to work with him?”

“As long as we don’t have to hold hands and start singing,” Ryder smirked.

“I want an hour daily to start where you put in the work. We’ll adjust as you take on other roles. The cabins have a kitchen, but I prefer you to come to the hospital for meals for the next two weeks. I’ll discuss your meds once you decide to stay and put in the time. I want you to start PT outdoors and at least two weekly walk sign-ups for the remainder of your stay. Do you have any questions?” She wrote all her requests on the board.

“Nope,” Ryder answered curtly.

“I’ll want to run a thorough physical exam, and perform an x-ray on your thigh. The physicians noted some shrapnel damage. I agree with the PT assessment,” Chase advised him.

“Whiskey will update us on his concerns as you progress. I’ll pop in now and again to check in with you, or you can come tomy office if you have concerns.” Kassie smiled at him. “I believe we’ve used up fifty-three and a half minutes. Do you have any questions?”

“What happens if I decide this isn’t for me?” he asked as he stared at the board and Dr. Meyers’ notes.

“You’re not held prisoner here. My offer to fly you home still stands. I hope you might like to tour the place before deciding. Of course, it’ll take longer than the time I promised you. You’ll find I keep my word.” She passed a card to him. “Ryder, if you decide you can’t do this now, the invitation is always open for you to join us. You can call us at any time.”

He picked up the card and stuck it in his pocket.

“Your friend Tex went to the floor below us. Follow the signs for the therapy room. We tentatively scheduled his flight to leave right after lunch. The question remains whether you’ll stay or run. It’s up to you. My time’s up. I hope I’ll see you again,” Claire challenged him as she gathered her paperwork and left the room.

Chase stood beside his wife. “If you have any questions or want to discuss what we’ve started for your care plan, don’t hesitate to find one of us.”

Kassie walked toward him and placed her hand on his arm. “Good luck, Ryder.”

“Thank you for the hospitality. I appreciated the pie and food you left,” Ryder thanked her, searching for something to say. It took him off guard. They kept their word, never pressured him, and accepted his decision.

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