Page 17 of Guarded from Danger

As I skid around the bed, I see her.

And my heart fractures. Falls to pieces.

She’s curled into a tiny ball on the floor, her body trembling, each scared whimper a painful stab to my chest.

Fuck.

I knew I shouldn’t have left her.

Nightmare or flashback, the result is the same. Lucy is terrified and traumatized all over again. While I wasn’t there to stop it.

But my own guilt isn’t important now. That’s something to deal with later. Now, I need to make sure Lucy’s okay.

So I crouch down beside her and croon, “Luce, sweetheart. It’s okay. You’re in the hospital, you’re safe.”

I repeat it several times until she lifts her head up to look at me with tear-filled eyes. Her chin quivers as she asks, “Xavier?”

“Yeah, sunshine. I’m here.” Now that I know she recognizes me, I gently touch her shoulder. “You’re okay. You’re safe. The whole team is here. No one is going to hurt you.”

As she stares at me, I quickly glance at her hand, relieved to see her IV still attached. The way she must have launched herself off the bed… She could have ripped it out. Could have hurt herself.

The room fills with light and Lucy flinches. “It’s too bright,” I growl over my shoulder. “It’s hurting her eyes.”

Soft footsteps approach, and an unfamiliar voice says kindly, “Let’s get Miss Thompson back into bed. Then we can make sure she’s not hurt.”

Lucy scoots closer to me, and my arms come around her instinctively. She glances over my shoulder at the nurse and whispers, “I’m okay.”

“Luce, let’s let them check you out.” I slowly lift her to her feet. “Just a quick look, okay?”

But she is okay, or at least, she’s not hurt any worse.

Once Lucy’s settled back in bed, I take her hand, holding it gently. Feeling terrible, I say, “I’m sorry, Luce. I was in the hallway, I didn’t leave you. But I should have?—”

“I thought I was back there,” she interrupts quietly. “When I woke up. It was dark, and I saw the light from the monitor, and… I thought it was a dream that you rescued me.”

Oh.

My gut twists.

“Oh, Luce. I’m so sorry.”

She squeezes my hand. “It’s not your fault. It’s just the dark. It reminded me…”

“We’ll leave the lights on.”

After a pause, Lucy gives me a tiny nod. “Will you… lay with me? I don’t feel scared when you’re here.”

OH.

My heart.

There’s no hesitation. Fuck the hospital rules. Nothing could make me deny Lucy what she wants.

So I nudge her over on the bed and lie down beside her, carefully taking her into my arms. She snuggles into my side and lets out a soft sigh. “This is better.”

I can’t remember the last time I was this close to tears.

And I can’t remember ever feeling more thankful.

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