Page 12 of Shadows of Recovery

“You’re doing great, Tristan,” she whispered, her voice soft but steady despite the situation.

He paused briefly, his elbow gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from her forehead. “I should be saying that to you.” His voice was filled with a mix of affection and worry. “I’m so sorry this happened, Sophie.”

Sophie reached up, her fingers lightly squeezing his upper arm, her touch warm and comforting. “I’m okay,” she murmured, her eyes holding his with unwavering trust. “Especially with you here.”

Her words, so simple yet filled with a deep sense of reassurance, helped ease the tightness in his chest. He continued stitching, a wave of protective tenderness washing over him. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly, the promise clear in his voice as he finished the last stitch, knowing his care for her was something that would only grow stronger.

He admitted her to the surgical floor for observation while also treating other ER patients.

When the storm outside and in the ER finally subsided, and Sophie was resting in a quiet room, Tristan made his way to sit by her bed, holding her hand. "I'm so sorry this happened to you.” His voice was filled with guilt and concern. "I should have been there. With the bad weather, I should have called in more staff."

“It's not your fault, Tristan," Sophie replied gently despite her headache and fatigue. "You couldn't have known."

He looked into her eyes, his own filled with a mix of emotions. "I care about you, Sophie. More than I can say. Seeing you hurt like this... it’s tearing me apart."

Sophie squeezed his hand weakly, a small smile on her lips. "I care about you too.”

Tristan leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.I promise I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe.He couldn’t bring himself to say the words aloud. The last woman he said them to was dead.

* * *

Tristan satin the small hospital room, his hand gently wrapped around Sophie's as she slept. The door burst open, and Sophie's family flooded in, their faces a mix of concern and relief. He’d been so focused on Sophie, he hadn’t even registered that her family would be allowed immediate access, but given the circumstances, it made sense. Escorted in by varied badge holders, each introduced themselves to the doctor in the room.

“Liv,” Sophie breathed out as her sister, a detective, stepped forward, her badge visible as she moved swiftly to Sophie’s side. Molly, her other sister, was right behind her, with Olivia’s fiancé, Jackson, a firefighter still in uniform, close behind. Ethan, Molly’s fiancé, flashed his FBI ID at the door before stepping inside, concern evident in his eyes.

Isobel and Ruth entered next, their expressions a mix of relief and worry, followed by Charlotte, Sophie’s mother, who still carried the presence of a retired deputy chief. Her mother’s boyfriend, who introduced himself as Alex Marcel, was at her side, his protective gaze sweeping the room.

Tristan stepped back slightly, giving them space but staying close enough to monitor Sophie. He could see how deeply they all cared for her, the bonds of family and love evident in the way they surrounded her. Sophie looked at each of them, her face lighting up with a mixture of relief and gratitude as she murmured, “You all came...”

“Of course we did,” Liv said firmly, squeezing her sister’s hand. “We’re not going anywhere.”

A warmth spread through him knowing Sophie was surrounded by people who loved her so deeply. It reassured him, too, that she had such a strong support system. When he caught Sophie’s eye, she gave him a small smile, the trust between them unspoken but clear. He knew now, more than ever, that he wasn’t just a doctor to her—he was someone she counted on, just as much as her family.

Ethan, whom he remembered was a special agent in charge with the FBI, glanced at Tristan, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Doctor, are we interrupting you?” There was a note of suspicion in his voice.

“This is Dr. Tristan Blackwell,” Sophie said, her voice steady. “He’s the Chief of Emergency Services here.”

Tristan nodded politely, but he could feel the scrutiny from the room. It was clear they all wanted answers.

Alex, whom Tristan remembered was an investigator with South Dakota’s US Attorney’s office, asked, “Dr. Blackwell, have the police been notified?”

Sophie took a deep breath. “It was a distraught father. I’d just told him his son died. I won’t press charges.”

Tristan frowned. It was clear by his expression he disagreed with her. Sophie reached for his hand, and the rest of the room followed the action.

Isobel smiled. “Jackson, Ethan, and Alex, there’s something Sophie needs to tell you all. Tristan and Soph… they’ve been seeing each other.”

When her other sisters smiled too, Tristan felt their collective gaze. He had maintained a professional demeanor throughout Sophie's ordeal, but his concern for her was evident to anyone paying attention.

Charlotte stepped forward, her eyes softening as she looked at Tristan. “We know,” she said. “We’ve maintained Sophie’s confidence. But now…”

Tristan nodded. “Sophie and I have been seeing each other for a short time. We’ve kept it professional at work, but I care deeply for her.”

Ethan crossed his arms, still skeptical. “And how does this affect your work relationship? Isn’t there a conflict of interest?”

“We’re handling it,” Sophie said firmly. “We’ve already spoken with HR, and after this, we’ll be having a meeting to discuss the next necessary steps.”

Charlotte reached out and patted Tristan’s hand. “Thank you for being there for my daughter,” she said. “I can see you care about her.”

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