Page 42 of Shadows of Recovery

“Hmm, but you’re right. You need to take care of me.” He pressed her onto the couch.

“No, don’t,” she begged. “Please stop.” He was a monster.

“Oh, pretty doctor. I told you, you belong to me.” He let his full weight rest upon her, his body pressing into her.

Sophie lost track of time. Eventually, Damon stood up, secured his clothing and moved to the door, motioning for two of his men to enter the lounge. "Get her some scrubs and take her to the ER. Make sure she does exactly what she says the patient needs, and nothing more. If she tries anything, shoot one of the patients. That should keep her in line."

Sophie was led down the hall. Her balance was off. She remembered the first time she put on scrubs to work. Now they were her suit of armor.

When they reached the ER, Sophie immediately began checking on the patients. Her professional demeanor kicked in.

The waiting room had become a makeshift holding area, filled with frightened patients and hospital staff under the watchful eyes of the Eldon Sect. Sophie, despite her own fear, moved through the room with a calm resolve, checking on the patients huddled together. Her nursing staff and an intern, equally terrified, followed her lead, trying to provide what comfort they could.

"We need to stay strong for them. Let's check vitals and make sure everyone is stable," Sophie asked one of the nurses.

The head nurse, Sarah Franklin, nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she took out a stethoscope. The fear in her eyes was palpable, but she focused on her tasks. "What did he... what did he do to you, Sophie?"

"I’m alright. We have to stay calm and do our jobs. The police are working on getting us out of here. We need to keep everyone safe and as comfortable as possible until then." Sophie squeezed her shoulder.

Moving to a patient, Sophie spoke in soothing tones, "How are you feeling? Any pain or discomfort?"

"Just scared. My ankle stopped hurting. What’s going to happen to us?"

Sophie forced a soft smile. "We're doing everything we can to make sure you're safe. Help is on the way. Just hang in there a little longer."

Another nurse, Laura, trying to steady her own nerves, approached her. "Sophie, Mrs. Jacobs in the corner seems to be in distress. She came in with back pain from a slip on the ice. Should we give her something to calm her down?"

Sophie looked over at her. "Yes, but make sure it's just enough to help her relax. We need to keep everyone alert and aware of what’s happening."

“They took all the narcotics,” the nurse said.

Sophie tried to think of an alternative, but her thoughts were turning to mush. “What did they leave behind?”

“We have Robaxin.” It was a muscle relaxant.

“Try 250 milligrams. That should help her,” Sophie said.

As they worked, one of Damon’s followers watched them closely, his expression menacing. Sophie felt his eyes on her, but she forced herself to focus on the patients, her heart pounding in her ears.

Sarahwhispered, "Sophie, what if they don't come in time?"

Sophie metSarah's eyes with quiet determination, her focus fish-eyeing. "They will. We just have to hold on and keep everyone as healthy as we can."

Despite the terror surrounding them, Sophie and her nursing staff continued their rounds, their dedication to their patients shining through the darkness of their situation. They were scared, but their commitment to care and their hope for rescue gave them strength.

Another one of her patients, a young boy who came in around the time of the takeover with an asthma attack, was now struggling to breathe, the attack worsening. Sophie quickly prepared an advanced nebulizer treatment and IV meds, her hands steady.

She held the mask to the boy’s face, speaking soothingly to him, "Just breathe slowly, in and out. You're going to be okay." She showed his mom how to hold the mask. The boy's breathing gradually eased, and Sophie felt a small measure of relief. She offered some reassurance to his mom and continued to move from patient to patient.

She wrote an order for the nurses to follow when she was out of the ER. She was grateful Damon hadn’t stopped them from following written orders. Throughout it all, she kept an eye on Damon’s men, aware of their constant scrutiny. She had to be careful and, above all, compliant.

Hours seemed to pass in a blur of medical procedures and tense negotiations with her captors. Sophie’s head ached from the constant stress, but she pushed through, driven by her duty to her patients. Finally, as she was finishing up with the last critical case, one of Damon’s men approached her. "Time’s up, Doc. You’re coming back with us."

Sophie nodded. She had done everything she could for her patients, but she knew their safety remained in jeopardy. As she was led back to the doctor’s lounge, she silently prayed the negotiators outside were making progress, that they were finding a way to end this nightmare.

Back in the lounge, Damon was waiting for her, his eyes lighting up as she entered. "How were your patients, pretty doctor? Did you save any lives today?" His tone was mocking.

Sophie met his gaze, her voice steady despite her fatigue. "Yes, I did. But they still need care. Regular monitoring, medication. If you won’t let them go, I need to be able to check on them again."

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