Page 59 of Something to Believe In
As she moved to the bed, the doctor quietly entered the room. She turned to see him, startled that someone had come up behind her so quickly.
Her hand rested against her belly as she stared at him.
He shook his head and reached out his hand to her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Doctor Mason Thompson."
She shook his hand. "It'll be a minute before I don't feel fear of someone coming up behind me."
"Understandable. I have your initial toxicology report back. Someone injected you with cocaine that was laced with Fentanyl."
She stared for a moment. Chills ran down her spine. "Oh, my God. That's... horrible."
"You're very lucky Naloxone was nearby."
Her heart pounded as the implication settled in her mind.
Dr. Thompson smiled kindly. "Please take a seat, and I'll check your pupils and vitals."
She sat on the bed and took a deep breath. He listened to her heart. Took her pulse. Then he shined a light in her eyes and checked her pupils. "Do you have any dizziness?"
"No."
"Your pupils are reacting to the light, though perhaps a little slower than they should be. They'll come around. But if you have any issues or feel sluggish or light-headed, please let us know." He looked at the injection site, then stepped back.
"Can I go home?"
"Yes, you can go home. Just pay attention to your reaction time and breathing."
"Okay."
The doctor stepped back and nodded. His eyes looked between her and Axel. "Do either of you have questions?"
She turned to Axel. He stared at her, waiting for her response. She nodded. "Are there possible long-term effects that could affect me?"
Dr. Thompson sighed. “There could be some to watch for. Dizziness or confusion. Headaches are a possibility as well. If you experience any of these things, come in and we can evaluate them better.”
She took a deep breath. “Thank you.” Turning to Axel, she smiled weakly. Axel shook his head.
"You're welcome. I'll have someone come in and get you out of here."
After the doctor exited the room, she turned to Axel. He came and sat next to her on the bed once more.
She swallowed. "I don't want this to turn into a thing, Axel. But I need to ask so that maybe you and Mitch are looking at this the right way. Is Lacey one of the groupies you've been with? Do you think that's why she's so desperate?"
His brows rose in the air, and his eyes rounded. "I don't think so. Mads, if she were, I'd tell you. I honestly don't remember her at all."
"Okay. She seems rather persistent, and this is a whole new level of attack. I could have died."
She saw his Adam's apple bob and his eyes close. "My God, I know. I know it, and the fear I've felt these past couple of hours is unbearable."
Reaching for his hand, she pulled it into her lap. Lacing her fingers with his, she sat for a moment, gathering her thoughts.
"Axel, I'm not saying I don't want to move in with you, because I do. But I won't feel safe at your place until Lacey is in custody. She's already proven she knows where you live. She has been to the Barn. Even with beefed-up security, she got to me. So, I'm asking you this. What do you think about finding a forty-acre field, close to town but on the outskirts? We'll build a house with a level of security even Mitch would be jealous of. We can be away from people when we want to have our privacy, and when we want to be around people, we'll go to the Barn or out with friends."
"That will take some time."
She turned her head and looked into his eyes. "If she kills me, we won't have a future at all."
Axel made a groaning sound and wrapped her in his arms. "Don't say that."
