A few minutes later, multiple doors slammed outside. Sparky and Ice entered with Kassie and Doc. Leo followed behind them. Cole stopped them from entering all at once.
“Patch stitched up her leg. It’s nothing serious, only three stitches. She thought the rebels found her. Brody’s helping to calm her down,” he reported.
“Have Patch come outside to the hall. I’ll finish wherever he stopped. Scarlett can talk to her. You stay out, too,” Kassie ordered.
“No,” Cole refused. “Brody and I brought her back. I’m not leaving her. Why didn’t you tell me she moved here?”
“Last time I checked, you’re not part of her medical team. We have no idea what set her off. When I left today, she seemed fine,” Kassie explained.
“Maybe you made a mistake by leaving her here alone,” Cole blurted.
“Easy, Cole. You’re treading on thin ice,” Leo growled.
“I mean no disrespect,” he said. “Hannah needs air.”
Kassie’s face softened. “I’ll see she gets it. I need to evaluate her. You’ll need to stay here until I finish.”
“Thanks, Kassie,” he murmured as he glanced back at the broken woman clinging to Brody.
Leo clasped his shoulder, leading him into the living room. “How are the dogs?” he asked, attempting to distract him.
Cole arched his brow at him. “Jake took the last IV out. I rebandaged the cut. They’ll need rest and play. We’ll reestablish trust and start training next week.”
“Good. The owner pressed charges, refunded the transport fee, and paid the vet bills,” Leo reported. “What’s your deal with this woman? Last I heard, you volunteered to read to her. Next thing I know, you’re upset about the women bringing her to the facility. Now, you’re nearly blocking the founders of the hospital from treating their patient.”
Cole sighed and pinched his nose. “I can’t explain it, boss. Hannah and I connected somehow. It started way before I read to her. Brody disappeared and ran to her room, bringing her a pinecone. Once I met her, we… meshed. I promise I’m not taking advantage of her in any way.”
“Yeah, you better hope not,” Leo threatened.
“I’m not in it for the kicks. She means something to me,” he admitted, glancing toward the bedroom.
“You only met her,” Leo said, staring at him as if he lost his mind.
“Brody feels the same way. He’s taken to her, too. It’s like we have an invisible string pulling us together,” he defended himself, sounding like an idiot.
“You’re an idiot,” Leo swore. “Kassie will have you carved up like a Christmas ham and buried before I even realize you’re gone. I won’t be reporting your disappearance either. What were you thinking? Or are you thinking with another piece of anatomy?” he chastised.
“I’ll never force her into anything. I may not have access to her medical records, but I’m not stupid,” he said, watching down the hall.
Patch approached them and smacked him upside the head. “What the hell? I called you because you seemed like a friend. She’s a patient first.”
“I saw her like this when I first arrived. I didn’t want Hannah to stop talking again,” he confessed. “Besides coming here, has she left the hospital?”
“No,” Patch admitted. “Claire wanted to ease her into her surroundings. They planned on going with her to get groceries tomorrow and introduce her to the community center.”
“I only hope it doesn’t go as well as my first day. You can’t rush her,” Cole argued.
“For someone who says you’re her friend, you seem protective of her,” Patch accused.
“Yeah, I do. From what I hear, you have no room to talk. Apparently, you and Claire met here. It doesn’t mean I don’t realize she has problems. Name one of us who doesn’t,” he demanded.
Leo growled. “It’s not a pissing match. Cut it out, both of you. We’ll see what Kassie decides.”
Sparky and Ice entered the hall and approached the men. “Hannah doesn’t want to return to the hospital,” she announced. “Kassie’s concerned about letting her stay alone. I went with Kassie to see Melissa when we got the call. She’s more than welcome to stay with Ty and me, but who’ll watch her when I report to work and Ty leaves for the restaurant?”
Patch glared at Cole, already knowing what he planned to say. “Why can’t she stay with me at my cabin?” he asked.
“Because it’s not appropriate for one thing,” Kassie exclaimed as she approached the group and touched Sparky’s arm. “Can you stay with her?” When Sparky and Ice returned to Hannah’s room, she turned toward Cole. “You barely know her.”
