“I’m jumping in here, Kassie,” Patch said. “How’s this any different than me knowing Claire and staying with her? Marcus and Gabby didn’t even like each other and we stuck them together.”
“You didn’t attack Ivan the first week you arrived. How can he protect her? A blind woman kicked his ass. How will he handle her if she has an episode? If you think I don’t know how angry he got over the dogs, you’re naive, Patch,” Kassie seethed. “He’s an ass kisser. Like, I don’t know what Victoria carries in the new tumbler Cole gave her as an apology. Or shall we ask Ivan about the cookies?”
Cole stepped forward. “I did everything you’re accusing me of. If you recall, I have insisted on seeing Hannah from the moment I met her. How many people have continued to visit her besides you, Sparky, and Claire? The other veterans avoided her room because they didn’t know what to say. I may not have the words, but I’ve proved with my actions, I’ll always be here for her.”
“What exactly are your intentions?” Kassie demanded. “She’s gone through hell and back. You have no idea what kind of person it takes to bring someone from the brink.”
Leo moved toward Kassie as her eyes teared up. He pulled her to him. “Where’s Doc?” he asked softly.
“He’s home with the kids,” she hiccupped.
“What about the grans?” he asked.
“Victoria and Ivan plan to stay until I return,” she whispered.
Leo nodded toward Patch, who took out his phone and disappeared.
“It’s all I can do to stand here and wait for you to say I can go to her,” Cole said solemnly. “She’s scared. I’m not stupid. It doesn’t take a doctor to tell me what happened to her. I’ve seen the scars. I noticed the wariness in her eyes. Fear radiates from her body when she feels overwhelmed, like the day you brought her to the facility. You may have believed it might help her to meet the team. You forgot their bulk and numbers might terrify her more. I didn’t get mad for no reason. I assumed you might have guessed it on your own.”
Kassie turned her startled eyes toward him. “I did forget. Because these men have represented safety to me from the moment they rescued me. Claire felt the same way.”
“Not for Hannah. Their size makes her uneasy. You trusted me enough to take her on a tour of the facility and visit her in the evenings, but I’m not good enough to make her feel safe,” he said sarcastically. “Patch, you saw what happened back there. Did it appear as if Hannah feared me?”
A vehicle’s lights shone through the windows, and a second later, Doc rushed in. His eyes searched the room until they landed on Kassie. In seconds, he wrapped her in his embrace. His lips murmured something in her ear and she nodded.
“Stay with Leo while I talk to Hannah,” Doc directed, passing her off to his best friend.
“PITA, I know what’s going on in that stubborn, red head of yours. Maybe Cole has a point. Yeah, he’s fucked up, but you still love me, and I do it daily,” he teased, attempting to change the mood in the room.
“Hannah’s worried her father will make her leave here,” Cole informed them. “She’s an adult. He can’t make her, can he?”
Kassie sighed. “There’s a thin medical line here, Cole and I can’t cross it. Because of Hannah’s previous state, they’re her legal guardians.”
“But she’s better,” he insisted.
“No, Cole. She experienced a breakthrough. Hannah has a long way to go,” Kassie explained. “Everyone’s journey takes a different amount of time.”
“Then, why can’t I help her? She responds to Brody and me. I spent Thanksgiving Day with her, and you saw for yourself how she interacted with me. She trusted me enough to tour the facility alone,” he pleaded.
“He’s got a point, Kassie,” Leo said softly. “You, of all people, know how one person can make a difference.”
“We’re not talking about me. She’s my patient,” she insisted. “I can’t take chances.”
“Doc took a chance when he brought you back here,” Leo reminded her. “Don’t you always say the mountain has a way of healing your soul? Why don’t you talk to Hannah and see what she wants to do?”
Kassie sighed. “I have a feeling we’re on a limited amount of time. Cole doesn’t have any experience. What if something goes wrong?”
“Like it did tonight? I’ll call for backup, exactly like Patch did. He tried Sparky first and then me. I got here and took the knife away before you even arrived. It’s gotta show she has some trust in me,” he argued.
Kassie stared at him. Her mouth firmed as she sized him up. “Patch. Call Claire and have her come to the cabin. We’ll talk to Hannah alone and decide on how to proceed. I’m warning you, Cole. She’s not a pet project. When you must work, she’ll need to stay with us at the hospital.”
“She mentioned she wanted to watch me train the dogs. Can’t she go with me?” he asked.
“Let’s see what Claire says before we make any decisions,” Kassie hedged. “I’ll go and check on her now,” she said, heading toward the bedroom.
“Why do I feel like she’s acting way more protective of Hannah compared to her other patients?” Cole asked Leo.
“Because Kassie went through something similar,” Leo said, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s no secret, but Hannah never would’ve stayed here this long if Kassie didn’t advocate for her. She wants her to heal as much as you do. You’re new and she doesn’t know you. It’s the difference between our situations. With Patch, Kassie knew him as a patient and a person. Doc and Kassie loved each other way before the incident and it gave her a reason to fight. If she agrees to this, you follow every rule to theletter, or I’ll sic Victoria on your ass. Your ass will end up on our table as the Christmas ham or in Siberia with Ivan’s men.”
