“What is this?” He asks in a dangerous tone, picking up whatever Jules is putting off.
The doctor’s brows furrow in confusion but he takes a breath and puts a sympathetic expression on his face.
“I understand you all must be worried. Please rest assured we’re here to help her, I promise. There are protocols in place when a patient attempts to take their life that must be followed. It’s in her best interest to…”
Julian barks a nasty laugh, interrupting him.
“Is it? Is it in her best interest to take her away from everyone who loves her and isolate her? Is it? Put her in a padded room for 72 hours so you can assess her? Leave her exposed to asshole orderlies on power trips to do what they want with her? Then make her sit in a fucking circle of other mentally disturbed patients to talk about her feelings? Yeah, fuck you! That’s not happening!”
The doctor quickly loses his pasted-on sympathetic expression and takes on an offended, unfeeling look that matches his ice-cold tone.
“I assure you, she will be cared for and safe in the psychiatric ward. Our staff prides itself on its professionalism. Besides, holds are required by law for anyone…”
Julian takes a menacing step forward, causing the doctor to quickly step back, and Reid throws himself over Luna like he’s protecting her from something.
“You think I care about fucking laws? I’ll paint the walls fucking red with your…”
“Stop! Mr. Stillwell. Do not finish that sentence!”
All heads swivel to the suited man that has stepped into the room. He has an air of authority about him, and his stern glare moves from Julian to the doctor.
“Doctor Tavish, please step out of the room. I will handle this.”
“Sir, protocol says that…”
“Enough! I’m well aware of the protocols. I am the Chief Medical Officer, after all. Now step out of this room. I will be with you shortly.”
Dr. Tavish makes a frustrated sound but turns and waves the orderly out and follows him, closing the door behind him. The Chief shoves a hand through his thinning hair and hits Juliam with an exasperated look.
“Stillwell, you can’t just go around threatening my staff like that. I understand you have concerns for your…” he leans to the side to look at Luna and then back, “friend, but there are still rules that need to be followed.”
A dark smirk crosses Julian’s face. “Fuck your rules.” He angles slightly and points out the window. “That’s my family name on that wing over there. Your rules don’t mean shit when it comes to me. You or your staff even think about trying to take her on a hold and all the money we donate to this place is gone like that!” He snaps his fingers harshly.
“You can add the Channing name and funding to that loss as well.” An icy cold voice says from behind him. He turns enough so we can all see Kara standing in the doorway. Her chin is up and the look in her eyes is enough for me to be scared for the guy.
He lets out a frustrated huff and tries one last time.
“Your friend clearly needs help. She tried to kill herself.”
Jules shakes his head. “No, she didn’t. It was an accident. She hasn’t been sleeping well since the death of her family. She merely took a few extra pills. She was obviously confused in her exhausted state. She didn’t try to kill herself.”
The look on the man’s face clearly says he doesn’t believe that, so Julian yanks the chart from the wall and thrusts it at him.
“Check her chart. See what they pumped out of her.”
The man takes it and flips through the pages, reads some of it, and then sighs.
“They only found four partially dissolved tablets.”
“See? She mixed up her doses. Unfortunate, but not a suicide attempt. If she were trying to kill herself, she would have taken a lot more than that, right? Her medication will be strictly monitored going forward and she will receive the best private care available from now on.”
My eyes crash closed as memories of the bathroom where we found her fill my head. Julian forcing her to puke and the many pills that were in the puddle of her vomit on the floor. His doing that not only saved her life but made it so she won’t have this on her record. I press my lips together. I don’t know what goes on in the psychiatric ward, but if he’s fighting this hard to keep her out of it, I’m on board.
A soft, ragged groan has my eyes flying open. Luna’s eyes are open and flashing around the room with wild panic. I lean over and cup her cheek until her scared gaze settles on mine. Her voice is a harsh croak when it comes out.
“Tor? What’s happening? I… I don’t want to be here. Please… please, can you take me home?”
I place my lips against the chilled skin of her forehead and kiss her as the tightness clenching at my chest finally eases completely, then whisper, “Yes, love. We’ll take you home.”
