Page 92 of Rescuing Ryder
Three days later,the sun went down over the mountain and he refused to let her go. The days dragged on and seemed less bright without her in it. Kassie visited, pushing a hospital bed into the room beside Claire’s.
“Sleep. She’ll need you when she wakes,” Kassie ordered him before wishing them goodnight and closing the door.
He climbed on the bed and pulled the quilt over both of them. Wanting to feel her body close to his, he pulled her back to his chest, adjusting her pillow for her comfort.
“Goodnight, Claire Bear. I slayed the monster and when you feel ready, I want you to return to me,” Ryder whispered.
He lay beside Claire listening to her breathing and hoping Chase’s theory proved true. Ryder closed his eyes and recalled the fight before he left and wished he told her how much he loved her. Now, he only wished to see her open her eyes.
Something stirred beside him. Thinking the nurse came in to take her vitals, Ryder discovered no one in the room. He rose from the bed and turned on the bathroom light and returned to ensure the tubes and cords remained untangled. He straightened the covers and brushed her hair from her eyes to find round green ones staring back at him. Ryder’s heart raced as he yelled and pushed the call button. Annabelle ran inside and left to call Chase.
“Hey, Claire Bear. Can you move yet? It’s fine if you can’t. Can you blink?” He waited and almost cried when her eyelids fluttered closed and opened up again.
Kissing her head, he whispered endearments in her ear as Chase ran into the room. He helped turn her over while Doc asked her questions and assured her she was on the mend.
Chase left the room to contact Kassie while Ryder gripped her hand. Tears pooled in her eyes and he gently swiped them away.
“Thank you for choosing us,” he whispered.
The next day,Claire went in and out of consciousness. The team watched over the couple. Leo ordered him to shower and go outside for fresh air, but he refused. The stubborn Kassie didn’t take no for an answer. She entered the room with her arms loaded with towels, clothes, a shaving kit, and personal hygiene products. The women marched in with clean clothes for Claire. He stared at them angrily, daring them to demand he leave.
Kassie placed her hands on her hips, imitating the scary older redhead, Victoria. “Ryder. We’re on your side. Claire needs tending and you badly need a shower. We won’t leave her side until you return. If she wakes, even for a second, I give you my word: I’ll drag you from the shower myself.”
Sighing heavily, Ryder complied. When he returned, Claire wore fresh pajamas and held some color on her cheeks. He briefly wondered if her bed bath made her feel more comfortable as the shower made him feel. The women silently disappeared from the room while Kassie hung a new IV bag. “Her vitals appear a bit stronger today. The chemist and Chase believe they figured out the concoction Klein gave her. They started her on a low dose of meds to help counteract everything. We’re unsure how long it will take and don’t want to overwhelm her system.” She tucked the blanket around Claire before exiting the room.
“Claire Bear, I don’t mean to complain since you’re lying in the hospital bed, but I’ve brought my breathing exercises to a whole new level waiting for you to wake up. Hell, I’ll even let youwin a fight. I won’t say a word when you hang another picture crooked or break something even more when you try fixing it. Open your eyes and yell at me, damn it,” Ryder growled under his breath.
He hung his head in frustration. Rubbing his eyes, he tried to calm his breathing.
“Ryder.”
He barely heard his name, but he knew the sound of her voice, even when it appeared tired. Ryder relived every moment with her inside his head while he waited for her to give him a sign. His head jerked up to find her staring at him. Ryder cupped her cheeks with his hand and kissed her nose. “Hey, Claire Bear. Doc gave you some meds and you’re improving.” He attempted to reassure her. Tears dripped from her eyes as she stared at him and rolled down the sides of her face.
Claire’s mouth barely opened as she struggled to form words. “Scared.”
“Oh, baby. I know. The team takes watch outside your door, Kassie acts as a drill sergeant, and the other women come in to freshen you up. They refuse to allow staff to touch their friend. Klein no longer can terrorize you.” Ryder picked up her hand. “I’m not leaving your side.”
Claire’s eyes moved downward before returning to him. She struggled with trying to speak. Even though she didn’t say it, he felt her terror as she tried to comprehend why her body refused to work.
“Hey,” he spoke softly. “Chase assured me Klein’s mother is slowly coming around. They don’t know how much of what she says is due to a legitimate case of dementia or what the asshole gave her. Chase flew in a chemist and a few other people. They gave you a low dose of medication last night to help counteract the effects. Your vitals appear stable and the fact you’ve stayed awake longer than five minutes is a good sign.”
Ryder swiped the tear away. “We’ll get you through this.”
Leaning over to the side of the bed, he pushed the call button. Annabelle immediately entered the room. She beamed a smile at seeing her patient awake. “Welcome back, Claire. I’ll inform Chase and Kassie immediately.”
Ryder held her hand, careful to put it within her sight, unsure if she felt anything. A few minutes later, the couple appeared.
Kassie immediately went to her friend to reassure her. Chase clasped Ryder’s shoulder as he walked to the other side of the bed.
“Ryder, we need a few minutes alone with Claire and then we’ll take her for some tests,” Kassie informed him as she unhooked some of the wires attached to her patient.
“I’ll give you time to examine her, but I just promised Claire I won’t leave her. Wherever she goes, I go.”
“It’ll only take a couple of hours—” Chase began to object.
Kassie cleared her throat, catching Chase’s attention. The couple held a silent conversation before Doc finally grinned. “All right, you can join us as long as Claire consents.” He peered down at his patient. “If you want Ryder to come along, can you blink once?”
Claire’s eyes fluttered once before she searched for Ryder at the end of the bed. Winking at her, he felt something he never expected: hope entered his chest and warmed his heart.