Chapter 2

Once I realize it"s really Noah who"s here in the back fighting with someone, I walk toward him. The person that he"s been fighting with leaves, and he seems unsteady on his feet. He looks a little pale, too, so I hurry to reach him. That"s when I see him stumble and now I know for sure he"s in trouble. When I get to him, I put my arms around him and feel him almost fall, but my hands steady him.

Noah looks at me like he"s seen a vision. I"ve never had his full attention on me, and it"s a little disturbing, in a good way.

"Noah, can you walk?"

He shakes his head. He"s worse than I expected. I grab his wrist and try and take his pulse. It"s going a million miles a minute, and now I"m concerned I might not get him to the emergency room in time. I look around to see if there"s someplace where I can get him to sit down for a minute or three. A little farther behind, I spot a footstool of some kind, and I gently tug him towards it. He follows me easily, his eyes still locked on my face.

"There"s a place you can sit over there, just a few steps away. I think we can make it, Noah."

When we get to the stool, I press his shoulder and guide him down into a seated position. Standing before him, I can see his distress. I put my hand on his brow and feel that it's cold and clammy.

"Noah, listen to me," I say in a commanding voice. "Your pulse is erratic, your skin is cold and sweaty to the touch, and you seemed dizzy a few moments before. We need to call 911 so you can go to the hospital."

My words seem to make it through his stupor, and he shakes his head.

"No, I…" He frowns as if trying to get the words right. "No hospital."

"Noah, who was that you were fighting with?"

Noah looks down, an anguished look on his face. "That was my youngest daughter, Mae."

At that moment, the young lady I saw with him came back, a tray in her hand. She obviously came from the kitchen but was surprised to see her father sitting down in the middle of the corridor.

"Oh my God, dad. What"s going on?"

"Mae?" I ask for confirmation.

"Yes, is my dad okay?"

"Not really, but he won"t let me call 911."

She pulls me aside, and her face is pale, but she seems determined.

"We just had a fight. He has heart trouble if he gets really upset."

"I didn"t know that."

"You know my father?"

"Yes, I"m one of his residents in the cardiology department at the hospital back in New York." I hesitate, "Why were you fighting?" I know this is none of my business, but I want to know how serious this issue is between Noah and his daughter. She sighs, and I see her trying to decide whether to confide in me.

"I left New York last month and came here with my boyfriend and his band. We"re trying to make it in the music business. My dad wanted me to follow my sisters' paths. College, then a respectable job. But that"s never been me, and he knows that. He"s been trying to get me back home ever since. But he just showed up here tonight. He got really worked up by our fight."

"Yeah, I was over there at the ladies' room when I heard the shouting. What can I do, Mae?"

"You"re asking me? I"m not a doctor."

"No, I mean, is there any way I can help you reconsider going back to New York?"

"Fat chance. I"ve made up my mind. My father knows how I am. I"m surprised he came all the way here to try and discuss this."

"He loves you."

She goes back to her father and kneels in front of him. She"s still holding that tray with drinks, but it doesn"t seem to faze her.

"Dad. You need to go to the hospital. You"re having an episode."

Noah shakes his head in denial and utters some harsh words at her. She ignores this and pleads with him.

"Daddy, please, I couldn"t stand it if something happened to you because of our fight."

He puts his hand out and swipes all the drinks off her tray and onto the floor. Mae only sighs deeply and gets up from the floor. She comes towards me with a resigned look on her face.

"Will you do me a favor? What"s your name?"

"I"m Meghan Brooks. Your father is my father"s best friend, Lee Brooks."

"Of course, I know Dr. Brooks." Someone peeks their head from the kitchen door and yells Mae's name. "Can you keep an eye on my dad? I"m sure with some rest, maybe some fluids in him, he"ll be better tomorrow."

"I thought you said you weren"t a doctor. How do you know what to do for him?"

"He"s had some episodes throughout the years. He refuses to go to the hospital every single time. Par for the course for a cardiologist."

"Yes, I"ll take him back to my hotel with me." I hand her one of my cards. "Here"s my information. Send me a text message so I have your number, please."

"Okay, thanks, Meghan. You"re a lifesaver." She walks to where her dad is sitting, still looking forlorn, and whispers something into his ear. Then she kisses his forehead and goes back to whatever it is she does in this male strip club.

All my friends have left already, so I don"t have a problem taking Noah back with me. The question is, will he let me? I get closer until I"m standing in front of him.

"Noah, let"s go back to my hotel. You can rest there."

He lifts his head, anger in his eyes. "This isn"t any of your business, Meghan. Leave me the fuck alone."

"Don"t talk to me like that," I say in a low but firm tone of voice.

"What are you even doing in a place like this? Don"t you want to be a respectable professional? This is a shameful place."

"Save your judgements for another time, Noah. We"re either going to the hospital or going back to my hotel. You pick."

I cross my arms and put my most intimidating face on display. I"m hoping my stern tone is enough to push him to make a decision. He tries to get up but is struggling, so I move to his side and put his arm over my shoulder and help him up. I can"t believe that the one time I get to be this close to him he"s sick and upset. His proximity affects me, though, and a thousand thoughts go through my head as we hold on to one another.

"Where are we going, Noah?"

"Hotel." He grumbles.

We walk outside together and thankfully there are a few cabs outside the club. When we"re seated in the back of the cab, he makes a point to leave room between us. When I look at him to gauge his mood, he looks angry.

"I won"t forget this interference, Meghan."