Chapter 19

The hospital is quieter today, and a part of me is very grateful for that.

Mostly the exhausted part.

Sleep eluded me for a while last night, and it took a while to settle into sleep.

I kept thinking I was hearing something, but then, as soon as I listened for it again, it was gone.

It almost sounded like…

"No. Come on. It wasn't Luke. He had to sleep like a rock. Two beers in an hour, plus whatever he'd been drinking before."

My stomach clenches at the thought. I really should talk to him about it, but it somehow doesn't feel like my place since I'm neither his "real" doctor nor his girlfriend.

I don't know what we are.

Sighing, I reach for the water I've been nursing and take a sip. For once, I've actually had time today to work on my reports while at the hospital.

Sitting in the cafeteria for this long is practically unheard of.

I hate to admit, I've been enjoying the fast-paced workflow of most days because it helps keep me distracted.

Instead of thinking about…other things.

"Jeez." I rest my head down on the table for a moment as I mumble to myself, "You really should just talk with him. This pretending it's not happening bullshit isn't working."

Worse, I also know the cops are still researching the break-in. My apartment is still off-limits, but at least Mr. Chen is doing okay.

I'm grateful for Cameron calling to give me the news.

He may just be Luke"s friend, technically, but he's proving that whole "military bond" thing with how much he's been bending over backward for me in an effort to make Luke happy.

"Dr. Stewart."

I look up as one of the nurses on this floor gets my attention.

"Yes?"

It's Helen, an older woman who's been here much longer than me. "You have a phone call, hon. It's…it's the police."

Shooting up, I scramble to get my folders in order.

"Oh, okay. Maybe they have some news about the break-in. Thank you."

"Go ahead, hon. I'll bring these to you at the nurse's station."

I smile softly. "Really? Thank you, Helen. You're an angel."

Hurrying to the phone, I pick up the waiting receiver when I get there, another nurse telling me it's being held on line two.

I click through. "Hello. This is Dr. Stewart."

The other end of the line sounds scratchy.

"Hello, ma'am. This is Detective Flaggerty. I've been helping on your case."

"Oh, great. Thank you. Do you have an update?" I try to keep my voice low and even, despite the frenzy in my veins.

"Well, we were just about to sign off on opening your apartment back up to you."

Straightening with a flood of endorphins, I smile bigger than I have all day. "Really? Oh, thank God. I was getting so sick of?—"

"But I'm afraid we can't, ma'am."

The detective cuts me off, and I immediately deflate.

"Why?"

"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but just as the place was released this morning, there was another break-in. It looks like whoever is behind this has been watching our progress and waited to see the team leave before they tried to get back in."

My heart stutters, and I stumble backward slightly, my spine hitting the tall edge of the nurse's station counter.

"What? I…" My throat tightens, and I clear it with a frustrated groan. "Wait. Whoever is behind this?"

I realize my tone is short and loud, so I quickly take it down a notch.

"You all know this is the Cobras. That man I saw in the hospital." My voice is a hushed whisper now. "I went over this with you. I gave a statement."

"I understand your frustration." Detective Flaggerty's voice is even and frustratingly calm, and I think if he was here, I would have punched him in the face. "But we haven't been able to find the gentleman in question to get some answers from him."

"Gentleman? Seriously?" I sigh, switching the phone to my other ear.

"What do you have?"

I hear the officer sigh on the other end, and again, I'm ready to lose it on him. What right does he have to be sighing over my shitty luck?

"Again, ma'am, it's unfortunate news. We've been searching for these people, combing the apartment, but nothing. What we do have after today's invasion is that it looks like they've been going through your trash."

"My trash?" My stomach lurches, and I lean harder against the counter.

"Yes, ma'am. It appears they're looking for anything that might give them more details about your whereabouts or potentially your personal life."

Everything is a swirling mess, and I close my eyes, putting my forehead in my hands.

"Please stop calling me ma'am. Okay?"

I pull myself back up, looking around the floor and realizing I'm in no condition to work right now. My attending will understand.

"I need to go. Just call my cell if you learn anything else."

Hanging up, I'm nearly ready to throw up. I'm scrambling to process everything, and then it hits me.

My trash. They were looking for clues about my location. Oh God. Luke.

Helen comes up with my folders, and I take them with shaky hands.

"Thank you. I…I need to go. I'm going to tell Dr. Carter."

Without another word, I rush to the elevator to take it down to the surgery level where my locker and attending are.

When it dings, I rush out, going straight to the nurse's station to leave my things.

"Hey, Melody. Would you tell Dr. Carter I prepped the reports for her?" I slide over the files. "And I need to go. There's been a development with my break-in."

Melody looks up, clearly shaken by how rushed and frazzled I'm acting.

"Sure. You only had an hour left anyway. I'll trigger the on-call to come in early."

I nod, taking a step away to get my purse from my locker. "Great. Thanks."

"Oh, and this was left here for you."

Freezing in place, I turn around. Melody is holding out a small slip of paper. Trotting back to get it from her, I snag the paper without looking at it.

"Okay, great. Thanks again."

I hurry off, and I've never moved so quickly in my life as I get my purse, ditch the white coat, and get back to the elevator.

I need to get home. I need to go talk to Luke about all this. God, maybe Cameron can help?

The trip down to the parking lot out front is a blur. I'm not even really thinking, just moving on autopilot.

When I reach the sedan, however, I see a note under my windshield wiper.

I look down. It looks like the paper there is the other half of the note I have in my hand.

A chill creeps through me. I have no reason to think this is anything but somebody…I don't know, complaining about my parking.

Still, I know it's not.

Sliding it out, my fingers unsteady, I line the pieces up with each other before I unfold them.

We're watching you, bitch. And your boyfriend, too.

My gut clamps down, nausea overtaking me, and I collapse on to the side of my car.

Oh, God. They were here. They came to the hospital. They saw…Luke.

At once, I have to move quickly. I have to. I'm all frenzied movement and clumsy hands as I get into the car and start the engine.

Reckless driving is a big no for me, but I know I'm speeding and going easy on the breaks as I tear off for Luke's penthouse.

When I pull into the parking garage, security greets me, and I'm barely able to hand him my swipe card.

I think we chat. I'm not sure. All I know is that after what feels like only the blink of an eye, I'm yanking the door open to the apartment.

Luke is at the island working, and he whips around, meeting me with a furrowed brow.

"Hey, doc." He checks his watch. "I didn't think you'd be home yet."

"They…they…"

I'm frozen in the doorway. It's not even closed.

Luke's eyes go wide as he realizes I'm stammering. Faster than I thought possible, he crosses the room toward me, and then his hands are on my arms.

He walks me into the room, closing the door behind me and ushering me over to the couch.

"Hey." Luke tucks my hair behind my ear. "What happened?"

"Um." My hand goes to my shoulder, moving to hike up my purse out of habit, but I don't feel the strap. "Wait. Where's my bag?"

Luke smoothes his hand across my cheek and tangles his fingers into my hair, easing the chaos in my body.

"I put it by the door. You're okay. Talk to me."

I want to hold it together, be composed, but the armor I use to protect myself is cracking.

"They broke in again, and they went through my trash. The detective said they were looking for my location. What if they find me? Find you?"

My face is suddenly wet, my chest heaving, and I realize I"m crying.

"There was a note on my car. And at the nurse's station. The police have nothing. What am I supposed to do? I'm risking you. I can't have that. You've been…"

"Clara—" Luke has both his hands on my face now, and Christ, does he smell good "—don't worry about me. All that matters is your safety. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

Everything is too much. The scratchy weight of my scrubs, the touch of Luke's hands, it's all more than I can handle.

He's just…

God, I don't know. But I'm over all this. I'm too tired. I don't want to fight against everything that happens to me when he's close.

I don't know if I can anymore.

"Why are you helping me? You barely know me."

Luke's comforting gaze falters, his eyes flicking to the empty few inches between us.

I can sense the restrained tension in his fingers, and he sighs heavily.

"I have to. I know how dangerous they are. I couldn't live with myself if they hurt you when I could've stopped them."

"Couldn't live with yourself?"

Unaware of what I'm doing, I cup Luke's cheek, the rough stubble brushing against my fingers.

His gaze meets mine, and our foreheads are nearly touching. We're still cradling each other's faces, and for the life of me, I can't move away.

"You're…you snuck into my life from the moment I saw you, doc."

"Luke."

It's all I could manage, and then his lips are pressed against mine.