Audrey glared at the doctor. “When can I go home?” The look the doctor gave her told Audrey he was really tired of the question.

But Audrey didn’t care.

She was tired of being in the hospital and wanted to go home. Until she was released she was going to ask him the same question every time he came into the room. “When can I go home?” she mumbled under her breathe. She was sure the doctor heard her.

The doctor picked up his tablet and entered some notes. He moved his hand over the screen as he skimmed through the information. After several minutes, he tucked the tablet under his arm. “The results from this morning’s blood work aren’t here. I need to call the lab and find out where they are. Once I read them, I’ll make a decision about when you’ll be released.

Audrey pressed her lips together into a thin line. She didn’t say anything as she picked up the remote and flipped through the television channels.

“I will see you later today.” He turned and walked out of the room.

Audrey wanted to throw her head back and scream. For almost two weeks she had been stuck in the hospital. There was only so much television she could stomach. But mainly, she was tired of laying in the bed and staring at the ceiling. The sad part was she had only been awake for less than a week.

Yeah, she had visitors and Forrest spent as much of his time as he could with her, but it wasn’t the same.

She wanted to go home. She dropped the remote onto the bed where she could easily pick it up.

Audrey closed her eyes. Her left eye was still swollen. Heck, the whole left side of her face was still swollen, but it was better than when she first woke up. At least she could see. The first time she opened her eyes after she was shot, she could only open one eye and everything had been blurry. The medicine-induced floating feeling didn’t help either.  Audrey was so glad when the doctors decided to cut back the amount of pain meds they were giving her. It made a world of a difference when the floating feeling went away.

“Hey baby, how are you doing today?” Forrest walked into the room, closing the door behind him. He set a small suitcase on one of the chairs by the bed and walked over to her side.

“I’m better now that you’re here.” Audrey felt a little fluttering in her belly. She smiled and tilted her head up to him.

Forrest leaned down and gently capture her lips with his.

She felt he was holding back. It hurt but she understood why. For all intents and purposes, she was still broken and had weeks of healing facing her. “What’s the suitcase for?”

Forrest grinned. “If they don’t release you, then I’m going to break you out of here. And you need clothes for that because I don’t want anyone else seeing your gorgeous body.” He winked at her.

“Don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much. I’m far from looking like anything but something that the cat dragged in and decided to abandon.” She ached everywhere. Bruises in every color possible covered her body.

“You’re beautiful to me.” He kissed her again. “What did the doctor say today?”

“Something about checking the blood work that they did this morning. The results weren’t posted to my file yet so he said he was going to go find out where it is.” She shrugged with her good shoulder. “I think it was just a way for him to get away from me, because he’s tired of constantly hearing me ask if I’m going home yet.”

Forrest snorted. “I’m so ready to have you home and in my bed.”

“Unfortunately, there won’t be much action going on in that bed.”

“But once you’re healed…all bets are off.” Forrest grinned like a child who had found himself in the candy store.

“I miss you too. I desperately want to feel your arms wrapped around me.” Being apart from Forrest was hard, but not sleeping next to him was driving her crazy. She needed to feel his skin against hers.

The door opened and one of Audrey’s day nurses entered the room. “Looks like this is your lucky day Miss Thomas.” She set a folder and couple of other things on the table.

Audrey smiled. “Am I finally getting to bust out of this joint?” She was almost afraid to hope.

The nurse smiled. “You have a list of things you can’t do, but yes we are releasing you.” She pulled out several papers as she looked at Forrest. “I assume you will be taking responsibility for your fiancé?”

“If that means I’m going to take her home, put her to bed and not let her do anything for herself, then I’m the responsible party.” He caressed Audrey’s cheek. He grinned when she leaned into his touch.

The nurse smiled. “I could use one like him,” she said with a sigh as she turned her attention back to the paperwork. “I’ll need you to sign these release forms.”

Forrest looked at the papers the nurse held out to him. He took them and the pen she offered and signed them. “Is that it?” He handed everything back to her.

The nurse checked the papers. “Inside this folder are care instructions and a couple of prescriptions that need to be filled. If you have any questions, let me know.” She turned to Audrey. “Now, let’s see about taking out that IV so you can take a shower.”

“A shower would be really good.” Even though Forrest hadn’t said anything, Audrey knew she smelled bad. Her hair was definitely icky. A shower was a good idea before she put on clean clothes…her clean clothes.

In less than a minute, the nurse had the IV out. “The stitches are covered with a plastic bandage so you don’t have to worry about getting them wet. The cast on your wrist will have to be wrapped.” She reached for a piece of plastic. “This will help keep the cast dry,” she said as she carefully wrapped Audrey’s arm. “Do you need any help?”

Audrey shook her head. She had been out of the bed several times the past few days, but this was the first time she was being allowed to take a shower on her own. Sponge baths were not the same as standing under water. “I’m just ready for a hot shower and to feel clean.”

“If she needs any help, I’ll be here.”

The nurse looked at Forrest and rolled her eyes. “Let me know when you’re dressed. I’ll bring a wheelchair to take you out of this fine establishment. Make sure you are just helping her and not doing something she isn’t medially cleared to do.” She pointed at Forrest. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes ma’am,” said Forrest. A smile covered his face. “No hanky panky.”

The nurse shook her head as she left the room.

 

*****

Several hours later, Audrey looked around the living room. It was so much more decadent than her home. Everything was brand new. The blues, grays, and whites of the downstairs décor was beautifully done. She felt like she shouldn’t be sitting on the furniture, let alone sitting with her feet on the couch with a very cuddly blanket covering her.

“Once you’re healed, we can go shopping for a desk for the office and anything else you want.” Forrest gently picked up her legs and put them in his lap after he sat down. “Change anything in the house that you don’t like. This is your home now.”

Audrey shook her head. “You don’t need to spend any more money. I feel bad about you giving up your office.”

“I’m not giving up anything. In fact, I’ve gained much more than possessions.” He caressed her legs. “I have you and Seth. I have a family. Until now, this was just a house where I slept and sometimes ate.” He looked at her. “I almost lost you,” he softly said.

“But you didn’t. I’m alive.” Audrey tried to sound as if it was nothing, but she knew better. Somehow Hank had used his bear magic to not only heal her cracked skull, but he kept her lungs drained of blood so she could keep breathing until help arrived.

“If you ever again put yourself in danger like you did on that bridge, I am going to lock you in my bedroom for the rest of our lives,” threatened Forrest.

“I might like that.” Audrey smiled and winked at him. She pushed several strands of hair out of her face.

The doorbell rang causing Audrey to jump. She glanced at Forrest. Her hands shook. She wrapped them around her waist to hide them from him.

“Are you okay?”

Audrey nodded. “I wasn’t expecting the doorbell. It startled me. No big deal.” She forced a smile onto her face even though smiling was the last thing she felt like doing. It was ridiculous being afraid of a doorbell, but she was. Answering her door after the doorbell rang was what set events into motion. Before she could do anything, the man hit her in the face. As she stumbled backwards, he pushed his way into the house.

Audrey fought, but she had lost.

“It’s just Ivy and Ben. She’s bringing something to help with your healing. If you don’t want to see them, I’ll send them away.” Forrest put his hand on her arm.

Audrey knew she had to overcome her fear if she wanted to get back to normal. She looked at her mate. “I’m okay. I’ll see them.”

Forrest watched her carefully. “Are you sure?”

Audrey swallowed and nodded again. “I’m sure. You can let them in.”

Forest caressed her cheek. He tucked the blanket around her legs, making sure she was comfortable, before he went to the door.

Audrey hated the sudden fear that overwhelmed her. She knew she was safe. She knew Forrest would protect her. She blinked her eyes to get rid of the tears that threatened to fall.

“Audrey, how are you?” Ivy walked over to where Audrey was sitting.

She shrugged her shoulders. “Physically, I’m slowly healing. I’m still dealing with some of the mental stuff.”

Ivy sat down on the coffee table. “I’m so sorry you had to suffer through everything you did.”

“Thanks. The good thing is that it’s over.” Audrey wasn’t sure what she should or should not tell Ivy. She almost snorted. How did you tell someone you were basically okay except the doorbell terrified you? It was totally ridiculous to be scared of a doorbell, but the memories of answering the door and being attacked were too fresh. Hopefully time would help ease the fear.

“Audrey?” Ivy put her hand on Audrey’s arm causing her to jump and jerk her arm away from Ivy.

“Audrey baby.” Forrest was instantly at her side. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”

She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” said Ivy. “What you did was brave.”

“I don’t feel brave. I know the hunter is dead, but I’m afraid that I’m going to open a door and he’s going to be standing there. I’m terrified my parents will somehow get their hands on Seth and harm him. There’s nothing brave about that. I definitely don’t look brave. I look like I’ve been through hell.” Audrey glanced at Ivy.

“Time will help. Time and the love you and Forrest have for each other. I brought some poultices a friend of mine makes. They’re infused with her healing magic which will work much better on you than my magic will. I’m not a healer. Put them on tonight and in the morning you will be completely healed.”

Ben handed Forrest a brown paper bag.

“Thank you,” said Audrey.

“We’re going to leave so you can get some rest.” Ivy stood up. “When you’re feeling better, Seth is going to stay with us for a few days.”

Audrey looked bewildered. “Why?”

Ivy smiled. “Consider it a late mating gift.” She winked.

Audrey’s eyes widened. Her face turned a deep pink. “Oh!”

“Don’t forget to put the poultices on and leave them on all night. If you have any questions or just want to talk, call me.” She smiled at Audrey before she turned her attention to the man standing behind the couch. “Forrest, you will have to remove the cast from her wrist so the poultice can be applied to it. We’ll show ourselves out.” Ivy took Ben’s hand and they walked out of the house.

Forrest glanced at his watch. “Seth will be home in a little while. Wes is picking him up from school. They’re going to stop by the pharmacy and pick up your prescriptions before they come home. Why don’t you take a nap while I start dinner.”

Audrey nodded. “I am kind of tired.”

“Either Seth or I will wake you so you can eat.” Forrest made sure she was comfortable and kissed her before he went to the kitchen.

Audrey closed her eyes. In a few minutes, she was sleeping.