As Wade made his way back into the hospital, box of pizza in hand, the harsh smell of antiseptic made his stomach turn. It served as a harsh reminder of where he was and why. Part of him wanted to run back outside where he could breathe again. An even bigger part of him wanted to walk all the way back to Bluebell , find Earl, and show him exactly what it felt like to be beaten senseless. But, despite how hard it was, Wade knew exactly where he needed to be.

"Hey baby," he said softly as he opened the door to her room.

When he saw her bed empty his heart sank in his chest and he began to panic.

"Excuse me," he asked the first nurse he saw walking by. "This is my girlfriend Zoe Hart's room and she's not in here, did something happen because she has a head injury and her doctor wanted to watch her. Is she okay?"

"Wade, I'm fine" he heard a familiar voice from behind him say. He turned around and saw Zoe being wheeled back into her room by another nurse.

"Thank God" he sighed as he followed them. "What happened?"

"Nothing" Zoe replied shakily. "They just ran a few tests."

"What kind of tests?"

"For my head, to make sure that it's not anything serious" she lied as her resolve faded and her voice became shakier.

"Is anything wrong?" he asked helping her into the bed.

"No, I'm fine."

"Baby, what's bothering you?" he asked noticing she was avoiding eye contact. The Zoe he left to get food was upset, but she wasn't this disoriented. He could tell there was something going on and it was scaring him. "Are you sure the doctor said your head is fine, they know that for sure?"

"Wade, I'm fine. I don't know how many times you need me to say it" she snapped.

"Okay" he replied defensively. "Do you want some pizza? I got half olives and onions and half pepperoni."

"I guess I could try to eat" she replied.

"Thank you, this was sweet of you" she continued in a weary voice as she stared at the floor.

"Don't mention it" Wade replied alarmed by the way Zoe was acting.

As Wade opened the box of pizza, the smell filled the air. Suddenly, Zoe felt sick to her stomach. She took off running into the bathroom and Wade ran after her.

He held her hair and rubbed her back soothingly as she retched.

"I'm gonna go get a doctor" Wade said once she was finished.

"No, Wade I don't need a doctor.."

"Are you sure this is normal, throwing up like that? What if it means something's wrong?"

"Wade, I'm a doctor, I'd know if something was wrong, and nothing's wrong! I'm just upset. I'll be fine" she snapped as she made her way back to her bed.

"Let me get rid of this" he said picking up the box of pizza.

"No, it's fine. I know you're hungry so you should eat" she replied coldly.

"I'm actually not that hungry anymore" Wade explained. "I kind of ate all of the garlic bread on the way here" he added with a slight smile. "I'm gonna go find a trash can, I'll be right back."

Zoe began to cry again once he left. "How am I going to do this?" she asked herself. "How am I going to keep lying to you?"

Wade came back in the room and saw that Zoe was crying.

"Oh baby-" he said as he laid down next to her.

"I'm sorry" she sobbed.

"You ain't got nothing to be sorry for" he replied as he took her hand in his and kissed it.

"Yes I do, I shouldn't have snapped at you. I just feel so claustrophobic in this room…"

"First thing tomorrow we'll go back to Bluebell" he replied comfortingly.

"How are we going to get there?" Zoe asked.

"I'll call Lavon. I'll ask him to come pick us up."

"Oh God" Zoe sighed. "You're going to have to tell him what happened."

"It's going to be okay."

"It's just so embarrassing" she began to sob.

"Hey, hey, hey- no. You don't have anything to be embarrassed about."

"Can you just hold me?" she asked as she sank into his chest. "I'd really like to get some sleep."

"Of course" he answered as he wrapped his arms around her protectively. "I'm right here doc, everything's all right."

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Wade watched Zoe as she fell asleep and then got up and quietly made his way into the hall.

As he got his cell phone out of his pocket he cringed as he remembered the last call he had made on it.

He tried to put the terrible memory out of his head as he scrolled through the contacts on his phone and hit Lavon's name.

"What the hell are you doing calling me at this ungodly hour?"

"Listen Lavon, I need you to do me a favor."

"Wade, there isn't a favor in the world I would do for you at 2:00 AM" he replied snarkily.

"Well, what if I told you it wasn't for me. It's for Zoe."

"What is it?" he groaned.

"In a few hours can you give us a ride home."

"A ride home from where?"

"Mobile General Hospital"

"What happened?" Lavon asked as he awoke fully.

"It's Zoe" he said as he took a sharp breath. "She was attacked."

"I'll be right there" Lavon said as he rolled out of bed.

"No, it's okay" Wade replied. "Zoe's sleeping right now."

"I'm already on my way" Lavon said as he hung up.

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"Where is she?" Lavon asked as he ran down the hall to meet Wade.

"She's right in that room right there, but she's asleep right now."

"But, she's okay?"

"Physically."

"Wade, what the hell happened?"

"Earl broke into Zoe's office and he… He tried to rape her."

"Oh my God. Earl did this?"

"She fought him off, thank God, but she's all banged up."

"Wade, I am so sorry… How are you doing?"

"Oh me, I'm just peachy."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I just can't believe this happened" Wade responded after a long pause.

"I know, I'm having some trouble with that myself" Lavon agreed.

"I know Earl's gotten worse lately. But my God, I never dreamed that he'd…" a catch in Wade's throat prevented him from getting the rest of his sentence. " Sometimes because her personality is so big I forget that she's such a skinny little thing. She must have been so scared" he continued as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"But she's okay now" Lavon said comfortingly.

"Yeah I guess" Wade replied. "She's just so shaken up. I want to help her, but I guess I'm not really good at the whole comforting thing."

"Just be there for her, that'll be enough" Lavon replied.

"Thanks" Wade said appreciatively.

Suddenly the two were startled by a piercing scream.

"What the hell is that?" Lavon asked.

"I think that's Zoe" Wade answered as he ran into her room.

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"No! Stop! Don't! Please- Please…" Zoe screamed as she tossed and turned in her sleep.

"Baby" Wade replied as he ran towards her. "Baby, wake up. It's okay, you're safe. I'm right here, you're okay…"

Zoe startled awake as Wade took her in his arms. "Shh, shh" he said rocking her as she sobbed.

"I'm sorry" Zoe chocked out as she tried to pull herself together. "Lavon?" she asked as she looked in the doorway.

"Hey, big Z" he said softly as he walked to her bed. "How ya doin'?"

"I've been better" Zoe replied shakily.

"How about Wade stays here with you, I'll go catch some sleep in the waiting room, and in the morning when you're ready I'll drive you home."

"Thanks" Zoe said.

"No problem" he answered as he kissed her forehead. "I'll be right outside if either of you need anything."

"Thanks" Wade nodded.

As soon as Lavon left Zoe started to cry again.

"Everything's all right" he whispered softly as he rubbed her arm.

"No it's not" she replied. "Wade, I can't do this anymore."

"Do what?" he asked confused.

"Wade, there's something I need to tell you" she said as she inhaled sharply, preparing to tell him the harsh truth.

"What's that?" he said as he looked down at her.

Zoe saw the look on his face and once again just couldn't find it in her to shatter his heart.

"I'm glad you're here with me" she said quickly looking down.

"Are you sure that's it?" Wade asked suspiciously.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean- Zoe I feel like there's something you're not telling me, and I think I know what it is."

"What?" she asked nervously.

"That head injury is more serious then you're letting on. They told you something about it when I was gone didn't they? That's why you were so shaken up when I first came back?"

"No, Wade that's not it.." she replied as she started to tear up again.

"You can be honest with me, you know that right baby?"

"I know" Zoe replied." I know, but right now I really just want to get some sleep."

"Well then" Wade responded as he cuddled next to her. "Let's sleep."

Please Review I'd love to know what y'all think of where this is going!