If You Should See Me…

A small argument had ensued with the doctor about Paul being allowed to stay the night but eventually he'd gotten his way and retreated back to Stephanie's private room. His frame was far too big to fit comfortably on the bed with Stephanie so he'd sat on the chair by her bed, holding her hand tightly as she'd fallen asleep. Asleep was the first time she'd looked like his Stephanie and his heart ached at the memory of how distraught and upset she'd been.

Her peaceful looking sleep didn't last long however as only an hour after she'd fallen asleep she began to shift in her bed. The movements stirred Paul from his light slumber, looking up at her and frowning as he realized she was lost in a nightmare.

"Stop, no…please don't," she whimpered, face screwed up in a frown as her hands pushed at the air around her.

Paul was alert immediately, sitting up straighter as he reached out his hands to take hers. He held them gently as he called out to her, not wanting to startle her. It was obvious she was having a nightmare and Paul didn't need three guesses to know what about.

"Stephanie," he called, "Steph wake up. You're okay, it's just a nightmare," he tried, shaking her hands as gently as he could even as she tried to pull away from them.

It took several long moments before her eyes eventually opened and she looked around dazed and confused. She was breathing heavily, tears in her eyes as she clung tightly to Paul's hands, finally focusing on him. Paul's heart broke as he looked at her and saw the defeated look in her eyes and it hit him then how much their lives were changed now because of this.

"Paul?" she asked quietly, gripping his hands tight.

"Yeah? I'm here baby, it's okay," he told her gently, rubbing his thumbs over her hands.

"Hold me. Please?" she asked not sounding like herself at all.

Paul nodded at her request, standing up and watching as she shifted in the hospital bed. He moved onto it next to her, pulling her into his arms and holding her lightly against his chest, careful not to hurt her. Her head rested against his chest and it didn't take long for him to realize that she'd begun crying. He didn't say anything though, he simply held her, a hand rubbing her back hoping it helped somehow.

Stephanie winced in pain a little as she stood up from the hospital bed. Paul hadn't left her side since he'd gotten to the hospital and Stephanie was so grateful for that; but she was even more grateful to be finally going home. She couldn't stand to stay in this hospital any longer then she already had.

Her whole body ached as she moved and she wondered how long that would last. The doctor had said that her physical injuries wouldn't take long to heal but the emotional pain she felt hurt the worst. She was trying not to think about what had happened but it was hard not to when she had the physical pain there to remind her. She just wanted to go home, lock herself away and forget this had ever happened to her.

The police had come to talk to her that morning and it'd been hard to recount everything she could remember happening when Paul was by her side. She had been hesitant at first but he'd held her hand and wiped away her tears; he was being strong for her and she couldn't help but love him even more for it. She wasn't sure how she could ever live her life without the man.

He led her out of the room and downstairs as quickly and as painlessly as he could, a hand resting on the small of her back. It wasn't an unusual gesture between them but it was one Stephanie appreciated because it gave her comfort to know he was there. He helped her into the car and despite it being a completely different one to her Mercedes she still hesitated for a moment before reminding herself that Paul was there and he wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"Ready to go home?" he asked as he slipped into the driver's seat and glanced over her.

"Yes," she nodded quietly, "I can't wait to see the girls. I missed them… What did you tell them?" she asked worriedly, eyebrows furrowing.

"They miss you. They were with Marissa and Shane. Marissa told them that you got hurt and had to stay at the hospital to make sure you were okay. She told me the girls were fine though. Just a little bit worried about you," he replied, hoping that settled her worry for a little at least.

"Good. I don't want them to know what happened. They're too young. I just want to hold them," Stephanie told him, resting back against the seat.

"And you will baby. We'll be home soon."

Stephanie smiled; glad to be going home to her daughters and getting out of that hospital. She just wanted to be with her girls and her husband, away from the rest of the world. She never wanted to have to think about what had happened again, pushing it to the back of her mind, just as she had many other things in her life.


AN: Kinda sorta a filler chapter. But hey, I'm back! I'm so sorry it's been forever and a day. I started working and have had a lot of personal stuff going on that killed my muse.

But I'm back now. So hopefully I can get into the swing of things.

Please read and review. :) LT.