Chapter 14

Paul hesitated outside her door reluctant to enter. He had lost count of the number of times he had raised his hand to knock only to chicken out and stop himself at the last minute. Instead he stood like an idiot in the corridor absently staring at the bunch of yellow roses in his hand. He had bought them as a peace offering over an hour ago but had yet to pluck up the courage to go in her room and give them to Stephanie.

Sighing, Paul leant his back against the whitewashed wall and his big hand pushed back his hair from his forehead. He paid no attention to the nurses as they scurried past him. All he could think about was Stephanie and what she was going through right now. It had been at least a few hours since she had asked him to leave and she had been alone all that time. He'd been sitting outside waiting and silently going mad in the process. He'd also had a lot of time to think and a lot of time to regret not telling her about the baby sooner. Keeping it from her had been a huge mistake and he realised that now despite his best intentions at the time.

Paul shifted his body against the wall and glanced down at the gold watch on his wrist. He didn't want to intrude on Stephanie's personal space but at the same time, he didn't want to leave her on her own for too long. Not when she was so frightened and scared. And despite her anger at him, she probably still needed him there with her. Or at least he hoped she did.

He'd finally gathered the courage to knock on the door when it opened, startling him. Paul quickly stepped aside as the doctor left the room. He smiled acknowledging him as the door clicked softly over.

"Ah there you are. Your wife has been asking for you."

Paul's lips curved up gently as his concerned brown eyes glanced at the door. "How is she?"

The small grey-haired man quickly nodded. "She's doing extremely well under the circumstances. In fact I'm happy to release Stephanie into your care. Your wife is free to go home Mr Levesque."

"Are you sure?"

Paul couldn't help but feel a little wary. It had only been a couple of days since Stephanie had been admitted to the hospital and he didn't want her health being compromised in any way.

The doctor quickly assured him. "Stephanie just needs time to heal now. She's probably better doing that at home in her own surroundings instead of being stuck here in a hospital bed."

Paul nodded his head in agreement and smiled.

"I've also given her some literature on counselling should she feel she needs it."

"Thank you, doctor."

"You're welcome. Just take good care of your wife, Mr Levesque. She's been through a lot."

Paul's expression was sad as he watched the small man disappear down the corridor. Stephanie had been through a lot. In fact she had been through hell and back and how she had survived he didn't know. But one thing was for sure. He was going to look after her. He was going to do whatever it took to get Stephanie back on her feet and keep her safe. He would personally make sure she would never go through that hell again.

Knocking on the door, Paul finally entered the room. The sun filtered through the closed blinds. Stephanie was propped up on the large pillows sitting silently watching him. Her blue eyes looked red and puffy and were filled with her sadness.

Paul cleared his throat as he hovered by the side of the bed. He gave her an awkward smile as he handed the flowers to her. "I got these for you."

Stephanie smiled gratefully and said nothing as she took them from him and closing her eyes, she brought the bouquet to her nose and breathed in their beautiful scent. They were a lovely gesture and only served to intensify her guilt over the way she had treated Paul earlier. Her hot tears burned her sockets.

"I'd put them in water but the doctor told me you're getting to come home."

Stephanie's eyes slowly fluttered open at the sound of his voice and she let out a shaky breath. Placing the flowers down in front of her, she lifted her head and looked at Paul. Her composure shook as she saw his obvious concern for her etched on his face and a solitary tear trickled down her cheek.

"I'm so sorry, Paul." she whispered.

She tried to gulp back the fresh batch of tears that threatened to fall but it was no use. They spilled over her lashes and rolled down her face. Paul instantly reached for her as he sat down on the bed, pulling her into his arms. His big hand gently rubbed her back as he tried his best to soothe her.

"You've got nothing to apologise for Stephanie." he told her softly.

"But I-I pushed you away." she stammered as she sniffed loudly. "And I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do it."

Paul dropped a kissed her soft hair as he brushed his fingers through the tangled ends. "It's okay. You were upset and you needed some space. I totally understand that."

He lifted his head to look at Stephanie and her eyes were wide and scared as they searched his face frantically.

"I just don't know if I've got the strength to do this, Paul."

Paul's brown eyes were gentle and reassuring as his big hands curled around her face. His thumb grazed her cheek bone softly wiping away the wet track of her tears. "Of course you've got the strength. I know you do and deep down, you know it too."

He paused for a second as he smiled at her tenderly.

"You're an amazing woman, Steph. In fact you're the most amazing woman I know. You've been through so much shit yet here you are still fighting and still hanging on. You haven't given up so far and you can't give up now. I'm not going to let you. Not when I know how far you've come."

"But I'm scared, Paul." admitted Stephanie as she sniffed back her tears. "What if he comes after me? What if he finds me?"

Paul pressed his lips together and his expression was gentle but firm as he shook his head adamantly. "He won't find you, Steph. I promise you that. And even if there was the slightest chance he could find you, which there's not, then you don't have to worry because I'm going to be right there beside you. I'm going to protect you, Steph. I'm going to make sure Jonathan never lays a finger on you again."

Paul made that guarantee with such conviction that Stephanie was momentarily able to believe him and forget her fear over her husband. Instead she felt a wave of immense gratitude towards a man who had gone above and beyond for her, no questions asked; a man who had been there when she had needed him the most. Her hand reached up and touched his hair brushing it from his forehead affectionately.

"Why are you doing this for me?" she asked.

Paul's mouth curled up gently as he lifted his shoulder in a casual shrug. "You're a friend, Steph and I happen to have grown pretty fond of you." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead softly before a slow smirk gradually crossed his face. "Plus I've always been a sucker for a damsel in distress."

Stephanie let out a chuckle in spite of herself and Paul's eyes twinkled back at her as his finger affectionately tucked her under her chin.

"Now that's much better."

"What's better?"

"You. You're smiling."

Stephanie bit down on her lip shyly as a lopsided grin slowly lit up her face. "Well if I am, I've got you to thank for it."

Paul's eyes crinkled with his grin as his hands moved to rest on her shoulders. "What can I say? I'm a constant source of amusement."

"Well you said it."

His brow furrowed with his playful frown. "I'm putting a roof over your head, McMahon. You shouldn't insult me."

"Why not? It's way too easy."

"Oh you think so?"

"Uh huh."

"Then I think I'm going to have to set a few ground rules for you to try and keep you in line."

Stephanie rolled her eyes in amusement as she pushed back the heavy covers. "Tell you what. I'll let you think about them while I get dressed."

Paul stood up and watched as she manoeuvred herself slowly to the edge of the bed. He held out his hand and she gratefully accepted it as he helped pull her to her feet.

"Do you want me to help you with your clothes?"

"And give you a free peep show? I don't think so."

Paul chuckled as he brought over her case from the corner. He placed it on the bed and opened it for her. Her clothes lay heaped in a crumpled mess and he winced before looking at her apologetically. "Sorry about the packing. I kinda grabbed a few things in a hurry."

"I can see that." she said lightly chuckling as she pulled out her track pants and a sweater that would be easy for her to pull on. She placed them under her arms and reached out to take Paul's hand in hers. She smiled at him as she squeezed it gently. "Thank you. You honestly don't know how much this means to me."

"You're welcome." He smiled and winked at her. "Now will you hurry up and get dressed? We've got a home to go to."

He dropped his arm by his side and watched Stephanie shuffle to the bathroom. He let his smile linger on his face happy she was in better spirits but he wasn't fooling himself. He knew it would be a long road while she recovered. The physical scars would heal in time but it was the mental scars he was worried about. He had seen the terror in her eyes. Stephanie was petrified. Maybe once they were home and settled, he would discuss the counselling with her. They also had to decide what they were going to do about Vince and Linda. He knew for a fact they would be worried sick about their daughter. But all that could wait. Helping Stephanie recover was his main priority now and he was going to get her through this no matter what.

He hadn't been lying when he told her that he had grown fond of her. He truly had. Watching her during the last couple of days had been absolute torture for him. It totally killed him inside to see Stephanie in such pain. He cared about her a lot which of course had only gone and manifested a completely different set of problems for him. Problems that he didn't have the guts to admit to herself despite the voices in his head telling him that maybe he cared for her just a little too much.