Benjamin Warren was driving home from a long day at the hospital. Four surgeries and then two emergency surgeries that he joined in on so he was exhausted and ready for bed.
He decided to ride with his top down so that he could enjoy the cool air blowing through the beautiful night sky. He especially loved riding over the bridge to get home, it felt so peaceful and made him feel so grateful.
As he drove he happened to look over to his right and see a woman sitting on the railing of the bridge. His eyes widened and his heart dropped automatically knowing what she was about to do. Ben brought his sports car to a shrieking halt as he jumped out and ran towards her.
Just as he made it close to her she leaned forward and let go and he lunged forward and grabbed ahold of her arm.
Miranda opened her eyes gasped for breath thinking she had hit the water but realized she was hanging and that someone was squeezing her arm really tight. Miranda looked up at this man who had fear in his piercing brown eyes and suddenly she wished she hadn't tried to jump.
Miranda came back into herself and gasped heavy, "HEY, HEY I GOT YOU! CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR NAME?" Ben yelled over the clashing water and the cars speeding by.
"Mir-Miranda," she stuttered as she struggled to catch her breath and looked down at the water. Fear was suddenly setting in as she thought about hitting the water and drowning.
Ben looked into the face of this beautiful woman wanting to know what drove her to attempt to jump off this bridge. His heart was instantly hurting for her and but now his adrenaline was rushing and he just needed to get her back over the railing.
"Okay Miranda my name is Ben and I'm going to pull you back up, please do not fight me trying to pull you up," Ben said.
Miranda nodded her head fast and Ben quickly pulled her up and grabbed her other arm to pull her back over the railing. When she was back over the railing Ben held her tight in his arms as Miranda weeped and sobbed into his chest. He just stared towards the other side of the bridge waiting until her calm down but she wasn't calming down.
She held onto him tightly as he walked her towards his car. "Okay I'm going to get you to the hospital so they can get you a sedative to calm down," Ben said opening the car door.
"No, no, no, I can't go to the hospital. This is another thing he could use against me," Miranda sputtered nervously as her voice cracked from being emotional. Ben didn't even know who "he" was but he hated him already.
"Okay, okay Miranda...no hospital," Ben agreed and when he did Miranda fainted in his arms. Ben put her in his passenger seat, buckled her in and drove home.
Ben sat in the chair in the corner of his room staring at Miranda as she slept. He brought her to his home and carried her into his bedroom to let her sleep.
He didn't know her but he now felt completely responsible for her and couldn't leave her by herself until he was sure she wouldn't try to harm herself again. He was glad that he didn't have to work the next day so that gave him time to figure out what was going on with her.
Ben wanted to go and lay out on his couch because he was exhausted but he also didn't want to leave her alone even though she was sleeping.
He quickly changed into a t-shirt and some shorts, grabbed one of his large blankets and sat back down in the chair.
He continued to stare at Miranda, "she's beautiful," he said to himself. He could tell she had big eyes and she seemed to have a constant pouty face because her bottom lip was so plump but he thought that was cute.
Ben grabbed his phone and set several alarms so that he could wake up and check on her. Ben stayed true to his alarms and woke up every hour to make sure Miranda was still there sleeping.
When morning came he got up and stretched but Miranda was still asleep. He went into his kitchen to make coffee and a lite breakfast just in case she wanted to eat. He made plates and put them on a tray and went back to the room.
He sat back in his chair and turned the tv on low and watched some sports. As he watched all he could think about was what drove her to want to end her life. It made him sad because she was absolutely breathtaking and he just wanted to help her however he could.
Ben jumped up and looked over at Miranda when he saw her moving for the first time all night, but she was just turning over in her sleep.
Miranda woke up but kept her eyes closed for a moment. She felt the soft silky pillow under her head and the soft, heavy covers laying over her body. Then she heard the sound of the tv on so she finally opened her eyes.
She wasn't in the hospital but a dimly lit bedroom that was beautifully decorated and then she suddenly remembered the man that saved her from jumping and pulled her back over the railing. "Ben," she said out loud.
"Hey, I'm right here," Ben said getting up from the chair.
Miranda jumped slightly and turned hearing his voice, "sorry I didn't realize you were in here, I was just trying to remember what happened," Miranda said softly.
"No, I'm sorry... I thought you were calling for me. How are you feeling? You slept all night and most of the day, it's almost 6pm," Ben explained.
"Ummm I like your bed, I haven't slept good in a very long time," Miranda said with a slight giggle.
"Laughing... that's a good sign," Ben said sitting on the bench at the end of his bed.
"I tend to do that when I'm nervous," Miranda shared as she started pulling her fingers.
"I don't mean to make you nervous Miranda. Last night you insisted on me not taking you to the hospital and I didn't know where else to take you since you didn't have a purse or cellphone," Ben explained.
"If you don't mind me asking, do you struggle with anxiety and/or OCD," Ben asked and Miranda shot him a questioning look.
"You're pulling and counting your fingers, I'm a doctor so I have to and like knowing the signs and symptoms of things," Ben said.
Miranda nodded her head yes slowly, "here let's try an exercise that I learned, follow what I do and breathe in and out deeply.
As Miranda mimicked what Ben was doing she felt reassured and safe with him. Once they stop Miranda smiled feeling relaxed instead of anxious.
"Wow look at that beautiful smile, that's another good sign," Ben said smiling back making Miranda blush.
"Do you want to talk about what happened last night? If you don't that's fine...when ever you're ready," Ben reassured her.
"So what kind of doctor are you?" Miranda asked changing the subject.
"I am a anesthesiologist," Ben said proudly.
"Oh a gas man, so you make bucks of money while logging reasonable hours while just sitting," Miranda said in a joking manner.
Ben laughed loudly, "oh so you have jokes, well the sitting part is my least favorite part about my job because it's hard on my back. Makes it hard for me to lift my bucks of money," Ben said sarcastically.
"So I can assume since you have a nickname and know that much that you are in the medical field also," Ben stated.
"I'm a general surgeon at Seattle Grace hospital," Miranda said.
"Oh wow, so they might be looking for you since you didn't come in today. And now I know one reason why you slept so long logging all those ridiculous hours. My hospital is merging with yours soon," Ben said excitedly.
Miranda's face changed quickly and her eyes began to get glossy, "No their not looking for me because I asked for some time off," Miranda responded as she was getting emotional.
"What's wrong Miranda?" Ben asked getting up onto the bed.
Miranda struggled to speak as she was choking on her words from fighting tears, "I'm not ready to talk about it right now Ben," Miranda said putting her hand up.
"I should probably get going out of your hair. Thank you for what you did for me that was very kind and brave of you," Miranda said getting up to find her shoes and leave.
Ben quickly jumped up to stop her and she jumped back with a scared look on her face.
"I'm sorry to scare you Miranda but please don't leave. I can't have you trying to walk wherever you're trying to go. And since you won't go to the hospital I wouldn't be able to handle if something happened to you or you tired to harm yourself again."
Please just stay and let me help you please...you won't be in my hair because as you can see I keep my hair cut anyway," Ben said to try and make her laugh. Miranda relaxed and giggled at what Ben said about his hair.
"Since you have time off you can stay here and I can support you in figuring out how to make whatever is wrong better," Ben suggested.
"Ben I can't stay and bring you into my mess, I need to handle this on my own," Miranda said as she turned toward the door.
"Do you really believe you can handle this on your own or are you afraid to accept my help? And even if you don't stay I'm going to follow you because I'm not going to let anything happen to you," Ben said sternly.
Miranda turned around shocked, "why do you care about what happens to me? I am not your girlfriend or wife, I am not your responsibility," Miranda said almost yelling.
"Because you obviously need for someone to care about you and though that maybe true the moment I decided to save you on that bridge, for me you became my responsibility. So just know wherever you go and whatever you do I plan to be right there to see you through until I know you're in a good place," Ben said yelling.
"Especially since you won't go to a hospital where they can evaluate you," Ben said.
Miranda put her head down giving up because she could tell that he would be relentless. "I don't have any clothes or my phone," Miranda mumbled.
"Well it's a good thing that I'm an anesthesiologist who makes bucks of money because I can just take you to buy new clothes and a phone," Ben said grabbing his keys.
"We can just go to my place and get them. No need to take away from your bucks of money," Miranda said walking to the door.
Ben opened the door for her and just shook his head, "you think your funny Miranda," Ben said as they left his house.