Chapter 13

Phoebe slowly opened her eyes. She looked around the room. She felt a warm familiar body lying next to her.

"Cole…?" Phoebe whispered, looking at his face lying next to hers.

Cole opened his eyes and looked at Phoebe. Phoebe had a confused look on her face.

"Phoebe…I" Cole didn't even know what to say, "Don't be afraid of me Phoebe." He got off the bed and stood by her.

"Oh Cole…" Phoebe started to cry, and she reached her arms out for Cole, as she got on her knees.

Phoebe wrapped her arms around Cole's neck. Phoebe sobbed into his warm neck. Cole sat on the bed and held her. He was so glad to hold her again, and feel her arms around him.

"Get me out of here Cole" Phoebe whispered on his neck.

Phoebe's warm breath on his neck gave him chills. He would do anything for her. He wanted her to stay in his arms forever, and depend on him for everything.

"Just give me a minute…I'll be back" Cole said kissing her forehead.

He walked out of the room and into the hallway. He walked towards the desk.

"Kate, when did daddy pick you up from the restaurant?" Cora said sitting Kate on her lap.

"When momma was with that man" Kate said

"What man Kate?"

"The one in momma's car"

Cora was confused and shocked. Cole told them, Debbie was hit by a drunk driver.

"How did you know this baby?" Cora asked tucking Kate into bed.

"I heard the cop tell daddy. When me and Anna stayed in daddy's truck" Kate said.

Kate was too innocent to know what she was saying. Cora did know, and started putting it together.

"Just sleep baby girl, and don't worry about anything." Cora said and kissed Kate on the cheek.

Then she walked over and kissed Anna on the cheek. She had already been sleeping.

Cora walked downstairs to the living room with Ed and Grace.

"Are they asleep?" Grace asked

"Almost" Cora said, and sat down to finish a blanket she was working on.

Cora's stomach was in knots, and she had many un answered questions.

Cole sat in a waiting room for a doctor.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Ralph"

Cole looked up, and a gray haired man in a white coat and specs, was offering a hand to Cole.

"Hello, Doc." Cole said shaking his hand.

"I have been working with Phoebe, since she arrived. She has suffered a severe mental breakdown. It cause her body to have a slight stroke. Now instead off attacking her body, Physically, it has attacked her brain….."

Cole swallowed hard. It was all so much to take in.

"It has affected her memory. She may not remember who people are. Even those close to her." The Doc. finished.

"Well, she knew me when I walked in to see her?' Cole said folding his arms in frustration.

"Yes, that is good, it comes and goes. I don't know if she will ever fully remember her past, it just might be a slow process. She may remember things from her past if she sees something, or smells something familiar as well."

After talking to the doctor, Cole walked around the hospital a while. He had a lot to think about…

He wanted to take care of Phoebe, but would she want him to? What would the girls think? What if Phoebe remembered living down the road in the house with Michael? How would she deal with that? How would Cole take her home and give her the proper care and still work, to support his girls?

Taking this on was a big commitment. Cole knew how much he loved Phoebe, but would she love him back?

"I don't care I just want her with me" Cole thought, as he walked into her room, and saw her lying there.

"Put your arms around my neck" Cole said, lifting Phoebe from her bed.

"What are you doing? Phoebe asked, acting unsure of Cole.

"It's just me Phoebe…I'm getting you out of here" Cole said.

Phoebe tucked her face in his neck and wrapped her arms around Cole.

"It's ok Phoebe, you can trust me…I'm going to take care of you now" Cole said.

Cole carried her cradled in his arms, down the halls of the hospital. He stopped and wrapped Phoebe in the blanket he brought, then carried her outside.

Cole drove down the road with Phoebe tucked under his arm. Phoebe fell asleep and Cole would glance down at her every now and then. He couldn't believe that he had Phoebe in his arms. She was safe now, and he would take care of her for as long as she would let him.