Chapter 13

…

Kate opened her eyes, looking out of the window to see the night sky beginning to surface, she saw that the chair next to the bed was vacant, beginning to wonder where Abbey had gone. She heard the door to her room opening to see Victoria coming in, holding a chart in her hands She closed the door behind her, blocking out the light from the corridor, just the small bedside lamp giving off a soft glow as she made her way over to Kate's bedside.

"Hey…how are you doing?" She asked softly.

"A little better, thank you."

"You sure, if your heads still painful I can up your morphine dose."

"No, really I'm fine but thank you dearie."

Victoria smiled softly at her before setting down the chart as she made a few notes from the monitor beside Kate.

"Am I okay?"

"Everything appears to be fine, you heart rates good, blood pressure's as it should be. I need you to sit up for me, just for a minute."

Kate tried to do as she was asked, struggling a little as she still felt weak.

"Here, let me help you."

Victoria leaned down, placing her arms around Kate as the older woman clung to her, a small pained noise escaping her lips as Victoria lifted her gently to sit her up.

"I'll be as quick as I can." She spoke softly.

Victoria removed her stethoscope from her neck and pressed it to Kate's back.

"Take a few deep breathes for me Kate."

Kate did as she asked and inhaled two or three times while Victoria listened to her breathing.

"Am I okay?"

"Okay, we'll lie you back now."

Victoria gently lay Kate back against the pillows before scribbling more information down on Kate's chart.

"Will I live?"

"You'll live, everything seems fine." Victoria smiled.

Kate gave her a half heated smiled before her gaze shifted to the window, a lost look in her eyes. Victoria poured a glass of water and passed it to Kate before taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Here, you need to stay hydrated."

Kate took the glass without fuss, take a few sips of the water before passing it back to Victoria who placed the glass on the side cabinet.

"Where did Abigail go?" Kate asked.

"I finally convinced her to go and get some sleep and something to eat. I let her use one of the empty rooms."

"I see."

"She was very worried about you."

Kate gave a small laugh to herself at Victoria's words.

"You appeared very angry with her earlier."

"Did I."

"Kate, I know we don't know one another but I am your doctor and anything you tell me will be in confidence. You seemed…scared around her."

Kate tried to avoid eye contact with her, surprised when Victoria reached out and took hold of her hand.

"Kate…talk to me. If you're in trouble, let me help you."

Kate debated whether or not to tell her about why she was really brought in but in the end, decided against it.

"I'm not in any trouble, I was just careless."

"And Abigail?"

"She just worries too much, isn't that what daughter's do."

"I guess so, well…I'll let you get some rest."

Victoria got up to leave, turning once more before she left.

"I am here…if you do need to talk, okay."

"Thank you dearie."

Kate leaned back, closing her eyes when she heard the door to her room closing behind Victoria.

…

Liz sat in the passengers side as Red drove, faster than he should have been as they made their way through the busy streets.

"Oh my god, will you slow down. You won't do Mr Kaplan any good if you kill us before we even get there.

"We should have been able to find her so much sooner than this Lizzie."

"We did our best."

"Did we."

"Pull over."

Red looked sideways at her, not sure if he'd heard what she'd asked.

"Lizzie I…"

"Pull over…now."

Red did as she asked, pulling up to the kerb side, as other cars began passing them by. He turned off the engine, and turned to face her.

"We really shouldn't be wasting time Lizzie."

"You can't keep doing this."

"What…what is it I'm doing?"

"You need to stop blaming yourself, stop thinking about revenge on this girl and focus more on the real situation here."

"She kidnapped Kate and put her in hospital Lizzie."

"I know, but her reasons behind why she did what she did, that's far greater."

"Lizzie…"

"She's your daughter, you can't ignore that fact. As for you and Mr Kaplan, there's clearly some unresolved issues…feelings even between you."

Red closed his eyes briefly for a moment before looking back at her, defeat in his eyes.

"I don't know how I can make any of this right, what I made Kate do all those years ago, I know it hurt her, I took away her daughter. She's always resented me for that, she might not have said it but…I know she does."

"You need to really talk to her, about your daughter and definitely how you feel, you obviously still feel something for her. She stayed with you, and I know there's nothing you wouldn't do for her. The night you too shared, deny it all you want but you clearly felt something and I'm guessing still do."

"It's why I've always been so protective of her, the night with me, it was grief she was feeling and I was just there, she'd just lost Annie and…she's never allowed anyone other than me to get close to her since. She puts up this wall that is very hard to break through."

"Well at least you managed, talk to her. As for Abbey, don't do anything rash, give it time…don't screw it up, please."

Red smiled at her before taking hold of her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"It's just as well you're here then, isn't it."

Red turned back, starting the engine before pulling back out to make their way to Kate.

…

To Be Continued…