Lucas pulled up outside the Infirmary, as close as possible; looking at the building, he could see the light spilling out of the windows and knew Faith was waiting inside for her friend. He waited for Nathan to help Quinn from the car, knowing they didn't need his assistance. Lucas watched how Nathan and Quinn interacted; there was something different about them. Lucas tried to decipher what he was seeing, usually, every touch, look, and word between them showed their adoration for each other. It wasn't over the top or all about the physical, but you only needed to look at them to understand there was a deeper connection between the two. Lucas sighed; he and Elizabeth didn't have that connection he knew; it was missing between them. He didn't know if it was possible to change or if they were best to end their superficial relationship. Whatever the reason for the change in Quinn and Nathan, he hoped it wouldn't last.
As Nathan held the door open for Quinn, he looked back at Lucas, tipping his head toward him. The simple gesture conveyed so much, a thank you for driving Quinn, for being there, and indicating that he should go back to Gabe. Lucas nodded in return, but he needed to take care of one more thing before heading back.
Faith heard the door open and jumped up from the chair at her desk. Relief coursed through her when she saw her friend walking through the door, none of them had known what to expect, and Faith had been anticipating the worst, wanting to be prepared just in case. "Quinn, I am so glad to see you; I was so worried," she exclaimed, hurrying over to take the arm Nathan wasn't already holding. She led her friend behind the screen to one of the beds in the Infirmary, her eyes roaming over Quinn, trying to identify apparent injuries and the source of the blood on her hands.
Quinn grimaced and looked at Faith, "the blood isn't mine, Faith; my only injuries are my wrists and ribs; the ribs hurt the most." Faith guided her to the bed, helping her use the step so she could sit on it. Quinn looked at Nathan, who remained in the doorway, watching them silently, his face grave.
"Nathan," said Faith, "I will need privacy to examine Quinn, and it will take a little while; why don't you go check on Allie, have something to eat and come back." Faith spoke to Nathan, the smile on her face fading as she realised, he wasn't responding to her, at least not the way she thought he would. Frowning, Faith looked back to Quinn, a question on her face.
Quinn was watching Nathan, too; he had grown increasingly quieter and more distant the closer they got to town, and she still didn't know what was wrong. Although he sat with her in the back of the car, it was from necessity, as he would have anyone he was transporting to the Infirmary, there was not their usual intimacy. Was it because Booth touched her? That he had kissed her? Was Nathan revulsed by her? Was it because she had stabbed Booth? She couldn't blame Nathan for not wanting to touch her, she felt disgusted too, and all she wanted was to bathe to remove Booth's scent and the feel of his touch from her skin.
"Faith's right, Nathan; please find Allie and tell her I am okay. Look after yourself too, I am sure you have been riding most of today, and you need food and rest." Quinn's tone was calm, but inside she was screaming. She wanted to take hold of him and beg him to look at her, tell her what was wrong. Did he blame her somehow for what had happened?
Looking at the two women, Nathan said nothing, just nodded in acknowledgement of their words and silently turned and walked out of the Infirmary.
Faith turned to look at Quinn, "what is that about?" she asked, her face screwed up in confusion.
"I don't know, Faith; he has barely looked at me since finding us in the cabin; He is upset about something." Quinn explained, "but I don't know why or what; he is different; that's all I know." The tears finally overflowed as she finished speaking. The only thing that had gotten her through the ordeal with Booth was knowing Nathan was coming, that they would be together, and now she wasn't sure what would happen.
Faith held her friend gently, asking, "can you tell me about what Booth did to you? Did he..." she paused her questions to Quinn, evident without needing to be expressed.
Quinn shook her head quickly, "No, Faith, he didn't do that; he bound my hands, and I injured my ribs when he pulled me off, Misty." Swallowing, she said, "He held a gun to my head, my chest," she shuddered and said, "he pressed himself against me, he kissed me. I stabbed him with a broken bottle. Nathan saw all that. Do you think..."
"No, Quinn, don't even think it," Faith interrupted her, "Nathan is quiet; he goes into himself when upset. I don't believe he would act this way because of that; maybe he is just trying to process it all." She gently placed her hand on Quinn's knee and said, "I need to examine you and make sure you're okay. Are you okay with me doing that?"
"All I want to do is bathe Faith. Can I do that, please?" Quinn begged.
Faith pressed her lips together, understanding her need to be clean, "wait here; I will get Fiona to help me; she is waiting in her shop for you to get back; she wouldn't go home until she knew you were safe." Faith patted her hand and said, "I will be right back," hurrying to find Fiona.
Quinn sat in silence in the empty Infirmary, the tears fell silently down her face, and she cried as emotions overwhelmed her. She was safe; she should feel amazing, not miserable like she was. All she wanted was to feel Nathan's arms around her, hear him telling her it would be okay, that he loved her, but he was nowhere. She wrapped her arms around herself and sobbed.
Fiona and Faith helped Quinn out of her clothes and into the bath they had prepared. The heat from the water started to seep into Quinn's bones, warming her. She tried to relax as her friends sat on the other side of the partition, talking to her about inconsequential things and lightening the mood created after Quinn explained her past, apologising for not confiding in them earlier. Faith had made her examination as she helped Quinn into the water and was happy for her to soak before she strapped her ribs and treated her wrists.
Quinn lay back in the water, suddenly tired. She wanted to go home, back to Abigails and sleep, surrounded by her things. How quickly Abigail's and Hope Valley had become home, despite spending most of her life in Oakville, that town now seemed like a distant memory and not one she wanted to revisit.
Quinn interrupted the two ladies' chatter and said, "Faith, can you help me out of the water, please? It's starting to cool." Quinn heard Faith and Fiona coming toward her and stood, reaching for the towel Faith had left for her, drying herself as best she could, being gentle with her ribs. Faith held out her hand, helping Quinn out of the tub and into a hospital gown.
"Do you feel better?" Faith asked gently, "are you ready for me to treat you?'
"If you promise I can go home afterwards, I don't need to stay here, and I want to go home, please." Quinn begged, "I can't stay here, and besides, if I go home, so can you," she said, smiling at them.
Faith and Fiona glanced at each other before Faith responded, "I will let you go home if you guarantee someone will be there with you all night."
Quinn rolled her eyes and said, "you know there isn't anyone who can stay with me; I am an adult, Faith, and I know whether I need protection or can take care of myself."
Fiona looked at her and said, "We will stay with you," she put her hand up, stopping Quinn's argument, "it's not for protection, Quinn, it's for support. You have been through something extraordinary today, and we want to make sure you're okay."
Quinn wondered at the generosity of these two remarkable women, "you would do all that for me even though I didn't tell you about my past, about why I came to Hope Valley?"
Fiona and Faith stepped up and gently wrapped their arms around her, "we understand why you didn't tell us; it was a horrible thing you experienced; let us be there for you now, okay." Fiona said.
Quinn couldn't talk without breaking down, so she nodded and hugged Faith and Fiona back.
Fiona asked Quinn, "Do you trust me to run to Abigail's and find some clothes for you? Maybe pyjamas and a robe? I won't be long, and in the meantime, Faith can finish treating you, and when I get back, we can get you home."
Quinn thanked Fiona and watched her rush out the door, laughing at Fiona's never-ending energy. Faith collected the items she would need to treat Quinn's injuries, explaining that there wasn't much she could do about her bruised ribs; she was satisfied she hadn't broken them, but she had to rest and limit her movement. Faith applied some ointment to prevent infection to her wrists and lightly wrapped them, advising Quinn to keep them dry and clean and she would redress them regularly.
"Hi everyone, can I come in?" Fiona called out as she knocked lightly on the kitchen door of Abigails, opening it and sticking her head inside. Smiling, she saw Minnie bustling around the kitchen, Angela, Cooper, and Allie all sitting at the table working on schoolwork or craft items.
"Come on in, Fiona; you don't need to knock. What brings you by tonight? Can I get you something to eat?" Minnie asked, drying her hands on a tea towel after washing her hands at the sink.
Fiona explained, "I am here to collect some things for Quinn, Faith is letting her come home tonight, and I want to get her something clean to wear."
"You've seen Quinn," Allie shouted, "How is she? Can I see her? Is she okay?" she asked her questions as she jumped up and ran to her. "I can help you get her clothes; I have stayed here and know where she keeps her things."
Fiona laughed and gave Allie a quick hug, "have you talked to your Dad?" she asked, wondering how much information Nathan had given her.
Nodding, Allie said, "yes, he said she was home, and we could visit her tomorrow if she felt better, but if she is coming home, she must be ready for visitors."
Fiona grew serious and said, "Quinn has been through a lot, Allie, and she is exhausted; how about you help me collect some things for me to take to her, and you can visit a while when we get back." Fiona knew Quinn was exhausted, but she didn't want to overstep and take Allie to see her if Nathan didn't want her to. Faith had explained Nathan's strange, cold behaviour towards Quinn, and she was annoyed with him. How dare he mistreat Quinn for something out of her control? How dare he make her feel worse than she already did about what Andrew Booth did to her. Fiona watched Allie's face drop, so she added, "Maybe you could put together a plate for Quinn, Faith and me, we haven't eaten dinner, and I am sure you could talk us into eating some chocolate cake."
Allie perked up at the thought of helping Quinn and ran towards the stairs heading up, "I will start getting her things together," she called.
Fiona shared a smile with Minnie and headed upstairs after Allie.
Nathan stood outside the Mountie office, waiting for Lucas and Gabe to return with Booth and Joshua; at least, that was what he told himself he was doing. He realised he had forgotten the Horses; he had not considered Newton and Misty and felt guilty; he hoped Gabe would take care of them for him.
Nathan knew what he was really doing was waiting to see how Quinn was. While waiting, he had seen Faith leave and return with Fiona, and then Fiona had left. He wanted to go to Quinn and hold her, tell her he loved her, that he had been out of his mind with worry, but he couldn't do that. It wasn't fair of him to do that when Quinn didn't know Joshua Booth was in love with her. Nathan needed to give Joshua a chance to share his feelings and let Quinn choose who she wanted to be with, not be with him by default, because she didn't know about Joshua or felt she had to stay with Nathan.
There was another reason he couldn't go to her; he thought as he scolded himself yet again. He was the reason Booth was able to take Quinn in the first place. As a Mountie, he knew better, but he had been sloppy and predictable, and Booth had used this to lure Quinn anyway. Whatever happened to her, whatever he had done to her, Nathan was to blame. How could Quinn ever forgive him?
Nathan couldn't stand it anymore; he stepped away from the pole he leaned against and headed towards the Infirmary. He watched as Fiona came toward him and noticed the moment Fiona saw him and was surprised by the anger in her eyes directed at him.
Fiona clutched the items in her hands against her chest and would have walked past him, except he called her name, forcing her to acknowledge him. "Is everything alright with Quinn, Fiona? What do you have there?" he asked quietly, the night was still, and he knew their voices would carry to anyone listening.
"What do you care, Nathan?" she said harshly, her voice filled with anger. "The woman you have said you love is laying in the Infirmary, and you just left her there". Shifting the bundle of clothes she held, she scolded him, "how dare you ask how she is. She is devastated; she thinks the man she loves is disgusted by her, and do you know why? Because that man left her with Faith and walked away without a word of love or comfort. Apparently, repulsed by her after what happened. What else could she think."
Fiona's words hit Nathan like a blow to the stomach, his breath rushed out of him, and his mouth opened and closed as he tried to find the words he needed to explain. "Fiona, let me explain..."
"It's not me that needs the explanation, Nathan," she said more softly, "Think long and hard about how you can explain this to Quinn; she is the one who needs to forgive you."
Reaching for the clothes, Nathan stopped before taking them from Fiona and asked, "Can I take these to her? Can you give me a moment with her? Please" he asked, his face reflecting the pain and anguish he felt at her words. "I do love her, Fiona; with everything I have, I almost lost my mind looking for her, not knowing where she was and knowing Booth had her, and it was all my fault" Hesitating, he dropped his hands to his sides and looked down at his feet.
Taking a deep breath, Nathan knew he would need to open up to Fiona to convince her of his sincerity, "I found out Joshua Booth is in love with Quinn; I know he plans to tell her, and I wanted to give her some space to consider his words...I didn't want to force her to be with me or think she must stay with me...I." Nathan ran out of words, his throat thick with emotion, his eyes bright with tears.
He was pleased and nervous when Fiona handed the bundle to him, tipped her head to the door, and gestured, indicating he should go ahead, her expression much kinder than when she first talked to him. As he stepped away from her, she stopped him by placing her hand on his arm. "She loves you, Nathan; this is not your fault, and nothing Joshua Booth or anyone else says to her will change that, now or in the future. Just be there for her."
Nathan flashed her a hopeful smile as he opened the door and stepped into the Infirmary.
"Is that you, Fiona?" Faith called, "we are ready for you." Faith frowned as she came around the partition and saw Nathan, not bothering to hide her displeasure at seeing him. "I am surprised to see you here, and I would prefer it if you left. I don't want you upsetting her again, Nathan."
"Faith, I promise, that's not why I am here. I need to explain, to make it right." Nathan begged, "I explained to Fiona what happened, and she gave me the clothes; she is outside; you can ask her what happened, but please let me see her." Nathan was stammering, rambling, trying to convince Faith of his good intentions, but she stood, unwavering, arms folded across her chest.
"Let him back, Faith, it's okay," Quinn called from behind the partition.
Faith, still frowning, she leaned forward and whispered, "I will give you ten minutes, that's all, and then I want her home and resting, and I don't care if you are the Mountie; In here I am the law."
Nathan nodded at Faith as she walked around him and out of the door. He took a deep breath and straightened, ready to face Quinn, to explain, apologise, grovel, whatever it took to earn her forgiveness.
Quinn lay in the bed, listening to her friend, smiling at Faith's defence of her to Nathan appreciating her loyalty. Her stomach had filled with butterflies when she heard his voice, her heart racing as it always did near him. Despite everything, her reaction to him was the same as it always was and this time, she cursed it, wishing he didn't affect her so much. She looked down at herself, making sure she was presentable; Faith had insisted Quinn get into bed while they waited for Fiona wanting her to keep warm in her light gown. Quinn had never received a man in such circumstances before and felt heat rise in her cheeks.
Quinn looked at Nathan as he came around the partition, watching as he placed her clothing on the end of her bed, the colour high in his cheeks. Quinn wanted to hear why he had come back, but more than that, she needed to know why he left.
Nathan approached her cautiously; she could tell he was nervous; he was tugging on his serge and running a hand through his hair. He probably wished he had held his hat with him, to give his hands something to do. Quinn thought about breaking the ice, but she didn't know how to do that after today.
Nathan stepped up to stand beside Quinn and looked down at her in the hospital bed; she looked small, sad, and scared. He knew Booth had put her in the hospital, but he was the cause of the look on her face, and he was ashamed. Nathan should have talked to her, not walked away from her. He knew it was because he felt guilty. After all, he was the reason she had been kidnapped. What happened with Elizabeth, her actions had made him doubt himself, doubt anyone would choose him if there were another choice, and when he realised Joshua loved Quinn, he wondered if it would change her feelings for him.
"Quinn," he said, but that was all he got out before his voice broke. Nathan dropped his head, trying to compose himself; he owed Quinn an apology; he couldn't falter now. He looked at his feet, reaching to touch her before dropping his hand back to his side. His breath hitched, and he took a deep breath, "Quinn, I owe you an explanation but, more importantly, an apology." Finding his courage, he reached out again and took her hand, glad she didn't resist but still unable to meet her eyes. "I am so sorry that my actions made it possible for Booth to take you, that you're lying here because I didn't do my job properly, that I was complacent and stupid."
Nathan breathed deeply, trying to calm himself, "Then I made you feel like I didn't want you; I do; I love you, Quinn, with all my heart, and when he took you... when I couldn't find you, I thought my heart would stop. I am so sorry."
"Why did you walk away?" Quinn asked quietly. "Was it because of what you saw? Because I stabbed Booth? Because he touched me, and you think I'm... I'm."
"Quinn, No, never!" he exclaimed. "It has nothing to do with that." Nathan finally raised his eyes to look at her, "it's not Andrew Booth; it's Joshua."
Quinn shook her head; her brow wrinkled in confusion, "What has Joshua got to do with it?"
"He's in love with you, Quinn," Nathan blurted out. "I wanted you to choose between us without feeling you owed me or being confused by what I want. I wanted to give you space from me to do that. I didn't want to remind you how much I love you and have you feel an obligation to me." Nathan stood, holding her hand, exhausted by the depth of his emotions, his vulnerability, waiting for Quinn to think through what he had told her.
"Nathan, thank you for telling me, for being willing to let me choose without forcing me" Quinn squeezed his hand, pausing until he made eye contact with her. "You need to know something, though; there is no choice to make. It's been made. My heart chose you, and it was forever."
"But…" Nathan started to speak.
"There are no buts for me, Nathan," Quinn interrupted. "If you have any, now would be the time to let me know," Quinn said, smiling at him.
Nathan felt something loosen inside of him, the fear constricting his heart fading away. "No buts for me either. I love you with my heart; there is no choice for me either," Nathan declared, his love shining from his eyes.
Nathan sat on her bed, gently drawing her into his arms, careful not to hurt her. He placed a hand against her cheek and said, "I am so sorry," he said sincerely, "hurting you was the last thing I ever wanted to do."
Leaning down, he did what he had wanted to do all day. Capturing her lips with his, he poured his heart and soul into their kiss, showing her how much he loved her and wanted her, grateful when she returned his kiss in kind.
As Nathan's lips found hers, the passion built; Quinn ignored the pain in her injured side to get closer to him, pressing into his chest, loving the feel of being in the arms of the man she adored, the heat inside her threatened to explode, and she gripped him tighter.
A sound of protest escaped her lips as she heard the door open and footsteps approaching. Quinn wanted to stay where she was, with Nathan forever. Nathan lifted his head, his eyes dark with passion. He rested his head against her forehead, trying to control his ragged breathing. He leaned away from her after giving her a gentle kiss, creating distance between them but holding her hand again, not ready to release her completely.
Faith and Fiona peeked around the divider, with Fiona asking cheekily, "should we give you two a minute?"
Quinn laughed as Nathan blushed, "I don't think that's a good idea. I think it's best I get dressed, and we surround ourselves with people. Besides, I want to see Allie and make sure she saved me some chocolate cake. Suddenly I am ravenous."
Nathan looked down at their hands, their fingers entwined and closed his eyes. He sent a silent prayer of gratitude toward Heaven, saying thank you for Quinn's forgiveness, her love and safe return to Allie and him.