"She's going to be fine," the doctor told them. "I want you to keep an eye on her tonight while she's sleeping because of that bump. It looks like you got really lucky in finding her so quickly," he finished.
"Thank you so much Jim, I appreciate you seeing her so fast," Mark said, as he shook the man's hand.
"You know I would do anything for you Mark," Dr. Jim said and then left.
The doctor had given her some pain pills so her head wasn't pounding anymore but she was sore and her wrists and hands burned. She wanted nothing more than to shower the grime off her body and sink into a bubble bath.
Mark helped her dress and she had to smile at the irony. He was usually trying to get her out of her clothes, not put them on. "This is a change," she said with a flirty smile at him.
Mark looked at her in shock as he realized she was joking with him. "I love you, Emily. I can't even think what could've happened if we hadn't gotten there when we did," he said with a thick voice.
"Mark, you did get there in time and I simply don't want to think about that man or place anymore. I'm one of the lucky ones who was found because I have you," she said, as she ran her hand over his cheek.
"Okay, for you I'll try to stop worrying," he said with a weak smile.
"Thank you. Now let's go home." He took her hand and led her out to the ER waiting area. Lucas and Alex jumped up as soon as they spotted them.
"Are you okay? Is the baby okay?" they asked in unison. Emily nodded her head yes and then on impulse hugged each of the brothers.
"Thank you for caring about me. I'm glad to have you as my brothers," she said as a tear slipped out. Both men were too choked up to say a word and instead hugged her tighter. A few minutes later they made their way outside to the car.
The men were treating her like a porcelain doll. Mark even held her head as she bent down to get in the car, worried she might bump it on the door jamb.
She sat in the backseat, snuggled up in Mark's arms, on the short ride back to the house. When they pulled up the front door opened and the porch filled with her sisters, Joseph and Katherine, Mary and Scott and Edward.
She was once again overcome by emotion, as she looked at the amazing group of people who were her family. She walked up the steps and was engulfed in hugs and kisses and then led into the den, where she sat down, with a blanket thrown over her and a steaming mug placed in her hands.
"You drink this up and then we'll get you upstairs to clean up before you have to do any talking," Mary said, taking over like a mother hen.
Emily obediently drank the soothing liquid and realized it did make her feel better and seemed to give her some added energy, which she was seriously depleted of.
When she finished the drink, Amy and Jessica led her upstairs and she was relieved to jump under the soothing spray of hot water. She took her time washing any traces of the man who had taken her away and turned her skin pink from scrubbing so hard.
By the time she stepped out and put on some clean flannel pajamas she was feeling almost human again. "Please burn those clothes," she said about the mud covered clothing she'd been wearing.
"No problem," Jessica said and whisked the clothes off the floor, throwing them in the trash can. "They will be gone before you come in here again."
The girls made their way back down the stairs and Emily was once again placed on the couch with a blanket thrown over her. Mark sat down next to her and pulled her tightly against his side.
Emily explained the whole story of how she'd been in the barn and she figured the man had approached her from behind, hitting her in the head with something.
"Is Trevor okay?" she asked.
"We didn't tell him what was happening. We thought that would be best," Joseph said.
"Thank you Joseph, I wouldn't have wanted him to know," she said, feeling relieved. She would check on him when she went up to bed, even though she knew he was safe.
"I know you're all worried and waiting for me to fall apart any moment. I was terrified beyond anything when I was locked in that cabin but the terror ended the minute Mark walked through the door. I knew somehow he would be there to save me and I want you to know you really don't have to worry about me," she told them sincerely.
"Okay, we'll quit the worrying," Jessica said. "Well, we might worry a little but we'll be sure to hide it from you," she added with a laugh.
"Everyone can either use guest rooms here or head home but I'm taking my wife up to take a nice long bubble bath to ease her aching joints and then bed," Mark said to his family.
"I think we'll head home and hug on our children for a while," Amy said as she walked over and hugged Emily.