Torn (Connections #2)(4)

Once I've signed all the paperwork, the nurse calls for an orderly and when he arrives he wheels me to the door. River gets his car and we are finally allowed to leave the hospital. He decided earlier that we should spend the night in Tahoe and head home in the morning. On the way to the hotel, he looks over at me. "Did I tell you Xander and Caleb are here?"

I look at him questioningly. "No you didn't. Why are they here?"

He laughs a little and says, "What do you mean 'why'? They're here to make sure you're okay."

"But we're going home tomorrow, they could have just checked on me then."

Shrugging his shoulders, he answers, "I know but I wanted Xander to drive us back so I can sit with you."

"Oh, that's really sweet of you, but not necessary. I'm fine."

"Well even if you're fine, it's not a short ride and I want you to be able to stretch out in a backseat. I wanted to be able to be close to you. To take care of you if you need anything."

I look at him lovingly; he really does always say the sweetest things. "Thank you. But why did Caleb come? Do Xander and Caleb even really know each other?" I have to ask because it wasn't so long ago that I thought River didn't care for Caleb and now his brother is riding up to Lake Tahoe with him.

"Yeah, of course they know each other. They've met a few times, actually. And since I decided yesterday to hire Caleb to install additional security in our house, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss the upgrade with him before we get home. That way he can start on it as soon as possible."

"We don't need additional security at home because of what happened. River, I think that's a bit much."

"Dahlia, I never had the security system upgraded when I moved in, so I'm just taking a precautionary measure, that's all. You'll be coming back to LA alone during the tour so I want to make sure you're safe."

Shaking my head I throw in, "I didn't even think you liked Caleb."

"I never said I didn't like him."

"No, you didn't say it, but I felt it every time you talked to him." 

"Hmm . . . well, regardless of how I feel about him I know he's good at what he does and when I called him he said he had time. Oh, and one more thing, Caleb or someone who works for him will be escorting us places."

I narrow my eyes at him. "You mean like bodyguards?"

"Well I wouldn't call them bodyguards, just additional security."

"That sounds really awkward."

"Dahlia, I promise you won't even know they're around."

"I doubt that." I rest my head against the window and close my eyes. I find the whole amp-up-the –  security thing a little absurd, but since it makes him feel better, I won't protest.


***

When we get to the hotel, we learn that Caleb had our room changed and he and Xander now occupy the adjoining room next door. I want to tease River-"Yeah, we won't even know they're around," but I don't.

The doctor gave me some pain pills at the hospital and they've made me so tired that I spend the rest of the day in bed, snuggled in River's arms. I must have fallen into a deep sleep because when I wake, I look at the clock and it's well after midnight. The first thing I do is reach for him only to find that he isn't next to me. Looking around the room, I'm a little disoriented at first. But I see River huddled in the corner with Caleb and Xander, discussing something in hushed whispers that I can't hear. When he sees me try to sit up and move to get off the bed, he hastily rushes over.

"What do you need, baby?" he asks in almost a whisper. His face looks worn, tired, and worried.

"I need to go to the bathroom and get some water." I try to smile at him, but my mouth tastes like it has a wad of cotton balls in it and my body feels completely detached from my mind. I'm not sure I can actually walk to the bathroom without falling. I also feel light-headed.

"Let me help you," he says as he moves my legs to the floor and carefully helps me stand up. But when I start to wobble a little, I grab his shoulder for support. I think the pain medication has not only made me light-headed, but also unstable.

He's already wrapping my arm around him as he picks me up. "Dahlia, let me help you."

Xander and Caleb look over at me, appearing worried. They stand and both say good night, disappearing through the adjoining door.

Once we reach the bathroom, River gently sets me down and removes my pants. I grip the counter and begin to regain my stability.

"Can you grab me a T-shirt?" I ask him quietly.

"Sure, beautiful girl, whatever you need," he replies with a smile.

When he leaves the bathroom I push the door slightly closed and frown as I take the first real glimpse of myself in the mirror since I got home. I look much worse than I did earlier this morning. The bruises have turned purple, my wrist is still swollen, the scrapes on my cheek from where my attacker held my face to the ground are crusted over, and my shoulder aches from where he shoved his knee to hold me down.