Rescuing Ryder (Serenity Securities, Team Hawk #1)

Chapter 48

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

One week later, Chase entered the room. Ryder sat in the chair beside her bed, refusing to leave her side. His scruff turned into a full-grown beard and he stank. Ryder didn’t care. He wanted her to see him when she opened her eyes.

Chase addressed him, “Ryder. They want to move Claire to a different facility. I know a few colleagues on staff and asked them to transfer Claire home to Serenity Mountain. She named me as power of attorney for all medical decisions.”

“Did they figure out what he gave her?” he asked wearily.

Chase sighed. “It appears he experimented with his own variation of drugs. Matthew located the mother and they’re running tests. We combed through the anesthesia meds, and believe he gave her a paralytic. Then he mixed it with something else. Any treatment we give her without knowing exactly what he added can make the difference between a full recovery or a permanent state. Her vitals remain stable. Leo ordered the helo to evac her, and we can transfer her as soon as they sign off.”

“Bring it. She wants to go home,” he whispered. His voice held very little fight after waiting seven days for her to wake. Claire never opened her eyes and he knew what Chase refused to say. The longer Claire stayed under the influence of whatever Klein gave her, the chances of her waking dimmed by the day.

Chase made the necessary arrangements. Ryder flew in the helo with her and wondered if Claire feared heights. He held her hand as they made the short flight to the mountain. Kassie, Catherine and Lizzy waited for them to touch down. They wheeled her to a room where the women surrounded her, making her comfortable and cleaning her up.

Leo’s hand on his shoulder kept him from entering. “Give the women a few minutes. They’re concerned, too. She’s family and they need to help.” He steered him to a room across the hall. Clean clothes and a razor lay on the bed. Ryder took the subtle hint and decided to shower.

He towel-dried his hair and threw the towels in the basket before returning to her room. Claire resembled a sleeping angel. The women bathed and dressed her in pretty pink pajamas. A pregnant Samantha leaned over to fix her hair. Kassie covered her with a homemade quilt and ran the IV. The room smelled of jasmine, Claire’s favorite scent.

Samantha smoothed the finishing touches before exiting, leaving Kassie alone. She glanced up and noticed him.

“Come in. We gave Claire all the gossip and promised her when you returned, you’d smell better. Lunch will arrive in a few minutes,” Kassie informed him as she wrote down her last vitals.

Ryder moved to the opposite side and kissed Claire’s forehead.

“Talk to her. We don’t know if she can hear us or not. Let her know we aren’t giving up and reassure her. I can’t imagine how scared she must’ve felt, paralyzed and unable to move and fight. Give her a reason to hold on, Ryder.”

Kassie left the room.

Ryder held Claire’s hand. “Kassie says to talk to you. I hope you can hear me, Claire Bear. We aren’t giving up. I asked Michael to stop by the house and pick up one of your books. After lunch, I’ll read to you.” She lay there, unresponsive to his touch or voice. Ryder wanted to shake her and demand she return to them.

“Chase found a scientist and a pharmaceutical maker who specializes in making paralytics. They’re working overtime to discover what he gave you. The Seattle police gave us access to the evidence and Chase took pictures of everything from the apartment,” he informed her.

The nurse, Annabelle, walked in with a tray of snacks for him. “Hello, Claire. Kassie sent me with snacks and later, I’ll bring lunch. We’re having Chicken salad sandwiches and fruit salad today. Ricky, from the kitchen, sends his love. He says he’ll make you the best omelet you’ve ever eaten when you wake up.”

She placed the tray on the hospital table and left Ryder alone.

“Come on, Claire. Talk to me. Yell at me. You keep shouting about choices. You pushed me to make mine. Now, I’m pushing you. Do you want a life withering away in this bed or a lifetime with me? I made a choice when I stepped off the plane to come for you and I’m not leaving without you. Make a choice, sweetheart. Choose me. Choose us,” he pleaded.

Chase entered the room. “They believe they discovered what he gave her. They found a vial hidden in his mother’s room with a syringe. We’re testing it now. His mother woke and can’t move her limbs, but she started saying a few words. She doesn’t make much sense. The authorities will talk to her. If she woke on her own, we’re hoping Claire can fight her way through it, too.”

Ryder squeezed Claire’s hand. “Did you hear Chase? Please, don’t give up. I’m not leaving your side.”

Three days later, the sun went down over the mountain and he refused to let her go. The days dragged on and seemed less bright without her in it. Kassie visited, pushing a hospital bed into the room beside Claire’s.

“Sleep. She’ll need you when she wakes,” Kassie ordered him before wishing them goodnight and closing the door.

He climbed on the bed and pulled the quilt over both of them. Wanting to feel her body close to his, he pulled her back to his chest, adjusting her pillow for her comfort.

“Goodnight, Claire Bear. I slayed the monster and when you feel ready, I want you to return to me,” Ryder whispered.

He lay beside Claire listening to her breathing and hoping Chase’s theory proved true. Ryder closed his eyes and recalled the fight before he left and wished he told her how much he loved her. Now, he only wished to see her open her eyes.

Something stirred beside him. Thinking the nurse came in to take her vitals, Ryder discovered no one in the room. He rose from the bed and turned on the bathroom light and returned to ensure the tubes and cords remained untangled. He straightened the covers and brushed her hair from her eyes to find round green ones staring back at him. Ryder’s heart raced as he yelled and pushed the call button. Annabelle ran inside and left to call Chase.

“Hey, Claire Bear. Can you move yet? It’s fine if you can’t. Can you blink?” He waited and almost cried when her eyelids fluttered closed and opened up again.

Kissing her head, he whispered endearments in her ear as Chase ran into the room. He helped turn her over while Doc asked her questions and assured her she was on the mend.

Chase left the room to contact Kassie while Ryder gripped her hand. Tears pooled in her eyes and he gently swiped them away.

“Thank you for choosing us,” he whispered.

The next day, Claire went in and out of consciousness. The team watched over the couple. Leo ordered him to shower and go outside for fresh air, but he refused. The stubborn Kassie didn’t take no for an answer. She entered the room with her arms loaded with towels, clothes, a shaving kit, and personal hygiene products. The women marched in with clean clothes for Claire. He stared at them angrily, daring them to demand he leave.

Kassie placed her hands on her hips, imitating the scary older redhead, Victoria. “Ryder. We’re on your side. Claire needs tending and you badly need a shower. We won’t leave her side until you return. If she wakes, even for a second, I give you my word: I’ll drag you from the shower myself.”

Sighing heavily, Ryder complied. When he returned, Claire wore fresh pajamas and held some color on her cheeks. He briefly wondered if her bed bath made her feel more comfortable as the shower made him feel. The women silently disappeared from the room while Kassie hung a new IV bag. “Her vitals appear a bit stronger today. The chemist and Chase believe they figured out the concoction Klein gave her. They started her on a low dose of meds to help counteract everything. We’re unsure how long it will take and don’t want to overwhelm her system.” She tucked the blanket around Claire before exiting the room.

“Claire Bear, I don’t mean to complain since you’re lying in the hospital bed, but I’ve brought my breathing exercises to a whole new level waiting for you to wake up. Hell, I’ll even let you win a fight. I won’t say a word when you hang another picture crooked or break something even more when you try fixing it. Open your eyes and yell at me, damn it,” Ryder growled under his breath.

He hung his head in frustration. Rubbing his eyes, he tried to calm his breathing.

“Ryder.”

He barely heard his name, but he knew the sound of her voice, even when it appeared tired. Ryder relived every moment with her inside his head while he waited for her to give him a sign. His head jerked up to find her staring at him. Ryder cupped her cheeks with his hand and kissed her nose. “Hey, Claire Bear. Doc gave you some meds and you’re improving.” He attempted to reassure her. Tears dripped from her eyes as she stared at him and rolled down the sides of her face.

Claire’s mouth barely opened as she struggled to form words. “Scared.”

“Oh, baby. I know. The team takes watch outside your door, Kassie acts as a drill sergeant, and the other women come in to freshen you up. They refuse to allow staff to touch their friend. Klein no longer can terrorize you.” Ryder picked up her hand. “I’m not leaving your side.”

Claire’s eyes moved downward before returning to him. She struggled with trying to speak. Even though she didn’t say it, he felt her terror as she tried to comprehend why her body refused to work.

“Hey,” he spoke softly. “Chase assured me Klein’s mother is slowly coming around. They don’t know how much of what she says is due to a legitimate case of dementia or what the asshole gave her. Chase flew in a chemist and a few other people. They gave you a low dose of medication last night to help counteract the effects. Your vitals appear stable and the fact you’ve stayed awake longer than five minutes is a good sign.”

Ryder swiped the tear away. “We’ll get you through this.”

Leaning over to the side of the bed, he pushed the call button. Annabelle immediately entered the room. She beamed a smile at seeing her patient awake. “Welcome back, Claire. I’ll inform Chase and Kassie immediately.”

Ryder held her hand, careful to put it within her sight, unsure if she felt anything. A few minutes later, the couple appeared.

Kassie immediately went to her friend to reassure her. Chase clasped Ryder’s shoulder as he walked to the other side of the bed.

“Ryder, we need a few minutes alone with Claire and then we’ll take her for some tests,” Kassie informed him as she unhooked some of the wires attached to her patient.

“I’ll give you time to examine her, but I just promised Claire I won’t leave her. Wherever she goes, I go.”

“It’ll only take a couple of hours—” Chase began to object.

Kassie cleared her throat, catching Chase’s attention. The couple held a silent conversation before Doc finally grinned. “All right, you can join us as long as Claire consents.” He peered down at his patient. “If you want Ryder to come along, can you blink once?”

Claire’s eyes fluttered once before she searched for Ryder at the end of the bed. Winking at her, he felt something he never expected: hope entered his chest and warmed his heart.

“I’ll return as soon as they finish,” he assured Claire while holding her gaze. He exited the room and walked down the hall and outside the hospital. Relief flooded him. Ryder knew the road to her healing seemed long and far, yet the euphoria he felt as her saying his name overwhelmed him with joy. When he knew he walked far enough away from everyone, Ryder slid behind a tree and let go of all the grief, anxiety and stress over the last couple of weeks.

Thanks, Gunner. If you can hear me, I know you played a hand in this. Thank you for giving me the one reason not to pull the trigger. I promise I won’t let you down.

Four days later, Claire sat in the recliner, peering out the window. Ryder begrudgingly left for PT with Kassie’s persistence. Samantha and Kassie helped her shower. Samantha used her spa products, and the room filled with the scent of jasmine. Kassie placed new sheets on her bed, Maddie, Edie, and Carol brought her and Ryder lunch, and Samantha gave her hair a salon blowout. She almost felt human. Bryanna sent Saint with a plate of Snickerdoodle cookies. Catherine popped in with a list of things needed when she returned home. They already set everything in motion to ensure it arrived on time. The specialist and Chase agreed she needed to stay a couple of weeks to work on her motor functions and now she dwelled on the rest.

Ryder entered the room as the women finished their fussing. He shot her a smile and frowned when she refused to meet his eyes.

He dragged a chair before her and moved the rolling tray table to the side. “What’s up, Claire?” Ryder asked as he scanned her face.

“Chase says I can return home in two weeks,” Claire murmured. Speaking still required effort, but it became more manageable by the day.

“It’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” He leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. “You don’t seem too excited about the prospect.” Ryder sat, meeting her gaze.

“Chase and Kassie spoke with me about making a rotating nursing staff schedule to stay with me. I don’t feel comfortable with people coming into my house. I sound ungrateful. Kassie, Carol, and Catherine added their names to the list. Kassie and Catherine work a busy schedule here and have babies to tend to. It’s best to hire an outside nursing agency instead of bothering them.”

Ryder grunted. “It doesn’t seem to me they feel bothered by you.”

Claire peered out the window again.

Sighing, Ryder turned her face to meet his. “What’s wrong?”

“Nobody knows when I’ll regain full control of my body.” She gazed down and felt her cheeks fill with heat.

Frowning, Ryder sat back in his chair, regarding her. “Klein’s mother improves daily. Chase brought up the possibility her advanced age may also affect her progress. You’ve almost caught up with her. If you don’t want strangers in the house, we won’t use them.”

“It’s not exactly a choice.” Claire slowly picked up the glass in front of her. Her hand shook, yet she refused to allow her broken body to win. When the straw hit her lips, she let out a triumphant smile.

“Let’s not beat around the bush, Claire Bear. Something’s bothering you. Do you want me to play twenty questions? I doubt you’ll make it past ten, considering the nurses tell me you’ve stayed in the recliner most of the morning and wanted to eat lunch before returning to bed. It’s the longest you’ve made it. Let’s cut through the bullshit.”

“Ryder, you don’t need to stay with me at the hospital anymore and Kassie kept the cabin for you,” she blurted out.

He ignored her as he rose, pulled the tray before her, and began unloading the food basket. Two portions of homemade macaroni and cheese, a fruit platter, and two slices of French silk pie lay before them. He set up her meal and handed her the curved fork the physical therapy department gave her to work with until she gained more function.

“Well, I disagree. You’ve experienced nightmares and suffered from panic attacks. Don’t look at me like your friends betrayed you. I’m here all the time and a Navy corpsman. Do you believe I don’t notice you struggle?” he gritted out angrily.

“I know,” Claire admitted.

“Then talk to me, not as your doctor, therapist or any of your medical team. This is between us and I want to know why you’re pushing me away. I’m sure as hell not a bundle of joy to deal with, but we’ve managed to get along. The professional Claire doesn’t work for me. So, place her to the side and let me see the woman I’ve come to know,” Ryder challenged while he pierced his pasta.

“I don’t want you to stay at the house. They don’t know when I’ll gain all my functions.” A tear rolled down her cheek and he brushed it away with his thumb.

“Bring it, Claire Bear. Tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m wearing a catheter; Ryder and I can’t feel everything down there. It’s embarrassing. I know, as a physician, it’s a normal function. You’re not a stranger…It’s different between us. When I come home…”

Ryder rose and knelt beside her chair. He took her hand and held it to his cheek. “We aren’t hiring a nursing crew because you don’t want strangers. You’ll allow your friends to help you. As for me, I’m a corpsman, and I’ve seen everything. And you’ll allow me to help you because if I have to choose between caring for you or not having you with me, I’ll choose you every time.”

Claire sobbed. “It’s different with you. What if it changes how you see me?”

Ryder shook his head. “Nothing can change how I view you. I love you Claire Bear,” he whispered.

Claire sucked in her breath. She focused on raising her other hand and Ryder helped her guide it to his face. She laughed, relieved as he rubbed it against his overgrown scruff. “I love you, too,” she whispered back. He closed his eyes as if he let the words penetrate his mind. Then he opened them to smile at her.

“What do you say about me giving up the cabin and moving in with you? It’s not the usual way of getting to know one another, but I want to be there for you. We’ll figure this out together. Plus, who knows what will happen in a couple of weeks? I say bring it.”

She grinned from ear to ear, feeling stronger with him at her side. “Yeah, bring it.”

Ryder wrapped his hand around her neck as he leaned in, drawing her closer, and gently kissed her.

She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his lips on hers and his hand wrapped possessively around her neck. When she opened them, her insecurities melted away as she saw the promise in his eyes. Ryder vowed to slay her monsters and her doubts and show her love was worth fighting for.

Two weeks later, Ryder rolled the wheelchair into her hospital room. “I can walk all by myself,” Claire informed him testily.

“Doc’s orders and we know you always follow the rules,” Ryder quipped as he helped her transfer to the chair.

“Did Chase give you the discharge papers?”

“Yep,” he told her. “He said they’ll stop in tomorrow and bring meals. I gave him a list of your favorites.”

Claire eyed him suspiciously. “What are my favorites?”

“Chicken pot pie, steak and potato, and the seafood dish Maddie makes,” he responded.

“Those aren’t my favorites; they’re yours,” she laughed as Ryder placed a blanket over her legs and pushed her through the hall.

It took forever as residents and staff lined the hallway to congratulate her release.

Ryder helped her inside the car and buckled his precious cargo in, before running for the driver’s side. He held her hand and gazed into her eyes, feeling incredibly lucky to have her by his side.

“Claire Bear, let’s go home,” he murmured, kissing her hand.

Claire smiled in return. “Did the electrician come?” she asked.

“Yes. Matthew installed the outdoor cameras,” Ryder assured her.

“What about the inside ones?” Claire asked.

“I didn’t install them. Since I’m staying in Serenity, I thought you won’t need the cameras.”

Claire sighed nervously.

“I know you’re still scared. We’ll navigate this together,” Ryder assured as they pulled onto her street.

Pulling into the driveway, he helped her from the car.

“You didn’t say anything,” Claire uttered.

“About what?” Ryder asked gruffly.

“You always say something about the abomination.” Claire rolled her eyes.

“I decided not to complain. As long as you’re there, I’ll learn to love it.” He kissed her nose.

Leading her into the living room, he settled her on the couch and turned on the fireplace. “How about a cup of hot chocolate?”

“It sounds great. Can I see the therapy schedule and the hospital instructions?”

Ryder handed her one of his books from the book collection Tex shipped to her house. “I folded it inside.”

Claire pulled the papers from the cover when a picture floated into her lap. She stared at it and smiled. Opening the list of instructions, she read through all of them, making notations in the margins. When she turned the last page, the only thing written was ‘Choose me.’

Claire’s breath caught in her throat as Ryder knelt before her, holding a blue box.

“Not too long ago, I sat in my apartment and tried to pull the trigger to end a life I lost a long time ago. Something made me search for a reason. When I flew to Serenity, I didn’t realize I made my first choice. Now, I know you’re my reason to wake up every day and to make good choices. Even on my bad days, I will always choose a life with you. Will you marry me?”

Claire cupped his cheeks and kissed him. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He sat beside her and pulled the ring from the box. “This seems a bit unorthodox, but the band’s made from the bullet I put in the chamber. One single bullet to end it all. The blue-green stone is Amazonite. It means the stone of hope. It’s what you’ve given me. I’m giving you the bullet because you rescued me, Claire. I’ll always choose us.”

Tears fell down her cheeks and Claire gazed at the ring.

“Geez, I should’ve gotten a diamond. Now it seems like a bad idea. We can pick one out together this weekend,” Ryder rushed, thinking she didn’t like it.

“It’s perfect,” Claire choked. “The reason behind it makes it special and unique. I’ve never cared for diamonds. This means so much more.”

He slipped it over her finger.

“I love you,” she whispered as she stared at the ring.

Ryder tilted her chin upward and leaned in. “I love you, Claire Bear,” he murmured as he kissed her. Pulling her over, he positioned her to allow her head to lay on his shoulder. The scent of jasmine drifted from her perfume as he nuzzled her hair.

“Ryder, who is this man in the picture?” Claire asked, holding up the picture of his fallen brothers and pointing to one of them.

“It’s Gunner. Why?”

She shrugged. “It sounds funny, but I met him before. Right after you rescued me, I remember dreaming. He approached me and said you needed me.” She traced the man’s face with her finger.

Ryder shook his head and smiled. “Gunner’s ensuring I’m living a life worthy of my brothers.”

She leaned against his chest, marveling at her ring and viewing the picture in her hand. Gunner needn’t be worried any longer. Claire intended to spend the rest of her life rescuing Ryder.