Shadows of Recovery (Everhart Family #3)

Chapter 28

Twenty-Eight

M att, writing his notes nearby, heard the station cardiac monitor wail and the banging. He ran to Sophie’s door. Finding it locked, he screamed, “I need a key! Who locked the door?”

Renee ran from the desk with a large key ring and unlocked it quickly. Matt burst in. Sophie was sitting on the floor beneath the broken window, naked, her cut hair billowing with the breeze coming in through the shattered glass. Blood spattered the walls, covered her arms and pooled beneath her thighs. She was rocking back and forth, a piece of broken glass clutched in her bleeding hand. Her eyes were dull, distant, and she seemed to have no awareness of her surroundings.

“Oh my God, Sophie!” Matt cried out. He depressed the panic alarm on his phone, alerting the entire staff on duty. He crouched down, approaching her slowly. “Sophie, it’s Matt. Can you hear me? Please, put down the glass.”

Sophie’s rocking intensified, and she pressed the shard harder against her skin, cutting deeper. “I’m ugly. I won’t be the pretty lady doctor again. No one will hurt the ugly doctor. No one will want me,” she muttered, her voice monotone, repeating the words like a broken record.

Matt’s own panic began to build at her words, but he knew he needed to stay calm. A cut to an artery could kill her. She’d already lost too much blood. “Sophie, please let me help you. Put down the glass.”

She didn’t seem to hear him, her focus entirely on the glass and the pain she was inflicting on herself. Matt had to act quickly. He couldn’t risk her injuring herself further. The door burst open behind him, and several nurses rushed in, followed closely by Dr. Chris Skylar.

“Matt?” Chris took in the scene with wide eyes.

“She’s cutting herself, Chris. She won’t stop,” Matt replied, his voice strained. “I can’t get her to drop the glass. We need to sedate her.”

Chris nodded. “Sophie, we’re here to help you. Please, drop the glass,” he said, his voice calm but firm. When she didn’t respond, he turned to Janine. “Get haloperidol plus promethazine ready. We can’t try to get her to drop the glass any longer.”

Janine left the room to prepare the sedative.

“Matt, call Tristan. He needs to know what’s happening. She bleeds much more, we may not get her back.”

Matt fumbled with his phone, his palms damp. He dialed Tristan’s number, praying he would answer quickly. He picked up on the second ring.

“Matt? What’s going on?” Tristan’s voice was filled with concern.

“Tristan, it’s Sophie. She’s... she’s hurt herself. She broke the window, and she’s cutting herself with the glass. She’s bleeding heavily, and we’re about to sedate her,” Matt said, his voice breaking.

Tristan's voice turned sharp and urgent. “I’ll get there as soon as I’m relieved. Where’s Chris? He should be there.”

Responding to the panic alarm, his surgery canceled, James entered the room, slipping on a slick of Sophie's blood. “Sweet Jesus,” he cried. “Who did this?”

“It’s self-inflicted,” Matt answered James before responding to Tristan. “Chris is here. Sam is here, and James just got here.”

Chris took the phone from Matt. “Tristan, this is Chris. We’re going to sedate her and suture her wounds. She’s in a lot of distress. It’s the break we were worried about.”

“Do what you need to do to keep her safe,” Tristan replied, his voice tight with emotion. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He sucked in a deep breath. “What the hell happened?”

Chris handed the phone back to Matt and turned to Janine, taking the syringe with the sedative from her. Matt took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he relayed what little he knew to Tristan.

“It all happened so fast. She seemed okay one minute, and then she just... snapped. She broke the window and started cutting herself before anyone could stop her.”

Tristan's voice softened slightly, though the worry was still evident. “Okay, Matt. Stay with her. Make sure she knows she’s not alone. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Matt nodded, even though Tristan couldn’t see him. “We’re here with her. We won’t leave her side.”

Chris, now kneeling beside Sophie, gently injected the sedative into her arm. Her frantic movements began to slow, but her eyes were still filled with pain and fear.

“Shh, Sophie, it's okay. We're here. You’re safe,” Chris murmured soothingly.

James grabbed gauze from the crash cart to apply pressure to some of the heavier bleeds. “We need to get these wounds closed before she loses much more blood.”

Sophie’s eyes fluttered as the sedative took effect. She looked at Matt, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Matt grabbed a pair of gloves, readying to catch her as the sedative took effect. “It’s okay, Sophie. We’re going to take care of you. Just hold on.”

Matt lifted Sophie onto the stretcher that a nurse had wheeled into the room. He gently covered her naked body with a blanket. James immediately began to wrap gauze around her forearms and thighs. “Damn it, these are all jagged cuts,” he muttered through gritted teeth.

Sam gulped as he assessed her injuries. “She’s cut her labia,” he said, his voice filled with horror.

“Janine, get our plastic surgeon on call. Also, have security notify me as soon as Tristan gets here,” Chris instructed, trying to keep his voice steady.

Matt choked back tears, his hands trembling. “What did that animal do to her to make her so scared?”

Chris replied, his voice heavy with sorrow, “More than we know, Matt. More than we know. Any idea what set her off?”

Renee, who was helping both doctors, spoke up. “You need to ask Dr. Birdham. She came in as I was taking her vitals. She said she was doing an assessment so Dr. Skylar could take over.”

Chris exploded, his face flushing with anger, “She was to have no contact with Sophie!”

Matt turned gray, his complexion paling as regret etched itself across his face. His shoulders slumped, and his gaze dropped to the floor, unable to meet the eyes of those around him. “I didn’t have a chance to update the day shift,” he murmured, his voice thick with guilt. “I’m so sorry.”

Chris shook his head in disbelief. “Matt, this isn’t on you. She was told. There’s no excuse for this. She knew the protocol. She knew Sophie’s fragile state.”

Sophie’s breathing had steadied slightly, thanks to the sedative, but her face was almost translucent, twisted in pain and fear. James continued to wrap the gauze, working as quickly and gently as he could.

Janine returned, her face pale. “The plastic surgeon is on the way. Tristan is on his way too.”

Matt took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “Sophie, we’re here. You’re going to be okay. We’re going to take care of you.”

Sophie’s eyes fluttered open for a moment as tears dripped down her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she whispered again, her voice a fragile thread.

Chris leaned over her, his expression softening. “It’s not your fault, Sophie. We’re going to make sure you’re safe.”

The room fell into a tense silence as James and Sam worked to stop the bleeding and close the wounds. Each member of the medical team was lost in their thoughts, wrestling with anger, guilt, and sorrow. The sound of Tristan’s hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.

* * *

As Tristan burst into the room, his eyes widened at the sight of Sophie’s bloodied body. “Oh my God,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Sophie…”

Chris stood up, placing a reassuring hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “She’s medically stable and sedated for now. Tristan, we know the last person to see her was Kay. She disregarded the demand to stay away. Matt got hung up with a patient and didn’t have a chance to pass it on at report.”

Tristan nodded, his jaw clenched. “This isn’t Matt’s responsibility. Right now, all that matters is Sophie.”

Tristan stood resolute, his hand tightly clasped around Sophie’s, feeling the coolness of her skin against his. The room buzzed with the quiet urgency of the team as they worked, each movement precise, every action taken with the singular purpose of pulling her back from the edge. He barely registered the activity around him, his entire focus on Sophie, his heart aching with the depth of his need to keep her safe.

Chris peeled off his gloves and placed a reassuring hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Patty Lovell is on her way to suture her labia. We’ll need to watch her closely and provide intensive psychiatric support. I’ve put her on a mandatory three-day hold and assigned a one-to-one.”

Tristan closed and opened his eyes before his gaze returned to Sophie’s face. “Thank you.”

His mind was a storm of emotions, a whirlwind of fear, anger, and relentless determination. He had seen her through so much already, but this—this was something different, something darker. The way she lay there, vulnerable and too still, made his chest tighten with a suffocating mix of dread and resolve. He wouldn’t let anything else happen to her. Not now. Not ever.

Sam looked at him. “We will get her cleaned up. I’m running bloods to see how much she lost and if she put undue pressure on her heart. I ordered a medical one-to-one and the psych hold adds one to her. She’ll have two skilled providers with her around the clock.”

“Thank you, everyone.”

Tristan walked down the hall to Sophie’s room. He grew nauseated at the sight of blood speckling the walls and floor. It looked like a massacre.

He found Chris in his office, holding his head in his hands. “Chris, are you alright?”

He looked up at Tristan and chuckled. “I should be asking you. Tristan, I should have pushed you harder about Kay. I didn’t think it would come to this.” He pointed to the bloody portfolio case. “Renee found this in Sophie’s room.”

Tristan sat down. He recognized the gift he gave to Kay as a token of his thanks for helping him find his clarity from his addiction to Vicodin. He opened it slowly, revealing the mini office set and several charts. One of them was Sophie's, and it was spattered with blood. He glanced through the documents, his brow furrowing deeply and his breaths coming faster. The more he read, the more his heart sank.

"No wonder she broke," he murmured to himself. "She read her chart."

“You’re right. That’s what triggered her breakdown."

Tristan’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his anger in check. “How did this happen?”

“I think you know. We have to deal with the fallout.”

Tristan nodded, cracking his neck. "Keep her safe, Chris. I need to find Kay and get to the bottom of this." He stormed out of Chris’s office and made his way through the hallways, his mind filled with questions and fury.

Tristan stormed into Kay’s office, his face flushed with anger. She looked up from her phone, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. “I’ll call you back.” She hung up.

"Kay, we need to talk," Tristan said, his voice unyielding.

She looked up, surprised by his tone. "What’s going on?"

Tristan shut the door behind him, his eyes blazing with anger. "How did Sophie get her chart? How did she find out about her STI and everything else?”

Kay cocked her eyebrow.

“You admit it? You did it on purpose? You went against the team’s decision?” Tristan’s voice was a mixture of fury and disbelief.

Kay leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “I did what I thought was best. You were all too soft on her.”

Tristan blew out a harsh breath, running a hand through his hair. “Too soft? Sophie is in critical condition right now because of you! We all agreed you were not to have any contact with her. You knew that!”

Kay shrugged nonchalantly. “I have experience. I could handle it.”

“Handle it?” Tristan’s voice rose, shaking with rage. “Sophie was triggered into a self-harming episode because of your presence. You knew she wasn’t ready for that kind of stress!”

Kay stood up, her eyes narrowing. “Maybe if you and the team weren’t coddling her so much, she’d be stronger by now. You’re holding her back, Tristan.”

He took a step closer, his fists clenched at his sides. “Holding her back? She’s been through hell, Kay! She needs our support, not more trauma. Your reckless decision could have cost her life!”

Kay rolled her eyes. “Drama much? She’s not a child. She needs to face her demons, not be shielded from them.”

Tristan’s face contorted with pain and anger. “Facing her demons doesn’t mean throwing her into the fire! You have no idea what she’s been through. None!”

Kay’s smirk faded, replaced by a look of defiance. “And you think you do? Just because you’re her lover, you think you know best? Maybe you’re too close to see clearly.”

Tristan’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “I know her better than anyone. And I know what she needs right now is compassion and care, not your misguided tough love.”

Kay shook her head, her eyes filled with contempt. “You’re weak, Tristan. That’s your problem. You’re too emotional to make the hard decisions.”

His blood boiled, a wave of anger surging through him as Kay’s insulting words hit him. “This isn’t about me!” he snapped, his voice hard and unforgiving. “This is about Sophie. And if you can’t see that, you have no place here.”

Kay’s lips curled into a defiant sneer, her eyes narrowing as she met his gaze. “Fine. Maybe I’ll leave, then. See how you manage without someone willing to make the tough calls.”

Tristan’s anger reached a breaking point. He couldn’t risk any more harm coming to Sophie or anyone else at the Institute. He had to act decisively. “Kay, after what you admitted, I have no choice but to terminate your employment here,” he said, his tone icy and resolute. “You went against the team’s decision, and it nearly cost Sophie her life.”

Kay’s eyes widened in shock, but she quickly masked it with a haughty expression. “You’re firing me?” her voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and fury.

“Yes,” he stood, firm and unwavering, “you are to vacate the premises immediately. I’ll have security escort you out. You’re not to set foot on these grounds again.”

He didn’t give her a chance to argue. He turned to the desk, picked up the phone and dialed security, his hand steady. “This is Dr. Blackwell. I need security in Dr. Birdham’s office immediately.”

Kay’s face flushed with rage, her eyes blazing as she watched him. “You can’t do this! I was trying to help!”

Tristan didn’t flinch, his gaze locking onto hers with a cold finality. “You crossed a line, Kay. This isn’t about helping anymore. It’s about keeping Sophie safe. You violated her trust, and you’re done here.”

As the door opened and security entered, Tristan gestured to them. “Please escort Dr. Birdham off the premises. Confiscate her identification and keys. She is no longer allowed on Institute grounds. Kay, I’ll arrange for your belongings to be sent wherever you designate.”

Kay stood frozen for a moment, disbelief mingling with the anger in her eyes, but Tristan’s resolve was unshakable. “Goodbye, Kay,” he said, his voice low and final.

Security moved forward, guiding Kay out of the office as she sputtered protests, but Tristan turned away, his focus already shifting back to Sophie. He had made his decision, and there was no turning back. He would protect Sophie, no matter the cost.

He picked up the phone and dialed Charlotte Everhart's number. "Charlotte, it's Tristan. We have a situation with Sophie. She had an emotional break and hurt herself."

There was a pause on the other end before Charlotte's voice, filled with a mix of worry and anger, responded, "How is she now?"

"She’s stable. We had to sedate her—she was in a lot of distress.”

Charlotte sighed, her voice trembling slightly. "I’ll be there as soon as I can. Sophie needs us both right now.”

"Thank you, Charlotte. I appreciate it. We’ll be waiting for you." Tristan would tell her about Kay in person.

After hanging up, he sat back in his chair, exhaustion washing over him. He hoped now that Kay was gone, and with Charlotte’s help, they could finally start to heal the wounds and protect Sophie from any further harm.

As he walked back to where Sophie rested, her fragile form a stark reminder of the ordeal she had endured, Tristan’s heart clenched. He made the right call to fire Kay, to remove the threat, but it didn’t erase the fact that he allowed it to get this far in the first place.

Reaching Sophie’s side, he paused, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept. The sight filled him with a mixture of relief and sorrow. He had done everything he could to protect her, but it hadn’t been enough.

“I’m so sorry, Sophie,” he whispered. “I should have done better. I should have seen this coming. Maybe someday you can forgive me for not protecting you better.”

Tristan could only hope that time would bring healing, not just for Sophie, but for his own heart as well. He had to believe he could make things right, that he could protect her in the way she deserved. It was all he could hold on to now.

Tristan found Chris writing a detailed note and a couple of nurses cleaning her body and hair of her blood.

Chris approached Tristan, his expression serious. "I’ve put everything in place. She won’t be left alone, and when she’s awake, we’re increasing her therapy sessions. The psych hold will give us time to stabilize her. By then we will know what Charlotte wants to do. Be prepared, she may want to move her to another facility."

Tristan nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Chris. I trust you to take care of her. I terminated Kay. I’ll file the report to the Board of Directors. I would like you to file the malpractice report to the medical board.”

Chris gave a solemn nod. "I’ll do what’s necessary, Tristan."

* * *

Tristan watched over the sedated Sophie, his eyes never leaving her pale face. The fresh, clean room around them was a stark reminder of the trauma that had unfolded just hours earlier. Maintenance people were tackling the blood that coated the walls and floor in her previous room, a grotesque testament to her desperate struggle. The sight pulled him back to another dark time, years earlier, when he received the devastating news of his wife’s death.

He remembered the day vividly. His commanding officer and a lieutenant had found him in his tent, their expressions grave. They told him his wife had been found in their home, wrists slit, in the bathtub. He had been deployed, unaware of the nightmare she was living. He didn’t know she had been raped. He wasn’t there for her when she needed him the most. The guilt and sorrow from that day still haunted him, a wound that had never fully healed.

Seeing the beautiful room created for Sophie blood-soaked, those old feelings of helplessness and despair came rushing back. Sophie had been assaulted too, and this time, he was determined to be there for her. But Kay—damn her jealousy—had made things infinitely worse. Tristan guessed it was Kay’s jealousy that drove her to leave Sophie’s chart where she could find it. How could she have been so reckless, so cruel?

He couldn’t imagine the torment Sophie had gone through reading the clinical details of her own assault. His gut burned with anger and regret.

Tristan spent the next few hours speaking with her medical team. He hated stepping into the background, but he was her boyfriend and could not be her doctor.

Sam Harris ordered a blood transfusion to replace what she had lost. Tristan checked in with the nurses regularly, staying by Sophie’s side whenever he could. He had the Institute to run, but he needed to be there when she woke up, to explain, to apologize, to try and make her understand that he would do everything in his power to help her heal.

Chris returned to her room, looked at Sophie, then back at Tristan. “The sedation will keep her resting, and we’ll monitor her closely over the next few days. When she wakes up, we’ll begin a thorough assessment. We need to understand the full extent of her new emotional trauma.”

Tristan nodded. “I appreciate your help. Institute-wide, we need to make sure this never happens again.”

Chris gave him a sympathetic look. “We will, Tristan. Now you need to take care of yourself too. This is hard on everyone. James has offered to help with the Institute load.”

As the hours passed, Tristan remained a constant presence in Sophie’s room. He watched her sleep. He thought about her and Mimi, about the promises he had made to both women and broken. When Charlotte arrived, he would face her anger and disappointment. But he couldn’t give up. Sophie needed him now more than ever, and he was determined to be the support she needed.

The next three days would be critical. Tristan steeled himself for the challenges ahead, knowing he had to stay strong for Sophie, for Charlotte, and for himself. He would find a way to make things right. He had to.