Kathleen could feel a hand running down her arm. She groaned at the pounding in her head.

"Kathy?" She recognized her husbands voice. She opened her eyes and saw him sitting there next to her. His brown eyes were fully of worry, concern and guilt as he looked at her.

"Tom?" she replied though her voice was dry and cracked. "What are you doing here?" Tom offered her a small smile and laid his hand on her blond hair.

"The nurses called me, honey. They told me you'd been in a car accident." he said. "I'm so sorry! I feel like this is all my fault."

Maybe because it is your fault you cheating bastard, she thought to herself. She turned her head away from him and focused on the peeling paint on the cream colored wall next to her.

"Where is your girlfriend?" she asked. She knew it probably wasn't the right time for a fight but she was in a heck of a lot of pain and she really didn't feel like seeing his face right now.

"My wife comes first, Kathy. I don't want to lose you." he said gently. She snorted and then winced at the pain in her head.

"You can't only put me first when it makes you feel better, Tom. I would rather that you weren't here." Tom stood up.

"I love you, Kathy. Don't push me away." he said. She still didn't look at him as she starting picking lint balls off of the hospital blanket she was covered with.

"You already had your chance, Tom. You blew it and I will be just fine without you." she said matter of factly. Thomas shook his head.

"I'm sure you're only saying these things because of the medications and pain." he said. He looked at his watch. "It's almost one in the morning. I'll come back after work and sit with you, Kathy." She didn't reply and he walked out of the door.

Kathleen took the time then to really give herself a once over. None of her bones seemed to be broken. She had bruises on her arms and her head was pounding. There was a bandage across her left cheek and an IV in her hand.

As she sat alone in the dark room listening to the sound of nurses going up and down the halls, pages coming over the intercom and the dinging of IV machines she felt tears running freely from her eyes.

She fell asleep seeing flashes of Tom and his brunette 'friend' Regina naked in she and Tom's bed. But then after sleep claimed her, her dreams became a much different scene. She was cold and wet. The rain was beating down on her and she felt two strong arms lift her up. She saw bright blue eyes full of concern as they looked at her. She was pulled against a broad chest and wrapped her arms tight around her rescuers neck. She could still feel the steady beat of his heart against her face.

888

Aaden had no idea what had possessed him to call into work today. He was even more confused by his decision to stop by the flower shop and buy a bouquet of flowers and a get well card. But nothing shocked him more then the sound of his boots on the ceramic floors of the hospital hall as he approached room 218.

The nurse on duty had happily told Aaden where Kathleen's room was. Aaden had known Sarah since they'd been kids. That was one of the perks of living in a small town. Sarah had told him that Kathleen was actually from the next county over and he realized that was why he hadn't recognized her the night before.

Aaden stopped at the door to room 218. He had no right to be here. He had heard the nurse last night when she had said that Kathleen had a husband. He certainly had no right to dream about a married woman the way he had the night before and even less right to be here now with a bouquet of flowers.

He took a deep breath, cleared his throat and knocked on the door. He heard a crash inside the room and then he heard a feminine voice curse.

"Come in." that same voice said. Aaden opened the door and saw her standing there in a green hospital gown. She had a bandage on the side of her face and bruises all over her arms. Her breakfast tray was in messy pile on the floor.

"Are you ok, ma'am?" he asked as he walked over to her. She blushed as she looked down at the mess.

"I was trying to get to the bathroom but these stupid IV cords got tangled up and the next thing you know my breakfast is gone…." she said pointing to the food on the floor.

"Probably a blessing really. I hear the food here is pretty bad." he said offering a smile. Kathleen had never seen such a handsome smile and she was surprised by the way not only her body but her heart seemed to respond to this stranger.

"Who are you?" she asked eying the bouquet in his hands. He pulled off his baseball cap revealing a messy head of brown hair.

"I guess you probably wouldn't remember me. My name's Aaden. I found you last night and brought you to the hospital." he replied. Kathleen looked at his eyes then and suddenly she did recognize him. She'd been dreaming of those eyes all night. He was wearing blue jeans, a t-shirt and a dirty pair of work boots. He held the bouquet out to her after putting his camouflage baseball cap back on.

"I just wanted to bring you something to brighten up your room and of course I wanted to check on you. Make sure you were ok."

Kathleen took the bouquet of bright flowers and breathed in their scent. They really were beautiful. She sat them on the windowsill.

"Thank you very much, Aaden." she said. He shrugged and then bent down to start picking the mess up off the floor.

"You don't have to do that. I made the mess." Kathleen said quickly. Aaden looked up at her and then quickly looked back down at the ground when he realized that she had turned her back to him and the thin little hospital gown made it quite clear at this angle that she was naked beneath it.

"Thank you very much." Kathleen said after he had carried the tray out to the hall and come back in the room.

"You're welcome." he said. He saw her practically bouncing from foot to foot. "You ok?" he asked. Her green eyes were full of embarrassment as she shook her head.

"I was actually on my way to the…" she motioned to the bathroom. He blushed red and nodded.

"Of course. I'll wait out in the hall." he said. He walked out to the hall leaving the door cracked. He could hear the wheels of the IV machine moving across the room and then he heard a thud and more feminine cursing. He peeked in the room and saw her lying in the floor trying to get up.

"Are you ok?" he asked walking in and helping her up. She quickly readjusted the flimsy hospital gown to cover herself and nodded as she looked up at him blushing. "I tripped over this stupid IV." she said. He turned his head away to hide his laugh and then grabbed onto the pole.

"Would you like some help?" he asked. She looked at him wide eyed.

"I.. uh….I don't know." she stuttered.

"I'll just help you in the bathroom and then wait outside the bathroom door until you're done and then I'll come back in and help you to the bed.. No big deal." he promised. She smiled at him, suddenly feeling overwhelmingly grateful that he was here.

"Thank you," she said. He held the IV line out of her way and followed behind her pushing the pole and trying hard not to pay attention to the glimpses and flashes he kept getting of her perfectly smooth backside with every step she took.

Once he had her settled back in the bed she started laughing. It was a nice sound and he found himself just listening to her.

"Oh I bet you are so glad you stopped by this morning." she said. "First you get to clean my breakfast out of the floor then help me go pee.. I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed."

"No need to be embarrassed ma'am." he said. "Maybe one day I'll need help to the bathroom and you'll be there." he said. She laughed again and he was proud that he had made her do so.

"Thank you, Aaden. For stopping last night and bringing me to the hospital. I would have died if you hadn't been there." He tipped his head.

"My pleasure, ma'am." he said. She rolled her eyes.

"Stop calling me ma'am. My name is Kathleen." she said. He smiled.

"Yes ma'am." She rolled her eyes and laughed again. Then he heard her stomach growl.

"Hungry?" he asked. She blushed.

"I didn't get to enjoy my gourmet breakfast before I splattered it all over the floor." she said. He laughed and stood up out of the rocking chair.

"I'll go get you something." he said. She shook her head.

"No you don't have to. I don't have any money anyway. I'll be fine until lunch." she assured him. He shook his head.

"I insist." he said. He turned her television on and handed her the remote. "I'll be back." he said and then left.

Kathleen felt loneliness set in the moment the door closed behind him. Then she called herself a crazy fool. She didn't even know this man and here she was daydreaming about him. He probably thought she was a crazy person anyway… She had wrecked her car, dumped her tray, fallen on her face and he'd even had to help her go pee for goodness sakes… He was probably wishing he hadn't come this morning… She wouldn't be surprised if he made a break for it and didn't come back.

She found some reruns on TV and then grabbed the bouquet of flowers and the card off the windowsill. The card was blank on the inside but he had handwritten,

Kathleen,

Hoping you get well soon. Anything you need feel free to call me. My number is 633-9087.

Aaden

She called herself a crazy fool once again when she felt her pulse speed up. She was still technically a married woman after all.

Aaden returned about an hour later with his arms full of goodies. Kathleen's nurse Sarah laughed as she looked up from checking Kathleen's vitals.

"Mrs. Turner I do believe you have an admirer." she said. Kathleen blushed and then gasped as Sarah moved and she caught a view of Aaden. He emptied his arms on the bed.

"Is there anything you didn't bring?" she asked as she looked at the bags of chips, candy bars and soft drinks. He shrugged and handed her a Styrofoam box.

" Here's breakfast." he said. "I went to the café in town. I figured their food would taste a heck of lot better than the crap they serve here."

"If the cafeteria served crap it would probably taste better than what they're serving now." Sarah agreed. She looked down at Kathleen.

"You appear to be doing good Mrs. Turner. I'm sure that when the doctor comes in this evening he will probably ok you to go on home." Kathleen just nodded. She really didn't have any idea where she would go once she left the hospital. She had moved here nine years ago when she had married Tom. Her stomach tied in knots at the thought of having to stay with her uppity parents and she had no other family that she knew well enough to call.

She'd probably call her best friend Christy and see if she could stay with her for awhile. Christy would probably be upset that Kathleen hadn't called her sooner anyway. Sarah gave one last smile to Aaden and then left the room.

"Thanks for all this." Kathleen said motioning to the bed full of food. She opened the Styrofoam box and felt herself beginning to drool as she looked at the gravy and biscuits. Aaden pulled a plastic fork from his pocket and handed it to her.

"You're welcome, ma'am." he said. She glared up at him.

"Kathleen." she said her mouth full of food. He chuckled lightly and nodded.

"You're welcome, Kathleen." he said. He looked around the room. "Well since you seem to have everything you need I guess I'll get going." Kathleen looked around wishing she could come up with some reason to ask him to stay.

"Thank you for everything." she said. He tipped his head and smiled.

"Maybe I'll drop by again this evening… .I've heard dinners around here don't taste much better than breakfasts." what the hell am I doing? he asked himself. She was a married woman and he was flirting with her.

"That would be nice." she said smiling and suddenly feeling shy. He nodded and then turned and walked out.

888

Kathleen spent the next eight hours bored out of her head and watching old reruns on TV. Sarah had come in several times during the day to check her vitals and had even removed the IV from her hand. Kathleen had called Christy at work and sure enough her best friend had been angry that she hadn't called her sooner. But she had promised that she'd stop by that evening after she got out of work.

She was pacing the room feeling sure she would go mad from boredom at any moment when there was a knock on the door. She sat down on the bed.

"Come in." she said and was disappointed and angry when she saw Tom walk in.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded. He held out some clean clothes and her purse.

"Thought you might need a change of clothes." he said. She nodded and he laid the clothes and purse on her bed.

"Thank you." she said though the taste of the words in her mouth made her want to vomit. Just then another knock came on the door and the doctor walked in.

"Good evening, Mrs. Turner." he said shaking her hand. "Good evening." she replied. He looked down at her chart and then smiled at her.

"How would you like to blow this joint?" he asked. She smiled happily.

"I would love that very much!" she said.

"I'll get the nurses to get your discharge papers ready and we'll get you out of here. You're very lucky you weren't hurt any worse." he said. She nodded.

"I know." she replied. He offered Tom a smile as well and then walked out of the room.

"Thank you for the clothes and my purse, Tom. You can go now. Christy is coming to give me a ride." she said. She didn't mention Aaden because she didn't really think that he was going to show up anyway.

"I'll give you some privacy and let you get cleaned up." he said and walked out of the room. Kathleen wished that he would just listen to her and leave completely. Just seeing his face pissed her off. She was surprised that she didn't feel more hurt at his betrayal but theirs had been a very unhappy marriage and while it hurt that he had cheated on her in their own home she was actually kind of thankful that it had happened because it had given her the strength to leave his controlling ass.

She picked up the clothes and her purse and walked into the bathroom. She took a hot shower though she was careful to keep her face from getting wet. She didn't know how bad the cut was beneath her bandage but she knew that it had stitches and didn't want to do anything to mess them up.

She pulled on the pair of black trousers and the tight red long sleeve that Tom had brought for her to wear and cursed. He had to control what she wore even when she was recovering from a car accident. They were too tight and constricting and she felt her aching body yelling at her. She opened her purse and pulled out her hairbrush and scrunchie that she always kept inside. She pulled her long blond hair up into a pony tail and then put on some mascara and lip gloss just to make herself feel halfway human.

She walked back into her room to find Tom sitting on the bed eating the tray the nurse had brought in for her dinner.

"That's mine." she said throwing her purse down on the bedside table. Tom took another bite.

"I saw that you'd been eating junk all day I figured you would not be hungry." he said pointing at the garbage can full of empty wrappers. She felt her stomach growl but didn't mention it to him. Just then Christy walked in and hugged her tight. Kathleen winced and Christy pulled away and smiled apologetically.

"Sorry if I hurt you! I'm just so happy that you are ok." she said. Then she saw Tom sitting on the bed.

"What is he doing here?" she demanded.

888

Aaden didn't know what in the hell he was thinking but here he was back at the hospital and standing in front of room 218 with a bag of greasy fast food in his hands. He was about to knock when he heard angry voices coming from inside.

"I'm her husband, Christy. I have every right to be here."

"Your no good, abusive, controlling, cheating ass is the reason that she's in here to begin with!" Christy yelled. Aaden opened the door but no one seemed to notice him. A man that Aaden figured must have been Kathleen's husband suddenly stood up off the bed and walked over to the bouquet of flowers on the windowsill. He picked them up, looked at the card and then threw it all roughly on the ground at Kathleen's feet. Kathleen had been sitting on the bed with her head in her hands but when she saw her flowers on the ground she glared up at him.

"What did you do that for?" she demanded.

"Who the hell is Aaden and why is he giving my wife flowers?"

"Soon to be ex wife." Kathleen reminded him. "And Aaden is the man who saved my life last night and brought me to the hospital." Tom grabbed Kathleen's arm roughly in his hand and forced her to her feet. She let out a small whimper of pain as he dug his fingers into her bruised arm.

"Are you cheating on me?" he demanded. Aaden had seen and heard enough. He had never been one to tolerate watching any man laying hands on a woman. He cleared his throat and Tom quickly let go of Kathleen's arm and turned to face him.

"Hello." Aaden said. "Kathleen, are you ok?" he asked looking over at her. She nodded.

"I'm fine." she replied. Aaden didn't look over at her husband but he could feel his eyes burning holes into him. The other woman in the room was staring at him as well. Aaden held up the bag of food.

"I said I'd bring you dinner." he said. Tom looked at this man. He assumed this was Aaden. He cursed under his breath. Aaden was tall. Nearly a foot taller then Tom who was only five feet five inches tall. He was a big guy and was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a baseball cap. Tom ran his hands over his business suit and smiled smugly. At least he had more money and better clothes than this jerk.

"Thank you, Aaden." Kathleen said. "The doctor has actually said I can leave. I'm just waiting on my discharge papers."

"Yes and she's coming home with me." the other woman said glaring at Kathleen's husband. He glared back at her.

"She is my wife she will come home with me." he said.

"Tom, your house is not my home anymore." Kathleen said. "Please can we just not make a scene here." Tom stepped toward her and Aaden didn't like the look he saw in his eyes. He stepped between them.

"I don't think the woman wants to come home with you, friend." he said his voice hard as stone. Tom glared up at him.

"I can assure you that you are not my friend." he said. Aaden nodded.

"No. I am not." Just then Sarah walked in. She had known Aaden long enough to recognize how serious this situation was. Aaden was not high tempered or violent by nature but once he got angry it didn't take much to send him over the edge.

"Is there a problem here gentlemen?" she asked. "Do I need to call security?" This seemed to break though to Tom and he took a step away from Aaden. He had a good career as a lawyer and was hoping someday to break into politics. The last thing he needed was a hospital security scandal.

"No that won't be necessary. I was just leaving." Tom said. He looked over at Kathleen.

"We will talk later." he said. She crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. He glared at Christy, threw a nasty glance to Aaden and then walked out of the room. Aaden looked down at Kathleen.

"Are you ok?" he asked. He could see that her green eyes were full of tears but he admired the strength that she showed by not letting them fall.

"I will be. Thank you for your help." she said. He shrugged.

"Don't mention it." he held out the bag of food. "I didn't know you'd be going home or that you'd have company. There are two meals in there so I guess I bought dinner for both of you." he said pointing at Christy.

"Aaden, I don't' feel right taking anything else from you." she said. He grabbed her hand and forced the paper bag into it.

"You are not taking anything." he said matter of factly. "I'm giving it to you." He picked up the bouquet and card off the floor and handed those to her as well.

"You have my number." he said. "Remember to call me if you ever need anything." He looked over at Christy and tipped his head.

"Ma'am." She smiled at him and gave a little wave. He smiled at Sarah and then walked out. Sarah let Kathleen sign her discharge paper and once Sarah had left the room Christy let out a whistle.

"Damn he was a whole lot of tall, dark and handsome. I thought knights in shining armor only existed in fairy tales but it looks like you have one of your own." Kathleen laughed her comment off but felt butterflies attack her stomach at the thought of Aaden being her prince charming… She knew it was silly. She was a twenty-eight year old, overweight, soon to be divorcee and he was the picture of perfection. His interest in her was obligation and nothing else. He had rescued her so now felt responsible for her. She would never see him again.