***Trigger Warning.***

I can tell how much Lucy's 12 hour shift had taken a toll on her by the weariness in her voice. "He's hasn't said much today, he's been keeping to himself for the most part. My only concern is he's somehow learned how to get halfway out of his restraints, but he doesn't do anything when he's out expect rub his wrist."

I know I should be worried by the fact that he can almost get free of his restraints but instead I start to worry that Brexton is in pain. My concern is unwarranted though, I know Lucy is a great nurse who'd never let him suffer no matter what he was accused of. "Hmm, that's strange. Have you been able to get him out of his restraints much today?"

"He's been beating me to it most the time, but anytime he was in them for awhile I made sure his wrist got a break."

I let out the breath I was holding, relieved. "Who's charge nurse tonight?"

She sighs. "Jessica. As you can imagine, it's been a blast."

Of course Jessica is playing charge nurse tonight. "Can you please do me a huge favor and tell her I'm happy to pick up some this week if she needs me? I'm trying to save up for a trip to Australia."

"Sure thing. What are you going to Australia for?"

I don't know when I got so comfortable with Lucy, but I genuinely feel like I can tell her anything. The realization makes me happy. Having people I can trust is so important to me, especially right now. "I'm going to visit some family."

"Well, I hope you have a great time! Unfortunately I have a laundry list of meds to pass so I've got to let you go, but it was really nice talking to you!"

I did not envy her current position. Where I work, getting people to take their medications could be compared to pulling teeth. "You too! Good luck!"

We hang up and I do my best to fall back asleep. It takes more time than I would've liked, but eventually I sleep.

I wake up bright and early to the exact voice I hear in my nightmares. "Lyra?"

Jessica's squeaky voice is like nails on a chalk board first thing in the morning. I want to ask why she's calling me but then I remember and hate myself for volunteering to go in. "What's up?"

I head to my closet and pull out a clean pair of scrubs, already knowing where this is headed. "Lucy said you wanted more shifts this week, so I signed you up for 12 hours today."

I rub my eyes and stretch my tired arms. "Okay, I'll be in."

"Good." She says and hangs up.

I huff. She's even more annoying when I'm sleep deprived. I get ready as fast as I can, knowing that the sooner I get my shift started, the sooner it'll be over. My phone rings several times throughout the process but I am in too much of a rush to answer it.

I grab my car keys and head to the door. I open it and scream.

Brexton looks just as freaked out to see me.

He speaks first. "Lyra?! What are you doing here?"

I can't speak for a moment. I look deep into his magnificent large green eyes. "I could ask you the same thing."

Brexton takes a step back. "I'm going to go now, it's been nice seeing you."

I admire his physique. I had never seen him in anything but a hospital gown, so seeing him in jeans and a black t-shirt that hugged his arm muscles just right was a shock to the system. I don't think anyone could deny how attractive he is.

He starts to run but I grab his arm, stopping him. He stares at my hand intensely. "Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital?"

His eyes slowly lift to mine. "Yeah."

I can't hide the shock in my voice at his brutal honesty. I thought for sure he'd at least try to lie. "You escaped?"

He runs a hand through his hair and gives me a small smile. "You know how great the security there is."

I notice I'm not as afraid as I should be. He could kill me but I somehow know he's not going to. "Please let me give you a ride back. I know you hate that place, but I'm working today so you have nothing to worry about. I've got your back, okay?"

"You'll get in trouble if you don't bring me back won't you?" He looks genuinely bothered by this.

They would have no idea that I even saw him and I wasn't working at the time he abandoned ship so I wouldn't be held responsible but Lucy would. I can't let her get fired, she doesn't deserve that. "A lot of people will."

He takes a step closer to me and I can faintly smell his cologne. It's a mixture of coffee and musk. His scent wakes me up. I fight my desire to move into him, his scent hypnotizing me. He lifts his hands in surrender. "Okay, I'll go."

I give him a big smile to show him I was proud of his decision. "Thank you, Mr. McGomery." I take out my phone and text Jessica that I was bringing him back.

He follows me to my car, cutting in front of me last minute to open my door. He then closes it for me and gets in on the passenger side.

We're silent for the first few minutes of the drive. Then I ask him a question I'd been dying to know the answer to. "How did you end up where I was?" I was careful not to let him know I lived there. I want to trust him but I can't ignore the allegations against him.

His eyes shift from the road to me. "I was looking for someone but I think I got the wrong address."

I resolve to push my luck. "Who were you looking for?"

I don't think he's going to answer until he clears his throat and speaks. "Someone I'm really close to. I'm sorry but I'm not going to go into specifics. I don't want you involved in all of this."

I wanted to know more about this person he was close to but I was happy he answered me at all so I dropped it. I fight back a smile. "You're worried about me Mr. McGomery?"

He smirks. "Yeah, for a lot of reasons." His fixes some curls that fell into his face. I'm jealous of how perfect his hair is.

"How'd you get to that house?"

"I walked."

I stare at him in disbelief. "That's a twenty minute drive! I can't even imagine how long it'd take to walk."

He shrugs "It wasn't that bad. Anything beats being tied to that bed."

A part of me feels guilty for bringing him back to a place that makes him so miserable but I know I need to do it.

"Why do you listen to me?" It's a question I've been wondering since the first day we met.

"You're impossible to say no to. You literally came into my room like you were my guardian angel and started trying to heal me. Has anyone ever actually not done what you've told them to cause like there's no way."

I take a while to recover from his words. "That's very kind of you to say but I've been told no more times than I can remember. I probably just remind you of someone that made you feel safe at one point or something."

His curls follow as he shakes his head. "You don't remind me of anyone. You're so different from anyone I've ever met." He glances over at me. "In a good way of course."

I stop myself from flirting with a potential serial killer. "Thank you. You're different too." I smile at him. "In a good way."

We both stop talking after I said that for which I'm grateful. If we kept talking, things could've turned very unprofessional. Even though he wasn't in the ward and I wasn't technically his nurse at the moment, there are certain lines you don't blur.

As I'm about to get out of the car he lightly touches my hand, sending electricity through my entire body. "Lyra?"

I don't think I'll ever get used to him saying my name. "Yeah?"

I can sense his hesitation. "Can I hug you?"

I think about it. A hug didn't sound like too big of a risk. Besides, I desperately wanted to know what it felt like to hug Brexton. I don't answer, I reach over and pull him into a tight hug. It scares me that it was the best hug I'd ever received. I can feel his breath against my neck, which causes me to back up. I can't let him have this much of an effect on me.

"We should go." I say, savoring the hug in my mind. I  could already tell it'd be a core memory.

As soon as we walk through the doors, a swarm of healthcare workers attack Brexton. I yell at them to be gentle as they restrain him.