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She turned her face into his chest and started to press it into him, but bolt of pain shot through her face, making her eyes water. Instead, she rested her forehead against his chest and kept her face angled downward so not to put pressure on her still throbbing nose, and fisted her hands in Cypher’s t-shirt.

“I’m looking for Dr. McKennon. He’s expecting us,” Cypher said to someone, Lauren assumed the receptionist, but she didn’t look up to check.

“Yes, he warned me he had someone coming in. Step over there and someone will show you back,” a disinterested voice said.

Cypher moved, but she still didn’t look up, even as someone else spoke.

“You’re the one Dr. McKennon warned us was coming. This way, he set aside a room for you. He also ordered some blood work, so if you don’t mind, I’ll draw that while I’m here.”

“You okay with that, sweetheart?” Cypher said as he set her down gently on the bed in one of the triage rooms.

Lauren nodded.

“I’ll have to do it sometime, might as well be now.” She reluctantly released his shirt and let him straighten.

Cypher took a couple steps back. “I’ll do whatever makes you more comfortable. You want me to stay or wait outside?”

“Stay.” She hated anyone seeing her like this but somehow, his being here, his staying close and preferably where she could reach out and touch him, helped. She wasn’t sure why, but right now, she wasn’t going to question it.

As soon as the nurse finished bustling around her, she held out one hand in Cypher’s direction. She needed the contact. She needed something to hold onto and he was the most stable person she knew. She had no doubt he would make sure she wasn’t hurt anymore. She didn’t want to let him go.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Cypher sat on the edge of Lauren’s bed as they waited for Bones, her hand in his, clutching tight, as if she would never let go.

“Hey. Sorry it took me so long to get here, I was busy with an infant with an ear infection,” Bones said as he stepped into the room. “Ooh, that looks nasty, Doc. Let’s take a look.” He moved in with a small bright light. “Can you see me clearly?”

“Mostly,” she said.

Cypher got up, trying to stay out of the way so Bones could get to her and do what he needed to.

“Double?”

“No.”

Bones nodded then gave her instructions, he wanted her to move the eye, up, down etc.. After a moment he leaned back and nodded. “You seem to be breathing okay. Is the throb of your nose starting to fade?”

Lauren nodded but didn’t say anything.

“Ok, it doesn’t appear to be bound in any way, but I want pictures before we start poking at it.”

“X-rays?” Cypher asked.

“No. For this I need a CT. I need to know what’s going on in there before we start moving things around.”

“Can I go with her?” Cypher asked.

Bones looked back and forth between them for a moment, then answered. “Normally no, but I’ll make a note. You can walk up and down with her, but you’ll need to stand outside the room during the scan.”

Cypher looked at Lauren, trying to gauge her reaction.

“Thank you,” she said, looking at Bones.

Cypher didn’t miss the way her hand gripped the sheet beneath her, as if she had to hold on to something and if it couldn’t be him, it would be the bed.

“I need to ask some personal questions,” Bones said, keeping his tone gentle. “Some of them will seem invasive and probably embarrassing. And even though I know what happened here, some of them I have to ask when anyone you brought with you isn’t present. Would you be more comfortable if I brought in a woman to be a witness and ensure your safety?”

Lauren looked at Cypher, meeting his gaze, then shook her head before looking back to Bones. “I’ve met you. And heard good things about you. Plus, I know Cypher wouldn’t have brought me to you if he thought you would let anything happen to me.”