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“Sure. You want me to find an excuse to go sit with them?” Papa Smurf said, glancing in Jenna and Lauren’s direction.

“No need. Just stay where she can see you. She seemed to do okay when Bones made me leave the room so he could talk to her alone. Something about hospital policy to make sure I hadn’t done that to her.” He fought the urge to hit something at just the thought. “He knew of course but he had to make it look right for the hospital. Don’t get me wrong. I get why they do it. But that didn’t mean the whole thing didn’t make me want to knock some sense into someone.” Heh shook his head. “Anyway. She seems okay as long as one of the Warriors is around. And I won’t be long.” Cypher clapped the older man on the back. “Thanks,” he said before going back to Lauren to let her know what was happening.

After letting her know that he was only going down the hall and that all she needed to do was shout and he would hear her, Cypher went to see his president.

“It’s totally empty,” Hex said when Cypher had relayed Lauren’s question about furnishings. “If you’re going to keep it, it’s on you to furnish. I’m sure if you can’t swing the cost all at once, the club can help. Talk to Torch and Slide about that. But I assume she’ll probably want to bring over some of her stuff, to make it more her place than a generic rental, not that we rent things out here. But if you think it’s temporary, the club can furnish it with the basics, again, Torch and Slide. Any idea how long you might want it?”

Cypher’s mind flashed back to when Bones was giving them the results of her bloodwork, and even though he knew they still had to talk about where things would go from here, he wanted to say they would keep the house. Even if it was just him, and maybe the kid. He hoped that even if she didn’t want to stay with him or keep the kid, she would at least consider having it, and letting him take it.

But they still had to talk. And what if she wanted to stay, to try? He couldn’t take away her chance of having some input on where they lived. Though, he would push for on the compound, if it was what she wanted, he’d have a place built to suit her.

He didn’t say any of that to Hex. He didn’t even tell the president that he wouldn’t need the club to help to build a new house, much less fully furnish a new one. He’d used some inside information and made a few lucrative investments over the years.

“Can I hold off a few days before I decide?” he said after a moment. “I’d like to get her inside, have her see if she likes it before I commit.”

Hex smirked. “That whipped already?”

“As if you have any room to talk. How is it you’re out of the house without your mini-me in tow?”

Hex scowled.

“She was napping and Elle threatened to castrate me if I woke her. It’s not like I was going to wake her and leave her for Elle to take care of.” Hex’s expression was almost a pout, but Cypher knew better than to say so to his president. Still, he could see himself at his computer, a tiny one in one arm as he typed with the other. Or later with a grabby toddler in his lap while he worked.

He had to admit, if only to himself, that he loved the idea. But he wasn’t sharing even the possibility, not until he’d had a chance to sit down with Lauren and see how she felt. And tonight was not the time for that.

“Sure. If you end up not keeping it, let Torch and Slide know what you bought that’s staying in it and what you spent and we’ll see about getting you reimbursed. But unless she totally hates it, I’m guessing that won’t be an issue. I know where you stand and I saw the two of you when I came in here. I don’t think she’s going to be going far from you, at least not any time soon.”

Cypher lifted one shoulder and let it fall.

“She’s been through a lot today and I’m the one who pulled her out of that boat. This may be nothing more than the way Squirt clings to Joker, because he saved her, because having him around makes her feel safer.” Cypher shook his head. “While I like that she feels safe, that’s not what I’m looking for. I want her to stay for me, for what’s between us, not because I can get rid of her enemies. Besides. It wasn’t her shit that caused this. Did Mud tell you who owned the boat?”

“Yeah. This is has become bigger than I thought.” Hex scrubbed one hand over his face, then pinched the bridge of his nose. “How long until she goes back to work and we have to put a man on her?”

“Maybe Monday, maybe a little longer. It will depend on how she feels over the next day or so, and what Bones has to say.” He wondered if she would be the one to call all her patients to reschedule or if she had someone who could help with that. He’d offer but he didn’t think her patients would take a strange man calling them well. He’d have to think about who could help, maybe Jenna or Lacey, if Bones advised her to hold off going back to work right away. But that was another thing to talk to her about, not his president.

Hex nodded.

“Let me know. You know where to find me. Any other news for me?”

Cypher shook his head. He’d been so worried about Lauren over the last few hours, that was all he’d cared about. Mud and the rest of the officers were more than capable of handling things for a few hours, or even for a few days, so he wasn’t worried about it.

“Then go hover over your woman and leave me alone. I’ve got shit to do and I don’ t want to be gone too long.” He quirked one side of his mouth in what Cypher recognized as a wry smile. “I think I’m kind of driving Elle crazy, so I cleared out of there to give her a little quiet time while Charlie slept. I tried to bring Charlie with me, but we’ve been over that already.” He lifted one shoulder and let it fall. “Either way. I’m not great company.” He nodded toward the door, dismissing Cypher.

Not seeing any reason to stay, and wanting to get back to Lauren, he left.

Back in the common room, he found Lauren still sitting with Jenna, two sheets of paper in front of Jenna.

“How’s it going?” He slid into the seat next to Lauren and stretched an arm across the back of her seat, hoping she would find the subtle contact reassuring.

“Fine, but it would be better if I knew what the house had in it and how big it is,” Lauren said.

“It’s a three bedroom,” Jenna put in. “It’s the one next to ours. Roadkill mentioned it earlier.”

“Good to know,” Cypher said with a nod, then turned back to Lauren, “and it’s empty. A clean slate so to speak. I’ll furnish it to suit you, paint and anything else you want. You can leave your furniture at your house or bring any and all you want.” He paused, looking between the two women for a moment. “It’s late. How about we start with the right-away list.” He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Lauren’s head. “Is there anything on it you need tonight?”

She frowned, then shook her head. “No, it’s mostly stuff for tomorrow, clothes, that kind of thing. I don’t need anything now. We’ll, I’d like my bag and my phone, but that’s about it.”

Cypher looked around, spotting Shane at the bar.