The Follow-Up

•5•

I let out a sigh as I approached the Nurse's Station, falling into a lean against it before placing my head down on top of my arms. I could feel the familiar heaviness behind my eyes creeping in as I let them flutter shut.

"Dr. Foster," A voice called out from behind me. Standing up, I whirled around to see the overnight nurse approaching the desk. A small smile made its way onto his lips as he took a seat in the swirling chair and looked up at me. "You can go home now, you know. Your shift was over hours ago."

This is, in fact, true. Esme asked if I'd stay with her until she fell asleep. Although I could tell she was fighting to stay awake, I agreed. So, I swapped a Kid's Discovery magazine from the waiting room and flipped through the pages with her until sleep ultimately claimed her. I then tucked her in and proceeded to exit the room, sliding the glass door shut as quietly as I could.

I let out a small chuckle as I nodded my head. "I was just on my way out."

I had just pushed off the desk and was making my way toward the automatic doors when the door to Carden's room caught my attention. His vitals have been steady all day, in fact, they've been climbing since he was given a banana bag.

The look of pure panic on his face when I asked about his home situation made its way into my mind, leaving me with a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. Turning back toward the Nurse's station, I said, "Can you do me a favor and call Child Protective Services in the morning?"

"Sure thing," The nurse replied with a nod of his head.

With one last glance toward Carden's room, I continued toward the automatic doors.

※※※

It was bordering three o'clock in the morning when I pulled into the driveway. The lights in the house were still on, casting an orange glow across the property. Turning the car off, I took the keys from the ignition and slid out of the vehicle.

The heaviness behind my eyes has now fully set in as I made my way up the porch steps. It was almost as if I could hear my bed calling to me from where I stood. Once I'd unlocked the front door, I made my way into the foyer before placing my keys into the nearby key dish as I toed off my shoes. I didn't bother announcing my arrival as I continued into the living room. Finding it empty, I started for the spiral staircase leading up to the bedroom when I heard muffled voices coming from behind the doors of Damien's study.

As I got closer to the mahogany double doors, the voices became clearer.

"This shouldn't have been able to happen in the first place, Tristian." I heard Damien state, irritation coating his tone.

"I'm aware of that, Damian, but it did. So, what are you going to do?" Tristian replied, the same amount of irritation–if not more–coating his words.

Not wanting to eavesdrop on anymore of what seems like a private conversation, I rapped a knuckle against the doors.

"Enter," Damien answered with a sigh.

Turning the metal handle, I pushed the door open. As I entered the room, I noticed to my left, the thick grey curtains were drawn. In the center of the room hung the grand chandelier, casting a comfortable glow among the room. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases sat along the back wall, filled to the brim with books of different sizes sat behind the black stained desk. In the chair, sat Damien–his eyes on me. Tristian stood by the single floor-to-ceiling bookshelf to the left of the entrance his eyes bouncing between me and Damien.

"Tristian," I started as I ventured further into the room, allowing the dense door to fall shut behind me with a small thud. "I thought you'd be with my sister."

"I wanted to stop by," Tristian's gaze switched to Damien. "Finish up the business we started at lunch."

"It's getting late," Damien sighed, pinching at the space between his eyes. "We'll pick this up at the office tomorrow."

"Damien–"

I watched in silence as Damien angled a glare at his friend, his voice dripping with authority as he stated slowly, "We will continue this conversation tomorrow."

Tristian held Damien's stare, clenching his jaw before ultimately giving a single nod. Turning toward me, he placed a quick kiss to my cheek. "Goodnight, Avery."

"Goodnight," I replied, watching as Tristian stocked toward the doors. Once I heard the familiar thud of the doors closing, I folded my arms and angled a look toward my husband who had placed his palms over his eyes. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Damien questioned, sitting back in his chair. Exhaustion was written across his features as he lifted his head, meeting my gaze.

"You never speak to your inner circle that way," I say, gesturing toward the doors as I approached the front of the desk. I could tell by the way Damien was staring through me, he had a lot on his mind. Letting out a sigh, I rounded the desk and took my spot on Damien's lap. Draping an arm over his shoulders, I glanced at him and asked, "What's going on?"

"A lot is happening at the office," Damien states, tilting his head back against the back of the chair. A small smirk spreads across his face as he shifts his gaze toward me and says, "Nothing I can't handle."

"You sure?"

Damien nods his head. "Besides, there are other matters I'd like to attend to."

With that, he places his lips on mine. I feel my body relax into him as I return the action. A familiar shock goes through my body as Damien's hand slowly travels up my leg before settling high on my thigh. I bite back the moan threatening to leave my lips as he squeezes. Tearing my lips from his, I place a hand firmly in the center of his chest.

"I'm sure there are," I mutter against his lips. "But you need rest, mister."

Damien lets out a sigh of defeat as I stand from his lap. Turning to face him, I hold out my hand which Damien studies before lacing it with his own and standing from his chair.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Happy Reading,

Arctic