As the days went on, Heart couldn't be any more happier to be situated back home, back in the Bay & with her loved ones. She took quite awhile to talk to Christen and Dom about everything & see where things could end up, but she also took most of her time to catch up with Logan and spend time with her baby boy.
Although she seemed like she had a good grip on everything, things still replayed in her head in the form of nightmares. She didn't want to tell Stephen to worry him, nor did she want to make it seem like a big deal.
All she wanted was to push through it all & move on with her life. Without Steph, a huge part of the process wouldn't be possible.
There was no possible way she could ever take this man for granted again.
"Wardell, I'm scared." Heart slowed her pace behind him.
"Scared of what, sweetheart? The doctor is just going to make sure you're okay."
"I don't want to deal with any doctors right now."
"Well it's my job to take care of you & make sure you're okay, so yes. We have to deal with doctors right now."
"It's not too late to leave.." Stephen chuckled.
"Jeez, babygirl. You'll be okay. I'll be right here if you need me."
"Ugh." She said grumpily as she folded her arms like a child.
"Hey, this is for your own good, grumpy pants." Steph chuckled as he pinched her cheek. Sooner or later, the assistant called for Heart, making her grow anxious to get the whole visit over with. She was positive she felt fine and that she was good to continue on with her life.
But as Steph says, it was only for her own good.
She dressed herself into a gown the medical assistant left her with and sat quietly as she waited for the doctor to come in. She felt her palms getting sweaty being confined in a room that she didn't want to be in, with thoughts consuming every inch of her.
What if she never recovered from the incident?
"Hey, Heart. How are you doing?"
"Fine." She bluntly said. Moreso because she was afraid to give any details to the doctor.
"How about we take a deeper look?" She said, making Heart nodd slowly. She allowed the doctor to continue with the physical, making her even more uncomfortable than she was.
Also, slightly annoyed that she continuously kept asking if it was okay for her to do certain things during the check up.
It made her feel like she wasn't fine when she wanted to believe she was.
"Well it seems like everything's fine. Your body recovered well from the incident, and there doesn't seem to be anything that should heed warning."
"Uhm, okay. Cool. So can I go now?"
"Not quite. I do have to ask, how have you been feeling lately?"
"Why is that a question? I've been fine.."
"Well, it's just a precaution after what happened."
"I'm sorry, but I don't think that's necessary. I'm pretty sure if I wasn't okay, I wouldn't be in this room."
"Correct. But, has anything made you feel uncomfortable? Or does it seem like your anxiety has been rising? Not wanting to be in large crowds or any of those kind of feelings?"
"No. Can I please go?" Heart said, the anxiety now eating her alive with the questions the doctor continued to throw at her.
"I just want to make sure you're okay. You know, what you went through is something that isn't easy. And I just think you'll benefit from seeing a therapist."
"I don't need one."
"It can definitely help ease your mind and take some stress off of your shoulders--"
"Please, I understand but I really don't think any of that needs to happen. The more it's being pushed on me, the more I can't move on from it."
"The therapist could help you with that and --" Heart shook her head as she ran her hands through her hair. The tears began to fall from her cheeks as she was growing tired.
Growing tired of being treated like she was incapable of being on her own two feet after a man decided to take advantage of her.
"Can I please speak to Stephen? Please." She begged. "I need to be out of here. I don't really wanna hear about this anymore." She continued to cry. The doctor simply nodded as she quietly left the room.
Meanwhile, Stephen patiently sat in the waiting room reading a Golf Magazine. Drake's One Dance softly came through the speakers above his head, making him subconsciously move his body to the beat.
"Wow, I didn't know the doctor's office got down to things like this." He quietly mumbled to himself as he flipped through the magazine. "I like it." He subtly danced in his seat as he turned to the elderly woman sitting next to him. "This is a great song, don't you like it?" She simply looked at him before looking back down at her magazine and minding her own business. "Guess we all aren't fans."
"Mr. Curry?" The doctor took him surprise as she seemed a bit worried. He scrunched his forehead as he stood up and fixed his clothing.
"Uh, yeah? What's wrong Doc?" He followed her into her office. "Where's Heart? Is she okay?"
"She just had a breakdown. I'm not too sure her not seeing a therapist a good idea, I mean she's still very affected by what happened and--"
"And who determines that? You?" He sighed. "Look, just like I told 'ol Doc at the hospital. You don't know her like I do. She doesn't need any of that."
"It's for her own good."
"I don't mean to be rude but her family and I are better for her own good than all that. We know what's better than spending money on some therapist to tell her how to handle her feelings." The doctor sighed. "So no, I can't really condone that. Is she okay at least?"
"She's fine."
"Then, God is good. If she's healthy, then she's happy. Honestly, the more pressure you put on her about it, the more she'll freak out about it. And I hate to say it, but it kind of makes me livid when you make it seem like she can't get better on her own."
"That's not what I'm trying to say-"
"Can you take me to her, so we can go?" Steph said impatiently. The doctor silently nodded, agreeing to his wishes and walking back to Heart's room with him. She was already dressed in her clothes as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Hey, its alright sweetheart."
"Can we go, please?"
"Yeah of course we can." He looked at the doctor.
"Everything looks fine. You're free to go, Miss Dawson." Heart hurriedly walked out of the room with Steph right behind her. She continued to wipe away at her face, making Steph grab her with one arm to try and turn her to face him.
"Come on baby, did you think I was just gonna let you cry to the car?"
"I just needed to get out. She kept trying to push all this stuff on me about a therapist and--"
"It's okay. We both know you don't need it. So I don't know why you're crying. You're a superwoman. Nothing phases you." He smiled as he wiped away under her eyes. "Everything will be okay, alright? I got your back. Logan has your back. Christen, Dom. Dray. Hell, even Klay's dumbass but I'll let him slide to make this a little bit more dramatic." He laughed, making her laugh in return.
"Thank you, Wardell. I don't know how you put up with me."
"Ah, but I do and it's the life I chose." He shrugged as he quickly grabbed her face and placed a big kiss on her forehead. "Come on, let's go eat."
As Stephen drove to a familiar restaurant nearby, he took a couple of glances at the woman to his right. She kept her gaze outside of the window as his right hand rested on her thigh.
She was beautiful. And he was in love with her.
He didn't want to have it any other way.
Yet in the back of his head, were thoughts that continued to eat him alive. He knew he had to confront them & he wasn't sure how. But he knew it wouldn't be pretty.
He just hoped things would make them stronger & not break them apart once again.