taking lunch there with the others. By the time he returned, the sound of mus

had never cared for that kind of noise. Social gatherings w

ssed against him, sharp and overwhelming. The damage from the fire hadn't sto

on blurred slightly. He pushed the door o

m tore out of her. Shock widened her eye

the bed. The instant her injured foot touched the ground, pain s

ger in an instant. Though still diso

sked, even as the quest

e, she wouldn't be

sked, her hand rising t

ere as he met her gaze. Her eyes were still wet, but there was something

she care a

floor. He carried her back to the bed, set her down, and then

id, his voice strained. She stare

pression closely. The tension in his face hadn

d against the side of his

eal with l

ould stop them. A flicker of r

ng the focus away from himself. Her

urts

able. Why did yo

r on her face, before twisting he

d to be intelligent. Now I'

trying to say?" He straighte

goes on in that head of yours, but sometimes it really doesn'

way. In a sudden move, his hand came up and cau

t incom

shed against his hand, though

she snapped. "

and the marks he had left b

replied, pulling her closer

sion shift further. Then something clicked in his mind. He h

uddenly stepping back. "You

ossed her fa

you talk

ed through his ha

a doctor. I brought you here, an

t hit her. She hadn't even thought about it. Her mind had been elsewhere, caught up in ever

, so he headed straight to the office. He never kept one in his

ht, sir?" Dolores as

o call th

id, guilt evident in her voice. She had assumed he

It was my re

e the call. The doctor who had

need you to come over.

ked, surprise clear in his tone. "I'll be there soon. I'm

nk y

live tone, his eyes slightly narrow, and his hair was kept sho

octor. She'

man stepped inside and saw Carolina, hi

eeted him with

o noticed it right away and felt satisfied. At least she

pondered. "No one

Maximo only picked up on it when the man touched Carolina's ankle and let out a quiet breath. H

aximo asked, his tone tightenin

don't think anything is broken, but it would be best to c

s

na, a slight frown forming. Tha

e her myself. I know you'

ed onto him, stead

his lips, but Carolina cau

ike leaving or not doesn't matter. I'll be

yes toward Carolina. That small moveme

didn't change anything. She was still his. And the way the doctor looked at her ma

dio replied, forcing a polite s

aximo answered. "She's already

ting another second, Maximo stepped tow

laudio out. I'll sta

his words. A quiet smile tugged at h

way, p

through the room. Carolina stayed quiet, still trying to make sense of what had just happened. A

ed towa

he closed the distance, gripping her hair and p