Noah

"Get some rest, sweetheart. We need to get you up and walking as soon as possible." I walk to the window closing the blinds so she can get some more rest and turn around to look at her.

"I- I can't move in with you," She whispers, just staring back at me. "It's just going to end badly." She says, barely audible, but I heard her.

"It won't." I grin, knowing exactly what she means, "Just move in with me." I whisper walking up to her and grasping her hand, "I need to know you're safe." I bend down, lifting her hand and putting it against my cheek.

Phoebe looks at me, not saying anything. Then she yawns cutely, her eyes starting to close. "You need sleep," I change the subject, putting her hand back on the bed. I sit back down in the recliner, "Unless you want to tell me more about yourself?" I smile, seeing Phoebe continue to watch me... Still not saying anything. What is going on in that head of hers?

"No." She finally says, closing her eyes trying to get comfortable.

"Why not?" Looking at her, confused, "I already know your full name, age, where you live, what your job is and your full health history-" I honestly say, not sure why she doesn't want me to know more about her.

"I'm tired-" She whispers, sighing.

"Okay," I say, closing my eyes too. I know Phoebe is mad at me for making her talk to the police, but she needed to do it...

We both lay there, and I can tell by the monitors that she isn't asleep. But I keep quiet; hopefully, she will fall asleep soon. I open my eyes, looking at the clock, and it's noon. I'm exhausted and today is my day off. We are going to take a nap and get her up and moving.

"I have sisters." I hear her say, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"What are their names?" I look at her, her eyes looking up at the ceiling.

She looks exhausted but struggling to go back to sleep just like me. Maybe I should give her a syringe filled with Temazepam to get her to sleep and stay asleep...

"McKenna and McKinley." I see her close her eyes and smiles big, "They're twins."

"How old are they?" I ask, wanting to see that genuine smile on her face again.

"They turn 21 in a few weeks." Her smile is appearing again, "They will be coming to New York to stay with me to celebrate." Her smile is quickly turning into a frown, "But I don't think that will be happening."

"Why not?"

"Don't you see me?" She looks at me perplexed, "I can't let them see me like this. I- They- They can't see me like this." She closes her eyes sighing, putting her hand over her head, "Gosh, I need a cigarette."

"Well until I discharge you no cigarettes for you." I chuckle, finding out about her habits one after the other.

"What about liquor?" She asks, looking back at me hopeful and lifting her head a bit. I smile softly at her as she continues "I can't smoke or drink until I get out of here?"

"Nope." I shake my head. Which makes her sigh, close her eyes and let her head fall back onto the pillow. So she smokes cigarettes, drinks liquor, bites her nails, plays with her hair and refuses to look at people when she's uncomfortable. What else?

"I don't want you drinking until your body completely heals from the surgery," I state, making her groan in annoyance.

"Doctor McGuire, I will take all of your medical advice but that one." She chuckles, but I know she is serious.

"Are you an alcoholic, Phoebe?" I question, but she quickly defends herself.

"No." She raised her voice, making me look directly into her eyes. She is trying to prop herself up, which is making me nervous for her sutures...

"Please lay back down, Phoebe." I sit up, ready to jump to my feet. She ignores me, sitting up more but this time hissing and grabbing onto her side where I opened her up for surgery.

"Phoebe, stop!" I snap, shooting up from the chair and rushing to push her gently back into the bed.

"I am not an alcoholic..." Phoebe whispers, pointing at me making me nod my head.

"Okay." I finally say, trying to calm her. "I'll be right back." I calmly say, walking to the door and getting the attention of a Nurse.

"I need 10mg of Temazepam to help my patient sleep," I tell her and she nods her head and walks to the locked cart of medications. She walks back with a syringe filled with the sleep-inducing medication. "Thank you, Tammy." I smile at her and step back into Phoebe's room.

I walk to the sink washing my hands and put on a pair of gloves. Phoebe watches me closely as I walk to her IV and grab her arm slowly. I unscrew the injection cap, which allows me to directly put medications into her body and poke the syringe into it. Pushing the top of the needle it releases the medicine into her body. When I remove the syringe, I screw the open line shut and throw away the empty syringe and the gloves.

By the time I sit back down in the recliner, she is fast asleep. I need to take at least an hour nap. I close my eyes laying back into the chair and fall asleep.

* * *

I wake up to the sound of the Nurse talking to Phoebe. I peek over to see Phoebe refusing the help of the Nurse.

"I can manage myself." Phoebe whispers, sounding irritated.

"Miss Marshall, I don't mind helping you." The Nurse pleads with her, "I don't want you hurting yourself."

"I said- I can manage myself," Phoebe says a bit louder, then looks over at me. "Sorry." She says when she notices I am awake.

"It's okay. What's the problem?" I ask Phoebe, but the nurse answers.

"She has to use the restroom, but she refuses to let me help her." The nurse, Tiffany sighs.

"I got her," I smile, standing up from the chair. Tiffany nods her head, leaving the room. Phoebe looks at me, shaking her head. "What?" I chuckle slightly, walking to the side of the bed.

"Sorry, we woke you. That damn Nurse wouldn't leave me alone." She sighs, trying to move her legs off the bed.

"Woah there- Let me help you." I put my hands up in front of her, grabbing her upper arms.

"Not you too-" Phoebe rolls her eyes, grabbing my wrists and pushing them away. "I-"

"Yes, me too. I am not letting you get out of this bed without help. You are still recovering and you shouldn't put too much physical stress on your body." I look and see that the Nurse already unhooked the monitors. I am left putting the IV on a moving pole. Once I am done,

"But-"

"No buts-" I put my finger up, making her look at it. I grab her hands and help her to her feet. Phoebe is struggling to hold herself up, so I wrap my arm around her upper body. "I got you," I state, as we slowly walk to the bathroom.

"This is embarrassing..." I hear her mumble; we enter the bathroom, and I roll the IV pole next to the toilet.

"Can you manage to the toilet, or do you-"

"I think I can manage." Phoebe awkwardly says, and I nod my head. I let go of her hesitantly. I walk to the door and look at her, just making sure she will be okay without me for a few minutes.

"I will be right outside. Let me know when you're finished." I close the door, waiting in front of the door. I look at my watch, and it's 5:46 in the afternoon. I hear the doorknob jingling, and I turn around, seeing the door open. "Here, let me help." I wrap my arm around her upper body, helping her sit down in the recliner chair.

Phoebe looks at me confused, why I put her in the chair instead of the bed. I give her a small smile as she gets comfortable.

"I thought you would enjoy not laying down." I grab the blanket off the bed, covering her legs.

"Thank you." She pulls the covers closer to her, and I turn on the TV. I sit at the end of the bed, watching HGTV with her. She must really enjoy shows like this, and I smile feeling content just being here with her.

-

• If you liked this chapter, please consider giving it a vote and answering the questions below. •

-

Hiya! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was for sure an interesting one. I wanted you guys to know more about Phoebe and her sisters. Also, I wanted Noah to get to know more about Phoebe in general. You can really feel that he cares for her in some way.

Questions:

1. In what way do you think he cares about Phoebe?

2. Do you think Phoebe will start to like Noah? Tell me your own thoughts.

Thank you, everyone!

- Anna