Chapter 8

-Hold My Hand

Braylin is in a pensive mood by the time he gets to work the next morning. He only came in to attend the investor's meeting about the mid-town development then he's going to the hospital. Kara is going to get to look at herself in a mirror for the first time since the attack. He was told by her doctor when victims of attacks see their disfigured faces for the first time it's usually a traumatic experience. Dr. Kramer warned him she might suffer flashbacks and nightmares once released. He is going to recommend counseling for her.

Why is his conscious showing up now? He doesn't have to be there with her. Surely someone else can do it. But what if someone else convinces her to sell to someone other than them or talks her into doing something that could hurt their mid-town project.  He didn't realize until he was talking with Dr. Kramer before he left the hospital last night that his visits are perpetuating the medical staff's belief of the fairytale story the tabloids have created about them.

The investor's meeting runs two hours. They are nervous about the mid-town conglomerate getting completed. They want assurances that Hurst Incorporated will have ownership of the property in sixty days. Braylin refuses to sign off. He assures everyone that he can get the owner to sign an agreement stating she will not sell to anyone else in that timeframe. The investors agree. Lester and Cameron look at him with worry and skepticism. Aaron appears to be surprised that he put himself out on a cliff considering his talk of how much he's not really interested in her.

Braylin hurries back to his office to get some paperwork signed off on before he has to leave for the day.  Aaron enters his office without knocking sitting down in a chair crossing one creased pant leg over the other.

"I can't believe you just did that?" He exclaims with a snorting laugh.

"Always tell the bastards you can do something. After they agree figure out a way to get it done." Braylin schools his younger brother while signing off on the contracts Jennifer left for him.

"Yeah right. You know I thought about this situation last night before my date arrived and I don't know if I could do what you're doing." Aaron says shaking his head.

Braylin stops signing the contracts looking up at him. "What exactly do you think I'm doing?"

"Playing with fire. She's been hurt, she has no family and you want to take from her the only thing she has. She's vulnerable right now Bray. You're paying her bills, managing her business and visiting her every day. You're feeding those damn tabloid stories. Those bastards in that conference room only agreed because they think you're sleeping with her."

Braylin slams the folder holding the contracts he just signed closed. "I'm not sleeping with her but we may be sleeping in the same house soon."

"What? You're going to take her to your house when they release her aren't you?" Aaron waits for him to admit it. He stays silent putting the folder in his out tray for his PA to pick up.

"Bray, you don't let your dates spend the night except maybe Elise once or twice. Does Anzio know you're about to bring another chef into his kitchen? What about Millie, have you told her she's going to have another female in the house?

"Anzio will be fine. He's only there two nights out of the week anyway since his wife's been ill. Elise comes over for one thing, she's usually gone before breakfast. Millie won't mind, she doesn't stay overnight and she'll just be happy it isn't Elise, she hates her.

"Tell me how Elise handled this whole thing with Kara when you told her. I'm sure she isn't happy about it." Aaron questions.

Braylin rolls his eyes at him then pulls out his cell phone to check the message he just received.

"Oh shit, you haven't told her. Did you tell Kara about Elise?" His blue eyes look incredulously at his disgruntled brother.

Nodding his head Braylin continues looking at his phone. "They don't need to know about each other. Elise knows I date other women. She doesn't have to know anything about Kara. Kara will be told why we are doing this, Elise is not her concern." Braylin shrugs his shoulders.

"Aww shit.....I'm glad to have a front row seat to this." Aaron slaps his hands together. "Elise is not one of those women that's going to go quietly into the night when she sees you move this other hot woman into your apartment. You need to prepare Kara for this."

"What exactly should I prepare her for Aaron? I'm not Elise Neal's property. I haven't seen her for a month. Elise is free to see whoever she wants. If you're so interested in how she feels why don't you date her."

"Whoa....you know I don't like Elise. She's nothing but trouble. Why are you so touchy about this?"

"Kara doesn't know about it yet, my visit with her at the hospital didn't exactly go as planned." Braylin stubbornly responds.

"Well I'll be damned? You do know you're talking about going home to the same woman every night." Aaron frowns thinking about it.

"It's just temporary Aaron. Until she gets on her feet and this relationship thing with the tabloids dies down. We've got to find out who's behind this. We'll keep up the pretense for a couple of months."

"Then what, man you're about to change her life. Are you really going to take her around all your friends and introduce her to the rest of our family as your girlfriend then toss her to the side when the media no longer cares. I'm assuming she won't be moving out until after we get that building of hers?" Aaron says.

"Do you have to be so crude? What else can I do? She needs to recover and she's agreed to hold off on the sale of her building. I just have to get her to sign off on it. You and I both know there are people out there that will do anything to see this project fail. This is the biggest thing we've built since dad's death. Now that Kara's been linked to me our rivals will go after her."

"Braylin I understand, do you understand, she will probably say no?" Aaron tells him.

It doesn't matter Aaron, I think we established last night that we will tolerate each other to get what we each need out of this.   We'll probably hate each other by the end of it."

"Or fall madly in love." Aaron smirks at his older brother and Braylin furrows his brow. "Not happening little brother, I'm not ready for that yet. This is just business."

Braylin's cell phone rings. It's Elise and the truth is he's avoided talking to her for the last two weeks. She just sent him two messages. He decides to take the call. When he finishes Aaron is chuckling at him.

"No need to explain I can hear her through the phone. She's definitely not going away quietly is she?" Aaron asks.

"She wants to meet for lunch. I'm supposed to be at the hospital in an hour dammit."

"You're going to meet with Elise now?" Aaron raises his voice.

"No, I agreed to have an early dinner with her tomorrow at Nobu's." Braylin reluctantly responds.

"Hey, I thought you said she didn't like it when you took her for sushi." Aaron seems confused.

"She doesn't give a damn about the food, she wants to be seen with me. I'll deal with her later, I've got to get back to the hospital. Aaron notices he seems in a hurry for someone that doesn't care about the woman he's going to visit.

Kara has just returned to her room from getting a CT scan. She's bored with lying in bed, she wants to be released. She can feel the swelling in her face has gone down. She's anxious to see how bad her face looks.

Dr. Kramer finally arrives, she feels relieved until she sees he's not alone. Their eye contact doesn't express the true depth of feeling each has toward the other. She wonders why he is here at this time. He said he was going to come back but she thought he meant about the same time as last night. Not now, not when she might need to break down when she looks in that mirror seeing herself for the first time since the attack.

She doesn't exactly know how to respond to him being here. Should she greet him like he really is her boyfriend? She knows the medical staff expect it. She's heard the nurses talking about how handsome he is.  She learned of the other magazine articles about them from them.  

Braylin doesn't want her to read too much into his being here. He will hold her hand if she ask him to but it won't mean anything to him. He's just here because she needs somebody to lean on for now.

He walks further into the room. Standing on the side of her bed he leans down to kiss her on her forehead. "Hey sweetheart, sorry I couldn't get here sooner." He comments for the benefit of the nurse and doctor watching and listening to any conversation between them.

Kara can see the doctor and nurses give each other knowing looks. Braylin's show of affection toward her has released the tension in the room. She grabs his hand then looks up at him with a casual smile. 

Dr. Kramer is ready to do her examine. Braylin moves to the other side of the room to watch. Dr. Kramer check her wrist out first. Braylin wasn't aware that it was sprained and had a few cuts requiring some stitches. A fresh bandage is put on it. He moves on to check the bruising on her face including her black eye.

The nurse comes over to assist him. Braylin doesn't know if he should leave the room or stay. Their eyes meet, he ignores the look of embarrassment on her face. The nurse unties her gown folding it around her exposing her shoulders. The doctor proceeds to check the cuts and bruises on her back. She's told she will have to wear loose clothing and a strapless bra until the area heals. It will take about four weeks for the stitches they gave her to dissolve.

Kara blushes trying not to look directly at Braylin but she can't help herself. This is so embarrassing he's probably thinking how much more unattractive she is compared to the women he dates when she breaks the stare between them.

Braylin is so caught off guard by seeing how much she is injured, he swallows visibly, not realizing there's a scowl on his face.  He's never been around a person that's been attacked before. It angers him that she has to go through this, he wants to beat the shit out of the man that did this to her.

"Are you having any discomfort in your back or shoulders Ms. Santino?" The doctor ask.

"No." She says in a whisper her features looking hooded.

The uncomfortable feelings she's having isn't from the cuts and bruises on her back. It's from the look of disgust she thinks she sees on Braylin's face. Kara lowers her head, she's sniffling and a tear falls on the covers. The nurse grabs a tissue from the tissue box on a table handing it to her then ties her gown back up.

Braylin stands rigid nearby.  He feels the need to let her know he's here if she needs him. The tears, her sniffles he doesn't like seeing her cry.

Her head is next and Braylin can see that she's getting nervous.

She squirms when the doctor touches bandages near her wound. "Are you alright?" He ask.

"Yes." She says it comes out so weak and unsure. He removes the bandages around the cut area with the nurse's assistance. Kara continues to squirm looking uncomfortable with what they are doing. The nurse holds her wrist as a way of comforting her.

"Hold on." The doctor says. "You have sixteen stitches here. It's going to take some time."

Kara's watered eyes glance at Braylin. He walks closer to the bed.

"You can hold her hand if you want." Says the doctor and Braylin doesn't hesitate. He's at her side holding out his hand. She looks into his reverent gaze laying her hand into his. Closing his fingers over hers his thumb careses her wrist.

The doctor continues his exam of the wound at her temple. He cleans it bandaging it then steps away from her he's done. Kara is still holding on to Braylin's hand, she squeezes it feeling able to get through whatever is next.

"I think I should give you some time to adjust from all of this. I'm going to step out of the room for a few minutes to check on your CT results. I'll be back shortly to talk to you both."

The nurse pats her arm, smiles at Braylin and they both step out of the room. It's quiet. Kara is sitting up in the bed and Braylin is still next to her holding her hand. Both are looking forward not at each other. Each has a vacant look.

"Can you help me adjust the bed please?" Kara says softly.

"Of course."  He says, snapping out of his daze.

He gets the remote to adjust the bed and she lays back against it. She turns her head away from him still feeling embarrassed.

"Do you need some water or anything?" He caresses the top of her dark brown head.

"No." She blinks but doesn't look his way.

"Kara look at me."  His voice sounds pained.  She turns to see a look of deep sorrow on his face.

"I told you it's not your fault Braylin. I don't know why you're here." She turns away from him again.

He sits on the bed next to her. Reaching out he gently touches the side of her face with his finger to turn her head back to face him.

Don't shut me out. I'm not leaving you to go through this alone."

"Why?" She says and he can barely hear it. He blinks several times holding his head down unable to explain it to her, he's not clear himself what has come over him. He was so sure of how he felt earlier today.

"I told you I won't sell by building...." She starts to say.

"Stop it. This is not about that damn building." He angrily exclaims not wanting to discuss what binds them to one another.

Her bandaged wrist is laying in her lap. He reaches out to hold her hand and she lets him.

"Are you in pain?" He says looking at her wrist with a frown.

"No, they gave me something for the pain." She murmurs. Looking at the confusion in his more blue than grey eyes full of apprehension. He releases an anguished moan laying his head on the bed in front of her.

It startles her. His hair is so thick and dark and wavy. Wanting to touch it she tentatively places her other hand on his head. His hair is cut short, it feels soft. She lets her fingers rake through it, liking the feel of it in her hands. She's comforting him but she doesn't know what for. There's a quick knock at the door the doctor comes in.

"Oh excuse me, I'm sorry I can step out if you need more time." The doctor says not wanting to disturb such an intimate moment between them.

Braylin raises his head sitting up to face the doctor. "No...come in." He tells him raising up to get off the bed when Kara grabs his arm keeping him from moving away. He sets back next to her. She grips his hand pulling it into her lap holding on with both of hers. She plays with his fingers as they wait for the nurse to come in. The nurse is carrying a large round mirror with a handle on it.

"I won't delay this any further Ms. Santino. Your stitched up areas are healing nicely. The stitches are dissolvable, they should go away in about four weeks. We can give you a topical ointment to help prevent scarring. You should use it generously. Your facial injuries are healing as expected. The swelling has gone down and as explained you will lose any bruising within a few weeks."

Kara is playing with Braylin's fingers. She seems calm until the doctor gets around to discuss her head wound.

"I'm going to let you see yourself." Dr. Kramer nods to the nurse she hands Kara the mirror. Kara looks at Braylin.  She appreciates his reassuring look but she's scared.  The mirror flops in her weak hand.  He takes it from her to hold it up.   "It's alright."  He gives her that dimpled reassuring smile she's so warry of.  Turning away from his grey gaze she takes her first look. 

Turning her head to the side, she rubs her fingers gently against her bruised chin. She trails her finger tenderly near her black eye. Sniffling she turns to the opposite side and there it is.  Her head wound.  She nervously raises her hand to push her hair back. There's a long patch of her hair shaved. She looks like she has a punk rocker's hair cut but that's not what upsets her. She grips Braylin's hand holding the mirror seeing the number of sutures in her scalp. Squeezing her eyes shut she whimpers. He lays the mirror down to pull her into his arms. She grips the lapel of his jacket he can feel the wetness of her tears on his shirt. He holds her tight, nuzzling her on the nose then kissing her temple whispering it's alright to her.

Braylin looks at the doctor over her head nodding his head for him to continue.

"As you know we had to shave your head due to the massive head wound you suffered. Your test results reveal the swelling is gone. However, you did suffer a concussion. It may be the cause of your migraine headaches and the dizziness you still feel. I want to put you on some different medication at this time and I'm going to keep you here another day or two to see how you adjust to the change in this medicine."

"But, I'd rather go home. If the medicine makes me sick, can't I just call you to get it changed? I've been here almost a week." Kara stays cocooned in Braylin's arms as she speaks.

"I understand that you want to go home Ms. Santino and you will but you should not be alone and you cannot return to work yet. The medication I'm putting you on is much stronger than what you've been taking. I do not want you to fall and injure yourself further. You will have a small scar between your temple and left brow. As I told Mr. Hurst you can see a plastic surgeon to have the scar removed if after it heals it is still to visible. I would also advise that after you are released you seek counseling because of the trauma you suffered. It may be best if you and Mr. Hurst see the counselor together."

Kara goes stiff in Braylin's embrace moving away. When did he discuss her health with her doctor? This is going too far, this is not something for the tabloids this is her life. She's going to have to live with these scars and possible medical issues for the rest of it. Braylin Hurst isn't going to be a part of that. He's just here temporarily until he gets what he wants from her.

"Dr. Kramer....I....can we....ohm." Kara is having a hard time trying to figure out how to get the doctor to release her.

"Dr. Kramer, she wants to go home. Can you release her into my care tomorrow? She'll have the best care at my home. I can monitor her intake of the medication personally. I'll bring her in if she's adversely affected by it." Braylin volunteers not looking at Kara. She's astounded by his offer. The doctor looks from one to the other.

Dr. Kramer suspects they haven't discussed it but he is aware of the tabloid stories about them and he's seen the picture of them kissing in front of her restaurant in the Hampton's society pages magazine.

"Will around five o'clock be alright with you Mr. Hurst?" Dr. Kramer says to Braylin as if Kara's not in the room.

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