His emerald hair had strands of silver and blue, while his teal eyes were filled with questions as his heavy gaze was specifically on the nurse.
Those light pink lips of his were grimacing in disapproval, and I knew without a doubt that he was keeping his cool for my sake.
"Mr. Simmons? I wasn't informed that you were discharged," the nurse nervously replied as she straightened herself.
"Why would you know if I was discharged or not when I was admitted to a completely different floor?" he countered, which made the nurse even more nervous. "I’ll let you off on that one."
"Ah...thank you," she nervously stated before she looked at me. "Alice, I'm going to put the restraints back on now."
"Don't put them so tight this time," I muttered as I looked away.
"That was due to a mere error of judgment at the time I placed them."
"They've been on since last night," I acknowledged, my eyes still staring out the window so I wouldn't be a victim to her furious eyes.
"What?"
The sound didn't come from Westley. The angered voice came from Dad, which drew my attention. There he was, wearing all black while his hair was actually combed and gelled to one side to make him look like a sophisticated man within our society.
His presentable appearance only accented his growing anger as he arched an eyebrow and muttered, "Would you like to elaborate on why my recovering daughter was in restraints for what surely could have been an entire day?"
"S-She had an episode last night and we needed to control her…she was being magically combative," the nurse defended as she tried to compose herself.
"And why weren't we called?" Westley snapped as he moved off the door frame to stand at his full height. I had to do a double take. I swore Westley had grown another two inches because there was no way he was still 6'3".
Unless my eyes just wanted him to be taller. Wouldn't be surprised if they hallucinated it.
"The staff couldn't reach you," she defended.
"Our phones have been on the entire night," Dad argued as his eyes narrowed. "Also, Clara Ralmera was the last resort if you couldn't reach any of us and she was up all night and didn't receive a single phone call, from what she mentioned during our morning exchange."
"Ah, Mr. Chambers." Clara's voice could be heard outside the hall. "Perfect timing."
She arrived with a tall woman with red eyes. From how frozen the nurse seemed, this new addition to the conversation was someone of great importance.
"I was just talking to the CEO of the health district. She doesn't manage this particular hospital, but she was the one I contacted with my parents to get Brianne a more secure safe house for her recovery. I began informing her of the mishaps that seemed to have occurred multiple times this week."
From the way Westley smirked, I knew this nurse was about to lose her job.
I didn't have an ounce of pity.
"Thank goodness because I have a list of things that I'd love to discuss as soon as possible. One is why my sixteen-year-old daughter, who's trying to recover from almost dying from a freak accident after avoiding being murdered by a suspect who’s still at large after killing her grandmother, is being restrained? Instead of showing her compassion as she attempts to not lose her sanity with all she's experienced in a short period of time, she's thrown into this environment, which provokes her triggers, causing her to be restrained for twenty-plus hours. Can I also add the footage I have of them sitting and doing practically nothing but gossiping and playing on their cellular devices their entire shift, or is that a topic for the health board of this town?"
The nurse was practically shaking in fear as the woman with red eyes seemed horrified by the summarized concern.
"I'd be happy to discuss this right away. In fact, the remaining head members of the district are still in the board room. We just finished an important meeting regarding policies and better care of our patients. If you have the spare time, I'd love to get this dealt with this instant."
"I'd gladly do so," he replied and walked into the room until he was by my bedside. He acknowledged me with a smile before he gently lifted my hand to assess my wrists at a closer glance.
"I'll ask the night nurse to get you a cream to help with the irritation," he whispered and kissed me on my forehead. "Is there anything bothering you, Alice?"
"No," I quietly replied. "Hey."
"Hey." He stroked my head. "I'm gonna get some things sorted. Westley has permission to stay behind tonight."
My eyes widened in shock as I looked up at him. "Really?!"
He smiled at my exclaimed response as he bobbed his head in approval. "Yup. Just got it approved and it starts immediately. We'll figure everything else out later."
"Does that mean Cyrus can be here?"
"Would Cyrus’s company keep you at ease?"
"Yes," I confessed.
"Then we'll work on that as well."
"Cyrus is?" the red-eyed woman inquired.
"Her loyal familiar, ma'am," Westley replied. "She really puts Alice at ease."
"Then allow it. If anyone asks, say Natalia from the board gave permission."
"Excellent." Dad seemed pleased with the sudden turn of events. "Now, Nurse...Joy, was it? Why don't you come along and explain the incident from last night and why none of the team members took the extra effort to contact us when my daughter was having a PTSD episode?"
"Joy." Natalia's look alone told me she was a goner as the nurse quickly nodded and rushed out the door with Dad casually following. "Text me if either of you needs anything," he encouraged.
"WOOF!"
We all looked down to see Cyrus run from the hallway and leap off the ground to land right onto my lap.
"Cyrus!" I cheered and scooped her up as she happily panted at the sight of me before she was licking my face like no tomorrow. "Yes. I missed you, too."
"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Cyrus was so happy she wiggled out of my hold and began rolling all over my lap. Everyone seemed to smile my way, and I looked back as Dad slightly nodded my way before he, Clara, Natalia, and Nurse Joy walked further down the hall to wherever this next meeting was going to take place.
Westley waited a few seconds before he closed the door and turned back to me. I took in his appearance; those emeralds strands perfectly combed through while I took in his professional attire once again.
"Why do I have a feeling you were in court or something?" I hesitantly asked as Cyrus literally lay on her back and fell fast asleep.
"Law firm," he replied as he walked over to the bed. He immediately noticed my wrists and frowned. "Hmm. We need to get that dealt with."
"Can't I just heal it?" I quietly inquired. "Like...after I'm not on blazing destruction ban?"
His look was hard to interpret but I was pretty sure he didn't like the title of my obvious circumstance.
"No. When magic restraints burn you, they're unable to be healed by magic. Give me a second to get some special cream. Once you apply it, the area heals within a few minutes. Do you want anything to drink?"