Page 191 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“I meant more for your dad than for me.” Maddie said.

He nodded. “Yeah I think it’s an idea. Charlotte is already there.”

“How’s she coping?” Maddie asked.

“Better than you’d expect. Owen is with her. He’s actually doing a decent job of supporting her.” Cole stated.

“That’s something.” Maddie said.

“Are you done eating?” He said glancing at her plate. She’d not eaten nearly as much as he’d like.

“Yeah. I don’t think I could eat anymore.”

He got up and took the tray off her putting it down on the table against the wall.

“When can I leave?” She asked.

“Let me get the doctor.” He said.

She watched him go and all she felt was guilt. Guilt that she’d taken his focus, his time when he should have been with his family, with his dad.

The doctor walked back in and Cole frowned at the look on her face. She quickly gave him a reassuring smile.

“How are you feeling Ms Cooper?” The doctor said.

“Fine.” Maddie replied quickly and he chuckled.

“I highly doubt that. Your hands are severely bruised and you’ve been starved for days.”

She rolled her eyes.

“On the plus side the rest seems to have done your leg some good.” He added.

“Seriously?” She said.

“It’s not as bad as we expected considering how much you’ve been through. I’ve consulted with Hamid about it and we both agree that you can resume the same treatment plan…”

“So still the crutch?” She said interrupting him.

“Still the crutch.” He repeated.

“Great.”

He smirked. “You Agents are always so busy throwing yourselves into situations like you’re infallible and then wonder why it takes your bodies so long to recover.” He said amused.

“I don’t think I’m infallible.” She said and Cole snorted.

She half glared at him.

“Let’s check your vitals and then you can both get back to playing heroes again.” The doctor said.

He shone a light in her eyes, checking her pupils, then ran his hands on either side of her throat to check her glands. He put his finger on the pulse at her wrist and manually checked her heartrate.

“All good considering.” He said. “You’re signed off for two weeks. I want complete rest. No exertion, no physical exercise, give your body a chance to really heal.”

“No physical exercise?” She repeated incredulously.

The doctor glanced at Cole then back at her smirking. “You’re good for that. Just be careful. I don’t want your heartrate getting too high.”

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