Caleb

Chapter Thirty Eight

Caleb ~

Two days later Lainey had been showing small signs of progress. She was eating a little bit, not nearly enough for Caleb's liking, but more than she had been, and she was smiling more.

They had spent a lot of time on the phone with Lexi, Natalie, and Claire which always seemed to put a smile on Lainey's face and Caleb loved every second of it.

The only problem was, Lainey was absolutely terrified to leave the hotel room - understandably so. She felt like the entire world was trying to harm her or kill her and who could blame her?

Anytime Caleb tried to test the waters and get her to go downstairs into the hotel lobby, Lainey would agree, but she'd start to shake violently and would hyperventilate before they could get down the hallway. She didn't cry and hadn't shed a single tear since they say they found Ricardo, but she had only been able to make it to the elevators before her panic would completely consume her, making her feel lightheaded and dizzy. Every time she tried and failed to leave the room Lainey became more and more angry with herself and her body's betrayal. She was trying to put up her walls and lace up the armor that she had become so accustomed to wearing for protection, but it wasn't enough anymore and it pissed her off.

Watching Lainey struggle was pure torture for Caleb. He wanted to take her place and feel the pain for her. He wanted to scoop her up and hold her every second of every day until that bright smile returned. But he had to let her work through it because if he fought this battle for her she'd never truly heal.

Declan had been coaching him up on trauma and techniques he used to help Lexi. If anyone understood how painful it was to watch a loved one heal from horrendous trauma it was Dec.

"Caleb?" Lainey called from the shower.

"Right here baby. You need me?" Caleb answered.

"Just making sure you're still here." She said in an unsure voice.

Caleb slowly entered the bathroom.

"I'm right here Darlin'" he said into the bathroom.

A smile lifted the corner of his mouth when he saw her small hand reach out from behind the curtain, outstretched and waiting for his.

Just needing some physical reassurance? I can give you that sweetheart. I'll give you anything you need.

He reached out and wrapped his hand around hers, giving it a squeeze as she curled her fingers around his hand. She let out a small hum of contentment just before releasing his hand and returning to her shower routine.

That's it, take what you need from me baby. Anything to make you feel safe.

"Sorry...I just needed..."

"Don't ever apologize for needing me Lainey girl." He interrupted her, reminding her that she never needed to give him an explanation for needing to feel his touch.

Caleb, Marcus and James had been watching Lainey like a hawk all morning, patiently analyzing her every move and waiting to see how she was going to handle the graveside service for her father and Camila that was set to occur a few hours later.

"What's the plan Doc?" Marcus asked as Caleb closed the bathroom door.

"I've been thinking, when she gets anxious in the hallway, it has consistently been fear of someone attacking her from behind. She was whipping her head around as if she didn't know where an attacker was going to come from last time we tried to go downstairs. Maybe if we surround her on all sides, she won't feel as panicked." Caleb suggested, getting nods of approval from Marcus and James.