Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 18

*** TRIGGER WARNING- drugging mentions ***

Nate sat down in the waiting room. With what all they think they figured out, Gwen was drugged by his girlfriend's friend.

Putting his head in his hands, he sighed. Nate normally was a practical voice, but right now he just wanted to protect Gwen. She is his best friend's wife, and one of his closest friends as well. He didn't want anything to happen to her at all.

His phone rang again. Looking at the caller ID, he rolled his eyes and answered.

"Hello?"

"Look, I'm sorry Nate. I know you wouldn't cheat on me. I shouldn't have accused you of being with another woman," Sara's voice came through.

"Thanks for saying that." Nate wasn't sure whether or not to believe her.

"Do you want me to come there to you?"

"No, I'll be okay. Gwen is awake now, they're just trying to flush out her system. They think she was drugged."

"Oh, no. Do they know with what?"

"Ibuprofen. They think it was at the coffee shop."

"Oh, wow. Who could have seen what happened?"

"You could start by asking Damien. He was there with her."

"Oh, ummm, yeah, okay. I'll ask him the next time I see him."

Nate bit his tongue from what he really wanted to say. "You do that."

Sara stayed silent for a minute.

"Well, umm, I'd, uh, I'd better let you go."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Nate wasn't even sure what just happened. Sara seemed more odd than normal. He didn't think that so-called apology was genuine. He'd been played too many times before to believe that tripe.

He had a lot on his mind. He knew he loved Becca, and things with Sara weren't really working out very well. If he doesn't trust her, he shouldn't be in a relationship with her. She is way too jealous for him to keep defending his actions to.

Nate also was trying to figure out why Damien would have drugged Gwen. They definitely would be filing a police report, and if it were up to him, Gwen wouldn't be going back to that class. Of course, he would make the suggestion, but ultimately it was her decision. Gwen would known it was coming from Nate's heart. He had always felt a protective "big brother" role with her. Luckily it never came up to where he needed to use it.

There was also the matter of the message they got. AJ hadn't had a chance to tell Gwen, but they heard from Morgan. They weren't sure what they did, but she didn't seem like the bubbly girl they met. Something happened between the time they talked to her and the panel started. They just wish they knew what.

He also was still trying to figure out who could have posted that picture. It wasn't from Sara's account, but something seemed weird about it. Being the only people in the room, there would have been no other way to get that picture. She had set her phone down, needing to update it... or did she? Where her phone was sitting was the angle of the picture. Could she have sent it to a friend to post? Or posted it herself on a fake account?

Nate was starting to get angry. If Sara is trying to sabotage their relationship, why even be in the relationship? Why expose him that way? She was insanely jealous of any female presence around Nate- as shown by how she's acted when Becca is mentioned.

Nate turned his focus back to Gwen. He needed to keep a cooler head to help them figure out who did this. Damien would be the best bet, but what if it was someone else? Would someone else want to drug Gwen?

"Hey Natemare."

"Becca!" Nate stood. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't just sit around. I had to come be with you... all of you. Has there been any word?" She set some bags down, and they both sat.

Nate nodded. "She was drugged with a large dose of ibuprofen. She did wake before we were allowed back there, but she woke in a panic so they sedated her. She then woke up a bit after we got to her room and she didn't remember anything after getting off the phone with you."

"Oh, wow."

"AJ is back with her now. They are helping her get everything out of her system. AJ didn't want to leave her side."

"Understandably so." Becca sits in silence for a moment. "I also brought drinks and snacks. Since we don't know how long we'll be here."

Nate smiled at her. "Thanks. I really appreciate it." He laced their fingers together and squeezed her hand gently. Keeping his hand intertwined with hers, he enjoyed the feeling. He didn't get the butterflies like that with Sara.

Becca didn't want to move. She liked holding his hand, but was afraid if she moved or said anything, he would remove his hand.

"Who would do this to Gwen? She's way too wholesome to have something like this happen." Nate mused out loud.

"I know. Honestly, Damien would be the number one suspect in my mind."

"Why do you think that?"

Becca recounted to Nate what Gwen had told her had happened after class and before Gwen left the coffee shop.

Nate was starting to get angry again. "That prick. He is definitely going to be reported."

"Yeah, definitely. Even if Gwen objects, insist she does it."

Nate stood and started pacing. "I don't even know what I can do. I want to go punch the guy and it's not even my wife. But he's threatened my family. He'd better watch his back."

"Nate, we don't know that it's him that did that to her."

"But he did the other things! He had better stay away from my family." Nate was trying to control his anger.

Becca watched him pace a few moments, then stood and put her hands on his shoulders.

"Nate. Listen to me. I know you're upset. He hurt your best friend's wife. He hurt your friend. But getting angry and talking about getting physical won't do anything except get you in trouble."

Nate sighed and hung his head. "You're right. I just— he messed with the wrong family."

"I know." Becca put her hands on either side of his face to get him to focus. "But you can't do anything. Once the paperwork gets filed, let them take care of it. I promise Karma will get them in the end." Becca stared into his eyes.

Nate looked at Becca. His heart skipped a beat. He wanted to kiss her so bad in that moment. He stepped back, knowing it wasn't right. We can't do this. She doesn't like me that way.

Becca couldn't look away. Her pulse raced. She wanted to kiss him so bad in that moment. When he stepped back, the spell was broken. We can't do this. He has a girlfriend, and it's not me!

Nate cleared his throat. "So, what all snacks did you bring?"

Becca smiled, but he could see it didn't fully go to her eyes. "Just things I know you guys like. Have at it."

Another moment so close, yet so far away. Becca turned away, closed her eyes momentarily and fought back her emotions.

Nate's phone dinged. "They're done flushing her system, she's resting now. You can come back if you want."

"AJ said we can go back there now."

"Okay, let's go." Becca grabbed the bags and followed Nate to Gwen's room.