Guarding Love

Chapter 7 - Cold Day in March

"I will always protect you. I will always put the safety of your heart above everything else." – Erika Taylor.

Y/N POV

I felt the crushing weight of my overwhelming emotions on my shoulders release as Scar wrapped me in a warm and firm embrace. A sense of longing blended with my overwhelming grief filled my heart, leaving me wanting to confess the unspoken love I felt for her since I met her. However, she was with Colin and now was not the right time for a confession. Her touch soothed my wounded soul with a tenderness that transcended words. Each gentle stroke of her hand whispered silent reassurances, offering refuge from my pain. Scar's unwavering presence made me feel safe, so I let go of my sorrows without feeling judged.

My father passing left me empty. I know his passing shouldn't affect me like this. We barely spoke. He was still my father, and we still had so many memories. The drama with Katie left me feeling hollow, even with Scar's presence. She had every right to be upset with me, especially when my heart seemed to yearn for Scar at this moment. I am so confused why I am having these feelings at a time like this.

My phone rings, tearing me away from my thoughts; however, it isn't my standard ringtone. It is the ringtone I set expressly for Kel and specifically for emergencies. I am instantly panicked; my heart races as I pull away from Scarlett. Grabbing my phone, I answer it immediately.

"Hello," I answer. I try to make my voice not sound panicked or nervous; however, I can feel I failed.

"Hi, Y/N. Promise you won't freak out." I can hear her nervousness and slight panic, instantly knowing something is wrong.

"Kel? What's going on?" My heart starts racing, and I jump off my bed and start pacing to lessen my nerves.

"Just promise me you won't freak out." Kel pleads with me, and I know the only way I can get what happened out of her will be to agree.

"I promise I won't freak out, but you are making me nervous." I shift into protective mode, trying to control my grief and sorrow. A feeling deep down tells me to hide the news from Kel. She is family and deserves to know but not right now. I start to walk further from Scarlett, not to make the distance between us more so to let out my tension or panic.

"I'm in the hospital in Germany. I got injured. I'm okay..." Everything Kel says comes out in a rush, as if the faster she tells me, the easier it will be.

"You what?" My voice is louder and more panicked than I want it to be.

"You promised you wouldn't freak out," Kel replies as her voice breaks. I can feel Scarlett's presence behind me which helps lessen my panic. Her mere presence gives me comfort.

I sigh, "I'm sorry. It's—"

"—I know, but I am talking to you right now. There's a difference between being injured and being—"

"—No, I know. Okay, talk to me. Tell me everything." I say as I try to calm my breathing and lessen the panic in my voice. Scarlett places her hand on my shoulder and squeezes; she always knows when I need extra comfort.

Kel doesn't detail how she got injured, but she tells me that the shrapnel that lodged into her leg cut the flow of her femoral artery. Pieces was able to stop her from bleeding out, but the damage reduced the movement in her leg, and the doctors were concerned she may not be able to walk or walk properly. The shrapnel or trauma she received on her side was mainly superficial, but it did break a few ribs.

I instantly went into mom mode when she finished explaining everything to me. "I need your whole file sent to me." Kel had been injured several times, and I trusted no doctors in her hospital. While the military took care of their own, they did not always advocate for their officers at the time. One of her injuries almost left her with her arm amputated, but I had advocated for them not to. I got a second opinion from one of the top doctors in the world. I flew him in to correct all the damage to her arm. It cost me nearly all the money I had saved since it was early in my career. I nearly went bankrupt, but it was worth it to save Kel's arm. I cannot say if I changed how the military looked after the officers or advocated for them, but I did notice a change.