HER Young Mate (Completed)

Part Forty-Four: No Matter What Happens

"You're growling again Danny..." I said quietly as I looked up at him. I tried to suppress my smile.

"I'm sorry... I don't think you realize how much your words can affect me..." He shook his head with that perfect sideways smile I missed so damn much. His face had aged a bit, but he still had the charm I would dream of when I closed my eyes all those nights alone.

I would imagine his strong presence with me, even when I was alone, I would try to remember how safe it felt to be near him.

And now I didn't have to try.

Tears sprung to my eyes, but I hid my face in my knees before he noticed. I didn't want him to know how weak I was, I knew how obviously I appear weak, but I wish I didn't.

"I love you Coralie..." He said, his voice deep, and sweeter than I could ever imagine on my own. A warm sound that only he could make.

"I love you too...." I wiped my eyes and looked up at him. I leaned across the tub and kissed his lips, his face moving the smallest bit to meet his lips with mine. He growled again. He tried to stop it, but couldn't. The wolf in me stirred, howled in my brain, cried out for him... But I had to stop her. I pulled away. I wasn't ready. Everything that happened to me made me sick and tired, and I couldn't keep pushing it. I had to heal, mentally more than physically.

"I think I should get out...." He said quietly, not looking at me directly; I could see the blackness in his eyes, the silent battle he fought with his wolf as well. I nodded as I wiped the stray tear from my eyes. He washed up quickly, clenching his jaw and wincing as soap trailed over his back. He warned me he was getting out and stepped out of the bath. He wrapped a towel around his waistline. When he was finished he told me he was going to brush his teeth, and I sat in the bubbly water silently as I watched him. He glanced at me in the mirror as he brushed, finished up, and turned back to me as I started washing my hair.

"Do you need help?"he asked quietly as he noticed me struggling. I nodded with red cheeks. He knelt beside the tub and I turned my back to him. He moved his fingers through my hair, his hands were tough, but his movements were so gentle. I heard his chest rumble, but never fully growl. He pulled the nozzle to reach my hair and rinsed it slowly and thoroughly. He was silent, but it felt good, it felt comfortable and I didn't imagine him being so gentle and focused; he really had grown stronger, more controlled.

"Let me know when you're ready..." He said quietly, he kissed the top of my head. "I'll be right here if you need me..." He said. I nodded, and he went back to the counter, he pulled the first aid kit from the cupboard and started cleaning and wrapping his hands.

I fought my slow sore limbs to clean myself quickly. He finished his hands as I finished washing up. "Danny..." I cleared my throat. "I need..." I shook my head and tried again. "I need help getting out of the tub..." I said quietly and he turned towards me and nodded.

"Okay..." He grabbed a towel. "Sit up..." He said with a red tint on his cheeks now as he held the towel up at the edge of the tub. I did what he said, and he wrapped the towel around me and lifted me out of the tub in one strong sturdy movement. He set me on my wobbly legs, but only long enough to fix the large towel around my body. Just as he picked me back up there was a knock on the door. The door was thick so it was very muffled, and we heard Frea yell on the other side.

"The nurse is here, she'll come in when you want her to..." Frea said. "The rest of us are going to go downstairs..." She added and we heard the other door close loudly. I knew she was trying to warn us, and at the same time let us know we were in the clear from prying eyes.

She really was a great friend; I'd have to thank her later.

Danny walked me into my room. He placed me on my bed. "Let me get dressed real quick. He said, he kissed my cheek and I nodded. He slipped the clothes Frea had snuck in for him, probably remembering he had gotten pretty messy when I had puked everywhere. I watched carefully, and if I hadn't been away from her so long, I knew my wolf wolf be whining and growling for him.

He went to my closet to grab me shorts and a teeshirt. I smiled when I saw it was his shirt, one that I kept in my room to wear to bed. "Thank you..." I smiled up at him.

He nodded quickly, and I could tell he was still fighting his urges. He turned around as I got changed slowly. I took a deep breath as I pulled my shirt on, my last piece of clothing, and tried to ready myself.

"I'm- I'm ready..."

He nodded and opened the door, I heard him speak to the nurse, and then she walked in, after being warned by him that I was 'fragile and not to be made upset'.

"Hello Cora..." She said, a sadness behind her eyes, that she hid, something she must have had to have practice with.

I waved quickly and nervously like a child.

"I'm here to get some blood samples and address your minor wounds... I will perform a physical... And I have some medication to leave with the alpha, he'll give you enough a day to ween you from the drugs." She said quietly. I nodded as tears sprung to my eyes in fear of someone other than Danny touching my body. But, I knew she had to do it, I want to be safe, I want to be healthy.

"Oh-okay..."

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I was glad when she was finished with her job, when every tube of blood had been drawn and every note taken. She promised to leave the medication with Danny later and addressed the wounds on his back, she bandaged him up after applying a numbing agent. She said she was done, and she left the two of us, silent in my room. He was sitting beside me, and looked up at me as he touched my hand.

"She said you can sleep, would you like me to leave you?" He asked quietly. I shook my head as I bit my lip and tried not to cry. "Please don't cry..." He said as he climbed into bed with me. He pulled me beside him and then wrapped the top blanket around us. "I'll stay here while you sleep, watch over you..." He said softly. "Being close will help both of us heal."

"Thank you... You don't know how much I need it. I'm so- I'm so scared..." I admitted as I snuggled into his arm, as it and the blanket wrapped around me.

"I know love... But no matter what happens... Even if something comes up... I'll always love you." He reassured me. I wanted so badly to say it back, but was swirling with so many emotions that I couldn't speak. I nodded again and fell asleep as I cried silently.