"Need help?" Derek asked, standing up.
"I'm fine." Braeden winced, trying to untie her gown.
"I can get a nurse in here." He reminded her.
"I can undress myself, by myself. Thank you." She barked.
"Suit yourself." He said, sitting back down in the chair.
"Shit." She hissed, almost ripping her stiches out.
"I'm getting a nur-" He started.
"Fine. Just, untie this." She said, finally giving in.
She hating receiving help. Especially from men. She felt like they'd think she owed them something, after.
"Don't think you're doing me any favors." She told him, as he stood to untie her gown.
"I save you..for once, don't even get a thank you and you think I'm shady for wanting to help you get undressed?" He inquired, unraveling the knot.
She didn't even bother responding. She just got out of her bed ... well attempted to but Derek ended up helping her with that too.
"You really think you should shower by yourself?" He questioned.
"You suggesting I'm incapable of taking care of myself?" She snapped.
"I'm just saying ... you just got shot and you can barely raise your arms, let alone clean yourself. Plus your stitches are brand new and you shouldn't get them wet."
"You sure care a lot about your ... investment." She said.
He just looked away and down at the ground, smirking at her reactions.
"I'll get Melissa. You can trust her." He spoke.
"And why should I trust her?" She questioned.
"Because I do." He said.
"And I take it you don't do that often?" She inquired.
He sighed and ignored her last comment, walking to the nurses station.
After awhile Braeden sat back down on the edge of her bed, reflecting.
"Hi Braeden." Melissa came in, Derek behind her.
"Ready?" Melissa said, helping her out of the bed.
"Easy now. Easy." She added, helping her to the bathroom.
While Melissa helped Braeden in the shower Derek stayed seating, waiting.
Once Braeden came out from the shower, in a new hospital gown, she came out of the bathroom.
Melissa helped her back to the bed and Derek couldn't help but stare at her.
He was in awe of not only her but her hair aswell. Her curls, all different from each other, laid perfectly on her shoulers.
Melissa cleared her throat interrupting him from his thoughts.
"Maybe you could walk her around the hospital? She needs to be up and moving as much as possible so her body doesn't stiffen up." Melissa said to Derek.
"Sure. Thanks Melissa." Derek said.
Once she left, Derek's eyes went back to Braeden, hoping she wouldn't notice.
"Is there any reason you keep staring at me?" She asked.
"What?" He questioned.
"It's my hair isn't it? God I knew I should've put it up." She said, getting a bit insecure.
"What? No. I like it. I mean you should uh wear it like that more of- Well you can do what ever you want- I'm just saying you c- " He stammered.
"Thanks." She said.
They both broke into really big smiles, laughing at the awkwardness that they had just caused.
"Wanna take that walk now?" He asked her.
"Looking like this?" She inquired.
"You look fine, I wouldn't lie to you." He told her.
"And why is that?" She questioned.
"Why wouldn't I lie to you?" He said.
"Yeah, I thought you said you didn't trust me." She stated.
"Like I said before there's a lot of money riding on you. Which means there's no room for lies and not trusting each other." He spoke.
"So what, you trust me now?" She grinned.
He sighed at her stubbornness and let out a small laugh.
"Let's go...'investment' " He smirked.
