Back to normality?

Chapter 28

Throughout the night, as Carla slept, Peter sat next to her, watching and waiting for any sign of a nightmare or another attack; when she hadn't stirred at all by around 4am, he laid down, rested a hand across her stomach and closed his eyes. Waking at just gone 7, he found an empty space next to him; given Carla's state of mind the day before, he quickly left the room and sighed when he saw her sat on the sofa, the blanket over her bump and a drink in her hand.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked, sitting next to her.

"Did I wake you? You look tired"

"No you didnt"

"Did you spend all night watching me again?" She asked, knowing that when she'd been in the hospital before been transferred to Carlisle, he had been by her side the whole time.

"I didn't want you having another attack"

"Get some sleep Peter, I'll be okay"

"You're more important, how you feeling?"

"Still on edge a little" she answered, honestly. "But I need you to take care of yourself as well; if i need you and Scott isn't up, I'll wake you"

"I don't like leaving you on your own"

"I'm not gonna do anything stupid" she promised as Scott appeared in the doorway. "Anyway, Scott's awake now so I won't be alone; morning"

"Morning" Scott greeted. "You're looking a lot better this morning"

"I'll feel even better when Peter listens and goes and gets some sleep"

"Okay, if you insist?" He relented.

"I do, I'll be fine"

"Make sure you eat something, you didn't have enough yesterday, and take your meds"

"I promise"

Kissing her forehead, he headed back to the bedroom as Scott grabbed a coffee, watching out the corner of his eye as Carla took her meds.

"I haven't been skipping them, if that's what you're thinking?" She said, catching him watching her as he took a seat.

"I didn't say you had"

"Even when I'm upset or tired or triggering, I still make sure I take them; i don't want to go back, not to the hospital and definitely not to Carlisle. Yesterday...I don't know, maybe I was just tired or my mind was subconsciously worrying about the last few days; I know it was a bad one and I didn't help myself by not taking the tablet when I shouldve."

"It didn't help, no" he agreed. "But...given your state of mind, perhaps you saw the tablet as the enemy, not the helper; you were tired, our session before you left was emotional and then you said you had that dream, eventually it all merges into one. I'm gonna let you finish your break but I am gonna need you to take another blood test as soon as you get home, so we can recheck your levels"

"Okay"

"Now, how are you feeling in yourself?" He asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Okay, not as edgy as last night" she answered.

"That's good; do you feel as if another attack could come on soon?"

"I don't think so; I think...the attack last night, brought out all the emotions I was holding in. Maybe the country air will help..."

"I think it will, is there anything else you want to talk about? Anything that's bothering you?"

"It scared me, how easily I accused Peter of cheating on me again; I know since he came back from Portsmouth and brought into the factory, he's genuinely changed for the better; sure he relapsed and watching him with Abi was hard but...in my heart, I knew it was always meant to be him I was supposed to be with. He fought his demons and left rehab so he could help me fight mine and he hasn't left my side since..."

"You've both come a long way in the seven months I've known you, you in particular; given your history and what happened, that doubt will probably always be in the back of your mind but if you work together, you won't even think it."

"I hope so" she answered, getting up and going into the kitchen. "Do you want some toast?"

"I'm okay, thanks; I know we've been doing the talking therapy and you've been working a couple of days a week but have you given any thought of what you'd like to do in the future?" He asked, putting his cup in the sink.

"Not really, I've just been focusing on getting through the days" she shrugged.

"From what I understand, you've always been a head-strong business woman who gets what she wants"

"I used to be" she said, buttering her toast. "But things were going wrong before the psychosis; I'd fallen out of love with the company and the idea of running it"

"Maybe have a think of something you'd like to do for you? Working is all good and well but not if you're not enjoying yourself elsewhere; maybe the mood swings and triggers are stemming from lack of doing things you used to enjoy"

"I suppose" she said, sitting back on the sofa and taking a bite of her toast as Scott headed back to the bedroom to get his stuff together.

"Right, I'm gonna head out but you know where I am if you need me and maybe give Michelle a call, she was pretty worried about you last night"

"I will, thanks for coming"

"No problem, I'll see myself out; try and enjoy yourself."

Once she was alone again, she pulled out her phone and saw Michelle had already messaged her a short while before; hitting the call button, she put her phone to her ear as she picked up another slice of toast.

"Carla?"

"Hi mate"

"Do you hate me for calling Scott?"

"No, I needed him; I triggered...badly, worse than ever before"

"Are you okay? Do you need me to come up?"

"I'm fine; Scott stayed last night. He's just left; him and Peter got me through it"

"You sounded so defeated last night"

"I just...I don't know, it was a combination of things that got to me; but I'm okay, a little tired but okay"

"Go and get some rest, I'm heading to the solicitors to finalise the Bistro been signed over to me"

"I'm sorry I'm not there for you"

"You focus on yourself, I'll be okay; Kate's coming with me"

"Okay, call me later?"

"I promise, now go and rest"

Hanging up, she left the plate on the coffee table before heading for the bedroom; with her phone on the side table, she laid on the bed, snuggling into Peter as his one eye opened and an arm held her close.

"You okay?" He whispered.

"I'm good, just wanted to be in your arms. Scott's gone"

"I love you" he muttered, kissing her hair.