Boundless Love

Unexpected

Charlotte's POV...

I'm so delighted that Levi enjoyed the park today. I knew it was something he needed, but I didn't expect that it would go as well as it did.

He was smiling.... a lot! And laughing!

I've seen him smile a few times since he's been here but never laugh; I mean belly aching, wanting to roll on the ground kind of laughing.

And he felt comfortable enough to joke around with me. I was amazed that he let me see that side of him; part of his true personality, the part he wasn't afraid of showing before the accident.

I wish I could get him to let go of all that anger and fear he's suppressing, and help him realize all these obstacles are not what's holding him captive.

There's just something about him, pulling me in closer, wanting to be here for him in a way that I've never felt before. Sure, his incredibly handsome face and perfectly sculpted body would attract anyone to him, but it's more than that. It's how natural it feels to hold his hand, how it upsets me when he's upset or how I feel happy when he's happy. The way his accent makes his voice sound softer when he talks with me and how his blue eyes have a way of telling me that he needs me. I'm starting to feel like I may need him too, it's hard to describe.

I know I shouldn't have any of these feelings at all. He's my patient, and he's here so I can help him walk out of this place and return to his famous life in London.

I need to stop drifting off into my own world, aimlessly walking the hall, and dreaming about things that I should not be dreaming about. Wake up Charlie!... He's an actor for Christ's sake. Why would he see me for anything other than his therapist.

I need a distraction, so I head to my office to finish some paperwork. This will keep me busy for a bit. I sit down at my desk and open a drawer to look for a pen. Instead I find an empty journal I bought a few weeks ago. I wonder if this journal could help Levi? He's so guarded all the time, maybe writing down his thoughts might help.

I open the first page and decide to jot down my favorite inspirational quote. I will leave the journal on his night stand for him to find after he's done in the hot tub.

Not two minutes after, I'm startled by my phone ringing.

" Hello?"

" Charlie, it's mom," a hysterical voice cries out.

" Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

" You need to get down here, your father's had a heart attack!  He's on his way into surgery now," she cries.

I hang up and immediately go online to find the quickest flight out of Logan. I make a few phone calls and rush out to find Nate.

"Nate!" I yell out to him, practically sprinting down the hall.

"Charlie? Are you ok?" Nate nervously asks.

" I have an unexpected family emergency, I'm flying to North Carolina in an hour," I tell him.

Before I give him time to respond, I start spitting out instructions and let him know I've called Kelly to help him do all the therapy treatments this week.

He looks at me worried but then assures me he will hold the fort down while I'm gone.

"Great! I can always count on you," I say before turning towards the door. "Oh .. one more thing... can you please give this to Levi for me?" Handing him the journal. I hate that I feel like I'm running out on him. He'll understand.

"I'll call you when I get there," I tell him, then slip out the door.

The flight is short and I make it to the hospital just before his surgery ends. My mom, both sisters and my brother are in the waiting room.

"How is he?" I ask anyone who will answer me.

My mom gives me a hug and says, " The doctor says surgery went well and he'll recover with rest." I hug her tighter and tell her I'll stay around until he's back home again.

We wait awhile before the nurse allows us to visit him. My brother sits down next to me and places his arm around my shoulder. "What's up sis? Are you staying longer than a day?" He toys with me.

"I'll stay for a few days and make sure dad is doing fine before I leave."

"Charlie, when is the last time you stayed for more than a few days? Or better yet, when is the last time you took a vacation?

"I have a facility to run remember? I can't just leave my patients for long periods of time, they need me."

"Well, we need you too Char. It won't kill you to take a break once in a while, you have other people who can work for you. Plus, dad has someone he'd like you to meet, maybe if you went on a date with him you'd realize that your missing out on important things in life... Like a relationship."

"I've tried dating, it never works out, they never understand me. They don't like waiting around for me and they don't like that I work too much," I try and tell him.

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe they were right?" he asks me.

"Maybe, but I love my job, helping people makes me happy, and if a guy can't be happy if I'm happy, then why bother!" I shrug my shoulders at him.

"All I'm saying is that you should take more time for yourself, explore more options because if you keep spending all your time trying to fix everyone else, you'll forget about what you need and you'll make yourself sick from all the stress. You'll also be lonely. I'm just looking out for you."

I lean my head onto his shoulder. "I know. I'll try. Thanks little bro."