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“You might be calmer now, but you’re still not in any shape to drive. I can stay in the car, if you want, but I’m taking you.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Are you ready to go?”

“Uh, yeah.” My head still felt a little woozy, but clarity was coming. The panic was receding. It had been a very long time since I’d lost my shit so badly like that.

About six years, to be precise.

I wasn’t prone to panic. Stress and anxiety? Sure. Pure panic? Rarely.

With Demetrius’s help, I rose to my feet. “Thank you.”

“Let’s get you to the hospital first. Then you can thank me.” He yanked his keys out of his pocket. The he grasped me under the elbow and steered me toward the door.

Within two minutes we were down the elevator and heading toward his minivan. Less than two minutes after that, he selected the Abbotsford Hospital on his GPS and headed out, following the directions. He was instructed to drive south as Abbotsford was that way—across the Mission-Abby bridge.

I probably could’ve directed him, but I was busy sending a flurry of texts as we drove over the brightly lit bridge. That, and I hadn’t been there in, like, fifteen years. I’d been a healthy kid and not prone to doing stupid shit that would land me in the hospital. “I’ve let Smith know.”

“Not Alessandra?”

“She tends to go to bed earlier because Wesley’s an early riser. Smith is still a night owl, and he deals with the baby if he wakes.” I continued typing. “I’ve told him I can handle things—”

“Which you can.”

“—but that I’d keep him informed.” I took a deep breath.

Demetrius followed the directions down a highway that had farm fields on either side. “What happened?”

“Huh?” I rubbed my forehead.

“What happened to Chris?” He glanced at me quickly before refocusing on the road. “I mean, if you can’t tell me…”

“Somehow they got stung by something. A bee or wasp or something. They’re allergic—which we knew—and they had a bad reaction. Grey administered their EpiPen, which worked…”

“But the patient always needs to be seen by a doctor.”

“Yeah.” I ran my hand through my hair. “I should have—”

“Stop.” Hard. But not as harsh as before. “Take a breath.”

“You don’t have to boss me around.” With a tinge of defensiveness.Although you deserve this. You sat when he ordered you to. You obeyedthat command without a second thought. You recognized him instantly. No more masks. No more hiding from your past.

“Buttercup, I know I don’t. I’m not your Daddy. But I’m someone who is very worried about you. If you show up at the hospital panicking, that’s not going to help anyone. Chris is in good hands. They’ll take care of them.”

“Chris…” I let out a long breath. “I can’t get into specifics, but Chris has had negative interactions with medical authorities before.”

“Ah.”

Hopefully he understood. Trans and nonbinary kids had a rough enough time in life without having to deal with people who might not be empathetic.

My phone buzzed and I checked the screen, taking in the words quickly. “Makenna says the campers are hunkered down and watching a movie in the great room.”

“You can send word back once you’ve seen Chris. Damn, do you have authority?”

“Yes. Cody’s bringing the paperwork. I have a copy on my phone as well. Their parents are up north and wouldn’t be able to get here.”

“Are you going to call them?” He chanced another glance at me.

I bit my lower lip. “I will, of course. But I might as well wait until I have a firm grasp of what’s happening. If it’s serious and they need to come, an extra hour out of the loop won’t make a difference. If Chris is going to be okay, then better to give them that news.”

He shrugged. “I’d want to know. I wouldn’t be able to get to Alaina…but I’d still want to know.” He pursed his lips. “But I respect you know what you’re doing.”