Page 44 of Mask and the Magnolia

We were in the middle of hashing it out, which was really just Magnolia ranting about all of the opportunities that have been missed while repeatedly calling me an idiot, when Dean Reynolds phoned to say he was bringing the new nurse by for introductions. I know they have little to no relationship, that Magnolia and her father can’t seem to stand each other, but it wasn’t until Camden Blackhurst came up that my partner lost her composure.

She nearly had a panic attack in my office.

I was able to talk her down. I had her sit for a moment and do some breathing exercises while I applied pressure to the back of her neck, and she calmed enough to get through the brief and eventful meeting.

Magnolia didn’t explain anything before that, though. She simply shut down for a few moments, gathered her wits, and turned her anger on me by throwing professionalism in my face.

This is different.

She drew a line in the sand, one that was present before but is now the beginning of a wall.

Which currently leaves me helpless.

”I-I-I need to… Isaak.” Her right hand shoots out and grabs onto my belt, trying to brace herself as her knees buckle. “I need to go.”

Fuck it.

She can be angry with me later, and I can tell her she made the first move from professional to personal when she nearly shoved her hand down my slacks.

”Please entertain the residents,” I say to O’Brien as I drape Maggie’s arm around my neck and debate on carrying her. “I’ll be back once I have her situated but until then, keep things as normal as possible.”

Opting to lift her into my arms when I feel her start swaying on her feet, I rush Magnolia to my office, close the door then stand there like an idiot while I try to figure out what to do.

I’ve been in her situation before, and I’m sure this isn’t her first time, either, but she can’t consent to medication at the moment, nor can she tell me what to do to help her through this.

If it were me, I’d be using my oils, breathing in a paper bag, and doing everything I could do to avoid using taking my prescription until I absolutely had to. Then I’d retreat to my nest and stay there until I felt myself regulate.

That’s what Magnolia needs.

She needs her nest.

The peace and comfort that brings, the safety she’s built for herself.

Unfortunately for both of us, not only is that not in this building, it’s not even on campus because she lives off site.

My eyes ping around the room, moving from one corner to the next until I have an idea that might suffice for now.

I can’t get Maggie to her nest, but maybe I can bring her nest to her. Well,anest. It’s worth a try, at least.

Moving quickly but carefully, I cross my office and head to my private bathroom, bypassing the sink and shower until I hit the small walk-in closet.

I have no idea if this is going to work; none of this smells like her or her things, there isn’t anything but towels to use. I still grab them and cover the floor, trying to pad it to the best of my ability before I set her down.

“No,” she whines as she tightens her hold around my neck. “Isaak.”

”I’ll be right back.” Maggie looks up at me with glassy eyes, panic flashing in her bright blue irises as her chest pumps furiously. “I’m going to be right back, okay?” She nods as Ismooth her hair out of her face. “Head between your knees, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.”

I run out into the hall and toward the fresh linen closet, praying they’ve already brought up the new, never been used bedding, but they haven’t. There’s one set left, though, and I snatch that before I head back to my office where I start grabbing every throw pillow and blanket, every piece of fabric I can get my hands on before marching back to the bathroom like a man on a mission.

One I am ill equipped to carry out.

This all smells likeme.

If I were the one having a panic attack and unable to get to my nest, this would be a perfect substitute, but that is not the case and there's a good possibility that Maggie is going to hate all of this based on scent alone. Her anxiety will worsen. She may even black out. Then I’ll be forced to do something she can’t consent to just so she doesn’t go into cardiac arrest.

I have to try.

At least I’m another omega doing this for her. I have a little insight into what can be helpful.