Page 52 of The Destruction You Desire

We sit in silence beside Libby's bed for hours. The doctors and nurses come in and out but each of them only repeats what the previous one said, that we have to wait and see.

Every time they say it, I see a little bit more of Peyton shatter. She needs some good news to give her hope, but I fear that right now, there really might not be any.

"Baby," I whisper when I notice she's closed her eyes. "We should head out."

It takes a couple of seconds but eventually her red-rimmed eyes open again and she stares up at me.

"I don't want to leave her, Luc."

"I know," I say, reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "But you need to remember what Dr. Willis said earlier, she's going to need you later. Running yourself into the ground right now isn't going to help."

She nods sadly, knowing that I'm right.

It would be so easy to allow her to sleep in this chair tonight, but what happens tomorrow night, the night after, the week after if Libby doesn't come out of this as soon as they're hoping she might.

I can't allow her to do that to herself.

I insisted I come here with her to take care of her and that's what I intend to do.

"I've already booked us a motel to crash in. It's the closest place to the hospital so if anything happens, we can be back here in minutes."

She nods once again but I'm not really sure she hears any of it.

Lifting her from my lap, I place her on her feet.

"I'll leave you to say good night. I'll be right outside the door."

With a kiss to her temple, I leave the room as she perches herself on Libby's bed.

The door clicks closed behind me before I hear whatever she's got to say to her sister.

"How's she doing?" Dr. Willis's voice from down the hall scares the crap out of me. "Sorry," she says when she sees my reaction to her. "I thought you saw me."

"I'm not really sure. Life has been a mess for a while. Their mom died a few months ago. Peyton doesn't think that Libby even knows. I'm not sure how she's going to handle it if this goes bad."

"People are usually much stronger than we give them credit for."

Rubbing at the back of my neck, I stare down at the doctor, knowing that she's right.

Glancing through the window to where Peyton is crying with her sister's hand still in hers, I can't help but agree.

After everything she's been through to this point, she's still standing.

"I guess." I watch them for a few more seconds before turning back to the doctor. "I've sorted out the insurance and I'm working on finding her a rehab facility, should she need it."

"Peyton's lucky to have you," she says with a smile.

"Yeah, I'm not so sure about that," I mutter.

"Just be there, that's all you can do right now. The rest we can figure out as we go." I nod, looking back at Peyton as she climbs down from the bed. "I'm off shift in a few minutes, but I'm back first thing. I'll check in and call if there have been any changes. Otherwise, I guess I'll see you both tomorrow."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"You're welcome. Try to get some rest."

With a smile that I don't feel, I watch her walk away.

"Did she say anything?" Peyton asks from the doorway.