Free The Alaskan Rescue by Dominique Burton

situation. I heard about it the second I arrived
home from Europe. Is Sashi conscious?”
    “No, but we’re hoping she will be soon. Her body had a bad
infection that went systemic. It scared the hell out of me. Only Jake knows my
feelings for the patient. I plan on remaining professional until she’s
healed.”
    One of Daniel’s eyebrows shot up. “That isn’t just your
decision to make. Sashi may feel differently. You may risk losing her
affection.”
    “Right now I need to get her better. But I need you to be the
one who tells her that Kendra is dead.”
    “Why can’t you? ” Daniel asked.
    Cole shook his head. “I just can’t. It brings back too much
pain. That’s why I’ve come to you for help.”
    “I’ll help you, but I need to know a few things first. Does she
have money to stay here in the hospital? And what about a place to stay
afterward?”
    Cole shifted restlessly in his chair. “Kendra’s parents, the
Knights, are very wealthy and are paying all of Sashi’s health care costs. And
yes, she’ll have a place to stay. Sashi’s parents are terribly worried about
her.”
    Daniel wrote furiously, then came to a stop. “I’ll agree to
help as long as you come to group counseling with Sashi.”
    Cole almost jumped out of his chair. “What?”
    Daniel nodded solemnly. “You heard me. I’ll help you as long as
you help her to know she’s not the only person suffering. Group counseling is a
wonderful form of therapy that can help you both. You need to forgive yourself, too. Survivors guilt is a terrible
weight to walk around with.”
    Cole digested this. “So you’ll tell her about Kendra’s death
and help her?”
    “As long as you come to therapy sessions,” Daniel stated
firmly.
    “Deal.”
    Cole’s pager went off. He looked at Daniel. “It’s the ICU,” he
said. “I’ll have to use my cell to find out if she’s awake now.” He dialed the
number. “This is Dr. Stevens. I just got a page from your department.”
    “Dr. Stevens? Dr. Jenkins wanted you to know your patient Ms.
Hansen has just awakened and is off the ventilator.”
    “I’ll be right up.” Cole clicked off and looked at his
colleague. “Do you have time to come with me? I’ll pay.”
    * * *
    S ASHI OPENED HER EYES , but it was hard
to focus. She looked around the room and could see she was safe. Where was Cole?
He’d promised he wouldn’t leave her. And Kendra—where was she? Sashi tried to
talk. How long had she been out?
    “Help.” Her voice came out in a squeak.
    “Help.” It was worse this time. No sound at all. Her vocal
cords didn’t seem to want to work. She knew there were buttons to push. She’d
seen them on all the shows on TV. There was a red one that should bring
somebody. If you needed answers, then who cared if you scared people? At least
she was out of that cave.
    That’s when she found the hospital remote. She pushed the
button to call for the nurse, but her bandaged arm hurt like hell. “Can someone
help me?” At least she’d found her voice. Sort of.
    In just moments it seemed she had a team of doctors and nurses
surrounding her. But where was Cole? Where was her family? How come nobody was
here? Sure there were flowers. There was even her bedspread from home. Sashi
picked it up, wondering how it had got here. Where was her mom?
    “Is my family here? Where is Dr. Stevens?”
    No one listened. They checked her vitals and told her she was
fine. How was she fine? She didn’t know them. Oh, that’s right. A miracle had
happened. She was alive, she hoped she’d be able to dance again...
    At that moment Cole strode swiftly through the door in green
scrubs. He hadn’t forgotten her! He’d saved her and he was still here. He would
tell her what was going on.
    “Cole!” she said weakly. The nurses had propped her bed up. She
could see the man who’d saved her. He had the build of a god. Wow, he was
handsome! Even in a delusional state she could tell that. She was so happy to
see him,