Chapter 16

Nolan threw a few bills at the taxi driver. "Keep the change.""Thanks, mister."After he walked into his condo, Nolan ignored the bloodstains everywhere and focused on the men in the kitchen. "Hey, is she still asleep?""Yes.""I'd like to talk before you leave, but I want to check on her. I'll be right back.""We'll be here," Sanchez said.The breath left his lungs in a rush at the sight of her in their bed. If it weren't for her bruises, he would have thought this whole this was a horrible nightmare. He smoothed the hair from her face and whispered because he didn't want to wake her up. "Hey, baby girl. I'm home now, and I won't leave you."He pressed his lips to her forehead. "I'll be right back," he whispered against her ear.When he returned to the men, he saw Richards putting a plate away."We cleaned up the kitchen. There was a full meal still on the stove. Someone must have turned it off.""Thank you for everything.""Do you have your head on straight now?" Sanchez said as he rolled down the sleeves of his shirt."I know I deserve that. I never left the hospital. I was down in the chapel, talking to the chaplain. The doctor told me she wasn't going to be released until later today."Both men nodded."I can't imagine what you're going through, but I have to tell you that if you fuck up and lose Caylee, I'll jump in to take your place. You don't find many like her."Nolan nodded at Sanchez. "I get it, and I don't blame you for saying that. But I'll never let her go.""You'd be stupid if you did," Richards said."Thanks again."Nolan waited until the elevator door closed and then locked it. He made his way into the bedroom to check on her one more time before he stripped and showered. After brushing his teeth, he slid into bed beside her and curled his body around hers."Daddy?""Yes, baby girl, it's me.""I'm glad you're here," she murmured."I'm sorry I wasn't there to bring you home."She patted his arm. "It's okay.""No, it's not. Let's get some sleep, and then I want us to move to another condo until they get this one cleaned. Cason has it ready for us. I'll feed us, and then we can go to sleep again.""Okay.""How do you feel?""Good. I've taken a pain pill.""Good. I don't want you in pain, so tell me when the headache starts returning.""Mkay."He gently kissed the back of her head and listened to her breathing deepen. His eyes instantly closed, and he was out.Several hours later, he woke up to Caylee moving off the bed."Where are you going?" he asked."Bathroom. I have to pee.""How about we move up to the condo? I'll pack us a few things until I can come back tomorrow.""Okay. I'd like to put on my pajamas. These clothes they put me in at the hospital aren't really comfortable.""Do you want to take a shower?""Yes, but later. I had one at the hospital, but it didn't have good soap.""Who helped you, baby?""The nurse."Fuck, he should have been there for that. "How are the leg and arm feeling?""Fine. They hardly hurt."He rolled out of bed. "Go to the bathroom, and I'll have your things ready.""Okay."He pulled out a bag, shoved some of their clothes in it, and then set her pink sweatpants and a t-shirt on the bed. Then he pulled some sweats, socks, and shoes on himself.She walked out and stood by him.He gently pulled her into his arms and held her. "I'm so sorry.""Daddy, stop. I'm okay.""You're not okay yet, but you will be. Let's get you dressed."He undressed her and looked her over. There were a lot of bruises and scratches, and a big Band-Aid covered the wound on her shoulder, and he could just make out the cut on her head. They hadn't shaved her hair off and had only put in a few stitches that would dissolve in a few days."Put your arms up, baby girl."After he got her dressed, he sat her on the mattress. "Stay there. I'm going to get some of our things in the bathroom, and then we'll go.""Okay."He lifted her in his arms."Daddy, you don't have to carry me.""Hush. Close your eyes and relax." He didn't want her to have to see the blood again.When he got them up to the condo they would stay in until theirs was clean, he sat her in one of the chairs at the counter and dropped the bag off to the side. "Let's get some food in you."Damn. He saw someone had stocked the fridge and freezer with food and set other things like bread on the counter. He hadn't even thought about it until then and was glad someone had. He pulled a dish from the fridge and opened the lid. "This looks good. Some kind of noodle," he said, tipping the dish so she could see."Ohhh, that looks like the chicken and noodles Holly makes. It's really good.""Do you want this or some scrambled eggs?""Definitely the noodles.""All right."Within five minutes, he had bowls of food and glasses of milk in front of them. He watched her dig in. They ate in silence for a while."I'm full," she said and pushed her plate away."Can you drink the rest of your milk?"She nodded and sipped at it while he finished his food. He took everything to the sink to rinse and put them in the dishwasher."Come on, baby girl. Let's get you back in bed. I want you to take another pill right now, though.""My head doesn't hurt that bad, and it makes me so sleepy.""I know, but it will if we don't stay ahead of the pain. We'll try regular Tylenol tomorrow.""Okay."He finally got them settled with her in his arms where she belonged. They needed time to bond again after his mistakes, but she wasn't strong enough for what he wanted from her. What he knew would bind them together more than anything.