“I think that’s everything,” I muttered to myself as I packed my lunch along with Ezekiels.

It was a month after our lives had entirely changed and I was finally starting my first day of work at my new office. I had met with all of the employees already, attending meetings over the last week to make changes and establish new appointment processes. Alexander had been working the last three weeks as I prepared and it felt nice to fall into a routine, our home was now loud as Cyrus had officially joined us, living in a one-bedroom modular home that I had bought and Alexander picked the location for it. Cyrus was working on the oil rig currently, his first time there with Harvey and he called me daily to express his gratitude, Cyrus feeling as though he found somewhere he belonged.

“What are you doing?” Alexander smiled, adjusting his jacket as he came into the kitchen.

“I was making lunch for Zeke and myself. I don’t know that I’ll have time to leave the office to get myself anything. I’ll be home about the time he gets off the bus. I practiced a few times thanks to my meetings. I’ll spend an hour or two working in our room while he does homework to cover the hours I won’t be in the office. I suppose that’s the positive of running the office. I can do a lot of it from here. I won’t be seeing too many patients but that’s okay. I’m better off managing things. How has work been?”

“Hard,” he sighed softly, kissing the nape of my neck after moving my hair away, “it just makes me think of my Mum from time to time. I’m working harder because of that in the hope that I can lessen the amount of people that have to go through what I did.”

“You’re a good man,” I turned my head and kissed him lightly, “already heading to work?”

“Mhm. Did you lose track of time? The bus will be here for Zeke in twenty minutes. Is he awake?”

“Yeah, he took Scout out to go to the bathroom. When will you be home?”

“About four. Should we take Zeke to dinner?”

“Cyrus comes home today, I already promised to make him the special pasta he wanted. We could go tomorrow? It’s Saturday, we don’t work.”

“Why don’t we,” he continued to kiss along my neck, forcing a relaxed sigh from my throat as I leaned into him, “have Cy watch Zeke? We can go on a date. I’ve been lacking as your boyfriend lately. I should still show you romance.”

“We had a large loss, Alexi. I wouldn’t have expected things to go back to what we did before immediately. I would love nothing more than to dress nice and go on a date.”

“I already planned all of it and talked to Cyrus about keeping Zeke in his house for the night. They’re going to do an uncle-nephew sleepover with Scout and Hobbes. It was like having two kids. They were so excited. We’ll head to Auckland and have dinner at La Marée. You know how much I love French food. Then visit the SkyBar in Sky Tower. Have dessert and a drink or two with a beautiful view of the city. It’s on the top and rotates. Looks beautiful at night since the entire tower lights up. I’ve always wanted to go there. Finally, we come home and I spend the rest of the evening showing you how much I love you.”

“Alexi,” I whined, making him laugh, “you don’t get to tease me this way before work!”

“Yes, I do. All I need you to do is say yes.”

“Of course. I’d love that. It sounds fun.”

“Perfect. I just need you to be ready by five.”

“I can do that. Oh, I have nothing nice to wear other than my work suits!”

“Go shopping,” he reached into his pocket and handed me one of his credit cards, “I know you have money. We’re pretty well off as two doctors. But I want to treat you. Please baby,” he hummed, nipping my earlobe.

“Okay,” I breathed out, fanning my face as Ezekiel came running inside, Scout behind him.

“Oh! Good morning,” Ezekiel rushed over, hugging Alexander around the waist, “are you going to work?”

“Mhm. Are you ready to head to the bus?” Alexander smiled, his arm around my waist as he ruffled Ezekiel’s hair.

“Yep! Are you walking me?” he grabbed his lunch box and Alexander finally let me go before pinching my chin and kissing me softly, making Ezekiel groan.

“I will today so Caelan can finish getting ready. Goodbye, my love. I’ll call you at my lunch.”

“Have a great day, you two,” I smiled my heart racing, “I love you both. Zeke, I’ll be home when you get out of school. Uncle Cyrus will be here around the same time I think.”

“Really?” Ezekiel bounced, squealing when I nodded, “Oh yay!”

“Make good choices.”

“I will.”

Ezekiel and Alexander left the house, Ezekiel smiling the entire time as Alexander waved over his shoulder and I blew him a kiss.

After gathering everything I needed and putting Scout into his massive dog run that Alexander had bought I headed to work, yawning softly.

“Good morning,” I called quietly as I walked into the office.

“Oh! Good morning Dr. Hope,” the receptionist Paulina smiled, “it’s so nice to have you in the office finally. Are things settled now? I remember what you sent out in the email.”

“They are. It’s better now. Thank you, Paulina. Are my files and things for the day in my office?”

“Yes, Doctor. I believe Dr. Singh and Dr. Rosas wanted to have a meeting at some point regarding a difficult patient they have but everything else is on your digital calendar. I blocked you out for in-person things after two pm going forward as I know you have to leave to get your brother.”

“Thank you,” I laughed softly, “I’ll be in my office after getting coffee.”

“I’ll let everyone know. Welcome to your first true day.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you again for making me feel welcome.”

Paulina smiled gently, adjusting her ponytail to keep her waist-length brunette hair from smacking her in the face. Paulina heavily reminded me of Delaney, both gentle and hardworking and I sighed softly to myself as I took a sip of coffee. I missed Delaney, my best friend so far from me now, and even if we talked daily it wasn’t the same as seeing her in the office or for our weekend outings.

“Dr. Hope,” a small voice called halfway through the day, and I turned from my computer monitor to find one of the nurses, a smaller man named Peter, “we have a problem,” he chewed his lip, adjusting the band that held back the blonde waves that settled on his shoulders.

“What is it?”

“A patient is here angry that we won’t treat him anymore. Do you remember Darius Smith?”

“Slightly. I remember him being in my red folder for former patients we won’t treat anymore. Why did we turn him away again?”

“He punched Dr. Singh in the face when she was 6 months pregnant and nearly caused damage to her daughter. He’s not even supposed to be on the premises. We called the police and they’re on the way but he is threatening Pauli and she’s too scared to leave the desk.”

“I’m coming.”

Jumping up, I raced to the front with Peter, his nerves amplifying my need to keep my staff and incoming patients as safe as possible. It was highly unusual for patients to come into a physical therapist's office and threaten violence. Alexander had experienced it a few times at the hospital, drug addicts who were seeking a fix and those suffering from some form of mental break often threatening the ER staff but I had never truly met someone willing to come into my line of work and cause issues.

“Mr. Smith,” I called, tying my hair into a knot to avoid the chance of him grabbing it, “I’m Dr. Hope. I run the office now. I heard that there was some sort of misunderstanding happening here. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Darius turned on me, swallowing slowly and I realized it was because I was now the tallest person in the room. He came to my jawline and while he was more muscular than me, I was taller and this caused him to panic temporarily.

“Mr. Smith?” I asked again, forcing a smile to try and keep the situation as calm as possible, “I am more than happy to hear what you need to say.”

“All I want is Dr. Singh to fix my fuckin’ leg like she swore,” he spit out, his hands deep in his jacket pocket. I took a moment to study him, a shape in his pocket startling me for a moment as I realized he had a knife, “I can’t work in the mine if I ain’t able to walk.”

“I understand that and would be happy to send you to another office that will help. You aren’t welcome on the premises after assaulting one of the doctors under my care. I will send your file to other offices in the area if you’d like but I will ask that you leave.”

“No!” he slammed his hand onto the counter and I nudged Paulina with my knee, having her press a small button under the desk. I had installed a silent alarm once I started managing the office, wanting to ensure the police would come faster if necessary, “Dr. Singh has to do it!”

“Why?” I tilted my head, once again pushing Paulina until she moved behind me, Peter protectively wrapping an arm around her shoulders, “Surely you would be happy to have anyone treat you. Not just her.”

“She’s my wife!” Darius screamed and I shook my head.

I remembered that Darius and Dr. Singh were formerly married but she had divorced him five years ago due to infidelity. When he was injured at work she agreed to take him on as a patient as she did care for him still, even if she had remarried two years ago and already had a daughter with her new husband.

“You’re no longer married and haven’t been in a while. I’m sorry but I will give you one last warning to leave before I take you out of the building myself.”

“If you put your hands on me I will ruin you! I’ll ensure you’re deported,” he laughed bitterly and I simply pointed to the four cameras I had in the waiting room ensuring they covered every inch of the office to stop malpractice or claims that a patient was treated unfairly by the staff.

“You can try. I have no qualms with taking you to court or defending myself. Leave.”

Darius stared for a while before the door opened behind him and two police officers came in. He grabbed the knife from his pocket and started swinging it around wildly, his eyes wide. I immediately grabbed Paulina and Peter as soon as his back was to me and shoved them under the desk, joining them on the floor.

“Dr. Hope,” Paulina’s eyes grew damp as she whispered and I shushed her gently, squeezing her hand, “I’m so scared.”

“I know. It’s okay. The police are here, let them handle it,” I whispered back, “Peter, keep her down here. I’m going to stand again.”

“O-okay,” Peter nodded, holding Paulina and I slowly got to my feet, regretting it as soon as I felt the sting in my arm, “Dr. Hope!”

Looking down, I found the knife that Darius had been swinging around settled at my feet, blood slowly trickling down to my hand and I realized he had slashed at me, managing to catch my arm. The police finally went from telling him to drop the knife to tackling Darius to the ground, immediately slapping handcuffs onto him. The larger of the two drug him from the building as the other came around to me, wrapping her hand above the cut to try and staunch the blood.

“Sir? I’m Officer Chang. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I think I need stitches but I’m not hurt anywhere else. I’ll go across the street to the hospital if you’ll accompany me. Paulina, call the staff and close the office for the day. Don’t touch anything, let the police do their job. We’ll open again Monday. Everything is fine.”

“Dr. Hope,” Paulina sniffled and I shook my head with a smile, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I am. I’ll have someone call Alexi, he’s working anyway. My brother is back in Taupaki, I can have him get Zeke from school. Don’t worry too much about me and promise to stay away from the blood on the floor. The police need it for evidence. Peter, contact IT and security. Have them pull the tapes and send them to the police station.”

“Of course,” Peter nodded, rubbing Paulina on the back.

Officer Chang escorted me across the street and as I had her escort I was taken to a room immediately, my shirt and jacket bagged as evidence. She took a quick statement from me, promising to visit my office Monday to take a more elaborate one and I kicked my legs as a nurse and doctor prepped my arm for stitches.

“Caelan?” Alexander came into the room and I waved with my other hand, “Oh my god!”

“Huh? I’m fine, honey,” I shrugged, watching the stitches go in, “I just got a little hurt that’s all.”

“Cae, baby you were attacked! What do you mean a little hurt? They’re putting so many stitches in your arm,” he squatted down next to the hospital bed and I smiled, “Oh…”

“Hm?” I muttered.

“It’s nothing. I’m taking the rest of the day off to get you home. Are you working Monday?”

“Yeah? It’s just a cut, Alexi. I’m fine. It barely hurt.”

“I’m sure,” he nodded, kissing the back of my free hand.

“Alright,” the doctor smiled, looking at Alexander, “he’s fine, Dr. Bennett. Nothing fifteen stitches, some pain meds, and rest can’t fix.”

“Thanks, Luke,” Alexander nodded, “oh. Caelan? This is my coworker, Luke Hurst. Dr. Hurst, this is my partner, Caelan.”

“Ah, I gathered based on the hair. You talk about him a lot. Great to meet you,” Luke nodded and I returned it, “you’re free to go. Just make sure you meet with the police. I’ll make sure to send your chart over so they can add the true damage to his charges.”

“Thanks,” I smiled, hopping up and fixing my shirt, “Man, I wanted to keep working. I was enjoying myself. At least Paulina and Peter were okay.”

“Let’s just get you home,” Alexander sighed softly, “I let Cyrus know. He’s going to get Zeke and take him out for ice cream or something when he gets out of school.”

“Okay.”

We left the hospital, Alexander planning to bring Cyrus down tonight to pick up my car and I hummed softly as we headed back to Taupaki, picking at the wrapping on my arm as I did. Alexander stared out of the windshield, confusing me due to the lack of conversation we normally had but I decided to leave it alone.

“Caelan,” Alexander hugged me as soon as we were in the house and I returned it, laying my head on his chest, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Of course I am. It was just a scratch on my arm, no big deal. I’ve had worse.”

“You don’t notice, do you?”

“Notice what?”

“How cold you’ve gone. Your voice is monotone. There’s no light behind your eyes right now.”

“Oh. I suppose I didn’t,” shrugging, I let him go and scratched Hobbes under his chin when I found him lying on the counter, “it’s no big deal.”

“It is a big fucking deal! You aren’t processing what happened, Caelan!” Alexander shouted and I froze, “You were cut deeply on your arm today in the middle of your medical office. Do you know how rare that is? He could have killed you and you’re acting as if nothing happened! He could have taken you away from me, from the life we have, from our families, and you’re just acting as if it was nothing! That’s… that’s not normal, baby. I’m worried.”

“I just need a nap,” I hummed and walked down the hallway to our room, undressing and lying down before closing my eyes.

“Fuck!” Alexander yelled but I ignored it, quickly falling asleep.