Before Becky, Sloan would have laughed in the face of anyone who said he had a heart, but right now, seeing her sitting there alone, that lost look on her face… it damn near ripped the one he didn’t think he had straight out of his chest.
In two strides he reached her and pulled her into his arms. “Are you okay?” Sloan asked, then realized how stupid that question was. Of course she wasn’t. Fuck.
She nodded against his chest, and he knew she was trying to be brave for him. Damn, he fucking loved this woman. He could feel her trembling, and for the first time in his life Sloan was at a loss. Tilting her face up, his thumb brushed along her cheek.
“We’re going to figure this out, and you’re going to be fine,” Sloan said, surprised his voice sounded calm and sure. “Sladewants to talk to you. I’ve already filled him in on what you told me, but he has some questions. Are you okay with that?”
She didn’t answer right away, but finally nodded.
Sloan wasn’t used to seeing this side of Becky. She was so quiet, like the life was draining out of her, and it scared the fuck out of him.
“Come on.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her out of the room. The faster they talked to Slade, the faster they could figure out what the hell was going on because right now, he didn’t have a clue.
Once they were in his office, Sloan led her to the desk where Slade sat behind his computer. Becky sat down in one of the chairs. Sloan wasn’t liking how quiet and lost she looked. It was driving him insane.
He swore again, and not for the first time, that when he found this fucking doctor, he would enjoy every second of the pain he was going to inflict on him. He didn’t know exactly what had been done to Becky, but he knew for a fact something had. No one harmed his mate and got away with it.
Slade looked at Becky. “Sloan told me most of what’s been going on. Do I have your permission to look into your medical records, Becky?”
“Yes,” she replied after a few seconds, then gave him the information that he would need to get into her medical files.
Glancing down, Sloan saw her hands twisting together again and frowned. Walking around the desk, he sat next to her and took her hands in his. The energy raging inside him had him on edge,the last thing he wanted to do was sit, but for her he would do anything and everything to ease her fears.
Slade’s fingers moved over the keyboard as he pulled up her records. A few seconds passed before he leaned back slightly, his jaw tightening.
“You’re right,” Slade said. “There’s nothing in here about a procedure. No cysts. No surgical notes. No pathology.”
Sloan felt his rage triple at hearing Slade confirm what Becky had said.
“The only thing I’m seeing is a new patient consultation with this Dr. Phillips,” Slade continued, his eyes still on the screen. “After that… follow-up visits, but nothing referencing cysts at all.”
“Why?” Becky’s voice cracked, then she cleared it. “I don’t understand.”
Sloan and Slade shared a look, but it was Slade who answered. “Every Warrior has enemies, Becky. I’m not saying that’s what’s going on, but from what Sloan told me—this doctor asking about him and whether you’ve taken his blood—something doesn’t add up. I want to, with your permission, look into your past medical history. I also want to get you a trusted OB who can?—”
“No!” Becky’s voice was firm and unwavering.
“I’m not an OB, Becky,” Slade said, but she shook her head before he could continue.
“I don’t care,” Becky said. “Run tests on me, examine me, ask me anything you need, but I’m not seeing another doctor. I messed up. I should have—” She stopped, swallowing hard as she looked away.
“None of this is your fault, Becky,” Slade said, trying to reassure her.
“Yes, it is.” Becky’s eyes snapped back to him. “There were red flags I ignored. I seem to make a habit of that. I’m not a stupid woman, but I sure as hell feel like one.”
“Becky,” Sloan frowned, anger rising that she was blaming herself.
“No!” Becky replied immediately, almost in a shout. She then cleared her throat, took a deep breath as if calming herself. “My old doctor referred Dr. Phillips, so I trusted him. I should have trusted my gut, but I didn’t. I thought I was just being paranoid.”
The room became silent as Sloan watched the internal struggle going on inside Becky as her shoulders which she always held proudly slumped, her gaze going to the ground. He never in his life wanted to kill anyone so bad as he did at that very moment.
“I wasn’t being paranoid...was I?” She whispered, but both men heard her clearly.
Slade didn’t answer right away. His gaze flickered to the computer screen then back to Becky. “No, I don’t think you were being paranoid, Becky.”
“I want to know what’s happening to me—or what happened. Did I even have cysts? Were they removed? What was the medication he had me on really for?” She let out a breath, then stood and began pacing. “I feel violated. Like I’m living in some kind of nightmare. I feel like I’m losing my mind, and I don’t need someone I don’t know or trust touching me.”
“Hey.” His hand reached out, closing around her arm, stopping her pacing. “Look at me.”