“No. I’ll be fine.” Sasha attempted to sit and he saw the moment she accepted defeat. He wrapped his arm around her and lowered her so her head lay in his lap and he resumed putting pressure on her wound.

She winced and he gritted his teeth. “Sorry but that head injury needs to be checked out. You’re bleeding,” he said, not wanting to scare her, but she did need to remain where she was.

Jared did his thing with the groaning man on the floor and then began to bark out orders on his phone.

“You did well,” he told her, stroking her cheek.

“I grabbed his nuts.” She tried to grin and winced instead. “Xander, I have something I need to tell you. Something interesting–”

“Shh.” He placed a finger over her lips. “Talking can wait. You need your strength.” From the looks of the head wound, she probably needed stitches, not to mention, she might have a concussion.

Jared strode over and knelt beside them. “Jackass is zip-tied on the floor. The cops and paramedics are on the way. What the hell happened?”

Xander gave a brief explanation, then asked, “How’s Rhodes?”

“He’s conscious,” Jared said. “If you two are okay, I’m going to wait with him.”

“Tell him I’m sorry he was hurt,” Sasha said.

Jared met her gaze. “It’s not your fault. He was doing his job. Sit tight until the paramedics get here,” he said, then strode out of the trailer.

Xander continued to stare at the face of the woman he loved.

He stroked her cheek and whispered calming nonsensical words until the cops rushed in, the paramedics right behind them.

***

Xander had insisted on accompanying Sasha to the hospital in the ambulance, and since she wouldn’t let go of his hand, the paramedics agreed.

Once they arrived, they took Sasha to be examined, leaving Xander alone in the waiting room. He’d left Jared with the police, who said they would question Sasha when she was up to answering them.

While Xander paced, he called the people who needed to know what had happened to Sasha. Then he waited some more. He glanced at the clock on the wall for what felt like the gazillionth time when the outside doors opened and Cassidy ran in.

She looked flustered and afraid, and he stepped into her line of vision. “Hey, Cassidy.”

“Xander, is she okay?”

“Yes,” he was quick to reassure her.

She expelled a long breath of air, her relief as strong as his, and then she wrapped her arms around him and burst into tears.

Xander patted her back, feeling somewhat awkward but knowing Cassidy needed a friend.

“Hey, you two. What’s going on?” Xander glanced up to see Dash standing beside them, hands in the front pockets of his jeans as he took in Cassidy. In Xander’s arms.