Her throat felt like there was a whole apple in there, she could not swallow it away. Nate left her there and went who know where. As much as she wanted to follow him and offer him the love he so desperately needed from her, she knew he would not be easily found.<br/><br/>Dr. Hess stopped her, offered her tissues.  “That’s quite a bruise you got there Kari. It stunned her as she looked to her swollen arm. “ Y’know it’s not gonna stop. Maybe if he’s willing to try , but more than likely its not gonna stop”. He then released the box to her hands. "I have to ask you was it his idea to come here today or yours?"<br/><br/>She took a shaky breath, "I begged him to get help...in a rare moment...he agreed." She could hardly keep the tears from stinging her eyes. She used a tissue to wipe her eyes and blew her nose.  Wadding the white tissue in her fist as she looked down at her arm.<br/><br/>"He doesn't mean to hurt me...he's just scared...stressed...something seems to happen in his mind...like he is somewhere else. Sometimes...sometimes he calls me by someone else's name." she frowned. "Like he doesn't know it is me." she set the box down and curled into the fetal position as she grabbed another tissue. Her slender body wracked with sobs.<br/><br/>"I won't leave him! I love him...I vowed to love him through anything and everything!" she was scared now. She listened to the Dr. telling her he could have Nate put away.<br/><br/>"Look I’m sorry, My hands are tied until I get hold of at least a partial of his medical history. I can’t treat him, I can’t do anything other than have him baker acted for 72 hours and I don’t  think that’s what he needs right now, do you? “ he seemed to leave the decision to her.<br/><br/>"Oh, Gods! No...you put him in a cage he will...panic! No! I will take him home...if I can find him.." she trailed off.<br/><br/>The doctor seemed to be concerned. And rightly so, Nate was a time bomb waiting to explode. She took his card, nodding numbly. "Work is fine, extension #512. I will be paged. It's the emergency number. I don't have a cell phone." she was nearly whispering now. Maybe she should get one. For emergency only. They had them at the store. It would cut into their budget, but it seemed a good idea. "I will look into getting one. If we can afford it."<br/><br/>She tucked the card into her wallet. Looking up at the Dr. with her blue eyes reddened from crying, "Thanks...I will be all right. He knows he needs help. He agreed to it. Maybe when he feels better...I don't think he is taking anything at all. At least nothing legal." she frowned. She really had no clue if Nate was using drugs. She honestly did not think he had any money to buy any. Unless the 'jobs' he mentioned were drug related. Gods, she hoped not!<br/><br/>She sat there for a few more minutes, then got up from the chair and straightened her blouse and threw the soggy tissues away. When the Dr. looked down the hallway she followed and looked to where he pointed to the exit out back. "I will take him home. Thanks, Doc." she murmured, offering him a faint smile. He was nice and she appreciated his kindness. He gave her hope, and in the current situation, it was all that was possible.<br/><br/>She hurried down the hallway and pushed open the heavy door and peered out. She did not see Nate right away. Where had he gone? She felt a moment of panic, how would she find him? She walked out and looked around, then spotted an alley off to the side of the building. Slowly she walked towards it. The alley was just a place where the dumpster and some old crates were stacked against the building. She saw him there on the ground, hunched over and shaking.<br/><br/>"Nate? Babe...are you all right?" she called softly as she hurried towards him. She stopped and waited for his response. He seemed to be curled in on himself and crying. She dropped to her knees beside him and wrapped her arms around him. "Nate...I am here...It's all right...we can go home..." she hugged him and kissed his cheek. Her own eyes tearing up again as she almost felt his pain.