Then he sprinted to the elevator and grabbed a cab at the hotel across the street, because no way was he wasting time going back to his condo for his car.
Downtown abutted the Capital grounds, which bordered on the University, so it didn't take long for him to get to the hospital. He followed Cam's directions and found himself at the nurse's station in the emergency room.
"Kiki Porter," he said, breathless and worried, despite Cam's reassurance that she was fine.
"Noah!"
Cam hurried over before the nurse had finished looking up Kiki's bed number. "She said to tell you that she's okay, and that you're an idiot for leaving the office when there's so much work to be done."
"Screw that," Noah said as they walked the length of curtained ER bays.
"To which I'll reply that I'm sorry if I ripped into you too hard yesterday. As of this moment, you're okay in my book." They paused in front of the curtains surrounding bed number nine. "So don't fuck it up."
"Promise."
Cam nodded, then pulled back the curtain, which clanked as it opened, revealing Kiki's bruised face and embarrassed smile.
Noah grabbed the steel post that formed part of the curtain's railing. He'd been doing fine, but on seeing her, his knees suddenly turned to jelly, and it took all of his effort to stand up and not look like he was gutted.
Because he was.
He hadn't realized it--hadn't let himself feel it--but now that he knew she was safe, it all rushed over him. The realization that he'd come close to losing her a second time. And the certainty that this time, he wouldn't have survived.
"The other guy looks worse," she mumbled, breaking the spell. Her smile was wobbly and her eyes glazed, but she was looking straight at him, as if she understood. "He should. Bastard. It was his fault and he--"
She stopped, her head tilted as she looked at him.
"What?"
She exhaled. "Wow," she breathed. "You look so good." She held out her hand and he took it, then she smiled at Cam. "I told you, right? Why he's special?"
"Kiki." Noah could barely get her name out past the lump of emotions swelling in his chest. Christ, he needed to get a grip. She needed him to be strong. In control.
"You did," Cam said, shooting Noah a small, amused smile.
She looked at both men. "I'm a little loopy."
His laugh was a relief. "No, really?"
She turned her head, then blinked, obviously trying to focus on Cam. "Now go. Shoo. Time to leave."
"I have a presentation to my advisor in two hours," Cam explained to Noah. "But I've already explained that he'll cut me some slack."
"It's okay," Noah said. "I'll take care of her."
Cam hesitated, shifting from foot to foot.
"Your advisor might cut you some slack, but the rest of the department might not. And I've got this. I'm not leaving until Kiki does, and then she's coming home with me."
"I have a house," she protested, and Noah ignored her.
"I'll text you the elevator code," Noah told Cam. "You can come see her anytime tonight. Seriously. Go."
"Go," Kiki said. "Don't scr
ew up college because I'm all banged up."
"A concussion," Cam corrected. He turned to face Noah. "The doctor said he'd release her so long as someone stayed with her and woke her up throughout the night."