Chapter 107 Brother to Brother-In-Law

Chapter 107 Brother to Brother-In-Law
"I'd suggest you start thinking about what you're going to tell your wife and children about the move."
He flinched and paled before Lydia's voice reached him, calling his name. He turned and caught her looking at him from bed. Her family turned back and he gave them an assuring smile. The female officer handed over her notes and the man stomped off, getting on his phone. 
"Do you need to ask her questions?"
"It can wait until... my new partner arrives."
"Good answer."
She stepped back. "I'll... go look into the man who impersonated a nurse."
"If he escapes this hospital, I'm holding the two of you responsible."
She nodded jerkily and scurried off. Dorian took a deep breath and walked into the room. "I thought they said you'd be sleeping for a while longer." 
Her jaw trembled as he approached, big wide eyes full of misplaced guilt followed him around the bed until he came to sit on the edge of her bed. 
"I-I... I didn't...I didn't..." Her eyes pleaded with him. "I didn't."
Dorian leaned forward, opening his arms. She let go of her brother to let him hug her. Her mom's eyes widened, looking between them. She pressed a hand to her heart and practically melted with relief as Lydia sniffled into his shoulder. 
"Never blame yourself for evil men." He kissed her temple. They'd gotten most of the gunk out while she'd been unconcious, luckily, but she still smelled like old grease and raw eggs. "The police are going to need a statement from you, but it should be to confirm the footage. They're not going to ask a damn thing until you're ready."
She nodded, shuddering. "They... they knew... They knew me from before... They know the Tolberts."
"They targeted you."
"I shouldn't have taken the shift."
"You can't blame yourself for going to work." He stroked her hair. "I'm so sorry. I could have spared you all of this if I had left practice sooner."
She shook her head. "Y-You came in time."
He blew out a breath of relief, squeezing her tight.  
A knock sounded on the door. An older man with flecks of gray in his hair, wearing most of a suit came in, the uniformed officer came up behind him. 
"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm Detective Voss. I'm heading up this investigation, and if Ms..." He frowned at his notes.
"It's Baker," her brother said. 
Voss scratched a line through something. "Ms. Baker, then. If you're ready Ms. Baker, I'd like to ask you a few questions."
Lydia clenched her fists in Dorian's shirt. "Will you stay?"
"You're the only person who can tell me to leave."
She nodded and peeked up at him. "C-Can I trust him?"
Dorian cupped her face. "You can trust me." 
She searched his face and nodded before glancing over at Voss. 
"Okay." She paused. "I... I need my phone and my watch."
The uniformed officer ducked out of the room and came back with a bag of effects. Crumpled bills and her watch were inside. 
"If your phone wasn't on you when you came, I'll have the team at the scene locate it."
She nodded and Dorian took the bag from the woman, opening it for Lydia. She pulled out the watch and fiddled with it, pulling up the recording and sighing. Whatever the last recording was seemed to set her heart at ease. She gripped the watch tight. 
"I-I want an electronic and a paper copy of the report."
"Would you like the recording as well?" Voss asked, dragging a chair from the wall to sit several feet away from the edge of the bed. He pulled a small siver recorder out. 
"Yes, but... I'd like my own too."
Her grandfather offered his phone. "Nothing on it but texts and phone logs."
"Thanks, grandpa."
"Thank you, sir," Dorian took it and navigated to the recorder, noting that her brother had started his own as had her mother. They'd dealt with police corruption before, clearly. He'd have to talk to Animkii about the Tolberts and who the hell ever was connected to this shit show.
"The Sidaris Family lawyer will be handling the charges to be pressed," Dorian pulled out his phone, starting his own recording. Voss shifted in his seat and nodded before pulling out a card and handing it to the uniformed officer. She set it in Dorian's hand. 
Lydia took a deep breath and looked up at her mom. "Mom if... If you need to--"
"I didn't leave before. I'm not leaving now."
Lydia sniffled and nodded. "Okay."
"Don't even ask," her grandpa said. "Just take your time, princess. We're here, just like always."
She trembled, pressing into Dorian's chest. A deep rattling breath later, she started talking.
"J-Jason's always harassed me, but tonight was different..."

The sun was up and Lydia slumped back, barely keeping her eyes open when Voss had concluded the interview. Dorian held her close, laying her back gently, suppressing the tremor that wanted to run through him.
"Try to get some rest," Dorian whispered, stroking her hair. "Your family can stay with me."
"Please don't go far?" She sniffled. "N-Not yet?"
Dorian's heart ached. "I'll get coffee for everyone and be right back. That okay?"
"I'll wait. No coffee for grandpa."
He tutted, but Dorian nodded. "Okay."
"I'll come with you," her brother, Quillan, stood, ending the recording on his phone.
"Will you want to stay here for a little longer?" Dorian asked her mom and grandpa. "I could get them to bring in extra beds."
"Yes," her mom gasped. "Please, that would be very kind."
"I'll take the couch," Quillan said, stretching up. "
After a word with the nurses and closing the door behind them, he and Quillan headed to the cafeteria where the giant vats of quality, instant coffee were staged in dispensers along with tall, ocean-safe and biodegradable cups. 
"When she said the island was for the environmentally-conscious bougie, I didn't picture this."
Dorian chuckled. "There's a reef off the coast and we get sea turtles all the time. Think we're fighting Hawai'i for their tourist spot because of the resort."
Quillan nodded, pulling cups down and opening a jar and plucking an herbal tea sachet with the metal tongs from within. "Does everyone actually use these tongs? I can't imagine rich hospital buffet-style being much better than not, especially with kids around."
"The set-up is too tall for kids, and probably. The cafeteria attendants circulate to keep things tidy."
They made coffee and tea side by side. He made a cup of decaf for Lydia because it was unlikely she was asleep. 
"You think your mom and grandpa will eat?"
He scoffed. "If they won't, I will."
Dorian went to the kiosk, typed in Lydia's room and ordered food enough for everyone with a bit of direction from Quillan. 
"So... how'd she go from Ken to you?" Quillan asked. "Can't say I imagined her dating a jock, let alone two in a row."
"My sister introduced us." He suppressed a wince at the half lie of it. "And... she's been cleaning my villa for years, apparently."