I think I'm lost without you [Paul Lahote]

The ride to the hospital was certainly not as comfortable as the ride to Emily's had been. There was no quiet music and no easy conversation. Noah kept her gaze firmly out the window while Paul gripped the steering wheel, white knuckled, releasing a near constant slew of swears under his breath.

Noah felt perfectly content not engaging with whatever it was he was saying. She had her own shit to deal with, starting with the bloodstain that was slowly growing in tandem with the throbbing of her leg, and ending with a mental storm raging inside her head that would put even Zeus to shame. But about halfway into the drive Paul decided to include her in his thus far one sided rambling and Noah had nowhere to hide.

"No one believes him, you know. What Sam said? No one thinks it's true." Paul was still rambling, but now it was directed towards her. "It's this stupid fucking thing when we shift that we can see into each other's heads. I just keep thinking about it and he must have seen something right after the hospital, that's the only thing that makes sense. Maybe he saw how confused and scared I was after your accident. And then the way the leech explained it just left me with more questions and for some reason, I don't know... Sam just jumped to some fucked up conclusion."

There was a long pause, filled with Paul's heavy breathing, and if she focused hard enough, Noah could almost hear the sound of her own thoughts churning as she considered what he said.

"And if it was true?" Noah finally murmured, keeping her gaze fixed on the passing oaks. "What would you think of me then?"

Paul answered immediately. "It wouldn't change anything, not for me."

"Hmm," Noah hummed thoughtfully, turning to look in his general direction but still not daring to look into his eyes. "And what if the truth was much worse?"

Paul was quiet for a few long moments and then he said, "there is nothing you could reveal about yourself that I wouldn't want to know."

"I see," Noah mused. She didn't say much more after that and Paul didn't press her too, but she did reach over and slip her hand into his own. If anyone ever asked, she would've told them it was for Paul's sake, but she couldn't mask the tremor in her hands as she held tightly onto him.

Silence filled the cab of the truck, but it was now a peaceful one. It lulled Noah into a comfortable daze, where she was able to escape the onslaught of her thoughts and simply exist in the presence of Paul. It wasn't until the slight jolt of the truck being shifted into park that Noah even realized they had arrived at the hospital.

Noah shifted from her slumped position letting her head come to rest against the seat. She let her gaze fall upon Paul who was already in a similar position, observing her.

"Are you feeling okay?" he questioned, brushing a thumb over the back of her hand. She hadn't realized until then that neither of them had let go. In any other circumstance it might have brought a blush to her face, but as it were, she was too worn down to care.

"As well as I can be, I suppose," Noah shrugged, running a light finger across her pant leg. Blood had continued to seep from her popped stitches on the ride and it was certainly noticeable.

"And that is to say?" Paul pushed, brows raised.

"Pretty shit," Noah relented, smiling weakly. Paul nodded as if that was what he expected. And why wouldn't he? Noah looked and felt like she had been hit like a bus and his friend had basically just called her suicidal in front of all his other friends.

"Well, let's see if the Doc can help out with that, yeah?" Paul asked kindly, finally releasing her hand and making a move to exit the truck with a grunt. Noah followed suit, although much slower and with a few muttered curses.