do that to yourself. I'm not strong. Just for you. That is the only time I am able to do what I need to do. When I am away from you, I'm a fucking mess. I just also know that Adam would have wanted me to take care of you. He would be angry to know that I let you suffer alone in silence," Warren interrupted. It was startling how he was able to do that for her.
"I'm sorry. I can't help it. I feel bad that you are suffering, and you spend your time taking care of me. I should be helping take care of you," Leslie answered.
Something flashed through Warren's eyes a moment before he shook his head and it disappeared. It was an intense look she had never seen on his face before. A shiver ran down her body, and she had to look away to keep from shaking further. "Leslie, when Adam married you, you became the most important person in the world to him. I became second banana. So, no, I should be taking care of you, because it is what he would have wanted and because you have the right to hurt more. He may have been my brother, but he was the love of your life. It would be selfish of me to take that right from you."
The tears in her eyes overflowed, and she fell into him once more, clinging to him as all of her emotions broke free of the icy wall she had built. He held her close; his strong arms wrapped tightly around her, making her feel protected. It was such a sweet relief to just let go and cry. His hand stroked her hair, and he kissed the top of her head, comforting her, whispering to her how he was not going to let anything bad happen to her. Guilt mixed with her overwhelming need to be comforted and loved. Her hands fisted in his shirt as sobs consumed her body. For several long moments, nothing else mattered but being in his arms and letting go of all the pain and frustration she felt over having lost her husband. Warren was right. She was in far more pain than she wanted to believe, and through it all, he had been there for her.
When her strength finally returned, she pulled away, wiping at her eyes and turning to find a tissue to clean her nose. Warren said nothing as he watched her, a strange look in his eyes. Something was different about him, and she simply could not put her finger on it. As she worked to pull herself together, Warren went about setting up dinner so they could eat. The release of the tears allowed her stomach to settle some, and Leslie was glad to finally sit down and eat something. However, within a few bites, Leslie was racing for the bathroom. No amount of hunger was going to let her keep the food down, and she was embarrassed Warren had worked so hard to ensure she had food, just for her to turn around and throw it all up.
As she leaned over the toilet, she felt strong hands pull her hair from her face and rub her back. "It's okay. Look, I know a doctor you can talk to, and maybe they can give you something for the nausea. You need to be able to eat, or you are never going to heal. Even mental health requires food; besides, if you lose any more weight, nothing is going to fit you."
Pulling back, she took several deep breaths to calm herself as she reached over and flushed the toilet. Warren grabbed a washcloth and soaked it in cold water before handing it to her. She wiped her face then folded it to rest on the back of her neck. "I can't sleep, I can't eat. It is crazy just how badly I feel. I don't know what to do with myself, Warren. I just don't know."
"You don't have to. Come on, go see my doctor and see if they can do anything for you. Get out some of these emotions you are feeling. If you don't, you are going to end up with them tearing you apart. I can help call and set the appointment up for you. Hell, I will even take you to it, just please agree to go." Warren stared at her from where he leaned against the counter. His tall body towered over her making her feel small.
"How is a doctor going to help me? They are just going to put me on a bunch of drugs and send me on my way. I don't want
"I'm sorry. I can't help it. I feel bad that you are suffering, and you spend your time taking care of me. I should be helping take care of you," Leslie answered.
Something flashed through Warren's eyes a moment before he shook his head and it disappeared. It was an intense look she had never seen on his face before. A shiver ran down her body, and she had to look away to keep from shaking further. "Leslie, when Adam married you, you became the most important person in the world to him. I became second banana. So, no, I should be taking care of you, because it is what he would have wanted and because you have the right to hurt more. He may have been my brother, but he was the love of your life. It would be selfish of me to take that right from you."
The tears in her eyes overflowed, and she fell into him once more, clinging to him as all of her emotions broke free of the icy wall she had built. He held her close; his strong arms wrapped tightly around her, making her feel protected. It was such a sweet relief to just let go and cry. His hand stroked her hair, and he kissed the top of her head, comforting her, whispering to her how he was not going to let anything bad happen to her. Guilt mixed with her overwhelming need to be comforted and loved. Her hands fisted in his shirt as sobs consumed her body. For several long moments, nothing else mattered but being in his arms and letting go of all the pain and frustration she felt over having lost her husband. Warren was right. She was in far more pain than she wanted to believe, and through it all, he had been there for her.
When her strength finally returned, she pulled away, wiping at her eyes and turning to find a tissue to clean her nose. Warren said nothing as he watched her, a strange look in his eyes. Something was different about him, and she simply could not put her finger on it. As she worked to pull herself together, Warren went about setting up dinner so they could eat. The release of the tears allowed her stomach to settle some, and Leslie was glad to finally sit down and eat something. However, within a few bites, Leslie was racing for the bathroom. No amount of hunger was going to let her keep the food down, and she was embarrassed Warren had worked so hard to ensure she had food, just for her to turn around and throw it all up.
As she leaned over the toilet, she felt strong hands pull her hair from her face and rub her back. "It's okay. Look, I know a doctor you can talk to, and maybe they can give you something for the nausea. You need to be able to eat, or you are never going to heal. Even mental health requires food; besides, if you lose any more weight, nothing is going to fit you."
Pulling back, she took several deep breaths to calm herself as she reached over and flushed the toilet. Warren grabbed a washcloth and soaked it in cold water before handing it to her. She wiped her face then folded it to rest on the back of her neck. "I can't sleep, I can't eat. It is crazy just how badly I feel. I don't know what to do with myself, Warren. I just don't know."
"You don't have to. Come on, go see my doctor and see if they can do anything for you. Get out some of these emotions you are feeling. If you don't, you are going to end up with them tearing you apart. I can help call and set the appointment up for you. Hell, I will even take you to it, just please agree to go." Warren stared at her from where he leaned against the counter. His tall body towered over her making her feel small.
"How is a doctor going to help me? They are just going to put me on a bunch of drugs and send me on my way. I don't want
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