Poppy watched Isaac slowly close the door behind him. She was tired, scared, and in pain.

"Are you angry?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"No, only very confused," he said, moving to the bed and sitting on the side. Poppy couldn't hide her wince of pain as the bed dipped.

"What happened, Poppy?" he asked, pushing her hair out of her face and noting the bruise at her temple.

Poppy took a shaky breath. "He came out of nowhere."

"Morgan Brown?" Isaac rubbed her arm and looked at her pale face and shadowed eyes.

"Yes," she swallowed, and her throat felt like sandpaper. "He approached me in the street and threw his arm around me, but I managed to get away. I was working at the cottage because you asked me not to go to the folly without telling you, and Siobhan could find me there." Poppy closed her eyes and focused. She knew she was telling the story disjointedly as it came and might not make sense.

"I'm following you, Poppy. Go on." His eyes were so patient.

"He followed me through the garden gate and pushed me against the tree. I gave him a swift knee to where it counted most, but it didn't keep him down for long. I couldn't surprise him this time." Her voice cracked, and she closed her eyes as she felt the fear rise in her again. "Do you think it was what my cousin, Mave, felt when she was taken?"

"I would say you felt some of the same fear, yes." Isaac agreed as Poppy started to cry. "Would you like me to run you a bath?"

"Yes, please. There are also some pills for pain in the bag with the salts." Poppy watched him stand and move around the room as he started running a warm bath for her. He pulled out his phone and sent a text.

"I'll have Boyd bring up a hot water bottle," Isaac said as he typed.

"I can manage, Isaac. You must be exhausted from your trip." Poppy didn't want him to leave, but she didn't want to be a burden either.

"I'll share your bath if that's alright?" he asked.

Despite her exhaustion and pain, Poppy still felt a little thrill at the thought.

"Figures," Poppy snorted in a very unladylike way.

"What's that, he asked, reading the prescriptions and frowning. "This is some heavy stuff."

"I always knew you were afraid of me. It's only when I'm hurt and can't take advantage of the situation that you decide to get naked in front of me." Poppy sat up slowly, giving the room time to stop spinning and allow her ribs to adjust to the movement.

Isaac gave a small smile. "You're probably right," he agreed, and their eyes met.

"Are you sure you're not mad at me? I wouldn't blame you if you believed the photos over me. Can you help me with my socks and shoes?"

Isaac walked toward her and knelt, taking off her shoes and socks. When there was a knock at the door, Isaac called for whomever it was to enter, and Boyd entered the room, putting down a tray with a water bottle, teapot, and mugs on the table by the fireplace.

"I'll take care of Mary and Peter," he informed them. "Siobhan has left."

"Thank you, Boyd." Poppy looked at him with a watery smile, and he nodded before leaving.

Isaac poured Poppy a mug of tea and handed it to her before opening one of her pill bottles and giving her a pill. "This should help with the pain," Isaac said.

Poppy swallowed it and took a few fortifying sips of the heavily sweetened tea. "Let's do this!"

"It's not whisky," Isaac grinned at her.

"That's enough sugar to put hair on my chest." she licked her lips, and Isaac followed the movement.

"Heaven forbid I have a wife with hair on her chest." Isaac took her mug and went to check the bathwater.

Poppy reached up and unbuttoned her shirt, then stood and started on her jeans when Isaac walked out, stopping dead when he saw her. His face grew pale and then red as she saw so much anger cross his face that it scared her.

Poppy looked down at her black and blue torso. "Ummm, I guess I didn't finish telling you the story."

"No, you didn't," he said between clenched teeth as he walked toward her, helped her remove her shirt, then unfastened her bra and helped her out of it.

Poppy gave a weary sigh. She had always dreamed of Isaac undressing her, but not like this, with so much anger.

"I'm not mad at you, Poppy. Only the situation." Isaac reached down and unfastened her jeans, sliding them and her underwear from her legs as she held onto his shoulders. She could feel his breath on her stomach, and it made her heartbeat erratic.

He was very gentle, and when he was finished, he stood and looked at her battered body, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her so he could see her back, which took the worst of the beating.

Poppy heard his quick intake of breath. "Poppy," he whispered.

She looked over his shoulder and saw tears on his cheeks. "Isaac, it's not your fault."

"Yes, it is. My gut told me he was not good the minute I saw him. I should have sent him away." Isaac shook his head as his eyes glided over her bruises.

Poppy shook her head. "It was Siobahn, all of it. We couldn't defend ourselves against her because she was family and an unexpected enemy." She started her slow trek across the bedroom to the bathroom. When she reached the tub, Isaac was there lifting her into it.

She leaned back into the warm water, letting it soothe her aching muscles. Then, she had the pleasure of watching Isaac undress. He was beautiful, and she enjoyed every muscle as it rippled under his skin.

"It looks like you took a few bumps as well," Poppy noted his bruising as he stepped into the tub and settled in behind her. She thrilled at the feel of his skin against hers despite her aching bruises.

"Would you finish your story now?" he asked as he pushed her head back against his shoulder, telling her to relax. He obviously wasn't going to share how he got his bruises.

"Mmmm, let me enjoy this for a minute. I finally have you naked." Poppy sighed contentedly. She let her breathing pattern match his, which lulled her to sleep. This caused her to frown. She should be excited, not sleepy.

"Poppy," he warned, "don't fall asleep."

"Ok," she agreed.

"Tell me the rest of the story," he insisted as he took the soap and a washcloth and bathed her.

That was one way to keep her awake. She was mesmerized as she watched his hand on the cloth move over her body. He had to feel the increase in her heart rate.

"The story, Poppy," he reminded her.

"Why can't you let me enjoy this!" she complained.

"Because I have a headache, dear," he teased.

If only she were his dear.

"Fine, but I want it on record that you're a big fat tease!" Poppy took the cloth from him and started washing herself. The pain meds must be kicking in because she didn't hurt as much.

"After I kneed Morgan in the nads, I ran to the door of the cottage, but he caught me, pulled me by the hair, slammed me to the ground, which was when I hit my head, and then he started kicking me over and over again until someone pulled him off of me." Poppy took a shaky breath and laid the washcloth on the side of the tub. "Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital, and Siobhan was there. She said it was to help, but I think it was to be there when or if you called." Poppy frowned. "I saw that you called, and the call was answered, so I thought maybe she had told you what happened."

"No, she said you were busy with the children, and you had asked her to answer it. I thought it was odd, but I figured one of the children was acting up."

"No, I was getting x-rayed. When I returned to the room, Siobhan was gone. Now, I know it was because she had completed her mission. I also suspect that she watched Mogan approach me and beat me, and she took photos of it all. Then she rushed home and used Boyd's phone to send the photos to appear like he was breaking the bad news because you probably wouldn't believe her." Poppy felt the tears start. "I know that she wanted you, but I never dreamed that she would create such a wicked scheme and stand by while I was being beaten."

"My guess is she wanted photos to use against Morgan as well," Isaac said darkly.

"The children don't know, and I prefer to keep it that way." Poppy looked up at him.

"Agreed," he said, nodding.

"Sally visited me in the hospital." Poppy watched him watch her.

"And I take it that something big was revealed."

"She told me about Bonnie," Poppy said softly. "She said that the baby wasn't yours and that you weren't in the car." 

Isaac pulled the plug and gently sat Poppy up so he could get out of the tub. 

"She believes that the accident led you into search and rescue and that you were never in love with Bonnie," Poppy said.

"She said all that, did she?" he asked as he helped Poppy out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her and then himself.

"Yes, is it true?" Poppy asked, suddenly feeling dizzy and swaying.

"That's the pill kicking in," he explained as he moved her into the bedroom, found her sweatpants and a shirt, and tucked her into bed with the hot water bottle at her feet.

"Isaac...."

"Tomorrow, Poppy. We'll talk more tomorrow." He kissed her forehead, then went back into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Poppy was determined to stay awake and have it out, but she couldn't keep her eyes open.

Darn it! She would swear he had planned it all!