A Second Chance at Forever (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 1487

"Is that it?"

Eleanor curled her lips into a wry smile. "Bernard, you always downplay your wounds as if they're just scratches. But the things you go through, they're life-threatening. Why do you always keep me in the dark? You never tell me anything."

Having said her piece, Eleanor leaned on the railing and slowly got to her feet. Just standing up felt like it could kill her. The spot where the IV had been pulled out was still bleeding—not profusely, but enough to drench her in a cold sweat of pain.

When Eleanor had first walked in, she had crouched down, hiding the bloodstains on her dress from Bernard. Now that she stood up, he saw the crimson truth and his body tensed up. In an instant, he was out of the bed and had wrapped his arms around her wavering form.

"Doctor!" He lifted Eleanor into his arms, calling loudly for a doctor, but she stopped him. "The pain from that chip inside you is worse than this. Let me share your pain."

Bernard's brows knit together, but he understood Eleanor's sentiment. He looked down at the woman in his arms, his eyes softening helplessly. "I promise I won’t do that again. Let the doctor come in, okay? Let them stop the bleeding."

Seeing that she had pushed him to admit his mistake, Eleanor suddenly embraced his neck and buried her head in the crook of his shoulder. "What can I do to help you get that chip out?"

The warmth of her tears soaked into his shirt and into his heart, making it achingly tender. "Silly girl, you're not a doctor."

With his long fingers, Bernard gently patted Eleanor's back. "Don't worry. Your man is a tough cookie. A tiny chip isn't going to take me down."

Eleanor was too smart to believe such childlike reassurances. "Yates said that chip is infected with a virus. It could trigger at any time. I'm terrified of losing you."

She had once faced the news of his death and it had nearly destroyed her. The agony of losing a loved one was unbearable. She didn't want to experience it again, fearing she might lose her sanity before she could follow him in death.

Bernard didn't fear death, he continued to soothe her gently, "I don't care how long I live. All I care about are you and our child. If it means you two are safe, my life is a small price to pay."

Eleanor pulled back from his neck and looked up at him. "You are my rock, and I can't be without you. Our baby can't grow up without a father. So, no more talk of trading lives, okay?"

With firm resolve, Eleanor held him tighter. "Don't worry. As long as I'm breathing, I'll search the world for a doctor who can remove that chip. Then you can stay with me and our baby forever."

Bernard, held so close, felt the depth of her love and unwillingness to let go. For some reason, the insecurity he often felt melted away, and he found himself smiling genuinely. "Okay."

After holding each other for a moment, Bernard carried her and gently settled back onto the hospital bed. In the past, he would have held her indefinitely, but now his knees were shot, throbbing with pain if he stood too long.

Once he was back in bed, he pressed the call button. Swiftly, a doctor stepped in, stemmed the blood flow for Eleanor, and arranged for an additional bed in the room.

Eleanor's act of pulling out her own IV had undoubtedly hurt her still-recovering body. Yet, having resolved the emotional burden between them, this new physical burden was one she was prepared to bear.

Both needed further treatment—Bernard for his knees and the chip lodged deeper in his brain causing dizziness, and Eleanor for her own wounds. Together, they stayed in the hospital.