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I’d seen enough falls to know she hadn’t hurt her neck, and she still had her helmet on, so ouldn’t she wake up?

"Is she okay?" Brooke asked next to

"I don’t know," I answered,her cheekbone, then down her nose, over her lips "Leah Eleanor You have to wake up Show me those eyes, come on, baby"

"Oh God If she’s not okay… I’m so sorry, Pax," Brooke babbled

"Why won’t she wake up?" Panic like I’d never known tore through led over a sheer cliff face, snowboarded from a helicopter, but I’d never been this scared inpressure so asped, the sound of air rushing past her lips breathing life into me, and I nearly cruh to see her eyes flutter open, the whiskey color vague instead of bright, but she was here "I’ve got you You’re okay"

"I’m not dead," she whispered

"No" I shookacross my face "You’re not dead You’re okay I have you"

"Paxton?" she asked, her voice soft, weak

"Yeah?" I couldn’t stopthe soft lines of her face, more than aware of how bad it could have been

"I don’t do heights"

I pulled her tight againston hysterical--bordering on uncontrolled

"I’lad you woke up" I was always in control, it was how I survived, how I thrived and excelled, but this girl--this woman--had the power to shred that control if I wasn’t careful

"I heard you calling me"

Then I lost it

…

I ju roo onto the couch next to Brooke "Doc gave her so to help her sleep, but she doesn’t have any e Well, physically, at least He said it was a panic attack"

I don’t do heights

"I’m so sorry," Brooke said, her voice small

"It wasn’t your fault," I said to her She’d already been through so le; Colin’s bike would have hit her It was a snap decision, and no one bla to help her," Penna assured her, putting her arize?"

"If you want to She’s pretty out of it, but it ht make you feel better"

Brooke nodded slowly and stood "Yeah That sounds good I’ll see you guys to a sood-byes and headed back to Leah’s roo door