Study released on markers of bipolar disorder presenting differently in alphas, betas, and omegas.
Rowan Ellis involved in succession war with older brother Carl, current CEO of EX Tradings.
Noah pushed the curtain back from around bed 3 and stepped to the foot of the bed.
Camille was struggling against Lloyd to sit up, his gray eyes blown wide with terror. Those eyes snapped to Noah immediately, but no recognition settled into his thin features. He looked almost insane with his starved frame, huge eyes, and disheveled hair, not to mention the hospital gown that hung off of one of his skinny shoulders. His collarbone stood out so predominantly that Noah's eyes were automatically drawn to it, but letting his gaze linger there felt like assault for some reason.
Noah motioned for Lloyd to step back. "Mr. LeVieux," he began, trying to establish himself as a person of propriety, "you're in the hospital. You're safe."
Camille frantically jerked away as Lloyd stepped back. It was like he was afraid that the nurse would not actually let him go. His eyes darted in between Lloyd, Chloe, and Noah as if trying to discern which of them was the greatest threat.
Noah made a motion with his head for Chloe and Lloyd to wait around the corner out of Camille's sight so he would calm down. Once they left, Noah slowly sat down on the floor at the corner of the footboard. He could tell that he would need to convince Camille he was not dangerous before their conversation would become anything close to productive. He waited there on the cold tile floor, watching as Camille's body slowly expressed the physical traits of someone calming down. After a few minutes, he tried again. "Mr. LeVieux, I'm Noah Callahan. You're in Falville University Hospital, and you're safe now."
Camille's eyes were insanely intense as he analyzed every inch of Noah's body. Then he said very quietly, "You don't know that."
Noah took a breath and counted to five before replying, "I do know that. This is my ER, and I know that it's a safe place." He waited again while Camille turned that information over in his head.
Camille pulled the hospital gown close to his neck, shivering like he was suddenly cold.
Noah carefully stood up and handed Camille the warmed blanket Chloe had grabbed on the way to the room.
With trembling hands, Camille unfolded the blanket and spread it over himself. He huddled back against the headboard for a couple minutes before lifting his eyes to Noah again. "You're Darius' friend."
Noah had been wondering when Camille would remember, but now that recognition had set in he was starting to feel nervous. What did Camille think of him? Noah remembered quite well that their first interaction had not precisely been pleasant. "Yes. I work here."
Camille nodded, his expression almost absentminded. In a few moments, his gaze refocused with laser precision. "What happened to me? Why am I here?"
Noah sighed softly. "That's what I was hoping you might tell me. You don't remember the person who tried to kill you?"
Camille visibly swallowed and pulled the blanket tighter around his body. He remembered something, that much was clear. People usually reacted with shock to the news that someone had attempted to murder them. But Camille clearly knew that someone had tried to kill him. "I didn't see his face."
Noah's breath caught in his chest.
"He grabbed me from behind. He didn't say anything. He just…" His voice trailed off, leaving Noah to wonder what the murderer had done before leaving Camille for dead. "I don't really remember," Camille said after a moment. "I think I was drugged before I left work." He suddenly sat straight up, eyes wide as he seemed to put pieces together. "A coworker who was never nice to me handed me a water bottle." His hand came up to cover his mouth like he was about to throw up. "I was thirsty. I drank the whole thing."
Noah scowled. "I'll have Chloe run your blood to figure out what they gave you. For now, what's your coworker's name? I'll tell the police."
Camille's face froze. "Are they going to come talk to me?"
Noah shook his head. "No, not if you don't want them to. They'll file an anonymous report if that's what you want."
Camille nodded fervently, fear deep in his eyes. There was some sort of trauma hiding behind that fear, but what did someone like Camille have to fear from the police?
"Okay, I'll let them know."
Camille tried for a smile, but he was so pale and still scared enough that it looked pained. "Okay. Her name's Quinn."
Noah nodded, making a note of the name in his phone notes app. "And you work where?"
When he glanced back up at Camille, the omega looked like he was trying to make himself as small as possible. "The Helix," he replied in the tiniest voice, his eyes averted from Noah's face like he was waiting for the slap of judgment.
Noah knew the place, but he was not going to judge. People could do what they wanted to with their lives, and some people had no other avenues open to make money. But he had to admit to himself that it was strange that Camille LeVieux was reduced to working, likely as an escort, in a nightclub. By all forms of logic, Camille's family name at the very least should provide him with some credit with interviewers. But it was not Noah's business. He typed the nightclub name beneath Quinn's name. "I'll let the police know. Like I said, I'll make sure it's completely anonymous."
Camille nodded and seemed to relax a little bit. That was a win, even if it was a very tiny one.
"Why don't you lay down?" Noah recommended. "For now, you need rest in order to recover. Just try to get some sleep." When Camille nodded again, Noah stepped past the curtain, pulling it shut after him and nearly jumping when he saw that Chloe and Lloyd were still there. "Eavesdroppers," he muttered as he walked past their intrigued expressions to go talk with the police officers standing in the ER lobby, and he could have sworn that one or both of them snickered once his back was turned.