Bedside Manner

Chapter 2 – Carlisle

"Dr. Cullen, your two o'clock is ready for you. Would you like me to come in with you?"

Since joining this practice, I've found that the patients quickly dismiss the nurses . I don't know what it is̶-Shelly and Tanya aren't all that bad. In fact, they're pretty damn incredible. Shelly even helped me find my apartment before I relocated. Maybe I'll ask one of the moms-to-be on their next visit why Shelly and Tanya make them all so uncomfortable.

"Dr. Cullen?"

"I'll go in with you, Cullen. Your two o'clock is a stunner. I saw her getting checked in." He bites his fist and groans. I never know when this guy is serious. Our lab technician, Emmett McCarty, is always cracking wise.

"Go back to your hole and play in the piss, Emmett."

"Oh, it's like that, Shell?"

"Yeah. It's like that."

Emmett stretches his arms out to grab for Nurse Cope. She tries to move away, but despite his large size, he's quick. Quicker than my middle-aged nurse. "You know you love me." He plants a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek.

Shelly pushes on his stone chest. "Eww. Get off of me. Have you washed your hands?"

Shaking my head, I laugh. "Okay, you two. Break it up."

They elbow each other a little bit. I swear I'm the only one who acts like an adult around here. They've been working together for years, while I've been here just a couple of months. Their antics take some getting used to.

"Carlisle, I'll be right here, okay," Shelly says with a wink, nudging McCarty who starts winking too.

What's that all about? I take the clipboard Shelly offers and scan the medical history of one Isabella M. Swan, twenty-five-year-old, unmarried librarian. Well, damn. Am I going to be dealing with some timid odd ball who jumps at the slightest touch? All my other patients have been so compliant and easy going.

I hope this one isn't going be a challenge. Drawing in a deep breath, I tap on the door. A shy-sounding voice tells me to come in.

"Good afternoon, Miss Swan."

"H—Hi?"

I look up from the clipboard to find a petite woman with peaches and cream skin—it's a real thing; I finally see that now. Dark brown eyes seem to be the only feature on her face. They are everything. Big ole moon eyes, and I see stars.

The door clicks shut behind me and I am reminded of where I am. Work. I look around the room at the posters and pamphlets. Work. There's the counter with the little foot-pedaled sink and a computer. Work. An obstetrics and gynecology practice in San Francisco. Work. With an examining table and crinkly paper which presently has a nearly naked brunette whose shy act is definitely working on me.

I know she's naked under that pale, thin hospital gown and stiff sheet. Isabella fumbles with a set of rainbow-colored socks. I smile. I can't help myself.

She smiles back, and damn. She's a challenge all right.

Her skin color deepens to a richer peach when I offer to help her, and suddenly I'm in Memaw's orchard licking the sweet juice that has dripped down my arm from my stolen treasure. Like the sting from a bee, the sharp rap on the door makes me realize the error of my ways.

"Dr. Cullen, it gets a little colder than normal in this room, so here's an extra blanket for Isabella." Shelly hands me a bundle of cotton that feels like it's just come out the dryer. At the same time, she shoots me a worried look.

I nod in thanks.

"How you doing, hun?" Shelly asks Isabella, walking into the room.

"I'm fine. How are you?"

Shelly logs on to the computer. "I'm good. Has Dr. Cullen introduced himself?"

Isabella shakes her head while I wonder what Shelly is doing.

"He's new, and from … where did you say you're from again?"

"Atlanta."

"That's right." She gets up and hooks a blood pressure cuff onto Isabella's arm while I stand there and stare. "One twenty over eighty," Shelly calls out over her shoulder. "Perfect."

Yeah, perfect.

Shelly nods her head toward the computer, cluing me in that I'm supposed to actually do my job.

I type in the numbers and, looking at the long list of fields on the screen, find my footing again.

I thank Shelly when I go to stand beside Isabella, unfolding the blanket along the way. Shelly and I swap positions. I extend my hand in greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss. Swan. I'm Carlisle Cullen."

She dips her head, making the tacky gown slip from her left shoulder; that over-ripened peach tint has returned.

Shelly's a godsend and keeps my head in the game, prompting my questions and actions. "Dr. Cullen, I don't have here when was the last time Isabella—"

"Bella. It's just Bella," Isabella—Bella—corrects.

Nurse Cope types some more, I guess adding that tid-bit to Bella's file. "That name fits you."

"Thank you." Bella answers Shelly but is looking at me. I feel inept and useless right now. What the hell is wrong with me?

Next, Shelly asks, "Bella, when was the last time you saw a gynecologist?"

She tucks the blanket under herself like a white tamale.

"Bella?" I prompt her to answer. "This is vital information. There's no need to be embarrassed."

Looking down at her lap, she picks at the pil of the blanket. "Just before I left for college … like six, seven years?"

"Well then, we'll need a complete blood work, but you'll have to come back for that after fasting. The lab is open at eight a.m., so be sure to make an appointment before you leave."

She looks a little squeamish, but nods anyway.

I put my hand on her knee. "Are you all right? You're turning a little green."

Bella closes her eyes and I can't help but notice how her lashes graze the apples of her now pale cheeks. I miss the pink. I take her wrist, timing her pulse. God, she's so cold.

"Shelly, will you bring Bella another blanket, please?"

She leaves without saying a word.

"Bella, I think you're panicking." I try and hold her hand, but her fingers are so tightly tangled in the blanket. Instead, I rub her back and pat her knee, hoping she'll calm down. She leans her head against my chest, and my God. Now my heart is racing.

"Calm down, please. It'll be all right. Trust me. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Her hands release the blanket and grip the lapels of my lab coat. She turns and presses her forehead against my sternum. Shaking her head, she mumbles almost incoherently. "I don't like needles."

Ah, I see.

My hands betray my profession and inch around her back, pulling Bella to me. She doesn't protest despite her being twisted at the waist.

The door opens and Shelly gasps, bursting our little bubble.

Bella pulls away, wiping at her eyes. "I'm sorry I'm such a spazz, Dr. Cullen."

"Don't ever apologize for feeling however you feel." My stupid hands reach up to wipe away a few more tears.

"Is everything okay?" Shelly asks.

I nod, and try to look calm, but I'm screaming inside. The last thing I need is for this woman to cry foul and ask Shelly to testify against me. I'd lose my license before I even get off the ground.

"Miss Swan. Would you like to reschedule? We can do this another time when you're more...comfortable."

Bella sits up straight and takes a deep breath. "No. I'm fine. Let's just get this over with. It's only once a year, right?

"Right."

"How do you want me?"

In deed ...

####

Cool, you're still here. Glad you're sticking with us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

To one of my most favorite people, Gee, thanks for all the laughs and kicks in the pants. I love the way your mind works—it's fun in there. MzPeaches gets an extra-special thanks for being so gracious and pre-reading for us. She's a very special lady, y'all betta recognize.

Bella/Gee will be back in the next chapter.

Carlisle/Daph out *drops mic*