"You caught me trippin stumblin…" Nadine's ring tone sang out for the 3rd time today, she knew it was Leyla calling again so she deftly hit the ignore button saying to herself that some people just don't know when to accept help. Nadine had been ducking Leyla all day, though it had made her task exceedingly difficult since Leyla was actually assigned to Spinelli's floor, however now that her shift was over Nadine new it was her chance.
Nadine came out from the stairwell, peering from behind the door looking this way and that way to ensure no sight of Leyla, then with all the covert skill of a bull in a china closet she made her move darting behind a crash cart and then a pillar as she got closer to Spinelli's room. Then whistling a little tune Nadine casually strode over to Spinelli's door opening it, only to find Maxie sitting at the side of Spinelli's bed chatting with him.
"Greetings and salutations Noble Nurse Nadine the Jackal and Maximista were just chatting about the rather dubious nature of all things hospital food." Maxie rolled her eyes slightly at the overly dramatic greeting, but still smiled sweetly half-heartedly greeting Nadine as well.
Nadine quickly suppressed a grumble at Maxie's presence that did not escape Spinelli's notice. "The Jackal did not mean to imply any ill will about the Noble Nurse's service, I am sure that you do you best do ensure all patients receive the finest available food stuffs."
Nadine smiled and cocked her head to the side, "O don't worry Mister Jackal, we all know that there is better food to be had than what is served here."
Maxie asked quickly changing what she considered a tired subject, "Did you get in trouble for trying to protect Spinelli from that pompous jerk?"
Nadine shook her head, "Nothing major I was put on report but mostly I was concerned that Leyla was really mad at me."
Maxie furrowed her brow processing the news that Leyla was angry, on the verge of commenting.
Spinelli looked troubled, "Are the dearest of friends the Lovely Leyla and Noble Nadine fighting? You should not be fighting over my treatment I am assured a most speedy recovery."
Nadine put her hand over her heart and said, "O no don't worry we made up. As my Aunt Raylene used to say sometime fights only last as long as the pie takes to cool. We are all better now."
Spinelli nodded, "That is very good indeed most dearest friends should not be angry at each other."
Maxie chose this moment to pour Spinelli some more ice water and turning her back towards Nadine in the process.
In a moment of inspiration Nadine gasped, " Is that a smudge?"
Maxie twirled around her face etched with horror, "What?! On my dress?" She tried to twist and contort her way around to seeing the smudge on her ever so fashionable dress but couldn't quiet see every inch of her back no matter how hard she tried, "There can't be a smudge on my dress, Fernando gave it to me special it is a one of a kind. What am I going to do??"
Frank interest played across Spinelli's face as he watched her move, "I don't see a smudge."
Nadine exclaimed pointing, "See see it's right there!"
Spinelli sighed, "Perhaps the Jackal's visual acuity has been weakened by his illness for he can not detect the offending mark."
Maxie shrieked in frustration as she threw her fists down at her sides, "I know who did this, it was Matt he must have smudged my dress! Probably with food he stole from me! This is pay back and it means war." Storming out Maxie left in dynamic fashion slamming the door behind her.
Nadine smiled a brief grin of victory, which she quickly hid behind a cough.
Spinelli oblivious still staring at the door which Maxie so quickly exited from, "So Noble Nadine what brought you to the Jackal's temporary recuperative lodgings?"
Nadine took a moment to formulate her words, "Well I was wondering how things have been with you. We really haven't talked all that much since the black and white ball. In fact the last time I think I saw you aside from this unfortunate incident was when you were being arrested for defending Leyla's honor."
Spinelli nodded in agreement, "One of the Jackal's finest hours. Lovely Leyla was most sweet and considerate to one who was suffering muchly."
Nadine looked closely at Spinelli as if peering into him, "So you had a good time with Leyla?"
Spinelli quite readily responded, "O indeed Fair Nurse Mir was most kind and generous spending time with the lowly grasshopper."
Nadine replied back, "Well I know for a fact Leyla had an amazing time as well."
Spinelli looked quite surprised, " Have the noble nurse and fair Leyla been discussing the Jackal?"
Nadine appeared evasive, as if she hesitated to respond, "I just remember her saying that she had a great time… in passing. She really needed a night like that, with a considerate nice guy."
It took a moment for the normally hyperactive Spinelli to respond an indication of lingering illness, " The Jackal was of course most willing to be of aid and assistance to one so fair."
Nadine mused to herself, "Sometimes I don't know what to do with Leyla, she can pick the wrong type of guy. If someone really sweet was to ask her out even as friends I think it would do wonders for her."
Spinelli replied back, "The Lovely Leyla could have her choice among any suitors in our fair city, perhaps as her friend you could suggest to someone of Leyla's liking to make such a proposal."
Nadine pursed her lips and tapped her index finger on them as if considering who to ask, "Perhaps, that might be an idea." Then smiling sweetly Nadine said, "Well I should get back to other things, it was really nice catching up with you Spinelli. And thank you again for being so sweet to Leyla." With that before Spinelli could respond as to the fact that they had hardly caught up at all and really had spent the entire time talking about the raven haired nurse Nadine strode out of the room, and Spinelli yawned suddenly feeling very tired.
Meanwhile…Maxie fumed stamping her feet as she strutted through the nurse's station, "Foul loathsome little cockroach… I swear I am going to make him pay for so many things when I get through with him he will be begging me to leave town, forget my house and my sisters room he will be begging me to leave the country!"
Robin who was working up a chart lifted her head up to see Maxie fuming walk right up to Dr. Hunter and let loose a torrent of words that made her consider where her baby's ears were so that she could cover them.
Concluding from a rather large rant that left Maxie heaving breath back into her lungs she finally shouted, " You Smudged My Dress!!"
A bemused Matt Hunter looked down at the blonde headed tornado and smiled, "I did no such thing. Now if you would please step aside and keep quiet some of us have to administer to the healing of the sick."
Maxie continued to block Matt Hunter's path shouting, "You are so paying for this! And it is a priceless one of a kind dress made especially for me!" Maxie waved her arms wildly, her face contorted in rage that few mortals have ever seen.
Robin seeing her cousin on the verge of engaging in violence stepped in to intercede, "What is going on here?"
Maxie thrust her finger in Matt's face accusing him, "He smudged my one of a kind original dress. Probably with food he stole from me while living in my sister's room!"
Robin looked at Maxie and for the life of her could not see the a smudge stain or any other mark on her dress, " I don't see anything Maxie, are you sure there was a smudge."
Maxie did a double take and a smug Matt Hunter ran with the opportunity to get a word in edge wise, "Accusing me with no proof. Typical of you Ms. Jones, for all you know someone was just telling you there was a stain just to play with you. Though for the life of me I don't know why someone would wanted to set someone like you off, you are hardly stable."
Robin looked at Matt with menace, "Don't talk about my cousin that way!"
Matt replied, back, "She verbally attacked me in the middle of my shift!"
Maxie's brow furrowed as she was oddly silent, turning around she stormed back towards Spinelli's room shouting, as she opened the door, "Lady what kind of game are you…" Maxie finished with a softer sound as she realized that Spinelli was fast asleep with a thoughtful scrunch to his head, "playing…" Maxie closed the door, behind her utterly confused.
And from her stairwell door hidden from Maxie's sight Nadine whispered to herself, "I wonder where to go from here." An impish smile playing across her face as she turned to walked down the stairs.