"What are you doing out here?" Brittany snapped.
"Sorry Brittany," Dr Grace spoke up. "Jordi said he couldn't sleep and his room was too hot. So I said he could come outside for a minute for some fresh air."
"Oh Dr Grace, I didn't see you." Brittany nodded. "Time to go back to bed, Jordi."
"Can I just"
"No." Brittany interjected. "Sorry. But Dr McAndrew was pretty specific."
Jordi begrudgingly went back inside. "I've been sleeping. I'm not tired. I don't even feel as sick as before."
"That's good. It means your body is finally starting to adjust to the new meds." Brittany smiled. "I'll tell Dr McAndrews when he wakes up. He could use some good news."
"He's here? In the hospital."
"Yes. He's been covering the ER."
"I need to talk to him." Jordi pleaded. "Please. I know I can convince him that he doesn't have to keep me in my room all the time."
"Jordi, he's going it for your own good. He's worried about how sick you got before."
"I told you, I feel better. I'm going crazy, I'm totally bored."
"I'm sorry Jordi. I really am. Dr McAndrew has come by to see you but you were asleep and he didn't want to wake you up. "
"I'm awake now."
"But he's not. And this time it's Dr McAndrew who really needs the sleep."
Jordi sighed.
"I tell you what. I'll make you a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"You go back to your room and when Dr McAndrew wakes up I'll tell him you really need to talk to him. And I'll strongly suggest he check and see if you're still awake."
"You will?"
"Yes. But you should know that he might get woken by another emergency so he'll be busy. I don't want you trying to keep yourself awake waiting for him."
"Okay. I won't." Jordi smiled. "I promise."
"It's a deal then."
Jordi climbed back into bed and let the nurse do her whole routine. She seemed pleased that his temperature, although not back to normal, was at the low end of his constant fever. His pulse was good, his breathing normal.
He even let her tuck the covers around him without a fuss. "You won't forget?"
"I won't. I promise."
Jordi lay in bed. He knew he should try to go back to sleep but now that he knew Dr McAndrew was somewhere in the hospital he was totally wired. He knew there was no way he'd get back to sleep until he had a chance to apologize. It didn't change what he did or the spot he put the doctor in. He didn't even care if Dr McAndrew never gave him back his paperwork. Or didn't help him expedite his hearing. He wanted to say he was sorry and to admit that he did a stupid, childish thing. He wanted a chance to prove that he could do better.
Jordi picked up his phone. He typed out a text but paused before sending it. Nurse Dobler had said that Dr McAndrew was working in the ER and he needed to sleep. If he had his phone the alert might wake him up. Which would be a bit rude. Especially since it wasn't an actual emergency. Not to mention Dr McAndrew could just ignore the text. Jordi just didn't know.
He heard a beep from the hall and slipped out of bed. An alarm was going off somewhere and Brittany disappeared down the hall. The other night shift nurse was looking the other way.
There was only one place Jordi could think of where Dr McAndrew might go to get some sleep. He'd sit outside and wait. Then he couldn't be ignored.
The halls were eerily quite as Jordi walked down to the doctor's lounge. They had wandered past it several times and Jordi had gotten a peek inside as someone walked in or out. He knew there was a sofa and it seemed a good spot to steal a few minutes.
The lights were dim behind the closed door. Jordi nudged the door open, just wanting to confirm that Dr McAndrew was inside. If he was asleep, Jordi would leave him be for now. If he was awake, Jordi would try to talk to him.
"Dr McAndrew?" Jordi whispered. There was a light on over the kitchen area. From the faint light, Jordi could see there was no one on the sofa. Perhaps he'd already been called back to the ER.
Jordi heard a buzz as he turned to leave. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a phone sitting on the table. It didn't seem like Dr McAndrew to leave his phone. Unless he was really in a rush. Jordi knew he'd probably get in trouble for going into the room but he figured he should take the phone to the nurses station or something. Brittany probably knew where Dr McAndrew was and she could tell him that it was there. Jordi could just claim he found it in the hall.
He picked up the phone. As he started to leave something caught his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, Jordi noticed a large bottle laying on the floor. It was one of those plastic ones that companies used for drinking water coolers. It was just sitting there out of place. Something about seeing it left Jordi with an odd feeling.
He wandered over to where the bottle was sitting and heard the tiny splash as his foot hit a small pool of water. His eye followed the likely path the bottle would have rolled and noticed something dark in the dim light.
"Dr McAndrew?" Jordi shuffled over quickly. The man was lying more or less face down on the floor. Jordi gently turned him over. "Dr McAndrew."
He seemed to be barely breathing and there was blood on his face. "Dr McAndrew. Wake up."
There was no response.
"Somebody help." Jordi yelled as loud as he could. "I need help."
"Don't die Dr McAndrew. Please don't die."
