DARK DAYS AND DARKER NIGHTS
"I think he's been waiting for you to come back."
Once they returned to the SICU, Natalie headed immediately to Miles' room taking a seat by the bed. Recognizing the nurse who was still in the room, she softly asked, "How's he doing?"
"He's woken up several times for a couple of minutes throughout the day. But he's begun spiking a temperature again. If it goes very much higher, Dr. Delaney may order a cooling blanket," she replied as she patted her patient's shoulder. "I think he's been waiting for you to come back."
Natalie reached over and picked up one of his hands, watching as his eyes flickered open at the touch as he attempted to look at her. Putting a smile on her face, she asked, "Were you waiting for me, Miles?" She noticed that he blinked his eyes once before letting them slide shut again.
"One blink means 'yes'," the nurse explained as she picked up with the basin to go refill with fresh water. "He seems to be oriented enough to answer some simple questions which is a good sign at the moment."
Natalie was gently rubbing the hand between her own as she spoke quietly, "Miles, we got in touch with your father. He's coming here to se you."
The nurse quickly filled the basin and returned to the bedside, placing it on the nightstand along with a washcloth and small towel. "I need to go see to my other patients but if you need anything, just press the call button," she told Natalie and then looked down at Miles. "I'll be in to see you again before I get off shift." His didn't open but he moved his head slightly in response to her voice.
Natalie looked up at the nurse and quietly said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She looked from the doctor to the young man in the bed. "I think he probably prefers your company than he does mine. I'm Cassandra Lindsey but everybody just calls me 'Cassie'."
"I'm Dr. Natalie Durant. But you can call me Natalie," the women replied. She watched the nurse hurry out and then reached for the cloth to get it wet. After making sure it was well wrung out, she began wiping Miles' sweat dampened face in an attempt to make him a little more comfortable.
Looking down she could see several tears on his face and she gently brushed them away, saying, "I know you're hurting and you're scared, Miles. But it's going to be all right. It's going to be all right." As she was attempting to reassure him, she was trying to keep back her own at the sight of him so sick and so helpless.