CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

(BPOV)

The hospital was a mad house and with the quarantine we had in place on grant four, it only made things that much more hectic. Everyone wanted answers and we simply didn't have any to give right now. There was a select team of nurses all standing by the door who were screening those who entered the hospital for any slight detection of fever and not allowing them in. This made many angry and they began to outrage unfairly at the nurses in response.

"Hey! I am not leaving here unless I see my grandmother! She had surgery and she's expecting to see us! I don't have a fever! Your thermometer is broken!" The man from the entrance yelled, as he tried to shove his way past Natalie.

"Listen! I am sorry, sir. This is the new protocol and-"

"I don't give a shit what your protocol is! Let me through!" He yelled.

Roman asserted himself then, stepping up behind Natalie with a warning in his voice.

"You need to step back. I am not going to tell you twice." Roman stated.

"This is ridiculous." The man raged back.

I stood there at the nurses station watching the scene unfold as the man continued to try and shove his way past Roman.

"This is getting out of hand." Natalie soon stated, the nervousness in her voice easy to hear.

"Don't worry, Nat. You know how things like this go. Always worse before it gets better."

"I forgot to tell you that you got a phone call a little while ago. There's a message I write down for you by the phone there."

I rounded the corner of the desk and saw the yellow post it note she'd stuck there for me with her scribbling on it.

"Did Jake say he needed me to call him back? How long ago did he call?"

"About thirty minutes ago. He mentioned something about calling back later."

I sighed and picked up the phone in front of me, my finger pressing down on the call out digit and dialing the number I knew by heart. He picked up after the fourth ring.

"Hey Bells, was hoping you'd call back before the end of your shift."

The sound of his warm voice was a comfort to me I couldn't describe right now.

"Hey, I didn't know you tried to reach me a while ago. I'm sorry. Is everything alright? You and Clarissa fairing okay there without me?" I asked.

"Yeah, we're doing just fine. She's been down for the count since dark. She seems to like it here. Your place is comfortable. You've done a lot to it. Proud of you, Bells."

I silently nodded and glanced toward the erratic commotion at the entrance, his compliment making me smile despite the chaos surrounding me.

"Thanks, Jake. I appreciate that. Means a lot to me coming from a skilled one like yourself."

"Are you hanging in there okay at work?" He asked, his tone sincere with worry now.

"It's a bit rough in here, but we're managing. I'll be heading out in an hour or so. Need anything from the store?"

"No honey, I'm good."

"Okay, I'll see you soon then."

"See you then." He replied, ending the call as I lingered there on the line a moment longer before hanging up.

I saw three more triage cases before dawn crept in. I hurried to finish the notes in the rest of my charts before placing them on the nurses desk and catching sight of Dr. Niles as he overlooked them.

"Headed out nurse Swan?" He asked, taking off his white coat.

"Yes, I am heading home. Crazy night wasn't it? I don't think anyone was prepared for this right now." I replied, heading for the exit as he joined me.

"Care if I escort you out this morning? Crowd is a little rough out there. Better to be safe than sorry." He inquired, taking off his thick framed glasses.

"That's nice of you." I replied.

"Don't mention it."

We barely made it outside, thanks to Roman and Johns help, before we were bombarded with questions. I felt suffocated as all the many family members began pulling at us and begging us for answers of when they would be allowed back into the hospital.

"Listen, we don't have the answers you're look for right now. I'm very sorry, but please just try to be patient with us and we'll update you as soon as we know anything further. The best thing you can do for the time being is go home to your houses and to your families. Hunker down there and wait."

The shouting got worse as we tried to move away from the crowd and soon Roman had to interfere again so we could make our way to the parking garage.

"Bella, you should know that a lot of hospitals nation wide are experiencing a huge shortage of nurses and they are recruiting some elsewhere. I've had three calls so far concerning you and a few others."

I paused by my car and looked at him in confusion at his words.

"I didn't know we were at that level yet? I'm honored but I want to be right here. With my own. If further into this thing, that's what we need, then I'll go. Of course I will. That's my job and I want to be where I'm needed the most."

"I understand and I will definitely keep your name in the running if that happens to be the case in a few weeks, which if I'm being honest, I think there is a real good chance of it. So be ready." He admitted.

"I'll keep that in mind, Dr. Niles."

"Please, Bella. We've been working together for long enough now. Call me Derik. Really, it's alright."

"Alright then, Derik." I softly countered.

He took out his keys and pointed toward the black Audi parked only two rows ahead of mine with half a smirk.

"Well, I'll be seeing you tonight for your shift. Get some rest and I look forward to working with you then. Maybe once this all settles down, we can get together for a drink? Would be nice to get to know you a little better outside of work." Dr. Niles replied with a nod my way.

His question caught me off guard and I stammered in response. "Doctor Niles, I- I mean, Derik. I'm not sure about-..."

"Sorry if that was a bit forward of me, Bella. Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. That truly wasn't my intention."

"You didn't, I'm just not in a place to start anything romantically or emotionally for that matter. I apologize but it's the truth."

"That's alright. I hope to change your mind though. I don't give up easily. See you later on, Bella. Be safe on your way home." He casually stated to me in reply.

"I'll be seeing you then."

He headed toward his car without a backwards glance and I watched as he pulled out of the garage with a wave to me.

I drove through town, soon seeing the waiting line already growing at the local market before the doors has even opened. I stood among them, noting the anxious looks they all shot my way when they saw my attire of scrubs. I kept my distance and clutched my phone tightly in my hand while I nervously waited for them to open the store.

This was going to be a long few days.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this update and feel free to review. Thank you for your patience with me. It's been a very long and tiring week already. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Till Next Time. Please stay dafe and home with your families and take care.