"I'm sorry I let things get to a place they shouldn't have, but I do think it's for the best. It would be better for Mr. Anoa'i if another nurse were placed with him and I be transferred to another case or doing rounds." Jami managed to get out to Dr. Smith.
"Are you sure there isn't a way you and Mr. Anoa'i could work through this or come to some sort of agreement?" Dr. Smith asked.
"I would feel more comfortable if another nurse was placed on this case and if I were removed." Jami repeated. "I'd even be willing to go to another oncology unit, if need be."
"If this is how you want it, Jami, I have to comply with your wishes. I'll see if I can arrange for the transfer and replacement by the end of today. Take the rest of today off and I'll e-mail you your orders before the end of the work day." Dr. Smith said standing and shaking her hand.
"Again, I'm sorry." Jami said.
"Jami, I should be more upset, but these things happen and at the end of it all, you did the right thing." Dr. Smith said, offering a small, reassuring smile.
"Thank you, sir." Jami said, gathering her things and making her way to the door.
It wasn't the way she wanted things to end up, but she knew she had to draw that line eventually, even if her heart was screaming for her to do otherwise. Especially since Joe had told her everything she wanted to hear from him. It was simply an issue of the wrong place, wrong time. Even if it wasn't what she wanted to happen, it had to happen this way and she would be forced to push Mr. Joe Anoa'i far from her mind as humanly possible.
April was enjoying her short 10-minute break when her pager and phone began buzzing with a fury. Sighing, she looked at the numbers displayed on both devices and stood, throwing her things in the trash and picking up her phone to place the call to the main oncology department.
"This is Nurse Jones, returning a page." April said into her cell phone. She listened intently, her brows furrowing at the odd nature of the call. "Ok, I'll be right there."
She slammed the receiver shut before grabbing her coat and purse from the locker area and heading out. She had never gotten a call in reference to a transfer before, and she knew she hadn't put one in herself. She loved the Pediatric Unit and working with and meeting all the different kids she met. Each one was unique and offered a positive outlook, no matter their situation or what they and their family may be facing. Now, knowing she was headed to the bigger oncology department to be briefed on a new case was baffling to her.
She pushed open the large door and made her way to the board room, where she was told the overseeing doctor would give her the files and information she would need as well as instructions on rounds she would be making on her new work tour.
"Hi, I'm April." she said, as she entered the room and saw 2 men waiting for her. She stopped dead in her tracks, as she came face to face with her husband's co-worker, the man who managed to throw her friend, Jami for a loop or two. "Joe?"
"April?" Joe fired back just as quickly and just as confused.
"You two know each other, I take it?" Dr. Smith said, looking between the two.
"Yeah, he works with my husband." April answered. "How are you?"
"I've been better." Joe answered honestly.
"Well, I was going to introduce you two, but since that's out of the way. I'll give you these, April." Dr. Smith said, handing her files and scans in what was undoubtedly Joe's case. "If you want, you can sit in here and finish his follow up, then meet me in the break room and I'll give you your assignments for the day."
"Ok, Dr. Smith. Thank you." April answered, still dumbfounded at the recent turn of events. "Where the hell is Jami?" she fired in Joe's direction, trying to put two and two together.
"Your guess is as good as mine. I showed up for my follow up and tried to lay everything on the table about the other night. She wanted no parts of it and apologized before leaving. Dr. Smith called me in here and then you walked in. I have no clue." Joe said, a look of disappointment etched across his features.
"So, you didn't get her thrown from the case because of…"
"Hell, no! Jesus!" Joe exclaimed, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "If anything, I came here this morning and told her how I felt and that I'd like to see how things went. She didn't respond to it too well. I mean, I know this is her job, but I think we could have gotten around that."
"Joe, just sit down." April said, pulling out a chair for Joe before taking a seat beside him. "I'm sorry. This is just how Jami is. I know she likes you, too, it's just that…."
"You think she likes me?" Joe asked, a look of hopefulness on his face.
"Yeah, Joe, I know she does." April laughed. "She's scared more than anything. You have to give her some time."
"Time is all I have, it seems." Joe sighed. "What can I do, April?"
"Joe, if anything could come of you getting a new nurse, believe me, you got the second best one." April said, a smile playing on her features. "Just let me talk with her and we'll go from there, ok?"
"Thank you. This really means a lot to me." Joe smiled back, enveloping her in a hug.
He had gone from being hopeful when his morning started to having no hope at all, back to feeling that hope wasn't at all lost. He wasn't sure what April had up her sleeve, but he was sure if anyone could get through to Jami, it was his new nurse. All he knew for certain was he would stop at nothing until he could get Jami to listen to him. He would stop at nothing until he could get through to her. And, he definitely wouldn't stop at nothing until she admitted exactly how she felt for him.