Disclaimer: See Part One
Okay everyone,
Hi hope you're all okay. I need to know what you think about this part and whether you think I should continue this story, end it here and begin another one or continue this story in a possible sequel as you'll read later in the story. Let me know as the consensus wins. Melissa
*****************************
The two women arrived at Joann's room first and with a quick hug Kristin bid her friend a good night. After Joann disappeared Kristin headed for she and Lucas' room at the end of the hall. She entered her room and stopped at her medical bag to retrieve the painkiller/sleep aid that she had promised the teen. Slowly she made her way over to the adjoining door. The door was closed and the doctor didn't want to interrupt whatever Lucas maybe doing, so she knocked. "Yeah it's open."
Smiling Kristin entered the room and caught site of Lucas lying on the bed on his stomach and staring intently at the copy of Moby Dick he had brought up with him. Kristin came over to the nightstand by the bed where James had replaced the glass that was broken. She picked it up and poured a little water from the pitcher also on the stand. After it was about half full she came over and sat down next to Lucas, who still had his face in the book. "Lucas."
The teen sat up and closed his book momentarily and said, "Yeah doc. Finished talking to the Cap all ready?"
"Yes dear. He said he'd talk to you later and told me to give you a hug from him. But first here." She held out her hand with the two small pink pills in them, "Take these."
He accepted the pills and the water and swallowed both quickly before handing the doc the glass back. She sat it down and said, "So what do you think of Moby Dick?"
"It's a great book so far doc. I just finished the first chapter and can't wait to go on to the second."
"Well I'm glad you like it but it will still be here later today. Right now it's time for bed, so let's go."
Lucas started to give her one of those puppy dog looks he did so well but he caught the glare coming his way and just decided to do what she wanted. He marked his book and got up to turn down the covers. Slowly he got into bed and was careful of his hand that was now down to a dull ache. As he climbed into bed he asked the doc, "What else did the Cap say?"
Kristin pulled the covers up and tucked the teen in before sitting down beside him. "Well Nathan said he was glad we're okay but more importantly I have a question for you?"
The teen looked up expectantly waiting for his friend to begin speaking again. "After this conference is over what would you say if you, Nathan and I all visited Mandy for a week or so?"
Lucas sat up and threw his arms around the doctor. "Do you mean it? Can we really go see Mandy? I haven't seen her since she left for school. Can the Cap really get away for a whole week?"
Kristin smiled and pried the teen off her and said, "Lucas would you lay back down and quit throwing yourself around. I don't want you tearing those stitches out."
The teen pulled his hand back cautiously as he had forgotten about it in all the excitement. "Sorry doc."
Kristin smiled and gripped the young man's good hand in between her own. "It's all right Lucas, you just have to be careful. Now to answer your questions so you'll go to sleep. Yes I mean and yes we can really go see Mandy. Nathan is arranging it and will contact us in a couple days with the details. He said he'd have to check with Bill but he was sure he could be gone for a week and maybe a little longer."
Lucas nodded and gave way to a slight yawn. The older woman noticed and smiled and said, "Okay Lucas enough talk for now, bed time young man. I'll see you in the morning and we can talk more about it then."
Kristin leaned over and placed a soft kiss on the teen's head and rose off the bed. She heard a small good night as she made her way to the door and turned off the lights. Lucas was snoring by the time the doctor headed for her room. Stepping through the door she looked back at the sleeping teen and smiled and then quietly closed the door.
Early the next morning Lucas opened one eye as he felt the bright Hawaiian sun coming through the window and shining on the bed. Slowly he sat up and stretched and climbed out of bed. He grabbed his robe and made his way over to the window and stepped out on the porch outside his window. As the sun made it's way higher in the sky he looked up and said, "It's going to be a great day."
Suddenly he heard a soft voice say, "It certainly is." The teen spun to his right and caught site of Kristin and Joann sitting on the porch outside her room. He smiled and said, "Oh hi doc, Joann."
Joann smiled over at Kristin and said, "Good morning Lucas. We were wondering if you were going to get up today."
He nodded and said, "Yeah I'm up. What has you two up so early today anyway?"
Kristin said, "Lucas it's not really early to us. Why by Hawaiian time it is almost 10 to you and I it feels like about 5 or so. We'll adjust to the difference soon, don't worry. How did you sleep? How's your hand?"
"I slept all right and my hand's fine. What's on the agenda for today doc?"
Joann chose to answer the teen this time. "Well Lucas as soon as you can get ready and dressed I'm taking you and Kristin out to brunch and after that we can do whatever you both like. I freed my whole day and then the conference starts tomorrow."
"Sounds great Joann. I'm going to grab a shower and get changed so we can go then."
Both women nodded and watched as he headed back into the bedroom. After he was out of sight Kristin gently picked up her tea cup and took a sip. As she sat the cup down Joann smiled over at her and she said, "What is it Joann? What's got you smiling so broadly this early in the day?"
"Oh nothing, I'll tell you about it later. So what would you like to do today?"
Kristin smiled and got up and went to the railing. She seemed lost in thought and felt Joann come up beside her. "Kristin what's wrong?"
"Oh I don't know Joann, I just still feel guilty over the reasons I got Lucas out here for. I would like to get it done and out of the way but I don't know how he'll feel about it. After the talk we had last night I don't trust either myself or Lucas to get within 10 miles of Doctor Wolenczak and it seems every time I start to talk to him about it something happens and we get interrupted. I don't want to make him uncomfortable Joann but I have to get this done before we go to see Mandy at the end of the week. I don't want to play these cat and mouse games with him all week."
Joann gently placed her hand on her friends' shoulder and said, "Kristin listen, I don't know Lucas near as well as you do but I can tell you my impressions of him so far. You told me you told him about the real reasons on the plane but I encourage you to tell him again. He's a smart, caring and intuitive young man and I think he'll understand you're only pushing it because you care. I saw the way you two looked at each other just now and you can't tell me that Lucas doesn't care. Looking at him interact with you I think he cares more than either of you realize."
Kristin looked over and gave her friend a hug and said, "Thank you Joann. Maybe you're right, I just need to talk to Lucas."
Joann nodded and sat back down. "I'll tell you what Kristin the first stop we'll make is the hospital, I wanted to show you my office anyway. If you can talk to Lucas before we leave then you are welcome to use the facilities at the hospital. You can also check up on your plane patients while we're there."
"Great, how are they doing by the way?" The two talked for about 10 more minutes or so before they heard Lucas enter Kristin's room and smiled as he entered the porch. Kristin got up and gave him a light hug and motioned him to a chair between herself and Joann. Lucas sat and said, "So have you two decided what you want to do today?"
Joann nodded and said, "I decided I'm going to go freshen up and let you and Kristin decide. I'll meet you downstairs in about half an hour, I have to make a phone call before we leave."
They both watched as the young woman got up and headed for the door. After she was gone Kristin reached down and took another sip of her tea and then turned her attention to Lucas. "Lucas how about I put a new bandage on your hand and we'll decide what to do today."
The teen nodded and watched as Westphalen got up and went inside to grab her bag and whatever else she might need. After a couple minutes she came out with a bowl of warm water and couple towels plus her medical bag. She sat it all down and began to unwrap the teen's hand. He looked over at her as she worked and could tell there was something she wanted to talk to him about. He was guessing but he thought it might be the reason they were at the conference, the physical. It seemed that every time Kristin began to talk to him about it there was some disaster that struck. He had told the doc he had known the real reason they were out here but she seemed still a little upset about it. Lucas heard the doc vaguely telling him that it was fine and she began to re-wrap his hand. Might as well give it a try he told himself. "So doc when are we going to get that physical out of the way?"
Kristin stopped what she was doing and looked up at the teen, who was smiling at her. "Lucas what do you mean? I thought you didn't want a physical."
"Doc I never said I wanted one but I know I have to have one. Listen I was only messing around with that order and truthfully if you hadn't tracked my dad down and arranged this trip I was going to tell you that afternoon to go ahead and do it." He gently brought his other hand over and placed it on her arm before continuing. "I know you only insist on those things because you care doc and I can't tell you how much it means to me to know you and the Cap both feel that way. I also know that you're still upset about getting me on this trip for the reason of the physical but honestly it's okay. I was upset when I first found out but then I watched the way you took care of those people on that plane and then tried to protect me from those reporters. Then last night when I broke down you stood right there and listened and then when I hurt my hand you not only cared for it like a doctor but cared for it like a mom."
Kristin had tears in her eyes when she felt the teens hand move to her shoulder and he continued. "Doc even now, look at the way you're holding my hand."
The doctor for the first time looked down at her hands. Lucas' hand covered in small butterfly bandages and then the one cut covered in 4 stitches rested open in the palm of Kristin's hand. Her hand gently grasped the right side of his and two of her fingers were casually brushing back and forth against the side of the young man's fingers. She had never noticed before but Lucas spoke the words. "Doc you do it so often maybe you don't even see it but to someone who has never had it I can tell. I can be the most hurt in the world and all it takes to make me feel better is you or the Cap to tell me I'm going to be okay. I can look at you and tell you love me more than I know and that you're both going to do everything you can to make it better. You have no idea how many times I would have given anything the world to just once have my own mother hold my hand the way you're doing now."
Kristin and Lucas were both in tears and Kristin leaned up and hugged the teen. She slowly whispered, "Thank you Lucas and you're right I do love you, very much."
They stayed like that a couple minutes before Kristin pulled away and finished wrapping the teens hurt hand. After she was finished she gathered up all her things and began putting them away. Rising she headed back to the bedroom and came back out after seeing that things were put back were they needed. She sat back down beside the teen and said, "Well young man, I guess we better go meet Joann downstairs because she promised that if I could talk you into it that I could use the hospital's facilities today and get your physical done. After that I'm going to stop by and see the patients from the plane and then you get to decide, so come on."
The teen rose and headed for the door and paused to look over his shoulder at his friend. "Doc I do have one question for you though? Are all my cat and mouse games with you going to be like this?"
Kristin came up and lightly punched the young man on the arm, "Don't push your luck Lucas. If you hadn't brought up that ridiculous order then this cat and mouse game wouldn't have started in the first place. I swear you and Nathan are so much alike it's scary at times."
The teen led the way into the bedroom and did a low, "Meow" as they exited the room and headed for their day.
Okay everyone,
Hi hope you're all okay. I need to know what you think about this part and whether you think I should continue this story, end it here and begin another one or continue this story in a possible sequel as you'll read later in the story. Let me know as the consensus wins. Melissa
*****************************
The two women arrived at Joann's room first and with a quick hug Kristin bid her friend a good night. After Joann disappeared Kristin headed for she and Lucas' room at the end of the hall. She entered her room and stopped at her medical bag to retrieve the painkiller/sleep aid that she had promised the teen. Slowly she made her way over to the adjoining door. The door was closed and the doctor didn't want to interrupt whatever Lucas maybe doing, so she knocked. "Yeah it's open."
Smiling Kristin entered the room and caught site of Lucas lying on the bed on his stomach and staring intently at the copy of Moby Dick he had brought up with him. Kristin came over to the nightstand by the bed where James had replaced the glass that was broken. She picked it up and poured a little water from the pitcher also on the stand. After it was about half full she came over and sat down next to Lucas, who still had his face in the book. "Lucas."
The teen sat up and closed his book momentarily and said, "Yeah doc. Finished talking to the Cap all ready?"
"Yes dear. He said he'd talk to you later and told me to give you a hug from him. But first here." She held out her hand with the two small pink pills in them, "Take these."
He accepted the pills and the water and swallowed both quickly before handing the doc the glass back. She sat it down and said, "So what do you think of Moby Dick?"
"It's a great book so far doc. I just finished the first chapter and can't wait to go on to the second."
"Well I'm glad you like it but it will still be here later today. Right now it's time for bed, so let's go."
Lucas started to give her one of those puppy dog looks he did so well but he caught the glare coming his way and just decided to do what she wanted. He marked his book and got up to turn down the covers. Slowly he got into bed and was careful of his hand that was now down to a dull ache. As he climbed into bed he asked the doc, "What else did the Cap say?"
Kristin pulled the covers up and tucked the teen in before sitting down beside him. "Well Nathan said he was glad we're okay but more importantly I have a question for you?"
The teen looked up expectantly waiting for his friend to begin speaking again. "After this conference is over what would you say if you, Nathan and I all visited Mandy for a week or so?"
Lucas sat up and threw his arms around the doctor. "Do you mean it? Can we really go see Mandy? I haven't seen her since she left for school. Can the Cap really get away for a whole week?"
Kristin smiled and pried the teen off her and said, "Lucas would you lay back down and quit throwing yourself around. I don't want you tearing those stitches out."
The teen pulled his hand back cautiously as he had forgotten about it in all the excitement. "Sorry doc."
Kristin smiled and gripped the young man's good hand in between her own. "It's all right Lucas, you just have to be careful. Now to answer your questions so you'll go to sleep. Yes I mean and yes we can really go see Mandy. Nathan is arranging it and will contact us in a couple days with the details. He said he'd have to check with Bill but he was sure he could be gone for a week and maybe a little longer."
Lucas nodded and gave way to a slight yawn. The older woman noticed and smiled and said, "Okay Lucas enough talk for now, bed time young man. I'll see you in the morning and we can talk more about it then."
Kristin leaned over and placed a soft kiss on the teen's head and rose off the bed. She heard a small good night as she made her way to the door and turned off the lights. Lucas was snoring by the time the doctor headed for her room. Stepping through the door she looked back at the sleeping teen and smiled and then quietly closed the door.
Early the next morning Lucas opened one eye as he felt the bright Hawaiian sun coming through the window and shining on the bed. Slowly he sat up and stretched and climbed out of bed. He grabbed his robe and made his way over to the window and stepped out on the porch outside his window. As the sun made it's way higher in the sky he looked up and said, "It's going to be a great day."
Suddenly he heard a soft voice say, "It certainly is." The teen spun to his right and caught site of Kristin and Joann sitting on the porch outside her room. He smiled and said, "Oh hi doc, Joann."
Joann smiled over at Kristin and said, "Good morning Lucas. We were wondering if you were going to get up today."
He nodded and said, "Yeah I'm up. What has you two up so early today anyway?"
Kristin said, "Lucas it's not really early to us. Why by Hawaiian time it is almost 10 to you and I it feels like about 5 or so. We'll adjust to the difference soon, don't worry. How did you sleep? How's your hand?"
"I slept all right and my hand's fine. What's on the agenda for today doc?"
Joann chose to answer the teen this time. "Well Lucas as soon as you can get ready and dressed I'm taking you and Kristin out to brunch and after that we can do whatever you both like. I freed my whole day and then the conference starts tomorrow."
"Sounds great Joann. I'm going to grab a shower and get changed so we can go then."
Both women nodded and watched as he headed back into the bedroom. After he was out of sight Kristin gently picked up her tea cup and took a sip. As she sat the cup down Joann smiled over at her and she said, "What is it Joann? What's got you smiling so broadly this early in the day?"
"Oh nothing, I'll tell you about it later. So what would you like to do today?"
Kristin smiled and got up and went to the railing. She seemed lost in thought and felt Joann come up beside her. "Kristin what's wrong?"
"Oh I don't know Joann, I just still feel guilty over the reasons I got Lucas out here for. I would like to get it done and out of the way but I don't know how he'll feel about it. After the talk we had last night I don't trust either myself or Lucas to get within 10 miles of Doctor Wolenczak and it seems every time I start to talk to him about it something happens and we get interrupted. I don't want to make him uncomfortable Joann but I have to get this done before we go to see Mandy at the end of the week. I don't want to play these cat and mouse games with him all week."
Joann gently placed her hand on her friends' shoulder and said, "Kristin listen, I don't know Lucas near as well as you do but I can tell you my impressions of him so far. You told me you told him about the real reasons on the plane but I encourage you to tell him again. He's a smart, caring and intuitive young man and I think he'll understand you're only pushing it because you care. I saw the way you two looked at each other just now and you can't tell me that Lucas doesn't care. Looking at him interact with you I think he cares more than either of you realize."
Kristin looked over and gave her friend a hug and said, "Thank you Joann. Maybe you're right, I just need to talk to Lucas."
Joann nodded and sat back down. "I'll tell you what Kristin the first stop we'll make is the hospital, I wanted to show you my office anyway. If you can talk to Lucas before we leave then you are welcome to use the facilities at the hospital. You can also check up on your plane patients while we're there."
"Great, how are they doing by the way?" The two talked for about 10 more minutes or so before they heard Lucas enter Kristin's room and smiled as he entered the porch. Kristin got up and gave him a light hug and motioned him to a chair between herself and Joann. Lucas sat and said, "So have you two decided what you want to do today?"
Joann nodded and said, "I decided I'm going to go freshen up and let you and Kristin decide. I'll meet you downstairs in about half an hour, I have to make a phone call before we leave."
They both watched as the young woman got up and headed for the door. After she was gone Kristin reached down and took another sip of her tea and then turned her attention to Lucas. "Lucas how about I put a new bandage on your hand and we'll decide what to do today."
The teen nodded and watched as Westphalen got up and went inside to grab her bag and whatever else she might need. After a couple minutes she came out with a bowl of warm water and couple towels plus her medical bag. She sat it all down and began to unwrap the teen's hand. He looked over at her as she worked and could tell there was something she wanted to talk to him about. He was guessing but he thought it might be the reason they were at the conference, the physical. It seemed that every time Kristin began to talk to him about it there was some disaster that struck. He had told the doc he had known the real reason they were out here but she seemed still a little upset about it. Lucas heard the doc vaguely telling him that it was fine and she began to re-wrap his hand. Might as well give it a try he told himself. "So doc when are we going to get that physical out of the way?"
Kristin stopped what she was doing and looked up at the teen, who was smiling at her. "Lucas what do you mean? I thought you didn't want a physical."
"Doc I never said I wanted one but I know I have to have one. Listen I was only messing around with that order and truthfully if you hadn't tracked my dad down and arranged this trip I was going to tell you that afternoon to go ahead and do it." He gently brought his other hand over and placed it on her arm before continuing. "I know you only insist on those things because you care doc and I can't tell you how much it means to me to know you and the Cap both feel that way. I also know that you're still upset about getting me on this trip for the reason of the physical but honestly it's okay. I was upset when I first found out but then I watched the way you took care of those people on that plane and then tried to protect me from those reporters. Then last night when I broke down you stood right there and listened and then when I hurt my hand you not only cared for it like a doctor but cared for it like a mom."
Kristin had tears in her eyes when she felt the teens hand move to her shoulder and he continued. "Doc even now, look at the way you're holding my hand."
The doctor for the first time looked down at her hands. Lucas' hand covered in small butterfly bandages and then the one cut covered in 4 stitches rested open in the palm of Kristin's hand. Her hand gently grasped the right side of his and two of her fingers were casually brushing back and forth against the side of the young man's fingers. She had never noticed before but Lucas spoke the words. "Doc you do it so often maybe you don't even see it but to someone who has never had it I can tell. I can be the most hurt in the world and all it takes to make me feel better is you or the Cap to tell me I'm going to be okay. I can look at you and tell you love me more than I know and that you're both going to do everything you can to make it better. You have no idea how many times I would have given anything the world to just once have my own mother hold my hand the way you're doing now."
Kristin and Lucas were both in tears and Kristin leaned up and hugged the teen. She slowly whispered, "Thank you Lucas and you're right I do love you, very much."
They stayed like that a couple minutes before Kristin pulled away and finished wrapping the teens hurt hand. After she was finished she gathered up all her things and began putting them away. Rising she headed back to the bedroom and came back out after seeing that things were put back were they needed. She sat back down beside the teen and said, "Well young man, I guess we better go meet Joann downstairs because she promised that if I could talk you into it that I could use the hospital's facilities today and get your physical done. After that I'm going to stop by and see the patients from the plane and then you get to decide, so come on."
The teen rose and headed for the door and paused to look over his shoulder at his friend. "Doc I do have one question for you though? Are all my cat and mouse games with you going to be like this?"
Kristin came up and lightly punched the young man on the arm, "Don't push your luck Lucas. If you hadn't brought up that ridiculous order then this cat and mouse game wouldn't have started in the first place. I swear you and Nathan are so much alike it's scary at times."
The teen led the way into the bedroom and did a low, "Meow" as they exited the room and headed for their day.