Chapter Two
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Nick entered the OR scrub room and immediately went to the sink and began washing his hands and forearms. "Details."
Michelle glanced over her shoulder at the sound of the thick, honeyed European accent from her vantage point in front of the X-Ray Viewer. He wore OR scrubs, cap and a mask hung tied around his neck the same as she. Turning, she said, "hit and run. Seventeen year old male bicycling, hit by a Dodge Durango, so I was told."
"Speed?" Nick asked as he looked up to find Michelle Chambers standing at the other side of the sink, scrubbing up. Her violet eyes held his for a moment before she answered.
"45mph. The patient was hit on his left side. He has multiple broken ribs, possible internal bleeding and broken arm."
Nick looked over the X-rays carefully before nodding. "Let's do it."
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Two hours later, Nick left the OR exhausted. He headed to the cafeteria after a quick cleanup in the locker room for a cup of coffee. The operation went well. In order to stop the internal bleeding they had to remove the boy's spleen. Once that was under control, the realignment of the ribs and broken arm were taken care of. Pins had to be inserted in the arm to promote the bone's healing while holding it in place.
He spotted her the moment he walked into the cafeteria. Damn that woman was always around. What did he expect? He stupidly followed her here from Athens. He had chosen to stay after she blew him off. He understood her wanting to save her marriage, but that didn't make it easier to be around her. Knowing that he was used only for his sexual favors did not sit well with him. He had thought himself in love with her all these years past. Truly it was just the thought of being in love with someone that had held him captivated.
"Black?" a voice said from behind, startling him from his reverie. "Excuse me?" he replied, turning quickly.
Michelle laughed softly, "Coffee. Black. Here." She handed him a cup before lifting her own to her lips. "Michelle Chambers," she introduced, extending her hand. "Musical RN at your service, Doctor."
Nick couldn't help but smile back when a crooked smile formed on her otherwise lovely face. "Musical RN?"
She bit her bottom lip before answering. "Hell, I figured you would have heard by now." She motioned toward a table and as they sat, Michelle noticed Rae's gaze following their every moment. "Big joke around here...put myself through college as a Vegas lounge act."
"Vegas?" he questioned, immediately the image of a burlesque act popped into his mind and as if reading him, he heard her say "and no, I wasn't a stripper".
Michelle laughed at his attempt at looking shocked. "I sang...danced a little...no taking off of the clothes."
"No offense intended, but it is quite a visual," he admitted with a laugh.
'A honey-smooth voice and a laugh so deep and liquid you could easily swim in it', she thought with an inward sigh. 'Jesus jumpin' a log, how on Earth did Rae let go of this one?' Looking over at the female doctor, Michelle read the angry jealousy in her eyes. 'Maybe she hasn't.'
Nick followed the direction of Michelle's glance a few tables to the left of them. Without looking he knew she was watching Rae. Did Michelle know about him and Rae? Gossip runs rampant through the halls of the hospital. "Good job in the OR, by the way," Nick commented hoping to distract her from Rae.
"Nice to finally work with you," she returned genuinely.
"And nice to finally meet you," he stated. "Matt said you were on leave for a month." He noticed the change in her immediately. Her face shadowed in pain and she stood quickly.
"Yes...uh...have an elsewhere to be," she said abruptly and bolted from the room.
Nick gaped as she made her exit. 'What the hell was that all about?' Before he could gather his startled wits and go after her, he noticed Rae dash through the same doorway Michelle rushed through seconds before. He would seek Michelle out at a later date and apologize for ...what he had no idea. Obviously the mentioning of her leave upset her.
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