AN: A million times sorry for the delay. It's just that my laptop keeps having huge problems and I don't know where else to take it so it can be fixed. Anyway, here's a new chappie and I promise the next one will be uploaded in a week. Thanks for the patience!

Chapter 6: Showing her skills.

When Shari arrived, David was pacing around his office, his brows furrowed and his lips visible only as a thin white line.

" Shari, thank you for coming so soon," he said, turning to her figure before she even had time to enter.

His attitude worried her and she hurried to ask, " Is there anything wrong, David?"

" No… yes… well, it depends…" he fumbled, not looking at her in the eye.

" Oh, I love straight and clear answers," she joked.

The man smiled and seemed to have un-stressed a bit. " Due to this rather unexpected situation we are dealing with, the Board has called for an extraordinary meeting with the doctors of Presidio and… with you," he announced with a sigh.

Shari's brows shot up. " Me?"

" Yes, look, I hate to put you in this situation, but you will be expected to explain everything about your diagnosis and the disease," David said, making Shari smile broadly.

" Is that why you were so worried?" She asked sweetly.

" I don't like the idea of burdening you with the interrogatory you'll be most likely put through," he explained.

" Please, don't worry about that, I can handle it," the woman assured him.

Her boss looked at her with a mixture of wonder and appreciation, which deepened when, three hours later, she entered the conference room with great confidence. It was packed; every single doctor and director was there. Yet, she serenely took her place behind the desk and stood tall and proud in front of the physicians

" We now know for a fact that we have a Chagas Mazza case in our hands," she started as the room fell immediately silent. " We have taken all the necessary precautions: the patient is medicated, as well as the physicians who have been in touch with him. I'm treating Mr. Robertson in an isolated room at the hospital, with the aid of Drs. Kokoris and Slingerland."

A hand rose in the air and she nodded at the man who spoke in an imperious tone. " Since none of us is familiar with this infection, perhaps you could explain some more… "

" Of course, Dr. Anderson," she replied evenly. Shari knew the time of her test had arrived, so she took a deep breath, cleared her mind and started talking, not letting her voice betray her nervousness. " Chagas' disease affects an estimated 18 to 20 million people in Central, South America, and the United States. Its symptoms are varied, diffuse, and may be caused by other diseases besides Chagas. Acute Chagas is lethal, especially for children, and chronic Chagas debilitates patients for years Chief symptoms of Chagas' disease include constipation, malaise or a feeling of always being tired, the inability to swallow, fever, and varying degrees of discomfort and/or abdominal pain. They are also related to heart conditions and are usually masked by them. These symptoms are caused by a microscopic pathogen called Trypanosoma cruzi, or T. cruzi, a protozoan parasite. T. cruzi is transmitted to humans by Triatomine insects, called vinchucas and barbeiros, that are commonly found in poor areas with unsanitary housing conditions.

The original landscape of human Chagas disease in all Latin America is composed of rural areas with huts covered by grass or palm leaves and constructed with mud, stones or wood cracked walls. That's where the vinchucas live during the day. At night, they come out of their habitats and bite the patients, feeding from their blood. As they do this, they leave a trail of feces around the small wound, releasing the parasite into the bloodstream. It inhabits its victims' cells, and colonizes the heart, colon, and esophagus, turning into a lethal disease if not treated in time."

" Then the patient was bitten by one of these insects?" Intervened one of the senior members of the board.

" Indeed. He told me he went for a trip to the Northern border of Argentina and slept in a hut made of mud, a most likely ideal habitat for vinchucas."

For the space of two hours, the young woman answered questions, explained every single detail and presented evidence on her diagnosis. When the meeting was over, she simply ignored her tiredness and hurried to check on Mr. Robertson. A while later, Matt and Nicholas joined her.

" You were terrific, Shari," said the first, grinning and patting her back.

She let out a sigh. " It's good to hear that, Matt. I was so nervous!"

" It didn't show at all," commented Nicholas and Shari was left speechless for a second. That sounded like a compliment.

" Well thank you, Dr. Kokoris," she said and smiled. " Please, don't forget to come see me in five days," the woman reminded them.

The two doctors promised they would and, once she was done there, she returned to her office.

Before Shari even had the time to realize she was now a real professional, six days had passed. Mr. Robertson's health had improved, she had examined all the attendings and none of them presented any symptoms... well, she had examined almost all of them.

' Dr. Kokoris didn't turn up for the examination. Why doesn't that surprise me?' She thought bitterly.

As if her thinking of him had been enough to make him materialize out of thin air, Shari found the man sitting in front of her office.

" Dr. Kokoris?" She asked as she approached him.

" Oh, Miss Hayes..." He said, quickly getting up.

" It was about time you came to see me. You're the only one who hasn't," she mildly scolded him.

" I am sorry, I've been busy. But this morning I woke up feeling dizzy and somewhat weak..." he commented, not looking at her in the eye.

Shari was immediately alert. " Any nausea, fever or abdominal pain?"

" No."

" Then come with me, please, I'll take the blood sample now."

He complied and followed her to the biochemistry lab. As she sat in front of him and proficiently started to sink the needle on his flesh, Shari noticed he was a lot more withdrawn than usual.

' He's scared,' she concluded triumphantly. It felt good knowing almighty Nicholas was frightened by a disease.

" During one of my first lab tests, I prickled myself with a hanta-infected needle, you know?" She casually commented. He looked up at her and she took it as a cue to go on. " I totally freaked out."

" What happened?" He softly asked.

" Nothing really, I washed my finger with abundant water, soap and an iodine solution and took the preventive medication. I never developed any symptoms."

" You were lucky."

" I know," she said and released his arm. The small vial with his blood shining an intense shade of red in her other hand. " I'll go check on Mr. Robertson. Come see me in the afternoon, I'll have your lab results ready."

" I'll be there."

She started walking away, but suddenly stopped and turned to look at him. " Oh, and Dr. Kokoris?" She called out. " It is OK to be worried." Without waiting for an answer, Shari shot him a brief smile and finally entered the elevator.

Nicholas simply watched her retreating figure, simply marveled. The woman had sensed his apprehension and, instead of ridiculing him like he deserved after the way in which he had treated her, she had simply tried to make him feel better. Shari was one in a million, he could see that much.

What marveled him even more was how anxious he was for the afternoon to arrive. Thinking back, he couldn't recall when was the last time he had been that expectant about anything. Time went on despairingly slow, until, at 2 PM, he couldn't wait any longer and went to her office.

He found her working on her laptop, but she immediately put it away the minute she saw him.

" Hello, Dr. Kokoris, I have good news for you," she greeted him with a smile.

" You do?"

" Yes, there doesn't seem to be any viral charge in your blood, so I'll only run one more test on you," she informed him.

Nicholas frowned. " What is it?"

" Give me your hands," she commanded, but he simply stared blankly at her. " Since you touched the patient without gloves, I have to check for any signs of swelling that can be associated to the penetration of vinchucas' feces on your skin," she explained.

" OK..." Nick was reluctant. He didn't want her to touch him for he feared his very own reaction. For the first time, he actually acknowledged he was attracted to her and...

He lost his trail of thought and drew a sharp intake of breath. When she took his hands in hers, a million sensations seemed to explode inside of him. He closed his eyes and had to struggle to keep his breathing even as she softly rubbed his fingers. To keep in control, Nicholas had to remind himself over and over that it was just an examination. Had it not been for that, only God knows what he would have done.

But when she started tracing intricate designs on his palms with her delicate fingers, Nick had to admit it had been a long time since a woman's innocent touch awoke such fierce passion from him. But why Shari? He didn't even like her.

' Or maybe I just like her too much,' he thought, bewildered at that admission.

And anyhow, her skin against his felt nice. He held his breath, hypnotized by the tiny lines of fire her touch was sending through his body. Shaking his head, he managed to come out of the dazed state her contact had induced him. When he did, Nicholas found Shari had let go of his hands and was staring at him.

Their eyes met and they locked gazes. A million of unspoken emotions were shared. For a charged instant that seemed like a century, they bared their souls to each other.

Shari looked away and cleared her throat. " There are no bumps or marks, that's a good sign. Those symptoms you described this morning must be related to stress; still, I'd ask Matt to check on me, if I were you."

" I will... thank you," he said, noticing his voice had gone husky.

" Come see me in five days and if everything's alright I'll suspend your medication, OK?"

" Yes, thanks again."

Nicholas realized he wasn't only thanking her for her concern. Oh no. He was also grateful for having made him feel, really feel.

" It's my job, Dr. Kokoris," she replied simply.

He smiled briefly and, when he had his hand on the doorknob, Shari remembered something. " Oh, and could you please remind the others to do the same? Specially Matt, know he knows he's alright he probably won't want to be examined again, but I really need to."

OK, what was that unexplainable wave of jealousy that washed over him? Nick didn't know, but he sure didn't like the idea of Shari touching Matt the way she had touched him.

Shari saw his back stiffen before he turned back to her.

" Are you and him dating?" He asked.

She was utterly, entirely and positively bewildered. Where the hell did that question come from? " No, we aren't," she replied flatly. " But how is that any of your business?"

" I am sorry, I know it was out of line, but I was just... curious. You two seem very close."

" We are. But we can be extremely close without sleeping together, Dr. Kokoris."

Nicholas acknowledged her words with a curt nod and left her lab. Situations like that were the ones that made her wonder why were men so complicated.