Fifteen days later, Shari was signing Mr. Robertson's release order. The man had presented a clear remission of chagasic symptoms as well as of the viral charge in his blood. With a smile, the woman sent him home, only after loading him with boxes of Benznidazole and advice on what to do in case he felt ill again.
Once she was done there, she went back to the Usher Medical Tower, where she was now treated as an equal by the doctors from Presidio Med. Yes, even Nicholas Kokoris seemed to have finally accepted her and as Robertson's health improved, so did their relationship. Of course, the surgeon hadn't become her best friend, but at least they were on good terms.
" Good morning, beautiful," greeted Matt from behind her as soon as she had entered Presidio's offices.
" Hey, Matt, I've just released Mr. Robertson. He told me to thank you for all you did for him."
" You were the one who saved him, Shari," the man pointed out.
The young woman shrugged. " Maybe, but he's already thanked me, so... are you free for lunch?" She asked, feeling her stomach protest at the lack of something solid for her gastric juices to work on.
" No, he isn't," intervened Letty Jordan. " Good morning Shari and I'm sorry to take him away, but I got a patient I need him to admit."
" Oh, bugger," muttered Matt, but the two women chose to ignore that.
Shari smiled. " Good morning Letty, and don't worry, when duty calls... see you later," she said and, just before she crossed the door, Matt called out for her.
" Wait, love! What about some lunch with Nicholas? He's at the locker room."
The wicked spark in her friend's eyes told her he was challenging her. And she was never the kind of woman who wasn't up for a challenge.
" Sure," she replied laughingly. " I'll go get him, meet us at the cafeteria when you're done."
Slingerland's jaw dropped when he saw her head towards the men's locker room, but Shari didn't hesitate and, after knocking, opened the door wide open and entered. Nicholas was there, tossing some things inside his locker. She cleared her throat and he turned, surprise written all over his face at the sight of her in there.
" Dr. Kokoris, hi," she whispered, feeling suddenly shy.
The Greek physician blinked twice before answering with a very awed-sounding, " Miss Hayes… "
She smiled resolutely. Somehow, seeing him nervous made her feel at ease. " I finally had some time off and decided to go for a snack, wanna come?" She offered.
Nick proceeded to stare at her for a while longer, before turning his back on her. " Thank you, but I'd rather be alone," he replied.
" No-one could actually enjoy having lunch on his own. C'mon, I'm buying," insisted Shari good-naturedly.
After turning and piercing her with a cold look and scowl, he hissed, " I said I wanted you to leave me alone. What part of 'alone' you don't get?"
Shari was taken aback by his answer. If he had punched her right on the stomach, he wouldn't have made her feel half as bad as she was feeling at that moment. But as she swallowed her tears, she let her anger take over her entire body.
" I thought that after Mr. Robertson's case you had come to develop some degree of acceptance towards me. Obviously, I was wrong!" She exclaimed heatedly.
The man had the decency to look ashamed." It's not that..."
But she didn't let him finish. " Then what is it? I can't believe I've been here for a year and you still don't like me because I'm young, live in an expensive neighborhood and wear designer clothes! I work my ass off everyday and practically have no life just to show people like you that I'm not a daddy's girl who got here just because he knew the right people!"
" Shari..."
Enraged as she was, she missed the fact that he had called her by her first name.
" I've tried to like you, I really have, even when you acted like a complete bastard. I ignored the rumors about you because I preferred to get to know you before; but, for the life of me, I don't even know why I made the effort!" His lips on hers ended her indignated diatribe.
She tried to protest, but the desire his full lips against her tender flesh were arousing in her was too strong to be denied. Drawing him closer with her arms encircling his neck, Shari surrendered to his kiss.
That gesture inflamed Nicholas' passion and, driven only by his need of her, he deepened his kiss almost immediately, ravishing her mouth, exploring it with an intensity that knew no limits as she started kissing him back. His tongue slid into her mouth, dancing with her own, his arms wrapping around her sensuous figure.
Nicholas leaned on her, until her back met the lockers. Taking advantage of that, he pressed his body to hers until a moan escaped her throat. Satisfied, which is not exactly a very accurate way to put it, since he knew that after that he could never get enough of Shari, he let go of her lips and opened his eyes.
Their gazes met and locked. Shari's eyes were full of questions, questions she didn't quite know how to express. His revealed an intensity that caught her by surprise, even more than his kiss did. Before he could gather enough air as to say a word, she whirled around and left the room. That left Nick totally puzzled.
Slamming his locker door shut, he ran after her.