MediMountie One Shots
A long time ago, I promised to write a Nathan and Faith story, so here it is. I may add other one-shots depending on which new ideas come my way. I hope you enjoy!
The Stress of Being a Mountie
"Allie!" Faith greeted cheerfully when the girl opened the door of the little rowhouse in answer to her knock. "Hello!"
Allie smiled and stepped aside to allow Faith to enter and escape the chilly wind outside.
"Hi Doctor Carter" she said with a smile. Faith noted she was in the middle of making dinner, as a florescent apron covered her dress. "Thank you for coming."
Faith smiled and shifted her grip on the little leather bag in her hand. "Of course," she breathed, trying to keep from looking too concerned. "So… Is everything okay?"
Allie shrugged convincingly. "I'm not sure" she admitted, her voice laced with believable worry. "Uncle Nathan wasn't feeling well when he came home this afternoon. I thought maybe you should check on him…"
Worry creased Faith's brow as she took in the news. "Oh dear…" she murmured, her heart skipping anxiously as she thought about the Mountie. "Where is he? How long has he been ill?"
Allie shrugged. "Not too long" she admitted sheepishly. "Better to be safe than sorry though, right?" she added with a guilty grin, before catching herself and pointing towards the stairs. "He's in bed right now. I'll bring up some tea as soon as it's finished."
Faith couldn't help but blush a bit over Allie's less than subtle attempts at matchmaking. Had Allie guessed that she was harboring feelings for Nathan? Was Nathan harboring feelings for her? Feeling the heat in her cheeks rising with her ascent up the little flight of stairs, Faith drew in a deep breath to settle the fluttering of her heart.
Nathan was sitting propped against a stack of pillows and reading quietly when she entered. The look of surprise on his face kindled a blush that matched her own as she passed through the door.
"Faith!" he breathed, quickly shutting the book in hand, and laying it down. "What are you doing here?"
Faith smiled shyly and set her bag down on the night table beside his bed. "Allie called me" she explained, trying to hide how much his earnest expression was affecting her. "She told me that you aren't feeling well?"
Nathan gave a faint sigh and shook his head. "I didn't ask her to do that" he explained. "Especially since there's nothing to worry about…" He caught Faith's searching, worried look, and tried to calm it. "I'm fine. Really…"
Faith sighed and, pulling a chair up beside Nathan's bed, proceeded to sit. "That's up to me to decide" she chastised him. "You don't exactly have the best track record as a patient."
She paused for a moment, her face growing serious. "Tell me Nathan" she murmured. "Is it the headaches again?"
Nathan grinned faintly. He would never admit it, but he didn't really mind being fussed over. "The headaches are getting better actually" he assured her. "It's just… I am feeling a little rundown today. I'll be fine, I just need to rest. Allie just tends to, um… She tends to worry about me, more than she should."
Faith nodded, looking both relieved and worried simultaneously. "She's not the only one" she murmured softly, her eyes hardly daring to meet his after saying it. "Now… Can you describe the pain for me?"
Nathan shook his head. "I'm just a little sore" he explained. "It's nothing to worry about. Sometimes my back aches after a day in the saddle. And ever since the accident, the cold weather causes my shoulder to act up."
Faith nodded understandingly, grateful for his honesty. "Well, I'm glad to see you resting for a change" she conceded, unable to hide her smile.
Nathan gave a little laugh, his look softening. "I'm trying to be a better patient now" he explained.
Faith smiled and tilted her head to one side, her eyes meeting his. "And I appreciate that' she murmured. Glancing towards the door to make sure that Allie wasn't listening, she leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice. "How are you sleeping lately?"
Nathan sighed and started to shrug but winced at the sharp twinge in his shoulder. "About the same…" he admitted, a hint of resignation in his voice. "I've been feeling more stressed lately. It makes it hard to wind down before bed."
Faith nodded, lowering her gaze for fear of locking eyes with him again, like the last time he had opened up to her. "What seems to be causing the stress Nathan?" she asked softly.
Nathan frowned faintly and shook his head. "I'm not sure" he admitted seriously. "Sometimes I just fell overwhelmed… Like I can't catch my breath. You know?"
Faith's brow creased with sympathy and reaching out, she took his hand in hers. She couldn't help but notice how tiny hers was against it.
"You never told me that" she murmured quietly.
Nathan felt her hand clasping his and was surprised by how comforting it was. No one had ever taken his hand like that before… It was nice.
"I haven't really told anyone about it" he explained. "Like I said, I don't even know where the stress is coming from…"
"Nathan" Faith's thumb moved across the back of his hand soothingly. "You're a Mountie. You are constantly putting your life in danger. And this year, you were in a terrible accident. Sometimes the weight of everything just starts to take its toll. That might be why you are feeling anxious. Have you ever felt this way before?"
Nathan didn't answer right away, and his eyes returned to meet hers. At last, he drew in a breath. "Yes" he admitted. "After Jack died."
Faith nodded and clasped his hand tighter
"For what it's worth" she said softly. "I'm glad you weren't killed in that landslide."
Nathan's eyes widened in surprise. He had never heard anyone say that to him before. There were even times when he wasn't sure himself if he was glad that he had survived.
"You… You are?" he faltered, bewilderment written all over his face.
Faith nodded seriously, but earnestly. "Very much so" she confirmed. "And I know Hope Valley might not be exactly where you thought you would end up, but… I'm glad you are here. And there's nowhere else I would rather be than right here… with you."
Nathan was stunned by this revelation and found himself at a loss for words with only the feel of her hand in his to remind him that he wasn't dreaming this up. He wasn't sure if he deserved Faith's words, but they made him feel wanted. They made him feel loved.
"Thank you" he breathed in a low voice. "That means a lot to me…"
Faith smiled and gave a little nod. "It's true" she assured him. "Besides, no one tells corny jokes like you do."
They both laughed, the heaviness of the moment lifting with their laughs. Before they had even fully recovered, Allie appeared in the doorway, bearing the tea she had promised on a tray.
"I told you I'd have a nice tea ready for you" she beamed proudly as she set the little arrangement down on the night table. "The scones took me all afternoon."
"They look wonderful Allie" Faith said admiringly. As she glanced at the sugar decked cakes. They did indeed look splendid!
"I'm sure they are delicious kiddo" Nathan said, with as much pride in his voice as Allie's. "You're getting really good in the kitchen."
Faith smiled. "That's a gift" she agreed. "Unfortunately, it's not a gift I share. I've never been very good in the kitchen."
Nathan chuckled. "That makes two of us" he added.
Allie crossed her arms and grinned. "Dad tries, but I've pretty much taken over the cooking around here now."
The three of them enjoyed tea together, exchanging stories and laughs until Faith and Allie noticed that Nathan had dozed off.
"It's getting late" Faith noted in a hushed tone, glancing at her heart-shaped pocket watch as she did. 'You probably have to prepare for the school day tomorrow, and your dad needs to rest. Plus, I should probably be getting home."
Allie nodded reluctantly and picking up the empty tea tray, shuffled quietly out of the room. Faith started to follow but stopped suddenly. Glancing back at Nathan who was by now deep in sleep, she felt something stir within her heart that she hadn't felt for a very long time, if ever.
As Faith took in the sight of the sleeping Mountie, she realized that what she felt for him was more than mere attraction. She loved him. She wanted to share a life with him. This little life that he and Allie had… She wanted to be a part of it.
The feeling of love and longing that she now felt moved her to return to his bedside and leave a feather-light kiss against his brow.
"I love you Nathan Grant" she whispered, almost inaudibly.
Even as she shut the door of the little Grant rowhouse, she wished beyond all hope that someday, she wouldn't have to leave.
If only things had been different… If only she had recognized her feelings for Nathan sooner… She wished she could stay and look after Nathan when he wasn't feeling well. She wished she could help Allie in finishing her homework. She wished more than anything that she could become a part of their family.
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