By Didi
Disclaimer: Anyone out there that still thinks that I might actually own anything in association with this story after reading the first sixteen disclaimers for this story needs to have their reality checked for stalls. Thanks.
Timeline: I'm not even going to try to guess on this one now. Anything that was on the show beyond "With Grace" needs to be ignored and forgotten while reading this. Everything else… read the other sixteen chapters of this story for it. Thanks.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Allow me to just say that I'm having a little too much fun with this story now. It's kind of taking another breather and seem to be steaming along at a speed that is quite disturbing at times. Of course this means my other stuff gets ignored…. Sigh. You just can't win them all, can you?
Summary: What would you do in the name of love?
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Chapter Seventeen~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Something akin to heady euphoria hit Matt Slingerland as he awoke to the warm body and the smell of… was that baby powder? The thought brought a smile to his lips as he leaned closer and pressed his lips against the bare shoulder peeking out from the gapping collar. The fresh, clean scent of baby powder filled his senses once more. For a brief moment, he wondered if he was going to get turned on every time he smelled a baby now.
Blinking slightly, he leaned back slowly to take in the sight of Jules Keating curled in sleep next to him. Her lashes fanned over her freckled dusted cheek scrubbed clean of any powders last evening when she climbed into bed. For as along as he shall live, he will never before the 'being hit by a semi' feeling when he looked up from turning down the bed to see her standing in the doorway of his bedchambers wearing nothing but one of his dress shirts buttoned almost to the collar. Her hesitant look about only added to his absolute breathtaking-ness of that moment.
Climbing out slowly, one hand reached for the alarm that has yet to go off and the other pulled the covers back into place around the sleeping fairy in his bed. Because he gave him such joy to see her there, he stood and watched her for a minute longer. It was a fantasy coming true; Jules Keating curled up in the middle of his bed. He almost wished he had a camera to capture this moment. But that would be just too weird. He'll wait a few more months to ask her if he could do that. And he fully intend for there to be several more months to come where she will be there every morning.
Slipping him to use the bathroom down the hall, because he had no intension of awaking her, he smiled practically whistled as he brushed his teeth and washed his face.
Last evening had gone better that he could have ever hoped… with the exception of that candy dish he had every intension of replacing at first chance. Heading down to the kitchen, he glanced briefly at the sparkling shards of crystal that was still littered in the carpet. Neither of them mentioned it when they cleaned up dinner last evening. Matt was sure he was going to get hell from Bea when she sees it.
He smiled to himself as he pulled ingredients out. He fully intended to induce an agreement of staying another night with the kind of breakfast he knew she wasn't getting in her own apartment. From what little was in her kitchen, Matt could easily imagine that cold milk and cereal really was her standard breakfast. He was going to correct that immediately, especially given her condition. He will not have his child gestating in sugary nonsense and junk food all the time. That was simply unacceptable.
There was a moment of doubt as he found the mixing bowl where it was suppose to be. Jules would no doubt argue with him on that point, her staying over often so that he may see her to nutrition as well as anything else he felt necessary to ensure that she had a easy, worriless pregnancy. An independent woman such as her would not take well to his suggestion of his taking care of her. The woman was quite good at illogical arguments and denials. Witness the silly argument last evening.
Cracking fresh eggs that his housekeeper had gotten two days before at the farmer's market, Matt smugly recalled that Jules was her most honest in bed. There, she couldn't even attempt to deny her attraction to him.
He had awoken sometime after two in the morning to find warm lips against his own. With his own dream-like consciousness still dominate, Matt hadn't even thought to resist. Not that he would even if he had thought of it. It wasn't until he had her on her back, his body more than ready to so other things than sleep, that his mind caught up with his libido. To say that they were both disappointment with his self control would have been putting it mildly. But control was something he didn't lack. Soothing her bad to sleep, he suffered for another hour of silent frustration before the dream-king finally reigned over him.
Matt had an unsettling feeling that he was going to need lots and lots of cold showers the next few days. He'll have go nag Dr. Lenning for a due date on her cease and desist order.
Heating the pan, he briefly considered calling his parents and telling them the news. But then against, he didn't really want to alarm them… or give them any ideas, more than they have already anyways. That was going to be the interesting part, dealing with the families involved. Matt had no doubt that Jenna Fraser and her husband will welcome the news of a new addition, given Jules's reason for it in the first place, but his own family was a different kettle of fish. He could already see his father heading to the barristers' offices.
"Hi."
So lost was he in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed Jules standing there for longer than was healthy for his own benefits. Burning his finger on the hot pan, he cursed silently at his father for being the cause of his pains.
Coming forward, she grabbed his burnt finger and blew gently on it. She ran the flat of her thumb over the injury and pulled him toward the sink. Running cool tap water, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
Watching her with eyes that betrayed him, "It's quite all right; just a little burn." He still couldn't quite tear his eyes away. He never quite appreciated a good plain blue dress shirt as much as he does now. The near shapeless garments seem to emphasis her delicate femininity.
Pulling the towel hanging by the sink, she picked up the droplets of water from both their hands with gentle little pats. "Still…" she pulled his hand to her lips and kissed his finger. "Better?" turning with a teasing smile that froze on her face. Slingerland's face reflected something that she didn't quite want to name but knew what it was anyways. Looking away, she cleared her throat, "Matt, breakfast?"
He tuned and went back to cooking. It was a good thing he had the burner on low. "Care to make tea?"
"Sure," she nodded, glad for something to occupy herself with. "Where do I start?"
He caught her just as she was about to begin her search, and brought his lips down over hers for a moment. Lingering over the touch, he smiled as pulled away. Now this was the right way to start a day. "Good morning."
Blushing, though she wasn't sure why, she cleared her suddenly parched throat. "Good morning," and tucked a stray lock behind her hair shyly.
The endearingly self conscious gesture made him smile as he turned back to breakfast. "The teapot is on the second shelf in the cabinet to the right of the sink. The tea is next to the tea pots and the teacups are under. The strainer is in the third drawer to the left of the sink and toward the back. You'll find sugar over here."
She moved to precisely where he described and proceeded to prepare tea while he set a kettle over second burner to heat water. They moved silently together and made breakfast with ease of comfort and familiarity. He made a mental note to have her here as often as possible. She just looked too delicious in his kitchen, wearing his clothes.
"So what do you have today?" he asked, settling the perfectly fluffy omelets on china and carrying it to the center island. "You don't mind, do you?" he asked gesturing to the tall bar stools to the side of the kitchen then to the island once more. "I generally eat here, more comfortable and less hassle."
"No, it's perfect," she smiled and set the teapot down and reached for the stools. "I like it here."
"Good," he said and reached under the island for utensils.
"It's very functional isn't it?" she asked glancing into the drawers.
"I keep my 'everyday' things in here," handing her a plain silver fork and a tiny teaspoon with a green bell on the top. "From Brighton."
"Is it nice there?" she asked, spooning sugar into her tea cup then pouring milk.
"Green trees planted for the soul purpose of visual enjoyment. Clean street due to tourism and very good pubs. Yes, it's heavenly," he said pouring tea for her to mix and taking his plain.
"Hum… I've never been there," taking a bite of the wonderful looking breakfast. "Um… this is good," taking another.
Eyes lighting up delight over her obvious enjoyment of the carefully prepared breakfast, he smiled and took a sip of tea, which he promptly had to spit back into his teacup. "Lord, where did you do to this tea?"
Jules's fork pause halfway back to her mouth. Taking a sip of hers, she looked at him blankly. "What?"
Rinsing his mouth out with water, he turned back and took both their cups as well as the teapot. "Who taught you to brew tea, darling?" pouring everything out in the sink.
She frowned at him. "What do you mean?"
Since it was obvious she had no idea what he was talking about, "Do you always make tea this lethal?"
"Lethal?"
"Yes," shaking his head. His tongue left as if someone had poured acid, or that American whiskey he had the other night, on it and killed all his taste buds. The abuse he has been putting on his body was atrocious. "How about we make a deal, luv?"
"What kind of deal?" lost in this conversation.
"I'll cook, I'll make the tea, I'll be in charge of the kitchen and you can clean."
She shook her head to clear it. "And why would be making this kind of deal?"
"It'll come up again in the future, I'm sure of it," pouring tea leafs from the tin. "Deal?"
"Since I'm not too fond of cooking," she shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
"Good," getting the kettle again. "Now, I'll make you some Darjeeling tea that hasn't been brewed to death."
"Are you saying that I make lousy tea?" she asked as she took another forkful of properly made omelet. The man can cook a cook an omelet, she'll give him that.
"Oh most assuredly, my dear," he informed and poured hot water into the strainer.
And because she did admit to him once more, "Oh, just making sure," and shrugged her shoulder. "But I have plan you know. I'm going to………" She stopped herself as the rest of the practiced sentence ran through her head.
"What was that?" he asked pulling the strainer out with a flick of his wrist. His mother would be so proud of him right now. Nothing defines an English gentleman that the fine art of tea making, or so his mother says.
"Nothing," she muttered and placed her fork next to her plate. Finding a man that cooks had been one of those things that she joked about and even used as an excuse once or twice, but it didn't seem appropriate here somehow. Or maybe because it actually applied this time around.
"Here," setting a new cup before her. "Try that and tell me it isn't ten times better than what you just tried to poison me with."
Jules took the cup, not quite sure of anything at the moment. With slightly shaky hands, she brought the cup to her lips. Surprisingly enough, the gently brewed tea managed to make an impression on her slightly fuddled mind. "This is good," glancing down at the soft amber liquid. "I don't even need sugar or cream."
"And that's the way tea is suppose to be," he informed her with satisfaction and sat down to have his breakfast. "I was thinking, dear, that I'd take you over to your apartment so that you can get some fresh clothes."
"That's cool," she replied.
"And then maybe you'd like to pack a bag and spend another night here."
Her fork dropped onto the plate with a clatter and she hastily picked it up again. Finding the pansy patterns under all the egg suddenly fascinating, "I'm not sure if that's a very good idea."
"All right then," polishing off the omelet with a few bites, "I'll pack up a bag and stay with you tonight. But if we're going to stay there, we do need to pick up some food since you appear to live on olives and spoiled milk."
"I do not," she replied indignantly, flustered that he wanted to come over. "And I was thinking that maybe we should………"
"I think we should spend a few more days together joined at the hip until you see things a little more clearly, or until we make love several more time to get this out of my system," he informed her cheerfully and took her empty plate. "I think it's very important at this stage in our relationship."
"And what stage is that?" she wanted to know not at all sure she liked that fact that he appeared to be taking charge only too easily here. She didn't want to be thinking about the fact that he had just announced that he had every intention for this to be a physical relationship and not just two people raising a kid together. She was just independent enough, and usually a lot more than this, to resist being told what to do, even if part of her agreed with him. And that part of her is scaring herself to no end.
He grinned and rinsed out the plates to put into the dishwasher. "The very beginning stages of a relationship, a real relationship, where two people are inseparable." He glanced over to see her still sipping tea and decided to allow the pot and cups to sit. They'll keep until tomorrow if he was going to spend the night with her. Washing his hands, he sighed with satisfaction. "I'll go pack unless you want to stay here for the night."
"I have to be by the phone for Jenna," she muttered, toying with the napkin she hadn't used but had been thoughtfully placed by her side.
The smile was hard to repress and he didn't even bother. "Then I'll go pack."
~~~~
"Dr. Keating!" Anita said loudly as the distracted doctor walked by without looking up. Two-thirty and either had been able to make it to lunch yet. The flu season was hitting everyone, including the staff hard.
"Um?" blinking to clear her mind of the notes she had been reading. Frankie Davidson was going to need to his tonsils removed. The infection gets worse each time he is brought it. It would only be a matter of time. Might has well do it now while he was young and recovers easily. "What is it Anita?"
"Your sister has been on hold for you for the last ten minutes," the redheaded receptionist informed her with a raised brow. "She's on line two."
Frowning as she reached for the phone over the counter, "Why didn't you interrupt me?"
"You said that unless the hospital was burning around my ears, you needed ten minutes with the Davidson boy," Anita replied with a frown. It wasn't the first time she had been reprimanded for disrupting a doctor-patient session. "I'm starving; can I go to lunch now?"
Throwing her a look that didn't bode well for her karma, she picked up and the phone and ignored the question. "Jenna?"
"Hey," brightening considerably as she bounced her child on her knee. Ten minutes of elevator music was making her eyes cross. "Are you sitting?"
"No," glancing at the irritated Anita who was looking at the scheduling book. "Hold on a sec, sis," and placed her hand over the receiver. "What does my next half hour look like?" she asked.
Anita's plucked brows rose a notch and she ran her finger down the schedule. "You've got Annie Fuberre in two minutes and Phillip Weiner in ten. Jason Markette in twenty and Donald Becker in thirty followed by a consultation with the resident surgeon."
Jules made a face. "Clips all here?"
Anita moved the stack onto the counter. "They're in order up to consultation."
"Take off and be back in half an hour," she informed the receptionist before taking her had off the receiver. "Hold on, I'm going into my office now but I've only got a minute or two."
Jenna blew a raspberry against her baby's cheek. "That's fine," then listened to more mellow music while Dr. Keating hauled ass into her office for the phone call.
Banging her hip on the corner of her desk, Jules made a face and picked up the phone. "Okay, I'm sitting," then collapsed into her s=chair with a grunt. "What's up? What's happening? And why the hell would you allow yourself to be put on hold for 10 minutes. Didn't you go bonkers with that elevator music?"
"You might want to suggest to your people to change the station on the hold lines cause that stuff will kill ya," putting Kevin down in his playpen. "I tried your house early this morning but you must have left already."
"What time?" remembering that she had checked her machine and got no important calls.
"Around seven but I didn't leave a message. I was just going to call the hospital instead but didn't get you there either."
Making a face, Jules decided not to tell Jenna that she hadn't arrived home until nearly seven-thirty to change. They had arrived at the hospital at eight sharp and jumped into work without another thought. The flu was making its way around population and both she and Slingerland were booked solid until seven in the evening, which meant she was probably going to be seeing patients until at least eight. "It's going to be a busy couple of days."
"I heard the flu bug is making its way toward……."
"Jenna, I hate to rush you but I've got several more patients to see today."
"Sorry," setting the baby monitor up and going to the next room. "I've got news for you."
"Good or bad?"
"Not sure yet."
"That's not helpful."
"I know," taking a deep breath. "We got a call yesterday from the hospital."
"Yes?"
"And they were going to through their records again, they usually do it every two weeks cause the number of………"
"Jenna! Tick tock, tick tock, I've got patients." And she did too. Between patients and paperwork on the patients, she would be lucky if she managed to get out of the hospital by nine this evening. "Get to the point, please."
"Michigan man. 32 years old. Registered six days ago."
Jules held her breath. "What's the……"
"Six of six."
Her blood went icy cold. "When?"
"He's flying in this weekend for the final test."
"And?"
Jenna held her breath. "The docs here are positively dancing in the aisles."
Jumping up, Jules did a silent happy Snoopy dance for a moment with the phone still pressed against her ears. This was the best news she's had in too long and she was going to milk it for all its worth. Her heart felt so big it was as if it was about to burst.
"You're doing the Snoopy dance right now aren't you?" Jenna asked with a grin as she too did their childhood ritual celebratory dance in silence.
"What do you think?" she laughed and knocked over Wily Coyote on her desk. "I'll take the first flight out on Friday and…… No, I'll be driving down Friday evening and go see this guy with you on Saturday."
Mouth suddenly going dry as she remembered what day it was, "Jules, yesterday, did you………"
"Yes."
"Oh shit!"
"Not to worry," Jules said glancing quickly at her watch. She was already two minutes behind. "I said I wanted this child no manner what and I meant every word or it and every time I said it." She wanted more time with Jenna to talk but she had duties to see to. "Listen, I'll call you later tonight okay? Don't go to sleep on me. I want to know every detail of this."
"I got it," Jenna replied and smiled. "Jules, if I didn't say it before or often enough: Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Hey, don't be a idiot," Jules aid, coming around the desk, ready to go again. "We're family and that's all there is to it."
"Yeah," she smiled. "So how are things with you and the British hunk of……"
"Gotta go, Jenna," and promptly hung up the phone.
~~~~
"… and the aortic valve will have to be re-sown," Letting shook her head and sighed. "That was abysmal work they did in County."
Kokoris made a disagreeable noise and made notes to himself as he read over the reports and glanced at the X-rays provided. There was nothing he disliked more than half-ass jobs, especially given the consequences of such actions. "I'll need to review the previous records once more before we go in."
"Have you booked the OR?" Jules asked, looking around for the stack of medical records she just had in her hand two seconds before.
"Not yet," Nick murmured as he reached over the counter and grabbed the stack to show Dr. Keating. "I'll bring it back when I'm done with it."
"Do that," Jules made a note in the charts indicating that the previous records were in Dr. Kokoris's possession now in case someone came looking for it. "Target date?"
Letty made a face. Six year old with a deflective valve were rare and most often hereditary. The first surgery didn't fix the problem completely when it had been done a mere four days after birth. That led to a serious of health complications over the past six years. This time around, Letty was determined to see that it is done right. And if Kokoris had anything to say about it, she didn't doubt that it would be. "He's heart is too weak right now for us to go in. I'd feel better if we wait a few days and see what his white blood count is."
"He's heart is going 92 a minute now, Letty," Jules informed her with some serious concern. "I'm not sure how long he's going to be able to keep that up."
Nick looked up sharply. "Wait, I thought it was 85," he shuffled a few sheets of paper around looking for the information he was sure he had seen.
"That was yesterday," she informed him with a sigh and turned the chart over to allow him to read. "This is his latest as of thirty minutes ago. I've got him in PICU now attached to an IV that is trying to slow it down."
Drs. Jordan and Kokoris both groaned and mentally prepared themselves for the likelihood of emergency surgery.
"Hello, luv." Slingerland managed to sneak a kiss against her neck before Dr. Keating had a chance to react to his suddenly popping up behind her. "And how has your day been?" Giving her a quick hug from behind before she could pull away.
Letty stared.
Nick was trying his best to keep his professional composure. It was quite an internal struggle.
"Off," Jules commanded shrugging his touch off all the while feeling her face heat with embarrassment. "This is a hospital for god sakes."
"What's your point?" he wanted to know, setting several charts on the table. He's been running around like a mad man for the past few hours. This was the first chance he's had to breathe. "Hello Dr. Jordan, you look lovely today."
Giving him a look that seemed to ask 'what drug are you on' then she shook her head with exasperation. "What do you want?"
"Lots of things," he told her with a contagious smile as he leaned over and gave Jules another squeeze, making her squirm to escape. "But for the moment, I need a consultation if you have a moment."
Since it wasn't really her place to say anything, she did. "Would the two of your like to share with the rest of the class?"
Slingerland smiled widely, his whole face lit up like a kid at Christmas. Jules, on the other hand, turned a shade of red that gave Letty a moment of concern for her health. Matt's delight with life wasn't being contained in any manner. "Well as a matter of fact……"
"What are you doing up here anyways?" Jules asked, elbowing him in the ribs to make him stop. "Don't you have patients or something?"
"X-Rays," he informed her, rubbing his side gently as if it really did hurt. "And you darling? What news has put that glow upon your face?"
Jules frowned at him. "What do you mean?"
"You're glowing, luv. You only get that kind of glow when you're happy about something. You get a slightly different glow when you're excited but that's a topic to be discussed at another time. Now back to the issue at hand, you're glowing. That means you've got good news. Share," he said.
Nick and Letty both observed this with speculative eyes that spoke volumes of their thoughts. Neither was about to voice them though. In their own way, they were both delight at this particular turn of events. They were amusingly adorable together for anyone not to nod and congratulate them.
"No," she replied defiantly.
"Why not?" he wanted to know.
"Because I don't plan on jinxing it."
"You're not going to jinx it."
"I might, so I'm not saying anything until reality takes hold."
"You're stubborn, you know that."
"Yes, in fact, I do know already know that."
"Well, as long as you know."
"I do," she nodded her head and took more notes down. "Nick, you want to prep an OR for Brian."
"I would still feel better if we wait for another white count," Letty informed her then held up her hand to forestall the protest. "Thirty minutes, Jules. It take thirty minutes."
Making a face, the pediatrician looked at the surgeon. "You're opinion?"
Kokoris shook his head. "I agree with you, we can't wait another week for his health to improve. His heart may fail by then. But I also agree with Dr. Jordan, if his whites are too low, he may not survive the surgery. Let's see the blood count first then consider going in hanging platelets."
"Hanging platelets may only stop the excessive blood loss, the infection is what we have to worry about," Letty commented as she looked over the charts once more. "Let me see the last blood test?"
"Here," handing her the printout then rubbed her stomach irritably.
Slingerland frowned. "What's the matter?"
Jules made a face. "I'm hungry."
"Hungry?" Nick glanced at his watch. "Lunch was less than three hours ago."
"I worked through lunch," she muttered and slipped the EKG back into the chart. They won't be able to get another set for a while.
"You didn't eat?" Matt asked, a little more than not liking this. "Why didn't you eat?"
"I had eight walk-in patients," she explained. "What did you want me to do? Ignore them?"
"Of course not," Matt muttered darkly. "But I also expected you to take care of yourself. And not eating properly is not my idea of taking care of yourself."
"Are you reprimanding me?" she asked, hands planted firmly on her hips.
He raised a sable brow. "When you do something ridiculous for one of your brilliance; most assuredly yes." His eyes softened as she continued to glare at him. "You have more than just yourself to think of now, Jules."
That made its way through her anger. "Fine," and glanced at her watch. She had six patients lined up for the next hour. "Grab me some cookies, will you?"
"I'll do that," Matt said just as a tech came flying over with a set of X-rays hot off the chemicals. "Oh goody," he muttered holding up the film to the light. Even with uneven filtering, he could already see the problem. "Letty, I'm going to need you on this one."
Dr. Jordan frowned and leaned sideways to see. Her eyes rolled and she made an apologetic noise to Jules. "I better take care of this," and picked up her notes. "Are we in agreement about that second blood test?"
"Yeah," Dr. Keating nodded, making a quick swipe of her own charts before they got lost in the shuffle of things as the four doctors prepare to depart. "I'll order it now. Nick, can you stay late or am I moving this for first thing in the morning?"
"I'd rather do it first thing in the morning," Nick admitted, grabbing his coffee from behind the counter. He was going to need a lot more of the eatable tar before the day was through.
Keating sniffed the coffee longingly.
"Don't even think about it," Matt warned softly as he handed Dr. Jordan the notes on his case she was about to step into. "Cookies will be here in ten minutes," he informed Jules. "I'll see you later tonight. Don't work too hard even though I know you will," and then grabbed her chin firmly to give her a quick kiss before following Letty down the hall toward the stairs.
Slingerland had already disappeared around the corner after a snickering Dr. Jordan before Jules had a chance to even react to his spontaneous show of affection……in front of half the pediatric staff. Feeling her fact heating up, Jules reminded herself that she was a grown woman and she had done absolutely nothing wrong. Of course, that thought lasted as long as it took her to open her eyes and stare back at the sea of faces that was regarding her with speculative eyes.
"You two seem to be on," Nick tilted his head and considered his words carefully. "Friendlier terms today."
"Matt's being his usual self," she muttered making her way to her office, trying to ignore the increase volume of whispers that seemed to be happening around her. The volume was making it hard to even pretend that she didn't know what they were talking about.
The grin on Nick's face was enough to send several nurses giggling with delight. "You mean completely enamored with you?"
"What?" turning around so quickly that Nick collided into her without meaning to.
Reaching out, the quick reflex catching Jules before she be toppled, Nick made a disagreeable face. "Must you do that?" and then pushed her into the office and shut the door firmly behind him to keep the rest of the salivating staff out.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded setting her charts down on a side table and turning to comfort him.
"Oh come now, Doctor," Nick said with sigh, setting his posterior onto a large yellow thing that resembled a tiny chair with big blue eyes. "Everyone in this hospital knows that Slingerland adores you, even the new additions such as myself. It's written on his face every time he looks upon you. Very difficult to miss."
"I have absolute no idea what you're talking about, Nick. I haven't seen anything like that."
"Of course you won't," he laughed. "You're involved. It's always more difficult to see straight when you're in the middle of the whirl wind."
Staring at him, Jules had an uneasy feeling that she appears to be the last person on this earth to know that Matthew Slingerland loved her. "So what are you saying? That Matt's been in love with me for sometime now?"
"I can't say for sure, only Dr. Slingerland can answer such a question. But if you're asking for what I know, I'd say that I haven't seen him not in love with you since I've known him."
That silence Jules, putting thoughts into her head. Matt's obvious affection of late has been something she's been considering. Even after this morning, she had some lingering thoughts of his sudden attachment due to the life she may even be carrying now. But if what Nick is saying is true………
"Are you involved?"
"What?" coming back to this realm.
Nick's lips curled up once more. "Are the two of you together now?"
"Um……."
"I'll take that as a yes."
Jules made a face. "It's complicated."
"Love always is."
~~~~
"Dr. Lenning?"
Harriet turned her pale blue eyes narrowing slightly as she took in the slightly disheveled look of the young technician. "Yes?" It was the end of a long day and she wanted to go home to rest before someone come in with an emergency. She wasn't on call tonight and she didn't have any plans to be.
"I'm Ken McKinney, from Lab Eight."
Since that meant nothing to Harriet, she merely shifted the clips in her hand and waited for clarification.
An utterly defeated look suddenly crossed the young man's face, making Harriet extremely nervous. There were few things that cannot be fixed in the hospital, death and…… well, death. Anything else is negotiable. "We had sent up three specimens yesterday to your office and…"
"What about them?" her voice calm but her mind already speeding along to all sorts of problems linked to whatever it is this slightly stuttering boy was trying to tell her. "What happened?"
Ken ran a nervous hand through his sandy hair. "I think you'll want to come down to the lab to see."
"Is it that bad?" she wanted to know flagging down a nurse to hand over her clips.
"It's worse," Ken warned her, holding the doors to the stairway open.
"Oh boy!."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be Continued….. (obviously)
Hum… this is taking longer to end that I had expected. New ideas keeps popping into my head that I want to get down. My apologies.