It was quiet in the med ward. Most of the teams were deployed or at PT with Beach. Hector stopped at the nurse's station where I'Lee and Brinn were catching up on files.
"Hey, ladies. Let Doc know I'm here would ya?"
"Sure. Go into Exam Two…be there in a minute."
He couldn't tell which one had answered and he really didn't care. After spending so much time in the psyche wing, Hector was just glad he could leave when the visit was over.
Exam Two was pretty basic as exam rooms go. He walked to the window and looked out. Ten people were on the PT course.
"Glad it's not me," he mumbled as he removed his overshirt. Stretching his arms, he began to loosen up his neck and shoulders so they wouldn't be all stiff when Doc came.
"I can help you work out some of those kinks," Brinn suggested as she walked in.
Hector didn't even turn around. "Where's Doc? He's supposed to be here."
The dark headed nurse came around to face him. "He was called out for a search and rescue."
"Line?"
"TAD on the George Washington." She raised a slender brow. "Wreck, are you trying to get out of this 'exam'?"
The sailor stood. "Not trying. Going." He grabbed his shirt and moved to walk around her.
She blocked his path. "Doc left orders for us to check you out. If you don't comply, you'll be put on report."
He narrowed his eyes at that.
"Come on," Brinn fluttered her lashes at him. "You aren't scared of little old me, are you? I hear you were quite the party boy. I promise I don't bite, much." She advanced on him, walking her fingers up his chest.
Stammering, Hector backed up against the wall. "Not…not any more, Doll. I've really had a rough morning… I'm not feeling well…." He clenched his fists inside his now twisted shirt. No, no, don't touch me…don't touch me…no, no, no…
At the nursing station, I'Lee straightened. She looked around for Brinn and didn't see her. Has someone come by? The little nurse checked the appointment calendar and frowned. Wreck was due in at three but she had called and left a message on his v-mail that it was canceled. Absently, she scratched the top of her cast.
Voices drifted through the ward. Someone had come in. She walked quietly down the hall. Exam One was empty. A little further down, the door to Exam Two was ajar. Nobody was due in, so who is down here? That was the question, wasn't it? The strawberry blonde gently pushed the door revealing one overly friendly nurse and one very disturbed patient.
"BRINN!" I'Lee hissed. "Red light! Right now!" It had only taken a glance for her to see the tendons on his neck as he tried not to lash out at the unsuspecting nurse.
The taller nurse laid a flat palm on Hector's chest and turned to her teammate. "Oh, come on, I'Lee, don't tell me—"
In a lightning fast move, the smaller nurse grabbed Brinn and swung her out of the way as the shirt began to tear from the strain. She propelled the flabbergasted nurse into the hallway and became a spitfire.
"I should put you on report, foolish girl. You almost got yourself hurt." I'Lee's eyes flashed. "See this?" She held up her hand and pointed to the cast. "You want one? Now, get back to the station and finish the files. Beach will be through with PT shortly, so you'd better be ready. And if I ever see you do that again with any patient here on the ward, you'll be so busted your mother won't recognize you."
The other nurse scampered back down the hall, her hand over her mouth, crying. I'Lee sighed and leaned against the door. Brinn was good at her job but a little too friendly at times. It was hard not to be with all the lads on base. Shaking her head, the small nurse prepared herself to try and fix any damage unintentionally done by the younger girl.
Quietly, she pulled the door open and entered. Hector had slid down the wall and was sitting on the floor staring at the mess in his hands.
"Hey."
A pair of blues cut up to look and turned back down.
"Didn't you get my message?"
A head shake 'No.'
She walked over and knelt beside him. He was very still. "Wreck…" She tried to make eye contact again but he refused to look up. "Hector. There's only room for one guy who doesn't speak on this base. SE has that pretty well covered." She poked his leg gently.
"I didn't touch her."
"I know. She's new. And …well, new is as nice as I can be right now."
"I just want to feel normal again."
"Meh, normalcy is overrated. That's why I work here. With all you loons." She laughed and saw him try not to smile. Adjusting her legs, she sat down properly next to him, out of touching distance.
"How's the hand?"
She held up her cast so he could see. Reaching for her left hand, he covered with his own two larger hands completely. It was all he could handle for now and she was content to let that be enough.