Chapter 4 - Mutterings

Susan could not scream, she could not shout, she felt his arm squeezing the pressure on to her windpipe, she is gagging and her eyes are welling up. Susan raised her hands up to grip his arm, dug her nails into his skin, trying to get him to let go. She kept digging until he drew blood.

"You are not going to get away, you bitch!" He snarled and lets go of her. He winced rubbing his wounded skin. The Man punched Susan forcefully in the kidneys. She stumbled forward into the table clutching her back and stays put for a minute. Whimpering trying to recover from the agonising pain from the blow.

"Ok I surrender," Susan said, panting with her hands raised up and turns round to face him then she tries to walk away by stepping aside. The man follows her and trusts his arm out forcefully at Susan causing her to tumble down to the floor.

"Uh!" She moaned when her hands hit the floor, breaking the fall. She felt his firm grip on her left foot. She winced at him twisting it and turned her body in the same direction, to stop any damage to her ankle. She is now laid on her back looking up at him and curled up in a ball in to protect herself. The man knelt down to straddle on to her, grabbing both wrists and placing them over her head to restrain her. Susan is trying to fight him off.

"This is your last chance babe" The man gave his word of warning, gripping her face. Susan cried when he moved his hand to press it on to her injured stomach.

A groan from the other side of the room distracts the man; Doug is coming round from his unconsciousness.

"Saved by the bell bitch," the man grumbled, letting go of Susan's wrists and got up. Susan sighed with relief and slowly gets up, clutching her tummy to walk over to Doug.

"Hi how you feeling?" Susan asked stroking his hair.

"I've got a thick head and the back of my tongue hurts like hell," Doug croaked

"I'm not surprised, your tongue slipped back obstructing your airway" Susan announced, turning her head to look where the man is standing; the man is huddling himself into a corner.

"What? I swallowed my tongue" Doug tried to sit up clutching his throat "God I could have died"

"You almost did," Susan said, checking the IV bags "I had to fish it out then gave you a kiss of life"

"You kissed me?" Doug asked playfully, tilting his head to gaze at her. "Thank you for saving my life"

"Don't mention it" Susan said, her expression on her face turned into sadness.

"Is he still giving you grief?"

"Yes" Susan sniffled with tears welling up in her eyes.

Half an hour has passed, still no response from the outside world, delivering the addict's request. He is curled up in the corner rocking trying to fight off the withdrawal, and he is pointing the gun at Susan and Doug who are sat on the bed chatting away trying to pass the time and breaking the boredom. Surprisingly Doug recovered quickly from his unconsciousness. He is still very sore.

"Has he got cold turkey?" Doug asked watching the man doing rocking motions and murmuring to himself.

"Yes" Susan said, leaning over, whispering in to Doug's ear. "He believes that the police are delivering him supplies"

"The police? You spoke to them?" He asked her softly

"Yes the negotiator rang in here, he refused to co-operate so I had to do the talking"

Doug nodded "Ok" he puts the dressing in his hand to compress his cut on his head. He winced when he touches it.

"Let me have a look at that" Susan got up and stood in front of him. She slipped herself between his legs and examines the laceration "Definitely needs suturing"

"I think you have the making of a great doctor," Doug said, looking up at the young doctor. He is smiling mischievously at her positioning in front of him. 'Is she flirting with me?'

"How can you say that? I'm only a first year resident"

"Your skills, I've watched you closely and the way you deal with situations"

"Thank you" Susan blushed at Doug's compliments "That's if I get out of here alive!"

Doug sat in silence watching Susan putting dressing on his head; the only noise they can hear is the commotion out in the corridor and the man in the corner humming out.

"Oh sorry how selfish of me. I've never asked how's your tummy?"

"Oh very sore" Susan replied putting her hand on her stomach.

"How's things with you and Div?"

"Div? We broke up ages ago"

"I didn't know"

"He went weird"

"Weird? What like stalking you?"

"No-no he got a bit depressed, his job got to him"

"You know what they say about Shrinks"

"I sussed that the one out, I don't know whose nuttier Div or him!" Susan snorted with laughter, pointing at the assailant.

Doug joined in the laugh and leaned forward closely to look at Susan face, he is giving his puppy dog eye look. She looked down trying to avoid eye contact and bit her bottom lip, trying to fight off that schoolgirl crush on him. Doug lifted up his hand to put against her face and traced it down her cheeks.

"So how's Diane?" Susan asked, trying to avoid the sexual tension between them.

"Diane? No we're not together anymore" Doug replied closing his eyes letting out a sigh, he is disappointed that Susan has to spoil the moment.

"So who is the woman of the week then?"

"What? You know what… You guys think I have a different woman every night," Doug snapped. "I've only dated 2 women since Carol and I broke up"

"I'm sorry, I was only going by…"

"Going by what that lot out there are saying" Doug interrupted "Well words of advice Suse, don't listen the rumours here, ok?"

Doug groaned with anger and got up; Susan stepped aside to let him through. He gripped on to the IV stand and dragged it with him when he walked to the window. Susan's eyes follow him, then looked down in front of herself and bury her face into her hands.

"Damn!" She muttered and walked away from the bed to follow Doug who is now standing by the window "I'm sorry, Doug, I erm... didn't mean to say I erm… it's not like me to say such things about…"

"I know, that's why you surprised me" Doug turned his head to face her "Are you the sweet little Susie I've heard about?"

"No I'm not" Her face broke out in her prominent grin, Susan is blushing with embarrassment. "You don't know me"

"No I don't" Doug shook his head and smiled "But I would like to know more…"