Richard looked at his wife as he put on his cuff links she had just put her cream flowy dress on – he liked when she wore it because it looked and felt as though it was made from clouds. He had decided to take her out on a date after she was feeling better and was keeping food down. He was relieved as a doctor but mostly as her husband – he knew well how Isobel's body was usually in sync with her feelings. He never answered her when she asked him what was wrong, he didn't feel like it was the right time to unburden himself on her like that. Luckily, it was a little more sunny in Bel's world and it showed when she caught him staring and gave him a beautiful full Isobel smile. One of the many things that made him fall in love with her.
"Are you going to come help or are you simply watching?" she giggled as she brought out a necklace before outstretching her hand as he approached her. Pulling her luscious long mane to the side she laughed as his moustache tickled her neck before sighing when she felt his lips on her skin. "You just keep thinking that way and we can have a lot of fun tonight!"
"Love, I keep thinking like this and we won't make it past that door." He whispered sarcastically as his nimble surgeon fingers closed the clip on the necklace. He was delighted she wore it. It was a long gold, dainty chain coming together behind a flower made of sapphire ending like a sparkling ribbon. He remembered the day he had bought it for her and it became a favourite with both of them.
The words Charles Carson had spoken to him would not stop replaying in Richard's head. That bastard father of hers was trying to ship her off with that pathetic excuse of a human being Richard had been spending more time with Isobel in the OR and though they still bickered, there was a healthy amount of respect between them and one of the nurses – namely her best friend casually mentioned that Isobel was born 3 days after Christmas. Of course she was – a bundle of energy and joy like her. She managed to cheer up even the worse of patients and he still had no idea how she did it. She said he just needed to open up more and stop being Dr Grumpy to which he did not take kindly and ended up in another one of their arguments.
He noticed that although friendly with a lot of people, she did not really have friends and not many folks to look out for her. Indeed, the would do anything to cosy up to her father for a raise and if it meant stepping on her, so be it. The idea made his blood boil especially as he realised she was too kind and true, she couldn't see it. And the sad thing was he wasn't sure he wanted her to – but he vowed on his Scottish blood he'd be the one looking after her from now on. Now if only she would stop making his blood boil so easily...
The blonde doctor adjusted his spectacles as he made his way to his first patient. It was going to be a long procedure, on Mrs Scarlet's heart. Who looked to be quite chirpy chatting to what seemed to be the object of all his thoughts when he wasn't thinking about patients. Isobel looked adorable with her ponytail and smartly clipped fringe and he could help but notice that she managed to look attractive even in scrubs. Her gorgeous brown eyes looked up at his blue ones as he came through the door.
"Morning Ladies," he smiled, hopefully not too ostentatiously at Isobel. "How are we feeling?"
"Better now that our knight in shining polycotton showed up!" quipped the old lady, her green eyes twinkling as Richard chuckled and turned a little red in the cheeks. "All ready for tonight." she finished, taking mercy of the rather awkward Scot.
At this Richard's head shot up again "What do you mean tonight? I thought we had a date at 2 pm." At this, his eyes flashed to Isobel, the hair at the back of his neck standing.
Isobel must have sensed his seething and seemed to hide a little behind the drip though her voice remained normal "She simply postponed it a few hours."
"Yes" butted Mrs Scarlet, sensing the tension "You never know...my daughter might just change her mind - I'd like to take the chance. That's all right though, right Dr Clarkson?"
Richard collected his thoughts quickly and gave his patient a small smile. "Of course Virginia, I'll see you this evening. Nurse Crawley, a word please?"
Isobel shared a sad smile with the elderly woman before following Richard outside.
"Where the hell do you get off?!" snapped Richard as they stepped in a nearby empty room.
"Excuse me?" replied Isobel indignantly "Your patient postponed surgery, they do that all the time-"
"Oh stop it." growled Richard "I know damn well you're behind this. You convinced her to wait a few hours more when you know damn well how hard it was to convince her to have the surgery at all. I know her daughter doesn't speak to her but she won't change her mind so get back from whichever cloud your on and learn your place!"
Isobel flinched at this and was about to reply but Richard wasn't ready.
"Their problematic relationship has nothing to do with me whatsoever but her heart problems do and although she is stable for the moment, the longer we wait the longer the chance of her heart failing will be. So for here on in, I'd appreciate it if you let ME call the shots on MY patients. Thank you very much!" he finished, his deep voice rising a notch or too before storming out of the room leaving the young brunette seething and tearful as she recovered from the bollocking she'd just gotten.
After drying her tears and cooling down a bit, she decided to find her best friend and rant about that Scottish git who had just made her day, stopping she she saw one of the reception staff erase her name from the OR staff list for Mrs Scarlet's procedure and replacing it with Nurse Albert's of all people! Scowling, she made her way to the nurses station - wishing she was heading to a bar instead.
Looking at the raging ball of fire from afar was the cause of Bel's ire. 'Way to watch out for her you cretin...would she even let you make it up to her?'
I am stressed and so my creative juices start flowing - must be the start of an academic year. Hopefully somebody is still reading this and likes what they've just read - ha! Let me know what you think guys!
