Chapter 3
2 days before Christmas

Nancy had been lying on the couch, reading some magazines, although she really didn't feel like doing much. That included eating lunch, which was why, even though it was lunch time, she wasn't getting ready to prepare lunch yet. Ok, she was bored… she sighed. A sure sign that she really was sick – as if the fever, sore throat and headache weren't signs enough already. At least Nellie would be coming over after lunch time, so she'd have some company. Clint had checked up on her last night and had told her about his conversation with Derek, and Nellie had called this morning if she was up for it. Nancy had welcomed the prospect of distraction.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and she immediately glanced at the clock. It was too early for that to be Nellie. She went over to the door to open it, hating the woozy feeling she had in her legs.

"Hey!" she said, pleasantly surprised when she saw Clint standing there.

"Hey, how're you doin'?" he asked as she let him in.

"Ok, still not great." She had given up on saying she was fine, since it didn't seem to fool Clint in the least. Then again, he was a doctor…

"Had lunch yet?" Clint asked.

"…No," Nancy replied. "Didn't feel like getting it," she added with a slight blush. She was a nurse, for crying out loud, she knew it was important to have something to eat… especially since she also sort of skipped breakfast…

"I thought so," Clint's voice interrupted her thoughts. "That's why I brought somethin' light."

"You didn't have to do that," Nancy said, but inwardly she thought it was real sweet of him.

"I know, but I wanted to," Clint said with a grin. "So just sit down, and I'll get us something to eat."

"Yes 'Mom'," Nancy said as she let herself sink back onto the couch. Why did she have to feel so weak! She didn't really want to admit it, but she was quite relieved to be sitting again, knowing someone else was taking care of lunch.

Clint sent her a look, but seeing hearing her unconscious sigh of relief, he decided he was right where he wanted to be, even if it involved being accused of being a mother hen.

He quickly prepared lunch, and had to wake Nancy up from a light doze when it was ready. During lunch they talked comfortably about all kinds of things, although Clint did most of the talking. After they had finished lunch, Clint quickly took care of the dishes, and provided Nancy with a mug of steaming tea.

Just as he was about to leave, there was another knock on the door, and Clint opened it.

"Hey Nellie," he said, letting her in.

"Hey Clint, didn't expect you here," she said in surprise.

"Just makin' sure my patient is takin' good care of herself," he said, winking at Nancy when she snorted. "And I'll be back tonight to prepare supper."

"Thanks, Clint." Nancy smiled, then remembered something. "Oh, could you drop by the grocery store and get some potatoes? I'm running a bit low."

"You got it," Clint said, putting on his coat, while Nellie was taking off hers. "Anything else?"

Nancy thought for a moment, and shook her head slowly. "No, don't think so."

"If you remember somethin' else, just call."

"Ok. See you tonight then," Nancy said with a soft smile. Clint nodded. "See ya. Oh, Nellie, there's coffee runnin', you just have to grab a cup."

Nellie held up a thumb. "That's great, thanks!"

When Clint closed the door behind him, Nellie turned around to look at Nancy, seeing the fleeting look of disappointment, before the younger woman turned her attention on her visitor.

"You know, I know that Clint tends to give more medical care than most doctors, for the same price, but somehow I don't think he gives this kind of service to every patient of his."

Nancy grinned. "No, it's not standard care, even for Clint Cassidy," she said, an affectionate look on her face. Nellie's eyes narrowed, then widened again with joy.

"You, my friend, are in love."

That statement woke Nancy up. "Huh, what? I'm not… what makes you think that?"

"Tell me, what were you thinking just now, before I said that?" Nellie asked, convinced she was right.

"I… what has that got to do with anything?" Nancy tried to deflect.

"Because you just had the dopiest look on your face that even a flu cannot cause," the married woman teased. Nancy blushed. "So, fess up."

"Oh, alright," Nancy conceded. "I was just thinking that Clint's a real sweet guy to be taking care of me like that…"

Nellie nodded knowingly. "Uh huh."

"We're not involved or anything," Nancy said defensively.

"But you want to be?"

Nancy was taken aback by the matter-of-fact manner in which the question was stated. Did she? She knew she'd wanted to be involved with the country doctor a couple of years ago, or had at least thought about it back then, but things had changed. Both of them had had other relationships. Granted, they hadn't resulted in anything, but still. Now they were just friends. Good friends, but still just friends.

Nellie noticed she'd gotten through somewhere, but that Nancy needed some time to mull things over.

"Just think about it," Nellie advised. "So, do you want coffee or tea?"

"I still have some tea," Nancy said, grateful for the change of subject. "So how's Gracie?"

"Oh, she's fine. She's very excited about her birthday."

Nancy chuckled. "I can imagine."

When Nellie had left, Nancy decided to get some sleep. She was exhausted. Yet her mind kept returning to the statements Nellie had made early that afternoon. Was she in love?

Now that she thought about it, she did think about him often. Nancy tried to remember a conversation with her father or with Bev or Nellie where she hadn't mentioned Clint, but couldn't. Well, they were good friends, Nancy reasoned. It was obvious that if you spent a lot of time together as friends that you'd talk often about that person… right?

And they really were good friends. She had told him things she'd never told anyone else. She trusted him implicitly, had shared with him both pain and joy, disappointments and hope. She felt completely at ease with him, and admittedly, she missed his companionship when he wasn't there. That was crazy of course. They saw each other daily at work, lived in the same apartment building, went to the same church, and spent quite some meals and evenings together. With a start, Nancy realised how much time they really did spend together. And she realised something else: with any other person, she would have resented spending so little time alone. With Clint, she welcomed it. It wasn't as if they were constantly talking or anything – they had evenings where they simply enjoyed each other's silent company.

Ok, perhaps she was indeed in love with Clint. But that wasn't so bad, was it? 'Wonder if he feels the same…' she thought, drifting off to sleep with a smile on her face and Clint Cassidy on her mind.

TBC