Chapter 6 - Approach
Las Vegas Memorial Hospital
The large front doors opened automatically as Sara approached, and she entered the big complex. She walked along the white corridors and was completely positive. At least almost completely positive.
Catherine had taken her shopping this morning and they had stopped for a bite to eat in a nice little café. The breakfast over there had been delicious.
Now Sara climbed up the stairs and entered another corridor, following signs at the wall leading her to the Intensive Care Unit. To Nick.
She was absolutely convinced, Nick would be fine, soon. He had woken up last night - and this was a good start.
She reached the ICU and was on the look-out for a nurse, when she saw one approach. Sara waited until the nurse was about to pass her. Then she asked:
"Excuse me?"
The nurse stopped and looked at her.
"Yes, please? Oh. you are the lady, who came with Mr Stokes, aren't you? Miss."
"Sidle. Sara Sidle.", completed Sara, "I'd like to visit Nick Stokes."
The nurse frowned.
"You may, but."
Sara felt as if her blood freezed.
"What?", she asked anxiously.
"He stopped breathing this morning, and his heart stood still. But I ensure this is not as bad as it may certainly seem to you now. Complications like that happen."
Sara gasped for breath. She couldn't believe.
"But."
The nurse placed a hand on Sara's arm.
"He will be fine. I promise. So - I will fetch you a sterile green coat, all right? Just wait a moment."
The nurse left and Sara tried to keep calm, but she couldn't. He has stopped breathing! His heart had stopped beating! How could this have happened? He had seemed to be all right so far and."
"Miss Sidle?"
The nurse had come back without being noticed.
Now Sara had a worried look at her. The nurse gave her the coat and helped her put it on. Then she guided her to Nick's room.
Sara looked through the pane for a second, then she entered the room, quickly crossed it and sat down beneath Nick's bed.
The air was air-conditioned and Sara was likely to shiver, when she took Nick's hand and looked down on his masculine face.
"What are you doing, Nick.", she whispered and frowned.
Then she suddenly felt how her fingers were being pressed and looked down. Nick's hand was squeezing hers.
"Sara?", she heard him say quietly, and looked at his face. He had opened the his eyes and tried to fight against the tiredness.
Sara wasn't able to say anything. She had been expecting the worst, but this was obviously the opposite!
"Are you OK, Sara?", Nick asked, his voice still a bit raspy. And Sara could not avoid an amused smile.
"Me? I guess it should be me, who asks you this question! But for that you ask - physically I'm fine. But it was horrifying."
Nick took measures to nod.
"I know.", he whispered, and there was a short silence, until Sara broke it.
"So, how do you feel, Nick? The nurse told me there have been complications this morning."
"I'm fine."
A very sceptical look occurred on Sara's face, which made Nick add:
"All right, I have to admit this is not the most comfortable bed I've ever lain in. The machines are nerving and above all - I'm hungry."
He smiled, and Sara retorted:
"You're joking! Be serious - what about you injury?"
"It's feeling numb - God knows what they injected me. I don't feel any pain - at least not at the moment."
"But.", Sara began.
"I will be fine, soon."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am, Sara. I promise."
*****
The next weeks, Sara visited Nick almost every day if she was able to manage. Sometimes Warrick accompanied her, and even Gil, Catherine and Greg once dropped over to see him. In this time, Nick and Sara talked a lot about different things and aspects in their lives. And although both thought about their idea of going out together one evening sometime, neither of them raised that topic. The injury healed up well. One time Sara asked Nick about that, he replied "You see - I promised I'd be fine, soon!" and smiled.
Now, after 2 weeks, the doctors examined him for a last time, then told him he'd be allowed to leave hospital now.
Happy as he was, Nick called Sara.
"Would you like to drop over?"
"I'll be there within . maybe half an hour, depends on the traffic. Why do you want to see me?", Sara wanted to know.
"It's a surprise.", Nick simply answered.
*****
As Sara stepped in, Nick was sitting on his bed. He had spent the second week in an average room of the large hospital. Now he was just switching off TV, awaiting her with a smile.
"Hi Nick!", Sara said, "So I'm here, why did you want-"
"I may leave hospital today!", Nick interrupted her.
A large smile spread all over Sara's face and she shouted:
"Wow - that's great!"
Then she stepped forward and hugged Nick - longer than she used to hug friends. It was just. he smelled to good! And she simply like to be close to him.
When she finally let go off him, and their eyes met, she flushed a bit and stammered:
"Erm, well. we."
".should pack my stuff?", Nick finished the sentence with a gentle smile. Sara's reaction showed him she felt similar.
Sara quickly nodded and looked for a suitcase where they could put Nick's stuff into.
"I've got a bag in the wardrobe.", Nick chipped in.
Sara pulled it out and they arranged Nick's clothes in it. A friend of him had brought them the week before. Sara did the major part, because Nick's upper body was still bandaged. But Nick helped as well as he could manage to.
Soon, his private stuff as books and music followed the clothes, and shortly after they had finished.
"I will carry that.", Sara claimed and took measures to lift the large bag.
"But you don't need to, it's-" - Nick wasn't able to finish the sentence, because Sara stumbled over on edge of the bag, lurched, and fell right into his arms.
And that's exactly, where Sara found herself.
"Sorry", she mumbled - then she was quiet. She wasn't able to take her eyes off Nick's.
He softly lifted her, until she stood on her own feet, but he kept his arms wrapped around her and slowly leaned forward towards her.
Sara could feel his warm breath brush over her face. Her heart was beating fast, and a warm feeling spread in her chest.
Nick's face approached, and his lips were about to touch Sara's, when suddenly.
"Nick, Sara - thank God I finally found you! I didn't remember the number of your room anymore, and there was no nurse I could ask!"
It was Warrick, who had flung the door open and entered the room.
Sara and Nick were startled and let go off each other, both disappointed. But Warrick didn't seem to notice he had disturbed them anyhow.
Nick cleared his throat and asked:
"What. what are you doing here?"
"I just thought", Warrick began and placed himself on a chair, "you might be happy if I dropped in to rescue you from boredom."
"Oh - yes.", Nick forced himself to reply. His eyes met Sara's and he lightly shrugged his shoulders to show he was as surprised as her.
In her inside, Sara was about to kill Warrick, but she didn't show much of it. Warrick didn't mean to disturb them - anyway, he could not have known at all.
Nevertheless she was jubilant. Nick wanted to kiss her, and that showed he felt the same.
Her thoughts were still fixed on the topic, when Warrick noticed the large bag on the floor.
"Do I get this wrong, or do the doctors really let you go?"
"They do.", Nick retorted. "We were about to leave."
His eyes searched the room for anything they might have forgotten, but didn't find anything. So he turned back to Warrick.
"Would you mind to carry the bag for me? It's quite heavy."
Warrick agreed and Nick suggested:
"It would be enough if you carried it to the parking lot, where I guess Sara has parked her car."
Warrick thought about it, then shook his head.
"I've made my way all through Las Vegas at rush hour to visit you. No, it's no problem for me to take you home."
Nick tried to think of a way he could make it clear to Warrick that he wanted Sara to take him home. But before he could find a solution, he heard Sara say:
"Well, Warrick, it's just that we planned I will take him home."
But Warrick didn't let go.
"Then I'll at least take your bag home. I've got a lot of free space in my car. And I could help you in your flat. So let's go - hu?"
He stood up, grabbed the bag and lifted it onto his back. Then he walked out of the room.
Nick and Sara followed, and when they passed the door alongside, Nick laid an arm around her shoulders.
Sara looked straight into his eyes and there was something like a promise in his gaze.
*****
Nick's apartment, Las Vegas
"Haven't you got a washing machine?", Sara shouted while she searched the rooms for one, and she heard Nick's voice from the living room:
"I use to wash my clothes at the laundromat next door."
This made Sara shook her head. A typical male single household. Except it was less chaotic than she had expected it to be.
Warrick had stayed for almost two hours now and helped them extract the things from the bag. Now he took measures to leave.
Nick accompanied him to the main door where Sara was already waiting.
Warrick opened the door and said:
"I guess I'll see you at work."
Nick laughed.
"Next week maybe, but not this one yet. I'll first have to get rid of my bandages. Thank you for helping me."
Warrick nodded.
"Bye!"
"Bye.", retorted Sara, and Nick closed the door behind their friend.
So now there were only the two of them.
There was an awkward silence until Sara proposed:
"I. could cook something if your fridge is not completely empty."
Nick stared at her, and she already began to ask herself if she had said something wrong, when Nick exclaimed:
"That would be perfectly fine, but before."
He stepped forward towards Sara until they were standing face-to-face, smiled an kissed her.
When he finally let go off her he said, still smiling:
"Sorry - I could not wait any longer."
Sara felt her blood rush as she replied:
"Nor can I."
Then her lips met Nick's again, and she put her arms around his neck. The kiss grew in intensity and passion, and Sara delightly noticed him wrap his arms aroung her waist.
She felt as if she was flying, held safe in Nick's arms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
I hope you liked the chapter! It's a bit longer (almost 5 pages in MicrosoftWord). Looking forward to your reviews!
Lhutien aka Susan
Las Vegas Memorial Hospital
The large front doors opened automatically as Sara approached, and she entered the big complex. She walked along the white corridors and was completely positive. At least almost completely positive.
Catherine had taken her shopping this morning and they had stopped for a bite to eat in a nice little café. The breakfast over there had been delicious.
Now Sara climbed up the stairs and entered another corridor, following signs at the wall leading her to the Intensive Care Unit. To Nick.
She was absolutely convinced, Nick would be fine, soon. He had woken up last night - and this was a good start.
She reached the ICU and was on the look-out for a nurse, when she saw one approach. Sara waited until the nurse was about to pass her. Then she asked:
"Excuse me?"
The nurse stopped and looked at her.
"Yes, please? Oh. you are the lady, who came with Mr Stokes, aren't you? Miss."
"Sidle. Sara Sidle.", completed Sara, "I'd like to visit Nick Stokes."
The nurse frowned.
"You may, but."
Sara felt as if her blood freezed.
"What?", she asked anxiously.
"He stopped breathing this morning, and his heart stood still. But I ensure this is not as bad as it may certainly seem to you now. Complications like that happen."
Sara gasped for breath. She couldn't believe.
"But."
The nurse placed a hand on Sara's arm.
"He will be fine. I promise. So - I will fetch you a sterile green coat, all right? Just wait a moment."
The nurse left and Sara tried to keep calm, but she couldn't. He has stopped breathing! His heart had stopped beating! How could this have happened? He had seemed to be all right so far and."
"Miss Sidle?"
The nurse had come back without being noticed.
Now Sara had a worried look at her. The nurse gave her the coat and helped her put it on. Then she guided her to Nick's room.
Sara looked through the pane for a second, then she entered the room, quickly crossed it and sat down beneath Nick's bed.
The air was air-conditioned and Sara was likely to shiver, when she took Nick's hand and looked down on his masculine face.
"What are you doing, Nick.", she whispered and frowned.
Then she suddenly felt how her fingers were being pressed and looked down. Nick's hand was squeezing hers.
"Sara?", she heard him say quietly, and looked at his face. He had opened the his eyes and tried to fight against the tiredness.
Sara wasn't able to say anything. She had been expecting the worst, but this was obviously the opposite!
"Are you OK, Sara?", Nick asked, his voice still a bit raspy. And Sara could not avoid an amused smile.
"Me? I guess it should be me, who asks you this question! But for that you ask - physically I'm fine. But it was horrifying."
Nick took measures to nod.
"I know.", he whispered, and there was a short silence, until Sara broke it.
"So, how do you feel, Nick? The nurse told me there have been complications this morning."
"I'm fine."
A very sceptical look occurred on Sara's face, which made Nick add:
"All right, I have to admit this is not the most comfortable bed I've ever lain in. The machines are nerving and above all - I'm hungry."
He smiled, and Sara retorted:
"You're joking! Be serious - what about you injury?"
"It's feeling numb - God knows what they injected me. I don't feel any pain - at least not at the moment."
"But.", Sara began.
"I will be fine, soon."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am, Sara. I promise."
*****
The next weeks, Sara visited Nick almost every day if she was able to manage. Sometimes Warrick accompanied her, and even Gil, Catherine and Greg once dropped over to see him. In this time, Nick and Sara talked a lot about different things and aspects in their lives. And although both thought about their idea of going out together one evening sometime, neither of them raised that topic. The injury healed up well. One time Sara asked Nick about that, he replied "You see - I promised I'd be fine, soon!" and smiled.
Now, after 2 weeks, the doctors examined him for a last time, then told him he'd be allowed to leave hospital now.
Happy as he was, Nick called Sara.
"Would you like to drop over?"
"I'll be there within . maybe half an hour, depends on the traffic. Why do you want to see me?", Sara wanted to know.
"It's a surprise.", Nick simply answered.
*****
As Sara stepped in, Nick was sitting on his bed. He had spent the second week in an average room of the large hospital. Now he was just switching off TV, awaiting her with a smile.
"Hi Nick!", Sara said, "So I'm here, why did you want-"
"I may leave hospital today!", Nick interrupted her.
A large smile spread all over Sara's face and she shouted:
"Wow - that's great!"
Then she stepped forward and hugged Nick - longer than she used to hug friends. It was just. he smelled to good! And she simply like to be close to him.
When she finally let go off him, and their eyes met, she flushed a bit and stammered:
"Erm, well. we."
".should pack my stuff?", Nick finished the sentence with a gentle smile. Sara's reaction showed him she felt similar.
Sara quickly nodded and looked for a suitcase where they could put Nick's stuff into.
"I've got a bag in the wardrobe.", Nick chipped in.
Sara pulled it out and they arranged Nick's clothes in it. A friend of him had brought them the week before. Sara did the major part, because Nick's upper body was still bandaged. But Nick helped as well as he could manage to.
Soon, his private stuff as books and music followed the clothes, and shortly after they had finished.
"I will carry that.", Sara claimed and took measures to lift the large bag.
"But you don't need to, it's-" - Nick wasn't able to finish the sentence, because Sara stumbled over on edge of the bag, lurched, and fell right into his arms.
And that's exactly, where Sara found herself.
"Sorry", she mumbled - then she was quiet. She wasn't able to take her eyes off Nick's.
He softly lifted her, until she stood on her own feet, but he kept his arms wrapped around her and slowly leaned forward towards her.
Sara could feel his warm breath brush over her face. Her heart was beating fast, and a warm feeling spread in her chest.
Nick's face approached, and his lips were about to touch Sara's, when suddenly.
"Nick, Sara - thank God I finally found you! I didn't remember the number of your room anymore, and there was no nurse I could ask!"
It was Warrick, who had flung the door open and entered the room.
Sara and Nick were startled and let go off each other, both disappointed. But Warrick didn't seem to notice he had disturbed them anyhow.
Nick cleared his throat and asked:
"What. what are you doing here?"
"I just thought", Warrick began and placed himself on a chair, "you might be happy if I dropped in to rescue you from boredom."
"Oh - yes.", Nick forced himself to reply. His eyes met Sara's and he lightly shrugged his shoulders to show he was as surprised as her.
In her inside, Sara was about to kill Warrick, but she didn't show much of it. Warrick didn't mean to disturb them - anyway, he could not have known at all.
Nevertheless she was jubilant. Nick wanted to kiss her, and that showed he felt the same.
Her thoughts were still fixed on the topic, when Warrick noticed the large bag on the floor.
"Do I get this wrong, or do the doctors really let you go?"
"They do.", Nick retorted. "We were about to leave."
His eyes searched the room for anything they might have forgotten, but didn't find anything. So he turned back to Warrick.
"Would you mind to carry the bag for me? It's quite heavy."
Warrick agreed and Nick suggested:
"It would be enough if you carried it to the parking lot, where I guess Sara has parked her car."
Warrick thought about it, then shook his head.
"I've made my way all through Las Vegas at rush hour to visit you. No, it's no problem for me to take you home."
Nick tried to think of a way he could make it clear to Warrick that he wanted Sara to take him home. But before he could find a solution, he heard Sara say:
"Well, Warrick, it's just that we planned I will take him home."
But Warrick didn't let go.
"Then I'll at least take your bag home. I've got a lot of free space in my car. And I could help you in your flat. So let's go - hu?"
He stood up, grabbed the bag and lifted it onto his back. Then he walked out of the room.
Nick and Sara followed, and when they passed the door alongside, Nick laid an arm around her shoulders.
Sara looked straight into his eyes and there was something like a promise in his gaze.
*****
Nick's apartment, Las Vegas
"Haven't you got a washing machine?", Sara shouted while she searched the rooms for one, and she heard Nick's voice from the living room:
"I use to wash my clothes at the laundromat next door."
This made Sara shook her head. A typical male single household. Except it was less chaotic than she had expected it to be.
Warrick had stayed for almost two hours now and helped them extract the things from the bag. Now he took measures to leave.
Nick accompanied him to the main door where Sara was already waiting.
Warrick opened the door and said:
"I guess I'll see you at work."
Nick laughed.
"Next week maybe, but not this one yet. I'll first have to get rid of my bandages. Thank you for helping me."
Warrick nodded.
"Bye!"
"Bye.", retorted Sara, and Nick closed the door behind their friend.
So now there were only the two of them.
There was an awkward silence until Sara proposed:
"I. could cook something if your fridge is not completely empty."
Nick stared at her, and she already began to ask herself if she had said something wrong, when Nick exclaimed:
"That would be perfectly fine, but before."
He stepped forward towards Sara until they were standing face-to-face, smiled an kissed her.
When he finally let go off her he said, still smiling:
"Sorry - I could not wait any longer."
Sara felt her blood rush as she replied:
"Nor can I."
Then her lips met Nick's again, and she put her arms around his neck. The kiss grew in intensity and passion, and Sara delightly noticed him wrap his arms aroung her waist.
She felt as if she was flying, held safe in Nick's arms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
I hope you liked the chapter! It's a bit longer (almost 5 pages in MicrosoftWord). Looking forward to your reviews!
Lhutien aka Susan