To my two guest reviewers: Thank you!
To ccbluebonnet our talks have kept me sane enough to see this chapter through.
A lot of you know I was a little unhappy with this chapter. I still am…but this is how she wrote.
Lonely days of uncertainty
They disappear when you're near me
When you're around my life's worthwhile
And now I long to see you smile
The next morning Catlita heard the nurses gossiping at the nurses' station, "Doctor Bickman didn't leave her side for the whole day. Only after she slept did he leave. Though not for long, he was back in about an hour."
"I went in to check her stats this morning and she was dressed in pyjamas..."
"Doctor Bickman dressed her?" Another pitched in.
"Yep. Rumor has it that before she left she and Doctor Bickman were a thing..." The girls trailed off as they noticed Dr. Morley approach.
Catherine felt her mind begin to clear, keeping her eyes closed she was tuning into what her body was telling her. A splitting headache and the intensive beeps from the machines surrounding her helped none. Her legs felt as if they had run a marathon while her back twinges when she moved the wrong way.
Lips ghosted over her palm, "I know you're awake," the unmistakable voice said as he laid a kiss on her palm.
"Good morning Doctor Bickman," she responded, her eyes fluttering open.
Before he could say anything further her phone buzzed, diverting both of their attention. He handed her the device, sighing as he saw the name 'Will' appear on the screen.
She pressed the top button to mute the call and retook Bicks hand in her own. A gesture that she would never know how much it truly meant to him.
"How are you feeling?" He questioned, clearing his suddenly thick throat.
She decided to answer truthfully, "Just a little pain, nothing major. Considering." She waved her other hand to her body.
"Good. It's in my valued judgment as a doctor that we can send you home today, so that you can rest in privacy." He knew her so well, and that warmed her heart.
He knew that she wouldn't be able to recover properly at the hospital, where people she works with constantly want to stop in and check on her.
"And by home you mean..."
"With me."
She knew him so well, and it warmed his heart.
Just then her phone buzzed with a text message. This redirected her attention to her phone. 13 missed calls (Will), 15 text messages (Will).
"Everything okay Catherine?" Ian asked once he saw the look that took over her face.
"No… Will has been trying-" she was cut off by the sound of the door opening. They both turned their heads in that direction, "Will." She greeted as the man in question stepped through the door. Though her grip on Bickmans hand tightened.
"Oh Catherine, why didn't you tell me that you were in the hospital." He took a few paces forward to her bedside, reaching for her hand.
Catherine removed it from by her side to rest on her lap before he could palm it. "We broke up Will."
"Kate..." He looked hurt, "that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I've been trying to get in touch with you for a month and you brother gave me nothing. The hospital gave me nothing. I heard that you were back and I wanted to speak to you. Yesterday I went to your apartment and when he," he gestured to Bick who had yet to release her hand, "showed up and said you won't be home for a few days I had to come to see you here, in person. Some of the nurses said that you were admitted and I thought-" he stopped abruptly, unsure if Doctor Bickman knew of her condition. Though the minute he saw her he knew she sustained physical injuries – something that had nothing to do with her disorder.
"Will…" She started, "we were done before I left. My time away hasn't changed that. We just don't work well together. I need someone in my life that can understand cancelled dinner plans, that my patients come first. Someone who can understand my disorder and won't judge me for it." She gave him a pointed state.
"So that's it?" He questioned, "you are going to leave me for him?" He motioned to Bick. "After not even a month you are going to whore yourself out to him? You think you have all that with him?"
By this point Bick had had enough, "I think it's time for you to leave." He wouldn't have anyone speak ill of her, especially if it isn't due.
"You can't tell me to leave." Will pointed towards him.
"Yes he can. Even if he didn't, I would. Leave Will. Go have a happy life with someone who can fulfil all of your dreams. That isn't me." One would expect her tone to be laced with bitterness, but nothing other than sincerity and resignation laced her tone.
Will just gave her a resigned sigh and patted her leg, "I'm sorry Catherine." With that he left without further adieu.
"Catherine..." Bick trailed off.
"No. I know what I want." She squeezed his hand. She wanted him. With every fiber of her being she wanted him. She needed him.
Bick gave her his megawatt smile, she chose him. He pressed a kiss to her palm. "Lets get you ready that way we can get you out of here."
Bick removed her IV and wrapped her arm with care. He then proceeded to help her into the shower, washing her body, being mindful of her injuries. He took ample care in drying her, changing her into a pair of loose slacks and a button up sweater.
They carefully made their way to the front of the hospital, staff wishing her well on the way.
"A prescription for antibiotics and oxy," he instructed the nurse at the front, "some gauze and tape too," he requested.
They discharged her without much fuss and Owen met them at lobby, "Catherine. When you feel up to it, we can talk." He gave her a one sided hug and a kiss to the cheek before re-entering the elevator.
Ian placed his palm on the small of her back as he guided her to the elevator, headed to the parking garage.
"Nice car," she motioned to the new Audi once they reached it.
"Thanks. My old one disappeared, needed a replacement." He smirked.
She snickered and allowed him to help her into the car.
Bick got them to his hotel and went up to the room, making her comfortable at the couch at her instance, though the bedroom would be preferable to recuperate.
Having set her bags in the bedroom he joined her back on the couch, after grabbing yet another blanket to lay over her. "Bick I am fine." She insisted as he sat on the coffee table, eyes roaming over her marred skin as his fingers unconsciously clenched.
He didn't speak a word; just taking her palm in his own he intertwined their fingers. "Do you need anything?" He questioned, to which she just shook her head.
"Though maybe we can talk now?" She worried her bottom lip. He responded with a surprised nod as gave her a wide grin. "Sure..."
"I'm sorry..." She started, "I know I should have told you. I knew that if someone from work would catch on it would be you. For so long I tried to fight what we," she motioned between them, "have. We both are not the best when it comes to commitment," he looked to interrupt but she placed a single finger on his lips, "before know. What I said to Will is true. I need to be with someone who understands that what we do comes first; everything else is a secondary concern. I need someone who understands why I don't want the white picket fence and the dog and the kids. Someone who knows I could never be Susie Homemaker. I have that. I have that with you." She lowered her finger from his lips and retook his hands in hers. "Whether we last the month, a year or ten. What I know is that in the short time we have spent together, it is the most I have felt like myself in a long time, even when off my medication."
His hands reached up to caress her face before he delicately laid a kiss on her lips, mindful of her injuries.
"My turn?" He asked and laughed as she nodded. "First of all...we are going to last. I just needed to put that out there. Now, onto this," he gestured between them, "I need full disclosure when it comes to your bipolar. If you feel like you are going to go off them I need to know. If you are manic I need to know. If you feel depressed I need to know. I am not trying to keep you Catherine, but I know what non-compliance means and I hope to have several more years with you. Plus, the Marco Polo of the brain has a lifetime of accomplishments to achieve, okay?" He saw that her eyes watered and he pressed a kiss onto her nose as his thumb caught a few of the stray tears. "We both need a new start. Where we are honest with one another, where we are clear about the nature of our relationship. I want to make myself clear. I am in a committed relationship with you Catherine, there is no one I want more." She interrupted him by pressing her lips to his own, her hands reaching up to wrap around his head and wound their way through his blonde hair.
He responded in kind, his hands reaching out to her hips as he shifted himself onto the couch and moved her onto his lap in a single motion.
They broke apart, foreheads touching as Bick reached around them to rearrange the blankets over Catherine again while she kept her arms looped around her neck.
"Just so we are clear. I want the same things Bick. I want them with you." She pressed a kiss to his neck as she leaned into his shoulder.
"A part of this fresh start. I was thinking... We need a new place. Being in a relationship with you puts an axe in my whole no obligations no strings attitude, why not go the whole mile? I need to find an apartment and maybe a fresh start in a new home would be good for you. A new space that you haven't shared with anyone else yet, something we can do together. Really it's only going to be a part-time home for us anyway, given the amount of time we spend at the Cube. Catherine?" He asked when he noticed she didn't say anything in response.
Without meeting his eyes she whispered into his shirt so softly that he almost didn't hear her.
Almost.
"I love you."
In that moment Bicks heart soared. She loved him. She really loved him back.
He knew she felt a strong affection for him but it pleased him to know that they were on the same page. He flashed her his pearly whites as his hand lightly caressed her chin, forcing her to gaze up at him.
She worried her bottom lip as she began to speak again, "I know that it's soon and that us in a full blown committed relationship is new; I just needed you to know this." She confessed.
She had barely finished before Ian fused their lips together in a feverous clash of teeth and tongues meshing together to fight for dominance.
When they broke apart both were breathing hard and his almond shaped orbs locked onto her brilliant emerald ones. "I love you Catherine."
He repeated her sentiment and he felt her nod, her fears that she was in this alone assuaged.
She loved him.
He loved her.
Together, well together they can take on the world.
She curled into his embrace and he wrapped his taut arms around her lithe frame.
Together they sat there for hours, comfortable silence engulfing the room.
"Let's start."
She broke their silence.
He looked at her in confusion.
"Let's start the apartment hunt," she clarified. Let's start our future.
He looked down at her in surprise but nonetheless nodded, sliding her off his lap as he went to get his laptop.
Returning he sat on the couch and rested the device on the arm as she settled into his embrace once more.
"I think we can both agree that we are not to fussed about what our apartment looks like?" He asked and her nod was confirmation enough.
"How do you feel about the Upper West side?"
She immediately shook her head, "No. We said a fresh start. My old apartment was on the Upper West side; I want to start anew with you," she reiterated. "How about the Upper East side?" She suggested.
He looked down at her in surprise. "I never took you as the Upper East Side kind of lady Doctor Black."
He realized immediately that he said the wrong thing; they had yet to discuss Owen firing her.
Her eyes adverts downward as her fingers played lightly with the blanket.
"Cat..." He trailed off.
She just shook her head. "I'm never going to be a doctor again," she breathed out. Even from the sound of her voice Bick could tell that she was close to tears.
"Look at me Catherine." His tone commanded and his fingers haunted her efforts with the blanket. "Look at me." He repeated when she didn't look up.
This time she looked up at him, slow trails of tears rolling down her face.
"You are and always will be Doctor Catherine Black. You wrote yourself the prescription because you tried to save a patients life, and the only way in which you could of done so was with a clear mind - something that your meds prevent you from doing. I am not stupid Catherine, I know the affects - which means I also know why you go off them occasionally. This makes you a better Doctor. Deep down Owen knows this, right now it's just too fresh for him. I promise he will come around. Okay?" He finished and noticed that her tears increased in quantity. "Shhhh" he soothed - something he never thought himself able to do. Whenever someone was upset, he turned around – despite being a doctor he found it very hard to offer others sympathy, so he avoided those situations. However, with her it came naturally. His first instinct was to protect her when she was hurt, and this definitely qualified.
Several minutes later she regulated her own breathing, in no small part due to his hands rubbing soothing circles on her lower back. "How do you know Bick?" she questioned him.
"Because I know you," he said sincerely, eyes locked onto hers, "I know Doctor Catherine Black and she is here to take the world by storm and dominate the neuro arena. I know you. I love you." He finished.
She rocked against him as her arms wound tightly around his neck, her lips seeking his pulse point and sucking hard, "Catherine..." he warned. He knew that they couldn't be intimate, not with injuries still posing such a serious threat.
"You're no fun," she pouted as he moved his hands to still her hips.
"When you are banged up, you bet your ass I am not," he replied, catching her wide grin at his unintended pun. "And I thought I was incorrigible," he shook his head in mock horror.
She laughed and discontinued her ministrations, instead choosing to settle further into her resting position on his lap.
"Are you hungry?" he asked. Having realized that she had yet to eat all day, and would be due for another round of medication soon.
"Fruit loops?" she asked, already knowing he would refuse her.
"An omelet. You can snack on your sugar infused breakfast throughout the day." She hummed in agreement and he placed the call to room service.
No sooner had he hung up the phone before his cell began to buzz he saw 'Own' pop up onto the screen and picked up immediately.
"Bick." The voice on the other end said.
"I'm here, Owen."
"How's Catherine doing?" Doctor Morley asked in concern.
Ian looked down at the head of amber hair resting close to his heart and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, "She will be fine with some rest."
"Good. I am glad. It makes what I am going to ask you a little easier knowing that she is okay. Would it be possible to come to the hospital for a few hours? A patient here has a blood clot close to the optical nerves. I think it would be best for all parties involved if you perform the surgery."
Bick was about to refuse; he didn't want to leave Catherine on her own for at the very least four hours but she took the phone from his hand and muted it. "Go."
"Catherine…" he started, "I don't want to leave you so soon. You will most likely fall asleep and someone needs to be here to make sure you don't fall into a coma, or suffer from any further brain injuries."
"Bick, I am going to be fine. Like you said I will probably be sleeping. After I eat my healthy and nutritious breakfast that is," she winked at him, "If it will make you feel better have Joey come up and check in on me. I am going to be fine. Now you need to go and be that awesome surgeon, Doctor Ian Bickman, because someone life is at stake and they are counting on you. So go!"
Ian took the phone from her hand and tapped the illuminated mute button, bringing it back up to his ear, "I'm on my way."
He ended the phone call and shifted Catherine off his lap and into the arm of the couch before crouching down in front of her. "I want you to eat the omelet, then afterwards you can eat as you so wish. I am also going to be sending Joey up every two hours to check in on you. Please get some rest Catherine," he leaned up and pressed his lips to her forehead, "Okay?" he questioned.
"Okay," she whispered. Her lips moving to his - engaging him there.
Bick moved from his resting place in front of her to the door, leaving without further incidence.
As he left Catherine blew out a breath. This was the first time she truly was alone since she got back. She had sent her family on a cruise; somewhere they could be away from her and all of her madness, where Esme no longer resented her parents and she may learn to love her as an aunt again. Will wouldn't understand. She didn't regret breaking up with him – he deserved to be happy, and she couldn't give him that. Then there was Ian…Ian who understood her complex nature. Her love for work, her desire to help, her dislike of 'normal' families, and most importantly her disorder. Ian not only understood, but he loved her for who she was. Never in her life had someone said that to her and she believed it to be more true. She truly believed that he would be there for the long run, that they could power through work, life and illness together. Because…
They are brilliant.
There are no two ways about it.
Which is why she wasn't terrified about starting a life with him.
Catherine was interrupted from her musings by a knock on the door, "Room Service." Carefully she stood from the couch to open the door, "In the bedroom please," she directed before reaching for a few dollar bills that Ian had on his dressing table, handing it to the young boy.
Catherine went back to the living room to pick up the blankets and Bick's laptop from the couch; bringing them with her to the bedroom. She settled herself onto the bed, draping a single blanket over herself as she plugged the charger into the laptop. She skipped over the box of fruit loops and instead took the lid off of the omelet, for once happy to appease Bick. Pulling the plate into her lap she turned towards the laptop, her fingers moving up and down the mouse pad, scrolling through the various images that appeared with their search preferences. Occasionally she took a few bites of the food before resting the plate on her bedside, swapping it for her medication.
Ian carefully opened the door to his hotel room, having just received his report from Joey that his beautiful Catherine was asleep.
Dropping his keys onto the nearby counter Bick wandered through the suite to the bedroom. He paused at the doorframe leaning against it. There she was. Hair fanned out over the pillow, she was slightly turned in on herself with her hand resting onto his laptop.
She looked beautiful.
And she loved him.
She loved him.
Pushing himself lightly off the doorframe he sauntered towards the bed, smiling at the unopened box of Fruit loops resting on the bedside table. He reached over her small body to pick up the laptop, his fingers accidentally brushed over the mouse pad. Catherine had it open on an apartment. From the looks of it, it appeared to be a modern penthouse with five bedrooms. What she thought they would use five bedrooms for he didn't know. He scrolled through the pictures of the apartment and his eyes caught onto what caught her attention. A sunroom that faced east completely made of glass with an inbuilt nook. This is what attracted her to it. He now wanted it too, for the sole purpose that it would make her happy. It's not like they spent hours at home anyway and money wasn't an issue. However if he could do this small thing for her, for them – it made no difference.
Taking note of the details he powered down the laptop, letting it rest on the bedside before he readjusted the blanket around her. He sat on his side of the bed to remove his shoes, and only when sitting down did he realize how tired he actually was. He removed his clothing in short succession and changed into a pair of grey pyjama pants before crawling into bed beside her. He lay on his side as he watched his beauty sleep.
Not aware of when he actually joined Catherine in the calming abyss of sleep.
Happiness
Feels like this;
Your heart upon your sleeve.
What do we think? Let me know and please do leave reviews. I know that at least 15 of you out there read my stories.
I thought of waiting to post this until I was more set on where Chapter 4 goes. However, I thought this would appease the masses for a while. You might just get another one shot before Chapter 4.
