Chapter 2: Prayer Changes Things
On his way to the cafeteria, Reese heard an anguished cry and ran into the staff lounge.
Nurse Shaw was holding her ever present steak knife over her head, ready to plunge it into Ms. Groves, who was Collier's arms, their clothes strewn on the lounge floor. With lightning speed, Reese took the knife out of her hand, wrestling the incensed woman away from the shocked couple.
"You said you wanted to mourn Beecher's death privately! That you were going to spend some time in prayer, Root, or I guess I should I call you Rut, now!" the Nurse snarled.
"I did pray, So-Mean," Ms. Groves smirked. "I said 'OhGodOhGodOhGod' more times than I can count."
"But –"
"While you were off posting your profile on Angler and letting Ian Murphy stick more than his tongue in your face, Peter and I were getting to know each other better," the Groundskeeper purred, tracing a finger along Collier's lips. "Our grief might have gotten us carried away a little," she glanced down at her naked body, "well, maybe a lot, but we've become close."
The Civics teacher kissed her hand. "Samantha was an innocent victim of our government's tyranny, Nurse Shaw. It wasn't that she interrupted the State of the Union address that caused them to persecute her, it was her crusade to set the Oregon Trail software free for the world. They couldn't allow that, so they came after her. They wanted to destroy her, but she withstood it all. She's a true freedom fighter."
Ms. Shaw shook her head, trying to fight her way out of Reese's grasp, but he held the tiny woman fast, her arms and legs flailing in the air. "Persecution? – Crusade ?- Freedom fighter? - It's a friggin' video game, not the Declaration of Independence!"
Collier looked affronted. "It's an example of our nation's glorious past, before the gov –"
The Nurse held up her hand, silencing him. She turned to Ms. Groves. "He has a penis, you know."
"Nobody's perfect," The Groundskeeper said serenely.
"We should let them get dressed," Reese said quietly, as he carried Nurse Shaw out of the room.
The fight suddenly went out of her and she sagged against him. "I don't get it – we – Root, me - it was never supposed to be serious between us, we were just having fun!"
"Samantha cared a great deal about you, Sameen," Reese said softly, "And maybe you care about her more than you thought." He reached into his pocket and handed her a handkerchief.
Slowly, Nurse Shaw pressed the cloth against her face, stunned to pull it away and find it damp with tears.
Easily holding the dejected Nurse under one arm, limbs dangling while her sobs created a shining trail on the hall tiles, Reese knocked on Fusco's door and walked in. "Someone to talk to you, Lionel."
The Counselor looked over his glasses as Reese deposited Nurse Shaw in a chair. "I'm going to need a case, John. The good stuff. Brand name, none of that generic crap."
Reese nodded. "The Magnificent Seven: Coke, Mountain Dew, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Fanta, 7-UP, Canada Dry. I'll even throw in some Barq."
Fusco raised an eyebrow at him. "You know your shit, Wonderboy."
"No, Lionel," Reese smirked at him, "I know your shit."
"Yeah, well, toss in some Mello Yello, too, Counselor, for me." Fusco rolled up his sleeves. "This one's gonna take a while."
Lionel was going to earn his pay today, Reese thought as he headed towards the cafeteria.
Next: Joss makes a 'sweet' discovery.