Chapter 11

Nature or Nurture

Elizabeth buried her head further into Will's shoulder as the sunlight peered through the window into her eyes. She attempted to roll over and felt a wire go tight across her arm, followed by a monitor beeping. Quickly remembering where she was, she sat up and subsequently pulled the monitor completely off Will's chest. Now the monitor was loudly alarming as she frantically tried to find the spot where the lead had come from. Soon, the door to Will's room opened and a young nurse entered the room. The nurse quickly walked over and silenced the monitor alarm. She then smiled gently at Elizabeth while taking the lead from her hand and placing in securely back near Will's right shoulder.

"I am dreadfully sorry," Elizabeth apologized, "my arm got tangled in the wire and I wasn't sure where it came from." The nurse helped Elizabeth climb from the bed, avoiding the mass of tubing and wires.

"I am actually surprised that you didn't set one off earlier." The nurse smiled, "but no worries, I am hoping to get the order to remove most of his monitors this morning." Elizabeth attempted to smooth down her bed tangled hair,

"He is doing better then?" The nurse nodded,

"His condition has continued to improve throughout the night, after his CT this morning we will start to lift up on some of his sedation."

"Another CT?" Questioned Elizabeth with concern.

"It is just to ensure that the swelling in his brain is continuing to decrease and has not done any further damage." This statement was troubling.

"What do you mean by further damage?" Elizabeth looked as if she was going to cry, the nurse quickly walked over to her and placed an arm around her shoulders.

"Ms. Swan, Will suffered a bruise to the lining of his brain. This caused some mild swelling. The bruise will heal and it appears the swelling is continuing to go down, otherwise he would not be doing as well as he is." Elizabeth nodded looking about the room.

"Is Mr. Turner still here?" The nurse nodded while she fastened a blood pressure cuff to Will's arm.

"He was up and about early this morning, I believe he went down to get some breakfast." The nurse then took out a stethoscope and placed it on Will's chest. Listening carefully to his breath and heart sounds. While Elizabeth waited for her to finish, she looked about the room for any spare clothing. She was still in her clothes from yesterday morning, and was feeling a little less then hygienic. Walking into the bathroom she spotted the shower.

"Ms. Swann" The nurse called. Elizabeth walked back out into the room.

"I'm going to decrease some of Mr. Turner's sedation. It may take a bit but hopefully we can give him a little awake time before he has to go down to CT." Elizabeth nodded, looking forlornly back at the shower.

"You can feel free to use the shower if you like." The nurse smiled as she gathered up her things and prepared to leave the room. Elizabeth sighed,

"I haven't a change of close, otherwise I would." The nurse walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a hospital gown and pants. She handed them to Elizabeth.

"You would feel much better after a hot shower. Use these until your father brings you a change of clothes." Elizabeth gratefully took the clothes and headed towards the bathroom.

"Ms. Swan," the nurse quickly added before she left the room, "we have some nursing students helping out today with cares so do not be alarmed if they are in later."

"Thank you," Elizabeth replied as she stepped into the bathroom closing the door behind her.


The warm water slowly unwound the knots that had been festering in Elizabeth's back since yesterday morning. Although the shampoo and soap were generic, it felt amazing to wash off the dirt and grime of the game. It was almost like the sorrow and pain that inflicted her yesterday, washed down the drain with the suds and bubbles of the soap. When Elizabeth finished she felt renewed. She put on the gown and pants the nurse had provided. Knowing her father would be arriving soon with fresh clothes, she chose not to put on her old undergarments. Feeling a little exposed she tightly knotted the back closure of the robe, her pale skin still peeking out of gaps in the thin material between the ties. Noting a small hospital supply caddy with a comb, toothbrush, and paste (most likely meant for Will) she quickly combed her hair and brushed her teeth. She emerged from the bathroom feeling rejuvenated. It was the two nursing students standing around Will's virtually naked body that quickly broke her good spirits.

"Just what do you think you are doing?!?" Elizabeth exclaimed as she took in the sight before her. Will's gown and pants had been removed. The only item he currently donned was a bath towel that was draped across his waist. The towel covered his lower abdomen down to his upper thighs. One nursing student had a cloth in her hand and was washing Will's now monitor free chest. It was the other nursing student's current position that had Elizabeth's blood boiling. The other student's hand was currently under the towel, apparently washing Will's upper thighs but definitely in an area Elizabeth declared as her territory long ago. A territory she was fiercely protective of, after all she figuratively had staked and claimed it-multiple times.

"We are giving Mr. Turner his bath." The student at Will's chest stated, slightly annoyed. The nursing student at Will's waist removed her hand from under the towel, and placed the cloth back in the basin. She looked Elizabeth over and flashed a fake smile,

"I'm afraid we are going to have to ask you to leave Miss. After we finish with his bath you may return." Elizabeth was furious, just who did these women think they were telling her to leave, and right after she literally caught them with their hands down his pants.

"Why should I leave?!?" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Patient privacy Miss." The other student replied blatantly. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and choked out a small laugh,

"You talk of privacy, what hypocrisy! You ask me to leave when I have seen and touched every inch of this man's body. Yet the both of you, complete strangers, stay and perform his intimate cares." Elizabeth quickly walked over to the student at the head of the bed and grabbed the cloth from her hand. The nursing student was stunned and looked at Elizabeth as if she had lost her mind.

"I will finish Mr. Turner's bath, and ask the two of you to leave now." She paused and smiled smugly, "for the sake of patient privacy." The other student, now at the foot of the bed, was outraged.

"We are health care providers in charge of Mr. Turner's care; if you do not leave the room this instant we will call security." She stated with conviction. Before Elizabeth could reply a hoarse voice came behind them.

"Elizabeth." The three women quickly turned around. Will's eyes were slightly open, and his forehead was wrinkled with concern.

"Mr. Turner your awake!" The nursing student at the foot of the bed quickly brushed past Elizabeth and went to Will's side, asking him question after question. Despite the persistent nursing student examining his eyes and face, Will's focus remained constant on Elizabeth.

"Mr. Turner do you understand me!" The student proclaimed, raising her voice to try and attain Will's attention. Will flinched, and looked at her with utter annoyance.

"Yes, please don't yell." He momentarily closed his eyes, trying to regain some strength, and then looked back at the student.

"Where are my clothes?" He questioned, his voice still dry.

"Mr. Turner we are just finishing your bath, afterwards we will help you get dressed." She spoke to Will as if he was a child. He just narrowed his eyes and then looked back to Elizabeth. She knew exactly what he was thinking.

"I will finish his bath." Elizabeth stated firmly as she walked closer to Will and gently removed a few tendrils of hair from his face.

'Miss, as we told you before…" the nursing student began to reply but was quickly interrupted.

"I want her to do it." Will practically whispered, his voice failing him. The nursing student looked to Will, then back to Elizabeth. She stood and motioned for the other student to follow her as they exited the room without saying another word. Elizabeth quickly bent down and gave Will a soft chaste kiss. He looked up at her, and frowned.

"That's Good Morning?" He whispered, a glint of mischief in his eyes. Elizabeth smiled as she reached for the glass of ice water on the side table and offered Will a drink.

"For now Mr. Turner, I do believe one of us is in desperate need of a bath." She took the basin off the side table and dumped out its contents, refilling it with warm fresh water from sink. Looking back a Will she added, "You should enjoy this why you can. I do believe it is every man's desire to have a woman give him a sponge bath." A small smile crept across Will's face.

"You should call the students back," he jested, "the more the merrier." His voice greatly improved after drinking the water.

"If it weren't for you current condition I would make you pay for that statement." She then sat on the edge of the bed and started to gently wash his face.

"I would enjoy the punishment." He replied, as Elizabeth ran the cloth over his mouth and held it there for a moment, indicating for him to be quiet. Will let her finish his bath, enjoying the warm feeling of the cloth and her soft hands on his skin. After dumping the water from the basin, she took a clean gown from the cabinet and walked back over to Will.

"What is my reward for behaving during my bath?" Will innocently asked. Elizabeth immediately recognized his wolf in sheep's clothing charade.

"I can remember certain times during your bath when your behavior was less than admirable." She plainly stated. Will smiled,

"It was a reflex." Elizabeth laughed and shook her head, eyeing him suspiciously.

"One kiss then we put on your gown." Will lifted a hand and crossed a finger over his heart. A gesture that not only signaled his promise but demonstrated his returning strength. Elizabeth cautiously knelt on his bed and leaned over to give him another chaste kiss only to be caught off guard as Will met her halfway and pulled her down atop him. Being true to his word, Will's lips never left hers as he deepened the kiss and pulled her close. Elizabeth's mind was whirling, and her body began to betray her intentions as she ran her hands up and down his bare chest, relishing the absence of monitor leads and tubing. This only encouraged Will as he ran his hands over the thin material of the hospital gown and quickly noted Elizabeth's lack of undergarments. His hands quickly went to the ties in the back of the gown. Once untied, he promptly removed the gown and shifted Elizabeth so she was beneath him. He couldn't tell if his head was spinning from the motion of turning or from the feeling of Elizabeth's soft skin against his chest. His hands continued to rove the sides of her torso, lightly grazing her breast with each pass. The only items between them now were Elizabeth's hospital pants and Will's towel. Elizabeth let out a muffled moan as Will's hands began to push down on her pants.


After eating a hot breakfast and calling family members for an update, Bill Turner was looking forward to a small cat nap back in the privacy of Will's hospital room. He quietly opened the door, hoping not to disturb his sleeping son. He was quickly greeted by the sight of his son's bare bum while he assailed the young woman beneath him.

"William Turner!" His father yelled, quickly shutting the door behind him, hoping no one else had stumbled upon the two. Will quickly attempted to roll off Elizabeth, but her arms held him firmly to her.

"Will don't move." She quietly reminded him. Will remembered her absence of a gown and remained awkwardly atop her, still brandishing his bare bum to his father.

"Dad…" He uneasily replied, "how was breakfast?" Bill Turner was outraged,

"I will step out of this room for two minutes…two minutes!" He exclaimed as he stepped through the door, closing it loudly behind him. Will looked down at Elizabeth who appeared incredibly upset. He smiled and gave her a quick kiss before rolling off of her.

"Don't worry Liz, it isn't the first time he has walked in on us." He reminded her as he leaned back into his pillow. His head ache slightly improving as he tried to relax, watching Elizabeth quickly pulling her fleece from yesterday over her head, and securing the tie in her pants. Once dressed, Elizabeth grabbed the clean robe, which had been abandoned during their escapade, and helped place it on Will.

"We were on a beach last time, and you were wearing shorts!" She replied as she pulled the covers up over his legs to his chest. Will gently reached out and took her hand, lightly kissing her palm,

"But you were still topless at the time." He retorted.

"I was wearing a bikini!"

"Half a bikini!" His eyes sparkled with the memory. The door of the room suddenly opened and Elizabeth left Will's side and quickly sat in the nearest chair. Bill looked at the two of them, and then closed the door behind him.

"William the last time I saw your bare arse was when you were but a boy. I wish to never see it again, is that clear!" Bill Turner exclaimed as he sat in a nearby recliner and closed his eyes, wishing he had stayed down in the cafeteria for one more cup of coffee.


I am pleased to have this chapter up before the new year : ) Hope every one had a happy christmas, and God's blessings on the New Year!