Digby hurried across the road, pushing his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. He held a bag of sushi under his arm and as he turned the corner to enter the doors his eyes slid to one side, alighting upon...oddly, Henrik Hanssen and Chantelle, his Chantelle, eating their lunch on a bench and chatting quite ordinarily.
This was something of a shock, firstly that Chantelle was important enough to warrant conversation from Hanssen and secondly that Hanssen was indeed capable of chatting in any normal sense.
"Oo, Digby! Hiya!" Chantelle waved him over, grinning, her blonde hair gleaming in the sun like gold...God, she was pretty... - oh shut up, Digby, he chastised himself - while Hanssen silently regarded him. Digby felt his insides turn to jelly as the Swede's gaze cut into his like a laser. It was like looking at the sun, if you didn't look directly at him he wouldn't burn your eyes out.
Taking his own advice, Digby averted his eyes and looked at Chantelle instead but that wasn't much better. A blush was creeping over his cheeks. "H-hi, er, having your lunch outside? Well, I suppose it is a n-nice day"
"Gorgeous, I was just saying so to Mr Hanssen!" Chantelle beamed sunnily.
Hanssen's gaze fell on the sushi bag. "Mm." He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't have you down as a fan of Japanese cuisine..?"
"Ah uh...it's not for me I can't stand the stuff-" Digby glanced down, realising Hanssen had an empty sushi tray from the same restaurant he had got the bag. The tall man's eyes narrowed and Digby gulped. "Ha, ah..yes well. Obviously it's not for everyone but you enjoy-"
"Who, may I enquire, is it for?" Hanssen interrupted, archly.
Digby gulped again, the noise of his swallow sounding unnaturally loud in his ears. "Umm...Michael...umm..Spence..." He said weakly, noticing Chantelle wincing inwardly.
Hanssen's eyes glinted. "I see." He rose, slowly and towered over both of them. "I don't think this is a productive use of your time, is it? Hand it over please." He opened a long, slender hand.
Digby felt as if he was handing a confiscated toy over to the headmaster, he looked glum. Chantelle looked up at Hanssen with big eyes. The Swede took the bag and set it on the bench.
"You can tell Mr Spence that for wasting your time he can go hungry, perhaps that will teach him to manage his time better so he can get his own lunch in future." Hanssen dug into his pocket and opened a wallet, handing a note to the younger doctor. "For the sushi. And, if he has an issue he can take it up with me."
Digby stared at the note, at Hanssen, at the sushi and at Chantelle who gave him a reassuring grin. His heart sank, partly realising he had to tell Spence about this and partly grateful he wouldn't have to waste his time getting Spence's lunch in future.
"I'd better, go...tell him..."
"Have you had time to eat?"
Digby shook his head.
"Go and eat now." Hanssen said. "20 minutes I shall expect to see you back on the ward".
Digby grinned despite himself "Yes sir!" He looked at Chantelle, who was grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Off you go." Hanssen turned as Digby nodded and hurried off. As the tall Swede looked at Chantelle, she wiped the huge grin off her face and nodded approvingly. Hanssen sat, gracefully and opened the bag of extra sushi he now had.
Chantelle looked at him. "No sense in letting it go to waste." She said in a conspiratorial tone, smiling.
"I wholeheartedly agree, Nurse Lane" Hanssen nodded as he wielded his chopsticks and popped a sushi roll in his mouth.