Inside the Emergency Room, amidst the beeping of monitors and the blinking of status lights, Jessica sat next to the head of Seth's bed holding his hand in hers.
The tall doctor in the white lab coat standing at the foot of the bed huffed, "Really, this is unorthodox. No one should be in here while we're treating the patient," complained the very young resident.
Seth took the oxygen mask off, stared the doctor right in the eye, and said, "Well, this unorthodox patient says that she stays! You've got tubes and wires everywhere else, you can spare my right hand for my… significant other to hold!" Jessica gave Seth a curious look.
"Doctor," the attendant nurse mentioned quietly to him while re-adjusting Seth's oxygen mask, "patients do tend to be calmer when there's a loved one with them. And what this patient needs right now is to be as calm as possible."
"Very well. For now," the new resident grumbled. Then, looking at Jessica, "But if I say 'go' I want you out of here."
Jessica nodded. "Of course, doctor," she agreed, doing her best to put on a diplomatic smile that she didn't feel. After the resident left the nurse rolled her eyes. "Don't mind his bedside manner. We're running the tests now and I'll be back shortly to check on you. The cardiologist will be in as soon as he's had a chance to look at the results. Get some rest and push the call button if you need anything."
"What I need is to have a little chat with that young puppy's resident advisor," growled Seth after the nurse left. "He could use a refresher course on compassion and how to speak to a patient. I wonder if he's actually heard of the Hippocratic Oath much less taken it?"
"Let's not worry about him just now," said Jessica as she moved her chair to the side so that she was facing Seth. Looking at his ashen face, a déjà vu memory inflicted itself upon her from the last time she sat close by while Seth was in a hospital bed.
She was struck with the thought that she hadn't followed her heart then and had never told Seth how she truly felt about him. Holding onto her fears of betraying the vows she took with Frank, although he was long gone, had prevented her from opening her heart again. Her trepidation of what might be if she were to let go, and feel, was so great that she had repressed the urge completely. Now the cost of that was becoming clear.
And here we are, again… How foolish I've been, Jessica thought. I've never told this good, kind man what he means to me and how deeply I care for him. I know he cares for me as a best friend but now there's an assassin who tries to kill me and Seth was going to sacrifice his very life to save me. He even considers me his 'significant other.' If that's not love, I don't know what is…
Then an epiphany struck Jessica that made her gasp. Oh, My God! she silently realized. He doesn't just love me, he's in love with me!
"Jess?" Seth said, looking closely at her. "I do believe I'm feeling better that you. You look terrible. Are you o.k.?"
"I'mm fine - it's just that I can't quite believe everything that's happened since just this morning and now here we are in ER." Words caught in her throat and Jessica lowered here head so Seth wouldn't see the regret in her eyes.
"That lacks something for an answer, Jess. As bizarre as this has been, you look like you're in shock…" Seth was interrupted as another white coated figure entered the room.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Burton, the cardiologist. How are you feeling Dr. Hazlitt?"
"Well, if I felt good, I wouldn't be here, now would I?!"
"Seth!" Jessica softly chastised. "The doctor's here to help." Although she couldn't hide a small smile after hearing Seth's retort.
"Well, Dr. Hazlitt, you'll be happy to know that your EKG and cardiac enzymes are negative for a myocardial infarction. In fact, all of the cardiac tests are within normal limits, and I see you've reacted favorably to the medications we've given you," noted Dr. Burton. "What isn't normal are the trace amounts of salmonella toxin that we found in your gastric contents."
"I'm sorry," Jessica broke in, "what does that all mean in English?"
"And you are?" queried Dr. Burton.
"I'm his 'significant other,'" answered Jessica with a small smile. Seth's eyes widened with her reply as he glanced at her and his lips twitched into a slight grin.
"Of course, we just like to be sure for patient confidentiality," Dr. Burton affirmed. "In essence, Dr. Hazlitt did not have a heart attack. He had a severe case of gastric reflux probably initiated by a very slight case of food poisoning. The drugs we've given him have calmed it down."
He continued, "Severe gastric reflux and a heart attack are easy to mistake for each other since they have similar symptoms that can be brought on by some of the same things; obviously other than food poisoning. A change in diet, or stress, for example. Perhaps something out of the ordinary has happened recently to upset you, Dr. Hazlitt?" At this both Seth and Jessica choked and started coughing.
"With your presenting symptoms and since this is your first reflux episode," the cardiologist said while giving them a curious look, "it was in your best interest to rule out a heart attack first. That being done, as you're aware, gastric reflux can usually be controlled by medication and diet…"
Seth interrupted, "So would not eating that mess the airline passed off as food!"
"Uh, yes," Dr. Burton chuckled. "We'll be alerting the authorities about that. In the meantime I'd recommend that you eat lightly for a day or two. By the way," he said while looking closer at the right side of Seth's head, "what is this scorched line above your ear? It looks a little irritated."
"Oh, that's where…" Jessica started to say, only to be cut off by Seth.
"That's nothing, I just, um, cut myself shaving."
"Shaving, hmm?" remarked the cardiologist giving Seth a long look. "Well, we'll get you some ointment for that too, in addition to a supply of the others meds to take with you before you leave today."
"You mean he can go home?" Jessica burst in. "He'll be all right?"
"Yes, there's no reason, with medication, and proper diet, that he won't be all right." Turning to Seth he advised, "Just be sure to watch your intake for the next couple of days and follow up with a gastroenterologist if need be. We'll monitor you for a little while longer just to be sure there's nothing else going on and then I'll write out your discharge orders. Oh, and be sure to avoid any stress for a while."
"Well, we sure would like to," mumbled Seth under his breath as the doctor left the room.
Once they were alone, Seth explained, "Jess, I'm sorry I interrupted you but if you had told him I'd been shot he would have had to report it to the police and I really don't want to have to explain this incident to anyone."
"Me neither!" agreed Jessica.
For the next couple of hours the monitors continued to beep and the lights continued to blink regularly. Jessica and Seth both napped, never letting go of their entwined hands.
That's how Michael Hagarty found them. He stared at them intently for a few moments, as if to remember what it was like to be that close to someone. With a small smile, he shook his head as he thought, So that's why she was always so oblivious to me lucky charms.
He softly cleared his throat, "Ahem," and woke them from their slumber.
"Michael," Jessica exclaimed, "what's happened?"
"Oh, not anything to worry about Jessica dearheart," which gained him a glare from Seth. "We're working on gathered up the rest of the blokes in this gang and I'll personally make sure that they won't be causing any more trouble."
"I'm guessing that we probably don't want to know how you're doing all of this, do we?" asked Seth.
"No, you probably don't," agreed Michael. "It's a long story and I believe that you're about to be discharged."
"How would you even know such a… Oh, never mind," said Jessica.
Just then, Dr. Burton came in with the good news that Seth was ready for discharge. "I'll have the papers prepared and the nurse will bring them in shortly."
After he left, a worried Jessica glanced at Seth before turning to Michael and asking, "That's just the problem, discharged to where? How do know if it's safe to go back to the apartment, regardless of the shambles that it's in, or if it's still dangerous?"
"A danger you put her in," acerbically added Seth.
"It's perfectly safe now lass," reassured Michael. "I promise that you that I won't rest until we have the whole lot of them in hand. My team's working on it as we speak. I've also arranged for a car waiting outside to take you back to your apartment."
"We do owe you our lives," Seth quietly admitted. "Thank you."
"Yes, even though you inadvertently caused this," remarked Jessica.
Michael had the good grace to look guilty. "I will make it right, lass. I swear."
"But, thank you…" Jessica continued. "Michael, we owe you a debt. If there's ever anything we can do to repay you - if you're ever in a dark place and need a friend to talk to, please just call."
Michael smiled slightly and nodded, then walked to the door where he stopped and turned around to look at Seth, and then Jessica, neither of whom realized that they were still holding hands.
He held Jessica's eyes for a long moment before smiling again and saying, "There is one thing you both can do for me. Remember that tomorrow is guaranteed to no one. Don't waste your life being afraid of what was, or what might be. Live for what is." And with that he slipped out the door and it closed softly behind him.
Jessica sat there dumbfounded, Good grief! Was he reading my mind?
"Jess? You've got that look about you again," interjected Seth. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Before she could answer the door opened and the nurse came in with discharge orders, instructions, prescriptions, a small bag full of medications, and the usual ream of paper for signatures. She unhooked Seth from the various monitors and tubes and reviewed all the materials with him.
Seth sighed loudly, "Now that I'm unplugged and I've signed my John Hancock to everything, can we go?"
"Yes, the porter is just outside with the wheelchair to take you to the discharge area where, I take it, you have a car waiting. I would suggest that you get dressed first Dr. Hazlitt, unless you just want to make a fashion statement." Jessica put her head down to hide a snicker.
"Thank you, nurse Phyllis Diller," retorted Seth. "If you ladies would give me a bit of privacy I'll be ready in a minute."
As soon as Seth was dressed he called for the porter who entered with a wheelchair.
"Here you go sir! Bed to curb service!" smiled the young man. Once he had Seth seated safely he glanced at Jessica and asked, "Aren't you J.B. Fletcher? Oooh, I love your books. Say, any hints on how the trilogy is going to end?"
"No, sorry," answered Jessica, it's a State Secret." The porter chuckled at her reply as they left the building.
In short order Jessica and Seth were settled into the waiting limo and heading back to the apartment. Seth reached over and cradled Jessica's hand in his. He looked at her with a rare display of vulnerability. After a moment, they put their arms around each other and stayed that way all the way back to the apartment; never saying a word.
... ... ... ... ...
Once they arrived at The Penfield the limo door was opened and they were greeted by Ahmed, the doorman. "Mrs. Fletcher! Dr. Hazlitt!" he gushed. "How good to see you back after all the commotion we had. How amazing was the filming today for that movie they are making! I did not know about it until afterwards, but then the manager certainly did not do a good job of alerting all the tenants either. Many of them are still upset, but I am sure that the free one month's rent will help them to feel better. Especially if they get credit for their bit parts in the movie."
"Movie!" Seth sputtered. Jessica cut him off. "Why yes, it was a bit uh, unexpected for all of us, Ahmed."
As they walked down the hallway and neared Jessica's apartment they noted how perfectly neat it was, along with a faint smell of fresh paint.
Jessica paused at her door, very pleasantly surprised to find that she had one again, and stood there, holding the key but not moving. Seth said, "Here Jess, let me get that," and took the key from her hand.
She looked at him. "I'm just afraid of what it'll be like when we go in."
"There's only one way to find out," mused Seth as he unlocked the door and opened it. He walked in and gasped loudly. Jessica hurried in to face him. "Seth, are you all right?!"
"I'm fine. Jess, turn around and see! The place looks… untouched! How is that possible?"
Jessica moved around the apartment in amazement. "There isn't a bullet hole to be seen, the bloodstain on the carpet is gone, my teacup is right where I left it, and there's even a bag of groceries on the counter!"
"If I didn't have a pocket full of meds and papers I'd think we were in a time warp or something," mumbled Seth.
A knock on the door caught their attention. Peering through the peek hole Jessica saw Michael standing at the threshold. She opened the door. "Please come in, Michael. I didn't think we'd see you again."
"Thank you, Jessica dea.. uh, hello, Dr. Hazlitt, it's nice to see you up and around." Turning to Jessica he said, "I wanted to tell you that my team's rounded up the rest of the gang and you won't have any trouble with that bunch ever again."
Looking around the apartment he added, "I hope you have found the reconditioning of your apartment adequate?"
Jessica, in a rare moment, was speechless.
Seth piped up, "It looks as good as new, right down to the tea still being hot. How did you…?"
He was cut off as Michael waved a hand. "We have some excellent contacts who can make things happen.''
Jessica found her voice. "Michael, what you did for us - saving us and putting everything to rights. Thank you, again."
"You're most welcome," replied Michael. "I just wanted to stop by to let you know that you're safe and to make sure everything was satisfactory."
Taking Jessica's hands and looking at her warmly, he said, "And I hope that I've earned a mite of forgiveness, lass."
"You have," Jessica answered, squeezing his hands gently while favoring him with a smile.
"Thank you," exhaled a relieved Michael. "I'll sleep better knowing that you don't have ill feelings towards me." After holding her gaze for a moment he sighed, "Well, I've got to be off now."
"Where are you going to next, Michael?" asked Jessica while walking him to the door.
"Ah, lass, I don't know but there's surely another assignment waiting for me." He turned, and pausing, with a glance and a nod at Seth, said, "Good-bye lass, be well," as he kissed Jessica tenderly on the cheek.
Jessica watched him as he walked down the hall. Then she securely locked the door behind him.
