In The Wrong Place
Chapter 7
4 Hours Earlier :
It was just before six o'clock when Steve woke up.. As he opened his eyes the first thing he saw was the night nurse at the end of his bed writing something down on a chart... Reaching up one hand he rubbed at his eyes in a desperate move to clear the heavy fog that seemed to linger in his skull...
"Well good morning!" the young nurse said smiling broadly and coming around the side of his bed took Steve's left wrist in her hand and proceeded to take his pulse. " How are you feeling today?"
"Ok..." Steve said drowsily and unconvincingly as the nurse studied him for signs of discomfort..." What time is it please?"
"It's nearly six o'clock..." Noticing that Steve was still very groggy and also very croaky the nurse proceeded to pour a small glass of water and raising Steve's bed up so that he was almost sitting up she encouraged him to take a few sips." Here take a few sips of this...it will moisten your throat... Not too much mind!"
Truth was Steve's throat and mouth were very dry and he accepted gratefully the few mouthfuls of cool water to quench his thirst...
"Thanks..." Steve rubbed his eyes again and attempted to shift himself into a more comfortable position only to be stopped as a stabbing pain tore through his left side...His intake of breath and pain etched face were not lost on the nurse who immediately placed her two hands on his shoulders to stop any further movement...
"Easy now...Watch that side of yours. It's still very tender. You're doing really well. All your drips have been disconnected and your vital signs are all back to normal. Dr. Armstrong is going to let you out of here later if you continue to do well...You just have to be careful not to burst those stitches... No more sudden movements...Ok? Nice and slowly for now is best."
It took Steve a minute of two to breathe through the jolt of pain he had caused himself ...When the pain was back under control he opened his eyes and looked at the nurse who was now looking at him with great concern...
"How's the pain? Do you need me to get you something for it? "
"No...thank you...It's ok now..."
Steve felt bad for causing the nurse to worry so trying to deflect the situation he forced a smile and ventured...
"You know, I sure would love a cup of coffee...you think I'd be allowed one?"
The nurse smiled back and studied the young detective for an instant. Despite his current pallor he was still very good-looking. He had wavy hair that despite being currently dishevelled still held a boyish charm and he had a persuasive smile that seemed to light up his face and in that moment she reckoned that smile could melt the coldest of hearts and could probably get anyone to do his bidding... Yep, a heartbreaker if ever she saw one. Not wanting to give in too easy though, she bargained with the young detective...
"I'll tell you what...I'll get you a cup of coffee if you promise to try to eat some toast with it too...Is it a deal?"
Steve didn't really feel like eating but he admired the nurse for her tenacity so he allowed her this victory...
"Oh, you drive a hard bargain..Ok, I guess having to eat some toast is worth a cup of coffee. Deal...!"
While he was talking, he suddenly became aware of an annoying itch in the crease of his left arm. As the nurse was about to leave to organize his toast and coffee Steve subconsciously started to scratch at it furiously...but the more he scratched at it the more it burned... Noticing Steve's discomfort, the nurse came back.
"What's the matter with your arm?"
"I don't know. It's just itching like crazy all of a sudden." Steve explained...
"Let me look..." she instructed and taking his left arm she turned it around and rolled up the sleeve of the hospital gown for a better look. Where the cannula had been the night before tranfusing blood into his arm there was an irritated red patch. It was angry and raised and Steve's scratching hadn't helped it any...
When Steve saw the red patch he was quite alarmed and judging by the way the nurse was examining it and frowning she wasn't too happy with it either...
"What's caused that?" Steve asked trying not to sound as alarmed as he was feeling...
Seeing through the young man's pretence she was quick to ease his concern.. It was a minor complication that she had seen happen many times before..
"You've just had a skin reaction to where the needle was last night replacing the blood you lost...It is fairly common but you MUSN'T scratch it! I'm going to put some cream on it and bandage it so you won't be tempted ! Hold still.."
Carefully, the nurse put special cream on it...The cream was cold and Steve instinctively flinched as the cold cream touched his skin...But it did relieve the annoying itch...She bandaged it up and wagging her finger authoritatively at Steve she barked out an order at him...
"Now NO more scratching and NO more moving that side too much!...Ok? Can I trust you to behave yourself while I go get your coffee and toast?"
Steve smiled at the nurse and saluting with his right hand said...
"Scouts honour!"
" You know I bet you weren't even in the scouts! " she said laughing and with that she left to get his breakfast.
As the nurse left , Steve smiled to himself... She reminded him of Jeannie...Not as susceptible to his charm, tenacious and yet caring and with a good sense of humour...All in all so much like Jeannie ...Ah Jeannie... He was so looking forward to seeing her later on. However he'd have to be careful. He'd been a victim of Jeannie's nursing before and while her heart was in the right place, boy could she overdo it a little...
As he lay in the hospital bed he glanced over at the window. The first rays of sunshine were creeping in through the blinds and from out in the corridor outside his room he could hear trolleys trundling past...Next he heard someone vaccuming...The dull monotonous hum of the vacuum continued and his eyelids felt heavy...He suddenly felt sleepy and drifted off to sleep...
The next thing he knew there was a hand touching his arm and a soft voice brought him to consciousness ...
"Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead...We had a deal remember?"
Before he even opened his eyes, the smell of coffee wafted towards him and on waking he saw the nurse pulling a bedside tray up closer to him with coffee and toast on it... Rubbing his eyes again and stifling a yawn he noticed the sun was now fully streaming into the room and wondered how long he'd been dozing...
"Sorry,... I must have dozed off..." Steve said sleepily and being more careful moving this time, he carefully held his sore side and more slowly moved himself up further in the bed...
Watching how carefully Steve was moving this time,the nurse announced proudly...
"Well, I guess you really were listening to my instructions before...Good job!...And after the blood you lost yesterday, you are going to be very tired for a day or two until you get your strength back so you can expect to doze off occasionally .."
Steve groaned a little..."Dozing off occasionally isn't really conducive to my profession especially as I do a good bit of the driving."..He smiled and reaching out a hand he took the cup of coffee and shakily brought it to his lips and took a mouthful...Oh, it tasted good and Steve closed his eyes and savoured the sweet taste as it glided down his throat..." You sure do make a nice cup of coffee." he said smiling at the nurse.
"Well, I'm glad you like it...I was going to get you some from the canteen but decided to get you some from the doctor's lounge instead...The coffee is far superior, trust me... But don't forget our deal, you promised to eat some toast too...Remember?..." She replied as she took the coffee from his hand and replaced it with a piece of toast...
Steve frowned as the coffee was taken away and looked at the toast that replaced it with mild disgust but he had made a deal so reluctantly he took a small bite from the toast and attempted to chew it..He managed to chew it ok but his throat refused to swallow it...It felt like he was trying to swallow a boulder instead of a small mouthful of bread...He was starting to become uncomfortable and noticing his discomfort the nurse brought the coffee back up to his lips and helped him take a mouthful of it..
"Wash it down..." She instructed...watching him carefully for signs of distress.
With the help of the coffee, he managed to swallow it but as it made its way down his dry,parched, throat, he really felt like he was swallowing a boulder and he panicked and almost gagged...
Again, noticing this reflex,the nurse gave him another mouthful of coffee and instructed him to take another big drink... As the second mouthful of liquid went down it cleared his throat and he swallowed hard and struggled to regain his composure slightly unnerved by his first attempt at eating... Eventually he recovered enough to answer embarrassingly , not catching the nurses eye but looking towards the window instead...
"Sorry...I tried...Couldn't swallow it.."
Feeling guilty for making him eat and concerned by what had happened when he did, the nurse quickly countered...
"Your throat must be very dry that's all...It's me who should be sorry...My bad...Maybe we should have started with a little jello instead? Huh?...Are you ok?"
"Yeah..." Steve replied shakily finally looking at the nurse and again seeing how bad she felt ,decided to lighten the situation...
"Can I have the rest of that coffee now?"
"Yes...I think you've earned it..." the nurse said smiling..."Listen, my shift is over now...I just have to hand over to the day nurse...And if you want to get out of here later remember..."
" I know, I know...NO scratching and move slowly...I got it...Scouts honour remember?"
They both laughed...
" You take care Steve Keller..." she said smiling as she removed the rest of the toast from his tray and took it with her as she exited the room.
"You too...and thanks for everything..." Steve said as she went through the door. Then picking up the cup he drank the rest of his coffee...
The next hour went by quickly as the day nurse came in and introduced herself and did more blood pressure checks and redressed his wounds...Steve dozed on and off..Then the doctor had arrived and after examining Steve thoroughly gave him the good news that he would be allowed home later...however as he still hadn't eaten much and as his side would be very sore for the next few days and Steve lived alone he would only sign the release papers if he was going to stay with someone for a few days. Steve reckoned that Mike would probably insist on him staying with him anyway so that wouldn't be a problem. The doctor then informed him that Mike had called and was coming to collect him at ten o'clock...
Roll on ten o'clock Steve thought to himself..Steve really hated hospital stays and was getting anxious to go home...Come on Mike...he thought...Get me out of here...!