A/N - I am really, really humbled by the response I have received after posting the first chapter and it absolutely motivated me to keep writing, despite being short of time! I managed to squeeze in a little writing here and there and I hope you will be pleased with the outcome.
Disclaimer; Skins is not mine, the story however, is…
Chapter 2. First Impressions
Emily's POV
Once everything was set in motion, we moved very quickly to get each of the nine patients transferred to our facilities at King's College. Due to the severity of their illnesses, time was not to be wasted as each and every one of them could take a turn for the worse at any moment and affect the outcome of the study. We were hoping for at least three full cycles before pausing to assess the results and determine the potential toxicity of the treatment. We had paired everyone up but since we had a total of nine patients, one would have to be left out. Seeing as Naomi was a very young woman and had her mother by her side at most hours of the day, Kieran had decided she would be happier on her own. She had been transferred on Tuesday and I was looking at the some of her recent results. She really was the perfect candidate for the trial and I knew that Kieran's heart was bleeding a little extra for her. She was very young to have such an aggressive NET and since she had been diagnosed only a few months ago, she was headed towards a very untimely and painful death. We all knew that a pilot study such as the one we were preparing for, didn't offer much hope for the participants. There was simply no way of knowing how or if the tumors would respond, and we were very careful when explaining the goals of the trial to the patients and their loved ones. False hope was unacceptable but on the other hand, there was a reason we were doing the trial and a reason Kieran was so excited about it.
Naomi had occupied my mind since our first meeting. I had gone home that night in a haze and was thankful that Jeremy was away on business this week. Oddly enough, in Jeremy's mind, his being away a week at a time on business was quite different than my staying late at the hospital a couple of nights a week. I never really got the distinction and felt a little bitter since all we seemed to do lately was fight about my absence. I had taken copies of the patient files home and studied them thoroughly, treating myself to a glass of wine. Somehow, I found myself spending excessive time on Naomi's file, going over our meeting in my head. The memory of her eyes haunted me, which wasn't unusual as I too had a bleeding heart, but had represented itself quite differently this time. I found myself completely lost in the memory of her piercing, beautiful blue eyes. Several times, I had tried and failed to recall the rest of her face and instead kept reliving the sensation her eyes and her presence had caused. I kept smiling and blushing at the memory. For some yet to be determined reason, I found her captivating. Technically, we hadn't even had a conversation yet but I felt as if I already knew and cared for her. I suppose the fact that she was my age alongside knowing her entire medical history and with that, a lot of intimate details, could result in that. It felt like she had an inexplicable power over me, even after only a brief meeting.
We had been keeping very busy and working into the late hours of the night and my mind kept drifting to her when I really should be focusing on the work at hand. I was so curious about her and about how it was possible for Naomi to have such a hold on me. I felt a desperate need to satisfy my obsession and was anxiously awaiting a reason to pay her a visit. This data at hand finally offered that. I gathered my things, as I would be leaving for the day after seeing her. Jeremy wasn't back until Saturday so I was free and my sister Katie was hosting a dinner party that I had declined, however, she had made me promise to show myself for at least one drink later in the evening. I had therefore put a little effort into my appearance and wasn't wearing the traditional lab-coat when I reached Naomi's room.
I knocked softly before entering and expected Gina, Naomi's ever present mother to greet me. She was however, nowhere to be seen and Naomi was once again lying on her side with her back to the door. After a short moment of hesitation, I walked across the room to the bed and stood before Naomi. I could only just make out the soft features of her face and I knew that this time, she was indeed sleeping. Her lips were parted slightly, her breathing heavy. I checked the morphine drop and decided that it wasn't the cause of her slumber and checked my watch. Half past six. I still had time and I really wanted to tell her the good news so I decided to wait. I sat down in the lounger facing her and spent a little more time relishing in her sleeping face. I only then realized that all this time, I had thought it was simply her azure eyes that had captivated me but at the moment, her eyes were hidden under soft eyelids and yet, her power over me persisted. Without realizing it, an hour had passed and there was no sign of her coming to. Still, I was planted in that chair, unable to escape let go of my obsession.
Luckily, an orderly came to serve Naomi her dinner and she finally stirred. She reached out and flipped the light switch for the lamp on the nightstand and gasped as her eyes adjusted to the light and settled on me.
Naomi's POV
There she was again, that beautiful researcher that had visited with Kieran. I had been hoping I would see her again but she hadn't visited all week. They had moved me to King's College the day after their first visit and I had been visited by both Kieran and JJ several times since then. They had made a great point of explaining everything and JJ had lost himself in way too many detailed explanations about cancer progression and how my type of illness differed from other cancer types. I consider myself quite smart but in the end, I lost it and Mum gave up trying to follow his train of thought even before he started. She spent most of the time making flirty eyes at Kieran, who obviously had also taken a liking to her. At the end of their last visit earlier today, Mum had actually surprised Kieran by pulling him into an embrace. I smiled at the memory of his surprised face and my mother's flushed cheeks as she let him go. She'll need someone once I'm gone. Immediately, the smile disappeared as the grim reality hit me once again. The beautiful woman in front of me, Emily was her name, frowned in concern.
"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to startle you", she apologized, genuine concern eminent in her voice and face. Such a stunning face… Jesus, Naomi, stop it!
I shook my head,"you didn't. Well, you did, but in a nice way." I tried to give her a genuine smile but the way I was looking these days, it probably looked more like a grimace. I must look horrible! I ran my fingers through what was left of my light brown hair and ended up feeling even worse.
She gave me a smile that never really reached her eyes; I noticed this because I once again found it hard to focus on her without getting lost in her incredibly deep, dark-brown eyes. I was actually thankful that Kieran and JJ had visited so often because I honestly couldn't remember anything from that first meeting aside from the words 'clinical trial, pancreatic cancer and you'. The rest was a huge blur circling around the distinct memory of the most exquisite creature I had ever laid my eyes on. Her shoulder-length hair was straight and so dark it was almost black, but you could tell it was her natural hair color. I remember locking eyes with her as JJ had given me that cheesy, yet endearing compliment. She hadn't actually done or said anything and yet, I felt the all too familiar fluttering of the butterflies I had given up all hope for, knowing my abdomen was full of metastases. I had observed the same sensation mirrored in those absolutely mesmerizing eyes as she momentarily averted her gaze and she put a hand to the wall, steadying herself. When she had spoken for the first time, my tired heart had started to pound in my chest and I was momentarily thankful that I was no longer hooked up to a heart monitor. Her voice was the exquisite equivalent to her stunning face and I knew right then and there that I was in trouble. So, so much trouble. She was obviously straight or at least believed that she was and I was her patient. Oh, and there was of course the slight issue of my, you know, dying within a few months.
Realizing that none of us had spoken for quite a while, I cleared my throat, "so, Emily, was it? What brings you by?"
At my question, Emily's demeanor changed and I saw the scientist in her reemerging. She had a file resting across her knees, which she now opened and laid across my lap, pointing out a certain figure. I really didn't know what it meant but I didn't want to seem like an idiot either. I stared at the page for what seemed like an eternity, trying to figure out what the fuck I was looking at.
"It's your renal score", Emily explained, smiling. I looked up at her with a questioning eyebrow raised. She smiled again and this time it reached all the way to her wonderful eyes. I felt a little warmth in my cheeks, which must have shown since I was so pale I was barely visible against the white sheets of the hospital bed. She carried on and probably hadn't noticed, "It means your kidneys are in tip-top shape, which means…"
"Which means you can treat the hell out of me," I interrupted, actually feeling a bit excited.
"Exactly!", she exclaimed, equally excited. She stood and took the file back, smiling warmly at me. "JJ said you were clever so I thought you might be interested in seeing this yourself." Emily's excitement was growing and her eyes were glowing, "come Monday, you will be moved to the isolation wing and you will start your first treatment cycle, at the highest dose we feel comfortable with." I wasn't really sure how to react to that but she was absolutely adorable in her exited state, practically beaming, and I was once again reminded that I was in deep, deep trouble here. It had been a long time since any medical professional had given me actual good news and even though I knew that my disease was still going to best me, I couldn't help but feel a little reassured. I smiled warmly at her and reached out and placed my hand on hers.
"Thank you."
Emily's POV
I felt the energy course through me before I felt the actual sensation of her hand resting on top of mine. It rippled through me before setting off an army of butterflies that had taken up residence in my stomach all of a sudden. She was smiling at me and her eyes had locked with mine, reminding me of the power they possessed. Her face was expressing genuine gratitude but there was something else, something I couldn't quite define but it was pulling me closer. I felt my hand respond to her touch and unconsciously turned it slightly to allow myself to fully hold her hand. I started stroking my thumb gently across the back of her hand and wondered at the softness of it. What am I doing? I forced myself to avert my eyes, regretfully letting go of her hand in the process.
I cleared my throat, needing a minute to reclaim my professionalism. Honestly, Emily, what are you thinking? "Anyway, I should be getting out of your hair." I nodded towards her dinner at the table next to her, "enjoy your dinner." I felt like an idiot but I really couldn't think of anything to say since the only thing my mind was currently focused on, was remembering the sensation of having Naomi's hand in mine. I turned towards the chair and picked up my jacket.
"Got a hot date?", Naomi asked and could literally hear the smirk in her voice, despite having my back turned.
"As a matter of fact, I do!", I replied, smiling as I turned around to face her. "With this smoking hot brunette with fantastic brown eyes, the cutest little button-nose and a hilarious lisp that makes my heart flutter." I emphasized the word 'smoking' and noticed Naomi frowning slightly. "There's just this one, tiny issue…", I sighed, feigning despair. Naomi raised an inquiring eyebrow, urging me to continue. "She's my twin sister." I threw my hands up in mock hopelessness.
Naomi's face went through a few stages of realization before she started giggling. "That is indeed a problem…", She had the most endearing giggle and looked adorable when she had to cover her mouth with a hand as the giggle turned into laughter. The butterflies in my stomach were having a field day, spreading upward to my heart. "So not a date then?", she said as the laughter died out.
I grinned and shook my head, "no, though I am meeting my sister for drinks."
Naomi tilted her head back, closed her eyes and let out a loud groan. I immediately rushed to her side, reaching for her hand, worried that she was suddenly in an enormous amount of pain.
"Ugghh! Alcohol! Oh, how I miss thee!", she exclaimed and I stopped in my tracks, feeling quite silly for worrying. She opened her eyes, smiling but as she saw my self-conscious expression and close proximity, the smile faded. "I supposed I shouldn't really let out cries like that when I'm dying in a hospital bed, should I?" She looked almost ashamed and fiddled a little with her hands.
I smiled reassuringly, reached out and touched her shoulder lightly. "I'm just relieved you weren't in any pain." Naomi looked up at me, a sad expression spreading across her beautiful face.
"Still, sorry about that.", she paused, "and I am, you know. In pain." Tears were forming in her eyes and I could tell she was fighting to keep them from emerging. The mood in the room had gone from light and flirty back to the bitter reality of her situation in a matter of seconds. She looked away, ashamed.
I felt a desperate need to make her feel better, make her giggle and laugh again but I was at a loss for words. Her head was turned away from me and she was biting her lip to keep from crying. I couldn't stand it, so I sat down on her bed, leaned towards her and reached out and placed two fingers on her chin, turning her face towards me. A stray tear was running down her cheek and I wiped it away with my thumb and continued to stroke her cheek for a while, relishing in the softness of her skin. She smiled and locked her eyes with mine. I instantly became aware of our closeness. I was still leaning towards her and our faces were suddenly unnervingly close. My hand was resting on her cheek and as I gazed into her stunningly beautiful eyes, I felt myself leaning closer. Naomi's eyes quickly drifted to my lips before returning to my eyes and I felt utterly powerless.
And I'm going to stop there because I have to go to a new session now. I realize things might be moving quickly but let's face facts; Naomi only has a few months to live so they kinda have to! I toned down the science a bit in this chapter but it will increase in specificity soon…
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