I'm having hard time opening my tired eyes, but I need to locate the phone which is somewhere under the pillows and buzzing non-stop. I feel so sleepy. How come the night is already over? For a moment, I consider taking a leave today. But no, as a rule I never take leave unless I really need it.
After fumbling some more, I finally get hold of my phone. I blearily look at the screen. Unknown number. Well, as someone working in the hospital, that is not completely unexpected. But then, I look at the time— it's fucking 2:30am! I'm off duty right now. Why am I being called? I hesitate but then press accept.
"Hey Case, it's me."
I groan, "Why are you calling me at this odd hour, Derek?"
"Uhh… I sort of am in a pickle," he says sounding somewhat strained.
"Did you break your ankle or something while playing hockey?" I say putting the phone on speaker and closing my eyes. It's alright. It's just Derek. He is a big player in the NFL now. He can get himself treated elsewhere instead of pestering his poor nurse of a stepsister. I'm going back to sleep.
"No Case, actually I've a concussion and the person who was supposed to help me through the night has bailed. I might actually die if you do not come over."
Seriously? "I'm coming but remember you owe me."
"Yes, Case, I will!" And he hangs up. Great.
I scream into my pillow.
As I press the buzzer on his door, I wonder at his audacity. Calling me here in the middle of the night as though it's alright to bother me like this. He knows how to press my nerves. He also knows it would hang on my conscience to ignore a direct request like this. Ugh. At least he booked me a cab.
He opens the door looking world-weary and battle-scarred. Maybe this wasn't a ploy. Maybe he does really need me. He still has shaggy brown hair but seems taller than I remember. I mentally shake myself. Nope. He has other people in his life he could have called. This is his old Derek tactic of annoying Casey every chance he gets.
He squints down at me with a blanket around him. I get inside shoving him on my way. Yes, I can be petty at times, especially when I'm forced to be awake in the middle of the night.
"Ouch Case," He says rubbing his shoulders. "Is this how you treat your patients? And here I was under the impression you needed your job."
I glare at him.
He raises his hands in surrender and moves to sit on the couch in the lavishly decorated living room. This is my first time coming to his place since he moved in here, and wow, I'm quite dumbfounded. I stare. The walls have paintings, each of which must cost more than my yearly salary. There's a beautiful golden peacock with purple crown in one of the paintings. Never could have imagined that'd look so pretty.
He clears his throat. I come out of my stupor, and follow him to sit on the couch.
"What am I supposed to do?" I ask without looking at him, gazing straight upwards at the glass ceiling that gives a clear view of the nightsky.
"You tell me. You're the nurse"
"And you are the famous hockey player who could have hired an on-duty nurse," Now I turn to him giving him a pointed look before turning back to the stars.
He sighs, "That's true. I don't know, Case. I'm feeling vulnerable and I didn't want a stranger around me."
I glance at him, surprised. He has never before been this honest with me. "Oh Derek, I think you really got badly hurt," I poke his head, careful to not press on his bump, and he laughs.
"Come on, let's play UNO!" I pause, then, "Don't tell me you don't have UNO here."
He leans back on the headrest, closes his eyes, and points to a shelf in the corner, "It's there."
I quickly get it, and we play UNO for the rest of the night.
In the morning again, he books me a cab to my place. Groggily but also happily, I leave for my day shift at the hospital after a sleepless night.
