"What is it, Elizabeth?" Clara asked.
"Pardon? I didn't hear what you said," Elizabeth responded, startled by the sound of Clara speaking her name.
"Exactly! You haven't heard anything I've said in the last ten minutes. Why are you so distracted?"
"Sorry, I am tired; I didn't sleep well again."
"What's causing the sleepless nights?" Clara's frown turned to an expression of concern, "Is it something you want to talk about? I'm happy to listen and help if I can."
"Thanks, Clara. It's just the silly season."
Elizabeth was pleased when Clara didn't probe. They had been partners long enough for her to know Elizabeth didn't embrace Christmas. She participated in things like the Secret Santa and spent Christmas day each year with friends, exchanging presents and enjoying great food. She did enjoy watching Christmas movies, who didn't, but while she went through the motions, Christmas brought back sad memories she would prefer to forget.
Elizabeth had tossed and turned the previous night, so she hadn't lied to Clara; some of it was because she remembered previous Christmases. Nathan Grant also kept her from sleeping, which she didn't intend to share with Clara or anyone.
Elizabeth and Nathan had continued texting once they started but hadn't met face-to-face since their breakfast date. Sorry, the casual, spur-of-the-moment breakfast catch-up, not a date. Nathan had also called for the first time the previous evening.
They had texted on and off throughout the day and had spent the evening texting about a murder mystery they were watching. She couldn't stop herself checking her phone, looking for the tell-tale text bubbles to appear, so she knew he was responding. Elizabeth jumped as the screen lit up with an incoming call, her ring tone loud in the room. She saw Nathan's name on the screen and quickly swiped 'accept' to answer.
"Nathan! Hi," Elizabeth said, hoping her voice didn't sound as breathless and excited to him as it did to her.
"Sorry to call without notice, but I thought of a really good twist to this episode, and I wanted to share it with you before it played out so I could claim it...If I'm right, of course."
Elizabeth laughed at how excited he sounded, and a little thrill shot through her when he said he wanted to share it with her. She listened as Nathan explained what he thought would happen, and it made perfect sense, so much so she wondered why she hadn't seen it.
It was natural for them to stay on the phone and watch the episode play out. As it turns out, Nathan was right about the twist but chose not to gloat too much. The conversation continued once the show was over, and they chatted about their day and what they had planned for the next day. They were both working, and it was highly likely that they would see each other.
Elizabeth couldn't deny she felt guilty about the ruse they were playing. Yes, it was to pay back their matchmakers, but Clara would be part of it, too, and so were the other staff at the hospital. Once it was over, she would explain it to Clara, hoping she understood.
"Well, I am here if you need me," Clara said, regaining Elizabeth's focus as she smiled kindly at her.
The loudspeaker crackled to life, demanding their attention, and she and Clara focused entirely on the call and what they needed to do. Jumping into the rig as Clara slipped into the driver's side, Elizabeth was glad of the distraction.
Elizabeth hurried into the hospital, wheeling the stretcher containing their most recent patient. A motorist had reported it to 911, and the police responded before calling for assistance from the Paramedics. A man had been found under an overpass and had multiple injuries, primarily to his face, but there were several broken bones and lacerations. His injuries were complicated by a lack of knowledge about how long he had been lying there in the snow. It was difficult to tell if he was unconscious due to his injuries or the hypothermia or both.
Elizabeth and Clara treated him as best they could at the scene, but he needed more medical intervention than they could give him. During their examination, the man never regained consciousness, which worried Elizabeth. It was not a good sign. They transported him quickly to the hospital where they could give him scans to find the full extent of his injuries and then follow through with the appropriate treatment.
Elizabeth and Clara hadn't speculated about the man's chances. They both knew they were very slim. He was breathing, but that was the only positive thing Elizabeth could say about his condition.
Elizabeth knew the police were trying to determine if the individual was a victim of a hit-and-run or if he had been dumped there. There was no reason for the man to be walking alongside the freeway. The only broken-down car was quite a way from where he was found, but it had damage consistent with having been involved in an accident. There was nothing else around explaining his presence; there were no shops, no bars, no petrol stations. It would have taken some formidable persistence if he had walked the distance from the smashed-up vehicle in his condition.
Elizabeth tried not to speculate about the cause of injuries her patients sustained unless it was relevant to their treatment. In this man's case, she couldn't help but think the man hadn't just been dumped on the highway. His injuries were extensive, but most of them were to his face. The injuries to his face varied in age, some being older than others. Whoever he was, he had been badly beaten before being left to die.
As Clara updated the receiving nurse on their patient's condition, Elizabeth's eyes darted around the emergency room. She couldn't see Nathan anywhere but caught sight of Faith in one of the emergency bays. Faith was talking to a patient lying on a bed, examining them as she asked numerous questions. The nurse talking to Clara did a cursory examination and hurried over to Faith and spoke quietly but urgently to her. When she returned, Faith followed her.
Faith didn't bother with greetings as she began her examination. Elizabeth and Clara stood back, waiting for Faith to finish her initial assessment. Faith called out for assistance to transfer the patient from the ambulance stretcher to the bed. Elizabeth and Clara helped with the transfer and then began collecting their things to return to the fire station.
"Organise for a CT scan immediately," Faith ordered. "His BP is low, and he is in shock. Start an IV line. We need to get him warmed up - carefully." Faith glanced at Elizabeth and Clara, "does he have any identification? Is anyone with him?"
"We don't have that information. Detective Wells isn't far behind us; he may know more about him," Clara said, shrugging apologetically. "We checked his pockets for ID or medical information but found nothing."
"Okay, thanks, we've got it from here," Faith said grimly. Elizabeth knew from the expression on her face that Faith didn't hold out much hope for the man's survival.
"Thanks, Faith; see you later." Elizabeth and Clara made their way through the busy room, pushing the stretcher between them. They would tidy the ambulance up, restocking supplies before heading back out. It would only take a few minutes, and they both wanted to be prepared.
Exiting the emergency area, Elizabeth's eyes kept darting around, looking for Nathan. She knew he was working, but she hadn't heard from him since they said goodbye that morning. Elizabeth smiled as she remembered walking into the gym before work, trying to tell herself not to get her hopes up that Nathan would be there.
The moment she had stepped into the gym, Elizabeth's eyes found his, smiling back at her in the mirror. His smile made butterflies explode in her stomach. Oh, she had it bad for Nathan Grant.
Elizabeth and Nathan did their workout side by side, chatting on and off but content to do their own thing. Elizabeth liked that he was as comfortable with the silences as she was. After their workout, there hadn't been time for breakfast, but they stood in the car park talking until they were both in danger of being late for work.
"Elizabeth," Nathan said, smiling shyly. "If it isn't already obvious, I don't want to leave, especially without knowing when I'm going to see you again."
"Well. We might see each other at work, and then, Friday night, we will see each other at Rosemary and Lee's, then there is the Secret Santa exchange..." Elizabeth trailed off, teasing him.
"Okaaaayyyy," Nathan drawled shaking his head.
"Or, we could have breakfast tomorrow morning after my shift."
"I would love to have breakfast with you," Nathan said, smiling that crooked smile that made her heart leap.
"I could pick up something on the way home from work. Cook for you at my place," Elizabeth suggested, feeling her cheeks heat. "I don't want to risk being caught together before dinner at Rosemary's."
"I agree. That would ruin everything." Nathan chuckled. "I would love to have breakfast with you, but please, let me pick up the supplies. That way, you can go straight home after your shift."
"Okay." Elizabeth agreed as they finalised the details.
Even with the details of breakfast sorted, neither one moved to leave. Elizabeth could feel the silly grin on her face but didn't care as she could see a matching smile on Nathan's lips.
Elizabeth felt her watch vibrate and quickly read Clara's text asking if she wanted her to pick up coffee. She promptly responded before slipping her backpack from her shoulder so she could reach into the front pocket for her car keys.
"This time, I really have to go."
"I know," Nathan agreed reluctantly. "See you tomorrow morning if we don't run into each other sooner."
"Tomorrow," Elizabeth agreed.
Looking into Nathan's eyes, she saw them flick to her lips before he looked back into her eyes. Her breath caught as she waited, wondering if he would kiss her. He dipped his head toward her, but instead of his lips finding hers, he kissed her cheek softly and quickly stepped back.
"Stay safe out there," he said, his voice husky as he touched her gently, tapping the patch on the right sleeve of her uniform.
"You too."
Elizabeth had driven to work wondering what about Nathan Grant turned her into a love-struck teenager. She had lost count of how many times she had touched her cheek, where she could still feel the warmth of his kiss. At least she hadn't reached the point where she swore off ever washing her cheek again. Work would be a distraction from that kiss, and stop her counting the hours until breakfast.
Rounding the corridor, Elizabeth caught a flash of a tall man in a white coat from the corner of her eye and knew it was Nathan. He had his back to her but turned as they approached as though sensing her presence.
Elizabeth didn't look at Nathan as they hurried toward him and the group of nursing staff he was talking to. It would be tempting to stop and find an excuse to talk to him, but she knew she couldn't. Firstly, they were at work, and she was supposed not to want to spend time with him. Secondly, she wouldn't want to stop if she started talking to him. No. It was better to keep moving and not give anything away.
Nathan glanced up from his clipboard at who or what had caught his attention. Elizabeth. Of course, it was. Somehow, he sensed her presence despite all the distractions surrounding them. He wasn't surprised since meeting her; she had rarely been far from his mind. Nathan knew Elizabeth had seen him; her lips had a slight upward tilt as she tried to avert her gaze.
Nathan shifted his body, turning toward her as she and Clara approached their group. Everyone seemed to be looking at their notes, and when he saw Clara glance at her watch, he took the chance and looked directly at Elizabeth. Their eyes met, and he had to choke back a laugh as she winked at him at the exact moment he winked at her. Elizabeth flashed a quick grin at him and kept walking. The interaction took a second, and he was sure no one had seen a thing, but that momentary interaction between the two filled him with happiness. He imagined that every day spent with Elizabeth would bring happiness.
Nathan wondered if he could find an excuse to go after Elizabeth but was saved from himself by Faith Carter calling his name.
"Nathan," Faith said as she reached him, "Could I ask you for help with a consult."
"Of course," Nathan replied, hurrying back with her to the emergency bay. "What is it?"
Faith explained her concerns about the patient Elizabeth and Clara had transported. She was about to go off-shift, and she wanted Nathan to follow up on him for her. Faith also wanted to introduce Nathan to Detective Wells. He was one of the best detectives she had ever met, tireless and determined when he was chasing down the criminals, but there was compassion there, too.
Faith introduced the two men, and Nathan listened as the Detective told them what he knew.
"We still don't have an identification for your man; he is officially listed as a John Doe. I have asked Dr Carter to check for distinguishing marks, scars, tattoos, and dental records."
"Have you found anything?" Nathan asked, curious.
"I didn't have time before he went up for scans; we will have to examine him when he gets back." Raising her eyebrows and staring at the Detective, she said, "Once he is stable, his treatment comes first."
"I know, Dr Carter, you don't need to remind me. Again." Detective Wells glanced into the emergency bay where John Doe had been assessed. "Are they his clothes?"
"Yes. We cut them off him; it was easier. I'm sorry we don't consider evidence."
Nathan stepped toward the bay, looking at the torn and bloody clothing pile. "May I?" Nathan asked, waiting for the Detective's nod. He picked up the shirt and noted it was a basic plaid long-sleeved shirt available in any hiking store in America. Nathan probably had a similar shirt in his wardrobe. Next, he picked up a pair of blood-stained jeans, a rip in the left knee. Again, these were a staple in any man's closet.
A blood-stained white t-shirt, socks, and hiking boots were on the floor near the chair. Nathan didn't bother to touch these; again, they were so non-descript that it didn't matter. A leather coat was draped over the back of the seat, and he picked it up. Nathan turned the coat over in his hands. Dylan had a coat just like this one; he wore it all the time, but Nathan didn't know if it was the same brand, only the same style. All the clothes were similar in style to what Dylan wore but Nathan bet if he went into the hospital emergency waiting room, at least half the men would be dressed in a similar way.
"Dr Grant?"
Nathan turned to face the Detective, holding the jacket before him.
"Do you mind?" Detective Wells asked as he held out a plastic bag, wanting Nathan to drop the jacket.
Nathan hesitated, wishing he had a moment to go through the pockets. It was silly, he knew; there were hundreds, maybe thousands of these jackets across the country; the chance this was Dylans was slim to none.
"What does John Doe look like?" Nathan asked as he placed the jacket in the bag. "And it's Nathan."
"Alec," the Detective replied. "It's too hard to say, white male, maybe five foot nine, slim build, dark hair, brown eyes." Shrugging, he continued, "he was pretty banged up; there was no way to get an accurate idea of what he looks like."
"One of us will call you if there is anything of interest or if his condition changes," Faith assured the Detective.
Detective Wells packed the rest of the victim's clothes and said goodbye before leaving.
"He is one of the good guys, Nathan," Faith said, reaching into her pocket for her phone. "I'll share his details with you. He is the one I reach out to when something doesn't feel right. You can do the same."
"Will do."