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The next day, Wednesday, was Andrea's day off. She started it the usual way, with breakfast and then a healthy run. It wasn't as hot this day as it had been and it was a little overcast. She showered and slipped on a pair of khaki shorts and a black tank top. She let her long hair dry naturally but curled her bangs. She called her friend Terri. Terri worked in a doctor's office not to far from Naperville. She did the billing for the three Family Practice physicians she worked for.
"Can you sneak away from the office for a while?" Andrea asked her.
"Not sure, why?" Terri inquired.
"I want you to go to Edward's to visit someone with me." Then Andrea explained what had been going on the last two days.
"I'll meet you there at noon!" Terri said excitedly.
Andrea was waiting for Terri in the lobby -- with a few hundred other girls. This was getting ridiculous, she noted. Terri walked in and her mouth opened wide in surprise.
"What the hell is going on here? Job fair?" She asked pointing. Andrea grabbed her hand and pulled her to the guard who was watching the elevators and stairs closely. They both showed their hospital I.D.s and then went up to the 5th floor.
"Annie, what are you doing here today?" Karen asked as she came toward her.
"Going to visit the rock star!" Karen smiled and winked at her. "How is he today?" Karen sighed.
"Feeling better. Go see for yourself."
Andrea pushed open the door to Brent's room and found him sitting up in bed, watching T.V. He looked bored and smiled as Andrea entered pulling Terri behind her.
"What," he tried to talk but coughed painfully. "What are you doing here?" He whispered. Talking was still impossible. Andrea approached the side of the bed.
"It's my day off today and since I won't see you tonight I thought I would visit and check up on you at the same time!" She leaned down and kissed his cheek. He looked a little more than disappointed.
"You won't be here tonight?" He whispered. She tilted his head back to check the swelling under his chin. It was still big but had gone down substantially.
"Didn't I tell you not to talk?" She said and pulled his lower lip down. "Let me see inside." He opened his mouth obediently. "Did Dr. Matana see you today?" He nodded and closed his mouth.
"He said I'm doing well. I am going to try to have some broth or something today."
"Hey," She began turning to Terri. "I want you to meet my best friend! This is Terri." Terri moved forward and held out her hand to Brent.
"Pleased to meet you." Brent took her hand and shook it. "Annie's told me so much about you." She mentally kicked herself for saying that. What a dumb line!
"Same here." Brent whispered. "Only she never mentioned she had a pretty best friend. I wasn't even sure she had any friends!" Terri laughed at his joke and Andrea smacked his arm.
"Be nice or you'll be sorry tomorrow night." Andrea warned. He smiled at her. "You all alone today?" She sat down on a chair next to the bed.
"Curt's here with me but just left a minute ago to grab some lunch." Andrea nodded. Curt seemed to be a good friend to Brent, he was here more than the other two. It was then she wondered if Brent was married or even had a girlfriend. She never even thought to ask! She cleared her throat and braced herself before asking the question.
"So where is Mrs. Scanlon during this crisis?" Brent felt a momentary feeling of panic and shook his head.
"No, no Mrs. anything. Unless you are referring to my Mom, I am not married." He was barely able to get it out. No way, marriage was not for him. At least not now. Andrea was pleased with the answer. The response to the answer left a little to be desired though ...
Brent's "lunch" came while Andrea was there and she sat and helped him sip the hot chicken broth. He found cooler liquids easier to swallow. She took his water cup away and got him fresh, cool water. Curt returned from his lunch break and the four of them sat and talked for a little while. Terri excused herself at 1:30 stating her need to get back to work and so Brent, Andrea, and Curt visited for an hour. Then Curt, feeling he should leave Andrea and Brent alone, left with a promise someone would be back later to sit with him. Andrea and Brent sat quietly, neither of them saying anything at first. Then Andrea cleared her throat.
"Did Dr. Matana say how long before you are released?"
"He said next week. Said they want this to completely heal before cutting me loose." That was good, she had another week with him at least. "Do you live in this town?" He whispered, finally breaking the silence that hung between them.
"Yeah, actually I do. It takes me almost fifteen minutes to drive here. I bought myself a little house last year and I just love it." Brent nodded and listened to her talk about herself. They talked for quite a while. She was even more beautiful out of those sterile whites she always wore to the hospital. He could see the shape of her arms, the muscles in her legs. She was shapely. He wanted her closer and so he patted the bed next to him. She sighed and shook her head but got up and obliged him. Now that he had her closer, he reached down and touched her leg. It was smooth and muscular. She took his hand and set it back on the bed. "Be a good boy." She teased. He smiled at her.
"I am being good." He whispered and reached again for her leg. He touched her briefly before she snatched his hand up and held it. "I want to touch you." He said adamantly. She just smiled at him.
"I would like that too but we have a patient-nurse relationship right now." He grinned at that and winked.
"Sounds like a fantasy I want to be involved in." He tried to pull his hand away but she held it fast.
"It's a fantasy that will just have to wait." She let go of his hand and he grabbed her wrist quickly and pulled her to him.
"How long do we have to wait?" He whispered softly searching her eyes for the consent he desired.
"Until you are released." He tried to pull her even closer and she pulled away. "I swear to you Brent if someone catches us I will not be your nurse any longer. I don't want that and I know you don't either." She pleaded with him. He released her reluctantly.
"They would really do that?" He questioned.
"Yes, they would. There are all kinds of laws preventing those types of relationships. They happen but when you get caught ..." She shook her head and stood up. "Maybe I should go." She fidgeted nervously. He reached out for her.
"Don't go just yet." He rasped. And so she stayed for a while longer.
When she decided it was time to go she bent down to kiss his cheek. He turned his head and pressed his lips against hers. They were warm and inviting and Andrea held hers there for a moment before pulling away. He looked at her, expectantly, his lips parted slightly. She licked her lips, looked behind her at the closed door, then leaned down and kissed him again. He reached up and grabbed her arms with his hands and she pulled away. He looked disappointed.
"I can't Brent. If someone comes in here ..." She put her hands on his cheeks. They felt a normal temperature for the first time since he arrived. "To be continued ..."
He took her hands in his and kissed one of her palms.
"I will hold you to it." He whispered. He watched her leave. He hated to see her go but was content that he would see her tomorrow.
Geoff came to the hospital later by himself. He told Brent that he tried calling Roberta several times and each time he left a message that she was to call either him or the hospital. "And I know Curt has called her too." He added. Brent felt anger welling up inside him and his lips tightened in response. Goddamn woman! he thought to himself. Where the fuck was she?
"Everything is more important than me!" He seethed. Geoff shrugged.
"She's got a heavy duty job Brent. You don't always make time for her either." Brent got up out of bed and paced in his socks and hospital gown. He turned to Geoff and stuck his finger out at him.
"Don't stick up for her! She doesn't care about me and that's all there is to it!" He whispered loudly. It hurt his throat to try to talk but he was quite frustrated.
"Listen man, why don't you get back into bed and relax. Seeing you in that hospital dress is disturbing me. Every time you turn around I can see your hairy ass!" Brent turned to him and smiled then turned back around, pulled the gown apart and mooned him. Geoff covered his face with his hands and laughed.
"Shit, full fucking moon tonight!!" Brent kicked him in the leg and sat down on the bed. He sighed. Geoff came over and sat beside him.
"Don't worry about it." He said calmly. "When she gets the message she'll be here, I am sure of that."
"I almost don't want her here. It's too late now, the worst is over." Geoff smiled, knowing.
"It's that nurse, isn't it?" Brent nodded.
"Yeah. She's getting to me Geoff. I have this ... need to posses her." He held his hands out in front of her and made fists. Geoff nodded then.
"I know what you want to posses ... Dude, you can't have everything to want you know." Brent smiled slyly.
"I can certainly try!" He whispered. Geoff elbowed him.
By the time Andrea got to the hospital the next day Brent was feeling like a caged animal. When she entered the room at 3 he was pacing again in his socks and gown. He could only pace as far as his I.V. tube would let him.
"What are you doing?" She asked putting her hands on her hips. He moved toward her and put his arms around her.
"Waiting for you." He said and kissed her. She pushed him back. He didn't understand how badly she wanted to kiss him and hold him to her. She couldn't let him know.
"Didn't we settle this yesterday?" She asked him while she flipped on the computer by the side of the bed to record his vitals. He stood right behind her.
"Yeah, but I really, really missed you." She turned and smiled at him, he looked like a grown up little boy standing there, his hair messed up and in his face, hospital gown and socks. She burst out laughing.
"You did not!" She said between giggles. He reached for her.
"I did, I swear it." She pushed his hands away.
"Brent be good or I won't come back in this room until I absolutely have to!" He sighed and sat down on the bed, legs dangling over the side. She checked his vitals and was pleased. "You are doing so much better today." She commented.
"And I feel like I'm ready to go home." He thought for a moment. "How about this, Dr. Matana releases me. You take me to your house and nurse me on a personal level." He smiled at her. She sighed.
"You are a pervert." She said and headed for the door.
"I'm not kidding!" He said as loudly as his voice would let him. He harassed her every time she came into the room and she always left giggling. Before she left for the night she stole into his room and kissed him quickly. It took him a long time to fall asleep, his energy was coming back to him and all this teasing back and forth with Andrea was getting him going physically and mentally. It took Andrea an equally long time to fall asleep. Every day she spent around Brent she desired him more. She was hesitant to commit herself to him, though. She knew what type of person he was - always on the go, girlfriend in every town, his heart attached to no one. She didn't want that type of a relationship. She was surprised that she even actually wanted a relationship after her tumultous relationship with Jamie. Someone who was there for her when she needed them. Someone to spend her days off with, someone to come home to at night and snuggle with during those long, cold Illinois winter nights. Brent would not be that person; she was certain of that. But she wanted him, longed for him. His kiss still burned on her lips. She touched her fingers to her lips as if doing so would preserve the feeling. His blue eyes burned through her soul when he looked at her. When he had held her close to him his arms were strong. She ached to know him. She would just have to be patient. She slowly drifted off with Brent floating above her, just out of reach, in her dreams.
The next night there were a few new surgical patients on the floor and Andrea's time with Brent was cut short. Andrea was in with a patient recovering from emergency gall bladder surgery and never even noticed the tall, thin, blonde woman making her way quickly down the hallway and slipping, unnoticed into Brent's room. Roberta Wright closed the door silently behind her and approached Brent sleeping on the bed. She crawled up onto the bed and on top of him. She pulled down the covers and slid her hands underneath his gown. She bent her head down and kissed him on the mouth. He moaned.
"Annie," he sighed and as he was coming to saw someone else on top of him. It was Roberta. She scared the shit out of him. He grabbed her arms and held them. "Goddammit Roberta!" He hissed. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He said nervously. If Andrea walked in and caught him like this it would be all over between them! Roberta looked at him confused. The first thing she wanted to know was why he called her Annie.
Just then Andrea breezed into the room. Brent looked quickly at Andrea as she entered. Andrea caught Roberta climbing down from being on top of Brent. She put her hands on her hips and frowned. Her heart was pounding. Who was this and who let her in here?
"What is going on here?" She demanded. Roberta flipped back her short hair and pouted.
"I am Roberta, Brent's girlfriend." She said, matter-of-fact. It was like a stab in the gut to Andrea. She knew it! He was a lying, cheating bastard!
"Well," Andrea said angrily to Roberta. "I want no more of that. This is a hospital and I don't allow that shit on my shift." Roberta blushed. Andrea was close to tears and needed to leave the room. Brent watched her and his heart ached for her. Damn Roberta for showing up without calling! As Andrea rushed out of the room he called to her. Roberta's mouth opened wide and she turned and glared at Brent.
"You called me Annie when I kissed you just now!" She spat at Brent. He sat on the side of the bed with his head in his hands. Well, this night was going really well, wasn't it? "Are you fucking that nurse?" He shook his head.
"Where have you been all week?" He asked, despondent. She paced back and forth in front of him.
"I have been taping my show you son-of-a-bitch! The whole world doesn't fucking revolve around you! Jesus, Brent! I just can't believe you!"
"Yeah, what can't you believe? That I actually wanted you here with me while I was fucking dying?" She stopped pacing to look at him.
"You get a sore throat and now you're dying?" He frowned and looked at her, his eyes narrowing to slits.
"Why did you even bother to come here? I certainly don't feel better now that you're here." He got up and walked away as far as he cold go being as he was still attached to the I.V.
"Yeah, I guess I've ruined your chances with the nurse, haven't I?" He shuddered. She didn't know just how right she was. He turned to her.
"You weren't here when I needed you and now you've offended my friend." She opened her eyes wide and blinked, her mouth dropping open.
"Your friend??" She asked and then laughed out loud. "Okay studly. Well, I'm going to go then so you can 'make up' with her." She turned and headed for the door.
"Roberta," he called. She didn't stop. She headed out down the hall to the elevator. She didn't see Andrea or she would have had a thing or two to say to her. Unsatisfied, she left the hospital. Brent sat down on the bed, his shoulders drooping. He lost both women in one fell swoop! He never felt so alone. Would Andrea forgive him? Would Roberta ever talk to him again? The only thing he was guilty of with Andrea was withholding information from her! And he certainly hadn't actually done anything physically with Andrea to warrant Roberta freaking out the way she did! He wasn't guilty of anything! He stood up and leaned against the cold wall. "Shit" He said disgustedly. He checked his watch. It was nearly 10:00. Andrea would have to come in shortly and check on him. Would she? Or would she send someone else to do it? He hoped she would come herself. He paced a few minutes and then climbed in the bed to wait for her. It was nearly 11:00 when she finally came into the room. He had been asleep for a little while and awoke, startled, when she moved around him. He lifted his head and looked at her. She didn't look at him purposely.
"Annie ..." He whispered, sitting up. She turned her back on him. "Please, let me explain."
"Don't bother explaining Brent. I am the fool here. I asked if you were married, I guess I just didn't ask the right questions." She looked at him then and his heart leaped into this throat. She had been crying. Her nose was red and her eyes bloodshot. They
were full of tears now. He reached out for her and she pulled away.
"Annie, please. I, she, we ..." He stuttered. What could he say that would make a difference? "I'm just sorry. I don't know what to say that would mean anything to you, to make a difference right now. "Just know that I care very much for you and would never have chosen to hurt you in a million years!" She turned away. He had hurt her and he would never know how much.
"Well, my shift is over. I will see you tomorrow unfortunately." She muttered and left the room. He flopped back on the pillows and punched his fists into the bed.
"Fuck!" He spat. Why in hell did life have to be so difficult? He turned his head and closed his eyes. He would think of something tomorrow to make it up to her. Just what he wasn't sure! The comfort of sleep did not come to him until after midnight. By then his head was aching and his dreams were not good ones.
