Blurred Lines by KD Williamson (6 page)

She had insulted a stranger.

Nora searched herself, taking a long moment for introspection. She didn’t enjoy contemplating her emotions. In Nora’s opinion, the act was a waste of energy. She simply could not figure out what it was about that woman that provoked this kind of reaction. Guilt gnawed at her, and she felt awful. The person who had stood in that doorway was not her, at least not a version of herself that she was used to. Nora had to admit, however, there were some aspects of this other side of her personality that fascinated her.

Determined to make amends for her behavior, she rose from the chair and exited quickly. When she arrived at the nurses’ station, she noticed a sudden hush in the chatter. Even after all this time, Nora was unsure if people’s reaction to her was out of fear or just some strange byproduct of idle gossip. Part of her hoped that their silence was out of respect, but she knew better.

The nurse looked at her expectantly from behind the counter. “Yes, Dr. Whitmore?”

“Would you see to it that Ms. McCabe is escorted via wheelchair to her partner’s room?” Nora paused. “I would also appreciate if you kept my involvement anonymous.”

The nurse looked puzzled. “Are you asking me—”

“Yes.” Nora interrupted. “Provided that her pain is tolerable enough to be transported in that manner.”

The nurse nodded. “We’ll be careful. Not being able to see him has been a recent complaint of hers…along with other things.”

“She is somewhat of an acquired taste.” Nora nodded tightly. That was a severe understatement.

The nurse smiled as if they were sharing a moment. “Very true.”

Feeling suddenly awkward, Nora fidgeted. Instead of speaking, she dipped her head in acknowledgement. Nora watched and listened discreetly as she absently flipped through a chart. Kelli’s room was only two doors down, after all. She then peered at the white board behind the desk like it was the most interesting thing in creation as some of the staff attended to their newly assigned duties. Two CNAs entered the room hesitantly. She waited for some sort of loud response either due to their appearance or the message they were delivering.

“What? You’re shitting me?” Kelli’s voice carried out into the hall.

Nora sighed. The woman’s language really was atrocious. She was obviously more intelligent than her vocabulary suggested.

“I’m not going to argue then. Let’s go.”

Several minutes passed before they exited the room. Kelli appeared pale, but the smile on her face could not be denied. Nora curled her lips slightly at the sight. Nora turned away from Kelli’s sharp gaze, glad she had been able to offer some solace but not ready to acknowledge the reasons behind it.

* * *

Kelli swallowed and wiped her hands on her pajamas. Her leg throbbed and the right side of her chest ached. None of that mattered. She wanted to see him, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. The nurses stopped the wheelchair just outside his door and ducked inside without her. Kelli found that odd, but she didn’t know dick about hospital procedure.

Less than a minute later, they wheeled her in. Travis’s dark-brown eyes crinkled as he smiled at her. She’d missed that grin. Travis had grown a beard since the last time she saw him. His whiskers were thin and still had spots that needed to fill out, but, regardless, it was damn good to see him. Kelli released a shaky breath and tried to return his greeting with a smirk of her own. Tears prickled her eyes instead. She wasn’t prepared for this moment to affect her like this. She was relieved. Kelli looked down at her hands. She tried to hide the tears and pull herself together.

Gerry Travis didn’t say a word.

When Kelli glanced up again, they were alone. “I think part of me was convinced that your voice was just some recorded message.”

Travis rolled his eyes, but his expression was soft, understanding. “No one could do me as well as…me.” He finished lamely and winced outwardly at his own awful joke.

Kelli laughed and wiped at her eyes. “That’s your problem. You have to learn to give directions. Let those girls know what you need.” She smirked.

He rolled his eyes again. “Left myself open, didn’t I?”

“Yup.”

“Yeah, I need to come up with some new material. I’m using all my best stuff on the nurses.” He grinned. “They just love you.”

“Well, what’s not to love?”

“You are kidding, right?” Travis asked.

“If you’re going to insult me, at least wait until my ass can walk so I can smack you in the head,” Kelli said.

He paled.

It bothered Kelli. “You okay? You need me to get a nurse?”

“Nah, I’m okay. It’ll pass.”

She watched him carefully for a few seconds before nodding in acquiescence. “You look like shit. Aren’t Asian men supposed to look distinguished at all times?” she teased affectionately. “I like the whiskers though. Kinda.”

Travis snorted lightly. “I may not look good, but I’m clean. Giving me a sponge bath is the nurses’ favorite part of the day. Heard they tried to drown you a few times.” He grinned.

“Please, they don’t touch me. My moth—”

“Yeah, it’s best you don’t finish that.”

Kelli sneered, but she couldn’t stop looking at him. He seemed slighter somehow, hidden underneath hospital sheets. “You got everything you need? Sean can—”

“He already did. I’m keeping the beard. It’ll be a good look for me when it fills out. Makes me a little mysterious.”

Kelli nodded and fell silent. The banter between them was customary, but this…
this
was hard. “You’ll have your first scars.” Kelli winced because it came out all wrong. “To go along with the beard, I mean. Something to show the ladies.”

“Kelli?” There was something in his voice. It let her know that he could see past her words to the emotion stunting her.

She looked around the room before letting her gaze rest on him once more. “Yeah?”

“I’m here and in one piece.”

Kelli scoffed. “You said that over the phone, and I can see that.”

“Good.” He could have said so much more, making things uneasy, making things more emotional than they already were, but he didn’t.

“Your mom been washing your hair too? There’s this thing they have now. Shit’s called conditioner.”

Kelli burst out laughing. She cradled her chest and grimaced at the pain. Still, she continued to laugh. “Fuck you.”

“You trying to call me a pussy?”

“No, but you are an asshole.”

A nurse breezed in. She gave Kelli a wide birth and smiled at Travis. “Just doing my rounds. Pretend that I’m not here.”

Travis smiled and nodded. A few seconds later he mumbled groggily, “Damn this is some good shit.”

She didn’t have to be a detective to get that his pain killers had been electronically dispensed. “I know right? Medicine on a timer. Don’t have to worry about a thing.” Kelli didn’t want to leave, but she understood. “I guess I should go.”

“Later then?” Travis asked with an apologetic smile.

“Maybe in the morning?” Kelli glanced at the nurse hopefully.

“I’d say you pretty much have a green light,” the nurse answered.

“Great. Uh, I’m gonna need some help back to my room when you get done.”

* * *

Nora took a deep breath and tried to relax. She was glad that her shift was ending soon because she was engaged in her least favorite activity, charting. Paperwork for any job was a necessary evil, and she treated it as such, going through each one with thorough efficiency. Her pager beeped and vibrated, causing it to dance across the desk. She peered at the message and picked up the nearby phone, calling the ICU nurses’ station.

“Dr. Whitmore.”

“Dr. Whitmore, I’m sorry to disturb you, but Kelli McCabe is insisting that she see you.”

An uneasy feeling filled her, but it was chased by something new. Anticipation? Nora did not like this at all. “I’m not her doctor. I’m sure Rader—”

“She’s being very adamant about it. Is it possible for you to give her a few minutes before the end of your shift?”

Nora was at a loss. She couldn’t deny the request in case a complaint was being made. Not after what occurred earlier. She was the attending, and she had responsibilities. “I’ll allot a few minutes to visit before I leave.”

“Thank you.” The nurse sounded relieved.

Nora immediately returned to the chart featuring a colon resection, but she couldn’t stay focused. She had done quite a few things today that were completely out of character, and Kelli was the catalyst for it all, both good and bad. Nora again tried to concentrate. No good would come out of dwelling on the issue. After several minutes, she realized that she had been staring at the same word the entire time.

Scoffing at her own idiotic efforts, she closed the chart and mumbled to herself. “Obviously, she needs to be dealt with first.” Nora stood and steeled herself for another encounter with that woman. She strengthened her resolve. No insults, and Nora wouldn’t allow herself to get upset. Ms. McCabe was just like any other patient, and that’s the way Nora was going to treat her. She stepped out into the hallway.

The elevator doors open, revealing one lone occupant, Dr. Rader. Nora stood back mentally and admired the irony in the moment. She could take care of two issues within minutes of each other. She stepped in, and the doors closed behind her.

“What floor?” he asked.

Nora ignored him and pushed the button for the seventh floor.

He sighed. “I could have done that for you, Nora.”

“What is the definition of an attending as opposed to chief resident, Dr. Rader?”

He turned and looked at her as if she’d spoken some unknown language. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Not at all, because you seem to have forgotten it. We are not friends. We are not lovers, and from this point on, you will show me the proper respect in front of our colleagues and patients by referring to me as Dr. Whitmore.”

His face grew red and blotchy. “Got it,” he grumbled.

“Are you sure?” Nora held his gaze steadily.

“Jesus fucking Christ. I said yes. How about I just put my balls in a paper sack for you?”

“That won’t be necessary.” The elevator dinged. Nora glanced at the number and stepped out.

“Fucking cunt.”

Turning slowly, she peered at James and refused to be cowed by his insults. “No, not anymore.” Nora walked away with her head held high. Someone grabbed her elbow. She spun around to find Rader a few inches away.

“Release me, Dr. Rader.”

He tightened his grip and gazed murderously at her.

“Now,” Nora commanded.
He
had the audacity to look upset? She was the one being violated.

Within seconds, his expression changed to meek, ashamed. “Look, I didn’t mean it. You just do something to me, you know? I didn’t mean what I said. Can’t we just start over? I want to be something to you. I’m not sure I care what that is right now.” He pleaded with his eyes and loosened his grip.

Nora pulled her elbow away. People were watching, their gazes heavy with interest. Nevertheless, she had to finish this. “It was a sexual liaison, James, nothing more. Your antics helped it to spiral out of control. I do not engage in friendships or love affairs, so please do not hold out hope for either,” She whispered harshly.

He looked stricken but nodded anyway. “I’m…sorry.”

She turned away, done with the conversation. She had respected this man once, as a doctor and as a person. The respect dwindled as of late and was now nonexistent. Nora needed this moment. It felt as if her equilibrium had been restored. She was ready for Ms. McCabe.

She walked briskly toward room 708 and entered with confidence. Kelli was sitting up with the remote raised toward the television.

“How may I help you Ms. McCabe?” Her words were clipped and professional.

Kelli scratched at her chin. She pursed her full lips and looked everywhere except at Nora. After a moment, she said, “Uh…look.”

Kelli looked…contrite. She expected sarcasm and teasing. This abrupt change caused alarms to jangle in Nora’s head, warning her that she was not as ready as she thought. She licked her lips. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry for being such an asshole earlier.” Kelli’s words were said in a rush, but were still understandable. “I was having a very shitty day, but it got better. So, I figured apologizing was the right thing to do.”

Nora was speechless. She felt somewhat deflated, but at the same time reassured. Maybe she was wrong about this woman. She was arrogant, stubborn, and rude. Seemingly, there were other layers as well. It intrigued her and left her even more at a loss for words.

“I wasn’t that bad, was I?” Kelli asked.

Ordering her brain to respond, Nora stammered, “I’m not sure what to say.”

“What? No one ever apologized to you for something before?”

Nora searched her mind. There had to be at least once instance of sincere apology. Dr. Rader’s didn’t count at all. “I’m not sure.”

“Are you gonna accept my apology?”

“I suppose…” Nora took a breath to calm her racing heart. “I should apologize as well.” The words tumbled out of her mouth without permission. She hardly recognized herself.

“Hmm, yeah about that? The way I figure, you already have. It wasn’t very inconspicuous hiding at the nurses’ station. It had to be you that made that visit happen.” Kelli smirked, but her tone was sincere. “Thank you.”

Nora felt the blush coming. There was nothing she could do to hide it.

There was a glint in Kelli’s gaze. “Did I fluster you again, Nora?”

Nora had the strong urge to roll her eyes. She just barely resisted. “This was just…unexpected.”

“Mmm, well we still won’t be braiding each other’s hair and listening to Justin Bieber.”

Nora blinked in confusion. “Who?”

“Oh dear God. You’re not in touch with the outside world at all are you?” Kelli asked teasingly.

“Are you referring to pop culture?”

“Why yes, yes I am.”

“Is sarcasm going to be your answer to everything?” Nora felt like she was on more familiar ground now.

“Why yes, yes it is.” Kelli replied.

Exasperation took hold of Nora and refused to let go, which was the exact opposite of where she was when she first walked in. How was that possible? “I’m honored.” she said snidely.