Chapter 12: Nick

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Two weeks flew by, bringing me back to working night shifts. There was a couple of new people now, leaving them to get slugged with all the horrible extra shifts. I felt bad, however, leaving them to work so long, and was doing one of those shifts, myself, half the time.

One night, everyone- and I mean everyone- called in sick. All with a stomach bug. I wasn't a senior nurse, but I was the only one to actually show up. I was eventually put in charge, given half an hour to get some nurses in. Calling the wards, I snagged a few spare nurses to get us through. Calling people who were off for the day, I practically begged for them to come in. The promise of double time did wonders.

Even with the people who eventually came, I was left doing a twenty hour shift. If I had thought my previous shifts were long, they were nothing in comparison to this shift. Within the last twenty minutes before I could go, one of the student nurses accidentally spilt vomit on me. They had been carrying it in one of the puke bags, and tripped.

Groaning, I assured the poor kid that everything was fine. This happened l the time. Changing in record time, I didn't bother putting scrubs on and just put street wear back on. It was time for me to go home anyway. Handing over took too long, but they seemed to understand why. Most of the nurses had been in my shoes before. I probably looked like crap, too.

I was unusually alert on the drive home, as opposed to how exhausted I was. It was full day light, people well into their morning routines. The front door took longer than I would like to admit to open. Getting my shoes off proved impossible. Making it to my room? No chance. The couch was good enough.

I had probably been asleep for a little while, judging by how numb my arm was, when I felt someone removing my shoes. Thinking it was Marie, I groaned. My socks followed, only nothing was dropped to the floor. Rather than the sounds of the shoes and socks being dumped, I heard someone padding out of the room.

Moments later, someone was shaking me awake. I didn't properly wake, only half way.

"Come on. Let's get you to bed. How long were you at work?" Hands pulled me up, only succeeding when I pushed myself off the couch and let them guide me to my room. My bed was pulled back, which I was pretty sure I hadn't done. Forgetting the hand pulling me, I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it. My jeans followed, making no sound.

Collapsing on my bed, face down, I didn't bother with anything else. Gentle hands pulled the blanket from beneath my legs, pulling it up to cover me. I heard the door close softly, drifting off to sleep again. I was in bed, so life was good.

~~~

Waking to the sound of suctioning, I carefully rose. A groan escaped my lips, as if my body was trying to tell my brain it wasn't ready to wake. Not yet. Especially since I knew I would be called in, considering everyone was off yesterday. Unless- by some miracle- it was only a twenty four hour bug. Please let that be the case.

Rolling, I slowly climbed out of bed. Glancing at the clock told me I had only been asleep for 8 hours. After a shift like that? I at least needed another two hour power nap. My stomach, however, was complaining. I needed food. Heaps of it. Shit loads of it. Stopping to grab a pair of jeans, I pulled them on and forced myself to zip and button. I barely noticed the fact that my discarded clothes weren't on the floor, and my shoes were nearly placed beside the door.

Stumbling out of the room, I made it down the hall and into the kitchen. I wanted some coffee, but knew I had to resist. I wouldn't be able to nap, otherwise. And I had a feeling I would need all the sleep I could get. Bypassing the jar of coffee, I yanked the fridge open and grabbed the first thing I could find. Leftover lasagne from Marie.

"I'm making some dinner, if you want any" ripping my head to the right, I saw Jess. She was cooking. Lucy was by her side, watching with a grin and making all types of sounds. Her suction unit was on a chair beside her. There was a box of gloves right next to the unit, and some hospital grade soap beside the sink. I was relieved to see Jess took it seriously. A lot of people didn't bother with soap or gloves at home.

I was shoving lasagne into my mouth, shovelling it down. Grunting my confirmation out, I stopped to try clear my mouth. Swallowing, I nodded again.

"Yes please. I'll eat anything" Jess watched me shovel more food into my mouth, laughing at me. Shaking her head, she continued stirring. It looked like chicken stir fry. Mouth watering, I leaned closer and smelt it. It smelled good. Finishing my lasagne, I put the dish into the sink. To do this, I had to practically press right against Jess.

Clumsy from exhaustion, I accidentally ended up knocking her lightly. Her bare shoulder met my chest, the tank she was wearing leaving her arms on display. Beaufiful arms. Shaking my head, I apologized and stepped back. Then I realised I was literally shirtless.

"What?" Jess must have seen the look on my face, tipping her head to the side. She kept stirring, looking up at me. I realised how small the kitchen was, all three of us cramped in together.

"Just realising I should probably go out a shirt on" backing out, I flashed a guilty smile and turned to go do exactly that. Her eyes flicked down to my torso before returning to my flushed face.

"Sounds good. It's not like I didn't see it this morning. And those pink undies" I froze, embarrassed. Quickly checking, I groaned. I was wearing pink underwear. Bright pink, boxer briefs. And she has been me in them. They were so tight she might have well as seen me naked. Face starting to burn, I turned to find a teasing grin on Jess's face.

"They were a gift from Marie. Christmas" wrapping my arms around my abdomen, suddenly feeling self conscious.

"I know. I was with her when she bought them. In fact, it was my idea. She asked me what the most horrible present she could get you was" laughing, I grinned. That sounded like Marie. Lucy broke the new silence, coughing and choking on her own secretions. Instinct pushed me foreword, reaching towards the box of gloves. Jess was already there, gloves on and suctioning everything out. She gently cooed to Lucy, who had started trying to eat the suction equipment.

Grinning, I moved to the bench and continued stirring. It did smell good. Really good. Marie must have taught her. I heard the suction get turned off, gloves removed and a squirt of alcohol gel. After a few moments passed, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. The hand felt so small and dainty. So tiny. Looking at Jess, I found her smiling. She took the cooking back over and started stirring again.

I just stepped back and watched for a second, surprised at how much the image of a woman and child in my kitchen hurt. How much longing it made me feel. I wanted kids, but I didn't even have enough time to find a girlfriend. I would just have to wait. Jess, unknowing of my thoughts, threw a wicked grin at me.

"So, how about that shirt?"

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net