Chapter 4: Nick

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I wiped myself down, sighing heavily. My shift had barely begun when I was thrown up on. I had had to shower with the disenfrctant soap, since the girl turned out being contagious. Quickly showering in a small cubicle- especially with my height- wasn't exactly what I wanted to be doing.

My normal nurse scrubs were not going back on, so some blue scrubs off the shelf would do the trick. The only problem was that people started mistaking me for a doctor, and getting back to my triage took longer than I expected. Half of them were either new, like me, or from other wards. The nurse who had been there to replace me nodded, going off to do her own job. She was in a hurry, despite how relaxed the night really was.

The sick kid, the one who had thrown up on me, looked like she was about to do it again. She had a barf bag in her hand, but I kept my distance just in case. She was going to need an IV and some fluids. It was only because we had given her something to drink that she managed to get any thing to come out when she threw up on me.

Waiting for the doctor took a while, and we needed her to come insert an IV. Until then, I couldn't leave this girl alone. She was having a few different problems, and could start having a seizure any second. If she threw up and had a seizure at the same time, it could be deadly. Until she had an IV and some anti-nausea medications, she wasn't allowed to be alone. Babysitting was just one of my many duties of the night.

Fortunately the day- night, for most- passed fairly quickly. For the first time in weeks I didn't get drafted to do over time, leaving my shift at 12 hours. Most people thought that was a long one, but after doing 16 hour shifts for the last couple weeks? It was pure heaven to be able to leave with some brain function left.

I had to carry my dirty scrubs in a plastic bag, with the knowledge I would have to wash them, but remained upbeat when I got in my car and headed home. I was even in a good mood once I got home, after a ten minute drive. Even when I noticed Marie's car outside my unit.

I tried to be silent as I entered, well practiced from having to creep around sleeping patients, but Marie still heard me. I was starting to think she was super human with her hearing. I hated to think how she would get once she had kids.

"You're back early. I haven't made anything to eat yet, I'll get started on it now" I became suspicious. When she wanted something, she would distract you with food. I had been too tired to realise it when she was last here, but had my wits about me this time.

"Yes. Some food sounds great. I've been craving pizza all day..." If I was going to be manipulated into doing something, why not enjoy it?

Marie hummed as she made the pizza, not mentioning anything. Usual chatter took place, random topics being covered. It wasn't until I was stuffing a slice into my mouth that she began.

"So, great news. I found someone who wants to move in" trying not to choke, I swallowed through my surprise and coughed a few times.

"Already?" My voice was raspy, after coughing. I couldn't resist another quick bite.

"I have connections. When I look for someone, I find them. And you wanted them to move in ASAP, right?" Nodding, I warily waited for the rest.

"Awesome. They want to move in within a week or so, but they will want to bring their things before then. You know, to get everything set up before coming" I had to process for a few moments, surprised that Marie managed to get someone so fast. It sounded perfect, too perfect. Before I could ponder too much about my new roommate, Marie stood.

"I've taken photos, and gotten another set of keys cut. The position pretty much sold them, but pictures are wanted. So it isn't definite on their part, but I can pretty much garuntee they will be here"

"Will they care that I have weird hours and will be coming in and out at inhumane times?" or that I was a male nurse. I had had three guys planning on renting my spare room out- until they discovered my job. It was annoying, to say in the least. It was like a man had to be gay if he was a nurse, and they were all homophobes or something.

"No. Their hours are weird as well" Marie was hiding something from me.

"As long as they are not a drug dealer, or an addict" laughing, she grabbed her camera from her bag.

"Time to take some pictures!" Grinning, she left me to tidy the lounge room, going to do the bathroom. When I went down the hall to check on her progress I found her measuring the bath. Seeing my raised eyes brow, she only shrugged.

"You can never include too much detail" was her running excuse. She would repeat it everytime she measured a doorway, how high something was. How much space was in the room. Whether the curtains could black out. The exact positions of the power points, and whether they could handle a lot of things at once. How stable the power was in this area.

Anything and everything was photographed and recorded in her little black book. She even left spaces to glue the printed pictures in later. I would bet that she would print the pictures out as soon as she got home, to glue them in.

"You really are taking this seriously" she only shrugged, again.

"Details are important" rolling my eyes, I went to the fridge. If I heard the word 'details' one more time, I was going to need a gun. Pulling out the left over slices of pizza, I just focused on gorging myself. I could worry about Marie and her sneaky tactics later. For now? I could enjoy my pizza.

Until Marie demanded my services in moving furniture. Something about wanting to see if the bed worked better in another spot. Shaking my head, I just did as I was told, letting her photograph and measure the new space.

"Yes, this will work perfectly" she was honestly sounding a little like an evil mastermind. I hate it when she sounds like that, it always bites me in the ass later on.

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