Outdoor Rounds - 1

She started at him in disbelief. "What did you just say? You tampered with the security cameras at the hospital. Didn't you?" She was fired up.

He chuckled and shook his head while looking at her. "Why do you always go for the worst when it involves me?"

"Then what did that mean? You tell me, how should I interpret it in the right way."

Taking a deep breath, he got up from the chair and said, "Don't look for a hidden meaning behind everything I say. That was… just a sarcastic statement Dr. Caroline."

"Where are you going?"

"To sleep in your grandfather's room. Looks like the less we talk, the lesser the friction between us would be." And walking up close to her couch, he adjusted the cushion on one side for her to sleep.

"Good Night Dr. Caroline! Call me if you need anything." And he walked towards Benjamin's room.

"Yeah… As if I am dying to talk!" She muttered and propped herself to sleep.

The next morning she woke up to the sound of the doorbell. Waking up her groggy self, she lazily looked around and then dragged herself towards the main door.

"Gramps!" She beamed.

"My child!" And Benjamin spread his arms to hug her, but stepping back, she muttered, "Can't, Gramps. Give me a side hug."

"Why, what happened?"

"Broke my hand yesterday. Just a hairline crack, so everything is good. Don't worry."

"Why didn't you call me then? I would have come back earlier."

"That's precisely why I didn't call. Anyways Morpheous was here last night to take care of me." She said and pointed her thumb towards his room.

"What? You stayed alone with him?" Benjamin's eyes were opened wide in disbelief, but then his lips curled in a smile.

"I slept on the couch, and he slept in your room, Gramps. Jeez. And how can you beam at the thought of it? Others would reprimand their children." She snarked.

"Well, seeing how you are dressed, it seemed like…."

"Gramps, stop! He might hear you. Can you just, for heaven's sake, stop embarrassing me?" Rolling her eyes, she leaned on the door frame.

"Fine! Fine! Now don't stall me at the door. And show me how your hand is."

"It's already in a cast. Go and wake your precious Morpheous up. We will be late for the hospital."

But as Benjamin stepped inside, he turned towards her. "I think he is already up," and he eyed the kitchen island. Freshly pressed orange juice, hard-boiled eggs, and toast - all neatly set on the table.

"Is he a ghost or what?" Caroline mumbled and called for him.

"Morpheous!"

"Morpheous! Grandpa is here." And saying that, she knocked on the door but heard nothing. Unlocking it, she stepped inside and saw an empty room. The bed was made as if he hadn't even slept on it the night before.

'Weird!' There was no trace of him. Not even his familiar smell.

"Definitely a ghost!" she muttered and went to her bedroom.

The broken shards had been taken care of, and the window glass had been repaired. He had changed her sheets too.

She couldn't understand when and how he did all that and that too without a drop of noise. Either he was exceptionally skilled, or she slept like a deaf sloth. She wanted to contact him, but there was no way to do that.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to get ready for the only way to get answers from him was to meet him at the hospital.

.

.

.

"Oh my God, Carol! Why did you come to the hospital? Didn't I tell you to rest?" Dr. Van asked the moment he saw her walk into the Cardiology wing.

"I will die if I stay at home!" And she pleaded with her eyes.

"You are so stubborn! You know that?"

"Well, that I am. Give yourself some credit. Have learned from the best." And she passed a sneaky smile in his direction.

"Learn only the good things from me, Caroline. How is the pain, by the way?" He asked and gently touched the reddened skin above the cast.

"I don't have any." She said and smiled.

"Not possible. Don't lie just for the sake of working. I didn't prescribe you strong painkillers. Don't tell me you have self-prescribed pills."

"No… Gosh No. Even I am surprised. But there is no pain. Maybe my strong mindset is blocking away all the pain, making me ready to serve mankind." She dramatized and giggled but then saw Morpheous coming out from her chamber. Their eyes met, and he silently nodded, but she glared at him, wanting an explanation for his abrupt exit that morning.

"Stop that bullshit, Caroline. I should have met your grandfather yesterday when he came to pick you up and should have told him the severity of this. The bones will not set well without proper rest, and you might…."

'Oh no, no, no, no.....'

She couldn't listen to Dr. Van any further as deep down, she was mortified when Morpheous heard Dr. Van's words and turned.

"Benjamin was here yesterday?" Morpheus asked, looking at Dr. Van.

"Yeah, he came yesterday evening. Else I would have dropped her home. Help your doctor to understand that rest is paramount for her."

She could see the expression on his face change. It wasn't smug, but there was an expression of content and understanding. 

"Maybe she can do the outdoor rounds. I will keep her away from OT and any physical activities." Morpheous said and leaned on the wall, his eyes still lingering on her face.

"Huh… So you already have your supporters ready!" Dr. Van remarked sarcastically.

"Let her work, Dr. Van. Else she will keep calling us the whole day," Erica laughed. "She called me three times on her way already asking about her patients."

"Fine then. But no moving!" and saying that, Dr. Van picked up a marker from the nurse station and wrote on her cast ---"Scold me if you see me moving my hand."

"Aah… This is ridiculous, Dr. Van."

"Suits you, Carol!" He chuckled and left for his duty.

"Let me help you with this," Morpheus said, picked up her bag, and walked towards her chamber. Still mortified walking next to him, she muttered,

"Whatever you are thinking in your head. Just don't!"