A little bit of jealousy

Her lips pursed a sigh of relief.

Wearing faded ice-blue jeans and a white polo t-shirt, he was quite a sight. His dark hair was damp like he had just showered, and his long locks had been neatly pushed back. Watching his back muscle ripple through his t-shirt, Caroline silently chastised herself for drooling over a man she barely knew.

Wiping that smile etched on her lips, she walked toward him.

The clickety-clack of her heels made him turn back, and he waved at her. And that beaming smile on his face…

'Oh! Boy!'

Suddenly she felt her knees weaken.

"Sorry, I had to buy some clothes. So I left the motel early. I wanted to call you but…"

"But…?"

He hesitates with her sudden question, his brows jotting for a second. "I ... I thought you needed some good sleep. I mean, the last couple of days have been a bit heavy on you!"

"Ah, right! No problem..." she muttered while continuously reminding herself to breathe. She hated this vulnerable version of herself.

'How could he clean up so good?' she pondered in her head, scared to even gaze into his amber eyes even for a beat too long.

"Erm… I wanted to return a bit of the money, but they said it was a custom to buy doughnuts as a new joiner, so I just have seventy-five left now. Here!" he said and pulled out a few dollar bills from his pocket.

Narrowing her eyes, Caroline looked back at her staff, who had duped him, and sighed.

"Don't believe everything that they say! Anyway, keep it. You will need it for other expenses!"

"Oh no, no. I will be staying in the resident dorm, and this thing gets me free food in the cafeteria. So I am sorted," he said and flashed his brand-new ID card happily.

"I see!" Was all that Caroline could speak for she was finding it difficult to focus on anything apart from him. Whenever she had met him before, it was either him on a deathbed or someone else on one. It was probably the first time she was accessing him leisurely, not to add non-delirious from any fever.

Inching closer, he picked up her hand and placed the money on her palm. "I cannot thank you enough for giving me an opportunity for redemption! You have done way more than anyone else could have. And if the time may come, when I can repay the kindness, then trust me, I will not hesitate."

His words were sincere, yet she could barely hear half of what he said. He was so close that she could smell the familiar scent of cheap motel soap, but that intoxicated her. And when he leaned closer, her heart rose to her throat. For a split second, she even imagined what it would be like to be held in his arms.

His strong well built arms.

"Caroline!"

And just like that, she was woken up from her daze. Pulling her hand away from his, she ran her finger through her hair and turned back.

"Dr. Van!"

"The reporters are waiting for you. Go to the meeting room - 009, and Dr. Brorokowitch has insisted that you wear a coat that properly highlights the name of our hospital."

"He did not!" she frowned.

"My sincere sympathies with you, but please reach there in time," and he winked at her before leaving.

"Arrgghhhh!" she sighed and turned towards Morpheous, pulling out a copy of the resume that she had prepared for him from her bag.

"Remember this to the T and make me look good."

"I will not disappoint you!"  There it was again. A promise that seemed so sincere that it rendered her spellbound. What is it about this man?

"Erm… ok! Have a nice day then! I will see you in my chamber once I am done with this interview."

He nodded.

She lifted her hand to touch his arm before she left lightly, but something inside her stopped her from messing with the fire. So turning it into a wave, she walked towards her chambers, unaware that he was still looking at her.

An hour and a half later, once she was done with the interviews, she walked back towards her chambers, wanting to flop down on her sofa. She could deal with patients all day long, but media, hell no!

Sweeping past the outdoor patients waiting in her wing, she walked towards her chamber, wanting to relax a bit before getting ready for her scheduled surgery.  Opening the door of her chamber room, she was about to knock her heels off but was shocked to see Morpheous sitting in her chair and two other junior nurses hovering over him like honeybees.

"What's going on here?" she asked, her eyes narrowed. Her voice was a couple of octaves higher than usual.

Caroline couldn't understand the sudden surge of jealousy that she felt. It was almost instinctive, animalistic, so much that it scared her for a moment.

He immediately got up from her chair and explained, "They were helping me to get all your itinerary details. I thought I could get familiar with…"

"Both of them were helping?"

"Erm… yeah!"

Biting the skin of her inner cheeks, she restrained herself from lashing out as she could see from his expressions that he was sincere, but she had to do something about the two nurses.

"Have you two charted the basic vitals of the patients waiting outside?"

Turning pale, the two nurses vehemently apologized before leaving.

With the room empty, except for the two of them, a curious tension filled the air, and Caroline looked over to where he was standing. That awkward silence was sucking the air out of her lungs.

"Erm… so all your formalities are done?" she asked, removing her coat, and he nodded.

"I have talked with the management. They will set up a table for you, by the side of the window here," and pointed towards the empty space before walking towards her table.

Swiveling the chair, she cleared her throat and lowered her voice. "Did ... um ... anyone have any suspicion? Anyone asked you about your degree?"

"I guess not, as no one questioned me about it!"

"Very well then. Please check with Erica, our head nurse. She will brief you on the tasks that are to be done. And we are running low on a few medications in the ER. Please help to list them all and request the purchasing department for the same by this evening."

"OK!" he nodded.

"You will get a system for yourself by tomorrow, and I would very much appreciate it if my system isn't disturbed by anyone."

"Sure will keep that in mind!" His voice was calm, laced with a hint of sadness as he left the room.

Calming her frigid nerves, she pulled out her jacket and top. It was time to scrub in.