Page 65 of Beck

The channel had just switched over to the next programme when a nurse came bustling in.

“Hello, Mr Cavanagh. My name is Susie, and I’m getting you prepped to get this tiny, annoying item removed from your hand.”

Susie was the type of nurse that Beck had always wanted whenever he visited a hospital—one that took no crap, but also had a friendly smile and a good sense of humour. They bantered a bit until she cleared him as ready to go.

“The porter will be here in a few minutes to take you up to the operating room,” she said.

“Am I going to be knocked out?”

“I’m not certain,” Susie said. “Possibly. It depends on if they think they can do it without, but I’ll leave that to Dr Stevens to tell you. I’ll see you on the other side, Mr Cavanagh.”

“I think you know enough about me now, Susie, that you can call me Beck.”

Susie laughed. “I’ll see you on the other side then, Beck.”

She disappeared, and Kole chuckled from beside him.

Beck raised his eyebrows. “What?”

“You’re such a charmer. I now know how you get away with everything. You could probably get away with murder if you put your mind to it.”

“Yeah, probably could,” Beck said in a matter-of-fact tone, causing them both to burst out laughing. At least until Beck hissed because he’d moved his hand.

A guy knocked on his door and poked his head around. “Hello, Mr Cavanagh. Time for your taxi ride to the operating room.”

“Can I come up with him, or do I have to stay here?” Kole asked.

“You’re quite welcome to join us up to the floor, but you will have to stay in the waiting room until we’re done. I’m not entirely sure how long the procedure will take, but the doctor or nurse will come and let you know.”

“Okay, thanks.”

The porter, James, took the brakes off the bed and manoeuvred it through the door. When they got into the corridors, he realised why it was so quiet. There were several guards outside his door and at the end of the halways. Beck chuckled.

“Donovan.”

“What?” Kole asked.

“The guards. They must’ve been from Donovan.”

On the journey, where possible, Kole stood beside Beck, and when it wasn’t, he followed behind. Beck could feel his presence and that helped calm his nerves. He didn’t know why he was nervous. It wasn’t like it was a huge surgery, like heart surgery or something. Just a little knife in his hand.

When they got to the floor, James paused and pointed to a room off to the side. “That’s where you’ll have to wait, I’m afraid,” he said to Kole.

Kole nodded and exhaled. “Okay, then. Don’t cause too much trouble, Beck. I will make the doctors tell me if you become a petulant child while you’re in there. And I love you.”

Beck reached for him, sliding his good hand around the back of his neck and pulled him to him for a kiss. When he finished, Kole’s eyes were slightly glassy and his lips red and swollen. “I love you, too. See you soon. And don’t eat all those crisps.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Kole replied.

Kole stayed standing until James pushed Beck away until he couldn’t see him any longer. The nerves began invading, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. They entered the operating room, which was awash with people and machines. Anyone would have felt terrified. Beck wasn’t scared as such, but he had wished that his night had gone in a different direction than what it was.

“Mr Cavanagh,” Dr Stevens said. “We’re ready to get going. I’m going to recommend a regional anaesthetic with intravenoussedation just because I don’t know how long this is going to take. Are you happy to go ahead with that?”

“Yes, that’s fine. How long will it be before I wake up?”

“You won’t be asleep, you’ll just be feeling very drowsy and relaxed. I’m hoping this won’t take more than an hour or so.”

“Okay, thanks. Can you ensure updates are given to Kole, please?”

---