Page 10 of Fractured

Having finished my rounds, I’m heading back to the clinic in time for my first patient of the day. A perk of my office being attached to the hospital is the ability to slide into the physician’s lounge to grab a cup of coffee and a granola bar easily. As I step inside the lounge, I immediately feel a shift in the energy of the room. As the door shuts behind me, I see Katarina. Beautiful Katarina talking to none other than Sebastian Lee.Why is he standing so close to her? Is he… touching her?I’m sure he’s laying it on thick, by the look on his face. But she doesn’t seem to mind. Could he? No. Was he her ‘other plans’ that night? Have they been dating this whole time?

“Nick,” I hear him greet.

“Sebastian,” I return. I need to get my damned coffee and go before I lose it. She’s a grown-ass woman. She can see whomever she chooses. This isn’t my place. But for fuck’s sake, couldn’t she have picked someone else? Anyone else? Hadn’t Jake warned her? With what he told me about her dating history, this is the last guy I’d think she’d want to spend time with. I place my cup in the dispenser and load the coffee. I need to focus on something besides my ire. Forget the granola bar, I need to get the hell out of here before they see the effect they’re having on me. I hear a door shut and turn to see if they’ve left, making direct contact with Sebastian.

“Don’t worry, Nick. She’s not my type.”

What the fuck?“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I bark, turning back to my coffee. Placing the plastic lid carefully on the beverage, I head for the door. “Everyone is your type,” I grind out. Grabbing the door, I make a hasty retreat before he can say anything else, which could set off the powder keg of emotions simmering within me. I have no right to feel this way. I have no relationship with this girl. Heading back to my office, I think,five o’clock can’t get here fast enough.

* * *

“Dr. Barnes. Your fifth patient of the day is here, but there’s a call from the ER about a consult. What should I tell them?” Ava asks, concerned. She’s been walking on eggshells around me most of the morning due to my inability to rein in my disappointment at this mornings’ physician lounge discovery.

“I’ll take it, Ava. Just put them through.” I sit back down at my desk, deciding to take the call and then finish my last two office patients. Hopefully, I can take care of whatever they need quickly, and it won’t delay my OR cases. “This is Nick Barnes,” I snap.

“Uh, hi, Dr. Barnes. This is Katarina. I’m sorry to have to bother you. I have an unassigned orthopedic patient who has a pretty ugly collarbone fracture. I know we typically put these in a shoulder immobilizer and send them to see you in the office, but this one’s in the center of the clavicle, and the fractured area is tenting the skin. I thought I’d reach out to you, knowing this is your area. When I found out you were on call today… well, I feel lucky it’s you.”

Is she kidding with this? Is she just throwing me a bone after I texted her this weekend and walked in on her with Lee this morning? “Yes. I’m on call. But I have office patients here to see, and I’m scheduled for three OR cases today,” I continue to snarl into the receiver.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I can just put her in a shoulder immobilizer and advise her to contact your office for an appointment,” she offers quickly.

“No. I’ll tie things up here and come see her before I head to the OR.” I hang up the phone, irritated with myself for letting this woman get to me. This is exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid all along. I’m a professional but cannot control my temper at the moment. I can’t let women affect my work. Standing, I head for my 11:00 a.m. patient and pray the last appointment of the day has arrived early. I need to knock these out quickly so I can squeeze in the ER case before going to the operating room for the remainder of the day.

* * *

“Hi, Bobbi. I’m here to see the patient with a clavicle fracture,” I advise. I avoid making eye contact with her, having no tolerance for Bobbi’s coquettish behavior today.

“Hi, Dr. Barnes. Mrs. Peterson is in room thirteen.” Getting my bearings, I look at the door closest to me to figure out where room thirteen might be located. “It’s just to your right.” I look to Bobbi, who’s smiling, pointing at the room closest to me.

“Thanks,” I respond, realizing I’ve become unhinged. About that time, Kat walks up to the nurses’ station, and I don’t know what possesses me, but I decide to add, “You’re always one step ahead of me, Bobbi.” Flashing her my best smirk. As Bobbi returns an appreciative smile, I walk past Kat and head straight for the patient’s room.

Exiting the patient’s room twenty minutes later, I head toward the main physicians’ work area to contact the OR to see if there’s a chance I can add this patient to the evening’s operating room schedule. Once I stopped acting like a sullen schoolboy, I realized Kat did the right thing in calling. Where many might have sent this patient home, she’d certainly benefit from immediate surgical repair.

Walking to where Kat’s normally seated I decide to advise her of my plans. The OR will allow me to add her on at 4:30 p.m., and I need to ensure she doesn’t have anything to eat or drink. As I turn the corner, I notice she’s cradling her head in her hands. Is she tired, or did something happen?

“Hey, you okay?” I ask softly, not wanting to sneak up on her however, she still appears to jump in her seat at my questioning. Gazing down at her wary face, I want desperately to touch her. If only to comfort her in some way.

“Yes. I’m okay. Dr. Barnes, I’m so sorry I had to bother you.”

Suddenly, I’m filled with shame. She hasn’t felt well and finally returns to the ER, and I treat her terribly because she apparently chose Sebastian over me. “Kat. I’m the one who should apologize. You were just doing your job. I was having a bad morning, and I took it out on you. I was on call, and my treatment of you over the phone was uncalled for. I’m truly sorry.” I stop briefly and decide to go all in. “I’m also sorry for the inappropriate text the other night. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Oh, that? Ha. You weren’t really texting me.” She giggles.Oh, that sound. It’s like a soothing balm.

Wait, what?“What do you mean?” I ask alarmed.

“Yeah, you have a habit of doing that. It’s not your fault, but I feel like I should warn you.”

“Okay, you’re freaking me out a little.”

“Well, the first time my six-year-old nephew saw your texts come through after I’d fallen asleep on the couch babysitting.” She laughs, placing a hand over her mouth.

“Oh my God, please tell me you were watchingBoss Baby.”

“Exactly!” She hoots. “Then, the other night, Melanie was over for dinner. She interceded the text and told you about my getting into the bath.” This beauty’s face is bright pink, and she’s smiling from ear to ear. Her exuberance is infectious. My face is starting to hurt from the strain of the huge grin that’s invaded my recently grim expression. “I’m sorry. I almost texted you back, but…”

Chuckling, I finally probe, “But, what?”

I watch as her face turns more scarlet. “Well, I didn’t trust myself to answer,” she says softly, looking down at her hands briefly before peeking up at me nervously. She is fucking adorable.

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