Page 44 of Toxic Salvation
“I want my mom.” The fear cracks his tough-guy facade.
“She’s working a double shift, remember? We talked about this yesterday. She’ll be here the second she gets off, but this injection can’t wait.”
Ryan glares at me with those stormy blue eyes. “That was before I saw how big the needle is.”
“Two seconds of discomfort, I promise. Then it’s over.”
I reach out to pat his shoulder, thinking some physical comfort might help, but Ryan throws off his blanket and rolls right off the hospital bed. The kid hits the floor with a solid thud and somehow manages to pop up like he’s been training for this moment his entire life.
“Ryan, please don’t make me chase you around this ward.”
“I don’t want the shot!” He takes off running toward the door.
I realize a moment too late that I’m blocking his escape route. Before I can react, Ryan plows into me like a linebacker, knocking me sideways, and bolts into the hallway.
“No, no, no.” I scramble to my feet, still clutching the syringe. “Ryan!”
The nurses at the station look up as Ryan tears down the corridor in his open-backed hospital gown, his bare feet slapping against the linoleum. A few rush to help, but others eye him like he’s carrying something contagious.
“Catch him!” I call out, taking off after my runaway patient.
This is my job,I tell myself tiredly as I pursue.I love my job. I love my job. I really, truly love my job.
Ryan reaches the dead end and spins around, trapped. His chest heaves as he presses himself against the wall.
“Can we just talk about this?” I hold up my empty hands after passing the syringe to a nurse. “Look, no needle. It’s gone.”
Ryan studies me with the suspicion of someone who’s been lied to many times before. “You’re gonna stick me the second I get close.”
“I promise I won’t. Let’s just go back to your room and figure this out together.”
For a heartbeat, I think he’s going to take my outstretched hand. His shoulders relax slightly, and he takes a small, tentative step forward.
Then panic floods his face again. “No! Get away from me!”
This time, when he charges, he means business. All ninety-three pounds of determined preteen slam into me with the force of a freight train. I hit the floor hard, my shoulder taking the brunt of the impact. Ryan trips over his own feet and lands on top of me in a tangle of limbs and hospital gown.
Then, inexplicably, all his weight disappears.
“I think that’s enough.”
I look up to find Kovan holding Ryan by the back of his gown, the boy’s feet dangling six inches off the ground. Ryan whimpers. His earlier bravado is completely gone.
“Kovan!” I struggle to my feet, my shoulder throbbing. “Put that child down right now!”
“He knocked you to the ground.” Kovan’s jaw is granite. “You’re pregnant. That’s not okay.”
“And if you don’t release my patient immediately, I’ll be pregnant and in jail.”
I grab Kovan’s wrist, trying to pry his fingers loose, but he might as well be made of steel. Ryan dangles there like a rag doll, tears streaming down his flushed cheeks.
“Are you going to push anyone else down?” Kovan asks Ryan in a baritone growl.
Ryan shakes his head frantically. “N-no, sir!”
“Good. Apologize to Dr. Fairfax. Now.”
“Stop!” I smack Kovan’s forearm. “Let him go or I’m calling security. Please,” I add. “For me.”
