Page 13 of One Night Redemption

"Fuck you. I hate being sick."

She hands me a small container of sanitizer, and I put it on my hands, rubbing it up past my wrists.

She smirks, amusement dancing in her eyes. "The Womack's are in rooms fifteen and sixteen respectively. They had to be separated."

"Surprise, surprise." I shoot a glare over at Troy.

"Can you buzz us back?" He questions, twirling the mask by its straps on his index finger.

"Sure thing. See y'all later."

The sound of sneezing and coughing infiltrates my ears as we go into the back of the ER, even through closed doors. "You sure you don't wanna wear that mask. I'd hate for you to be sick, Troy James."

"You'd relish me being sick. Then you could tell me you told me so."

"Son, you best believe that's the truth." I elbow check him as we both try to walk through a small space. “This hallway isn't big enough for the both of us.”

"Fucker." He laughs.

"What are you two doing here, and why are you arguing over who's going to fit in what space?" Cassie's voice cuts through our fight for alpha-ness.

I turn to where her voice came from behind us. "Hey ..." I reach out, grasping her hand in mine, before pulling her to me, and leaning down. She pulls my mask off my lips, and gives me a kiss before putting it back in place.

"They tell you the flu is bad?" She questions with raised eyebrows.

"Yep. I've only had it once and I don't ever want it again." I shiver, thinking about the fever I'd run. "I can't believe you aren't wearing one. The amount of people you're around."

"I do when I go into the rooms." She folds her arms over her chest. "I find it works well for me, but y'all aren't around it like I am. So, what are y'all doing here?" she asks again.

"The Womack's,” we answer in unison.

She throws her head back, groaning. "Oh my God, when I heard they were coming in, I gave them to the newest nurse. I never pull out my seniority card, but I can't mess with them tonight. She got him good, he's in the middle of getting around fifty-five stitches to close the cut. What did she smack him with?"

"A damn decorative plate. It broke when she smashed it against the counter, and then the cut edge of it hit his neck." I think back to how fast it all happened.

"Yeah, barely missed his carotid. She's lucky she didn't kill him. What's she here for? I haven't looked at her chart."

I roll my eyes. "Claimed chest pain once we tried to arrest her. It's policy to have people checked out." I shrug. "Can we go in and talk to them?"

"I'm not the nurse on duty for them, but I can check for you," she offers, a flirty little smile slides across her face.

"Please?"

She gives us her back, going over to the computer. Turning to Troy, I fold my arms over my chest. "Which one do you want to take? I'll take the other."

"Well Virgil's gonna be outta here before she is, since they're gonna run tests on her for a heart attack. If you'd like to stay and hang out with Cassie for a few minutes, I can take him."

Typically, I would call him out for this. He's acting like he's doing me a favor, and really he's getting the better deal, but he's right. Donita is going to be here longer, and I possibly will be able to have coffee, or a snack with Cassie. "Yeah, go ahead. I'll stay with her."

"Okay." Cassie comes back. "Virgil's ready to go. Which one is taking him?"

Troy raises his hand. "That'll be me. Do you have my sign off or do I need to get that from the attending?"

"Doctor Carver is in there right now, and he'll release him to you. Donita needs to have another two tests run, and then the sign off done. It's going to be at least an hour for you." Her voice sounds as if she's sorry, but I see the excitement in her eyes.

"Nice. I'll go grab him, and take him down to the station. Let me know if you need anything." He smacks me across the arm. "Don't get sick."

"You're such an ass."

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