Page 23 of Freedom to Love

“I am. Now when can I get out of here?”

The curtain scraped as a woman entered wearing creased khakis, a maroon button-up blouse, and a lab coat. She carried a metal clipboard and a stern look. “Kat Vander, I presume?”

Kat didn’t speak, just squared off with her with her steady, steely gaze.

“You’re either very stubborn or very brave,” she said. “I can’t decide which one. Luckily, it’s not my job to figure you out. It’s my job to fix you up.”

“When can I go?” Kat asked, in no mood for lectures.

The woman laughed and set down the clipboard. She placed her hands in her pockets and looked to Murph.

“I’m going to go with stubborn,” she said.

Murph laughed. “You have no idea.”

“Hello, I can hear you. I’m sitting right here.”

The woman, whose name was Dr. Sands according to her lab coat, took a hand out of her pocket to rest it on Kat’s.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that you had quite a worried crowd here and they’ve all filled me in on your…”

“Stubbornness.”

“Yes.”

“Great.” Kat glared at Murph who reddened. “Now when can I leave?”

Sands squeezed her hand. “We cleaned out your wound. Re-bandaged. And now we’re giving you a strong antibiotic.”

“And…”

“And you can go home when it’s finished. But only if you promise to stay on bed rest for the next few days. And if that wound gets worse in any way, your behind better get back in here pronto.”

“I’m good with that,” Kat said.

“But I have to admit, I have my doubts about you being able to do that, Ms. Vander. Based on your recent behavior and that stubbornness your fellow officers have told me about, I’m going out on a limb here and trusting you.”

“I can do it.” She looked to Murph and gave him a look that caused him to straighten and speak.

“I can see that she does.”

Dr. Sands raised an eyebrow. “An infection like this is very serious. You understand that don’t you?”

Kat nodded and resisted rolling her eyes.

Dr. Sands patted her hand. “Very well. I’ll start your discharge papers and get you a script for more antibiotics. You have to take them twice a day. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Dr. Sands looked at Murph. “Keep a close eye on her the next week or so.”

“You got it.”

Kat groaned. She hated being treated like a child. She could take care of herself. She didn’t need Murph and Margie in her home, jumping every time she stumbled or sneezed. She had Gunner and a phone, and that was all she needed.

Dr. Sands left the curtained room and Kat turned on Murph. “I don’t need you up my ass twenty-four seven. Got it?”

Murph smiled. “Doctor’s orders.”

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