Page 45 of Disciplining Dana

“About?”

“Things,” he said cagily. “Sometimes, it’s good to have the sympathetic ear of someone who may have traveled the same road as you.”

“I’ll take that under consideration.”

“You do that.” Mr. Hawkins pointed out of the gift shop in the direction of the main building. “Now, go on and catch up with your friend.”

Kurt left the gift shop and made his way quickly to the infirmary. When he arrived, he found Dana sitting in a small exam room, Erika standing quietly at the end of the bed Dana was on. Two other people were in the room with them, neither of whom Kurt recognized. He could make an educated guess though. For the woman, if her stark white uniform complete with old-fashioned cap on her head didn’t give away her away, the tray full of instruments next to her did. He’d wager this was the Nurse Macintosh Erika had spoken of earlier. Which would make the other person working with her Dr. Carter. The nurse barely graced him with a glance before she returned to aiding the doctor as he looked Dana over.

“And when I press here?” he asked, his fingers pushing gently into Dana’s abdomen.

“It’s sore, but not super painful.”

He moved down, gripping her calves. “And here?”

Dana shrugged. “Same. Sore, but I’ve honestly felt worse after a workout.”

The doctor straightened, removed his gloves and dropped them on the instrument tray. “Well,” he said, giving Dana a kind smile, “you’re a very lucky young woman. Given what I’ve heard, this could’ve been much more serious.”

Dana simply nodded.

The doctor turned to Kurt. “I’m Dr. Carter. I take it you’re Ms. Aziz’s co-worker?”

“Kurt Ellery,” he replied, taking the man’s hand.

“As I said, your friend’s very lucky. Keep an eye on her over the next few days. I’m pretty sure she’s fine, but sometimes these things can take a while to show up. If her head begins to ache or she starts to feel nauseated or dizzy, bring her to the infirmary and ask Nurse MacIntosh to call me,” Dr. Carter instructed.

Kurt glanced toward the nurse, who looked back at him with clear disapproval in her eyes behind the lens of her tortoiseshell glasses.

“I’ll make sure of it.” Kurt cast a pointed look Dana’s way.

“I’d like to go to my room now,” Dana spoke quietly, not meeting his eye.

“That’s fine,” Erika replied before anyone else could, “but remember, Master Derek wants to see you in his office once you’ve freshened up.”

“I’d really rather do it tomorrow,” Dana countered.

“Master Derek said tonight, and that means tonight.”

“I’m under no obli?—”

“Dana.” Kurt shot her a stern look. “Tonight.”

Her jaw went taut, but instead of arguing further she said, “I’m going to my room.”

Standing up from the high bed that doubled as an exam table, she and Kurt both made polite goodbyes and left the infirmary, heading back through the main lobby.

“So, um, who was the cowboy with Mr. Hawkins?”

“Mr. Jaeger, but he prefers to be called Jagger.”

“Not Master Jagger?” Dana quipped. Kurt ignored the flippant comment, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead, his demeanor stoic. Dana’s smile faded, and they continued in silence as they crossed to the guest wing and headed to Dana’s quarters. When they arrived, Kurt didn’t ask to be invited in. Instead, he simply pushed past her and strode into the room.

“So,” she began, closing the door behind her, “let’s get this out of the way; I know you’re angry with me, but you need to understand I really had no?—”

Kurt whirled, everything from the evening crashing together in a tumult. “Angry? Angry?” he snapped, the wall he’d built to keep from confronting her in the tunnel crumbling. “You think I’m angry?”

Dana didn’t flinch. “Yes.”

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