Page 16 of Saving Luke

Luke

I'm in my room later that day, when Lexi knocks on the door.

"Can I come in? There’s something I need to talk to you about," she says.

I'm sitting on the couch, so I gesture for her to join me in the chair across from me. Closing the door behind her, she takes a seat.

"So,” Lexi says. “I just had a talk with your sister, and a not-so-nice one at that. She just left my office after trying to file a complaint about Brooke."

"What?" I say louder than I intend, and Lexi flinches slightly but then takes it in stride.

"She came in saying Brooke was being inappropriate with you. Of course, I sat her down because I was concerned and wanted to hear what she had to say. As she started talking about what she felt was an inappropriate relationship, I listened closely. But I’ve talked with Brooke, and she’s told me about your outings. Just so you know, Brooke was Noah's nurse, and she’s now a friend. We talk." She looks at me, letting me know without words that she knows things.

"So, after I calmed Gabbie down, I told her you had been making moves on Brooke as well. Then I said, because of the situation, I would watch it, but unless you yourself filed a complaint, there wasn't anything I could do," Lexi continues, "But I felt like I should tell you and see if there’s any truth that it's gone too far?"

"No, and if anything, I pushed Brooke too far yesterday. I really like her. She makes me feel... normal again. Not broken and like something that has to be fixed, like Gabbie does. Though I love my sister, she's young and sometimes too damn much to deal with. I don't always know how to handle her." I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, looking at the ground.

"Sometimes, you have to be blunt. They will get upset, but she's family, so she’ll forgive you for it. I see it time and time again around here. Family and friends want to help so much that they forget that the men and women here must help themselves first. They need to back up, let go, and be on the sidelines. You are the only one that can heal you. We are here to help with that, but we can't force you to heal."

"Does Brooke know about Gabbie?" I ask.

"Not yet, but I have to call her and tell her," Lexi says.

"Will you tell her I'd like to talk with her too, please? I know she has the next few days off," I say.

The nurses here work three twelve-hour shifts, and then have four days off, but not Brooke. With her being head nurse, she works four ten-hour shifts with three days off. It means I see her more than I normally would.

"Of course," Lexi says before getting up to leave.

I have the TV on, but I'm not really watching it, as I think about what Gabbie did.

There’s a soft knock on the door, and when I look up, I find Brooke there in jeans and a t-shirt.

"Hey, come in," I tell her.

Her face is closed and emotionless. I can guess what’s coming next, and I know I’m not going to like it.

"I just talked to Lexi," she says.

"She told me what Gabbie said. I will talk to her," I say.

"Luke, I can't risk my career, my reputation, and everything I’ve built on this. I worked too hard to get where I am and love my job. Had she gone to anyone else but Lexi, I'd be puton probation pending an investigation. When it came out what was going on, they would be letting me go to prevent medical malpractice. It wouldn’t matter whether or not you initiated it."

"Come on, Brooke. It's not that bad," I say, but in my heart, I know she's right. I know we got lucky this time, but if Gabbie tries to push this, it could get ugly.

"No, Luke, we can’t go on. I just wanted to come here and tell you face-to-face that we need to end this. I can't risk it, and she's your family. You need to focus on getting better for her, and she needs you. If nothing else, this shows she needs you more than you realize."

"Why do you think that? Because from where I'm sitting, I see an ungrateful brat who I spoiled too much and is now throwing a temper tantrum because she isn’t getting her way," I say, now irritated.

Brooke stands and takes a deep breath.

"When people act out, it's when they need love the most," She looks torn as she turns to leave.

"Brooke, don't leave it like this," I beg her.

She just shakes her head and walks out of the door. We haven't been that serious, and it hasn't been that long, but it doesn't stop me from feeling like she’s taking my heart with her. And with every step she takes away from me, it doesn't ease the pain that fills me.

Brooke

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