Page 50 of The Night Shift
‘Well, we wouldn’t let that happen,’ said Cindy, smiling at her.
‘We wouldn’t,’ agreed Violet.
‘Maybe means another conversation with Barney Big Bollocks though?’ Cindy pursed her lips. ‘He’s coming over in a bit to see Mr Adoji. His wound site has broken down since the hernia repair. I think it might be infected.’
‘Well, let’s see if we can avoid a scenario where Barney has to consent Mr Zeller again,’ said Violet. ‘Seeing as it didn’t go terribly well last time. Tell him I said hello anyway.’
‘Barney Snell?’
‘No, Mr Zeller. When he wakes up.’ Violet stood to leave. ‘I’m going to head over to medical admissions, help Anjali with the backlog. Unless there’s anything else you need on here?’
‘No, we’re fine I think. I’ll keep an eye on Mrs Chambers. I think the breathlessness was just a bit of anxiety. She’s asleep now.’ Cindy’s attention was drawn by something in the corridor. ‘Oh,’ she said, her face lighting up. ‘Speaking of Mrs Chambers, here comes the cavalry we ordered Wednesday night to help with her cannula. What are you doing here, Dr Jovic?’
Gus
Gus had struggled to wait as long as he had to start tracking Violet down. He’d reviewed everyone on HDU and visited all the patients on outlying wards that Karen had asked him to, diligently checking their observations and fluid balance charts, speaking to ward staff, phoning relatives to update them on the status of their loved ones. But every ward he’d visited had been empty of the one person he really wanted to see and now that his clinical jobs were complete, he decided to risk a brief check in on ward ten, having some sixth sense that she might be there. He knew his reasons for being there were spurious though and was grateful when Cindy mentioned the cannula.
‘Oh, yes,’ he said. ‘I thought I’d come and check whether you needed another one re-siting.’
‘Oh, you are good,’ said Cindy. ‘But the one Dr Winters did on Wednesday is holding nicely thanks. ‘You clearly showed her how it’s done.’ She smiled at Violet who was stood perched against the desk.
‘I do hope so,’ said Gus, struggling to keep his grin under control as he looked at Violet. ‘Sometimes it helps just to try something a bit different, doesn’t it, Dr Winters?’
‘It certainly does.’ Violet was also finding it hard to keep her expression impassive but Cindy seemed oblivious to the undercurrent of chemistry.
‘Right,’ she said. ‘I’m off to check on bed seven’s catheter bag. See you both later.’
‘Are you busy?’ Gus said once Cindy had wandered away. He idly picked up a pile of notes and began flicking through them.
‘I was,’ Violet said, beaming at him. ‘But I’ve just got to the point where I thought I could risk a little break. It is two in the morning, after all.’
‘Shall we head over to the mess maybe?’ Gus was trying to keep his voice casual but, God, it was hard work. She smelled so good, it was like she was radiating pure pheromones at him. And he knew she was still wearing his boxer shorts underneath those cotton scrubs, the thought of it had been driving him crazy for the past six hours.
‘Did you not have something important to be doing here?’ she said, laughing lightly.
‘Not really, no,’ he said. ‘I’ve got what I came for. Come on.’
They started walking away from the main ward area into the darker corridor to the exit.
‘Have you been to see Marv?’ Gus asked her, sliding a hand around her back and hooking his thumb into the waistband of her trousers. He could feel the rise and fall of her hip as she walked.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I went straight after handover. He was still awake, but he looked knackered.’ She told him about Marvin’s reluctance to proceed with criminal charges even if the police found the perpetrators and what a mess they had made of his face, but she also said how relieved she’d been to chat to him properly and reassure herself that he was still the same old Marv underneath the bruising.
‘Did you tell him about– about us?’ said Gus, not really sure why it mattered but certain that it did.
‘Of course,’ said Violet. ‘I wanted to cheer him up with some good news.’
Gus stopped walking and pulled her into him as they huddled in the shadows near the ward office.
‘Did you tell him everything?’ He whispered the question in her ear and she giggled.
‘Pretty much,’ she said. ‘Although, not in detail. He’s still recovering from major surgery.’ She bit her lip. ‘He did get me thinking though.’
‘Ye-es.’ Gus slid his hand around her hip and squeezed her bottom. ‘What about?’
‘Well…’ She pulled away from him slightly so she could look him in the eye. ‘He said I should check that things are really over between you and Amelia. I don’t like the idea that you might be keeping something from me– and you have been hiding the break-up from everybody else so… It sort of implies that you still have feelings for her. Which is fine, kind of– as long as you tell me.’
He gave her a curious glance but kept his hands on her waist, reluctant to lose the contact. ‘Would itreallybe fine?’ he said. ‘If I still had feelings for her?’
