by D. F. Jones
Anna headed down the busy hospital corridor. She’d been visibly shaken by the patient’s attack. She turned left at the admin offices and walked into the doctors’ bunker at the end of the hall. The bunker was a place for doctors and residents to grab some quick shut-eye or a bite to eat.
The bunker had a common room with a small kitchen, a round black table with matching chairs, and a worn brown leather couch. The television mounted high in the far left corner of the room played the local news. Anna grabbed the remote off the square oak coffee table with too many Travel magazines and Sports Illustrated. She hit the mute button on the remote.
A door to the right led to a small bedroom with two bunk beds. The hospital had the linens changed every shift, so Anna grabbed a pack of ice out of the freezer, wrapped it in a clean towel, and headed for the bunk bed.
It would be nice if she could use her powers to heal herself, but she found out early on that it wasn’t possible. Years ago, Anna had tumbled down the stairs at high school and busted her knee. She’d placed her hands over the wound, but she had no tingling in her fingertips. Anna painfully made it home, and her mom drove her to the ER for stitches.
Anna flipped on the nightlight next to the bunk beds, turned off the overhead lights, and collapsed on the bottom bunk. She placed the ice pack over her eye and winced. Damn, that hurts. She should clock out but was too exhausted to ride her bike home. Fifteen minutes was all Anna needed to recharge and then she’d check on her patient and leave for the day. Anna couldn’t get Jerry off of her mind. Part of her wanted to fly home to Tennessee and beg him not to marry the Amazon. She drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Anna woke abruptly in the bunker and glanced at the clock. She had only been asleep for twenty minutes and dreamed of walking in the Grove with Jerry. Her rational mind told her to leave Jerry in the past. But Anna’s dream reminded her of the love they once shared. The last time she’d been with Jerry, she told him there would never be another man for her, and six years later, those words still rang true.
Anna dragged herself off the bunk bed and walked into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. She grabbed a clean hand towel and gingerly dried around her eye. She inspected her very swollen and badly bruised eye in the mirror. “Jesus, that old woman packs a powerful punch.” In the mirror reflection, Jack Forrester stood behind her.
“Anna, turn around and let me take a look.” She’d seen Jack’s grim expression enough to know he wasn’t in the mood to argue, so she turned around to face him.
“I’m okay, Dr. Forrester. It looks worse than it feels,” Anna lied through her teeth. It hurt like hell, and she could barely see. She placed her hands on her hips as Jack examined her injury.
“We need to run a CT and check to see if you sustained a concussion and if you have any retina or cornea damage. I’ll touch base with Dr. Chandler, and after your tests, I’ll give you a ride home. I know you rode your bike today.” It was more of a command than a request. Jack turned and walked out of the bunker.
Anna frowned. She rode her bike every day. “Wait a minute, Dr. Forrester. It’s going to be one hell of a shiner, but I’m okay. And I’ll ride my bike home because I’m pretty sure it won’t fit in your sports car.” Her words came out with more bite than she intended.
Jack turned and narrowed his eyes at her. “I don’t like being argued with, Dr. Kelly. You’re under my care and supervision when you’re a resident at this hospital. Your eye is swollen. It’s protocol.” Jack stopped abruptly and added, “Do you want me to lose my job?”
“Well, no, sir, I don’t.”
“Good, I’m glad you agree.” He turned and walked to the ER.
An hour later, Anna’s test results showed no damage to her eye or a concussion. She did have a terrible migraine. Anna walked to the ER nurses station, and she threw her hands up to the staff, including Dr. Forrester. “I’m fine. I have a migraine, but that’s it. I’ve clocked out, and I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
Jack handed a chart to Dr. Chandler and walked over to Anna. “Not so fast, Dr. Kelly. You don’t need to ride your bike in the heat.” He turned to a tech named Michael, but everyone called him Gator. “Hey, Gator, do you still drive a truck to work?”
Gator looked up and nodded. “Yes, sir, Dr. Forrester.”
Jack placed his hand on Gator’s shoulder. “You won’t mind dropping off Dr. Kelly’s bike at her home later?”
“No, sir, Dr. Forrester.” Gator looked anxiously from Jack to Anna.
Anna reached into her drawer and pulled out her bag. “Jack, that’s not his responsibility. I’m riding my bike home. How would Gator know where I live, for goodness’ sake?” She turned on a dime and made for the exit doors when Jack caught up with her.
“Jack? Really? Around these parts, people call me Dr. Forrester. If you’re crazy enough to ride your bike home, then you give me no alternative but to follow you in my car.” Jack swiftly walked past her toward the physician parking lot.
At the bike rack, Anna grabbed the key out of her scrub pocket and unlocked the chain around her bike. Seconds later, Anna pumped her bike pedals gaining speed until she approached the intersection.
Anna had reached Bayou Boulevard when Jack pulled up beside her in his sports car and revved his engine. She nearly wrecked. Anna stopped and stood on the ground with the bike resting between her legs. She scowled at Jack as he rolled down his window and smiled. She shouted, “Are you intentionally trying to scare the crap out of me? I nearly wrecked. Go away.” Anna motioned for him to leave. She stood up on the bike pedals and began to pump faster. Minutes later she turned into her driveway.
Anna parked her bike in the main garage and walked around the side of the house. She became light-headed walking up the steps to her front door and fell backward, landing in Jack’s arms. She blacked out.
Anna didn’t know how long she’d been passed out, but Jack must have taken it upon himself to snatch her keys and carry her inside the house. When she came to, she was lying on her comfy chintz couch with a cold cloth on her forehead.
Jack took her pulse and looked freaking smug. “I told you not to ride your bike home.” Anna looked up into his rather gorgeous gray eyes. No man should ever be born with such thick black lashes when she had to wear mascara. Jack was movie star beautiful, but he wasn’t cocky. On the contrary, he seemed shy at times.
Nauseated and dizzy, Anna closed her eyes. In hindsight, letting herself get dehydrated from riding in the Florida heat, after being assaulted by a patient, was probably a very stupid thing to do. But she would never admit it to Jack. He nudged her gently, and she opened her eyes slowly. “What, Jack?”
He handed her a glass of water. God, she hated that he’d read her mind. Jack pulled her into a sitting position and placed his arm around her shoulder to keep her steady. Anna drank half a glass. When Jack pinned her with a look, she drank the rest of the water. “Thank you, Jack. I’m sorry, I should’ve listened to you. But I hate it when you’re right.”
“Ha. I don’t believe it. An apology. Once more, please,” he said and leaned his ear to her mouth.
Anna whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Jack withdrew his arm and stood. “Good. I want you to drink one more glass of water. Does your head hurt? And tell me the truth.” He looked down at her with his hands placed on his narrow hips. She nodded yes. He went into the kitchen for another glass of water. “Drink, all of it. I’m going to get my bag, and I’ll be right back.”
Anna started to open her mouth in protest, but Jack shook his head back and forth. She refrained from what she wanted to say to him. Like, enough already, please get out of my house. But she would have conked out on the hard concrete sidewalk if Jack hadn’t followed her home.
Anna’s head felt like it was in a vise and little white dots were swimming in her vision from a major migraine. She drank the rest of the water when Jack came back inside the front door.
He sat down next to her, opened his medical ba
g, and pulled out a syringe. Anna threw her hands up and said, “No, Jack, if you give me pain meds, I can’t work.”
Jack filled the syringe and pushed the plunger into the barrel to release the air. “Anna, this is a mild sedative for your migraine. I hate to tell you, but you’re not working until next Tuesday. Doctor’s orders. Which arm?” She took a deep breath and offered her right arm.
As the needle pierced her skin, the meds began to burn going into her veins. Seconds later, her head wasn’t hurting at all. She felt completely relaxed. Her tongue became thick as she looked at Jack and gave him the thumbs up. “I’m feeling no pain now. Thanks.”
Jack laughed and suddenly seemed younger and not so stiff. Anna giggled and started laughing loudly at her drug-induced thoughts.
Jack tilted his head to the side and placed his hands on his thighs. “What’s so funny Anna?” Anna pointed to him and laughed some more.
Jack flashed her a most charming grin, showing nearly perfect teeth. One of his front teeth just barely lapped over the other one. He said, “Me? I normally don’t get that kind of response, but I’ll take it, considering it’s coming from you. Come on. Let’s get you into bed.”
Anna snorted; she just couldn’t help herself. It was the drugs talking. “You’ve never tried to get me into bed before, Jack. What’s up? Are you pitying the poor, overworked resident?”
Jack helped her to her feet. She placed her arm around his waist, and he wrapped his arm around hers. “Anna, since you’re on drugs and will likely not remember a thing about this conversation, I’ll just say you don’t need my pity. You’re perfect.”
“What did you say, Dr. Yummy?” And the long hours of her work day combined with the pain meds made Anna melt into slumber.
* * *
Outside Anna’s bedroom window cerulean warblers were singing to each other from one of the old oleander trees. In the stillness of early morning, she lay in bed listening to their sweet song. For once in a long time, her mind was at peace. She didn’t need to tick off a to-do list. Oh, shit. Did I call Dr. Forrester, Dr. Yummy? Oh, for heaven’s sakes, kill me now.
Anna stretched and yawned, then swung her legs over the bed. Still groggy from the drug Jack had given her and sat for a couple of minutes before she stood up. Anna opened her bedroom door, shuffled her feet slowly into the kitchen, and poured a glass of milk. She was hungry but still too queasy to eat. Her eye was swollen shut.
She stepped into her living room and gasped. Dr. Freaking Yummy slept on her couch in his boxer shorts and T-shirt. Holy cow. Anna eased down into the oversized loveseat next to him. Jack was really hot. Oh, this deserves a phone call to Ruby and Sandy.
Dang. The man must work out every day of the week. Jack’s T-shirt draped over well-defined pecs. He didn’t have the body of a body builder but was beautifully sculpted, nonetheless.
Jack must have sensed Anna’s presence and opened his eyes. He sat up and stretched his neck to the left, then the right. “You look terrible. How do you feel?”
Anna took a drink of milk and tried to look at him over the rim of her glass. With a smile, she said, “Geez, thanks for the compliment. I feel better, but it’s hard to see.”
Jack glanced around the room, walked over to the light switch on the wall and flipped on the overhead light. He scoured through his bag and pulled out his penlight. He lifted her chin and leaned down close to her face, and she suddenly became nervous. Anna wondered, for the first time, what it would be like to kiss Jack. She hadn’t thought about kissing anyone in a long time.
Anna tried to push Jack’s hand away, but he grabbed her wrist. “Why do you love to infuriate me so? I swear I say black, and you say white. Anna, you were hurt yesterday. It’s the hospital’s responsibility to make sure you’re okay. I need you to follow the light for me.” He looked in both her eyes and turned off the penlight. “Do you think you can take a shower by yourself?”
“Of course. Were you thinking of helping me?” Anna teased him, and he started to rebut when he realized she was joking. Anna just bet most of the staff didn’t receive personalized attention from the chief resident.
Jack crossed his arms over his chest. “Finally, I hear laughter in your voice after nearly two years. You do have a sense of humor. Who knew? If you show me where you stash your coffee can, I’m going to make a pot of coffee while you take a shower.” Jack seemed to wait for her to argue with him, but she only nodded in the affirmative and walked into her kitchen. She opened the cabinet and placed the can of Folgers on the countertop.
Anna turned to face Jack and placed her hand on his arm. “I like my coffee really strong. Thanks, Jack, for staying with me.”
“I think I can handle it. Now skedaddle,” he said and swatted her behind. Jack flirted with her.
“Hands to yourself, please.” She smacked his hand playfully and backed away from him. She left the kitchen and made her way to the master bathroom with a smile on her face.
Anna yearned for the warmth of a man’s love. Having Jack inside her house in his boxers and making coffee made her miss the warmth of Jerry’s big, loving arms. She’d been alone for too long.
Anna stepped inside her bathroom and leaned against the door for a second before she reached over and turned on the shower. She wheeled around to check her eye in the mirror, and Ralph appeared beside her bathroom sink. “Holy shit, Ralph, you nearly made me have a heart attack. Why can’t you whistle or something to give me a heads up?”
Over the years, Anna had gotten some weird looks talking to Ralph in public. Since he was invisible to all but her, people looked at her like she was crazy. Maybe she was a little crazy. Ralph had become her closest companion since she’d moved away from Tennessee. Most of the time, she was too exhausted to socialize, so days and sometimes even months passed without her doing anything outside of the hospital. She suddenly felt old in her twenty-eight-year-old body. Life was passing by her.
Ralph brought his slender forefinger up to his lips. “Shush. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you yesterday. I was in a closed-door meeting, and I had no connection to the Earth in the operations room. An earth angel contacted me this morning and told me two demons possessed the old lady who knocked you out yesterday. I’m not sure from which division, but I’m searching now. Unfortunately, Ms. Travis died.”
“What?” Anna said, incredulous.
Ralph gave her a smirk. “Shush. Do you want Dr. Freaking Yummy to think you’ve gone mad?” Ralph resembled humans in many ways, but his otherworldly beauty set him apart. She constantly stared at him in awe. He said, “Have you seen Luc?”
Anna held onto the lip of the bathroom counter. “No, why? Do you think he carried out the attack?”
“No, but he may have sanctioned it. I’m not sure, but I think the demons were trying to possess your power. They could’ve succeeded, but Gator and Randy reacted swiftly to restrain the possessed woman. I like big old Gator. He has a genuine and loving soul.”
Ralph motioned for her to sit on the toilet seat. “When did Ruby last dream about the dragon?”
“Ralph, you’re making me nervous. I missed the last couple of meetings. To the best of my knowledge, it was last December. You think Luc is coming for me, don’t you?”
He said, “I think Luc has been watching you and your friends for a long time. I have a meeting with our team soon. I’m sorry I can’t heal your eye, or the good doctor would probably have a stroke. If you want, I’ll do it later.”
Anna opened her mouth to interrupt, but Ralph stopped her. “I’ll explain in depth when you’re alone. No worries, Annabelly. You’re safe for the moment.”
“Geez, Ralph, somehow I think you’re blowing smoke up my ass, but if you say I’m safe, then I trust you.” Anna reached over to check the water’s temperature and turned to say something, but Ralph was gone. It drove her insane how one minute he was there and the next minute—poof.
* * *
After Anna had dressed in black leggings and an oversize
d blue jean shirt, she walked barefoot into the kitchen.
Jack sat his coffee cup in the sink and brushed a lock of his ebony hair away from his forehead. “Anna, I guess it’s time for me to leave. I’ll check on you tomorrow.”
Anna leaned against the kitchen cabinet and looked into Jack’s eyes. “Ah, thanks again for taking care of me, Jack.” He grabbed her hand. Anna’s eyes widened, and he abruptly let her hand go.
Jack reached inside his dark gray suit, pulled out a silver business card holder, and handed her his card. “Call me if you need me. My home number is on the back.”
Anna nodded okay. Jack walked out the front door without looking back. A tiny spark had ignited between them, and it made her excited and nervous. Jack was her boss, and as the old saying went, you don’t shit where you eat.
Anna decided to put Dr. Yummy and his boxers out of her mind. She had free time. She still had one good eye, so she intended to veg out on her comfy couch for a movie marathon. She opened her video cabinet and selected some of her favorite old movies.
Anna went into the kitchen for another cup of coffee. She’d barely popped the VHS tape of The Philadelphia Story into the player when her phone started ringing. Anna reached over to the table next to the couch and picked up the phone. “Hello.”
Ruby’s voice trembled. “Are you okay? I had a dream you couldn’t see. Some evil old woman was trying to hurt you.”
Anna wiggled her toes before stretching her legs out, and she sank into the soft cushions of her couch. “Calm down, mother hen. I’m fine. I did get coldcocked by a patient who was possessed by demons. Hey, when was the last time you dreamed of the dragon? Ralph seems to think Luc is targeting our team. I’m sorry I missed the last two meetings. But I’m almost through with my residency, and I’ll be coming home soon. I’ll have more time.” Anna sipped her coffee.
With a sharp intake of breath, Ruby said, “Geez Louise, I had a dream about the dragon two nights ago. Then last night, I dreamed about the woman who attacked you. Were you scared?”