Dirt Nap

by Carolyn Elizabeth

“Oh, don’t be like that. I was just—” He spun away from her with a shout of surprise and pain.

  Thayer whirled to see Corey, blue eyes blazing fire, holding him by the thumb and torquing his hand back unnaturally. “Touch her again, asshole, and I’ll break your fucking arm.”

  “Oh, my, god, Corey,” Thayer gasped. “Let him go.”

  Corey gave him a shove and he staggered back gripping his wrist, his face a mask of pain.

  “Dr. Gregory, I’m so sorry, are you all right?” Thayer reached for him.

  Corey gaped at her. “You’re apologizing to this piece of shit?”

  He rubbed his wrist and glared at Corey before stalking off. “Crazy bitch.”

  Corey turned to Thayer. “Babe, you okay?”

  Thayer’s eyes darted wildly around the department. It was blessedly quiet but there were still a few patients looking their way with interest.

  Her rage boiled over and she gripped Corey’s arm hard and jerked her behind the wall separating the waiting patients from the view of the whiteboard.

  Corey blew out a harsh breath. “That guy is—”

  “Shut up.” Thayer hissed and Corey’s teeth clacked together in surprise. “Are you out of your mind?”

  “He was—”

  “Stop talking.” Thayer furiously raked her hands through her hair. “You were behind his car getting towed this morning weren’t you?”

  Corey opened her mouth to reply but Thayer didn’t give her the chance. “Don’t even answer that. I already know.” Thayer shook her head, her teeth grinding. “I said I would handle it, Corey. This is my place of work. How dare you come in here swinging your dick around like some jealous boyfriend?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth Thayer would have given anything to take them back when Corey went ashen and jerked back as if she’d been slapped.

  Even through her glasses the hurt in Corey’s eyes was a living thing and Thayer sucked in a breath, her hand going to her mouth. “Corey—”

  “No,” she choked out. “I got it. Sorry to bother you.” She moved past Thayer rigidly.

  “Corey, wait,” Thayer called but she was already halfway to the door.

  Thayer released a slow breath and steepled her hands in front of her face fighting tears at what she had just done. Just this morning she had described Corey as honorable, passionate, and protective, all things she loved her for, and she had just kicked her in the teeth for them.

  “Dr. Reynolds, curtain three, please.” Dr. Raymond Manning, the department director and her boss, materialized in front of her and handed her a chart. “And see me in my office before the end of your shift if you would.”

  Thayer took the chart. “Of course, sir.”

  Her heart pounded. She didn’t even know he was here today let alone on the floor. She inhaled deeply and slammed her professional persona firmly in place as she headed to three.

  “Treat ’em and street ’em, eh, Reynolds?” Dr. Gregory snarled at her as he passed in the hallway. He had seen barely a third of the patients she had.

  She didn’t spare him a glance and headed to the doctors’ lounge to collect herself before seeing Dr. Manning. “Shit.” She sighed heavily, her hands trembling. She couldn’t afford an official reprimand in her file. It would seriously jeopardize her chance at a permanent position and she would have a very hard time not resenting Corey over it.

  Dr. Manning’s door was open so she knocked on the frame and cleared her throat, nervously.

  “Dr. Reynolds, come in, please.” He rose and came around from behind his desk and gestured to a chair.

  She swallowed hard and took a breath before moving to take the chair. She was surprised when her boss, instead of moving back to his side of the desk, sat in the chair next to her and crossed his long, thin legs.

  Thayer had no idea what direction this conversation was going to take, but she thought it best to say as little as possible until necessary.

  He studied her for a moment and she thought perhaps he was using some clever interrogation technique and she worked not to visibly fidget under his gaze.

  “Do you know what my nickname is?”

  “Holmes.”

  “Yes.” He smiled. “Not altogether unflattering or inaccurate however, ‘All Seeing Eye’ would better suit.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I see everything. I know everything that goes on in this department, whether I’m on the floor or not, whether I’m even here or not.” He paused. “I know what has been going on between you and Dr. Gregory and I owe you an apology.”

  Thayer sucked in a surprised breath. “For what?”

  “For not doing more to protect you from him.”

  “What? No.” She shook her head. “Dr. Manning that’s not your—”

  “It is my job, Dr. Reynolds. I am the director of this department and have been aware of his bullying and harassment of you from the beginning. I expected you to be his mentor, knowing what was going to happen.”

  “How could you have known?”

  Dr. Manning looked away with a strange expression of wistfulness and regret. “You know his family, of course?”

  “Senator Gregory’s oldest son by his third wife.”

  “Mmm.” Dr. Manning nodded. “Watson Gregory II was a classmate of mine as an undergraduate. We weren’t friends. I never had a taste for him and his ilk—spoiled, privileged, and entitled—but our paths crossed one night and he helped me out of a very unpleasant situation. The circumstances aren’t important, but suffice it to say I have owed him a favor for forty years. So, when his spoiled, privileged, and entitled son was dismissed from two other residency programs, he called in that favor.”

  Thayer smiled humorlessly. “I’m sorry you’ve been put in this situation.”

  “It is one entirely of my own making. One I have not handled at all well, and one I have, regretfully, put you in the middle of. I had this foolish notion that working with an intelligent and accomplished woman like yourself would do the young man some good. That all said, I intend to correct my mistake immediately—beginning with you.”

  “Me?”

  “In all other situations of personal and personnel conflict I can intervene, but ones of a sexual harassment nature need to originate with you. If you file an official complaint with me, in writing, I can submit it—”

  “Wait. Wait.” Thayer held up her hand. “I don’t want—”

  “Dr. Reynolds, you will have the full weight of this department behind you and I know you’re not the only one.”

  “I appreciate that, Dr. Manning,” Thayer smiled softly, “but I will handle this on my own. It will be more effective than a faceless reprimand from HR with mandatory sensitivity training.”

  His eyes narrowed at her before he barked a gravelly laugh, his eyes bright with amusement. “Somehow I knew that was going to be your reaction but I had to make the offer.”

  Thayer shared his humor for a moment before she grew serious. “I do appreciate your support, Dr. Manning, and I will take care of it, I assure you.”

  “I believe you. See that you do sooner rather than later. As enjoyable as it would be to watch Ms. Curtis get involved, if violence ensues, however warranted, I will not be able to overlook that. I would hate for her, or you, to face the fallout someone else so richly deserves.”

  Thayer nodded. “Yes, Corey is very protective.”

  “Mmm.” He mused vaguely.

  Thayer smiled and rose. She had nothing but Corey on her mind now and needed to go. “Thank you, Dr. Manning.” She held out her hand.

  “Have a good night, Dr. Reynolds.” He shook it warmly. “And I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this conversation is between us.”

  Thayer nodded. “Good night, sir.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Thayer stepped out of the department, her thoughts and emotions in turmoil. She wanted to find Corey, wrap her arms around her and beg her forgiveness. She knew she had hurt her badly.

  She stoppe
d when she saw Watson Gregory holding court with four of the junior residents—three men and one woman—at the edge of the parking lot. She had assured Dr. Manning she would take care of it and that’s what she intended to do.

  She stalked over to them, ice in her blood and fire in her eyes. “Dr. Gregory, a word please.”

  “Just a sec.” He didn’t bother to look at her as he continued with his story, clearly mocking an earlier patient.

  Thayer waited patiently, schooling her mind and expression into one of serenity. This was not the first time she had to have this conversation with a male classmate or colleague but this time the stakes felt higher. This would set the tone for everyone she worked with and the other women. She owed it to herself, them, and Corey to end this, definitively.

  He finally turned to her. “What can I do for you, Reynolds?”

  “Stay, please.” Thayer addressed the junior residents who were looking uncomfortable and making a move to leave, apparently having a good idea what was coming. “I would like you all to hear this so there is no confusion in the retelling.”

  Dr. Gregory widened his stance and puffed out his chest in an effort to look bigger and take up more space. “I can’t wait.”

  Thayer trained her gaze on him. “I am a woman, Dr. Gregory.” She waited a beat and, as expected, his eyes dropped to her breasts. When he dragged them back up his smug smirk was so comical Thayer almost laughed. “And a physician at this hospital.”

  “And?” he sneered.

  “And a better physician than you in every way—and a better person.” Her lip quirked in amusement as his mouth gaped. “You know it, I know it, and everyone else knows it.”

  “Bullshit,” he spat, eyes glittering furiously.

  “And you know what is the most maddening thing about that?” Thayer’s gaze held his unflinchingly. “I honestly believe you have what it takes to be a great physician.” His brows knit together in confusion.

  “But make no mistake. If you continue to try and undermine, disparage, or disrespect me, I will make it my mission to humiliate you professionally at every opportunity. It will be far from a challenge, and I have held my tongue on multiple occasions already out of professional courtesy. I promise you if your behavior persists, I will leave you weeping alone in the men’s locker room, filling out your resignation paperwork.”

  His smug smile had long faltered and the only resident who could still even watch was the young woman who had her hand over mouth and was staring at Thayer with wide eyes.

  “I don’t have to listen to this shit,” he blurted, his eyes darting to the other men. They wouldn’t look at him and all had varying degrees of shamed expressions—likely guilty of the same behavior at one time or another.

  “One more thing, Dr. Gregory.” Thayer’s gaze was glacial. “If you ever put your hands on me again you better be saving my life. Are we clear?”

  He could no longer make eye contact with her. “Whatever. Who’s driving me to my car?” He turned to leave but no one followed. “You guys coming?”

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  “I’m going to head home.”

  “Sorry, man. See you guys later.”

  The men dispersed in different directions and Thayer released a slow deliberate breath turning to the woman. “How was that?”

  “Holy shit.”

  Thayer drove by Corey’s condo. As cool as she was in confronting Watson Gregory, she was that anxious about seeing Corey.

  Her truck was there but there were no lights on. She knocked but didn’t expect an answer. Corey wasn’t one to sit and brood at home. Thayer headed to the next likely place she would be. She had sent her a couple of texts but hadn’t heard back from her.

  It was late now and when she pulled up at Corey’s gym, there was a woman locking up. Thayer headed toward the unfamiliar, older woman, possibly the owner. “Excuse me. I’m looking for Corey Curtis.”

  The woman looked her over, appreciatively, for a long moment. “You must be the reason she came in tonight spitting blood.”

  Thayer grimaced. “I’m afraid so. Did something happen?”

  “You could say that.” The woman snickered. “She put on quite a show looking for someone to get in the ring with her. Finally found a taker in that kid, Emma. That poor girl would do just about anything to get her attention.”

  “Oh, Christ, she shouldn’t even be fighting yet—or ever.” Thayer raked her hands through her hair. “Corey didn’t hurt her did she?”

  “Other way around.” The woman guffawed. “She was so twisted around she must’ve had her head up her ass. Emma busted her nose good. Took me an hour to clean up the mess.”

  “Oh, no,” Thayer groaned. “I just left the hospital and I didn’t see her.”

  “Nah, you wouldn’t.” She shrugged. “Wiley took them all to the bar to drink their feelings.”

  “Perfect,” she said tightly. Now Corey was going to be upset, injured, and drunk. “Thank you.”

  “Good luck, honey. You’re gonna need it.” The woman laughed as Thayer drove away.

  She had been to Corey’s favorite hangout a few times with her, a sports bar called The Pitch Stop, a place popular with women, one they all referred to as The Bitch. The music was good, the food was fried, the beer cold, and they could get whatever game you were interested in watching.

  She didn’t have to look far to see Corey belly up to the bar with a barely legal looking brunette. They were racing each other through a pint of beer followed by a shot of what Thayer suspected was tequila, while a group of women cheered them on.

  “Oh, shit.” Rachel turned and saw Thayer watching the display. “Hey, Thayer,” she said loudly.

  The women watching all gaped at her for a moment before they found something more interesting to do and drifted away, except for Rachel. The young woman drinking with Corey was pulled away by the arm by a similarly featured and equally as young looking blond friend. The blonde wore a decidedly unimpressed expression, and by the dramatic head shaking and gesticulating, appeared to be letting her know about it.

  Corey straightened, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand and slammed her shot glass down on the bar. “Oh, goody, Thayer’s here,” she slurred nasally.

  Thayer kept her expression carefully neutral and assessed her—her eyes were glassy with drink and glittering in anger. Her nose looked broken but the bones were displaced only slightly. She wasn’t wearing her glasses probably because it was painful, but if she hadn’t gotten a migraine from their fight or a broken nose, she was likely safe. “Can we talk?”

  Corey cocked her head. “I think you said it all earlier.”

  Thayer considered her for a moment. “Rachel, can you get a few things for me? A clean towel, a bag of ice, a beer, and two shots of tequila. Oh, and a basket of onion rings.” She handed Rachel her credit card.

  “Yeah, sure,” Rachel agreed.

  “Thank you.” Thayer nodded to an empty booth in the corner. “We’ll be over there.”

  “I won’t be,” Corey sneered.

  “Fine.” Thayer moved over to the booth and slid in knowing Corey wouldn’t stay away for long.

  Rachel brought over a tray with everything she asked for while Corey sulked at the bar. “Thank you.” Thayer helped herself to a shot and chased it with beer and a perfectly battered ring. “God, I needed that.”

  “You okay?” Rachel asked.

  “It’s been a day,” she admitted.

  “I guess.” Rachel gestured to the towels and ice. “Think she’s going to let you do that?”

  “I don’t intend to tell her.” Thayer replied and popped another onion ring into her mouth.

  Rachel snickered. “Can’t wait to see that.”

  She looked past her to see Corey wobbling her way over. “Well, stick around then.”

  Rachel moved off while Corey clumsily slid into the booth across from Thayer and helped herself to the second shot and Thayer’s beer.

  Thayer took a breath. “
You may be interested to hear that I put Watson Gregory III in his place after work—with witnesses. I don’t expect he’ll be bothering anyone again.”

  Corey sucked on the bottle. “Guess you put everyone in their place today, huh?”

  “Corey, I am so sorry. What I said to you was vulgar and hurtful and I didn’t mean it—not at all.” Thayer reached across the table for her hands but Corey jerked them out of reach.

  “The first two I’ll give you but you sounded pretty sure of yourself.”

  Thayer frowned at the naked hurt on her face. “Corey, please, I’m—”

  “Do you really think I would disrespect you like that? Pissing on my territory? Swinging my dick around as you so elegantly put it? That’s bullshit, Thayer, and it kills me that you think that.” Corey drained the beer and flagged a server down for more.

  “I know, honey. I’m sorry, I am. I don’t think that. It wasn’t you that I was upset with. I know you were just being protective of me and you would have done the same for a total stranger. That’s who you are and I love that about you. You are a righter of wrongs and I should have thanked you instead of telling you off. I know what’s in your heart and you know what’s in mine. So, I know you believe me when I tell you I didn’t mean it and I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me.” Thayer’s voice cracked at the last.

  Thayer saw the moment of Corey’s forgiveness in her eyes. Her expression relaxed and she moved her hands across the table to reach for Thayer’s. “Well, I may have overreacted a little. I just saw him touching you, and you looked really distressed. I wanted to rip his goddamn arm off. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you at work. I didn’t get you in trouble did I? ’Cause I can talk to—”

  “It’s okay. I’m not in trouble.” Thayer shook her head and laced their fingers together. “You’re not the only one who overreacted. I never meant to hurt you.”

  Corey grinned sloppily. “Apology accepted. Forgiveness granted.”

  Thayer smiled gently, the weight of the day easing from her heart. “May I come sit with you and make it up to you?”

  “Yes, but keep it PG. This is a family establishment.”