“Morning. Talk to me about this male.”
He nods, sliding a chart toward me across the counter. “Shifter, mid-thirties. Came in just after three. Caught a tail strike during a skirmish out west, sustained a deep laceration across the chest and into the abdominal wall. There was muscle damage, but the laceration only just clipped the wall of the spleen. Some internal bleeding, nothing catastrophic. I went in, cleaned the field, repaired the spleen, packed the muscle, and closed in layers. Watch the drain output, but he should be fine. He will need to stay still for a day or so.”
“Vitals?”
“Stable since the end of the procedure. I’ve got Lena keeping an eye on him.”
I scan the chart. The notes are neat and complete. The drug record is signed off properly. The post-op orders are exactly what I would have written.
“Good work.” I look up at him. “Really. Solid call not to pull me in. You had it.”
“I appreciate it.” He clears his throat. “There’s one more thing. His rider was killed in the same incident.”
My stomach drops. I close the chart slowly. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah.” Patel rubs the back of his neck. “When he comes around properly, he’s going to need a lot of extra care from us. Maybe long-term support of some kind. As you know, the bond goes deep with these guys. I’ve flagged it on the chart already. I’d like us to get a counselor in to see him as soon as he’s up for it.”
“Agreed. I’ll speak to the team this morning, and we’ll make sure he isn’t on his own. He should be able to make the shift back fairly soon.”
“I want him sedated for twenty-four hours, and then we’ll see if he is able to manage it. What do you think, Doctor?”
“That sounds good to me. I’ll leave it with you. You seem to have everything under control.”
He smiles and then gets this hazy look. “Thank you for everything. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.” He gives a small, tired smile.
“You are most welcome. You’ve more than earned your place here.”
“I’m going to finish this off and go home.”
“Go. You earned it.”
He nods, picks up his pen, and heads for the small office to finish up. I stand at the platform for another minute.
I check on the patient one last time, and all is well. Then I have a brief word with Lena about the watch over the next few hours.
She nods. “Got it. I will call you if anything changes, Doc.”
Then I head back to my office with Smoke trailing behind.
Carla looks up as I pass. “All sorted?” she asks.
“All good.”
“The order is on your desk. Top of the file. If you sign it off, I’ll get it sent this morning.”
“You are an angel.”
“I know I am.” She flicks her hair. “Oh, and a reminder: you have a meeting with finance at eleven, and Theo wanted ten minutes before that.”
I sigh. “Got it. Thanks.”
I get to my office half expecting Ridge to be there, and when he isn’t, I feel disappointed all over again.
I need to stop this.
It’s nothing more than sex.
I refuse to feel anything for him beyond that, and if I do, I will get hurt.
Ridge did open up to me somewhat last night. We did make “small talk,” something I know he normally doesn’t do. But – and it’s a big but; no, a huge but – it didn’t mean anything.
Maybe we’re friends…kind of sort of…but it doesn’t mean anything beyond that. I have to keep reminding myself of that.
No more talking. No more prying is a better way of putting it. I ask too many questions, and I’m going to stop. We’ll have sex, and then he’ll go, and that will be that.
I really don’t want to feel hurt when this ends…and itwillend. That is the only certain thing in all of this.
