“Let yourself be happy, Marie, even if things are complicated,” he says.
I attempt to cross my legs, but I’m reminded at the last second that I have my gun strapped to my right leg, so I end up doing this weird flopping movement.
“Are you having a stroke?” he asks, concerned.
“No, just getting used to being Combat Nurse Barbie,” I grumble.
“I’m gonna need you to explain that one, Marie,” Adrain grumbles.
“I have a gun strapped on my right leg,” I sigh. “I kind of forgot because of how lightweight and comfortable the holster is.”
“Huh. Why are you strapped like you’re going to war?” he asks.
Maybe I shouldn’t tell him about the other weapons if he thinks this is bad.
“I’m hardly going to war,” I drawl. I’m no longer crying now that I’m lecturing Adrain, though my cheeks are still wet. “You know who my pack is, do you expect me to play the omega in distress? I don’t do that very well.”
“No, I… Why are you wearing those to work though?” he asks.
“I’m testing out some new holsters,” I explain before wincing.
Well, shit.
“Some? Damn,” he sighs. “You really are Combat Nurse Barbie.”
I can’t help the strangled giggle that escapes, and he chuckles under his breath.
“You didn’t learn how to shoot in the last month, did you?” he asks.
“No. My brother taught me six years ago,” I reply. “Twice a month, he’d drag me off to his version of a gun range. I hate firearms and weapons outside of a stun gun, but I know the world my alphas live in is violent. I refuse to be a liability.”
“I can see that,” he mutters. “I really should have thought harder about this before begging you to come into work tonight. I don’t trust anyone else to keep the level of confidentiality that was needed. Do you want to work at the hospital anymore? I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to quit. We’re understaffed, underpaid, and the hospital almost fucking killed your alpha.”
“Well when you say it like that,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Now that I’m here, I can say I want to work less than I was.”
“Is it selfish if I suggest coming in as the need arises, but what I really mean is when I need you?” he asks before covering his eyes in embarrassment. “I think this sounded better in my head.”
I laugh, though I know Adrain is completely serious. He’d be happier if I was his nurse and no one else’s.
“I don’t mind that as long as I’m working no more than once a week,” I decide.
“I’ll do you one better. I won’t ask you to work at all unless it’s something that’s really important,” he conceded. “I’m goingto pout about it though. Go home, Marie. I know you don’t need the money, and we’re decently covered tonight.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
It didn’t feel like we had enough people on the emergency floor while I was out there, but I haven’t been at the hospital since Lore came in with a gunshot wound. It’s easy to forget what a “good” day looks like when they’re all typically on fire.
“Trust me, it’s been really bad lately,” he says, answering the questions in my mind about staffing. “Please dry your eyes and blow your nose so Lore doesn’t decide I’m the cause of this.”
I know Lore felt my panic earlier. He isn’t always a shoot first kind of person, despite our twenty questions session.
I leave the office to wash my face since it’s a lost cause and blow my nose. There’s a huddle of nurses outside of the restroom whispering, and I try to ignore it to walk toward the locker room.
“Did you get fired for having an episode?” Lauren asks snidely. “You were just kind of flopping around dramatically on the ground. It’s very unprofessional.”
“No, I got a promotion,” I say sarcastically. “I hope you have more empathy for your patients than you all showed me while experiencing bond sickness. I also hope none of you lose a packmate, and if you’re single, I hope your scent match rejects you. I don’t think you deserve one.”
I continue walking despite the gasps and hisses they make. I haven’t made many friends with the nursing staff while I’ve been working here. I’m professional, I do my job, I leave. This is probably another issue with how hard maintaining friendships is for me, though Adrain and I are friendly.
