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“Uh huh!” I smirk as my cell dings with a text.
Sheldon: Glad you’re all settled in. Did Allie say how long the physician will be?
Me: It’s been five mins!
Sheldon: Too long!
Me: Where are you?
He doesn’t reply, and after a few minutes, I ask Nick. “He’s on assignment and probably got pulled away. He won’t be able to share that information. The phone you have, it’s unsecure,” Nick explains.
“I see; secretive stuff for Chase and Katarina Prestian, huh? I liked them a lot in person, and they’ve both given so much to the community, especially since Chase Prestian started working on the new medical facility. Katarina’s father is like royalty in this city, and Chase’s dad, Don Prestian, is right up there with him. I’m actually in awe of them, despite the rumors.”
“Couldn’t agree with you more. They’re the best, but mum’s the word on anything you see or hear,” Nick counters.
“My lips are sealed,” I reply.
An older physician with white hair and dark glasses walks into the room with Allie at his heels, and Nick excuses himself to take a call. “I’m Dr. Donnelly, and I understand you were in an automobile accident. I’ve reviewed your chart, and while you don’t outwardly appear to be injured, I suspect a mild concussion. I’d like to get a CT scan, just to be on the safe side,” the kindly man says while typing into the notepad on the ledge he’s leaning against. “I suspect we’ll find nothing to be overly concerned about, but you can never be too sure. I’ve just sent the orders down to the radiology department. Allie can have someone show you the way, and I’ll pop in with the results when you return,” he informs us, leaving the hospital room as quickly as he appeared.
Allie pulls a big mobile phone out of her scrub pocket and punches in a couple numbers. “I have a patient who needs to go to CT. Any chance you could do me a solid and head this way next? There’s a big dark chocolate and sea salt candy bar in it for you, if so.” Allie speaks into the phone, giving me a conciliatory wink.
I grin because that’s so coming out of my chocolate stash, and she knows it. I glance over at Nick, and his lips are slightly twisted in a sideways smile as he watches Allie on the phone. She disconnects. “Let’s roll. We’ll meet Tanya down the hall, and she’ll take you the rest of the way. When you’re done, they’ll bring you back.” She gives me a hug. “This test, there’s nothing to worry about, Lexie. It’s totally routine,” she assures.
I squeeze her back. “I’ll be fine. Go back to work. I’ll see you in a bit,” I respond before she pulls back to give me a big smile as the tech arrives.
“Okay, but I am so glad you’re okay,” she answers, talking to me but glancing at Nick. “I can show you the waiting room.”
“That’s not really necessary. I’ll walk down with Alexis and bring her back when she’s done,” Nick states.
Allie’s mouth opens wide. I get ready for Nick to get blasted because she’ll probably give him a good piece of her mind and let him know exactly what she thinks of that plan, but he interjects, turning to look at me as he speaks. “Sheldon asked me to walk down with you to make sure you have everything you need.”
My belly does a little flip, and I swallow down the bubbling excitement. Sheldon wants him to stay with me. Nick’s blue eyes search my own. They’re gently watching, and he’s done nothing but help since I met him. I nod to Allie. “It’s okay. We won’t be too long, but do I really have to ride in this thing?” I gesture to the bright green wheelchair the tech is now standing behind while waiting for us to say our goodbyes.
“Afraid so, Lexie. Your chariot awaits, my lady.” Allie grins, giving me a conspiratorial wink before heading back to the bustling nursing station and being immediately swallowed by a crowd of young nurses, who I’m sure have a million things to fill the charge nurse in on since she’s been gone all of ten minutes.
Nick looks over at the nursing station. “The nurses seem to love her,” he mentions, gesturing to all the smiling faces talking animatedly to Allie as we pass by.
“Oh my gosh, yes. What’s not to love? I mean, she lives and breathes this ER. She takes care of the staff like they are family. She knows everyone’s birthday, and maybe even their kids too. She’s always trying to schedule staff around their special days,” I inform him as the tech wheels us to the radiology dept.
“I’ll wait right here, and Beth will take you back,” the tech remarks, introducing me to the friendly brunette who keeps the door propped open by shimmying a rubber wedge into the bottom before wheeling me through.
Beth verifies my identity, goes through a list of questions, and in no time at all, I’ve finished the test and am back in the wheelchair, heading toward the ER.
“So, does Allie have a boyfriend?”
“Well, that just popped out of the blue.” Turning my head, I glance up at his smiling face and bright blue eyes.
He shrugs, looking down at me and grinning. “Just a question. You know, in case we need to put some more security in place to protect her pansy-assed boyfriend.”
I can’t help laughing at his good nature. “Hardy har, har! She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” I tell him, but leave out that never would there be a more apt description of Allie’s dating habits.
She spies us as we turn the corner and head toward the nursing station, hurries to meet us, and takes over the wheelchair transport from the tech. “The radiologist is onsite and was just reading your CT. Dr. Donnelly should be in shortly. Let’s get you back to the exam room because he needs to see his next patient pretty quickly.”
The white-haired physician raps on the exam door mere moments after we’ve closed the door behind us. “The CT scan didn’t show anything alarming, but I suspect you may feel tired the next few days. Do you have someone that can go home with you tonight with a few simple instructions?” he asks, glancing at me and then to Nick.
My cheeks pinken with what the physician most likely thinks, and Nick grins at me, shrugging. Allie scowls, narrowing her eyes at Nick while speaking to the physician. “Alexis is my best friend and roommate, doctor. My shift is almost over, so I’ll be with her all night and can wake her up every few hours, along with anything else you suggest,” Allie answers.
“Excellent,” he replies before turning to me. “You’re going to be more than a little sore tomorrow. Ice and heat, and rest if you can. Have someone wake you up every couple or three hours tonight just to be on the safe side. If you take it easy, you’ll be back to normal in a few days. I’d like you to follow up with your primary care physician if you’re not feeling better at that time. Any questions for me?”
