Chapter 7

JESS RETURNED TO the ER from her meeting to find quite a few of the staff clustered at the nurses' station. She glanced at the patient board and was surprised to see only a few names listed. It was unusual for things to be so quiet on a Friday. She started to head for her office when she heard Bates's voice.

"What about you, Dr. Donovan? What are you up to this weekend?" Bates asked.

Jess hadn't noticed Kim sitting at the computer. She moved a bit closer but for the moment did not make her presence known. He better not be bothering her again.

Kim turned her chair to face the group. "Oh, not much, still settling in."

"A few of us are getting together tonight after work for a drink. Want to join us?" Bates asked.

"Maybe some other time. I just want to get home tonight and crash." Kim started to turn back to the computer.

"How about this weekend?" Bates persisted. "Let's go out for a drink and dinner. I'll show you around."

Several people snickered.

Bates glared at his co-workers.

Wonder what that's about? As realization dawned, a sense of satisfaction spread through Jess. What she had suspected from the start was true. Ah... I may be rusty when it comes to dating, but at least my gaydar still works.

"No thanks. I used to live around here. I'm familiar with the area," Kim said.

Bates moved over to Kim and put a hand on her shoulder. "Come on. It'll be fun."

An unexpected surge of anger washed over Jess at the sight of Bates's hand on Kim. She strode into the center of the group.

Jess's gaze pinned several people as she looked around at the gathered staff. "Don't you people have something to do? There are patients to be seen. And if you don't have a patient, are all the drug carts stocked? Everyone's paperwork complete?"

Everyone scattered except for Bates and Kim.

Bates started to speak to Kim, but Jess cut him off.

"Dr. Bates, don't you have patients to see?" Jess struggled to keep the anger she was feeling out of her voice.

"I'm waiting for labs to come back on the guy in Bed Two," Bates said. He turned his back on Jess. "So, Dr. Donovan, maybe we could get together some other time?"

Jess quickly scanned the waiting charts, then plucked one from the rack. She smothered a self-satisfied smile. This ought to keep you busy and cool your jets.

Before Kim could respond, Jess marched over to Bates and shoved the chart into his hands. "Since you have so much time on your hands, you can take the guy in Bed Three. He's impacted and needs to be cleaned out."

Bates started to protest, but one look at Jess's face seemed to convince him otherwise and he hurried away.

"I'm sorry about him." Jess pulled over a chair and sat down next to Kim. "Obviously my talking to him hasn't made much of an impression. I'll talk to him again. This time I'll put a formal letter of counseling in his record."

Kim shook her head. "You don't need to do that. I can handle him. He must have missed the hospital gossip about me. I'll be straight with him next time he asks." Kim laughed. "Well, maybe not straight, but I'll make sure he gets the message."

Gay and out. That's always a welcome combination. Jess met Kim's eyes and was surprised to see what looked like a bit of concern. Huh... maybe not so out? Then why did she... Realization dawned. She's worried about how I'll react. I thought for sure big mouthed Cindy had clued her in after the incident in the cafeteria yesterday. Guess not. She had not actually heard what Cindy had said, only Kim defending her.

The thought of Kim being upset or worried caused an inexplicable sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew one sure way to put Kim at ease. Jess allowed a warm smile to grace her face. "Being straight is overrated." Arousal flashed through Jess and her heart rate soared when a brilliant smile blazed across Kim's face.

"Yes. It certainly is," Kim said.

A loud thump behind her made Jess jump. She jerked around in her chair and spotted Penny standing a few feet away with an angry scowl on her face. Several charts were lying on the counter in front of her. A quick glance around showed the nurses' station was deserted, except for Penny. Still, it's hardly the place to be discussing your sexuality, no matter how obliquely.

Jess turned back toward Kim. "I need to get back to work too. My paperwork is calling. I'll be in my office if you have any problems or just want a quiet place to work."

"Thanks," Kim said. "I may take you up on that later."

As Jess reviewed his chart, she kept a cautious eye on the patient sitting quietly on the gurney. He had been brought in from a local homeless shelter and appeared quite delusional. His responses to standard questions had been wildly inappropriate. After the patient had been cleared medically, Jess had sent the resident to find Kim.

Jess had not seen Kim since she had so blithely revealed her sexuality to her earlier in the day. Not only had she acted impulsively in telling Kim which was totally unlike her, more surprising was the fact that she didn't have any regrets. Doesn't mean you should consider getting involved with her. Although Jess knew that was true, the urge to do just that was getting stronger every day.

Looking over as the exam room door opened, Jess fought to keep the automatic smile off her face that appeared at the very sight of Kim.

"Dr. Bertucci fill you in?" Jess asked.

Kim walked up next to the patient's bed. "Yes. I'll take it from here. Thanks."

Jess hesitated to leave the room. While the patient had been calm so far, this guy seemed twitchy to her. She moved back and leaned against the door out of the patient's line of sight.

"Hello. I'm Dr. Donovan. How are you feeling today?" Kim asked.

"They took the cat, but they didn't get me."

"Can you tell me your name?"

The patient's gaze darted nervously around the room. He gripped the bedrails. "I can't tell you, because then they'll know," he said.

Faint alarm bells started to sound at the sudden shift in the patient's body language. Jess moved a bit closer to the foot of the gurney.

"Do you know where you are?" Kim asked calmly.

The man's eyes narrowed. "You're one of them. You can't fool me. All you women are."

Damn! I knew this guy was hinky. Jess took a step toward Kim and the patient.

He let out a blood-curdling scream. "Get away from me!"

Jess's body tensed. "Kim! Get back."

Kim stepped back but not quickly enough.

The man lunged against the bedrails and grabbed Kim by the shoulders. With an furious roar, he thrust her violently away.

No!

Jess rushed forward and grasped Kim from behind. She jerked her away from the patient and up close against her chest.

Jess's heart pounded fiercely in her chest and her arms tightened convulsively around Kim. A wave of nausea rippled through Jess at the prospect of something happening to Kim.

"Are you okay?" Jess asked breathlessly. She felt the rapid rise and fall of Kim's chest against her arm.

The patient glared at them but made no move to get off the gurney.

Kim appeared a bit rattled when she turned to look over her shoulder at Jess. "Yes. I am now." She offered a shaky smile. "Thanks for the quick save."

Now that she knew Kim was all right, Jess became acutely aware of the intimacy of their position. Arousal shot through her, making her nipples harden against Kim's back. Oh God. Jess was stunned by the strength of her wholly inappropriate reaction. Jerking her arms back, she quickly stepped away from Kim and put some distance between them.

Kim looked back at Jess with a strange expression on her face. "Are you okay?"

A vivid blush suffused Jess's face. She couldn't bring herself to meet Kim's eyes. "Fine." Jess took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure.

She glanced over at the now quiet patient. Keeping a wary eye on him out of the corner of her eye, she forced herself to meet Kim's eyes briefly. "Since he seems to have issues with women, maybe it's time for some reinforcements. He was fine with the resident, Dr. Bertucci, earlier. You want to see if Dr. Kapoor is available to give us a hand? I'll watch our friend here while you're gone."

"Good idea. I'll call up to psych and see if he's available," Kim said.

The moment the door closed behind Kim, Jess began berating herself. Damn, what the hell is the matter with you? Some psycho almost hurts Kim and you get all aroused by holding her in your arms. Arousal soared anew at just the memory of Kim's body pressed against her and her arm pressed into Kim's breasts. I've got to get this under control. This has got to stop.