Bite Shift

3

Monica was at the nurses' station when I got back. She had an energy drink in one hand and blood tubing in the other. She was in an oddly chipper mood. It made me suspect that she started smoking again. As far as I knew, she had gone six weeks without a cigarette. It is possible, though, that she was hiding her fall off the wagon from me. Her smile, and clearly relaxed body language, seemed to give away a recent puff or two. Maybe, I'll confront her later.

"Ready, toots" she chirped.

"One blood bag, coming up".

The policy in our hospital states that two nurses must check the blood and hang it for the patient. We went through the process of asking name, date of birth and reading off the information on the IV bag before giving it to the patient. Once the tubing was hooked up to the patient and spiked into the bag, we spent the first fifteen minutes watching to make sure the pale old man in the bed doesn't have a bad reaction to the plasma. Once we were sure he is fine, we slipped out and head back to the station.

"So", Monica turned suddenly and locked eyes with me "what is the plan for your birthday?"

Darn it, I had actually forgotten that I was getting old for a few minutes.

"Oh, I don't know. I think I will just hang out with my kids. I feel like I never see them."

Monica touched my shoulder. "Well, I get that but, you have to have some time for yourself. Maybe we can all do something that is kid friendly".

"Maybe" I responded, already knowing I would do anything to avoid going out with all of them. Just as I was about to change the subject, Monica zeroed in on something behind me and started to fluff her hair. I didn't even need to turn around; I knew exactly who is headed our way.

Dr. Kitchner started working in our hospital five years ago. That meant Monica has loved him for four years, 11 months, 29 days and 23 hours. Frankly, I didn't get it. I mean, I guess he is good looking. He is roughly 6'2" or 6'3" with chestnut brown hair that fell into his eyes when he looked down. As long as I had known him, he looked like he shaved two days ago. It must take a lot of work to look like you didn't do a lot of work on your appearance. I have blue eyes, that I always thought were pretty. They look exactly like the sapphire in my high school ring. But his eyes are the kind of blue that you can only see in the Caribbean; the blue waters that grace a poster in the windows of travel agencies. It's like looking into an ocean.

Okay, he is definitely hot. One problem though.... he's a dick. He was just not hot enough for me to put up with the attitude.

I took a deep breath and turned to smile at Dr. Kitchner. He was reading while walking and was past me before I could say a word. Fine by me. I hated pretending that I didn't think he was a jerk. I let go of the breath I was holding.

Spoke too soon. He looked up and met my gaze. I wondered sometimes if he had the same reaction looking into my eyes as I had seeing his. Blue eyes just aren't that common in a city full of Italian and Indian bloodlines. I was always taken aback when I faced someone's blue or green gaze. It only took a second to realize that he didn't care one bit. He probably didn't even notice I was a human woman, let alone blue eyed.

"Kim".

"Kate", I retorted.

"Kate," he responded without missing a beat. "Is the blood running?"

"Yes, Dr. Kitchner". This was like a chant when he was around. Yes, Dr. Kitchner. Every other doctor I worked with goes by their first name with the nurses. Not, him. The most I knew about him is the embroidery on his jacket.

A. Kitchner, MD - Hematology

That's it. In all those years of night shifts and desperate conversations amongst staff to stay awake, he was the only one who stay tight lipped. So, all the nurses respond the same way. Yes, Dr. Kitchner or No, Dr. Kitchner. For all I knew, the A stood for asshole.

"Dr. Boone has consulted me to the case to see if we can figure out why this man needs a transfusion every month. I want a close watch on him. Any change and I want paged."

"Yes, Dr. Kitchner". He was already halfway down the hallway before I got the words out. "You're welcome" I whispered to his back.

Monica rushed over and grabbed my arm. "Oh Kate, I can't stand it. No man should be that gorgeous. You should invite him out for your birthday. A couple of drinks and maybe I can finally confess my undying love to him!"

"Please! No way would I spend my birthday with him. The only reason they hired him is because no one wants to work nights and they need a warm body in a lab coat. It definitely was not his personality."

Monica was not listening. She was staring off down the hallway where her dream man disappeared. She was my best friend and I will love her forever, but this one I just don't get.

"Monica". I snapped my fingers in front of her eyes and she jumped. "Listen, that blood has a few hours to run, my patients are asleep and I need a break. I'm going to take my lunch and get some fresh air. Please keep an ear open for my people and call me if anything happens."

"Done. See you in thirty. Enjoy your break but please be careful outside. I hate when you go out there. Just go to the cafeteria or sit in the breakroom."

"No, thanks and I will be fine. The cafeteria is creepy and the break room smells like Lisa's salmon. 503 has a bed alarm and 507 is confused. When I get back, you can go." I handed her a sheet that had notes on each one of my patients, just in case she needed it, and moved quickly to the break room for my lunch box. I was always certain that someone would try to stop me when I went on break so I moved as quickly as possible.

Looking back and knowing what was coming, I would have listened to Monica and stayed in the break room. Salmon doesn't smell that bad.