Bite Shift

41

I expected an obsessively neat office with a perfectly neat desk in the center. I envisioned books on a shelf, lined up from largest to smallest without a speck of dust. In my mind, his office was as uptight as he was. What I got was a disaster. The desk was against the wall to the right, facing a corkboard that had layers of pages tacked to it. The opposite side of the first half of the room had stacks of papers, magazines, journals, files and books. The stacks reached my hips and looked like they may tumble to the floor at any minute. The back half of the office, which was much bigger than I expected, housed a large table, more microscopes than one person should have, and stacks of books in no discernable pattern. I doubted that any patients actually saw this part of Dr. Kitchner. He must have his appointments somewhere else.

He sat at the desk, completely enthralled by whatever he was reading. He wore a light blue button up shirt, tucked into grey slacks. His white coat was hanging on the back of the chair that he sat in. He didn't hear me walk in and I wasn't sure of how to get his attention. I decided that clearing my throat was the best choice. It worked and he looked up to see where the noise had come from. It was clear that he had forgotten I was coming or lost track of time.

"Oh", he seemed slightly annoyed that I had interrupted him, "yes. Kate. I will get you your papers." He stood and walked to the table in the back. He didn't indicate if I was supposed to follow so I just didn't. He moved around nonchalantly, like grabbing a fake file that he had created to hide the web of deceit concocted to protect a thing of nightmares.... was an everyday occurrence.

"So, how were your first few days as a vampire?"

I closed the door behind me. I didn't need anyone overhearing our conversation. Now, I did follow him to the back. "Jeez, Kitchner, why not put it in the hospital's weekly update so everyone can know."

"Sorry," he said shaking his head. "I wasn't thinking. I forget, sometimes, that no one else shares this knowledge or my research. And, please, call me Alex."

"I'm not calling you Alex in front of everyone upstairs. I don't need to explain how we suddenly became on a first name basis. And, I have enough changing, without you and I being friendly in front of my coworkers. I just, fully, accepted that I am actually a vampire, for God's sake. The last thing I need is the rumor that I slept with you."

"I guess not," he agreed, not acknowledging the last comment at all. "It took me awhile to really accept the existence of vampires, too. It's a lot to take in."

"To answer your question, it's been rough. I had so much thrown at me at one time. I haven't had a chance, yet, to be sad or deal with anything."

"Rhys isn't teaching you?"

I didn't think it was a good idea to share everything with the fine doctor. I didn't really know him that well or know if I could fully trust him. I was very sure that Sorin would be pissed if I told a human about the murders or his plans.

"He is. It's just so much. I need to let it all sink in."

Alex sifted through a stack of manilla folders and pulled one out. He tossed it and it landed with a slap on the table space in front of me. The writing on the top left-hand tab was sloppy:

KATHERINE E. MURPHY

"You don't need to read it all. It's there and official. The papers that the hospital needed have already been dropped in the CNO's office. They have agreed to adjust your schedule to accommodate your condition. You will touch base with her monthly to plan your hours for the next 4-6 weeks, depending on the hours of darkness. No matter what, they must pay you for 40 hours."

"So, they believe you? They don't think it's weird that two employees in the hospital have the same, rare condition?"

"I know what I am doing, Kate. Rhys does not answer to the CNO. His schedule is made by someone else. I didn't offer up the information that he has the same disorder, that would be a violation of his health information. They believed me. They have even passed around a card, upstairs, to sign for you. I know, because they asked me."