His Always: Book 1 Rhodes Character Series

Chapter 6: Natalie

I bust through the ER doors and head straight to trauma four, where I was just paged. "Kid versus car. He was riding his bike in his neighborhood and the car didn't see him." The lead nurse describes to me as another nurse gowns me and hands my two gloves. I see Eric already taking point on this trauma. "Where do you need my hands?" I scan the monitors to memorize where his stats are at this point.

"Dr. Pearson, can I use your extra hands to help stop this bleeding?" I do a quick scan over the patient's body, immediately noticing the large gash in his side. As soon as I apply pressure, the alarm bells begin to ring. "We lost a pulse - starting compressions." I state. "We need to get him to an OR. There is blood in his belly." Eric utters as he hands the portable ultrasound over to the nurse next to him. I hop on the ledge of the gurney, continuing compressions. We're halfway to the elevator when I feel a soft hand on my side. "Jeez, Natalie, what happened to your hip?" A knot in my stomach explodes with anxiety. "Have you had that x-rayed?" He adds as we enter the elevator. "If you must know, I ran into my side table in my hallway in the middle of the night. And, yes Dr. Rhodes, I too went to medical school. I would know if it needed an x-ray. It looks worse that it is." He opens his mouth to reply but is interrupted by the elevator doors opening. "Let's move people," I bark.

I step out of the operating room several hours later, rolling my neck around, trying to ease the tension in my shoulders. I pull my phone out of my pocket and notice two missed calls from my therapist and an unread text from Thomas. Crap, did I miss an appointment? I click on the voicemail from my therapist first.

"Hey Natalie, no you didn't miss an appointment, so don't stress. I just know you like to come chat around this time of year. Please give my office a call if you want to come in and see me." Relief fills me as I realize I had missed nothing. I set a reminder to call her back once I get off work tonight. I hesitate before opening the text message from Thomas. My heart rate speeds up again as I read his message to myself.

Hi babe, do you have time for me to swing by the hospital? I would love to grab dinner with you tonight. Sorry things got so out of hand the other night. You know how stressful things are at work right now. Just let me know - I would love to see you. Love you.

I click out of the message without responding. Things got out of hand? Was that before he shoved me into the table or after he slammed my body into the wall? A tear slips out of my eye, surprising me. I hate that I cry when I am mad. It's one of my least favorite qualities. I wipe the tear away just as Eric yells across the hallway towards me. I blink quickly, trying to make sure my eyes don't look like I have been crying.

"Thanks for you help in there. I know you had an already busy day." He mutters as he is finishing up his notes at the nurses' station. "But, are you going to let me look at that hip? Were you sprinting when you ran into that table? Or do you just have a hallway table made of concrete?" He chuckles as he turns to face me more square on. Eric stands just a touch shorter than his brother, but they share many similar facial features. Even if you just met them, you could instantly tell they are related. Their blonde, messy hair, piercing blue eyes, and simply sweet personality has every nurse, tech, and doctor swooning in this hospital.

"Although it is none of your business, Pen already checked it out for me. Thank you very much. And yes, the hallway table was my grandmothers - it's sturdier than a rock. I gotta run, Eric - I'll see you later." I pretend to look down at my phone and type something as I walk away, wishing God gave me a little more talent when it comes to lying.

I walk into the cafeteria and immediately get in the salad line, craving something cold and healthy. I had put my headphones in, listening to my favorite medical podcast. I made my way through the line and had just began walking to find a table when I spot Thomas out of the corner of my eye. My stomach sinks and I immediately feel on edge. He smiles once he sees me and motions for me to join him. I feel a trickle of sweat go down my back as I sit down and take out my AirPods. "Thomas, what are you doing here? I figured you were too busy at work to be popping by the hospital anymore?" My voice coming out shakier than I would like.

"I texted you and told you I was coming by for dinner. I wanted to check and make sure you were doing okay. I know what next week is and didn't want you to have to eat on your own tonight." He flashes a smile that usually puts me at ease. But tonight, it makes the knots in my stomach tighten. That smile used to get me all the butterflies in medical school and it's scary to think that the same smile has gotten me into this situation. Thomas swooped into my life when everything was falling apart. I had lost my parents, my biggest support system, the month prior and was drowning in grief and school work. He became my biggest cheerleader and continued to drag me forward, even when I had become dead weight. He stood on the sidelines until I had enough time to process the death of my parents. He was patient in making his move to make us a romantic couple.

He was dreamy. The dates, the gestures, the understanding nature, his family, his friends, his selflessness, all of it created a dream relationship when I wasn't even looking for one. How did all of that lead me to here? Sitting across from a man I am not sure I recognize anymore. Where did the Thomas go who planned an entire trip around Europe to celebrate my graduation from medical school? Or the Thomas who would have a massage therapist waiting for me at home when I was working the insane hours of residency. My brain is struggling to separate that Thomas and the Thomas I now think I am afraid of.

"Thank you Tom, I appreciate the gesture." I don't look up from my salad. My desire to eat has completely slipped away and I am now just pushing the lettuce around. Thomas takes another bite of his cafeteria pizza. "So, tell me about how your shift has gone so far - but leave out the gory details for me please so I can finish my pizza." He chuckles. He actually laughs. I guess we really are just going to sweep this under the rug and continue about our normal lives. I open my mouth to speak when Eric slides in and sits next to Thomas.

"Thomas, my man, what are you doing here?" They both grin at each other. I love that our entire friend group gets along so well. This group is truly my family and the only real thing I have. "Oh yah know, gotta come eat lunch with the ole ball and chain." I roll my eyes as Eric laughs. "Are you two going to come over to my place this weekend to watch the game? The Hawks are one up in the series. I'm going to order some wings and stuff. Madison is bringing some of her friends from work over?" The two continue to talk like I am not even there. I don't mind. I wasn't really in the mood to talk, anyway. I try to get a bite down of my salad but end up chewing it for forever before being able to swallow. A pager beeping brings me out of my trance. Eric and I both immediately look down. "It's mine." Eric states as he is getting up.

"Well, I will see you on Saturday, Eric. Nat - I'm sure I'll see you before your shift ends. Oh - Thomas, watch out for your girl. She has become a total klutz. You should see the damage she's done to her hip." Bile comes up my throat as I try to breathe and swallow down the words Eric just said. I force a smile as Eric leaves and try to avoid eye contact with Thomas. I take a deep breath just as Thomas gently grabs my hand from across the table. "You showed him your hip? What does he think happened? You know it was an accident, Nat. Don't make it out to be more than that." I look up at him and the coldness in his eyes only makes my throat feel tighter. "Of course it was an accident. I told him I ran into the hallway table in the middle of the night. He only saw it because I had to get on top of a patient during a code blue. It's not that bad." Thomas thinks for a minute and is interrupted by my pager before he can argue more on the subject.

"Shit - I have to go. I'll see you later, babe. Really, I'm fine." I dump my barely eaten salad and turn and quickly walk away from the cafeteria and a stunned-looking Thomas. Tears fall faster than I can wipe them away as I am jogging up the stairs to make it to the ER. I pause at the door to gather myself before opening it to the chaos on the other side. I can feel the panic rising in my throat the more I try to calm down. I sit for a second and put my head between my knees. As I am trying to talk myself down, the door flies open. I stand as fast as I can, wiping the tears from my face. I don't look up and mutter "sorry" as I pass the woman that opened the door. "Natalie, are you okay?" I look up and meet a concerned gaze from Madison. Shit, I need to work at a hospital where no one can find me and I know no one.

"Yes, sorry. I had a tough case this morning. Just trying to close out this shift on a high note. Wait, why are you here? Are you okay?" Suddenly, I am worried about Madison. "Oh, I'm fine. I, uh, actually had a meeting here for one of my clients from the firm." She says, but even she doesn't believe her own words. I don't push on the lie and just nod my head. "Okay - call me tonight? I have to run to the ER."

I open the door and head towards trauma bay 2 and don't even turn back.