What The Heart Desires

6.

TENBY IRWIN 12:00PM

"Ten..Tenny Wake up baby"

"Daddy?" I say, groggily, not wanting to open my eyes.

"Nope, it's Mike, I need to take some vitals really quick, and I brought you a menu for you to pick out your lunch." I look up at him. I can't help but giggle a little when I see him now dressed in his Mike Wazowski scrubs that my dad got him for his birthday last year, as they are both named Michael.

He helps me to sit up a bit.

"Where's dad?" I say as Michael takes my left arm to wrap the blood Pressure cuff around.

"He had to get back to work, but he's off in a few hours." He says, handing me a menu and a crayon for me to circle my meal on, which is difficult, as I'm left handed, and it's being occupied by the cuff and the bandage from earlier. I notice that I still have my turkey sandwich on the table from earlier, so I just circle a couple of sides like green beans, mashed potato's, and corn the best I can with my non dominant hand.

Michael then takes my temperature once more, then presses a button on his pager. He doesn't think that I notice, but when Calum walks in for backup, I have a feeling I know what's about to go down.

"Tenby, your temperature is still really high, and we need it to go down a bit. We're going to get an IV started for you with some fever reducer, antibiotics, and some fluids. You'll have that in overnight, then we can check on you in the morning, and maybe I can bring you back home after my shift if you are well enough." Calum says slowly, making sure I understand.

I take a moment to prepare myself, then Michael takes my hand, and I nod when I'm ready.

It goes in pretty smoothly, thankfully only taking one poke. Cal is usually pretty gentle, but I kind of felt it this time, maybe because I had already had a poke today.

"Well done, Tenby Kate" Michael says. "We'll let you rest now."

They both leave the room, attending to other patients I assume. I felt a little lonely in here by myself, and I knew that I couldn't get up, as I was attached to a heart monitor that would sound if I did, but I really needed to pee.

I waited a little bit, turned on the TV again, being careful of the fresh IV in my hand, thankfully in my right hand, so now I can use my left hand to color. After about 10 minutes, I was absolutely busting for a pee. I quickly reached for the remote and pressed my call button that alerted the nurses station.

MICHAEL CLIFFORD 12:29PM

"Okay see you later, Thank you Nurse Clifford" My last patient before my lunch break says to me as he was leaving. A 9 year old boy who had fallen on ice and hit his head walking to the school bus this morning came in for a concussion, and Calum and I had just finished up, clearing him to get back home.

Calum and I go back up to the nurses station for a drink of water, then I go scrolling through his phone to order lunch.

Cal offered to buy us lunch as I was saving up to get something for Tenby's birthday. Something that she had been wanting for a really long time, her own therapy dog. She just adored my dogs, so I figured I'd talk to Ash and see if we could look together soon.

"Mate thanks again for getting me lunch" I say to Cal.

"No worries, Mike."

"No, really Calum, I really appreciate it."

"It's alright mate, Hey uh your-"

"Cal mate I love you dude thanks" I say, handing him his phone back.

"Really no problem Michael but Mike your call light-"

"Calum you're seriously so cool for this dude"

"Mike.. I" Calum tries to say, but I stop him again

"Calum why can't you just accept a compliment?" I joke.

"MICHAEL YOUR CALL LIGHT IS ON AND ITS TENBY" He whisper yells at me.

"DAMN IT CALUM WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY SO" I yell back, frantically getting my things together and hurrying to her room

"I tried to."  He says, following me close behind. I can feel him rolling his eyes as we walk down the hall.

I walk into Tenby's room, expecting chaos, but she's just sitting on her bed, laughing at something on the TV.

"Hey Ten, your call lights on, what's up?" I ask her.

"Um.." She starts, then just stares at me.

"Tenby Kate you know the call light is for emergencies only" Calum says.

"I know.. I just.." She says, then starts to tear up.

"What's wrong babe? Does something hurt?" I ask?

She shakes her head.

"I just really.. need... to.. uh..... pee" she says quietly.

"Oh Ten, that's no reason to cry. You can just tell us" Calum says.

"I was embarrassed that I couldn't do it on my own. I feel too weak to get out of bed by myself."  She says.

"Aw, its alright, darling. Would you like me to help? Should we get nurse Lily? Or your dad?" I ask.

"I don't know." She groans

"Whatever will make you most comfortable babe." Cal says, getting her IV stand ready to be moved, then carefully disconnecting her heart monitor so it doesn't beep when she gets up.

"Just Michael... I don't want to disturb dad of his work. I'm sorry I disturbed you. I don't want to be a bother." Tenby says sadly.

"Baby you aren't a bother. It's our job to help you." Cal says, leaving the room.

I carefully help Tenby to sit up and swing her legs over the end of the bed, to get her standing.

As we walk to the bathroom that's attached to the room, she whispers, and I just barely catch it.

"I love you Michael."

"I love you too Ten, now come on, you can't hold your pee in forever. It's not good for you."