Remember Me.....

I know you

Tom spent the taxi ride trying to rehearse what he was about to say.  No matter which way you sliced it, he was going to come across one of two ways. They'd either think he was the world's worst boyfriend, waiting over two weeks to track her down, or some creepy stalker who preyed on vulnerable women.  He prayed it was the lesser of the two evils.

The taxi drew up at St John's, and the driver turned to him.

"You want me to wait, Mr H?" He smiled and paused the meter.

"No, no, thank you. This could take a while." Tom smiled and handed the driver his money plus a generous tip. "Wish me luck!" With a nod, he got out and stood, looking up at the glass and steel monument to modern medicine.  For all he knew, this might be no more than a blind alley.

Walking into reception, he looked around.  It was the usual mix of patients  chatting as they waited to go home, visitors looking at the multitude of signs, staff purposefully walking between departments and then there were people like him.  Lost sheep, feeling at a loss, wanting to be guided and told what to do.

A central pod held a couple of stalwarts, answering questions, dishing out tissues and generally fielding the mass of humanity that filed in and out of the doors in front of them.  Nothing, it seemed was outwith their scope of knowledge, no-one outwith their eagle eye.  Heimdal come to life, Tom briefly noted with an inward smile.

"Excuse me?" he walked up to the desk and a young woman, bespectacled and uniformed, looked up from her screen.  And looked again.  Tom smiled and, for a second she grinned.  Then her professionalism kicked in. 

"Good Morning, how can I help?" she gave him all her attention, making him feel like he was her first query of the day, not at all a hassle or tiresome.  He instantly relaxed just a little.

"I'm trying to find my friend...." he began, what else could he say? If he was truthful and said I'm trying to find some random woman I met once and can't forget, it would indeed fall into the creepy stalker territory. "I think they were here but I'm not sure. I've only just come back into the country and discovered this." he was at a loss for more to say.  For once, Mr Eloquent was Mr Tongue-tied.

"Ok," the girl, whose name badge said Elaine, nodded.  It seemed it wasn't the first time she'd heard this particular scenario.  If it was, she was a damn fine actress, he thought to himself. "So, do you have your friends name?" she smiled broadly, and he realised with a start, he only knew Eve's first name.  Oh crap.

"Eve"

"Any more to that or are they like Cher, just the one?" she was still smiling.  Was it because of who he was?  Did she realise he wasn't a creepy stalker or was it simply she thought he was an idiot man who couldn't even remember a simple name.  Either way, he knew no more.

"Eh... no." he blushed and looked at her, squinting "terrible friend I am eh?" he leant over a little "I hadn't known her all that long really." It was all he could say.  For a second she paused as if weighing him up. 

"Ok Mr Hiddleston...." she looked at him steadily as if to say 'I know exactly who you are but I'm not making a thing of it'. "Ok, so where would Eve have come in to?  A&E perhaps?" 

"Yes, yes I think so.  Thank you." he heaved a sigh of relief.  Elaine seemed to understand.

"When?"

"Probably the evening of the 24th, sometime after 10.30?" he was now at the limit of his information.  Please don't ask me any more, he prayed.  His prayers were answered.

"Ah ha! I think you're in luck.  I can see an admittance on that day that matches your details.  Normally we wouldn't give out information on patients, but I think they'll want to see you.  Please follow the blue arrows on the floor.  It's up to general medical.  Your... friend... was admitted.  I'll let the medical staff fill you in. " she smiled and pointed to the stairs "I'd  normally say use the lift but I think you might want to do this a little more... quietly?  It's only the second floor anyway."