Open Flame (Alycia Debnam-CareyXyou)

6

 *beep*

My eyes slowly fluttered open at the sound of the scanner finding my bracelet. I moved my eyes to the side, finding Alycia standing by her computer, focused on what she was doing. Her soft brunette hair now sat comfortably on her shoulders looking so unintentionally beautiful, but that was just how she was: beautiful without even trying. Her eyes were squinted as she typed something in, and then shifted her body towards me, finally catching my opened eyes. Her eyebrows raised for a moment in surprise as she stepped back over to me.

"Hey," she whispered softly, and I shifted in position, "guess you must have been tired." I moved my head to the side, my eyes scanning the room. "What time is it?" I asked, noticing the room was darker now. She walked back over to her computer and glanced at her watch, "It's 7:30."

She shifted her eyes back to me. "How are you feeling?" 

My stomach twisted at the question, and I wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the vulnerability of the situation, or the sudden attention. I would guess a combination of both, but I felt the need to get out of this room and into some clothes. I didn't like how exposed I felt.

"Y/n?" 

I lifted my eyes at the sound of her voice, raising my eyebrows. "Hmm?"

"You okay?" Her voice was soft and sweet, reminding me of the many sides to this woman there were. Strong, bold, confident, but also delicate, kind, and compassionate.

"Yeah, yeah," I nodded reassuringly, "I'm fine, I just kinda wanna get out of here." She gave me a warm smile, giving me a single nod before turning back toward her computer.

"I think the doctor is ready to discharge you, I'll just have to double check with him before I do," she noted, typing something else in before turning to me. She reached onto the side of her cart and pulled out a thermometer, turning it on, and then lifted my arm to place the probe underneath it. I felt her thumb unconsciously rub itself over my arm as she held onto it, until the thermometer alarmed and she pulled it out. My arm instantly missed the touch.

She looked down at the screen, tilting her head slightly at it, and then turned to the trash and through out the plastic piece over the probe before putting a new one on.

"Okay, I'm gonna try it one more time orally," she walked back over to me, holding the probe to my lips, "open."

I followed her commands, awkwardly keeping my eyes on the bed in front of me. I felt my cheeks blush, the way she commanded making my stomach bubble. When it alarmed again, she pulled it out, looking at the screen.

"100.9" she lifted the back of her hand to my forehead as her eyes scanned my face. "Hmm, you are a little warm.. Do you feel sick?" she asked, sounding concerned.

"No," I lied, but shook my head reassuringly. She placed her hands on her hips and looked at me, squinting her eyes in thought. 

"I should probably ask him to order more tests. Maybe an EKG, I'm surprised he never asked for one-"

"Alycia," I cut her off, and she shifted her eyes back to me, "my heart is fine. I'm okay.. Just send me home."

She paused, but soon let out a deep sigh, nodding her head in defeat. "Yeah, maybe you're right.. I'll go set up your discharge."

I nodded in satisfaction, finally getting my way today, but she only rolled her eyes at me.

"Don't think you're entirely off the hook now," she walked to the curtain and grabbed it, "you'll be on bed rest." She gave me a know-it-all smirk before disappearing behind the curtain. I rolled my eyes, and kicked my legs out of the sheets, going to stand, but quickly remembering I was entirely naked underneath the blankets as they began to slip off of my chest. I cringed at myself, remembering the awkward position I had been put in, and scanned the room.