Avenoir

Avenoir - Laura

Laura

"Hi David," I greet my colleague with a gleeful smile. "You here to give Ms. DiMera her post-partum exam?"

"That's Mrs. Black," Kristen corrects me angrily.

"Hi Laura," David Robbins smiles easily. "And hello Kristen. How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Kristen glares at me. "But I was just about to try and have a sleep. So maybe you could come back later?"

"Kristen has been complaining of feeling tired," I explain to David Robbins. "I am concerned that her fatigue is more excessive than I might expect, even considering her post-partum status. Have you done an exam since she gave birth to rule out internal bleeding?" I ask pointedly.

"Excuse me!" Kristen snaps. "That is privileged doctor-patient information."

"And I am a doctor at this hospital," I smile sweetly but my voice is strident, "with concerns about a patient. If Dr. Robbins doesn't care to tell me, I can just consult your chart."

"No need," David Robbins looks a little surprised at this exchange and I can't blame him. Usually, I am the embodiment of calm and collected. But Kristen DiMera winds me up. The things she has done to my dearest friend, the things her father has done to Marlena, and me... I will not allow her a single extra moment to lie and manipulate if I can help it. "I haven't examined Mrs. Black yet. I was just about to."

"Oh," I pretend to look surprised. "Kristen seemed to think you'd already done an exam."

"No," Dr. Robbins shakes his head, looking ever so slightly confused. "I had to perform an emergency section earlier, so I am only just now getting to my rounds."

"I wonder why you thought he'd already examined you, Kristen?" I turn to my nemesis, cocking my head to one side. "Seems strange. Care to explain."

She glares at me, her eyes narrowed in fury. "Oh, I don't know Laura. Maybe I dreamed it. You did wake me up."

"Oh, did I?" I can't help the shit-eating grin that curls across my face. Kristen knows she's about to be found out and she's bricking it. And the only way I'd be enjoying this more is if Marlena was here with me watching Kristen scramble, but I sincerely hope she's somewhere getting things straight with John. 

 In fact, if she was somewhere getting her back blown out by Mr. Black while all this was going down, that would be a scenario that would make my whole year. "Well, maybe you did dream it, Kristen. But now it's time for the real thing. Dr. Robbins will find out what's going on with you, you can rest assured."

"Of course I will," David Robbins smiles kindly. "While I am sure that there's nothing to worry about, I can put everyone's mind at rest."

"Oh, I uh..." Kristen's eyes dart around frantically, and I know she's trying to pull an excuse out of her non-baby-bearing ass. "I'm uh... I'm so tired Dr. Robbins. Is it possible to wait until later? When John is back maybe?"

"I'm afraid not Kristen," David shakes his head as he looks at his watch. "I am off shift in thirty minutes, and I have an appointment I have to get to, so it has to be now."

"What about tomorrow?" Kristen is trying hard not to show her fear, but I can see it written all over her face.

"Oh no, if you're that tired, you need to be checked out now," I interrupt, not allowing David any leeway to give in to Kristen's demands. "And your baby's operation is tomorrow. Surely you won't want to be distracted. Best to get it over and done with now."

I smile at her again, a smile that lets that bitch know I am onto her and I am not going to let this go. My friend has had far too many heartbreaks over the past few years. If Kristen is not the one who gave birth to that baby, is not the woman that John Black married in the delivery room, then she has no hold over him and he is free to be with Marlena. And Marlena with him.

I turn to David Robbins and pat him on the shoulder. "I'll leave you with Ms. DiMera but I'll wait for you outside. There's something I want to ask you when you're done."