Medical malpractice case

Chapter 5 Jamie

The car ride is full of awkwardness. Silence and more awkwardness. The only sound between us is the hum of the engine and the AC and the radio. I keep glancing at him from my peripheral vision. He's driving with one hand on the steering wheel, which is...attractive for me personally, but no. He has anger  issues.

I notice the tattoo on his wrist. It's a broken heart. I look at him with empathy and pity. He lost someone I can tell. I almost feel bad? His sleeves are rolled up, and his blouse is tight around his bicep. What am I doing?

I clear my throat suddenly, I feel it. I close my eyes, leaning forward slightly, clutching my stomach. I look up. We're at a stop light. I pretend everything is okay, but that doesn't work because Noah is glancing at me. He hands me a chocolate bar from the console.

"I'm not hungry." I manage to say. Truth is, I am hungry, but I can't eat. No, I quickly look away.

"Do you need anything?" He asks softly.

"No." I say gently.

"No? You're literally clutching your stomach about to burst out. Can I help with anything?" He says. I stay silent, and then I feel the car turn around, away from the neighborhood. A few moments later, we pull up at a gas station.

"Wait here." He says before climbing out. I watch him entering the gas station shop. I wait patiently. I groan in frustration and pain. A few minutes later, he climbs back in with two bags. Two bags.

"Sorry I took long. It was a long line." He apologizes. I shake my head.

"No worries." I say.

"Didn't know what to get you, so I got you a bit of everything. Chocolate. Chips. None of it is spicy because that makes it worse. Candy and got you pills. They help with the pain. Painkillers. And then a heating pad. I poured hot water so it's ready." He rants then as he's done he takes a deep breath.

"I..thank you." I take the heating pad from him and place it over my stomach. God, it feels good. Oh yes. I lean back in the seat, closing my eyes, letting the moment die. He's helping. Probably to get me to cut his case, but I'll never. I'll do what's fair. I open my mouth to speak, but a car in front of us stops suddenly, making us stop suddenly, I almost fly out of my seat when I feel someone's. His arm holding me back. His bicep against my chest. I can't help but notice how good it looks.

"Careful." He says before retracting his hand away. I don't even feel myself drifting off until I wake up to glance at the clock. It's been an hour since the gas station. My apartment isn't that far from the gas station anyway. I look at Noah.

"Aren't I supposed to be at my apartment by now?" I ask

"You fell asleep, so I didn't want to wake you up, so I drove through the entire neighborhood until you woke up." He says softly as we come to a stop. Why would he do that? I'm just the judge for his case? I'm going insane. I look out the window and look at my building.

"Thanks for the ride." I say. He nods.

"No problem." He says before I climb out, holding the two bags worth of stuff he got from the grocery store. I don't hear the car drive away until I see it driving as I walk in the elevator. I can't help but feel a pang of.....something I can't quite name.

________

I didn't get enough sleep. Cramps exploding and giving me heart attacks. I swing my legs over the blanket and head to the bathroom. I grip the edge of the counter, I look like I've seen a ghost. I brush my teeth and wash my face, then applying my skincare. I decide to wear a long sleeve black plain shirt with jeans. I sit down at my vanity and do a quick touch of makeup.

I enter the hospital and walk up to the front desk. She leads me over to where Noah is. I take a deep breath before knocking, I wait a few seconds until a "come in" is said by Noah. I push the door open and walk in.

"Do your own thing." I say before taking a seat across him.

"Oh wow, not even a good morning or anything?" He says playfully. I decide to stay quiet. I'm not in the mood to talk. To anyone. Not even him.

"Huess that's how we're doing it." He says before continuing the paperwork on his desk. I observe the materials. The room. The atmosphere. How clean it is. My eyes land on the files closet. It's a mess. He's definitely unorganized, but how would that affect a surgery. Oh, hold on, maybe he took the wrong tool or something. I write it down. I can feel his eyes on me as I write.

I feel nauseous. Could I ask him for the ginger tea he got me yesterday. I don't want to, but God am I craving it. I can't help but keep staring at his heartbroken tattoo on his wrist. I wonder what's the meaning behind that. I glance away as soon as I see him look up.

"Don't you have patients?" I blurt out. My patience wearing thin.

"In an hour. After an hour." He replies. My jaw drops. I cover my mouth with my palm. I probably look ugly right now. I clear my throat. At the corner of my eye I could see his lips curl up. I want to punch his face for that. What is he laughing at? Could he have seen me looking? There's no way. There's no way. I assure myself. I take a deep breath.

"Do you want anything to drink?" He asks suddenly.

"No, thank you." I say.

"Suit yourself." He replies, signing the last paper. He's fast in paperwork. I write that down.