STAY

One

My eyes were closed and my head was resting against the wall of the elevator as I rode up to the third floor. I was not looking forward to work today. I had been busy as hell over the last few days and I knew it would be just as bad today. I walked into the meeting room to find everyone running around like crazy, as per usual. My boss came flying in, "oh great you're here" she said as soon as she spotted me. "You'll be one on one today" she said. I frowned, "why me?" I asked, trying to keep the whine out of my voice. "Because, it's a special patient, high profile and I need a senior member of staff, discreet and professional" she said quietly. I nodded. "Head on down to room 12" she said dismissing me. I trudged down to the end of the corridor and turned into the large private section of our ward. We had a lot of famous and infamous faces in our hospital, I tried to avoid looking after them. They were almost always difficult and demanding, I'm sure this one would be no different, I thought with a sigh. I got to the desk outside room 12 and looked in, the blinds were closed effectively hiding the patient, the nurse who had been on the early shift spotted me and walked out. "Hi Genevieve, so glad you're here I'm pooped" she said with a quiet groan. "That bad huh?" I said smiling at her in greeting. "Do you know who this is?" she asked me in a whisper, closing the door to the room. "Nope" I said shaking my head. "It's Jared, Jared Leto, have you heard of him?" she said, I nodded, I had. "Yep, what's he here for?" I said, unimpressed by the name drop. She was surprised by my lack of excitement at my patients celebrity status, but continued. "So he's had a back procedure" she said, giving me a run down of his operation and care so far. He'd only had it this morning, hopefully he'd be too drowsy to be too much trouble. I listened carefully and bid her goodbye once she had handed over all her notes. I quietly walked into the room, the lights were dimmed and the curtains pulled down. It was quiet save for the sound of the IV machine. I looked in the bed. There he was, lying with his head slightly elevated. His eyes were closed and he looked like he was sound asleep. As I stood next to the bed looking over the machine and noting the amounts, I felt a hand touch my arm softly. "Water ... please" said a croaky voice. I turned to look at him, one eye had cracked open and was looking at me. I nodded and grabbed the glass from the nearby tray table, as I brought it towards him the other eye opened and he held out his hand. "I can hold it for you" I said, he shook his head reaching out. Just as I was about to let it go, his hand started to tremble, I held onto it firmly. "I'll just hold it, or it will end up all over you" I said gently, then I'll have to be changing your sheets and everything, I thought to myself gritting my teeth. He nodded reluctantly and let me guide the straw into his mouth. He sipped almost the entire glass before I put it down again. He nodded in thanks and closed his eyes again. "I'm Genevieve, I'll be looking after you this evening, have you got any pain?" I asked him. His eyes opened sleepily again and he nodded, but remained silent. "Well, use your button, for the machine to give you pain medication" I explained. He looked confused for a moment, I reached over and tapped his hand, the one resting over the control for the patient controlled machine. "I keep forgetting it's there" he said in the same croaky, sleepy voice. I watched as he pressed it and heard the machine start working, his eyes closed again. Happy that he was settled I quietly walked out taking a seat at the desk across from the room. I had opened the blinds and could see him unobstructed. I walked in to check his breathing every half hour or so and do some more observations. We had a silent understanding going on. Whenever I'd go in he would open his eyes and I'd grab the water and hold it for him so he could drink. "Thanks" he said. "I ... what's your name again?" he asked me, now looking a little less sleepy. "Genevieve" I said. He nodded and I saw him wince. I tapped his hand to remind him to press the button. He picked it up pushing it and closed his eyes again. A couple of hours had passed and my boss poked her head in. "Do you want to go have a bite? I'll sit here" she whispered. I looked over at him. He was asleep, "yeah okay, thanks" I said, thankful for the break. I sat in the tea room eating my dinner and checking some emails, returning some messages. A couple of girlfriends had invited me out for drinks after work but I sent them back a, 'sorry I work shitty nurse shifts remember?' reply.  I looked at the clock, I still had four hours to go, thankfully though, it had been a pretty good shift so far. I got up and dragged my feet back to the room. As I approached I heard a raised voice, a male voice. "No, I said no! What is it about no that you don't understand?" it was Jared. I was surprised, all I'd heard from him so far was quiet sleepy whispers. I walked in to find my boss standing at the side of the bed with a bowl and towels in her arms. "Genevieve! Thank God, she's trying to do stuff" he said grimacing as he tried to move. "I'm not trying to do anything. He hasn't had a wash, I was just getting things ready for you" she said quietly, rolling her eyes subtly. "Thanks, it's okay, I was planning on doing it, he refused last shift, but he'll get one" I said trying to keep the amusement out of my voice. She nodded and grinned as she dumped all her supplies into my arms on her way out the door. I stood there trying not to laugh. "I don't need a wash" he said indignantly. "Well, regardless of whether you think you need one, I think you do and you'll feel so much better when you have nice clean sheets and a clean gown on and anyway, it's part of my job, I have to do it" I said firmly, I didn't bother adding, I wasn't taking no for an answer. "But ... I'll be in pain, I can't move" he said looking alarmed. "You'll be fine, you'll barely have to move" I reassured him. He regarded me quietly for a moment or two before replying, "Fine, well you may as well do it now" he snapped. I bit my lip trying not to smile, I knew his behavior was a front. He was scared and embarrassed, I tapped his hand gently. "I'll get things ready, you get some pain meds into you" I said softly. He looked up at me frowning, probably not expecting my soft calm tone. I smiled at him, "go on, I'll be back in a minute" I said. He sighed and I saw him press the button and close his eyes again. I shook my head and grinned to myself, all men were the same. No matter how rich and famous. They were big babies, this one was no different.