Night shift - Completed

Chapter 16

Poppy's PoV

The night hadn't started well, and I felt like it was going to carry on like this for a while. Start as you mean to go on, huh. I filled in as much as I could on his record but I was practically banned from going in there. I had to plead and convince the guards when it was time for me to check his observations and make sure no side effects had come about since the start of my shift. Calum barely spoke to me. It was like pulling teeth as I tried to get any information from him about himself and his well-being. He just shut me off completely.

"Thank you Calum." I said exhausted after he finally answered the questions I needed. "If you'll excuse me, I just need some air." I apologised to the room as I made my way back out and headed straight for Mavis. "Mavis, I'm just heading to the toilet. Please keep an eye on Calum's room for me?" I asked her, she smiled and nodded as she shooed me out of the room. I left the ward and headed into the staff female toilets on the left side of the corridor.
I made my way to the sinks and just stood for a moment, staring at myself in the mirror as I took a huge breath in and out to calm myself down.

"Has he really had that affect on you already?" A lady came out of the toilets and stood by the sink closest to the door. I looked her up and down and realised I'd never seen her before. Bad point number one.

"Excuse me?" I said, not sure who she was or what she was talking about.

"You're Poppy, right? Calum's nurse?" She smiled at me as if we were friends but I instinctively took a few steps back. She knew who I was and I didn't know her - bad point number two.

"Who are you?" I snapped, desperately looking for an ID badge of some sort.

"That doesn't matter right now. What matters is why I'm here." She said, taking another step closer to me. I took one back, making sure she stayed far enough away that she couldn't grab me if that's what she intended. Won't introduce herself, bad point number three.

"Please just leave or I'll call security." I tried to sound confident but I knew she had already planned this out by the way she smirked in response. I didn't have my phone on me and there weren't any in the bathrooms, of course I was no threat to her.

"Poppy, just calm down and listen for once." She snapped, making my eyes widen. Once again I took a step back but I was now practically against the wall.

"Who are you and what do you want?" I shouted back, frustration taking over. I'd had a pretty shit day so far and this random lady wasn't making it any better. All I wanted to do was come in here for some breathing space and instead I was being interrogated.

"I can't believe Calum has made you this irate!" She said in a surprised tone as she flicked her hand into her pocket and back out in a flash. I bet she'd hoped I hadn't noticed, but I had. Bad point number four, she was trying to record me. She must have been a pap.

"He hasn't at all, it's you. I came in to the staff bathrooms and you're hiding out in here pestering people. Isn't that illegal?" I said, trying to keep calm as she began to fidget nervously.

"Has it been difficult for you since he was found out to be in here?" She began interviewing me, but I wasn't having any of it.

"No comment."

"I've heard he's been treating the staff awfully since. Is this true?" She asked another question.

"No comment." I said again, standing strong. I wasn't going to let these paps get the better of me or Calum. This is not what I signed up for.

"Is it true you and he are secretly an item?" She pushed and this time I couldn't help myself, I let out a snigger as I shook my head.

"Look, miss, record all you want out of this. Calum is a patient, I am a nurse. I am here to look after him and I adhere to the data protection and information governance rules set in place by this hospital. I will not discuss my patients at all with you, if you want any information I suggest you ask our freedom of information governor and the communications team." I said harshly and left her stood there, stunned to the core at my response. The room fell deadly silent - not only would you have heard the pin drop, but you probably would have heard it falling too. In the silence, I could hear a few sets of footsteps making their way towards us.

"Poppy?" Mavis called out. "Is everything okay? Can I come in?" I let out an almost relieved sigh as I heard her voice.

"Sure but there's a visitor in here." I warned her. The pap began to shift nervously, knowing she'd been caught out.

"Lucky I brought you with me!" Mavis said quietly but humorously to another person outside the door.

"Yes ma'am." This deep voice boomed in response, making me and this pap exchange glances. I had a feeling I knew who it was but I didn't want to give anything away. Mavis pushed the door open and to my delight, her and one of Calum's bodyguards were standing waiting to see who was behind the door. The minute the pap and the bodyguard laid eyes on each other, she gulped heavily. "You again?!" She jumped at his booming voice. He stepped forwards and grabbed her by the arm, yanking her out of the bathroom.

"She's recording everything, please be careful." I said to the guard, who offered me an acknowledging nod. He practically dragged her away from the ward, leaving Mavis and I alone. She rushed over and pulled me in for one of her suffocating hugs, but I really needed it.

"You okay Poppy?" She soothed, rubbing her hand over my shoulders comfortingly. I pulled away from the hug and smiled at her.

"I'm fine, Mavis, thank you. Not often you get interviewed in the toilet but-" I began but she interrupted worriedly.

"What did you say? What did she ask you?"

"It was all about Calum. I said no comment and then told her I'm not breaching information governance." I shrugged. She let out a laugh as she guided me out of the toilets.

"I think someone will be very pleased to hear that!" She smiled, leading me back into the ward and straight towards the room that I was so quick to leave only minutes before.