Night shift - Completed

Chapter 19

Poppy's PoV

I already knew what was happening the minute Mavis had told me to check Calum's observations and I'd seen the rest of the room leave just moments before I got there. This was some sort of set up. Calum had been particularly difficult with me over this night shift - which had caused half the issues that led to this - but there was no point in digging my heels into the ground and refusing, at the end of the day I was still his nurse for the remainder of this night shift even if we were already half way through it.

"Hey." It was the first time this shift that he'd spoken to me first and he wasn't shouting at me. I could already tell this was going to be a difficult conversation but I had to get it done. I shut the door behind me and looked up at him for the first time. He looked sad, angry and disappointed. That could be with himself, or with me.

"Hi Calum." I replied carefully. "Is everything okay?" I tried to carry on, my head telling me to go and check his notes and treat him like every other patient but my heart was telling me to stop and listen. He sighed as he looked down at the bed, clearly trying to work out the best way to word what he wanted to say. Finally his eyes met mine, and for the first time behind them I could see fear and an openness he never really exposed.

"No, no it's not Poppy." He answered, his voice low and slightly hoarse like he was fighting back some emotion. I went to open my mouth to respond but he held his finger up to silence me. "Please, I'm sorry but please let me just say all of this before I chicken out and ruin it." I gulped down nervously before nodding. "Dave played the recording he took from Stacey's pocket. I heard every word you said to her and there's so many things I need to say to you. Obviously, first comes sorry. I thought if I acted like a prick to everyone it wouldn't hurt me when I found out who had sold my story. There weren't that many staff members I had been in touch with by the time the news went out and honestly I just panicked. It's not an excuse, I know I was a complete asshole to you and that was uncalled for. My friends kept pulling me up on it but I thought it was helping if it turned out to be you..." he let out a huge sigh and rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. "And obviously it wasn't you. Then all that hit me was regret. We'd been so friendly in the last shift and this one I was just stressing you out and winding you up. So honestly, from the bottom of my heart I am so so sorry." His eyes were back staring down at the bed linen, hoping my expressions weren't giving much away. "I also want to thank you. Despite that being the exact reason you'd gone to the bathroom to begin with, you told Stacey it wasn't me that had upset you. Most people would have jumped at the idea of some extra cash for selling the story of a celeb who was treating them appallingly... so thank you for not doing that and for making me sound nice." A small smile tugged at my lips as he spoke, glad he finally decided to be open and honest with me. "And thirdly, they reckon I'll be out of here with my cast on within the next day right?" His eyes were on me this time, indicating I was allowed to answer. I nodded. "So what I wanted to ask, and you can say no and that would be completely understandable, but I wondered if you'd like to go out for a meal... I mean, it doesn't have to be a date, it could be an apology meal, a friend date or a free meal for you and then you don't ever see me again... it's up to you, but I wanted to put the offer out there." He shrugged, one final large sigh told me he'd got everything off his chest and it was now my turn to answer. I rubbed my hands together in anticipation, hoping to get out the words I so wanted and needed to say.

"Calum, I understand why you did it all. I can't imagine what your life is like but I can imagine there's next to no secrecy and peace. Being in here with someone who had no clue who you were -no offence- must have actually been quite refreshing for you." He nodded in agreement to my statement. "We'd got on so well in the first shift and Ashton had run down to get my number, I was so sure that this was going to be a great friendship or whatever... but within a day, it was like we were strangers again. I was so honest with you through your treatment, to suddenly have you disbelieving everything I said was really upsetting and despite me trying to get on with it and rebuild our bond you kept shooting me down. It was embarrassing, especially in front of all your friends who clearly believed me." I looked over to the three empty chairs. "I'm really proud of myself for doing this job and I love it, I'd treat every patient how I'd treated you, celebrity or not. Status means nothing to me, I just see someone who needs my help." I stopped for a moment and looked over at Calum, who's head hung low in shame as I vented my frustrations out after he'd apologised. Did I really need to carry this on? He'd realised the error of his ways, clearly, so why not just end this now?
I walked over to him and stood beside him, placing a hand on top of his. His face looked up hopefully at me and in that moment I knew there was no way I was letting him down. I bent my fingers around his hand as if I was holding it before I carried on. "Venting over, you've apologised and that's what matters the most. I'd like for us to carry on how we were before." I smiled back at him, the twinkle in his eye appearing once again.

"Thank you Poppy. For everything." He turned his hand over and held my hand, giving it a pull to signify he wanted me to come closer to him. I moved closer to him as he sat up, his mouth close to my ear. "What do you say to the meal?" He whispered, his breath making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up on end.

"I say it's a date." I whispered back, turning my head so I was facing him, our mouths only inches apart. He let out a thankful laugh, glad he hadn't messed everything up beyond repair. His eyes locked with mine for a moment before his eyes travelled down my face towards my lips, him biting his as he drank me in.

"You're making it so hard for me not to kiss you." He breathed out, his voice strained. A smirk grew on my lips as I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Who said you couldn't?"