Lost & Found.

Chapter 9

NINE....

" When do I get to see my now glorious body " Ms. Garcia asked handing me the bottle of water I had given her to take a sip.

"Anytime your up to it, as a matter of fact we could go now, there's a 4 way mirror in the consultation room down the hallway. Plus the body systems are slowed down after surgery so walking will help improve blood flow and speed the healing process"

" Well I hope that mirror is prepared for the beauty its about to witness" she said causing me to laugh. She got off the bed while I assisted her to the consultation room.

"Now there will be a lot of swelling and some bruising considering, but don't be alarmed that's only for a short period of time" I explained. She took her robe off and sighed deeply still holding my arm for support. She looked pleased with the outcome. I assisted her back to the room after she was done. Ms. Garcia was truly one of the funniest patients I'd ever dealt with.

" Those soccer and brownie making moms better watch out because Rosalinda Garcia is back in action, imagine the look on their faces when I'm dropping my kids off at soccer practice in a crop top, whew child", She said stopping halfway to her room. I threw my had back in laughter. I was still recovering when Dr. Brown came around the corner . He stopped at the nurses station and waved when he saw me approaching. I smiled and Ms. Garcia and I waved back, with my hand still up I turned to her and she shrugged.

" Sharing is caring". She said causing me to laugh. "I got it from here love, you better go get that before nurse Ratched over there gets to him first" she said pointing to Shelby, who looked dreamily at Travis as he signed the papers she handed to him.

" Are you sure" she nodded and made her way towards her room while I walked over to Travis at the nurses station. He was still signing some papers while Shelby gawked at him, so I went into the nurses station and took a seat at one of the computer desks. Travis signed the last paper and handed the folder back to Shelby who giggled, blinking her eyes a little too much. He smiled at her showing off his pearly white teeth and dimples. He walked into the nurses station and took the seat next to me. Shelby took that as her cue and scurried away.

" She must be hilarious, you were deep in laughter when I saw you" Travis said rolling my chair to face him.

"Who? Oh Ms. Garcia, You have no idea" I said nervously, Just then Sheryl walked into the nurses station

" Dr. Brown" she said eyeing him accusingly.

"Dr. Craig" He replied moving from side to side in the rolling chair, she walked to the end of the desks, grabbed her purse and stopped right in front of me.

" Tazeema I hope you've taken that break I told you to take hours ago" I shook my head smiling at her.

" I was just about to head out" I said

" Child go eat something you been up on your feet all day, I don't want to see you for another hour" she said walking out of the station and into the hallway.

"You heard the lady, lets go I have this place a few blocks away I think you'd like" Travis said rising from his chair taking my hand so I'd join him.

" Alright cool but I have to get my stuff from my locker and I'll meet you in the lobby" he nodded and walked out of the station. I practically ran to the locker room, gathered my stuff and headed to the elevator.

"Tazeema" someone called and I turned to the side and saw Travis sitting behind a desk in an office waving me in. I walked into the office and saw he was on the phone, he gestured for me to have a seat and rose his finger signaling me to give him a minute. I nodded and fished my phone out of my bag to keep me company while I waited. After a few minutes he ended the call and got up from the chair to leave. Just then someone knocked on the office door that was wide open.

"Score" the person yelled while entering the office Travis smiled and walked towards the door. I turned in my seat towards the door and locked eyes with Jeremy. I quickly turned back and faced the desk biting my inner cheeks, something I've been said to do when I was nervous.

"J.R my man, what going on " Travis said as they shook hands or did what ever they did as I nervously stared at the wall in front of me.

" Oh nothing man, on my way to my next consult, thought I'd stop by. We still up for that poker game this weekend" Jeremy said

" Wouldn't miss it" Travis replied.

"Hi there Ms. Naidoo" Jeremy said and I silently cursed and rose from the chair slowly turning towards them. Jeremy looked extremely vexed. What that was about, I couldn't explain. He can't be my only "friend" in the hospital. I stood up straight masking my face with an indifferent expression.

"Hi Dr. Caine" I said staring Jeremy in the eye, his jaw clenched but then he surprised me when he smiled and turned to Travis.

" I see you met the new nurse on the block" Jeremy said

" Yea man, we met earlier today, we were just about to head out for lunch" Jeremy turned back to me and I tried to match his gaze but I conceded looking away from him.

"Is that so, well I don't want to keep you guys, I'll see you later man" Jeremey said shaking Travis hand and walking out of the office without looking back. I sighed in relief till he walked back in.

" Ms. Naidoo, say hi to your boyfriend Kale for me" with that he walked out of the office leaving me there with my eyes bulging out of my eye socket. "That childish prick" , I thought as I turned to Travis.

" I'm.... its not serious" I said and he laughed causing my to stare at him in pure confusion.

"Its ok, I didn't think a beautiful lady like you wasn't dating, since its not serious can I be a contender in the race" he said smiling cocking his head to the side I rolled my eyes playfully.

"Travis Brown I am starving" I said walking passed him and out of his office. Seconds later he jogged to my side still laughing. I turned to him and stuck my tongue out.

He took me to a 50's themed diner called Pleasantville. The scenery was absolutely perfect and colorful. The waitresses looked like pin up girls while the guys looked like john Travolta in grease, leather jacket and all. It was a cute little spot and the food was absolutely delicious. Travis insisted on paying for our meal. We stayed at Pleasantville after he paid since we had a few more minutes to kill.

"So how do you know Jer... Mr. Caine" I asked as I wiped my mouth with a napkin.

"Oh man , I've known that kid since the womb. I mean our parents were best friends, they all went to med school together. Fun fact, Jeremys dad actually dated my mom in their first year of med school. All five of them decided to form a study group, became the best of friends and it stayed that way even till this day" he explained while he messed with the salt shaker on the table. He finally looked up and saw me staring so he dropped it and smiled sheepishly.

"Five" I questioned

"Huh" he said looking confused

" You said all five of them formed a study group" I reiterated

"Oh, both our parents and Maxwell Elswood, Father of Jeremys fiancée" he replied and I swallowed hard. Lily and Jeremy were set in stone, they were meant to be, they had known each other from birth, the perfect love story. How could I even compete with that, a runaway from south Africa. I looked up at Travis and smiled hiding what I truly felt, sadness, pain and embarrassment that I had been so foolish

" I have 10 more minutes till my break is up, we should head back to the hospital"

"Yeah of course" he said and we both got up and headed out.