Obscurity

Chapter 33: Small Battles

Alma

I watch as Sierra sashays away with her doctor. My eyes find the back of Spencer's head. I sigh as I think about the implications of him being here.

I'm sure the staff has already put two and two together with his intake. I inhale a deep breath as disappointment washes over me. I'm never going to get out of this place.

He doesn't turn around to face me. He sits at his table watching the nurses station. My eyes wander to where he's looking. Cindy is hard at work shuffling files around and passing them to the respective doctors. I assume the files are all of our patient files. As soon as they realize Spencer's last name, it'll seal my fate.

I bury my face in my arms on the table and will myself to shrink away into nothing. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. I look back up when I hear footsteps enter the hall across from the day room.

Dr. Kavanaugh stands there looking at a file in his hand. He glances up for a moment, then back to his file briefly.

"Spencer Diaz?" He says looking up from his file again.

"That's me." Spencer says as he stands to follow the doctor off for his meeting.

Spencer Diaz? How the hell? I'm confused by the name. That's not his name. What is he doing here?

As he walks into the hall, he glances back at me and raises an eye brow as he follows Dr. Kavanaugh away to a room. He's got a childish look on his face and my mind races to try to figure out what his game is. Again, he subtly shakes his head while eying me as he walks away.

Maybe this is good for me. If he doesn't want me saying anything, he must have some sort of plan for being here. He seems to be in control. Maybe I'm worrying too much. Maybe the staff won't find out my— our secret.

I let out a big breath I realize I've been holding since he stood up to go off to his meeting.

I look around the day room to make sure no one caught the look he gave me. It seems like everyone is oblivious. Good. I glance around to do a double-take of everyone in the day room, and my eyes find Nick's. He's look right at me but I can't read his expression.

He gets up and walks over to my table.

"Can I sit?" He asks as he rests his hand on the back of one of the chairs.

"Sure."

"How are you feeling today?" He asks with genuine concern.

It's sweet of him, but it irks me for some reason.

"Is that all anyone asks anyone around here?" I laugh.

"I guess you do have a point." He says sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. It's no big deal." I tell him.

"You went down pretty hard yesterday, Alma. And then when you didn't come back from Medical last night, a lot of us were pretty worried." He explains.

"I get it. I'm fine, though." I reassure him.

"I talked to a counselor yesterday..." he starts to say.

"I know." I put my hands up in a stopping gesture. "Don't do that again, okay?"

"What do you mean? Chris was out of line yesterday." He says in a hushed tone.

"I know you mean well Nick, but I'm worried you may be slapping a hornet's nest with saying something about it all."

"You didn't talk to Ferris?" He asks slightly irritably.

I shake my head.

"No... and I'm not going to."

"Alma." He whispers.

I shrug. There's nothing I want more than to out Chris but I really think it's not going to do any good.

"Alma, if you don't talk to him, it voids anything I told him. He told me that yesterday." He explains, his voice still low.

"I get it, Nick. But I don't think saying anything is going to work. Shit like this doesn't just work like we think it will. Do you really think one complaint will cost Chris his job?"

Nick shakes his head.

"It will take several reports, several complaints. And in the meantime, we have to survive this hell with him running the show." I can see the realization dawning on him that I'm right about all of this.

He nods in agreement.

"If I'm right, and I'm pretty sure I am about this, we can't win this sick little game he's playing." I press my point to Nick.

"You're probably right." He says.

"Our best bet right now, is to keep our heads low and work on getting the hell out of here." I suggest.

He reaches across the table and takes my hands in his. He squeezes them and I squeeze back. It's our nonverbal agreement to let this go.

"Okay," he says, "But one more incident like the one I saw yesterday morning, and I'm not keeping my mouth closed anymore. You can hate me all you want. No one deserves to be treated that way, especially you." He continues.

"I'll kill him." He says, never taking his eyes off mine and I know he's serious.

"Every day that Chris is on duty is a small battle. If we can avoid those little fights and problems, it's our best bet." I say, trying to ease the tension I see coming off Nick in waves.

"We'll fly under the radar, so to speak." I tell him.

He nods in agreement again. We hold hands and sit there for a few moments.

Dr. Summers comes out of the nurses station, "Alma Weaver?" he calls out to the day room.

"Looks like I'm up next." I tell Nick as I let go of his hands.

"Good luck, Alma."

"Thanks, you too." I say as I walk to meet up with the doctor in the hall.

Dr. Summers directs me to the small office beside the nurses station that's situated closer to the East Hall than the West one. I'm grateful for the change in direction. I was just in this office with Cindy earlier so it's not a problem. It's her shared office with Chris but I try to push the idea of him from my mind as we enter the small room.

The doctor rounds the desk and I reach back and close the door, looking at Nick with a nervous smile, before taking my seat.