Healing Hearts | Keelin

Chapter Two

 Margret awoke the next morning on an unfamiliar couch. She certainly felt better than she had the night before; the alcohol must have worn off while she slept. 

 It was at least a nice parlor she was in, Margret thought as she slowly sat up. She wondered who owned the place, but then remembered she had met someone the night before. There was a nurse whom had offered to help her since she lived on that street. This must be her home. Very fancy for a nurse, but Margret appreciated the hospitality. There aren't many people who would let a drunken stranger into their home. 

 "Hey, you're awake." 

 The woman who walked into the room was not the one whom she had met night before. This one had blonde hair cut short and kept straight; the nurse had had long, dark curls and darker skin. 

 "Are you okay?" the woman asked. "Here." She was carrying two mugs, and handed one of them to Margret. " It's coffee. You were in a bit of a state when Keelin brought you in last night. I've never seen a vampire get drunk like that before. How do you feel?" 

 Margret took the mugs and shrugged. She stared down at the floor, suddenly ashamed of how much she had been drinking. 

 "Thank you," she said, and took a sip of the coffee. "So, you weren't the one who found me on the street corner last night. It was...Keelin, the nurse with the dark curls." 

 "Well, you're thinking of the right person, but she's a doctor, not a nurse." 

 "Oh. I guess I was especially lucky, then." Margret took a larger sip of the coffee. "I was obviously pretty lucky to wind up here. Are you a friend of hers, then? I mean, I was assuming she lived here."

 "She does. She's my girlfriend. We've been together for a while." The other woman paused. "I haven't actually introduced myself yet, have I? I'm Freya Mikaelson." 

 Margret nodded. "Margret Janssen. Thank you very much for the coffee, Miss Mikaelson. Is Keelin here, by any chance?" 

 "No, she had to go into work a little while ago," Freya answered. "She was concerned about you, but I told her I'd keep and eye on you."

 Margret put down her mug. "I see. Well, would you be so kind as to tell me where she works? I think I ought to go and thank her in person." 

~~~~~~ 

 Margret stood outside the hospital where Keelin worked. Freya told her that Keelin normally worked in the emergency room; would going in there looking for her take her away from a patient? Margret didn't want to take her away from anything important, but she also didn't know when she would be out. It was already noon; did she get any break for lunch? Probably not if she was busy with patients. 

 She went up to the doors of the emergency room and looked inside. She looked around until she noticed Keelin there, talking to someone. Her memory of how the woman had looked the night before was a little hazy, but she was fairly certain that was her. 

 Keelin turned and stopped when she saw Margret. Now that they were looking straight at each other, Margret was sure it was her. She gave her a small smile and waved, hoping that would show she wanted to talk. 

 It worked. Keelin came to the doors and stepped outside, and they were officially face-to-face. 

 "Freya texted me earlier," Keelin began. "She said you were awake and fine and that you might show up to thank me in person. You didn't have to do that." 

 "That's exactly why I'm here," Margret said. "And yes, I do have to thank you. You were very kind to a drunken stranger last night, and I'm ashamed of myself for being in such a way." She held out her hand. "I'm Margret Janssen. I'm glad to officially meet you while sober." 

 Keelin smiled and shook her hand. "It's nice to see you sober. Don't do that again, all right? It's what any doctor would advise." 

 "I know. I'll try." 

 Keelin nodded. "Okay. Um, I have to get back to work. Bye." 

 When she went back in, Margret stood by the door a minute longer until she was out of sight. A woman like that had to make for a good doctor.