Just The Way You Like It - Under Construction

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Blake had not yet decided how he was going to apologize to Alice, but he had already committed to checking up on her. He stood on the other side of her door for almost two minutes before he built up the courage to knock. Peaking his head in, he was surprised to see Tess there, before he recalled asking her to stay with Alice the night before.

Still not knowing what to say to Alice, he stalled by asking Tess a couple of mundane questions. Finally building up enough courage, he asked Tess to leave, hoping he would find the words he needed to say to Alice as he went. Ad-libbing was not his strong suit, but he felt he had no other option. When he turned to start his unrehearsed apology, he saw Alice staring at the analog clock that hung on the wall. He snatched up his one and most likely only opportunity to stall his apology to her. “Do you not know how to tell time Alice?”

She shook her head no, and he quickly went into action, trying to avoid any uncomfortable silence. It was hard to do around Alice though, she was not one to strike up a conversation on her own. From her story last night, Blake had found out that Alice had been taught not to speak without incurring punishment. So, he was not surprised by the fact that she now had to be prompted to talk at all.

Blake climbed up onto the chair and popped the clock off the wall as gently as he could. He was a tall man, but it was still a reach. Before sitting down to teach Alice, Blake decided to take off his coat, mostly for comfort. It wasn't unusually hot in Alice's room, he was normally just more comfortable without it on. He could feel Alice watching him with those starry blue eyes of hers. Immediately he thanked himself for sticking to his New Year's resolution. Since last January first, he forced himself to go use the hospital's staff gym at least three times a week. And finally, in November, he was reaping the benefits. Ah, but this was madness, he shouldn't be thinking things like that.

First of all, he was a doctor and Alice was his patient. Secondly, the trauma she had been inflicted with had probably left her with severe psychological issues with men. The last think Alice probably needed right now was to find out that her doctor was having thoughts about her in 'that' way. Yes, she was looking, but she had most likely been trained to pay attention to men like that. Not something Blake ever wanted to take advantage of. Alice could look, but not touch. Blake made another mental note to remember that. He then forced his attention back to the matter at hand.

They spent the next half hour going over the way to tell time. Blake then quizzed her and was surprised to see how quickly she had picked it up. She had been thirteen when she was abducted and probably knew to to read a clock before that horrible event. But, after eleven years, she needed to relearn a lot of skills. Reading a clock face was just the beginning.

After he was sure she had figured it out, Blake went to place the clock back to its proper place on the wall, forgetting his doctor's coat still draped over the chair. Before he could do anything to prevent it, his shirt untucked itself revealing half his midsection. At first he thought Alice hadn't seen it, but as he lowered his arms back down to climb off the chair he heard Alice behind him almost choke. Blake ran to get Alice some water out of the sink. Handing it to her, he saw a new look in Alice's eyes. She was smiling, which she was now doing pretty often, but her eyes gave everything away. He was pretty sure it was desire behind those blue eyes of Alice's. Alice could look, but not touch. Blake wondered if that new rule was going to be harder to keep than the one he had made for himself back in January.

“Alice, I need some fresh air.” He said, trying to clear his thoughts. “Care to join me?” Blake remembered that he had not yet apologized to Alice with regards to his outburst from the night before. Maybe now was his chance for that, and maybe to also set down some ground rules for both of them. Alice was going to be a long-term patient here, and if Blake was going to stay her doctor then there was definitely going to have to be some rules.

When Dr. Hansen asked Alice the question, she hadn't been paying much attention.  The vision of his body was still emblazoned in her brain, causing Alice to wander in her thoughts.  Even though now, he was already retrieving his coat off the chair, Alice couldn't get the sight of his figure out of her mind.  She shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts.  And then, she noticed the look of disappointment on Dr. Hansen's face when her mind finally cleared.  "Oh, okay."  He said.

“No, I'm sorry. What did you ask me?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to come outside with me. I need some fresh air.”

The thought of going outside her room again was petrifying, and now Dr. Hansen wanted to take her outdoors? “Outside, like out, out. Trees, and stuff?” Alice's voice cracked.

“Yeah, the fresh air with do us both good.” Alice hadn't been outside since the day that man had grabbed her off the sidewalk. This was going to be difficult, and she was about to decline his offer, but he was already calling to Nurse Tess. Seconds later Alice saw Tess' head pop in through the door.

“Yes Doctor Hansen.”

“Alice and I are going for a walk outside.” He said, rather mater-of-factually. “Could you get her some clothes and a wheelchair please?”

“Certainly Doctor.” And with that, her head disappeared back behind the door.

Doctor Hansen remained silent while waiting for Nurse Tess to return. He flipped through some papers he had with him, although Alice was again pretty sure he was only pretending to read them. Every few seconds, he eyes would dart in her direction, and then back down to his paperwork. Thankfully, Nurse Tess returned quickly. Thanks to Alice's new skill for reading clocks, she knew it had only been nine minutes since Tess had left to collect her outdoor excursion supplies.

Nurse Tess flew into the room, her arms filled with clothes which she quickly dumped onto the chair. “I left the wheelchair just outside the room Dr. Hansen, but I'm afraid I can't stay.” She was breathless and panting.

“Why, what's wrong?” Dr. Hansen replied, worry sweeping over his face.

“We just got the call, there has been a three car pile-up out on Jefferson Boulevard, six injured, we are not sure how bad. Dr. Nuardi has pulled me into the ER for the rest of the day. I'm sorry Dr. Hansen.”

“Does he need my help?”

“Dr. Willub has given explicit instructions to the entire staff. You are not to be pulled off of Alice's case for any reason what so ever. Don't worry, we've got it under control. Go on your walk, Heaven knows, Alice needs it.” And with that she again disappeared out the door. Alice turned her gaze back to Dr. Hansen to find him staring straight at her. She could feel his blue eyes piercing her very soul. Now, she wanted to go outside with him, so long as Dr. Hansen was near her, Alice didn't care. Normal people went outside, and that’s how she wanted Dr. Hansen to think of her. Not as some scarred up freak show that had sex with any man at their whim. Just normal, every-day Alice.

If being normal meant going outside, then thats exactly what she planned on doing.