Doctor & Nurse

Chapter 31

The next morning, I awake to a groaning Tobias, "My head hurts!" He moans, wincing from the light coming through the blinds and curtains in the room. Slowly, I roll from the bed to retrieve a glass of water and two Tylenol for him. Handing the pills and the glass of water, he takes it, his eyes glancing around the room, a look of confusion crosses his face, he asks, "Why are you in bed with me, Tris? Not that I mind." I laugh, "You are in my bed. I went to get ready for bed last night, and came back to find you, passed out cold. I tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't budge." Tobias leans forward, pressing his lips against my forehead, he mutters, "Sorry."

I smirk, "For someone who didn't want the night to end, you certainly fell asleep quickly." Tobias raises an eyebrow at me, replying in a joking tone, "I can leave if you want." I jump into nurse mode immediately, replying, "No, you aren't going anywhere. You are staying here, where I can keep an eye on you." Tobias rolls his eyes at my response, his lips press against the crown of my head, he grabs ahold of me, rolling over, he brings me with him to the opposite side of the bed. Tobias's fingertips begin to tickle me, the laughter flows from my lips, the tears stream down my cheeks, "Tobias! Stop!" I laugh. "Okay, fine," he laughs along with me, our laughter infectious to each other. He pulls away from me, letting me up, and I leave the room for a few minutes to get a drink of water.

When I come back upstairs, I hear deep breathing from the bed, Tobias is sleeping again. Opening my closet, I pull out clothes to get dressed in, and grab my textbook, and grab the toast I made for breakfast, then sit on the bed next to a sleeping Tobias as I attempt to study. Tobias wakes around noon, stretching. I ask, "Hey, how are you feeling? Is your headache any better?" My eyes meet his, he smiles at me, replying, "My head is feeling much better. What have you been up to while I have been sleeping?" Holding up my nursing textbook, I smirk, "Studying." He glances at the page, leaning on his elbow, asking, "Anything I can help with?" I start to say something but stop, "Actually. Nope, I understand it all right now, if I need any help, you will be the first person I ask, don't worry." The rest of the day passes with Tobias sleeping on and off. I study next to him, occasionally I find my eyes glued to him. Eventually, Tobias rolls out of bed, declaring, "I'm going to make pizza for dinner." As he is making pizza, I take a study break, and we talk of random things. Tobias and I laugh, making faces at each other as we eat dinner.

After dinner, Tobias and I sit on the couch watching the evening news together. The news anchor makes a comment about the war that is still ongoing in Afganistan, and Tobias remarks back to the tv, "Yeah, what about all the men who couldn't come home, or the ones who are home, who aren't whole anymore. The men who left a part of themselves over there, no one seems to get that part." I can tell the news story is upsetting to him, his pain upsets me, I try to remain calm. I wish Tobias would talk to me about what is bothering him, but he doesn't like to talk about things like that. Tobias doesn't like to talk about his time in the Army, I wish he would confide in me, but he doesn't, instead, he changes the subject whenever I bring it up. If I had to diagnosis him, I would say he is good at avoidance, I know he went through some terrible things overseas, but I wish I could help to share some of the burden he feels from it.

My fingers land on the remote, and I grab the remote to change the channel. Say Yes to the Dress comes onto the screen, Tobias and I spend the night, making comments and laughing at how much money some of these women spend on their wedding dresses. One woman spent sixteen thousand on a wedding dress. That is insane in my eyes. Tobias glances at me, whispering, "I can imagine you in your wedding dress, you would look gorgeous in one just like that." My cheeks burn at his words, I have never given much thought to getting married, I have never been one of those girls who have had their wedding ceremony planned since they were three years old. Tobias turns off the television, he holds out his hand, and says, "Come on Tris, let's go to bed." Grabbing his hand, he leads me to bed, and we cuddle. My brain won't shut off, even though it is getting late, we have an early morning tomorrow, and we are both back at the hospital. Tobias is supposed to be working two double shifts tomorrow, and the next day as well, then he is on call, instead of coming home, he is staying at the hospital for the day after, I will be home alone tomorrow. I don't like being home alone. Deciding tomorrow after clinical, I'm going to ask Chris if she wants to have a girl's night with a sleepover. "Tobias," I whisper, poking his side, "Are you awake?"