Just What The Doctor Ordered

Chapter One

    The emergency room at St. Pete's Hospital in New York was slow compared to the evening before. "Dr. West, why don't you go lie down for a while. You had what, fifteen minutes of sleep since last night?" Dr. Susan West, an attractive woman of a mere thirty six years of age, stands there in her white cotton blouse, and faded blue jeans; all she had left in her overnight bag for days like these. "I guess you're right Jackie. It was a long, hectic night." She says as she runs her hand through her almost shoulder length brown hair. She sighs as she hands Jackie the clipboard with the paperwork she just signed. "You know where to find me if you need me."

About two hours later, Susan awakes to her pager going off. She fumbles around for her pager and looks at the number. She lets out a brief sigh as she gets up and opens the door of the extra supply room, also set up for these occasions. "How many hours do you have left doc?" Mario asks as he helps her into her smock and gloves. "Five, if I'm lucky." "Didn't I see you last night before I left?" She smiles briefly, "Yeah, this is three in a row for me." "Dr. Bernstein again huh?" "Yep." She says, then heads into Room one.

By noon, things are starting to slow down again and Susan is able to catch up on the paperwork piled on her desk. Down the hall at the receptionist counter, a tall handsome man is speaking to Jackie. "Sure Alex, she could use a bit of humor right about now." She hands him a clipboard and the required paperwork for a new patient, and directs him to curtain two. "Dr. West," Jackie buzzes into her office. "You have a new patient in curtain two." "Thank you Jackie." She finishes the paperwork, then heads out of her office.

Before even looking at the patient, she picks up the clipboard, then asks, "How are you today Mr. Smith?" He answers with a moan. "Ok, it says here you are suffering from..." She looks up at the patient. "Sexual frustration." Alex smiles back at her. "I'm sorry honey. But I missed you last night." He stands up and kisses her briefly. "Did they fill this out at the desk?" He shakes his head no and touches the side of her face. She sighs in relief, puts the paperwork down and wraps her arms around him. "I missed you too." They kiss briefly before her pager goes off again. She reaches for it as he begins kissing the side of her neck. She sighs at both the feel of him and the fact that she has three more hours before she will be able to feel him again. "Alex, I have to go." He slides his hands down around her behind and pulls her against him. "I could make love to you right now." He whispers in her ear before she pulls away and reaches for the curtain. "I'll see you soon." He frowns.  "I promise." She says as she leaves the room and closes the curtain.

Mario fills her in with the patient info and condition as he prepares her for the surgery. "How long have you been here doc?" Scott, a new resident asks during the surgery. "Too long." He looks up at her puzzled. " I meant overall." She looks up at him, the tops of her cheeks slightly red. "I'm sorry Scott. Eight years." "Wow. So you've been here since med school. That must be nice." She nods, then finishes sewing up the wound on the patient.

Across town, Alex leaves his office and closes the door. "Sherri, what appointments do I have scheduled for this afternoon?" "Mr. Mickens called to reschedule, so you are free for the afternoon." "Good. I'll be leaving for the day then." He walks to the door of the office. "Ok, and you can leave when you're done whatever you're working on." "Are you sure sir?" He smiles. "Just remember to start the answering service." She nods as he leaves the office and heads for the elevator. When he reaches the street he looks at his watch and hails a cab. 'Just enough time.' He thinks to himself. 'Twenty minutes to the subway station, a fifteen-minute ride, and twenty minutes to get home to get things set up. She should get home just as I'm finishing up.' He thinks to himself and smiles all the way to the subway station.

At quarter of three, Dr. John, a balding forty-three-year-old transfer from St. Mary's, walks in the door. "Dr. John, Dr. West will be so happy to see you." "I take it Dr. Bernstein stuck her with another triple shift." "What gave it away?" He takes a notebook out of his pocket and makes a note to himself. "By the way, who is chief of staff here? I've only been here a week and haven't caught up on all the names yet." Jackie looks up at him. "Dr. Murray, why?" "Where I come from, doctors help each other out. No one should have to work triple shifts even one day in a row, let alone three. That causes mistakes, and later, early retirement." Jackie smiles in approval. "Where is Dr. Murray now?" "Oh, he is on vacation for the next two weeks..." "Then let me know the next time an event like this happens." "But this morning is her scheduled shift..." "But she should have had last night off after working the middle yesterday." "Yes sir." She says while making a note for Dr. Murray to see Dr. John when he returns.