Never Again - 11

Chapter 11- Erin to the rescue...

The hospital was typical of one in London, an old redbrick building that predated Victoria. The modern emergency entrance, complete with ambulances and paramedics was out of place on the traditional historical road. Taking a deep breath, Erin walked in with purpose. It was almost a year since she’d left this building in a cloud of controversy, shame and humiliation. She knew that hospital gossip was as rife as any other workplace, especially when the other half of the scandal was one of the up and coming, charming, enigmatic new surgeon.

The reception hadn’t changed, and early Saturday night saw the usual walking wounded crowding the plastic seats. Several men with temporary bandages to various bleeding facial wounds sat together, there was an elderly lady in a sling, a few children, then the token half a dozen drunks with nowhere else to go. Working Saturday night in Accident and Emergency really did take some guts.

One of the triage nurses came to reception to ask a question and recognised Erin immediately, they’d worked together on an orthopaedic ward years ago.

                “Hey Erin! Long time no see!” The woman’s face dropped as she obviously remembered the circumstances surrounding her leaving. “I would never have believed it of Max...” Was all she could offer.

Erin smiled gratefully, “you never really know someone do you? Look I’m here...” She lowered her voice, “to see Jack Reilly, I work for his medical team.” She flashed her clinic ID badge quickly, hoping that the familiarity and her gift of the gab might get her where she needed to be.

The older woman Sam, as she recalled smiled, “there are a lot trying to get into see him tonight!” She nodded in the direction of a group of young girls stood in the corner of the reception. “He’s about to be transferred to the private ward, but I think he’s still here. Hang on.”

She dealt with the query that had brought her out into the reception, then led Erin through the department, past various treatment cubicles, to a room deep within the hospital.

                “He’s got a team doctor here somewhere...but he’s in there. Good luck, and Erin, glad to see things are working out for you!”

Erin smiled, “thanks Sam! It was great to see you!”

Then she turned back to the closed door. And took a deep breath. Her heart was rattling around at a ridiculous pace, but she had to do this. Pushing open the door, she took in the room.

Jack hadn’t known pain like it, he felt as though his chest was exploding with every breath. John the team doctor had accompanied him from the game, and now two hospital specialists were deep in conversation with him at the end of the bed. He’d had a scan and it showed four fractured ribs, there was now a heated debate as to how long he’d be out of the game, and whether he needed any more treatment. He wanted to go home, oh and painkillers, in reverse order. And he wanted those men to take their squabbles elsewhere.

Groaning, he was trying to readjust his position when he heard the door to the room open, the curtain that surrounded the bed blocked the door from his view, and he prayed it wasn’t yet another doctor throwing his opinions into the debate.

“Hi! I’ve got a message for Mr Reilly!”

The three sets of eyes turned immediately to glare at the door, and Jack noted the less than friendly expression, but he knew that voice, was barely able to believe that it was here...in this bloody grim room.

Sweeping back the curtain he hurled himself forward to look towards the door, and sighed, there she was - Erin, looking like a celibate man’s wet dream, tight black jeans, a white fitted shirt, and these beautiful auburn curls. Her eyes met his and he could barely breathe, he couldn’t believe she was there in his room. If it wasn’t for the facial expressions of the doctors he’d not believe it.

Watching her, he saw the relief take over her body, leaving only concern about him. As he tried to speak, pain like a knife kicked him in the ribs again and he collapsed back against the pillows. Seeing the three men make for the door, and Erin, he shouted,  “Erin! My God! Come here, ignore those three!”

Erin breathed a huge sigh of relief, and ignoring the scowls from the doctors, one of whom she vaguely recognised from her days in the hospital, moved across the room, peeping around the curtain at Jack. He was propped up by pillows, his top half bare, except for the heavy bandaging swathing his ribs, his face was pale with anguish, and his eyes had a haunted look. 

               

                “Couldn’t resist kicking you when you were down!” She announced as he reached for her hands and pulled her towards the bed.

                “I don’t care why you’re here, I’m just glad you are...REALLY glad!” He smiled at her and the pain, the haunting look all evaporated. He glanced at the men at the foot of his bed, “can we have a minute please guys?” As no one moved he snapped, “alone!”

Grunting they left, then Jack looked at her again. “I didn’t expect you to be here...I mean in London...how did you...”

She smiled, “I was visiting Michelle, I was watching the game and her house. Only around the corner.”

Jack’s hand was running over her forearm, “and you got in here!”

Ignoring the electric shocks emanated from his hand, she nodded, “I used to work here ironically, so I knew how to worm my way in.”

               

                “So if I ask around I might get some inside info on you then hey?”

He shuffled to one side and patted the mattress next to him, then spotted her sombre mood.

               

                “My ex husband was an orthopaedic surgeon here, the dissolution of our marriage was hot gossip...”

She always seemed so serious when she talked about tHe past, he couldn’t imagine all that she’d been through but it shaped her, and he’d made errors regarding that in the past, “Erin, I don’t care for gossip, and I care even less about a man who didn’t appreciate what he had in you!”

Lowering a hip onto the bed, she sighed, “well we all live and learn. How are you feeling?”

He didn’t mind the subject change, “It bloody hurts, worse than any injury I remember, and they won’t give me drugs...can you believe that? All I want is a pain killer!” He groaned as he moved again, “suppose the world thinks I’ve got my comeuppance, I mean this seems like karma for two weeks ago...”

                “Are they keeping you in tonight?”

Jack grimaced, still holding her hand, “maybe, I’ve got an apartment not far away, but they say I can’t be alone, the medical team want to get back up North, but I can’t face the travel. That’s what they are all stropping about outside. it’s a standoff.”

Poor Jack, always on his own, and it did exactly what it had on the previous weekend, pulled at her heartstrings, she just wanted to protect him, to look after him. But not at his apartment, that was too risky. How angry would Michelle be? Dave would be elated, that would weigh up the balance.

Nodding in agreement with her own plan, she turned to him, “come back to Michelle’s with me. I’ll look after you there, get you back to Manchester tomorrow.”

“Really? It would be a huge imposition for them.”

Erin laughed, “not at all, Dave’s a huge fan - of the team not specifically you...” She laughed again at his indignation, “I’m sure a few free tickets would more than appease!”

Jack looked at her longingly, “you seem to have all the solutions! That would be amazing. I just want to get out of here, relax. You know?”

Erin knew exactly what he meant, he looked tired, his eyes were heavy, but his hand still gripped hers. Allowing herself to relax onto the bed, she sat more heavily beside him, and he smiled, his hooded eyes never leaving hers. Reaching across his other hand lifted to cup her cheek and Erin almost flinched at the intimate gesture.

               

                “Reilly!” She warned, not ready for this.

 “Erin!” he mimicked her chastisement, but rather than stopping, he leaned forward a little, wanting to get close to her. But he grimaced at the sharp pain to his side. “Please?” he whispered, hoping that she’d at least meet him half way.

Every part of her screamed to pull away, step back, but his hands were warm, gentle, his lips looked inviting, teasing. She only had to move a few inches, she could feel his breath against her skin. His eyes were locked to hers, hope, anticipation, everything there for her to see.

With a moan she slid that little bit further forward, and her lips touched his. The hand at her cheek pulled her closer, his lips were full, firm, and instantly demanding. Angling her head over his he teased her mouth, pulling the bottom lip between his teeth, nipping, biting, coaxing. She could barely concentrate, no man had ever kissed her like this, demanding yet not intimidating, she’d never felt this alive, her body buzzed in anticipation, pressed into his.  Then she gave in, opened her lips to his invading tongue, and lost all concept of time, place. All she knew was him, and how desperate she was for him.

Rather than either of them coming to their senses, the spectacular kiss ended when an elaborate cough came from the end of the bed. Jack couldn’t let her run away, couldn’t let this end so rapidly, severely. Using his hand, he kept her there, a hair’s breadth from him, reassurance and desire in equal amounts flashing from his eyes now their lips were parted, hoping that it encouraged her.  When he knew she wasn’t about to flee, he glanced past her, then groaned, stood at the end of the bed, arms folded, smug look on his face was Scott.

                “There was me thinking my old mate needed a little bit of TLC, who’d have thought that he’d already have that to hand?”

Jack groaned again at the expression on Erin’s face, it was still hidden from Scott’s gaze, she was looking at Jack, her shoulders squared away from the intruder. She was flushed pink her humiliation almost complete, and he knew then he had to protect her.

                “It’s ok,” he breathed, “I’ll sort it. Ok?” Turning to Scott he scowled, “yep, I’m all sorted...”

Scott smiled, “hey it’s ok guys. I’m hardly sitting in judgement here!” He extended a hand, “I’m Scott Millward, pleased to meet you! Like to say I’ve heard lots about you, but this man is more secretive than James Bond!”

That made Erin laugh, her heart had calmed, the effect of his kiss would last a long time, but she was able to communicate, she could trust herself. So she turned to take in the face that was as familiar as Jack’s, “Erin Bailey.” She extended her hand to meet his and the two shook hands. She ignored Jack’s rounded eyes, there’d be tie to explain her name change later.

                “Well. I’m not here as a party pooper, but the doctors are about to come back in here, I guess I’m the better of the two options to disturb you! Now I’ve got three ladies at home who will be gutted that you’re not coming to stay!” He winked at Jack, “but I think Danni will be offering an invite for dinner rather rapidly. You ok?” He finally asked his friend, then nodded in the direction of the door.

Jack smiled, “yeah we’re good, Erin’s going to babysit the injured man. I’ll call you later. Ok?”

Once Scott left silence prevailed, they both now had time to digest that spectacular kiss from earlier. It had been electric, Erin had never experienced anything like it. Max was far from her first lover, but until now she’d have put him top of the expertise class. But Jack had blown all that out of the water, with just a kiss.

Licking her bottom lip, savouring his taste, she smiled weakly, Jack grinned back.

                “Awkward.”

She nodded, “but marginally better than all the medical staff finding us.”

Laughing he slumped back against the pillows, trying to hide the pain that the last half an hour was causing, “I couldn’t have cared if your parents had walked in, it was good. I more than enjoyed it.” As if to prove a point, he pulled her close enough that she could feel just how much through the thin sheets of the bed. When her eyes widened in surprise, he responded with an earthy chuckle. And it warmed Erin’s body from top to toe.

Jack was desperate for a rematch, but knew that Erin was as flighty as anything, he had to work hard to keep her on side, he wanted more of the same, more of her, more of everything.

                “It was unbelievable.” He said the words deliberately quietly, knowing she’d doubt her ears, then started to move. “Are you sure your friends won’t mind me turning up? Staying?”

She shook her head, “they’ll be fine. Do you need help?” 

Pulling himself to standing in just his football shorts, he reached past her for his tracksuit, grimacing as he flexed too quickly.  Erin held out her arms to steady him.

                “Don’t do the bravado thing Reilly. I can help you!”

Taking a few deep breaths he managed a grin, “I’ve not been dressed by a woman since I was eight years old, now is not the time to revisit that route!” He stood again and looked at her questioningly, “And when did you revert to Bailey? I almost choked when you said that!”

Erin handed him his t-shirt, “time moves on you know. It was time to ditch any reference to that bastard.”

He grinned, that sounded a good move.

When the doctors re-entered Jack was dressed, grumbling, but in one piece. Erin turned to them.

                “I thought fractured ribs were a risk for respiratory infections.”

The doctor she recognised nodded, “they are.”

                “So why the hell hasn’t he got any decent pain relief? I think you three need to check your trauma guidelines, he hasn’t even seen anyone from the acute pain team!” A little knowledge could be very powerful. “Admittedly he’s young and fit, but he’s been slumped in that bed for several hours. Maybe instead of worrying where he’s going to spend the night, you should be making sure he’s medically stable.”

The three men had become four, and all blushed unable to counteract her argument. Jack laughed, though it was short lived due to pain.

                “I’m going home to Erin’s friend’s house. They’ll keep an eye on me tomorrow. I can make any appointment here, or even in Manchester tomorrow, but I AM leaving here tonight!”

The men tried to argue, but Jack was insistent, Erin left the room ahead of him to both warn her friends, and to book a taxi to get them away from the place. Sam the nurse was very helpful, and they managed to get use a back entrance to leave.

Slumped in a taxi, relaxed now that he had some reasonable pain relief, Jack turned to her, “so this is the second time you’ve saved me...I owe you BIG time! And can I just say you were AMAZING in there!”