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She smiles wide at my questions; she loves that I ask the right questions instead of waiting for the patient to ask me and then going and finding the doctor in charge, who could be busy with another patient. I find out first, then relay the message along.
"Yes, I did, and no abnormalities have appeared. I have explained it to her, but unfortunately, she's still not communicating verbally."
I give her a smile and thank her before I walk around the man and head into my patient's room, completely ignoring him while feeling his eyes on my back, making my body tingle just remembering the feel of his warm lips on my forehead makes my whole body set alight. Shit, I really need to stay clear of him. I knock on the door and enter, pushing the gorgeous man with beautiful gray eyes out of my mind.
Annalise doesn't look up from her stomach, and my heart breaks for her. "Good morning, Annalise. I'm just going to do some of your observations." She nods but still doesn't look up, and my gut tugs. I started checking her blood pressure and then her pulse before checking over her injuries incision sights. "You're looking good, Annalise; a few days and you'll be able to go home."
I look at her, but she doesn't react, and I sigh before tilting my head and smiling a little, wondering if this would snap her out of it. It's worth a try, right? Even though it's not professional?
I think fuck it before I start to fill in her notes and talk, "Did you know Annalise, a few days ago when you were brought in, another nurse who, for some strange reason, doesn't like me decided she had to tell your family an update about your condition all because one of the men had caught her eye? I ended up walking in on them in a storage room, and to make it worse, the man decided to hit on me while still thrusting into the nurse. I mean, who does that? And the nurse he was with now blames me for why he didn't finish. Apparently, I interrupted them, and he lost his performance."
I shake my head with a chuckle and look at her, but nothing happens—not a smile, a smirk, or even a flinch.
Damn.
I sigh again and squeeze her hand. "I'll come by again in a little while before I head home after handover."
I turn to leave before looking at her one more time. When I get to the nurse's desk, Dr. Thomas is there with the man, but I ignore him again and grab Annalise's discharge notes from OB before placing them in her folder. "How's Annie this morning, Melanie?" I look up to see both men standing in front of me, and in a partial eye, I can see Cassidy glaring at me just like she was at Sarah.
It's like she thinks he's hers.
I sigh,
Dr. Thomas smiles a little. "Has she spoken?"
I give him a sad smile back. "Unfortunately not. I tried telling her a funny story, and I didn't even get a flicker from her."
He nods while the guy sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Doc, how long is this going to go on for? I mean, can't we try to snap her out of it? Axel is falling apart."
Damn, why does his voice have to sound so deep and mysterious?
I clear my throat to get his attention, and both men look at me. I give him a small smile before stating,
"Annalise doesn't look up from her stomach. She doesn't speak or show any emotions." Dr. Thomas looks at me with a raised brow, clearly wondering where I'm going with this, while the guy looks at me intently, those gray eyes burning into my soul. "She's showing signs of PTSD and survivor guilt. Unfortunately, she was clearly awake during her trauma. She had to watch her baby leave her body, not being able to do anything to save it. That's why she kept staring at her stomach. She feels guilty and most likely blames herself.
Her reaction right now is her brain and body's way of helping her through her traumatic experience, but saying that when she does speak, and she will in time, she'll most likely fall. She'll need all the help she can get."
"Her observations are really good. OB has already discharged her; her scan came back normal. A few days, and she should be OK to go home."
"Brother, she's been through a major trauma; it'll take her time. She'll talk when she's ready."
The guy shakes his head, looking frustrated, and I understand he's worried, but he can't rush her; he needs to know where she's coming from and what guilt she probably feels for not saving her unborn child. If they force her before she's ready, they could lose her mentally.
Dr. Thomas nods his head in agreement while pride shines through his eyes as well as determination, but I just shake my head at him. Apparently, I should have gone for my M.D. instead of my nursing degree, but I prefer being a nurse. I like the connection you have with the patient.
I clear my throat again, looking back at the beautiful man in front of me. "I understand you're frustrated, and I understand Axel is struggling, but if you push her before she's ready, then you'll all most likely lose her mentally. She just needs time for her mind to process what's happened to her and what she's lost, and when she's discharged, we'll ensure she has a counselor on speed dial for her, and I'm sure y'all will rally around her. Just give her the time and space she'll need before she comes back to you all."
He nods his head, his gorgeous eyes showing gratitude and something else I can't name, and goes to speak, but I cut him off. I can feel Cassidy glaring at me hard, and I can't be assed with their relationship drama; plus, his intense stare is causing all sorts of tingles in my body, so I need to get out of here.
"I've got to go finish my rounds before handover." Then I turn to the doctor and say, "I'll see you tomorrow, Dr. Thomas."
He nods and gives me a smile before smirking at the guy.
Huh, weird.
I shake my head and go towards another patient's room to finish the rest of my shift.
A few days later, I'm walking into Annalise's room to give her medication before she leaves, and I sigh when I see it's empty. I was just in here ten minutes ago, and she nodded that she'd wait. I should have known differently. Shaking my head, I walk out of her room and go to the nurse's desk, where Meghan's just putting some paperwork down. She looks up with a scowl and says, "How in the hell do you work alongside Cassidy? I've just left an uncontrollable patient."
