Ten

 

"Did you find Tony or Lin?" Aidan asked as I returned to ED.

I nodded. "He's coming. Right away, I believe." I maintained my composure and looked at the bench where the drunk had been when I'd left. "Where'd he go?"

The door to the public toilets flew open and the man staggered out, answering my question. "I want to go home," he slurred, touching a hand to his bandaged nose.

The taxi pulled up behind him and beeped before anyone else could say anything. He stumbled outside to the waiting car.

Tony turned up, a big grin on his face, as he repaired the roof and every tap he could get his hands on. With a wink to Lin, he whistled as he left. Lin kept her eyes on the floor.

"Belinda, can you help me with something in the office?" Aidan asked, with a brief look at the students. "Call us if any more patients arrive."

Both girls nodded, standing side by side at the desk. Lin looked a little flushed, but the other girl didn't seem to notice.

I followed Aidan back to the duty doctor's office and he shut the door as soon as I'd joined him inside.

"How'd you do it, Belinda? You took over my ED and had it running smooth as satin or melted chocolate in about fifteen minutes. You even had the patients thinking I was in charge, though I knew I wasn't. How can I repay you? Let me buy you dinner. Please?" His eyes held both admiration and desperation.

Satin or melted chocolate? Unusual examples for smoothness or a hospital.

I summoned an uneasy smile. "I didn't do much. You took care of your patients and all I did was tell the nursing students what to do. Hardly worth a dinner. I'm just doing my job."

"You did a bloody amazing job. At least join me for dinner, even if you won't let me pay for it. Please?" he persisted.

I surrendered. "Okay."

His grin was fierce. "The Tanglehead again, right after your shift finishes?"

I nodded. The restaurant had just taken a delivery of bronze whaler fillets, I'd heard from the kitchen staff, and I had a taste for shark right now.