by R J Nolan
"Can you show me where the pain is?" Jess asked.
Beatrice rubbed her hand in a circular motion over her lower abdomen.
"Okay. Let me take a look." Jess pulled the sheet back. She reached for Beatrice's gown.
The exam room door banged open.
Rodman stomped into the room. He took a white-knuckled grip on the end of the gurney. "What the hell are you doing?"
"My job," Jess said. She met Rodman's angry glare with calm confidence. "Now, if you'll step out, please. I haven't completed my history and physical yet."
Rodman growled. "I will not. You're done here, McKenna. Out." He patted Beatrice's leg. "Don't you worry, sweetheart. I'll take good care of you."
"Richie," Mrs. Hartford said, in a warning tone.
Rodman froze. He shot a glare at Jess as if daring her to comment.
Richie?
"Let Dr. McKenna do her job."
Rodman turned to his sister. "I'm a doctor too," he said, sounding like a petulant little boy.
"Yes, dear," Mrs. Hartford said as if placating a stubborn child. She walked over to him. "Come on. We can come back once Dr. McKenna is finished."
"I know what's wrong with Bea. She," Rodman jutted his chin out toward Jess, "works for me."
"Yes, dear. I know." His sister patted his arm. "Let's go. You can show me your big office."
Mrs. Hartman tugged Rodman to the door. He whined all the way — but went anyway.
Jess bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. I'll be damned. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.
Once the door closed behind them, Jess turned her attention back to her patient.
Shit. I so don't need this. Especially with Rodman breathing down my neck. Jess stepped out of the exam room. She glanced around, relieved to not find Rodman waiting to pounce.
Jess made her way to her office and pushed open the door.
"Hey, Jess. How did it go with Rodman's niece?" Kim asked.
Jess walked over to the couch where Kim was sitting but was too agitated to sit down. "Not so good. With the help of his sister, I managed to get Rodman out of the exam room so I could do a history and physical."
Kim's eyebrow shot up.
"I'll tell you all about that later, but right now I have a problem."
"With Rodman's niece?"
"Yeah. She's obviously in pain, but she's not cooperating or answering questions. I thought at first it was because her mother was in the room. Beatrice was giving these nebulous answers and saying things like 'I guess.' But once we were alone, things went downhill. Every question I asked, she responded with, 'Uncle Richie says I have appendicitis.'"
"Richie," Kim mouthed.
Jess quirked a smile. "Later."
"Sorry. Go ahead," Kim said.
"I asked if there was any possibility she might be pregnant. She looked completely panicked and didn't answer. When I pressed her, she muttered an unconvincing no, then refused to speak to me any further. I did examine her before all this, and while her belly pain could be appendicitis, it could also be an ectopic pregnancy." Jess raked her hands through her hair. "She refuses to have blood drawn or allow me to do a pelvic exam or even an ultrasound."
"What can I do?" Kim asked.
"I was just hoping you had some bright idea of how to get her to realize how serious this is. Otherwise, I'm going to have to involve her mother and Rodman. Beatrice is an adult, so if Rodman gets her consent, he can take her to the OR." Jess shoved her hands into her lab coat pockets. "There is no way I will allow Rodman to do that without adequate pre-op blood work and an ultrasound — especially if there is a chance she's pregnant."
"And you think Rodman will have a fit if you insist on a pregnancy test?"
"It's a good assumption considering how she's acting. I figure that's what she's afraid of. Either Rodman or her mother finding out that she might be pregnant." Jess started to pace. "Plus the fact that she looks about twelve." She blew out a breath. "I bet that's how Rodman sees her."
"Do you want me to try and talk to her?" Kim asked.
Jess stopped in her tracks. Is that why I came in here? Had she wanted Kim to take over with the girl? Guilt flooded Jess. She comes on Christmas and brings you breakfast and this is how you thank her, by dumping your problems on her? "No. That's okay. You're not on-call today. It's Christmas."
Kim rose from the couch and walked to Jess. "I really don't mind." She tugged at her shirt. "Only I'm not sure I'm dressed appropriately."
Jess took a moment to admire Kim's form. She was wearing a long-sleeved Henley shirt and jeans that hugged her curves. She put her hands on Kim's hips. "You look like you'd fit right in with the college crowd. Maybe that will help." She gently squeezed the soft flesh under her hands. "You sure you don't mind?"
Kim gave Jess's lips a quick peck. "I'll let you know how it goes." She took a moment to grab her ID badge out of her purse, then headed for the door.
Jess wrote up Beatrice's chart while she waited for Kim. Hope she has better luck than I did. That wasn't an unreasonable expectation. Kim had a way with people that Jess had never possessed. Something about Kim made people feel safe confiding in her.
The door to her office blew open with enough force to slam it against the wall.
Jess jumped. Damn it.
She glared at Rodman.
He stormed over and stood next to her chair, glaring down at her. "What the hell is Donovan doing in the room with Bea?"
Jess grasped the edge of her desk and shoved her chair back, forcing Rodman to step away or have his toes run over. She stood. "I'm providing your niece with the best possible care." Unlike you, who wants to whisk her off to the OR without a workup.
Rodman got right in Jess's face. "She doesn't need to talk to some dyke psychiatrist. She needs a real doctor."
Her hands clenched at her sides as Jess struggled for control.
Kim heard raised voices from down the hall. She quickened her pace toward Jess's office. The voices suddenly became clear.
"Don't ever let me hear you talk about Kim like that again. She's the best psychiatrist this place has ever had."
Who the hell is in there with her? Kim had never heard Jess sound so furious. Realization struck. Rodman.
"What's the matter?" came Rodman's sneering response. "Did I hurt your feelings? I insulted your little dyke girlfriend?"
"Mine and Kim's personal life has nothing to do with this and is none of your business."
"Now I know why you wanted her to work down here, so you could have your puss —"
"Get out of my office!" Jess's voice vibrated with rage.
You bastard.
Kim broke into a sprint. She slid to a halt outside Jess's door.
The sight before her froze her in place.
No, Jess. Don't! She gripped the door frame.
Jess and Rodman were standing toe to toe and looked as if they would come to blows any second.
"Dr. McKenna," Kim called sharply.
Jess's head whipped around.
Rodman sneered. "Speak of the dev —"
"Shut up," Jess snarled.
Shut the fuck up, Rodman. Kim could see the tendons in Jess's neck standing out. Her fists were clenched at her side. She was barely holding it together.
"Dr. McKenna. I need to speak with you," Kim said, trying to keep Jess's attention on her. She had to break this up but wasn't sure Jess would walk away. She took a single step into the room. "Please," she said.
Jess blew out a breath. She walked away from Rodman without a glance.
Kim's knees went weak. Thank, God.
When Jess's body blocked her view of Rodman, Kim smiled at her.
The tense set of Jess's face eased a notch.
Just as Jess reached Kim, Rodman spoke up. "Release Beatrice and get her up to the OR. Right now."
Jess stiffened.
Kim grabbed the front of Jess's lab coat before she could turn back to Rodman. "Let it go. Come o
n." She tugged on Jess's coat. "Beatrice needs you."
She breathed a sigh of relief when Jess allowed herself to be pulled out the door.
Kim tried to focus on a psych journal while she waited for Jess.
After taking Jess in to see Beatrice, she had returned to Jess's office while Jess ran the tests Beatrice had finally agreed to. Rodman had tried to interfere, but quickly backed off in the face of his sister's disapproval. His sister had been an unexpected surprise, and Kim had liked her immediately.
Already on edge, Kim jumped when Jess's office door opened.
Jess stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
Kim couldn't help smiling when Jess made a point of locking the door. She moved off the couch and approached Jess. When Jess opened her arms, Kim willingly fell into them.
"You okay?" Kim asked.
"Yeah. You?"
"Better now." Kim leaned back in Jess's arms until she could look into her eyes. She caressed her cheek. "You scared me earlier. I thought for sure you were going to hit Rodman." Or stroke out.
"Scared myself a little," Jess said. "But when he started bad-mouthing you and then our relationship... I just kind of lost it."
Kim rubbed her hands soothingly up and down Jess's back. "He's not worth it... No matter how tempting." Jess's staunch defense had been like a soothing balm over a still tender wound. Her eyes misted up as her throat grew tight with emotion. "It meant a lot to me that you stood up for me." More than you will ever know.
Jess cradled Kim's face in her hands and used her thumb to gently wipe away a tear. She held Kim's gaze. "I would never deny you. Not professionally. Not personally. Never."
"I love you." The words were out before Kim could stop them. Her heart tripped double time. But once the words were out, she couldn't bring herself to regret them.
A tremor rippled through Jess's body. She pulled Kim into an almost painfully tight embrace. "I love you," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
The admission made Kim's heart soar.
When Jess pulled back, tears shone in her eyes.
Kim smiled and tenderly brush away Jess's tears. "We're quite the pair."
A loving smile spread across Jess's face and she nodded.
The phone on Jess's desk rang, shattering the moment.
"Damn it." Jess winced. "Sorry."
With a warm smile, Kim stepped back, breaking their embrace. "Duty calls."
Jess smiled and headed for the phone. "Dr. McKenna... Yes... Thank you." She hung up the phone and then walked back to Kim.
Kim took her hand and together they moved to the couch.
"That was OB. Beatrice is on her way to the OR." Jess sank back against the cushions. She rubbed her neck and groaned.
Kim tugged Jess's hand away from her neck. You need to relax. "Sit up and scoot forward a little."
Jess readily did as instructed. She gave Kim an endearing, lopsided smile.
Kim laid her hands on Jess's shoulders and kneaded the stiff muscles.
A whimper escaped from Jess. "Oh yeah. That's wonderful."
"So what happened with Beatrice?"
"Oh..." Jess seemed to be having a hard time concentrating. "You did a great job with her. Getting her to tell the truth and agree to the tests, you saved her from an unnecessary appendectomy and possibly having an ectopic pregnancy rupture."
"What did Rodman say?" Kim asked.
"What could he say with the test results right in front of him?"
"Don't suppose he apologized?"
Jess snorted. "No. Hell has not frozen over." She pulled away and turned around to face Kim. "But Mrs. Hartford thinks you are an absolutely wonderful doctor." Jess's eyes sparkled. "And... told Rodman he should give you a big raise."
Their laughter filled the air.
CHAPTER 31
JESS EASED THE front door closed. Home at last.
Despite her exhaustion after her twenty-four hour shift, Jess's spirit was light. Kim's declaration of love had filled a place in Jess's soul she had not even known was empty.
She glanced into the living room when Thor did not make an immediate appearance. The light from a fire created flickering shadows that danced around the room. The Christmas tree was a shimmering beacon of light.
Jess kicked off her shoes and made her way into the living room.
Kim was asleep on the couch. Thor was stretched out in front of it. One of Kim's arms hung over the side of the couch, her hand resting on his chest.
She found the domestic scene unexpectedly soothing. Smiling, Jess approached the pair.
Thor lifted his head.
Jess quickly gave him the hand signals for quiet and stay. That didn't stop the thumping of his tail against the couch.
Kim blinked. Sleepy blue eyes opened, and she smiled. "You're home."
Jess moved to the side of the couch, leaned down, and kissed Kim softly. "Merry Christmas."
Thor took that as an invitation and jumped up to offer his own greeting.
Fending him off, Jess laughed. "Merry Christmas to you too, my boy."
Kim sat up and patted the spot next to her.
A big yawn escaped before Jess could stop it. She flopped down on the couch next to Kim.
Kim scooted closer. She slid her hand along the nape of Jess's neck and began a light massage.
Jess relaxed into the gentle, loving touch. "Feels good," she murmured. Her eyelids drooped.
She jerked, startling Kim. Great. Falling asleep on Christmas. Jess scrubbed her hands over her face. She was sinking fast but determined to fight it. "Sorry about that."
"You just got off of a twenty-four hour shift. Don't worry about it." Kim leaned close and kissed her. "Are you hungry?"
Jess's stomach growled right on cue.
Kim chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes." She stood and offered Jess a hand. "Come sit at the table. I've got plates in the oven already made."
Kim disappeared into the kitchen.
Jess headed for the table. She was too tired to protest; besides, if she was honest, it felt good to know Kim wanted to take care of her after a long shift.
Kim watched as Jess chased the last bit of gravy around her plate.
"That was excellent. Thank you. Two home-cooked meals in one day." Jess smiled. "You're spoiling me."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Taking Jess breakfast had been one thing, but she had surprised herself when the urge to have a meal prepared and waiting for Jess had struck. You're getting very domestic these days. Normally, Kim avoided anything that even hinted at domesticity with her girlfriends. Then again, none of her previous relationships had prepared her for Jess.
When Jess had returned her spontaneous declaration of love without hesitation, another fragile piece of her heart had mended.
Jess stood and began to stack the plates.
"Go sit down. I'll get this," Kim said.
"You cooked. I should clean up."
Kim stood and pointed toward the living room. "Go." She had seen Jess trying to stifle a yawn several times during dinner. She knew she had to be nearing the end of her endurance.
Jess followed her instructions without protest, proving how tired she really was.
Having cleaned up everything else earlier, Kim made quick work of the plates and then returned to the living room. She softened her steps when she realized Jess's eyes were closed. Bypassing the couch, she sat down in the Morris chair, not wanting to take the chance of waking Jess.
Jess roused. "I'm awake."
"I should get going and let you get some rest," Kim said.
Jess sat up straight and rubbed her face. "No. It's Christmas day. Time to open presents."
Kim moved over to the couch and sat next to Jess. She stroked Jess's hair. "We can open them tomorrow."
"No. Don't want to." Jess's lower lip stuck out and she knuckled her eyes like an overly tired child.
The juxtaposition of that image with the one of the usually stoic ER Chief was endearing to say th
e least.
Kim turned sideways and ran her fingers into Jess's thick black hair. Using just the pads of her fingers, she gently massaged her scalp.
Jess's blink rate got slower, and even though she was obviously fighting it, her eyes slid shut.
"Sleep tonight. Presents tomorrow," Kim said, her voice soft and low.
Jess sighed. Her eyes slowly opened. "Stay with me?"
Kim's heart clenched at the open, love-filled look on Jess's face.
"Always," Kim said.
CHAPTER 32
THE BUTTERFLIES in Kim's stomach were rapidly morphing into bats the closer they got to San Diego and Sam's apartment. Kim had wanted to meet Sam for months, and she still did, but yesterday had changed things.
Now that she and Jess had exchanged "I love you," it upped the ante of this meeting significantly. Instead of simply meeting the sister of someone she was dating, this had become about being introduced to her girlfriend's family. And that was something well outside her comfort zone. You can do this. How many times has Jess gone outside her comfort zone for you?
Jess's warm hand landing on her thigh made Kim jump.
"You okay?" Jess asked, glancing at Kim before turning her attention back to the road.
"Yeah. Just a little nervous." Kim put her hand on her stomach. Okay, maybe more than a little.
"Don't be. I'm sure you'll like Sam."
Kim put her hand on top of Jess's. "I was more worried about her liking me actually."
Jess squeezed Kim's thigh. "I promise. You have nothing to worry about."
Hope you're right. Knowing what she did about Jess's past, Kim expected Sam to be skeptical of her until she proved herself. Once Sam sees you're nothing like that bitch, she'll be fine. I hope.
Jess turned into an apartment complex. She parked and then turned to face Kim. "Hey." She leaned across the console and cupped Kim's face. Jess placed soft kisses across her cheeks, along her jaw line, and finally kissed her lips.
Kim sighed into the gentle kiss.
"Better?" Jess asked when the kiss broke.
