by Anna Collins
“You could probably walk right into the clinic and procure my blood. I’m a universal donor, which means I can take anything you can get your hands on. Tonight, we’ll see what kind of bedside manner you have,” Casper said as he wound his arms around me at first making contact with my breasts through the summer dress and making my nipples stand up on end.
I think he did that on purpose to reaffirm his feeling we were still alive and kicking after everything we had gone through. I didn’t see this being over with by a long shot. It was only when we were going to get face to face with Nash we could finally get him to call it off before it was too late.
“It’s taking every effort to hold onto you like this. You need to avoid the main roads as much as possible. We don’t know if he came with anybody to back him up. His ego is bigger than life, but I don’t see him taking chances. Let’s be on the safe side and keep an eye out for anything that might give us cause to become concerned,” Casper said with his voice losing steam and the tone sounding more like a man on a drunken binge.
“I can’t believe I’m going to a clinic to steal blood. If you told me I would be doing these things a few months ago, I would’ve thought you had lost your mind. My friends would not recognize me anymore, and I wouldn’t blame them for turning their backs on me. It could be I have outgrown them. I’m no longer the doormat, living for everybody else and not caring about my own wellbeing. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they do it on purpose. They just know I will bend over backward to please anybody,” I said while driving carefully and not at a speed indicative of a fiery crash.
“The one thing I do know is you could never fit into my world. I’m not saying this as any kind of slight, but you must realize my status is someone who the public admires and fears at the same time. I’ve become more aware of suffering. The world shakes whenever I make a decision. I’ve always thought it was a good thing, but now I see it through your eyes. I can’t say for sure I’m going to change, but I think I have already done more than enough of that to last a lifetime. Nash has never been one to do his own dirty work,” Casper said with his fingers loosening with the lack of blood diminishing him in strength and vigor.
Anybody else driving something like this would be putting it to its limits, but I just couldn’t do that. I must’ve looked like a little old lady slowing down every so often to catch my breath and prevent this machine from getting the best of me. I did feel this need for the adrenaline filled moment where the speed would be too much for me to handle. It was there deep down, but I was keeping it from coming out to play and the best way to do this was to continue at a slow and steady pace. It was actually easier this way to look for anybody who might come out of nowhere or appear too many times to be a coincidence.
“I can’t say I don’t like this. I’m enjoying this quite immensely, but I have this itch to turn the throttle all the way up and see what this thing can do. I might be able to entertain the idea at a later date, but only after I get better acquainted with this machine,” I was more intimate with it than some guys I had slept with.
I was consciously aware my body was responding to the way this machine was causing me food for thought. It wouldn’t be long until I needed somebody to lean on. I couldn’t see him swallowing his pride. We both needed to follow our hearts and not let anybody tell us how to live our lives. The call of the open road was very hard to ignore. I could see why those men who were in the process of coming under the knife would feel it necessary to put this on their bucket list. I was strong enough to endure, but this vibration was causing my whole to shift into high gear.
“A lot of women have claimed the same thing, and you’re not the only one by any stretch of the imagination. There are those who get behind me and have a good chance they’re going to have a climax before we get to our final destination. I’m sure you feel that for yourself, and I can only hope I’ll be in a condition to help prolong this for as long as possible. I do feel a little better, but a transfusion will go a long way to get me back my life,” Casper said I stopped near the clinic but not close enough to be spotted by those who might be looking for us.
“This thing is a girls’ wet dream come true,” I said feeling like I was powerless against it.
“It would be easier for me to go in there with you. I’m going to have to trust you can handle this on your own. I don’t think I would’ve been able to do this, but now I see you differently after how you responded to Wes and Rita trying to kill us both. There’s something underneath, a power that will take you far in this life if you only allow it to guide you with a helping hand,” Casper said whispering as if he was in control, but it came off he was losing his edge.
It was like a dream, and I could hear the choir singing every time he was near. Their voices were ringing out in a melody quite beautiful and enchanting at the same time. It was like a drug and the adrenaline keeping me wide awake was something I needed in my life. The only way I was going to get it was by standing strong with Casper and letting him know nothing was going to turn me away from him.
“It’s a pretty easy assignment and even a monkey could do it. I’m going to get in, get what we need and get out without any unnecessary drama. Just try to stay hidden, I would hate to find you’re gone when I came back out. Don’t do anything rash and act without thinking. Some people know how to spot trouble. Don’t take any unnecessary chances and you won’t have to worry about being found out,” I said while getting off the bike and holding myself up.
“You’re going to need a couple of minutes. This is not the motorcycle I drive, but it is remarkably similar to the one I do have. I’m going to have to let you compare which one is better. I had mine custom made to give my wife the ride of a lifetime. Unfortunately, she liked the bike more than she did me and found every reason to be out on the open road on weekends and even during social occasions. That’s where her need for other men came from, and I kick myself every day for introducing her to the beast replacing me,” Casper said as I looked at the bike and knew exactly how his wife felt.
Chapter 32
It was a good thing they were busy with those who were bleeding and crying out for assistance. The doctors and nurses didn’t even notice I was there and I made no real evidence to give them a reason to scrutinize me any further than necessary. I walked down the corridors, looking for the room where the blood was held, getting nowhere quick.
“Are you a nurse? I could actually use some tender loving care,” This man with close-cropped brown hair and a goatee which was caked in blood was nursing a black eye and what looked like two teeth missing.
“I bet you say this to all the nurses. I’m not one, but I have been known to have a unique bedside manner. I’m going to let your imagination run wild with this statement. If you need something, then I can certainly track one down and have them come to you,” I gasped as he lifted his johnny gown and showed me an impressive piece of equipment dangling.
“I’ve been in worst fights than this. I am confident you could make me feel better even if you’re not a nurse,” This guy said with a self-important attitude; it made me look at him with disgust in my eyes.
“Trust me, there’s no way you can handle all of this in your condition. I wouldn’t even attempt to try unless you want to hurt yourself even further. I can be quite wild in the sack, and I leave no prisoners taken once we get started. I don’t hold back. Don’t make the mistake of biting off more than you can handle,” I said with him standing there licking his lips with the very idea I could leave him a puddle of what he once was.
“I’ve always been partial to the crazy ones. They make an extra effort and I see that same tendency in your eyes. I also see you have somebody you care about. Women may think they have this instinct all to themselves, but I’ve been able to use my radar to pick out those who are available and those who are not. You’re not available and for you to tease me like this is wrong,” He said while going back to his room and closing the door.
I bumped into a nurse
, and I apologized profusely, but I was also using a bit of sleight of hand to pilfer a card key she had in her possession. It was clipped to her belt, and she wouldn’t recognize it was gone until she had to go someplace where it was only authorized personnel allowed. From the looks of it, it really did feel like they needed all hands on deck to take care of the deluge of people who had shown up on their doorstep with various injuries and complaints.
I finally found the door I was looking for. It would lead me to where the blood was located. Once the card registered I was supposed to be there, it opened like the magic words had been said from an incantation given by some sort of witch. I would’ve been burned alive back in Salem during the witch trials. Times had changed.
The room was cold to the touch, and I could actually see my breath as I breathed in and out through my nose and mouth. The blood was chilled to keep it fresh, and I found three bagfuls. They were most likely about to be used for some sort of emergency procedure, but I couldn’t think like that. I squirreled them away underneath my jacket, holding it tight and hoping none of them would slip and fall to the ground to show my duplicitous actions.
I closed the door and then I felt a telltale hand on my shoulder. “I don’t know what you are doing, but only authorized personnel are allowed to pass that door,” The voice had some authority behind it. It might have come as a reaction from a soldier or maybe a rent a cop getting a little too hands on.
“I’m with the doctors without borders, and I would appreciate you don’t talk to me like that. If I wasn’t supposed to be here, do you think I would have a card key to be easily able to access that room? You can’t possibly think for one minute somebody could get past all the security without raising a few concerns,” I said as I turned to face this dark skinned young man who looked a little green around the gills.
I raised the card with my thumb over the photograph. I was letting them see I was Dr. Charlene Parrish. The only stumbling point was whether or not he had become acquainted with Doctor Parrish.
“I apologize, this is my first day. I don’t know everybody around here, but I thought it was a little suspicious to see you sneaking in and looking up and down the hall to make sure nobody was watching you.” He said with his hands still on my shoulder but this time with less of a grip; he thought I was nothing to worry about.
“I don’t like being looked at like a criminal. Get back to your post, and maybe I won’t discuss this with the security company you work for. If you’re lucky, none of this will be mentioned,” I said almost closing my eyes and ready to curl up into the fetal position.
“I don’t really want to lose my job on my first day. I have a family to take care of. I promise you won’t have any more trouble from me,” He said as I was going by instinct and trusting my other senses to keep me from losing it.
I breathed deeply, and I really did make him believe I should be here. I could have any man, yet I had chosen this one with enough baggage to weigh him down considerably. I’m not sure I would’ve gotten involved with him had I known all the facts going forward. I found I could be anything he needed me to be within reason. The amusement never ended, and there was always something about him to make me smile. It didn’t necessarily have to do with the sex which was better than any man who came before him.
I thought I was in the clear. I was close to the door when I heard a voice not exactly happy. “You’re not who you say you are. I’m Dr. Parrish, and this makes you a fraud. Do you mind telling me why you would want to take my identification? You can either tell me, or you can tell the authorities on their way to detain you,” Dr. Parrish said as she had me turn around and face her with the hustle and bustle of the emergency room not keeping her from realizing I was the one who had taken her identification.
“I… I… I really don’t know what you want me to say. I can’t think of a valid reason why I would want to take your identification, not one that makes sense. I’m sure you’re waiting for me to tell you the truth, but it’s entirely subjective. You must know girls do some strange things for the guys they love with all of their heart. I could ask for your forgiveness, and it would be the end of it. I get the feeling you might be a stickler for the rules. Take it back, and I’ll be on my way,” I said trying to tiptoe around the reason why I had taken her identification in the first place.
“You have a funny way of saying nothing and something at the same time. You’re hiding something underneath your jacket, and I want to know what it is. Give me a reason to let you go, and I might reconsider my position. It’s obvious you don’t want the authorities involved, and I could easily make a phone call and make it all go away,” Charlene said with compassion and a bit of an edge I found a little disconcerting.
“If it’s all the same to you, I would really like to discuss this in private. It’s a time sensitive matter of life and death,” I said hoping she was going to allow me to save face by doing this out of earshot of those who didn’t have to know my business.
“Come with me, and this better be good. You have me curious enough to listen to what you have to say,” Charlene said as she led me to a vacant room and closed the door behind us.
She had her arms crossed, and it didn’t look like I was going to get out of here without saying something to appease her. I had to come up with a believable story and the best way to do that was to make it as truthful as possible without revealing too much. She was going to see through any lie with no semblance of truth within it. I didn’t know how I could possibly know this, but it was mostly in the way she was staring me down like I was a student being chastised for my behavior for acting like a fool in class.
“A friend of mine is hurt, and I don’t think he is very trusting of hospitals. He has seen too many people go in one door and never come out the other. You have to admit the kind of reputation in any hospital has people leery about coming here unless it is absolutely necessary. You and I both know hospitals and clinics are not as clean as they are supposed to be. There is a medley of germs waiting to strike fear into all those who enter. That’s not something I feel I can subject him to,” I said with her still staring at me and making my feet feel like they were stuck to the floor like glue.
“I’ve had several people who didn’t want to be treated here because of their perception of things. It doesn’t give you a right to come in here and steal what you need. I would have gladly given you what you needed, unless of course, I felt this man was in dire need of more than what you can do. Tell me about his injuries and what exactly did you take that would probably be missed?” Charlene said as she leaned back against the bed.
“He got into an altercation with a man who had a knife. He was stabbed, sliced and lost a lot of blood. He told me he was a universal donor. I grabbed whatever I could. I really don’t want any trouble with the authorities. Can’t you see it in your heart to allow me to sneak through the cracks? I’m not asking for myself, but my friend needs a transfusion. He has lost a lot of blood. Thankfully, I stopped it in time, but he’s still weak and barely able to lift a finger. He will most likely survive, but he has to be 100% strong, or others might see that as a weakness,” I said with as much truth as I could come up with.
“Bring him in here, and I might let this go. Don’t make me ask you again. I think I'm quite generous, considering you were stealing blood which is the life force of those who need it the most. If he’s in no shape to come in here, I’m willing to go out and retrieve him with you. You’re lucky I was the one which you took the card key from and not somebody else. These people around here treat people like a number. It was most likely a good thing you didn’t bring him in here without speaking to me beforehand. I’m a sucker for a sob story like you just gave me, even though I’m sure there’s more to this story than you have given me,” Charlene said as she made me put the blood back on the table.
“I know he’s not going to be very receptive of coming in here. I’ll do what I can to convince him it’s the right thing. We can’t do this alone,” I said
as I walked out and down to where he was lying over the motorcycle barely breathing and giving me less than an encouraging smile.
He was dead weight, and I had him hold onto me around the neck as I dragged him to an open door ready to be received by Parrish. “I do believe you were underplaying his condition. Bring him down here, we’ll take a quick look at him and have you on your way if possible. Just looking at him, I think he’s going to need bed rest for 12 hours. I can’t make you stay, but it would be in your best interest to do so,” Charlene said as she helped me take Casper into the same room from where we had come from.
I sat there watching her cut through his clothing and then administering to his needs. There was no reason to take off his pants. All of his injuries were above the waist. He had a couple of superficial cuts to his legs from going through that glass door. She worked proficiently and kept mumbling underneath her breath; she couldn’t believe she was giving in this easily to what could possibly be a Bonnie and Clyde duo.
