by Rachel Burns
He carefully placed the spoon on her tongue and lifted the spoon up and out of her mouth, so the warm soup would glide down her throat.
“You’re such a good girl,” he stated.
Robin smiled at him. “You think so? Despite all the trouble I’m causing you?”
“Oh, yes. You’re letting me help you. After this bowl of soup is empty, I’ll help you to the bathroom, and then I’ll replace the towels. They seem to be doing the trick. Your fever is coming down nicely and slowly.”
“When do you think I can go back to work?” Robin asked.
“Not anytime soon. The streets are flooded.”
“Really? Can I look out?” When he didn’t answer, she added an angelic ‘please’.
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “I’m such a sucker,” he said, giving in. He set down the bowl of soup and lifted her into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he carried her to the window.
“Look, Doctor. You can hardly see the parked cars anymore, and everything is so dark and scary-looking.” A chill went through her body.
“You’re safe with me.”
Robin looked him in the eyes. “I know.” She answered. She got a funny feeling when she looked at him, one that told her to grab onto him and hold on tightly. Still, he was only here because he was stuck here.
In fact, she was already feeling better. She doubted that she even had the flu. Chances were that she’d worried herself sick about making partner. The fact that she worked herself to complete exhaustion didn’t help. She needed rest and healthy food more than anything else.
And sex. She definitely needed good sex. Being this close to a perfect male was making her radar go berserk.
“Do you have to go to the bathroom?” he asked her, waking her from a very steamy daydream.
“Yes,” she sighed, disappointed.
“I’d like a sample of your urine. I have a cup in my bag. I need to test it.”
Robin was disappointed. That wasn’t the sexy thing that a lover would say.
“Next time. I really have to go now.”
“Robin, if you could wait, it would be better. I really need to see how sick you are.” He set her down on the bathroom floor.
“Next time.” Robin darted to the toilet and sat down.
“Try to wait, honey. I’ll get the cup.”
The second he turned around she peed for all she was worth. She wiped and flushed before he returned to find her slipping her panties back into place.
“You seem to be getting better. You certainly moved rather quickly in those few seconds.” He set the cup down loudly next to the toilet. “Next time no games, or you’ll be sorry.”
He gave her a strict look that made her nod at him. Still, there was no way she was going to let an extremely attractive doctor look at her pee. She still had her pride.
Robin washed her hands thoroughly with soap, before she went back to bed. She even had a hop in her step, feeling that she’d won that round.
Sebastian saw that hop and knew that he was being played by this bright-eyed little girl. He covered her up and sat down beside her again. “Would you like to try to eat some more?”
“Yes, please.” Her lips parted ready to accept the broth.
Sebastian fed her, knowing fully well that she could feed herself.
“How long do you think we’re going to be trapped in here together?” she asked.
‘Long enough to get a urine sample’ he thought to himself. ‘And to give you a thorough medical examination.’ “I’m sure it will take a couple of day for the water level to go down,” he answered aloud.
“Do you have some place where you should be?” Robin asked.
“No. On Monday, I start a new job.”
“You don’t sound very excited about that.”
“I am. It’s just that the work I did in Africa was so meaningful. I’m a doctor for the rich, that means tennis elbow and alcohol excess. I feel like it’s a step down from what I was doing.”
“I understand. You were doing what you truly wanted to do, but you can’t afford to do it forever. I think you were lucky because you got a break from the job you didn’t like. I have to work until retirement. And I can’t dare to make even one slight mistake.”
Sebastian nodded along. She wasn’t happy either.
“That was a stupid thing to say. As a doctor, any mistake you make could mean life or death,” Robin corrected herself.
“Your mistakes would cost someone money. Nowadays, that’s more important than someone’s health,” Sebastian stated.
Robin nodded along. “Sadly, you’re right. Loss of money is not forgivable.”
Sebastian continued to feed her spoonful for spoonful until the soup was gone. He felt so content doing that. He had an inner-peace in his heart that told him that this was what he should be doing. That feeling that something was missing was gone.
“I’ll get you some water, and then I’ll take your temperature, honey.”
“Okay.” Robin snuggled in, so she was lying down again. Having nothing to do was fantastic. She should do this more often.
Sebastian came back and slipped his arm under her back, lifting her up, so she could drink. He laid her back down and took her temperature. Her fever was completely gone. He looked down at her.
What would happen if he told her that she was healthy?
Her nose was no longer running, and her eyes were clear. Had she even been sick? He was starting to suspect that she’d been burnt-out, and then she cried, working herself up into a state.
“I think you need a complete exam,” he informed her, not wanting to confront her with his assumptions until he had evidence. Burnout was something that he often treated. It was also something he considered to be a very serious illness.
“I do?”
“Yes, as soon as possible. Are you up to it now, or would you rather wait until tomorrow?”
“Umm – Are you serious?” Robin asked. This didn’t fit into her daydream.
“Yes, I’m very serious.”
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“I realize that, but you seen to be wide-awake. Let’s do it now, so I can better treat you from here on out.” Sebastian opened his bag and got out a few things he needed. “When was the last time you had a physical?”
Robin’s eyes widened. “I guess now is the time to admit that I have a slight doctor phobia.”
“After the urine sample thing you pulled, I expect perfect behavior. Answer my question: when was your last physical?”
Robin knew he wouldn’t be pleased with her answer. “It was back in high school,” she admitted.
Sebastian turned and looked at her, shocked that an adult would do something like that. “High school? Robin, do I need to ask if your shots are up to date?”
“I’d prefer you not to ask.”
“And why is that?”
“I think my answer might make you mad.” He was so clearly mad at her. He wasn’t talking softly anymore and his forehead was wrinkled up with worry. Oddly, his strictness was making her wet for him. He was being so forceful. He was the perfect combination of tenderness and strictness.
“That means no, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose so,” she answered, softly.
“How old are you.”
“I’m thirty-one.” Robin felt like tacking the word ‘sir’ on at the end like she had to do when she was a child with her father and other men.
“That means you need everything. Robin do you have any idea what kind of danger you put yourself into when you aren’t up to par on things like that. In Africa the people were so grateful to receive the shots that you didn’t have time to go get. They walked for miles, sometimes days, to get them.” He shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I’ll make an appointment on Monday and get it taken care of.”
“No, you won’t. You’ll mean to, but then you’ll push it off day for day. No, I’ll make your appointments, and I’ll give you your shot
s, personally.” Sebastian shook his head, thinking that people always took their personal health for granted until it was almost too late.
“Sit up,” he told her. “I expect you to be good for me.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, sitting up perfectly straight.
Sebastian’s hands paused when she said that. It had felt so good. Like she was little and respected him.
Sebastian turned on all the lights in the room, so he could see her better. He was capable of giving one of these exams very quickly. However, he was going to enjoy this one.
He very professionally started asking her questions about her general health, if she got headaches, if she dreamt about work when she slept, or if she thought about work when she should be sleeping. He asked her if she had any hobbies.
“Do you feel that everything you have to do is urgent?”
“Yes, because it is. People want their fifty-page contract written up and signed immediately after the terms have been agreed to. Everything has to move quickly, or I’ll get fired.”
‘Would that be such a bad thing?’ Sebastian thought. He already knew that he’d hate having her job. She’d even admitted that she didn’t like it. “Tell me about your sleeping patterns, Robin?”
“I’d like to sleep more, but, at the moment, it isn’t in the stars for me. I have a workload that’s practically impossible. I need to be awake and alert all the time. More and more work gets loaded onto me. My greatest wish is that there would be two of me. I’d need at least another me to get through everything that has to be done. As it is, I get everything done just at the deadline. I’d like to be able to work ahead and have that feeling of being able to stop and take a breath of air.”
Sebastian nodded at her. She wasn’t on the verge of burnout. She was already there. He was worried about her heart. She needed someone to take care of her. She certainly wasn’t capable of doing it herself, or she would have by now.
“How much sleep do you get every night. Give me an average,” he asked gently.
“Usually, I go to bed around two, and my alarm goes off at six. I hit the snooze button until six-thirty. Then I go back to work.”
Sebastian nodded. “You already admitted that you lay awake, thinking about work when you should be sleeping. Does your heart race when you do that?” he asked.
Robin was surprised that he knew that. She nodded at him.
Sebastian gave her a reassuring smile and wrote in the file he started for her. She was worse off then he thought. “Tell me about the foods you eat. I couldn’t help but notice that your refrigerator was practically empty.”
“I don’t have much time to shop. After work, I want to get home as fast as I can, so I can go to bed and sleep.” She paused, thinking he might want to make a scolding comment about that.
Sebastian knew that now wasn’t the time to scold. It was the time to get her to admit that what she was doing was self-destructive and help guide her to a better path.
“Sometimes I get cravings. We had one of those old-fashioned diners in my hometown. My mom would sometimes take me there. Those were the happiest moments in my life. Sometimes, I make a burger, fries and strawberry shake. You said I should drink those,” she reminded him.
Sebastian had to smile. The food he found was comfort food exactly as he expected. “What do you eat at work?”
“We order in. I usually get a small salad, so the others think that I’m a health nut. I’m not, but it’s expected, so I pretend.”
“Salad is healthy, but it isn’t enough. I wish I could move in and cook for you. I’d make sure you cleaned your plate too.” Sebastian hadn’t wanted to speak aloud. He looked up and saw Robin staring at him. Her face wasn’t telling him what she was thinking. He decided to pretend like he’d simply said it as a comment and not like it was an honest wish that he had.
“Do you eat any kind of fruit?” he asked saving the moment.
Robin was picturing herself coming home and finding this sexy man in her kitchen cooking her a nice warm meal. In her head, it was a very homey and comfortable feeling. She’d come home, and it would still be light out in her dream. It was a good dream. “Pardon me?”
“I asked you if you ate fruit.”
“Oh, just the strawberry syrup that goes in my shake.”
“I understand. Do you often have a task at hand and then catch yourself daydreaming, like you did just now?” he asked.
“No. Never. At work I’m 100% on the ball. I can’t let my guard down, and I don’t.”
“That’s a lot of work, isn’t it? Always keeping your guard up, I mean?”
Robin moved her head around a little like she was thinking about it. “Yes, I guess so. Am I making you mad with my answers?” she asked. Robin didn’t want to disappoint him, and she felt that she was. Should she lie and give him healthy answers? She figured that it was too late for that.
“I’m going to look you over now.” Sebastian set down his file and picked up his otoscope to look into her ears. He gently tugged on her ear as he looked inside. “These look good.”
Then he looked in her eyes and shined a light in them. Her reactions were in the normal range, but he figured that they’d have been faster if she were well-rested.
“Ahh-,” he said, knowing that she’d copy him. Again her throat looked perfectly normal.
She pushed away from him when he wanted to look up her nose.
“Robin, be a good girl, or you won’t get a lollipop,” he threatened.
He was surprised when she sat still and let him look in both nostrils. Neither showed signs of a cold, but he’d heard her sneeze himself. That must have been from the cold. So she’d been exhausted and cried. He needed to help her before the stress killed her.
“Please, open the buttons on the top of your nightie. I want to listen to your heart and lungs.” He took his stethoscope out of his bag and huffed on it to warm it up before he put the plugs in his ears. He looked back at Robin and saw that she hadn’t moved an inch.
Robin was feeling very shy. She was telling herself that this man wasn’t only a doctor, he also was a saint. He’d helped people like Mother Theresa had. He wasn’t going to attack her. In fact, she’d liked that. She’d be more willing to undress for sex than for an examination.
“What’s wrong, Robin?”
“It’s just that – I’m a little shy.”
“I understand, but you know that you don’t have to be with your doctor. I’d never hurt you. In fact, I took an oath, and your doorman ran a check on me. I really am a doctor.” He smiled at her, thinking she was adorable.
“I know. I’m just being silly.” Her fingers went to her buttons, but they resisted.
“Should I help you,” he offered.
“I don’t know why this is so difficult.”
“I can tell you why; it’s because you haven’t been to a doctor’s in so long that it feels wrong.” He quickly opened the buttons on her nightgown and moved the cloth to the side. He’d helped the young children in Africa too.
“That was fast.”
“Goes with the territory when you’re a doctor.” His lips curled up, sharing a smile with her that made her feel like she was his accomplice, giving her the feeling that she could trust him and go anywhere with him. He’d take care of her.
Was she falling in love with the good doctor? Was it real love or puppy love for an authority figure?
Sebastian placed the stethoscope against her warm body and listened. Her heart was going a little fast. He had a strong feeling that it was because of him. She was reacting to him. He loved that.
He knew a few couples who were part-time age players. They each had real jobs, but when they came home, they slipped into their roles. Or, better said, they played a role while at work. This is what this felt like, like Robin was a real little girl, one who was afraid of the doctor.
“I need you to breathe for me. Take nice deep breaths.” He listened to her lungs fill with air and then empty. They sounded good too.
“Cough, please.”
Robin turned her head to the side and coughed. Once she started, she had to cough several more times.
She felt his fingers moving by her breasts. This felt so intimate. Robin was very aware of her own breathing and of their closeness. He smelt good, like a man should, sort of like a woods.
Sebastian was pleased with her lungs. His fingertips brushed against her skin. He could feel the curves of her breasts. He’d done this a million times in his life, but this was the first time that he felt turned on when he listened to someone’s heart and lungs.
“Will you please lie back, so I can listen to your tummy?”
Robin felt like her nerves were scattered all around her. She was nervous and excited all at the same time, even though she knew that she shouldn’t be. He was a doctor and the things he was doing all felt familiar. Still, she was sensitive to each touch. It felt like electrical shocks were going through her.
Robin leaned back and lifted up her nightgown. She lifted it up so high that her ribcage was showing. Her hands were cupping her own breasts, but she didn’t really realize that. Her eyes were on him.
Only the sheer fabric of her panties was covering her. She felt so open to him, this man she’d happened upon in the elevator a few hours ago.
When her body moved back, her mound lifted up. He could see that she had a wet spot on her panties. She was scared, but she liked what he was doing too. His touched seemed to be exciting her as much as it was exciting him. He was getting stiff as he touched her. Again, that was something that had never happened before.
Very professionally, he listened to her tummy. His diagnosis was clear. Still, he needed to get a urine sample to be certain, before he informed her that she didn’t have the flu. His little angel was exhausted and burned-out.
Could he help her?
He wanted to solve all of her problems.
“You can sit up again, Robin.”
“Will I live?” she joked.
Burnout was no joking matter. “I’d like you to come by my office for your shots. While I have you there, I’d like to put you on the ECG and listen to your heart. I didn’t hear anything that made me nervous, but the fact that you sleep so little makes me nervous.
