“Oh, Max, I’m sorry. Whatever I had ran its course. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep.” She gave him a pout.
The corners of his eyes did that cute wrinkle thing. Vamp skin didn’t crease. “I’m happy you’re better. We’ll have to try to get together again soon.”
“I’m up for that!”
Soon he would be, too.
“Hi, K.L.” He peered at Barbara. “Who’s this?”
Thankfully, with Barbara’s new hairdo and pallor, he hadn’t recognized her.
“Uh, this is Barbara, uh, our new lab tech. K.L.’s going to show her the ropes tonight. Literally, if she doesn’t behave, she thought.
“Welcome aboard to Fang Hospital. I hope you like it here.”
Barbara carefully grinned without displaying her fangs.
Max leaned closer. Gabriella could smell the blood coursing through his veins. She hoped the E.R. stayed quiet tonight. She’d have her own party with Max before moving down to the lab to join in K.L.’s festive plans.
Max popped the car door open and extended his hand to Gabriella. He eased her from the car and shut the door; his eyes never wavered from hers. K.L. escorted Barbara from the car. He scooted her past Max and Gabriella.
“I’ll be orienting Barbara to the lab. When you two have the chance, stop by for tricks and treats.” He winked at Gabriella. “Later.”
“Absolutely,” she said.
K.L. and Barbara disappeared.
Max took Gabriella’s hand. “You’re frozen!”
“The air conditioning in my car is top notch.”
“Hey, where did K.L. and Barbara go? They were just here.”
“They apparently were in a hurry.”
Max glanced at his watch. “Our shift doesn’t start for another 25 minutes. Care to take a stroll? There are some picnic benches in the rear of the hospital. I’m sure there are no “picnickers” there tonight.” He nuzzled her neck. “We’ll have the place to ourselves.”
The man was living dangerously, and she loved it. She could go for a holiday quickie, a prelude for some real down time with Max.
Max sat on the bench and yanked Gabriella to him. She straddled him. She stroked his neck. Her nails had extended. His carotid pulsed beneath her fingers, rocketing to fill him where it counted. She grinded against his hardness. He could definitely compete with any vamp man! Her fangs lengthened, sharp and primed to taste his deliciousness. Wet and aching to receive him, she tugged the tie of his scrub pants. He reached down and untied hers. She couldn’t contain herself anymore. Gabriella punctured his neck. Sucked into her seduction, Max flung his head back for more. She drew enough to please him and satisfy her without draining him right then and there. He moaned. She prided herself with his response. They wiggled out of their scrub pants to beyond their hips, anxious for one another. They were about to complete their delicious 25-minutes, when a light shone on them. Gabriella winced. Max held her tight.
“What the hell?’ he yelled.
“Hey, you two, get out of here!” the hospital security man shouted.
He zoomed his flashlight on them. “Oh, pardon me, doctors. ” He whipped the beam away, sheepishly waved, and scurried back into the hospital.
“Well, that was uncomfortable...for him,” Max said. “But for me, hardly.” He cocked his head toward the E.R doors. “Let’s take this inside.” He pressed his lips to hers with a mix of obedience and passion. “To be continued,” he whispered, his voice crystal in her ear.
They adjusted their scrub pants. Max left his a bit roomier, camouflaging the remains of an unfinished tryst.
Gabriella glanced at Max’s “south.” She lifted a brow and sheepishly smiled, careful to not expose her fangs.
“We’ll walk slowly,” she said.
Max laughed. “I’ll need at least a mile to walk this off!”
****
They arrived in the E.R. just in time for their bodies to recoup hospital decorum. But her mind buzzed, anticipating their next, hopefully uninterrupted, encounter. She focused on his thoughts. His mind was as lit as hers.
“Gabriella? Yoo hoo. Dr. Van Court? Are you ready?” one of the out-going E.R. physicians called.
She snapped to attention. She was ready all right. But patients came first.
“I am. Let’s do check-out rounds so you guys can get out of here and celebrate Halloween.”
“What’s to enjoy?” the other attending physician asked. “I can’t wait to turn off my lights. I can’t believe how many kids still ring the doorbell for candy.”
What a killjoy! Gabriella thought. She’d bite into him the next time they were alone.
She and Max and the two-day shift attendings reviewed the stack of patient clipboards.
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” one said. “Especially for Halloween. Most of the patients have been dispo’d and are awaiting transfer to their hospital beds. We’ve left three active ones for you. There’s a guy in cubicle 2 with acute nephrolithiasis. He’s been given some pain meds and Urology has already been consulted. They’ll take care of that kidney stone.”
The E.R. doctor tossed the patient’s clipboard aside. Gabriella would round on him anyway. She’d fix him before the urologist made a step into her E.R.! Healing was her vampire gift, and she used it humbly.
The other E.R. attending shuffled through the clipboards. “Let’s cut to the chase. I want out of here. Cubicle 1 has a head laceration that will need suturing and a tetanus to go.”
Max picked up the clipboard. “I’ll take care of that.”
“Moving on,” E.R. doc one droned. “In cubicle 3 is a guy – rule out MI. Doubtful he’s had a heart attack. So far the work up is negative. We’re waiting for the rest of his blood work. His cardiac enzymes are pending. Then you can sign him out as indigestion. And speaking of indigestion, in bed 4 we got a kiddie dressed as Dracula. Very convincing, I must say. Ate too much Halloween candy, I suppose. He’s all yours. We’re out of here!”
“Yeah, keep it as quiet as we left it, will you, guys?”
The outgoing E.R. doctors sprinted out the door.
Max folded his arms across his chest. “Jerks. Knowledgeable, but jerks just the same.”
Gabriella touched his shoulder. She’d have to trim her nails again, and soon. “Karma, Max. Karma.”
She’d definitely dole out her definition of Karma!
“I’ll attend to Dracula, and you stitch up that man’s head.” She ran her pointy fingernails along the back of his neck. “Once we finish, we can, as you put it, continue.”
Max rolled his eyes upward and softly moaned. “I’ll suture fast.”
****
Max entered cubicle 1. He stretched out his hand.
“Good evening. I’m Dr. Cade. That’s a nasty gash you have across your forehead.”
Clotted maroon clumps of dried blood clung to the young man’s blonde hair.
“My bicycle’s front wheel got stuck in a pothole. I didn’t. Next thing I knew I went airborne. A tree took me down!”
“Yeah, I hate when that happens. Sorry for the wait. We’ll get you cleaned up and stitched up. I hope you have a ride back. I don’t think you’ll be pedaling home. Plus it’s already dark.”
“No problem. My girlfriend brought me. She’s in the waiting room. My mangled bike is in her car.”
“That’s nice of her. She must really care about you.”
“She can’t handle the sight of blood. She got so pale. But she drove me here anyway.” The young man smiled past the crusted blood plastered to his cheeks. “She’s the one, you know.”
Max’s thoughts zeroed on Gabriella. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
An E.R. nurse joined them. “I’ve brought a suture tray and irrigation for you, Dr. Cade. When you’re finished suturing our bicyclist’s wound, let me know.” The nurse smiled and nodded at the young man. “I’ll clean you up real nice after Dr. Cade finishes. You’re in luck, at least here. He’s the best.”
Max
waved his hand. “She’s exaggerating. The other guy’s gash I did last week turned out,” he shrugged, “eh, okay. A little cock-eyed, but no one’s perfect.”
The young man’s eyes bulged.
Max held up his palms. “I’m joking.”
“Phew!”
“You’ll have a scar, but I’ll wager it will be minimal.”
“That’s cool. As long as you don’t make me look like Frankenstein, stitch away, Doc.”
“Even though it’s Halloween, I’ll resist the urge.”
The young man laughed. “Hey! You’re all right.”
Max turned to open the suture tray.
The nurse pointed to his neck. “Dr. Cade, That’s a hell of a bug bite. I’ll get some anti-bacterial ointment and a Band-Aid.”
“That’s weird. I didn’t feel a thing.”
“Whatever got you, Doc, had some wide choppers.”
Max looked into the mirror above the sink. “I’ll be damned. Something had a good meal.” He’d have to check Gabriella’s neck as well. They had been too busy to notice any insect invaders.
The nurse patched up his neck and Max patched up his patient with surgical perfection.
He cinched the last piece of suture across the young man’s forehead.
“The nurse will give you a tetanus shot and wound care instructions. I’ll see you in 5 days to take those out.”
His patient gave him a thumb’s up sign. “Thanks, Doc. Happy Halloween!”
“You, too. Watch out for the trick-or-treaters on your way home.”
“I will.” He pointed to the Band-Aid on Max’s neck. “You better watch out for Dracula.”
“I’ll get some garlic. Take care, and let the city know about the pothole.” He winked. “Although I could use the practice.”
“I’ll recommend you to all my friends.” The young man waved. “See you in 5 days.”
Max waved back. “Later.”
He sank into a chair in front of the computer screen, ready to enter his notes on his patient. His fingertips had just touched the keyboard when his heartbeat took flight. Max glanced up from the computer, but only saw nurses bustling about. He pressed two fingers over the Band-Aid on his neck. His carotid pulsed past the bandage. Could he be having an allergic reaction to that bug bite? Nah! He was just paranoid. Max focused back on his work.
“Boo!”
Max startled erect in his chair.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I spook you?” Gabriella asked.
He slumped in his seat and drew a deep breath. “You got me.”
Gabriella leaned over the computer and kissed his forehead, which only propelled his heart to beat faster.
“I’ll make it up to you,” she said.
He tapped her on the nose. “Yes, you will.”
His playful tone faded. Max crooked his finger. “Let’s go to cubicle 6. There are no patients there. I need to show you something.”
“I’ve had a preview of that, but if you insist, I’ll beat you there!”
“No, seriously. Follow me.”
Max and Gabriella entered cubicle 6, and he slid the privacy doors shut. He pulled the drapes across the glass doors, ripped off his Band-Aid, and pointed to his neck. “A bug must have bitten me while we were on the picnic bench.” He studied Gabriella’s neck. She had no markings. “What do you think? Is it bad?”
She walked over to him and assessed his wound. “Yep, something bit you alright. But you’ll live.”
She clutched the “V” of his scrub top and pulled him close. The throb elsewhere eclipsed the pulse in his neck.
“I’ll kiss it and make it better.”
Gabriella’s lips rested smooth and cool upon his wound.
She eased away from him. “All better.” She squeezed his shoulders. “I have to see some patients, first. Then I’ll give you all my attention.”
Gabriella let him loose and slid the glass doors open. She turned around and gave him a queen’s wave. “I’ll see you later!”
Max looked down at his growing dilemma. Not again! That wicked woman! He’d have to wait it out a few minutes. He walked over to the mirror above the hospital sink and tilted his head, exposing his neck. What the hell? The puncture marks were gone!
****
Gabriella left Max with an arousal that rivaled her vampire libido. She stopped at the cubicle where the man with the kidney stone was waiting to see the urologist, which historically could take longer than his pain medication lasted. The man writhed and moaned in the bed. She’d see to his agony. She entered the cubicle and slowly walked to his bedside. Gabriella peered into his glazed eyes as he fought the pain.
“Hello, Mr. Fitz,” she said softly. “I’m Dr. Van Court, one of the E.R. physicians this evening. I know you’ve endured many hours in pain. I’m going to help you.”
He grimaced and between strained breaths, he rasped, “Need more pain meds.” He clutched his back. “Please?”
“In a moment you won’t need anymore medication.”
The man stared up at her. She held his gaze.
“Look at me,” she directed him.
He gave in to her trance. His breathing eased. Gabriella placed her palm against his back, over his inflamed kidney. Deep blue electric waves shot from her fingertips. Gabriella blinked and removed her hand.
“You’ll be fine now.”
The man startled free from her gaze. “Amazing! The pain is completely gone. How did you do that?”
Gabriella grinned. “Practice, lots of practice.”
“You’re a healer. I felt it the moment you touched me. You’re gifted, Dr. Van Court. God bless you!”
“God bless who?” the urologist asked as he stood in the doorway. He glanced at Gabriella and rolled his eyes. “You must have given him some stellar narcotics.”
Mr. Fitz sat up in his bed and tugged at his IV. “I won’t need this anymore.” He pointed at Gabriella. “Dr. Van Court cured me! Praise be!”
Gabriella and the urologist gently laid him back into the bed.
“Relax, sir,” the urologist said. “I’m going to help you. I’m going to get that miserable stone out from your kidney.”
“It’s gone,” the man insisted.
“He probably passed it,” she said to the urologist. “But,” she winked at Mr. Fritz, “I think that it would be wise to repeat his renal ultrasound.” She nodded at the man. “Right, Mr. Fritz?”
He nodded back with a grin. “I guess that wouldn’t hurt.”
Gabriella patted the urologist’s back. “He’s all yours.”
She shot the man a thumb’s up for playing along. “Take care, Mr. Fritz,” she said as she left the cubicle.
One patient down, and one to go. The pint-sized Dracula was next. Then onto Max! The E.R. dispatch had remained silent thus far, and she and he stood a good chance at a rendezvous.
Her fingernails had sprouted to a scary length. She headed to the restroom to trim them, but halted. She sniffed. Her kind was present. It was a male. Her heart flickered. She sniffed again. Ah, a weak one. Volk’s scent would have buckled her knees. Gabriella’s pulse waned. The kiddie in cubicle 4 was a vamp. With no urgency to cut her nails, Gabriella swept into the room.
Lying on the bed, fangs out, and holding his belly, was a boy vamp dressed ironically as Dracula, his hair slicked back to a shine. With it being Halloween, the little imp passed for mortal. But he was vampire sweet. A woman sat by the young vamp’s side. Gabriella had not detected her. The boy’s distress signal muted her scent.
The woman extended her hand. Her nails rivaled Gabriella’s.
“I’m Anabella. I’ve heard of you. Many of my clan are indebted to you. This is Michael. He played mortal this evening and ingested human treats, unfortunately not the blood kind.”
Michael rolled side to side. “Please help me. I just wanted to be like the other kids.”
She gazed at his pale but cherubic face. He must not have been even a decade old when he was turned. While she of
ten had lamented the loss of her life at 28, Michael was stuck in perpetual boyhood. Anabella was not his mother. His parents and probable siblings were long dead. But clan took care of clan.
“How old are you, Michael?”
He grabbed an emesis basin and fired a night’s worth of undigested M&M’s, Snicker Bars, and Reese’s cups into it.
“I’m 215.”
Gabriella winked. “You don’t look a day over nine.”
Michael wiped his mouth with a washcloth. “Tell me about it.”
“I had the same thing happen to me when I once ate spaghetti.” She glanced at the candy in the basin. “It didn’t come out as neat.”
Anabella and Michael chuckled.
Gabriella shrugged. “Weirdly, I can eat clams. Perhaps because I used to go clamming with my Uncle Claude in the South of France.”
“I can eat croissants. Before I was turned, I owned a bakery,” Anabella said.
“Ooh, croissants. How I miss those! Where in France was your bakery?” Gabriella asked.
“France? No. I had a bakery on Main Street in Caribou, Maine. I guess when they want you, they can find you anywhere.”
Gabriella’s eyes went vampire large. “They can find you anywhere,” echoed in her head. Volk! He’d vowed to find her. Her thoughts shot to the parking garage in Boston the other night. Was that Volk lurking, waiting for the right moment to snatch her back?
“Are you all right, Dr. Van Court?” Michael asked.
She snapped back to the present. “Yes, I’m fine. And I’m glad you’re feeling better. But just in case, I’ll get you my special vamp elixir. I concocted it after my spaghetti incident. Stay here. I’ll return shortly.”
Gabriella snuck past the nurses and ducked into the women’s locker room. Luckily, no one was there. She opened her locker and grabbed the clippers next to her special formulated elixir, off the top shelf. Trimming her pesky talons to doctor length, she returned the clippers. Her heart hammered in her ears. The elixir was gone. Between her staccato beats, she could make out a whisper.
“Gabriella. Gabriella.”
Crap! She’d just cut her vampire nails. She’d have to rely on her other defenses. Gabriella readied her fangs. But she was no match for Volk. There was no way out. She’d have to try. Gabriella hissed and whipped around, her points poised for combat.
A nurse stumbled backward. “Oh, Gabriella. You got me! She patted her heart. “Wow! Those look real!”