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Necessity
When the phone rang Elise answered it first. Ben was stretched out on the couch, sleeping off the turkey and gravy. She recognized the voice of the receptionist at the clinic. Ben raised his head, awakened by the call. She listened for a moment, and then held the phone out to him.
"It's the clinic, sounds like an emergency." She'd been a nurse long enough to know the unpredictable calls were part of the job.
Ben sat up and took the phone. Elise went back to the kitchen. She saw him making notes on one of the pads he always kept by every phone in the house.
"…his medical records are in the filing cabinet, under his last name. Put Dr. Singh on the phone while you go look for them." Judging from the frown on Ben's face Elise assumed it must be serious. "Paul? Try to get him stabilized as soon as the ambulance brings him in. He was scheduled for an angiogram next week. You'll see in my notes, looks like he'll need an immediate bypass. Get a blood sample and see if Annie can find someone to come into the lab and run a full workup on it. Have her check the blood supply and see who's available for an operation tonight or in the morning."
Elise shook her head. From what she'd overheard she was certain it was a heart attack. A bypass was a common operation these days but still risky, especially if the patient was in bad shape right after an attack.
"Annie?" Elise listened in as Ben started talking again. "Once Dr. Singh gives the okay see that he's hooked up to a heart monitor, and keep a close eye on it. Let me know if there is any change in his vitals. Round up a team for a bypass, as soon as possible. Call me when Dr. Singh finishes his examination." Ben hung up the phone.
Elise finished wrapping up the turkey and put it in the refrigerator. Ben was standing in front of the rear patio door, staring out into the back yard. She kept busy in the kitchen, giving him some time to think about what he wanted to do next.
She was loading the last of the dishes into the dishwasher when he came into the kitchen. One look at his expression and she knew he was worried.
"Ben? Is it bad? Do you need to go in?" She wasn't sure what to make of his concern. Was it the patient, or maybe he was nervous about doing a bypass? That seemed unlikely. He'd been a surgeon for too many years not to have some experience in open heart surgery.
He shook his head. "Not yet. I'll know more as soon as the clinic calls back. Yeah, I think it may be a bad one. I don't have any tests yet but from the one examination with the patient I'd say he's a high-risk for blocked arteries. Paul Singh is a G.P, not a surgeon, so if an operation is indicated then it will be me.
"Meanwhile, in case it looks like a long night, how about we examine that pumpkin pie right now? My prescription is for a thick slice with whipped cream on top."
"Yes, doctor. Will that be oral or intravenous?" Elise said straight faced while reaching for two plates in the cupboard.
"That nutmeg and cinnamon rush can be intense. I think oral is indicated." He stood behind her, hands on her hips while she sliced into the pie. Before she could lift the pieces out of the pie tin he took hold of her hands and pressed them flat on the counter.
"Keep your hands exactly where they are now." His voice was barely above a whisper, the lowered tone one of command. "I want you to stand still, don't move, don't speak, close your eyes."
Elise had no idea what Ben intended but it didn't matter. His body pressed against her, pinning her to the counter. She could feel his warm breath on her neck.
"My precious Elise. Did you know I'm obsessed with you?" His lips were next to her ear, his voice barely audible. She forgot about the kitchen, the pumpkin pie in front of her, and everything else except for the sound of his voice, talking to her and no one else.
"All my life I've dreamed of someone like you. And now the dream has come true." His left hands continued to press her palm into the counter, but his right hand slowly moved up her arm. He began kissing the nape of her neck, above her collar. Both his hands moved to her waist.
More than anything she wanted to turn around, throw her arms around his neck, and beg him to take her there on the kitchen floor. But she had to obey him, willing herself to hold still under his touch, the palms of her hands glued to the counter top.
The mood was spoiled when the phone rang again. He muttered something unintelligible before letting go of Elise. "I'll get that. You finish with the dessert." Reluctantly he let go of her and went into the living room.
Disappointed that he stopped but still pleased with his words she slid the knife under a pie slice and moved it to a plate.
"The flu? For the last two days? And Dr. Collins is still off the Island on vacation?" Elise used a tablespoon to pile on the whipped cream. It must be the clinic again, and by the sound of it bearing bad news. "Alright, what's his blood pressure again? Okay, continue with the drip. I'll be in within an hour. Alert everyone we may have to operate by, hmm, make it 9 tonight."
Ben came back into the kitchen. "He's in a bad way. I'm not sure he'll make it another day without an operation. The lab is typing his blood now. I just hope it's not something rare or we'll have to call for volunteer donors first."
Elise opened the refrigerator and put in the plates with the pie slices. "Dessert can wait. I know you have to go." And how many times had she broken a date for the same reason? Experienced surgical nurses were a rare commodity; she'd been on 24 hour call too many times.
He didn't say anything at first. He stood in the middle of the kitchen, staring at her. She sensed there was something else, something he was reluctant to bring up. Suddenly he grabbed her wrist and headed for the front door. "I want you to come with me."
Caught off guard she stumbled after him. "Should I change?" she started to ask, but he cut her off.
"You're fine. Put on your shoes. I'm sorry Elise, I didn't mean for this to happen, but I need you."
Puzzled, she slipped on her shoes and closed the closet door. She didn't mind going to the clinic with him. In fact, she looked forward to seeing him at work. She couldn't understand why he felt the need to apologize.
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