"You didn't need to do that." Kim lightly touched the sleeve of Terrell's crisp white lab coat.
He looked up and finally met her gaze.
"While I appreciate what you were trying to do, I can handle Dr. Bates. Please don't interfere."
"I know. I just really like you a lot," Terrell said in a rush. His gaze darted away with the admission. "And —"
Although his blush was hidden by his dark complexion, Kim had no doubt it was there. God. What is this — ask Kim out day? She had never suspected Terrell was attracted to her. Unlike how she had dealt with Bates, Kim wanted to let Terrell down gently. "Thank you, but I'm really not interested in —"
"No. I wasn't." Terrell started to stammer. "I mean you're beautiful and everything, but I'm not...." He scrubbed his hands over his face as if trying to wash away his embarrassment. "I'll just shut up now."
Kim's face went hot. That's what you get for assuming. You know better. "No. I'm sorry. I misunderstood. Go ahead, tell me what you wanted to say."
Terrell blew out a breath. His dark-eyed gaze settled firmly on Kim. "I've learned so much from you. I don't want you to stop working in the ER because Peter is such a jackass. That's why I butted in when I shouldn't have. Sorry."
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. I like working in the ER. As far as Dr. Bates goes, let me take care of the situation. Okay?" She smiled, trying to ease both their discomfiture.
Terrell returned the smile. "Okay. I better get back to work."
"Me too." And please let the rest of the day be quiet. I've had quite enough drama for one day.
Kim turned to follow him when the sound of footsteps behind her drew her attention. She glanced over her shoulder. A wave of relief washed over her at the sight of Jess opening her office door.
"Go ahead. I'll see you later," Kim said.
As soon as he was out of sight, she headed for Jess's office.
* * *
Kim's hand hovered over the door knob. Her insecurities gripped her once again. Just go in. You've done it plenty of times before. Still, she hesitated. She settled for knocking before she opened the door.
Kim stuck her head into the office. "Hi."
Jess was already halfway out of her chair. What Kim thought of as Jess's ER mask was already firmly in place on her face.
"Hey, Kim." Jess plopped back down into her chair with a grunt. Her mask dropped and she allowed Kim to see the stressed woman underneath.
Recrimination stung Kim. Instead of giving in to your own insecurities, you should have been more worried about Jess and given her the benefit of the doubt. Everything is not about you. Anxieties forgotten, Kim moved over to stand next to Jess's chair. "Are you okay?"
Jess rubbed her temples. "Long morning. And I've got a killer headache." She opened her desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of aspirin. Popping the cap, she tossed two into her mouth and swallowed them dry.
Kim grimaced. "How can you stand to do that?"
"Lots of practice." Jess went back to rubbing her temples.
"I missed you this morning." It was as close as Kim could come to admitting her earlier anxiety.
Jess looked up. She offered a tired smile. "Believe me, I would have much rather been here with you instead of the GME meeting I was stuck in."
Surprise rippled through Kim. The Graduate Medical Education Committee met quarterly. The next meeting wasn't supposed to be until next month. Procedural and program specific problems could wait for the next meeting. If the committee was meeting outside its normal schedule, something serious must have occurred concerning one of the residents.
"It wasn't an ER resident, was it?" Kim asked. She knew Jess couldn't get into specifics, but worried that a wayward resident could be a black eye for her program.
"No. Thank God." Jess rubbed her neck.
Kim moved behind Jess's chair. Wanting to help, but taking into account Jess's need for both emotional and physical control, Kim held her hands just above Jess's shoulders. "This okay?"
"Yes. Please." Jess whimpered as Kim began to knead her shoulders.
The muscles under Kim's hands were rock hard. She increased the pressure of her massage.
"Oh. Yes." Jess's head dropped forward and she moaned, long and low.
The sound shot through Kim's body. Arousal pulsed insistently.
The ringing of the phone on Jess's desk made them both jump.
The noise acted like dash of a cold water on Kim's libido and reminded her just where they were. She let her hands drop and stepped away from Jess's chair. She propped her hip against the edge of Jess's desk.
"Thank you," Jess said before picking up the phone. Her voice was soft and warm. Jess sat up straight in her chair. "This is Dr. McKenna."
In the fleeting seconds between picking up the phone and answering it, all trace of the previous warmth in Jess's voice was gone. The ER chief was back.
Jess's jaw tensed almost immediately. Whatever was being said was not good news.
"Just like that she left? Without waiting for a replacement?" Jess's hand went back to her temple. "Did anyone in the department examine her?" She blew out a breath. "Contact Mrs. Gotti, and let her know what's happened and that we need coverage at the nurses' station...Thanks."
Kim's stomach sank. She had a bad feeling about this. Was her already rotten day about to get worse? Please don't let this be about Penny.
"What's going on?" Kim asked. Mrs. Gotti was the nurse-manager responsible for the nurses and ER clerks.
Jess started as if she had forgotten Kim was there. The mask dropped once again, and Kim looked down into Jess's face, seeing the tight stress lines around her eyes. "That was Henry."
Damn, it is about Penny. Henry was one of the ER clerks that worked at the admission desk.
"He was at the nurses' station dropping off patient intakes. Penny came up to him and said 'I'm sick, cover the desk.' According to Henry, she already had her purse in her hand and her coat on. And looked like she had been crying." Jess shook her head. "I don't know whether to be worried or angry. This isn't like her. She's always been very reliable. She should have at least let one of the doctors check her out."
This is really going to add to her already crappy day... and mine. You have to tell her what happened.
"I did this. It's all my fault," Kim said before her brain had a chance to censor her mouth. Smooth, really smooth. That made total sense. And you talk to people for a living. Shit.
Jess blinked several times. Her brow furrowed. "What?"
Needing some distance, Kim moved to sit in the chair in front of Jess's desk. "Penny taking off is my fault. She asked me out a little while ago, and I turned her down — twice." Kim sighed. "I tried to be as gentle as I could, but she didn't take it very well. I'm sorry. I know you don't need the extra hassle, especially today." She clasped her hands in her lap. Guilt tugged her gaze down. The last thing she wanted was to add to Jess's stress or burdens at work.
"That's bull and you know it," Jess said.
Kim's head whipped up.
Jess's eyes had turned silvery and sparked with emotion. "You, of all people, know that you aren't responsible for another person's behavior. This is Penny's doing — not yours."
"But if I had handled her better —"
"No." Jess's hand slashed sideways in negation. "Remember, I've worked with Penny much longer than you have. I'm well aware of her strengths... and her weaknesses. Don't worry about it. I'll talk to her tomorrow."
Then Penny will feel that I talked about her behind her back. And it wasn't like that. This is going to make things worse. "Jess. I don't think —"
Jess held up her hand, stopping her. "I won't mention you telling me about her asking you out. It would just make things worse."