Bending of wills
Getting Released
Tara McClain loved her job. She wouldn’t have spent so many
sleepless days here if she didn’t. However, it was days like this that tore her
apart. So many young women came through those doors battered, broken. Few left
in a state that was any better. She was glad that this story had a happier
ended than some. Still, there was little to rejoice in, and it was always hard
to face the victims, especially when they were so young.
She was presently trying to compose herself as she had been
for at least 10 minutes. Her hand occasionally reached for the handle in front
of her, but she could not get herself to turn it. Suddenly, the door she was
hiding in front of flew open. (She was not going to deny it, even to herself. She
was hiding.) She was taken aback when he spoke to her.
Meanwhile, in the
hospital room…
Waiting was not one of Spike’s strong points. In fact, his
patience was probably his weakest point. He simply had none. Personally,
he thought it was commendable that he had managed to hold his tongue for as
long as he had.
Turning to Buffy, he all but growled, “I have no clue what
she is doing outside this room, but I am not waiting another second. I’ll just
go out there and see what is taking the bird so long.”
Buffy sighed as she stared out the window, “Go ahead.”
She was tired and cranky, and, to tell the truth, she was
losing patience with the discharge nurse too. They had both heard the nurse
arrive ten minutes ago and then stop outside the door. They had patiently
waited while she stood outside, but enough was enough.
She had to smile when Spike held his fingers up to his lips
in the universal signal to be quiet. She watched as he walked up to the door
and with one fluid motion, grabbed the handle and flung open the door. She
could tell that he took the nurse completely by surprise. Well, she shouldn’t have kept us waiting so long.
her skin when she saw the man standing right in front of her. He looked
dangerous and a bit rough.
“Took you long enough, Pet.” Spike knew he was not being
very friendly to the young nurse in front of him; but Buffy was tired, and he just
wanted to get the discharge papers and get her home so they could both rest.
self, “I am sorry, I was just…” She really didn’t know what to say. She hated
lying to anyone, but there really was no good excuse.
Gathering up all her courage, she turned to Buffy and spoke
in a quiet voice, “I am sorry. I had no idea what to say to you so I took the
chicken’s way out and decided not to come inside the room.” She turned her head,
and her cheeks turned a deep red.
and apologized some more. Her voice was so soft that Buffy and Spike both had
to lean in closer to hear her. “I am sorry. Your girlfriend has been through a
horrible experience, and I should not have dallied. Please except my sincerest
apologizes.”
Buffy was completely baffled by now. Why does everyone keep assuming that we are a couple? If there was
one thing that she hated, then it was being kept in the dark.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name. Could you please
repeat it for me?”
Blushing more,
apologizing all over again. “I’m so sorry for my bad manners! My name is Tara
McClain. I am a RN and will be going over your discharge papers with you.”
With that finally out, timid
disappeared. It was as if a light had flipped inside of her. Gone was the shy
young woman and, in her place, was a hardened trauma nurse. Gone was the happy
smile, and in its place was a look that spoke a thousand words; a look that spoke
of the horrors that the night held within its clutches.