“Noelle?”
I glance up and my heart sinks as Jen strides inside. “Jen.”
“I heard what happened,” she says, clutching an electronic tablet to her chest. “What on earth were you thinking?”
It’s a far stretch to expect sympathy from her, but the accusation in her tone catches me off guard. “Excuse me?” I roll down my sleeve, hiding the floral Band-Aid from view.
“What were you doing in the middle of that disaster?” Jen demands. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
My eyes widen. “I—what? I don’t understand.”
“You’re not a nurse. You’re not a doctor. You’re the Patient Services Coordinator, so what on earth were you doing getting involved with administering medication to a patient?”
Her words are like claws, dragging me back into myself, and suddenly, everything feels very present and bright.
The tightness of the Band-Aid on my arm, the chill in the air, the pounding of my heart that makes my tongue tremble, and fear coil in my gut.
“Well?” Jen demands. “If that patient wakes and finds out someone without medical training was involved, then you’ve opened us up to a lawsuit! Never mind that if you hadn’t been there, then you wouldn’t have been stuck with the needle in the first place, so some would say?—”
“What is going on here?” Xander melts out of the shadows behind Jen, making her jump, and I’m swallowed by the strongest urge to bury into his arms.
He passes by Jen, and I’m suddenly struck by how tall he is.
I’ve noticed before and yet in this moment, with my world trembling on weak stilts and Jen’s accusations singing in my ears, he seems taller. Broader.
He moves between Jen and me as she clears her throat.
“I was explaining to Noelle that she shouldn’t have been near that patient and the circumstances of heraccidentplaces the blame on?—”
“No one,” Xander cuts in, his voice as cold as the icy winds outside. “It was a terrible accident, but no one stuck her on purpose.”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Jen sighs. “I’msayingthat she shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”
“Nonsense. She was my Patient Services Coordinator and I requested her. She has basic medical training and it’s not uncommon for her, or people in her position, to be involved in administering medication. And in extreme circumstances like what happened on the floor, it was an all hands on deck situation. Without Snow, that patient was at greater risk of harming himself or others.”
Jen’s eyes narrow. “You can’t seriously be telling me thatherpresence was integral to the safety of the patient?”
“I’m telling you that it was an extreme case and things only worked out because ofeveryonethere. Do you need that in writing?”
“Mr. Thomas?—”
“It’s Doctor.”
“I—”
“And if you don’t mind, I have a patient to tend to, so kindly step out so I can do that in private.” A subtle touch of anger licks at Xander’s words and Jen, thankfully, seems to back down.
She tightens her grasp on the tablet in her hands and looks past him to me. “We’ll talk later, Noelle. In the meantime, you’ll be placed on paid leave until your test results come back to prevent you from contaminating anyone or anything.”
“I understand.” The paid part of leave is unexpected, but given Jen’s attempts to place blame on my own shoulders, she must be afraid of some kind of legal repercussions.
Those hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“Leave,” Xander states coldly, and he remains facing the door until Jen steps out of the room and closes the door behind her. He turns toward me and his tone instantly changes. “Not even an hour has passed, and they’re already worried about the paperwork.”
For a man usually monotone and to the point, there’s subtle warmth behind his words.
He retakes the seat in front of me and pulls out a small bottle.
