“So you looked that up, too.”
He scoffed. “No!”
Liar.
“Bishop.” Both of our heads whipped around to the front entrance of the ambulance bay, his partner frowning at us. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I take five seconds to take a leak and you disappear on me.”
Terran coughed into the crook of his elbow, knocking my shoulder with his as he passed by me. A subtle,hold your tongue, as he made his way back over toward the cruiser.
Interesting, he’d picked up on my biting comment just waiting for the chance to be unleashed on this bastard who was twice his age and should know better than to drag him out on a fucking call.
“Sorry. Took a break out here because it was getting hot in the lobby. Nearly passed out.”
His partner shook his head, letting out a long sigh before turning his gaze toward me. “Thank you for following him out here and checking on him, doctor.”
Terran glared at me over his shoulder right before I could open my mouth.
Clever. And very subtle.
“You’re welcome,” I managed to mutter.
He was lucky I was more invested in keeping him happy than letting his partner have it with the verbal lashing he more than deserved. Then again, there were other ways to ensure Terran kept out of trouble while I was stuck at work.
Guilt was a hell of a motivator. As was shame.
“Be sure to tell your captain,” I said, hooking my hand around Terran’s arm and giving it a firm squeeze. “That the eight week leave should still be followed.”
For a moment he froze, the beginning of a reply forming on his lips but lost the second my words registered. He shot me a look, scowl prominent and not at all pleased that I was bringing this up in front of his partner.
He could be mad all he wanted. I gave little fucks at this point.
Slowly, after a beat of silence, he exhaled. “Right. Eight weeks.”
“Four down, four more to go.” I flashed him a professional smile that he glowered at.
“I’ll be sure to let our captain know,” his partner replied.
“Excellent.”
I waited until they both climbed back into the police cruiser and headed off before returning inside. Warm air blasted me, chasing away the chill of the oncoming evening.
Four hours.
Three and a half, actually.
That’s all that separated us instead of the abysmal forty-eight of Wednesday evening. I could handle three and a half. Perhaps less, if I ducked out early. No one would notice as long as rounds were done and bed checks were up to date.
Surprisingly, Violet was still standing at the nurse’s station. She pushed away from it the moment she spotted me, a small frown tugging at her lips.
“So, uh… How did it go?”
I popped a brow. “How didwhatgo?”
“Your talk. With the cop.”
I contemplated throwing her a bone, giving her something to satiate whatever worry was making her wring her fingers together so harshly.
When had any of them cared enough to be this invested?
