While Greer talked, Bennett could feel himself getting madder and madder. He hadn't liked the guy to begin with. But add his hateful tone and words with a sharp poke in the chest, and Bennett lost it. He reared back and hit Greer square in the mouth.
Greer's head hit the wall behind him with a thud, and blood ran down his chin. For a second, he stood stunned. Then, he reacted. Lunging for Bennett, he yelled, "You son of a…" as he dropped the suitcase and flowers scattered across the floor. From there, punches flew, and nurses screamed.
A nurse at the nursing station yelled, "Call security!"
Before security could arrive, two orderlies separated the two men. Both men were bleeding, and several pieces of medical equipment and chairs in the hallway had been turned over. Dr. LaGay ran out of Taylor's room, "What in the world is going on out here?" Seeing the two men both bruised and bleeding, she shook her head. Frowning at Greer, she said, "Well, I guess you're the daddy? I knew this was going to be complicated when I found out you weren't," she said, pointing at Bennett.
One of the orderlies holding Greer back said, "Security has been called."
Giving Bennett and Greer her most fierce doctor look, she said, "If you two can't control yourselves and act right, I will have you both thrown out of here. I don't care if you will be the next, whatever. There is a lovely lady in that room who does not need this kind of stress. So what is it going to be? Can you act like you have brains in your heads? If so, I will have them cancel security, and we can act like this never happened. Or, security can hold you until the cops get here. I am good either way, but my guess is that my patient won't be."
Bennett and Greer looked at each other and then back at the doctor.
Greer threw his hands in the air as if to surrender and walked a few steps away. Seeing that Greer was backing down, Bennett said, "Fine, we will control ourselves. I am sorry this happened. Please call security and tell them it was a misunderstanding. The last thing either one of us wants is to upset Taylor."
At that point, both men and the orderlies began to straighten the chairs and equipment. Greer reached down and gathered up what was left of the roses he had brought for Taylor.
With the crisis averted, the doctor said to the orderly, "Call security and cancel them. Then, nodding to Greer, she said, "Taylortells me that you are a doctor and will probably want a full run down on her stats. She has permitted me to discuss her case with you. So, if you will come with me, I will be happy to show you her scans from earlier and discuss her situation."
Looking at Bennett, she said, "Clean yourself up and say goodnight to your wife. I am sure that once I am done with this one," pointing to Greer, "she will want to spend some time with him. It would probably be best if you were gone by then." At that, the doctor turned and walked toward a conferencing area with Greer.
Bennett visited the men's room, cleaned himself up the best he could, and then went to see Taylor. Walking through the door a few minutes later, Taylor saw that Bennett's shirt was torn and his face cut. Horrified, she cried, "What have you two been doing? I was worried it might be you two when I heard the commotion outside."
Touching his chin, she said, "Did Greer start this? I knew he was high-strung, but I never thought he was a fighter. Oh, Bennett, I am so sorry. No one got arrested, did they? I know this is the last thing you need right now."
"Which part? The fighting in the hallway, the wife pregnant by another man part, or the getting the crap kicked out of me by the other man part?"
"All of it, I guess. I really am sorry about all of this."
"Well, don't be. As your boyfriend, or whatever he is, pointed out, all of this is my fault. I know that. I am so sorry. And for the record, Greer didn't start the fight; I did. He kept poking me, and I snapped. I am sorry, Taylor, for everything."
"You did? Really? I am shocked. But it doesn't matter. What is done is done. You had best say good night before he comes back.”
"Yes, I agree. One fight a day is my limit." Giving her a quick kiss on the forehead, he said, "I am going to get a room at the hotel across the street. The doctor said earlier that you could probablygo home on Sunday. I am going to stay until you are released. If you want to fly home with me, you can. If you want to stay here, I will respect that too, but I don't think you should be alone. You need to think about how you want to handle all of this. Joules is about to die to talk to you, so please call her later. If you need me, call me on my cell. I will check on you tomorrow. Love you." While talking, he picked up Taylor's hand and squeezed it.
Taylor replied, "I love you too," as he said goodbye with another kiss on the forehead.
Of course, Greer chose that moment to walk into the room. He didn't say anything but just looked from Taylor to Bennett. Scowling at Bennett, Greer all but growled, "I thought you were leaving."
Taylor frowned at him and said, "Greer, chill. This is not what it looks like. He is leaving."
"Just for the night, "Bennett added. "I'll be back tomorrow." Walking to the door, he turned back and added, "Remember, call me on my cell if you need me. I will be right here."
"Thank you, I appreciate it," said Taylor.
With that, Bennett walked out, and Taylor turned and looked at Greer.
Chapter 22
St. Mary’s Hospital
Miami, Florida
July 2012
For a second, Greer and Taylor just looked at each other frowning, and then Taylor couldn't help herself; she started smiling ear to ear.
The smile lit up her whole face and turned into a bubbly laugh as she said, "I don't want you to think I am not still super upset with you about how you acted toward Bennett because I am, but I can't stop smiling. I am just so happy."
