The News
#6 of Love Letters - The Whole Story
*
"Oh my God, Speckle!"
A strange cool chill went down my spine as I gently turned around to face the source of the noise, the doe who blocked the doorway into the storage room with her busy presence.
"Yeah, Carol?" I asked, in a soft and easy voice more than suitable for the night shift.
Her ears flicked eagerly.
"Well don't get me wrong but did Lydia and Sam just catch you and that firefur kissing in the break room?" she spoke in a conspiratorial whisper.
My cheeks were hot under my furs before you could say "supraventricular tachycardia", and my tail quickly tucked itself between my legs as I recalled the somewhat guilty jump between me and Daniel when the creak of the door had told us that the two nurses had definitely caught us in the act. Typical. Now with Carol cornering me in the storage room, it was clear that the news had spread at lightning speed throughout the department.
I made a point of picking up the IV kit from the shelf with utmost delicateness before I let my paws relax on my sides and faced the eager-looking doe. I even stood up to my full height, but considering her tallness in relation to me, that didn't mean so much.
"Yeah," I said, "you got me busted."
"Oooooh my God!" the usually professional nurse sounded like she was about to break into schoolyard giggles.
Damn blush. I was probably turning red and black by now.
"Well, now you know," I said, "we've been together for a few months. Keeping it low key."
Her ears flicked up a storm, those big, long-lashed eyes blinking eagerly.
"Damn, Speckle..."
I let out a little chuckle.
"You sound shocked," I said, "you did know I was gay, yeah?"
The doe played with her stethoscope, slung around her neck, and gave a little chuckle of her own.
"Well, yes, but...damn...Hobbes..."
I folded my arms over my chest and gave her a slightly pointed look, for the hell of it.
"You're not jealous, are you, Carol?"
She let out a hearty giggle now, one that sounded like it had been building up for a while.
"Me? Hah, no, you know I'm going out with Max but...damn...you've broken everyone else's hearts now..."
Well I do suppose that Daniel was a unique catch, but becoming the official heartbreaker of the emergency department might be a title I wasn't ready for yet...it was only one fur, after all...though considering how he filled any place he went to with a kind of a warm, calm presence...perhaps it wasn't so far away off.
"Well, I'm sorry," I said, deadpan, "It just kinda happened..."
"You don't have to explain to me, I mean..."
"Damn?" I suggested.
"Exactly!" her ears jumped.
"Was there anything else?" I asked.
"The drunk skateboarder needs to be taken upstairs for his X-rays, you mind?"
"Not at all," I replied, "good to stretch my paws a bit."
"Well especially now that you got an other kind of a workout," she winked before disappearing through the door.
Damn...was every single woman in this department going feisty over Daniel? I rushed after her.
"We weren't doing anything!" I called in a soft voice so as not to disturb the rest of the staff and the various sleeping patients.
She was bustling about, but spared me a look and a wink over her shoulder while I gave her a most embarrassed look in return. We seemed to be good, though, and I decided that was fine. Now I'd just have to get that kid upstairs and...well...cool my face down.
"Mister Dalton?"
He was a pretty typical frat boy...hospital gown or not, and an ice pack attacked to his still-splinted leg. He was also rather drowsy.
"Yeaaah?"
"Time for your X-ray."
"UHm...thanks, duuuude!"
I helped the boy into the wheelchair and hoped that he wouldn't cause a ruckus as we passed a few sleeping patients on gurneys on the hallway. By the time we reached the elevators, it seemed alright.
PLING!
The doors opened and Carl, a male colleague of mine, pushed an old bear out on a wheelchair. I smiled and nodded in greeting.
"Yo, man, I heard you've got a bow chicka bow wow going on with a fireman!" the donkey was all winks as we passed each other in the hallway.
My blush returned full force, even as I tried to be processional and push the chair into the elevator.
"Where'd you hear that rumor?" I asked.
"Up in radiology!" the donkey replied, not stopping as he pushed the bear towards the emergency department.
"Well that was quick," I muttered under my breath as I hit the button on the elevator and the doors began to close.
*