Just a Few Stitches (Isla/Alex)

[Deleted]

    Snowflakes were coming down with slightly greater frequency than when he had left the scene, Alex noticed as he maneuvered his squad car into the police only parking of the hospital's ER entrance.  Alex impatiently brushed paper wrappings and the discarded ends of a trauma bandage off his lap as he sighed in frustration.  Two weeks on the job and he was already hurt.  Not badly, mind you but it was enough to get his swing shift sergeant to send him up to Chicago Med to get checked out.  He had insisted on not going, but his supervisor wasn't taking no for an answer, going as far as taking Alex's suspect to jail and sending another squad to assure Alex made it alright.  "Or to make sure I don't sneak back into the sector and lie about getting looked at" Alex thought as he adjusted his rear-view to look at the crown vic pulled in behind him.  Grumbling to himself, Alex pushed his door open and got out, waving to the uniforms who escorted him, indicating they could head out.  One of them shouted something inaudible on the way by, but Alex couldn't hear it over the wind.  Pulling his coat edges up around his ears, Alex held pressure to the bandage on the side of his head as he walked to the entrance of the ER.  He paused to let a couple paramedics past with their patient, then stepped into the warmth of the ER.

    Once inside, Alex oriented himself to where he needed to go.  He had only been in here twice now, though this was his first as a patient.  Alex spotted the triage station, and approached the middle aged woman sitting there.  Her name was Shelly; he knew that from when he brought in a domestic victim.  She was also tough; when the battered woman's husband had tried to force his way into his wife's room, Shelly had knocked him to the floor before Alex could get to him.  Now, she was sizing him up with a practiced eye.  She asked him to move the wad of bandages to look at his cut.  "That's pretty deep.  You'll probably need at least ten or fifteen stitches; though i'm inclined to have them do staples to teach you a lesson about letting a suspect get the best of you."  Alex grinned as she laughed at her own comment.  He finished filling out paperwork as he was handed a packet containing all of his insurance and medical information.  After thanking Shelly, he walked down an adjoining hallway and found the room he was sent to.  He stepped inside and took off his coat, hanging it on the hook on the back of the door and sat down on the exam table.  Now that the action was over, he began trying to piece together how he had gotten sliced.  

    He knew for sure that it happened just before the arrest.  He was asked to back up another car on a possible burglary in progress.  They had arrived on scene at about the same time; found a broken down front door to a relatively nice apartment.  They saw boot prints going in, but not leaving.  Thankfully it had rained and started snowing that evening so tracks were easy to see.  Alex had let the two initial officers clear the apartment while he circled around to the alley in the back, making sure the suspect didn't bail from the fire escape.  Unfortunately, he met the guy as he turned the corner, arms loaded with stuff stolen from the apartment.  From there, everything was just flashes.  There was a fight, a knife, wrestling for control over the weapon; Alex got cut at least once, maybe twice.  Ultimately he won, but he had the marks to show it.  Black eye, split lip, cut on the scalp, and a ruined uniform.  Alex ran a hand down his left side and caught fabric.  There it was.  A nice sized section of his shirt and the vest underneath was cut open.  Great....now I need to go back to the apartment to pick up a new shirt.  This day is just getting better and better.  Alex sat waiting, cursing his bad luck and fuming that he had to sit and wait while he should be working.  
    

[Isla Hudson]

There was something about bad weather, be it hot or cold, that brought out the oddballs, and generally seemed to make especially the nights in the ED crazier than normal. Of course, a good percentage of the patients here were homeless just seeking shelter from the cold, and hoping for a warm meal as a bonus.

Isla didn't mind, it kept her busy and distracted from the fretting over her nursing boards. She'd taken the tests two days before and was now in the agonizing process of waiting for the results. Part of her felt good about how she'd done, confident that she'd at least passed, but then there was part of her that didn't want to believe, or get too optimistic so she wouldn't be so upset if she failed. And at least work saved her brain from over-thinking it.

Looking down at the chart for her next patient, she quickly scanned the information...

Alexander Beachwood, 28 year old male, altercation...laceration to the head, no loss of consciousness, no meds...

Well, likely alcohol was involved somewhere, she couldn't help but think as she walked into the room.

"Mr. Beachwood," she was still looking at the chart, "can I call you," she looked up and hesitated. "...Officer..." Nose wrinkling up, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, no one told me you were one of Chicago's Finest...well, second finest, my brother is a paramedic, so...they kinda win that, right?" She could tell her cheeks were heating up, but that didn't stop the rambling.

"Of course, that doesn't get you out of putting on one of our designer gowns..." She held out one of the white and blue drapes to him. "Ummm...down to your...skivvies, please, opening in the back...if you need help....of course you don't need help...so, um...I'll...just...step out..."

Her cheeks were bright red as she pulled the curtain shut. "Oh, and I'm Isla...I'll be the nurse...your nurse..."

Time to just shut up!

@alex

[Deleted]

Alex was pulled from his thoughts as he heard the door open.  A very attractive nurse, presumably about his age walked in, concentrating on her charts.  He didn't usually immediately think of how good someone looked, but she certainly was cute.  He got his looking in before she looked up at him, and spoke.  He tried his hardest to not look star struck, but he doubted he showed any colors besides pale or black and blue.  When he heard her rambling, he could sense that he may have put her back on her heels.  Now, Alex had to try his best to not look like a fool in front of her.  He was, after all, a single man and always kept a sharp eye out for potential new friends.  

When she held the gown out to him, he took it, but not without wearing a face of at least slight displeasure.  He didn't like having to separate himself from his tools, and honestly hospital gowns ranked just above wool sacks in the comfort department.  Of course, he wasn't about to raise a ruckus in the ER about what he could or couldn't wear.  She was just doing her job, he was sure.  So, after the door closed, he stood up and began peeling off his damp and tattered uniform shirt.  After that came the belt, which he hung on the door with his coat.  He took the radio and set it on the table next to him so he could still here, and unbuckled his backup from his ankle.  Silently he tucked the weapon under the edge of the table.  it was something born from habit.  You didn't wear a badge for long before you developed a need to keep at least some protection near you, no matter the circumstances.   Finally, he pulled the pants off and set them on the chair next to him.  He pulled the gown over his head and left the back open per the nurse's directions, and took a moment to look in a nearby mirror.  His face was a pattern of red, blue, and the faint development of black.  Not exactly your best look, but i'm sure she'll understand.  Alex thought to himself as he sat back down on the table.  The jab about second finest didn't phase him one bit.  those medics would be saving his life one day if he got into a bad spot.  now if he came in third to firefighters, then they would have a problem.

"Alright, i'm all dressed."  He called out as he knocked on the wall next to him.
Isla Hudson

[Isla Hudson]

She was a professional, he was her patient... Isla ran the reminder over in her head a few times as she gathered the things she would need on a small tray, trying to distract herself. Of course, he was just a patient, she'd help in his treatment and that would be that. It was unethical to fraternize with patients, and besides, they'd hardly spoken a word to each other. But there was something about his eyes...

Lordy, she wasn't the sort to go off on fanciful whims, and by the time he called out that he was ready she had composed herself.

"All right, now," she said as she stepped back into the room and set the tray down, "I'll need to get some vital signs first, then clean those up so the doctor can stitch them."

Grabbing the BP cuff, she went to his side. "So, Mr. Beachwood, do you have any medical problems or allergies? Do you take medication?"

Is Mrs. Beachwood married!?

@alex

[Deleted]

    Alex held his arm out to the nurse and listened as she wrapped the cuff around his bicep.  "No medication allergies, but every spring is a nightmare for me cause of all the mold, pollen, and tree allergies I have.  I take OTC allergy drugs for that, Allegra I thing.  And I have an albuterol Inhaler, for my asthma, though i haven't had to use it in nearly six years.  I try to take care of myself physically so i don't need it."  Alex itched his knee absentmindedly as he thought about any other relevant information.  "If you want physical injuries, i've busted both collar bones playing hockey, I herniated a disk after a crash my rookie year in Minnesota, and my last year out there as a statey, some shithead stabbed me in the shoulder."  Alex said as he pulled the sleeve of his gown up on the right side, revealing a wide dark scar almost as long as his bicep was wide.  "Beyond that, i'm in tip top shape miss.  Or misses......I don't know if your married or not." 

    Maybe now he was pushing his luck a bit, but he had a feeling she was just attracted to him as he was to her.  He shifted on the bench, moving almost imperceptibly closer and turning towards the nurse slightly.  He flashed a big smile full of white teeth at her and asked, "You know, you know everything about me, and I don't even know your name yet."

[Isla Hudson]

"It's Miss," Isla told him, smiling as she cleaned away the layers of dried blood, "but Isla is just fine...Isla Hudson. My brother is Steven...the paramedic." She knew that some of the cops would know him by name, others by face, but then, there were several hundred medics in town, so chances weren't that good that they had crossed paths.

"I have a sister, Emily, who is a nurse, too," she continued, not sure why she was opening up her personal life to him, but feeling comfortable at it. "Dad was a medic, too, but he was killed in the line of duty when I was really young." She shrugged. "Um...I fell out of a tree when I was six and broke my arm, and a former boyfriend broke my nose. He's in prison now, and I've learned self-defense," she added proudly, "and I have my CC permit."

Standing back, she looked him over, satisfied with the work she had done so far. "You're looking pretty good, for someone who was in a scuffle, and Dr. Gardner is the best at stitching people up...and besides, ladies like a scar, I'm sure your wife will love it!"

@alex,

[Deleted]

Alex had to admit; even though he hated not being self-sufficient, he could get used to having Isla so close to him, even during the task of cleaning crusty dry blood off his scalp, face, and neck.  He took the opportunity to really study her face while she talked and focused on her task.  "Well, Miss Hudson, I am not familiar with the name Steven, but i'm sure at some point we'll bump into each other." Alex said with a laugh as he experienced a little pain with the cleaning.  He used humor to shrug off the serious stuff when it comes along,but now he found he was only laughing to cover the grimace of minor inconvenience.  He felt comfortable with Isla, which was a lot to say since it took him awhile to warm up to strangers, beyond the usual casual banter to pass time.  

Alex crinkled his nose at the mention of domestic violence.  He hated it with the deepest of passions.  How someone could ever find anything right in hitting their partner, he'll never know.  "well, its a good thing he's locked up.  Otherwise there might have been an incident between me and him."  Alex said with a frown.  "well, maybe we can hit the range sometime, show me your shooting skills.  We could make it a fun little date."  He added, hoping it would offset her remark about a wife.  For additional benefit, he held up his left hand.  "No ring Isla.  I'm a single man."  He said with a playful wink.  "So i suppose my question is, do you think scars are hot?"  

[Isla Hudson]

"well, its a good thing he's locked up. Otherwise there might have been an incident between me and him."

"I appreciate that." Isla smiled, looking into his blue eyes. "Steven took care of that...I think he would have killed him if I hadn't stopped him, but that piece of....well, he wasn't worth it, you know."

Yes, it had been a horrible experience, but in the 'big picture' it had made her stronger and more self-sufficient, and had brought the siblings closer together.

"well, maybe we can hit the range sometime, show me your shooting skills. We could make it a fun little date."

"Oh, sure...I took the classes, but I sure wouldn't turn down the chance to really learn what to do." Of course, she was fully aware that a gun was serious business and the potential for mistakes and tragedy was immense. And besides, it would be a date so much as a professional helping a professional, right? A very handsome professional, granted!

"No ring Isla. I'm a single man." He said with a playful wink. "So i suppose my question is, do you think scars are hot?"

"Oh, um..." Her cheeks started to glow bright red. "Sure, yeah, the right kind...I mean, I'd have to see the scar in question to decide..."

Then she laughed and shrugged. "Some guys don't need scars to be hot, you know...and I'm going to have to do some shaving so the doc can get in some clean stitches."

Hiding her rosy cheeks, she grabbed a razor and brandished it. "Do you trust me? Oh, my nickname is Sweeny Todd!"

@alex,

[Deleted]

Alex figured he was making an impression of some kind when he noticed Isla's cheeks were changing color.  Briefly he considered if it was a good idea to pursue this, being new in town and not familiar with much of Chicago yet, but he shook his head slightly and smiled.  Why the hell not?  You're a single man Alex, and you haven't been on a proper date with anyone in years.  Let her in.  She seems like a nice gal.  He thought inwardly as he listened to Isla.  "Well, Steven sounds like a good guy then.  Maybe I'll meet him sometime, through work or in some other capacity."  Maybe he was playing it off casually, but he was also trying to hint his interest in a less obvious manner.  He was in this now, and unless she told him to back off, he was going to try to woo this woman to the best of his abilities.  

Alex was having a lot more fun than he should be having in a hospital, up until Isla made the remark about Sweeney Todd and held up the razor.  He reached up to run his hand through his short hair as he contemplated what she was about to do.  "I suppose I do trust you.   You are a professional.  Besides, it's been awhile since I've gotten a cut, and I was thinking of buzzing it all off one of these days anyway.  I just hope we don't add more cuts to the one I already have."  Alex said with a laugh.  "So, go ahead demon barber of fleet street, do your worst!"  He turned slightly on the bench to give her a better angle and waited for her to begin.  "While you do that, why don't you tell me a bit more about yourself?  What do you like to do in your spare time?"



Isla Hudson

[Isla Hudson]

"I suppose I do trust you. You are a professional. Besides, it's been awhile since I've gotten a cut, and I was thinking of buzzing it all off one of these days anyway. I just hope we don't add more cuts to the one I already have."

"I promise to do my best to restrict the blood-letting!" Isla laughed. "Besides, I can't stand the sight of blood!" He really didn't have much to worry about, she'd only need to clear just along the edges of the wound so that the doctor could see where the stitches were going.

"So, go ahead demon barber of fleet street, do your worst!" He turned slightly on the bench to give her a better angle and waited for her to begin. "While you do that, why don't you tell me a bit more about yourself? What do you like to do in your spare time?"

"Me?" She thought for a moment...there hadn't been much spare time lately. "Well, I like pina coladas and walks in the rain..." Laughing, she shook her head. "I'm a court recorder in my other life, although I won't need that once I get my RN...I like photography, real photography, like, thirty-five millimeter, SLR, do it by hand the old fashioned way. Digital is too easy to fake...it's artificial."

As she chatted, she carefully started shaving around the laceration on his head. "I'm into parkour, too, something that's sort of an off-shoot of the problems with my ex...it's a way to, I don't know, be more independent, I guess? So, what about you?"

@alex,

[Deleted]

Alex was enjoying talking to Isla, taking his mind off his crappy night so far.  When she mentioned she didn't like blood, Alex couldn't help but chuckle a bit.  "I suppose i should keep the hurting myself down to a minimum from now on huh?"  It would be interesting to see how she reacted to his life, and vice versa.  He had never really been much of a photography guy, mostly cause he didn't have patience.  He was always going, doing something.  

Alex continued to listen to Isla, and perked up at the mention of parkour.  His friend did that back in Minnesota.  Alex couldn't do those maneuvers to save his life, but those who could were always lean, fast, and deceptively strong.  "Maybe sometime we could go check out some landmarks, you can do your photography and I'll just enjoy your company?  As far as what i like to do, I am a huge outdoors-man.  I like to hunt, fish, and camp.  I also do a lot of competitive shooting in my off time.  I'm good with a pistol and rifle, but my shotgun skills need some work."  He benefited from getting lots of free range time and hands on with the guns, but Alex could never shoot a shotgun like the older guys.  It had a lot to do with him entering law enforcement when shotguns were on their way out, opening the door to ARs.  

Alex waited till Isla paused in the shaving to ask his next question, because he didn't want to surprise her and lose a chunk of hair or anything.  "So, I am having a lot of fun getting to know you here, but at some point I will have to leave this room"  he said with a chuckle.  "I don't suppose you'd let me buy you dinner tomorrow night?  Ill have some PTO coming my way with this incident, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend it."  He was taking a huge gamble here; for all he knew she was like this with every patient to make them comfortable.   

Isla Hudson

[Isla Hudson]

"Camping and fishing are fun," Isla commented with a shrug, "didn't get a chance to do that much as a kid, but I liked it, sleeping under the stars outside, and hiking and stuff." And she hadn't taken the opportunity to camp now that she was on her own -- not only did she not have the equipment, she just didn't have the time or knowledge. "And fishing..?" Yuck!

And then came the proposal? Offer? Date?

"I don't suppose you'd let me buy you dinner tomorrow night? Ill have some PTO coming my way with this incident, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend it."

"Oh, well..." That caught her a little off guard, not that she minded in the least, she really felt a bit of a thrill in the pit of her stomach, but...

"Honestly, we're not supposed to...'fraternize' with patients." Sighing, she looked at him, her eyes meeting his, but then she grinned. "Of course, I can't help it if we happen to be in the same place at the same time, right?"

There was a hint for him, and she was pretty sure that he would pick up on it, and then the doctor came in to do the stitches, and Isla stepped back to assist, glancing at Alex to see how he'd handle things.

[Deleted]

    Alex laughed and winked at Isla.  "I won't tell anyone if you don't."  It appeared she was interested though, which filled Alex with hope.  Maybe he had a solid shot at something with this woman.  Now, he just needed to focus on not screwing it up.  "Well I guess you'll have to let it slip where you may be one of these nights so i can "bump" into you there."  It was refreshing to have someone to flirt with for once, and Alex was thoroughly enjoying ever minute of it.  Just as he was about to make another comment though, the door opened and a doctor walked in with a suture kit in hand.  It was better than the staples he was threatened with, but this meant he wouldn't get to chit chat with Isla any more without raising eyebrows.  So, he patiently waited for the doctor to do his work while Alex grimaced and winced his way through getting his scalp sewn up.  All the while he made sure to not make it super obvious that he was into Isla, although he may have smiled once or twice at her while the doc did his work.

When it was all done, the doctor rattled off something about returning in a week to get the stitches out, and to take the antibiotics he was prescribing him.  Alex impatiently nodded in agreement to get the guy on his way, and as soon as he was gone, he stood up and pulled his jacket on.  Turning back to Isla, he stepped towards her and smiled.  "Well, now that I'm all fixed up, its back to work.  The city needs me."  He reached into his coat pocket and fished out a small metal case, and flipped it open.  He pulled out a business card which had his work cell phone on it, and casually laid it on the counter next to him.  "Oops, accidentally dropped this.  I suppose if someone were to find it, they'd be able to text me a bunch or call me on their break."  He said with a mischievous grin.  "I hope you have a great rest of your night Isla, and I hope I do see you again."  Alex said as he pulled open the door to the room they were in.