Page 36 of Mercy
“Obviously, the chemo has to stop, right?”
“Yes, for now we don’t have a choice.”
“Liam, how did she get this infection?”
He shrugs his shoulders and places the chart on the slot at the foot of the bed and places his hand on mine. “We will never have an answer to that question. It would be nothing more than a guess. Everyone has this bacteria on their skin. She could have gotten a nic or it could’ve even traveled in through her port or IV line. This bacteria only needs the smallest entry way into the skin.”
Standing up, he goes to the bedside table and gets two sets of gloves.
“Put these on. If you touch her, you need to not touch yourself. The gloves must be changed before you touch yourself or before touching me.”
“In your dreams, doctor,” I say as my lips turn into a small smile.
He hovers his mouth over my ear and whispers, “You have no idea what I dream of when it comes to you, baby girl. Your hands are nothing compared to your mouth on every fucking inch of my body. It’s what my dreams are made of.”
Fuck. Now I’m sitting here in this hospital room with wet panties. And I can tell by the gleam in his eyes that he knows it. He acts like the cat that caught the mouse.
We sit waiting, quietly for what feels like hours for her to wake up. I want her to sleep, it’s what her little body needs. But at the same time, I want to hear her voice. I want to tell her it’s going to be okay.
She begins to stir lightly, and we both sit up paying close attention like we’ll miss something big, earth shattering.
Her eyes open, and her gaze travels from me to Liam and then back to me as her lips curve into the slightest smile.
She whispers, “Dr. L…. Mercy.”
I place my gloved hand on her knee. “Hi, sweet girl. How are you feeling?”
“Tired. It hurts, but okay.”
I squeeze her knee, “You’re such a brave girl. I’m so proud of you.”
“How’s your throat,” Liam asks her.
“It hurts.” Her voice is scratchy.
Liam walks to the left side of the bed and presses the call button.
When the nurse answers, he bites, “Water for Ms. Reynolds, STAT.”
“Yes, doctor, right away.”
The nurse brings the water to give to Ivy, but Liam takes it from her, “That will be all,” he says in a dismissive tone. Dr. Grump is in the building.
He puts the straw in Ivy’s mouth, telling her, “Sip slowly.”
This is beautiful to watch, he strokes her hair as she takes slow sips of her drink. I’ve never seen this side of Liam. Not a doctor, just a man taking care of someone he clearly has grown fond of.
Once she’s had several sips, he puts the cup on the table.
“Dr. L?” Ivy glances up at Liam with questioning eyes. “Did I almost die?”
“What?” he asks, as I gasp.
“I heard the nurses talking. They said they thought I was a goner, which I think means gone. And the other nurse said no way will I live through all the surgeries I need. Do I need more surgeries?”
Liam is furious. I can see it in his furrowed brow and clenched jaw.
He blows out a big breath, “We don’t know how many surgeries you will need. But you will live through them regardless how many there are. Do you hear me? Choose to live and you will. Those nurses should not have said that. But you’re going to live a long, wonderful life. I will see to it.”
