Doc’s Surrender (Rippers’ MC #7)
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D oc
Trying to sleep was a challenge at best. Dawn’s whimpers and thrashing in her sleep kept me awake most of the night. Seeing her tormented by nightmares broke my heart. I was trying to keep her comfortable so she could have time to heal. I had given her an IV with fluids and antibiotics as soon as I got her settled in the bed. I have been giving her pain meds through her IV. She has been sleeping for the better part of three days. She wakes up long enough to go to the bathroom and I have been struggling to get her to drink protein shakes since she refuses to eat. Her brother has been by the house a couple times trying to get her to go home with him. She has refused every time and barely says a word to him. Seeing my friend racked with guilt makes my gut clench. He adores his baby sister and has spoiled her the best he could. When she asked to go to school in California, he was hesitant at first, but she had earned a full ride with scholarships and grants, so Gears relented and let her go. He went to see her as often as possible, and she came home for the holidays.
The last time she came home for Christmas we had a huge celebration at the clubhouse. It was then that I realized how much she had grown up and how beautiful she was. Dawn was smart as a whip, very witty, funny and gorgeous. She had her brother’s dark hair and eyes. She was tall and full figured the way I liked my women. I felt ashamed that I was entertaining these thoughts about my buddy’s sister, but she was undeniably attractive. I had caught her looking at me off and on through Christmas dinner and during the party afterwards. I was trying not to act on my desires, so I tried to stay on the other side of the room. She managed to sit by me during the gift exchange and I had to put a pillow in my lap at one point when she kept leaning close to me to watch the children open their gifts. Her scent clouded my head, it was something floral like fresh honeysuckles on the fence. Her breasts pressed against my arm had my full attention. When her hair brushed my arm, I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel sliding down my chest. It was then I excused myself saying I needed to go to the hospital to check on a couple of my patients. I remember her looking at me a little funny and a look of disappointment crossed her lovely face.
I have been having another doctor help cover my cases for the last several days while I stayed home to take care of her. I really needed to get to the hospital to take care of some business. Katherine, one of the doctors and Fang’s sister, was off today so she had agreed to come by and sit with Dawn while I went to work for a few hours.
I made up the cot and pushed it against the wall then went to wake Dawn up. She needed to get used to being awake some during the day and I really wanted to get her to eat some real food.
“Babydoll, you need to wake up. Katherine will be here in about half an hour, and I’d like to get you to eat something. We can start with something light this morning.” She opened her eyes and let out a sigh. “I’ll fix you some toast with a cheese omelet. You need to get some food in your system.”
“I’m not hungry.” She protested as her stomach growled giving her away. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she looked away. I wasn’t going to let her get away with that.
“You can start eating solid food or I’ll put it in a feeding tube. I can guarantee you won’t enjoy that at all.” I knew I had to be firm with her. If I had let Gears take her home, he would have coddled her, giving in to whatever she wanted. That was not going to help her to recover.
“You wouldn’t dare.” She hissed at me, her eyes flashing with anger. “I’ll tell my brother.”
“You can do that but when I tell him how you are refusing to eat and how weak that will keep you, I’m sure he will be on my side.” I told her smugly. I was secretly thrilled to see some fire back in her personality. That was a good sign. I knew there was a fighter in her somewhere. I took some bloodwork, and had it couriered to the hospital. It came back clean. No signs of pregnancy either.
“Fine, I’ll eat breakfast.” She said exasperated at me. As I walked out of the room, I heard her whisper ‘Asshole’. I just chuckled as I went to run through the shower and throw on clothes for work. I went to the kitchen to fix both of us an omelet and toast. As I carried the tray into her room, she looked up at me licking her lips.
“Can I have a shower?” she asked me, looking down at her hands. “I feel gross.”
“I put on waterproof bandages, so I don’t see a problem with that. Just a shower, no soaking in the tub. Katherine can stay in here with you, so you are not alone.” Dawn looked at the plate in front of her and picked up the toast first, nibbling on it.
“Thank you for breakfast.” She whispered as she continued to eat. Once she had finished about a third of her omelet and a piece of toast she pushed the plate away. “I can’t eat anymore, I’m full.”
I took her plate and put the food on mine to finish it off. She smiled at that, but I knew she likely wouldn’t finish all of it. I heard a knock on the front door, so I got up to go answer it.
“Hey Doc, how is Dawn doing this morning?” Katherine asked as she peeked around me. I stepped back and gestured for her to come on in.
“Come in and see for yourself. I need to put our breakfast plates in the kitchen and head to the hospital. She mentioned wanting a shower, if you would not mind helping her, I think that would make her feel better. Sophie brought some of her clothes over.” I walked in to get the plates and saw Dawn sitting on the side of the bed. “What do you need Baby doll?”
“I need some privacy so I can go to the bathroom.” She snapped. I was again surprised by the fire that was back in her voice.
“Well alright. Katherine is here to help you and I’m headed out. Call me if you need me.” I said to them. Katherine offered me a sympathetic look and went into the bedroom.
Katherine was with Dawn so I figured I would check on a few patients and then take a nap in one of the on-call rooms before I go home later.