Chapter Four #3
“You inspired me to become a doctor, Nylora. I saw you help my mother when she was in labour with my youngest brother. I wanted to be you but taller and less grey.”
“Well, your boobs are bigger than mine, so you split the difference.” She looked at him with narrowed eyes.
He grinned. “Ah, there is the terror of the fifty-one. And your breasts have started growing, so don’t forget to size up your undergarments.”
“Yes, Doc.” She curtsied.
Solor raised his brows. Demuel was grinning.
He nodded. “Right. Let’s get the bloodwork done, and then you can go and get something to eat. Your body has been demanding breakfast since you came in.”
“Well, yeah. Heck, those tongue depressors are starting to look good.”
Solor asked, “Why are you going to draw the blood, Doctor? Why not a tech?”
Mycos chuckled. “Same reason you are here before we technically open. Nylora freaks my assistants out. The dark fae energy sets them on edge. It is softer today.”
“Yeah, well, I had a good night.”
The doctor got the draw kit and settled on the rolling chair while Nylora sat on the exam bed again. When he had the blood for the checks and the paternity test, it was Solor’s turn. He got his blood taken and authorized the rush on the paternity test.
Doc Mycos handed her a lollipop and said, “See you in two weeks. Try and relax. This should be fun and exciting.”
“Exiting is never in short supply.” She looked to the guys. “I am going to go settle up, and do you want to get pancakes?”
Solor snorted. “I am the cause; I will pay the price.”
She sucked on her lollipop and blinked at him. “Well, then, let’s go.”
Demuel kept a hand on her back as they headed out. Solor charmed the receptionist, who had looked at Nylora with fear. He just had to pay for the paternity rush. The rest was on her insurance.
“We are definitely going to the diner.” Solor hugged her.
“Why?”
“I want to show off.” He smiled brightly. He was happy. It was glowing out of him.
“Fine. Pancakes and bacon, but don’t tell Mycos.” She looked up at him.
He grinned. “Right now, you could eat a whole pig, and I wouldn’t care.” They were moving down the sidewalk, and there were still quite a few XIA vehicles waiting outside.
He was hovering protectively around her as they entered the diner, and calls of greeting rang out. The hostess took them to a booth, and Demuel hemmed her in while Solor took the ultrasound images on a grand tour.
“Oh. My. God. They are all giddy.”
Demuel chuckled. “Did you think they wouldn’t be? You are going to be settled in a chair and served when we go to Neekil and Hannah’s housewarming on the weekend.”
She looked and saw the dark red head looking at the pictures with Neekil’s snowy white. “I am so glad that they both made it.”
He looked down at her and frowned. “How do you know them?”
“Finding Neekil’s body was my first assignment when I started here.
It was when I was doing my first trial, and his team called in a panic.
We rolled and wrestled his barely breathing body onto the gurney, but the order came in almost immediately to bring the body to his people.
That was creepy as hell. All those dark elves staring, I kept my human seeming firmly belted on. ”
“Wait, so you brought him there?”
“Me and Tenoric. He was my trainer. I hadn’t worked with a troll before, but he’s a good guy.”
“I always thought that he was taken to the hospital.”
“He was, and then two drops later, we had to go back and move him to the enclave.” She saw Neekil’s ear twitch.
“So, did you just meet Hannah this week?”
“Meet her? Yes. I just met her this week.” She nodded.
“Why do I think there is a story there?”
“Because there is, but her medical history is her own.”
“Why are you aware of it?” It was Hannah sitting across from her while the giddy Solor made his rounds.
“Oh, geez. You scared me.” She quickly ordered breakfast, and Demuel followed up with his and Solor’s.
“Yeah, sorry. Neekil does it all the time, and I wanted to try it. So, how are you aware of my medical history?”
“Well, not so much your history, just one particular event.”
Hannah’s blue eyes were curious. “Which event?”
“How did you get from the mansion to the hospital?”
“What? Oh.”
“The fifty-one picked you up, and we busted our butts to keep you alive, and it worked. Your body was determined to die, no matter what Imara had done to your soul.” She smiled as the decaf was set out in front of her.
Hannah sat there with a stunned look on her face. “I hadn’t thought about that. I just woke up in the hospital.”
“Yeah, there was more.” She grimaced and sipped her coffee.
“What? How bad?”
She winced. “I can’t tell you. You can ask for the audio from the truck, and I can explain it to you so you know what you are hearing, but I would be fired if I just told you everything. I am not a doctor, and I can’t state an official diagnosis.”
Hannah grimaced and started jabbing at her phone. “I am getting that audio recording.” She got up to return to Neekil.
Nylora winced. “And I am getting fired.”
Demuel laughed. “Don’t exaggerate.”
“Oh, I am not. There is no way that they will believe I didn’t tell her, considering where I am and where we are and who we are with.”
Demuel put his arm around her. “I am sure it will be fine.”
“I am sure it won’t. Healthcare is a whole other animal.” She sighed. “Your job is public record, mine isn’t.”
“Oh. Right. I guess that would make a difference.”
She put her head in her hands and groaned. “Why did I have to open my big mouth?”
Solor was sliding into the seat across from her. “Because you felt she needed to know.”
“Yeah. Well. No one asks what happens in the ambulance, but because of her association with the mayor’s office, everything was kept quiet. Also, the whole issue with the mansion. That was a whole other thing.” She sighed. “Also, my direct supervisor is a humourless dick, and he just walked in.”
She smiled as her food arrived. “On the plus side, I am pretty sure I just got my ass disinvited from the housewarming.”
Hannah shot her fist into the air. “Got it!”
Nylora’s head lifted in shock. “Oh. Right. Mayor’s office.”
She watched as Hannah put in her earbuds and started to listen.
“Oh, shit.”