Sound Problems

By Em.

Disclaimer: I don’t own All Saints, nor the characters involved, despite what my dreams believe.

Also the stuff in italics belongs to people much smarter and MUCH better writers than I.

Author’s note: This is chapter 5 in my series that started with “Looking Forward to a Family.”

I hope you enjoy, because this is also the last. I am working on a new series as I write this and I hope I shall have it up and running shortly. Thanks for everyone’s support.

Email: SweetDramaQueen@hotmail.com

“Mitch! Mitch” Terri was desperately shaking him.

“WHAT?” Mitch mumbled, struggling to open his eyes.

“There’s someone at the door.” Terri asked positioning herself so she could look directly at him.

“Answer it then” Mitch attempted to move, but Terri had him pegged.

“MITCH!” Terri was exasperated. The continuous knocking had also woken Lucy in the next room.

“Look, now you’ve woken Lucy.” Mitch muttered, slowly moving out from under the covers.

“Look, I’ll get Lucy, you get the door!” Terri suggested, grabbing Mitch’s bathrobe that lay over a nearby chair.

 Mitch groaned and threw on a shirt, before yelling out to the person at the door. “I’m coming.” He made it to the door and opened it. Upon seeing who was standing on the doorstep, he allowed his mouth to fall open.

“Morning Mitch.” Rose said, screwing her nose up in response.

“Rose, I… um… you…” He stood staring, not believing what stood in front of him.

“I’m back. It has been 10 weeks.” Rose pushed pasted him and began to walk up the hall.

“Rose, what are you doing? You can’t just show up here and expect… what are you doing here?” Mitch asked hot on her heels.

“I’m here for Lucy.” She didn’t even stop to look at him.

“We had a deal.” Mitch grabbed hold of her elbow. Rose struggled and broke away.

“Yeah, now I’m back and I want my daughter.” Rose rounded the corner and stopped in horror at the scene before her. Taking a deep breath, Rose narrowed her eyes and began.

“Terri, I see you have made yourself quite at home here.” Terri stood, still with Lucy in her arms and laid her in her cot.

“Hello Rose, if you’ll excuse me.” She slid out the door a terrified look upon her face.

“What is she doing here?” Rose turned to Mitch, demanding answers.

“What do you think she’s doing here?” Mitch’s voice was sarcastic, his thoughts on the look upon Terri’s face as she fled into Mitch’s room.

“Don’t you walk away from me!” Rose’s voice was extreme and Mitch just shook his head in response.

“What are you doing here?” Mitch didn’t need this and wanted nothing more than to be alone with Terri.

“I came for Lucy.”

“You can’t have her.” Mitch was determined.

“I am taking her for the day, I will return her at 5. My lawyer will be in touch.” Rose forced a smile and busied herself gathering Lucy and her things.

Mitch stood fixed to the spot, knowing that to deny Rose access for Lucy would only cause more problems.

He walked behind Rose as she left and was on his way back to the bedroom, thinking about the effects of Rose’s entrance, when he heard the shower running.

Mitch walked into the bathroom, completely absorbed in his thoughts, padding in he silently closed the door and walked toward the shower.

“Ahh!” Terri screamed. “Mitch, what are you doing here?” She turned to face him.

“I needed to see you.”

“And this couldn’t have waited five minutes?” Terri turned her back to him, expecting him to leave. She then felt a pair of arms encircle her waist and soft lips on the back of her neck.

“No I couldn’t wait five minutes.” He smiled.

Terri arrived at work that morning, and although she bore a small smile, it was obvious to Mitch that the events of that morning had affected her.

“Terri, we have a post-op cancer patient on there way up.” Nelson related as Terri was focusing on the allocation of rooms.

“I don’t suppose you would be willing to nurse them would you?” Terri turned toward him with a smile.

“Well, actually… I was hoping that Paula would do the honours.” He replied with a smirk.

“You don’t mind do you Paula?” Terri faced her and looked up hopefully.

“Of course not.” Paula smiled and made polite enquiries.

“Nelson, that means I’ll give you rooms 2, 4 and 7.” She handed him the appropriate files and shooed him away.

“Terri, is there something I should know about this patient?” Paula whispered.

“I guess; Luke is looking after her post-surgical care.” Terri smiled sympathetically and Paula frowned, trying to understand why Nelson was reluctant and then it all fell into place.

“Nelson can’t stand the fuss Luke makes over the surgical issues and plus he hates it when Forlano dabbles in medicine.” Jared commented with a grin.

“Close, lets just leave it shall we?” Terri waved her hand as a dismissal to them all.

Terri was at the reception desk when Debbie Martin was brought up.

“Ms Debra Martin, post-op care and further investigation.” The nurse wheeling the bed handed Terri the file.

“Room one thanks, Ms Martin.” Terri motioned for them to enter room one.

Paula and Terri were discussing the best way to cater to Ms Martin’s needs, when her sister came running in frantically.

“I want to see my sister, Debbie Martin.” The woman was obviously worried and Terri addressed her immediately.

“Hello, I’m Terri Sullivan, can I help?” She guided the woman in to her office.

“I’m Margaret Reynolds, Debbie’s sister. I heard she just got out of surgery and I wanted to see her.”

“Everything is fine, your sister is still a little drowsy, and the effects of the anaesthetic haven’t completely worn off yet.”

“But why, it shouldn’t take this long, what happened?” Margaret was stressed and Terri was beginning to question whether there was something missing from the records.

“Your sister’s procedure is rather long and thus the anaesthetic takes a little longer to wear off.”

“Yes, yes.”

“May I ask as to why you are so anxious to see your sister?” Terri was curious.

“Debbie and I did everything together, always have done. When she first found out about the cancer in her throat she with held it from me, and I had to watch her lose her beautiful voice before I found out what was going on. So now whenever she has anything done I am anxious, not wanting to wait until she begins to fade to find out.” Margaret blinked back her tears and turned her face from Terri.

“I understand, if you would like I can find out when you can see her.” Terri smiled and went in pursuit of Luke.

“Debbie, I’m Paula.” Paula leaned in close to the woman curled up on the bed. “I’ll be nursing you today, this here is Doctor Forlano.” Luke stepped forward from his position at the end of the bed.

“Now, the procedure went remarkably well, you should only be in hospital until the end of the week – Paula will be monitoring your progress. And, just one more thing; I’m sure the surgeon explained the outcome of your procedure.” Debbie frowned but nodded. “So I don’t want you over exerting your voice, and even when you are fully recovered from the operation, you may experience a difference in your pitch and tone.” Luke showed a tight smile and strode from the room.

Mitch was tied up in room 5 with Jared.

“Make sure you are watching his blood pressure and page me as soon as his cardio and pathology results come through.” Mitch threw a kind look to Peter Seldon who simply rolled his eyes at the medical talk, and then Mitch walked out.

“Look mate, I’m fine really – its all just been exaggerated.” Peter was trying to appeal to Jared.

“Doctor’s orders. But is there someone I can call for you? Wife or friend?”

“Yeah my wife, Kim – she should be at home.”

“I’ll be back shortly.” Jared smiled. “But if you need anything just hit the button.”

Mitch had meanwhile received a page, and walked over to Matt to answer it.

“Anyone in there?” Mitch cocked his head toward Terri’s office.

“Nup.” Matt answered, smiling with all his teeth.

“I’ll just be 5!” Matt just nodded as Mitch walked in a shut the door.

“Rose, what are you doing calling me at work?” Mitch hissed into the phone.

“I just spoke to my lawyer and as Lucy’s mother I should have complete and uninterrupted access to my daughter.”

“Our daughter!” Mitch replied curtly.

“Therefore I will be by tonight to bring my stuff.”

“WHAT?” Mitch exploded, pleased that he had shut the door on his way in.

“My house, my baby.” Mitch could all but see Rose narrowing her eyes.

“But…” Mitch opened and closed his mouth, silently weighing up the pros and cons of a legal battle.

Rose took Mitch’s silence as an answer and continued. “I’ll have the papers drawn up then.”

“I’ll be out by the weekend.”

“Tomorrow.” Rose stated firmly.

“Rose, be reasonable.”

“Don’t start Mitch, I could cause serious problems for you.”

“What?”

“I heard the hospital has a new CEO – tomorrow Mitch.” Rose cut the connection, leaving Mitch rolling his eyes in desperation.

Mitch stayed a few more moments in to office contemplating the conversation.

“Debbie, your sister was most anxious to see you.” Terri led Margaret into room one.

“Hey sis.” Margaret sat in the chair leaning in close to her sister. Debbie only nodded in reply. “Have you heard about what Matt is doing?” Paula moved to the doorway with Terri. “He has decided to put on a musical.” She turned to the nurses to explain. “My husband runs the local repertory house.”

Terri and Paula smiled and closed the door as they walked out.

“Terri, I am really concerned.” Terri turned to Paula and insisted she continue. “Debbie seems really depressed.

“Has Luke noticed it?” Terri sat down as she reached the computer.

“I think so, he has her on ‘Zoloft’ although he hasn’t mentioned it in any of the notes.” Terri began to type on the computer.

“Who was the surgeon?” Terri questioned, eyes focused on the screen.

“Burgess.”

“Who did the prep?”

“Kylie.”

“Right, go and find Kylie, see if their was any signs of depression when she was admitted and if there are any other links, perhaps the medication is not right, make sure you check it all.” Terri smiled up at Paula who was listening intently.

“Great, you can cope without me?” Terri nodded and Paula smiled.

“I just might look in on Debbie for you.”

“Thanks.” Paula grinned and left.

Terri wandered back in to room 1 after a time, giving the sisters some private time to themselves, but seeing it was time to check on Debbie, Terri decided to interrupt.

“Knock, knock.” Terri smiled, opening up the door.

“Come in, I didn’t mean to be disturbing her rest time or anything.” Margaret was straight to her feet.

“Excuse me?’ Terri was confused.

“I mean… you want me to go?”

“No, I just wanted to check that everything was alright in here and that Debbie was fine with the medication.” Terri began to look through Debbie’s chart.

“Much nicer than that private hospital you went to last time.” Margaret stated her eyes locked with Debbie’s.

“Really?” Terri smiled at Debbie.

“Do you think they would let us here?” Debbie’s eyes came alive as she thought of the possibilities.

“I’m sorry?” Terri laid the chart aside and walked to the head of the bed.

“I…” Debbie began hoarsely. “Was a singer.” Terri smiled gently, beginning to understand the reason behind Debbie’s depression. “…Barely can talk…” Debbie winced in pain.

“It’s ok.” Terri soothed her gently.

“At the last hospital they wouldn’t let me sing to my sister.” Debbie nodded as her sister continued. “It’s all the Debbie does think, write and play music.”

“I see.” Terri looked at the pair of them together. “Well considering this is a single room, and the rest period doesn’t officially begin until 3 pm, I wouldn’t mind as long as you kept it low.” Debbie smiled.

“What do you want to hear?” Margaret asked her sister. “Wait I’ve got one from Matt’s new musical.”

“ Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens,

Brown paper packages tied up with strings,

These are a few of my favourite things.”

Terri smiled at the obvious joy that it was bringing Debbie. Margaret caught the look and sent a pleading one to Terri.

“I can’t sing, so how about you join me, make this fun?” Debbie smiled in encouragement.

“When the dog bites, when the bee stings…” Margaret trailed off, indicating to Terri.

“When I’m feeling sad.” Terri rolled her eyes in embarrassment.

“No, you’re good, please go on.”

“Yes, please.” Debbie added quietly.

“I simply remember my favourite things,

And then I don’t feel SOOOOO bad…………” Terri laughed and turned to walk out.

“Well done”, “Lovely”, “Encore”. Terri scowled at the staff gathered around the room.

“Out!” She smiled at them; Paula walked in though and smiled kindly at Terri.

“I think we have found our solution.” Terri nodded in agreement and walked out.

The day was progressing steadily; Mitch was waiting ‘patiently’ by the phone for Peter Seldon’s pathology results.

“So Terri can sing hey!” Matt prodded elbowing Mitch lightly.

“You heard her.” Mitch shrugged his shoulders and noted to ask Terri later what brought on the outburst.

“I’m sure there is a lot of things one doesn’t know about Terri.” Nelson added as he wandered past.

Mitch frowned and started to type decidedly on the computer.

“I reckon.” Matt added, rather sourly.

“Yeah, I bet that new Colin guy could fill us in?” Nelson smirked and started to move away.

“Colin?” Matt called.

“Yeah, the CEO.” Nelson winked at Matt and was gone a second later.

Mitch sat at the computer and contemplated what had just been said.

Seeing Terri rounding a corner he called out to her.

“Mitch, what can I do for you?” She smiled sweetly.

“Well…” He smiled before continuing. “I have been waiting on these pathology results all day, I was wondering if you had heard anything.”

“Sorry, all I know is that they are backed-up, apparently there was a complication in obstetrics this morning and it has been keeping them busy.” She smiled politely to Matt before heading into her office.

“What do you mean?” Mitch asked following her in.

“Excuse me?” She turned to face him and he in turn shut the door.

“Nothing.” He smiled at her.

“What?” Terri nervously tucked some hair behind one ear.

“Quite a performance in there!” He took up residence in her chair.

“Yeah.” She smiled, gingerly. “It was one of those spur of the moment things.”

“Really?” He asked nodding. “A bit like this then.” He pulled her into his lap.

“Mitch!” She cried.

“Shhh…” He put a finger to her lips. “You’ve never sung to me.” He put on a pout and puppy-dog eyes.

Terri just smiled. “I should probably… ummm…. Get going” She started out of the chair. “Actually, this is my office, you get out.” She pointed one finger to the door sternly, but smiled nevertheless.

“Yes, Madam.” He saluted her and slowly rose from the chair. He encircled her waist with his arm and pulled her in close.

“Door, go.” She smiled at him firmly.

“Alright.” He walked toward the door, with her marching softly behind him. She opened the door and Mitch turned around to look at her once more, Terri gave him a final push.

“OUT!” She smiled. Mitch turned around and collided with Colin. Colin cleared his throat meaningfully.

“We’ll discuss this later.” Mitch rolled his eyes and walked off.

“Colin, lovely to see you.” Terri smiled, only this time it didn’t quite meet her eyes.

“Well, can we go somewhere to talk?” He nodded toward her office.

“Of course, right this way.” She trailed in behind him.

“I just wanted to speak with you regarding the physiotherapist you have chosen to assess a… Peter Seldon’s situation.” He glanced briefly at the page he held clutched in his hand.

“Yes, Shane Haley, he is renowned for his analysis and rehabilitation. Why are you concerned?” Terri asked, scanning her memory for any problems regarding Shane Haley.

“I believe that a Rose Stevens usually addresses your wards patients.” He looked up at her innocently.

“Ah… Mrs Stevens has been on leave and I wasn’t aware she had returned.” Terri was visibly alarmed and Colin frowned accordingly.

“Tomorrow.” He looked at Terri for any sign of apprehension.

“Well, it wasn’t me who actually assigned Haley to Seldon, but if you wish I shall rectify it, should you deem it necessary.” Terri smiled briefly.

“Not necessary, just wondering, are Mitch Stevens and Rose Stevens related?” He asked eyes focused on Terri.

“They are separated.” Terri sighed and was thinking of a way to remove him from her office.

“Right. Would you recommend that they work on the same ward?”

“No” Had she answered to quickly.

“I see, in the same hospital even?” He had a small smile forming on his lips.

“That is none of my business, you shall have to speak to both of them regarding the matter.” Terri stood and motioned for him to do the same. “If there is nothing else.” She smiled politely.

“No. I shall be in touch.” He strode from the room, leaving Terri to think about what had just gone on.

The evening set upon the ward and the staff wandered out to their respective homes. Terri was typing steadily on the computer, waiting for the final word on Peter’s cardiology result and also hoping to catch Luke before he disappeared, to have a word regarding Debbie’s final set of meds.

“Hey you!” Terri smiled as Mitch rounded the corner.

“Hello.” She didn’t look up from the computer screen. “I had words with Colin today.”

“Uh-huh.” Mitch was non-committal, but he was essentially waiting with bated breath.

“He wanted to know what was happening with our physiotherapists.”

“Excuse me? Haley is great.”

“He wanted to know why we changed from Rose.”

“Rose?” Mitch was confused.

“Supposedly she’s coming back tomorrow, or so Colin said.”

“Colin huh?” Terri spun around to face him.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Rose just said something about a new CEO and causing problems, don’t worry about it.” Mitch tried not to look worried but failed miserably. “I’m going up. See you there?”

“Yeah, I’m just waiting for Luke.” Terri smiled encouragingly.

“He left about 2 hours ago.” Mitch laughed and Terri playfully hit him on the arm.

“I’ll be up in a sec.” Terri turned back to face the computer as Mitch left her.

Mitch was wandering around in the leisure room, when Terri walked in. She carefully laid her bag down on the table next to all of his folders.

“Glad you decided to join me.” Mitch turned around and opened his arms beckoningly.

“Not here.” Terri had her mouth set in a firm line.

“Yeah, I guess. But no one else is around.”

“You don’t know that.” Terri smiled conspiringly.

“Well, there is always…” Mitch smiled and cast his eye around the room.

“No!” Terri stood on her toes so she was level with Mitch’s eye line. “Mitch! No” She was smiling as she said it.

“Please??” He smiled sweetly at her.

“No!” She smiled and frowned in the moment. Mitch took her in a hug and poked his tongue out at her teasingly.

“Alright, alright.”

“Are my hugs that awful?” He smiled at her.

“No, all you had to do was ask.” She moved away from him and took up residence at the piano. “My fingers await your directions!”

“What ever you want, I am your captive audience.” He slid onto the stool next to her.

“Ok, just give me a minute.” Terri sat deep in thought; she was desperately trying to think of a song that was as easy to play, as it was to sing. Terri located the ‘d’ and began…

“From this moment life has begun,

From this moment you are the one,

Right beside you is where I belong,

From this moment on.

From this moment I have been blessed,

I live only for your happiness,

And for your love I’d give my last breath,

From this moment on.”

Mitch pulled Terri into a hug and stopped her from playing.

“I love you, you know that don’t you?” Mitch asked, smiling down on her.

“I love you too.” Terri smiled.

“We will beat this don’t worry about Rose or Colin or anything.”

“OK,” Terri looked up and their eyes met for the briefest of seconds, but it was long enough to convince Mitch to take the woman he loved in his arms and show her how he felt.

The kiss had deepened and despite the awkwardness of their seat, the moment was special, until…

“Terri Sullivan, my office now!” Colin walked in a saw ward 17’s NUM in a passionate embrace, with the ward’s registrar. It was insubordinate, and he wouldn’t stand for that type of scandal in his hospital. Terri obviously distressed at being caught in the situation, jumped from the seat and walked out the door. Mitch was close behind her.

“Terri, I love you.” He was able to whisper before the door was slammed in his face.

THE END