‘You Have Been Summoned…’

                                                              by  ajm

 

“No, I think Sheila is picking up Carmen’s Friday so that she doesn’t have to double back when she works the three to eleven shift.”  Carol Johnson RN said pointing to the clarification on the massive schedule poster.

 

“But…wait…if Sheila works the three to eleven…then who’s working her nights?” Spoke an inquiring voice.

 

‘I am.”  Dixie McCall, head nurse of the Emergency Room, pointed to the slots with her name penned over whiteout, trying not to sound begrudging.

 

A chorus of silence followed as five nurses inspected the intricate calendar posted on the staff bulletin board.  Hands on her hips, Dixie looked on confidently at the massive chart before them and stepped back to allow others to follow the series of arrows and scribbles.  The original was much more tidy.

 

“Admiring your work?”  Dr. Kelly Brackett walked to her and spoke over her shoulder as he jotted in the progress notes of a chart.

 

“A thing of splendor.” She replied with a smile.  “At least it was…”

 

“Oh?”

 

‘Jury duty.  Put the ki-bosh to my masterpiece.”  Dixie explained.

 

‘Couldn’t get out of it after all, huh?”

 

‘Nope.  Try as I might.”  Dixie turned into him.  “Say…you wouldn’t consider writing an excuse that I was unable to perform …maybe something like a lobotomy or impending insanity---”

 

Kel looked to the spectacle gathered at the bulletin board as a grin formed over his handsome features.  “Impending?”

 

‘Thanks.”

 

She tossed the idea aside. “Nah. Forget it.  Actually, I really don’t mind fulfilling my civic obligation.  I just wish that it didn’t disrupt everything.” They both watched the gaggle of nurses slowly disperse.  Most were satisfied.

 

 One head nurse was mildly disgruntled but shrugged it off.  “So ….I have to work a few night shifts….”

 

Oh no…not jury duty plus night shift. This could be a loooong couple of weeks…forget even thinking about a date.  Even if she were amenable to rekindling their off-duty… amour, their schedules were one hundred eighty degrees juxtaposed.    Kel’s expression of disappointment lasted a bit longer than Dixie’s.   

 

‘Looks like everyone approves or at least accepts with a mild degree of complaint.”

 

“I hope so.”  Dixie unfolded her arms taking the chart from the hands of the interested physician.    “Now I can get on with the more satisfying duties of nursing—actually taking care of patients.”

 

‘That’s good.  I wouldn’t want Rampart to lose you to something less stressful and more manageable… like maybe air traffic control.”

 

**

**

 

“So…let me get this straight.  After the defense attorney pleads not-guilty for a misdemeanor charge …the defendant pulled a gun?!”   The logic behind that maneuver perplexed Kel as he wiped at the sweat dripping from his soda bottle onto his tan thighs just beyond the hem of his khaki shorts.  Regardless of the heat, they found a relaxed evening in Dixie’s apartment preferable to something more structured.  

 

‘That’s the nutshell version…but…there is a little more to it.”  Dixie turned the channel knob on the television set in her living room, finding her most trusted news broadcast.  “There it is…there we are…that’s me!! That’s me?!!  My God, I weigh a ton!”

 

‘How come I only see you--?  Dix…where’s everybody else?”

 

“The bailiff impounded most of the jurors back into the conference room the instant Martin Mansen—no relation-- went crazy. Everybody else ducked.”  She grimaced and squinted.  “Am I really that heavy?”

 

“Sequestered…”  Kel studied the screen. 

 

“Huh?”  Dixie let out a yawn. The combination of night shift and jury duty had packed a punch every bit as physically exasperating as she’d anticipated.  Diet soda from now on.  And no more ‘Snicker’s.

 

“Sequestered.  Jurors are sequestered.  You ‘impound’…a car.”

 

“Yeah…really.  That’s too bad.”  Oblivious to the comments wrapped in his deep voice, she responded blankly.  “You know, they say the camera adds ten pounds…?” Dixie nodded in disbelief holding the soda bottle to her forehead then to her lips and downed a swallow.  “This one added at least fifteen.”

 

‘Maybe there was more than one camera.”  Kel kidded still watching the report.

 

“Very funny.”

 

 “Of course…I’m enjoying where they put the added pounds.  Camera or no camera—.”  You’re perfect!

 

“Sh…sh…sh.  Listen…we’ll miss the interview.”   Turning up the volume, she plopped back onto the chair settling beside the man she’d come to know as her best friend. Maybe more?  Maybe someday.  Right now, it felt…perfect even in spite of the disruption to her normal circadian rhythm.

 

They listened to the platinum blonde giving the synopsis of events.  For a moment, Kel watched intently as the beautiful heroine provided her modest description to the media, knowing full well that the woman who sat across from him was even more intriguing in person.

 

“Today, this courtroom bore witness to exceptional acts of both terror and bravery.  Exemplifying courage: a registered nurse from Rampart General in Carson City stepped to the fore front …”

 

‘You know…that reporter doesn’t come across like much but… Stella Simpson is one very intelligent lady.”

 

‘She has a flair for the dramatic.”  He toasted and humbly listened some more.  Upon hearing a discrepancy from the account he’d already heard from Dixie, confusion knitted his brows, pulling the bottle away from his mouth.  “Hey, I thought you said he pulled a gun…sounds like--.”

 

‘Well…he pulled the knife first—held it to Deitl’s neck---his own defense attorney.”  Dixie demonstrated wrapping her arms around him—Kel melted a little--while concentrating his attention on both the evening news and his lovely, capable instructor.  “Dan-o, the Samoan bailiff, grabbed him!”

 

“Dan-o’?”

 

‘Well his name was Daniel.  But I called him ’Book-’im Dan-o!  And it stuck.’  He was always calling me ‘Nancy Nurse’.” Sounding mildly perturbed, Dixie’s left hand was still positioned ready to draw an imaginary slice across Kel’s Adam’s apple as she continued with the scenario.  “So…anyway-- Mansen reached down, grabbed Dan-o’s gun and started firing!  That’s when I plowed over the pregnant lady.”

 

‘Wait…where exactly was that gun again?”  Kel couldn’t control a mischievous grin from crossing his face as he enjoyed the proximity of the woman’s arms. 

 

 Dixie’s lips pursed as she blushed and dropped her arms.  It was time for another sip of soda anyway.

 

‘I’m sorry.  Please continue.  You were about to pounce on the pregnant lady sending her into labor, precipitating the delivery of a healthy baby boy.”

 

“Wait a minute---how did--?”

 

“You told me that part before.  But…better tell me again…with the visuals—I need visuals!”

 

 “Well…she stood—to run I guess--that would be the only reason I could think of not to be praying on your hands and knees behind a chair or something!  And…Mansen was aiming the gun right at her…if I didn’t knock her down—well who knows what might of happened!”  Her tired blue eyes sparkled as they became ensnared ever so briefly by Kel’s proud gray.  Perhaps the same weariness in combination with the caffeine kick of the soda, added a slant of silliness to her demeanor. “And to think, I had a ring-side seat!”

 

“Sounds to me like you were part of the main attraction.”  Kel scowled still thankfully amazed that either woman got out of the predicament both alive and unscathed.  Their focus re-directed to the television. “Hey…there you are again!” 

 

“Hey yeah! ”  Dixie shrieked happily and jumped splashing soda pop onto Kel’s shirt.  “Sorry.  I should’ve worn black.”

 

‘Sh…I’m trying to listen to the interview!”  He quieted her as they watched.  “Impressive.”

 

“Told you.  Stella’s a sharp cookie--.”

 

“I wasn’t referring to Stella.  I think that bombshell she’s interviewing has quite a lovely head on her shoulders…nice voice too.”  He slid his arm-pop bottle and all- around his happy heroine; holding the cool glass against her neck.   Bold move, Kel.  How will she accept it? He remained hopeful, charmed that the poised professional on screen and the animated over-worked woman seated next to him were one in the same.   ‘How’s it feel?”

 

‘How’s what feel?”

 

‘You know…to be a hero?”

 

‘I didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t do.’

 

Realizing that her modesty was as genuine as the subtle endearing vanity she’d disclosed to him earlier, Kel found himself once again enchanted, this evening by her honesty.  He leaned in closer to her and pressed a kiss against her cheek having lost interest in any other news occurrence.  ‘You’re my hero.”

 

Her smile followed by a sideways glance reflected that she’d heard him and appreciated the sentiment.  However, conscientiously with some effort, Dixie playfully shifted her concentration to the reporter on the television screen. 

 

Kel’s attention on the other hand was beyond sway.   More immediate events were unfolding nicely.  “I love you.”  Floated from his lips as he sipped at her jaw line.

 

‘Kel?”  She closed her eyes and bit her lip as she thought to herself. 

 

 Sighing, he nuzzled along her neck as his shirt fell open the slightest, sexiest bit.  TV or no tv…things are going very well.

 

 She turned affectionately into his gaze.  Her eyebrow raised as her hand lifted his chin to meet her own.  “Kel?”

 

‘Mm-hm?” 

 

 To his surprise, Dixie’s arms folded across her cleavage-pop bottle and all-as she demurely, succinctly, and sexily, articulated her sultry words.  ‘You’re spilling your martini on my shoulder.”

 

**

 

                                                 Yes, Virginia…there is an epilogue!

LOBBY•ADMISSIONS•CHALLENGES