Chapter 10

Steven glanced at his watch after he hung up the phone. Connie had taken the news better than he had hoped. He rubbed his eyes and sat back looking at the results on his desk. Rachel wasn’t going to take it as well. Standing up he shed his lab coat and headed for the door. He knew she wouldn’t be sleeping yet, but waiting to hear from him.

Cora answered the door with a smile. “Making house calls now?”

Steven grinned. “Only for pretty women.” He watched her walk carefully and sit down slowly. “How are you doing?”

She shrugged. “It’s not throbbing now and if I’m careful and don’t twist, I hardly know it’s there.” She smiled up at him. “Please look at it then call that idiot friend of yours and tell him I’m fine.”

He sat on the table in front of her. “Been checking up on you, has he?”

“Checking?” Cora laughed. “Smothering is more like it.”

He leaned forward and pulled up her top enough to see. “Any bleeding?”

She shook her head.

He knelt and pulled the tape off gently. “Let some air at it but cover it when you go back to work or out anywhere.” He leaned a little closer to check for signs of infection.

“The doctor makes house calls too?”

Steven straightened up to see Rachel grinning at him from the kitchen doorway. “Only for pretty women.” Standing up he grinned down at Cora. “I’ll call Dade when I finally get home and tell him you’re going to live.”

Cora smiled. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

He turned to Rachel and looked at her for a moment. “I actually came by to speak to you, but getting to touch Cora is a bonus.”

Rachel’s face immediately sobered. “You have the results already?” He nodded as she came in to stand in front of him. “That was fast.”

He shrugged. “When you know the right people in the lab.”

“Charming the female technicians now?”

Steven shook his head. “No college mate, a male. He owes me many favors for holding his head over the toilet many, many times.” He motioned to the couch beside Cora. “Have a seat.”

Rachel looked at him with wary eyes and sat down. “It’s not good,” she said softly.

He sat on the table again facing her leaning on his knees with his hands clasped. “I don’t know for certain, but several things are pointing to something a lot more serious than nutritional deficiencies.” He looked down at his hands. “It would be easier if I had more family history, but without it I’m going to have to follow instinct.”

She touched his hand gently. “What do you think it is, Steven?”

He looked up at her. How do I say this, he wondered. Telling parents bad news is never easy but this was Rachel. “We’ll need to do a bone marrow biopsy to be certain.” Her eyes widened. “But it’s pointing in the direction of leukemia. I could be wrong, but with his symptoms, the bruises, listlessness, bleeding, and the blood chem results…” He looked at her eyes for a moment and saw something he’d never seen in her eyes before, fear. “I hope I’m wrong, but we’ll need the biopsy to know.”

Rachel dropped her hand and sat back looking at him with obvious shock. “And if it is?” Her voice was flat.

Steven let out a slow breath. “The problem with this is it’s never caught early. It’s usually not until it reaches the crisis period.” He rubbed his hand along his jaw. “Children in treatment have a higher than ninety-six percent remission rate, so let’s see what we find out before we panic, okay?” He reached over and grasped her clasped hands gently. “I called Connie. She’s going to bring him in tomorrow.”

She looked up at him. “That soon?” She bit her lip. “I’ll see if I can get out of work and come in.” She continued to gently chew her lip.

Glancing at Cora, he hoped she’d have something to say. She reached over and rubbed a hand over Rachel’s arm gently.

Rachel looked back at him. “What does a biopsy entail?”

He sighed and explained it as briefly as he could. “Removing a small piece of bone with a needle …”

Her eyes widened. “Is he awake for this?”

Steven nodded and then rubbed his aching eyes. “It’s done under a local anesthetic, usually.”

She chewed her lip again. “Will you be doing the procedure?”

“I don’t usually, but I have done them before.”

Rachel nodded. “Please do it. He trusts you and you’re so good with him.” She looked at Cora as her eyes teared. “I won’t be able to watch. I’ll just freak out and scare him.”

Steven gripped her hands tighter in his. “You don’t have to be there, Rachel. He’s a tough kid, he’ll be fine.” He stood up. “I’m sorry to dump this on you and run but I have been going since four this morning and I start early tomorrow.” He didn’t want to leave, but if he didn’t, he was going to be pulling her into his arms right there in front of Cora, and then Rachel would be even more upset.

Rachel stood up and stepped in front of him. “Thanks for coming and telling me.” She hugged him to her.

Closing his arms around her tightly he held her as long as she’d let him. “I hope I’m wrong, angel.” he said quietly against her hair.

She pulled back nodding. “Me too.”

He glanced down at Cora. “Try to stay out of trouble until you heal.”

Cora grinned. “Dade won’t leave me alone long enough to find any trouble to get into.”

He laughed. “Take advantage of it and milk it for all it’s worth, he’ll be ordering you around again soon enough.”

She laughed. “True.”

He dropped a quick kiss on Rachel’s mouth and walked out before he changed his mind.

Rachel stood looking at the door.

“He’ll look after him, Rach.” Cora said quietly from the couch.

She turned. “Oh, I know. You should have seen him today. I don’t think Ricky realized he’d taken blood. Seeing him at work was quite moving in some ways.” She dropped down on to the chair. “I hope he’s wrong, Cora, just this one time I hope he’s wrong.”

Cora leaned back slowly. “I hope he is too. It was nice, as tired as he looked, that he came and told you in person.”

Rachel nodded. “I think I would be worse if he hadn’t. Just being able to look at him made me feel better.”

“The man worships the ground you walk on, Rachel. In case you’d like to know.”

Rachel grinned. “Yeah, he’s a great friend, isn’t he?”

Cora laughed softly. “I didn’t mean it that way. He’d drop to his knees and kiss your feet if it made you happy kind of worship.”

Rachel sighed then looked at her. “I think you’re seeing it wrong.”

Cora shook her head. “No, I don’t think I am. Doctor O’Reily has that same watchful, soft, lost look on his face when he looks at you as Chris has when he looks at Kasey.”

Rachel covered her face with her hands and groaned. “It’s all so complicated.”

Cora studied her. “Oh my. What did you do?”

Rachel waved her hands around and turned to look at her with her ‘you know’ expression.

Cora’s mouth dropped open. “You slept with the charming doctor, didn’t you?”

“We didn’t sleep, trust me,” she laughed.

Cora’s mouth dropped open again. “Well, it’s no wonder he’s looking at you like he wants a taste, you gave him a sample and then took it away.”

Rachel covered her eyes and whispered. “Was more like a full course meal, with a maximum number of courses spread out over…oh, four days.”

“Rachel Winters, you sneaky slut.” Cora hissed with a grin on her face.

“I know. I know.” She groaned. “I just couldn’t resist, you know? He kissed me and I mean he really kissed me and every thought just left my head until all I could think was more.” She dropped her head back on the chair and looked at the ceiling. “What am I going to do? I’ve always liked him. He’s one of my best friends.” Rachel glared over at her. “And you know how well relationships go with me. I tried to explain it, and that I didn’t want to screw it up.” She took a deep breath. “He said it wouldn’t, and he meant it. Things have been pretty normal with us.”

“Well that’s good, isn’t it?”

“Yes. But it’s me I’m worried about. Every time I look at him, I just want to drop to my knees and beg him to pick me up and…”

Cora held up a hand. “I don’t need the visuals, thanks.”

Rachel sat up, staring at her. “You don’t understand. He’s not the easy mannered, happy-go-lucky Doc when he’s holding you. He’s masterful and demanding, and he tells you what he wants then—then takes it, just takes it…”

“Oh my.” Cora murmured and held up her hand again. “That’s enough or I’ll be knocking on his door by morning.”

Rachel flopped back and watched her friend.

Cora looked back at her. “Steven?”

Rachel nodded then groaned again. “What am I gonna do?” She whispered more to herself.

Cora exhaled slowly. “I don’t know. I guess only you can figure that out.” She laughed. “Now I’m going to try to erase a few words like masterful and demanding from my mind and try to get some rest so I can work tomorrow.” She sighed loudly. “At least there I’ll get some peace from Dade’s mothering.”

Rachel sighed. “Yeah, I better try to sleep too I’m going to be a basket case tomorrow.”

Steven scowled down at the books spread across the table. What was he doing? Second-guessing himself even though he knew he was on the right track. Why?

He dropped the book and leaned back to stretch. Because, he thought with a sigh, I really didn’t want to break Rachel’s heart by telling her that a little boy she adores and loves is extremely ill and may not ever run in the park.

Getting up, he glanced at the clock. He dropped his head down to his chest and then headed for his bed. The first thing they should train you for in medical school was how to live without sleep.

Not even bothering to undress, he dropped onto the bed and looked up at his ceiling. If he could just close his eyes and not see her naked before him, he might have a chance for a few hours of sleep before having to get up again.

Doubtful, he snorted to himself. I’d like the first ticket to peace, please. He thought with a grin. In four months, he had seen maniacs killing women, casting spells every week trying to fish out a killer, two engagements in what seemed like a few weeks’ time, Cora getting stabbed, telling Rachel Ricky might very well die, naked dancing Rachel, Rachel under him, Rachel’s tongue…

He threw his hands up in the air then dropped them over his eyes. Almost stupid! You were doing well for a few brief moments. Sighing slowly, he closed his eyes.

When the phone rang, he almost bolted off the bed. “No.” He whined softly reaching for it. “O’Reily.”

“Were you sleeping?”

“No such luck, angel.”

She sighed. “I couldn’t sleep either, my brain won’t shut off.”

Her voice sounded so soft and sexy his heart was already in his throat. “I know the feeling.”

“I just needed someone to talk to.”

“I’m always here for you, you should know that.” It was true. Many nights they had talked into the wee hours, but now it was different. He’d yearned, but now he knew exactly what he was yearning for. “Tell me what you need to hear, angel.” He whispered into the phone picturing her lying across her bed.

She sighed again. “I don’t know. I’m worried about Ricky but it’s not the only reason I called.”

“Oh?”

She smiled. “I’m wishing you were here face to face…”

“I’d be there in a heartbeat if I didn’t have to be at the hospital again in, oh, four hours.”

“Probably just as well, huh?”

He grinned. “I wouldn’t say that.” He heard a tap against the phone. “Tell me you’re not playing with that sexy ring while you’re talking to me.” A pause.

“Maybe, I do it sometimes without realizing it.”

Her voice was such a turn on. “Well there goes my chance at sleep.”

She laughed. “I’m sorry. It was unfair of me to call.”

No, it’s not.” He sighed. “I’ve just had a few images that are keeping me hard and wanting you instead of sleeping.”

“Oh, now that was unfair.”

He laughed. “Maybe.”

“It’s more difficult than I thought it would be, Steven, to look and not touch, now that we’re back.”

“It doesn’t have to be, angel, you know that.”

“Don’t, please. I explained it. I need you in my life for so many more reasons than that.”

He closed his eyes. “I’d never walk away from you, Rachel. Haven’t you figured that out by now?”

She sighed. “I guess. I’m just a little run down right now I think. Too much stress.”

He wanted to drag his ass out of the bed and go to her but he knew she wouldn’t let him. “I know. Do you take your cell phone to work?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll call you the second we’re done with Ricky tomorrow, or rather later today, okay?”

“Thank you.”

He groaned softly. “Angel, I don’t want hang up, in truth I’d like to come see you right now but I have to try to get some sleep here or I’ll be useless tomorrow.”

“Me too.”

“Dream of me if you dream.”

“You too. Bye.”

He hung up the phone and looked at the clock again. He almost wished he was a self-prescribing doctor, but he wasn’t the type.

Sealing the envelope, he pulled off the gloves.

The detective had been warned.

He’d seen him looking at those women dancing.

He was as drawn to them as the other males.

It wasn’t his fault and he’d understand.

He’d help him find her.

His head was hurting again.

Time to rest a while more.