continued...
Some time later, Natalie woke, not sure why she was in pain. She looked around and was shocked by what she saw. How did I get here? flashed through her brain. With some trouble she got to her feet and headed for the nearest phone, where she dialed Nick's number.He answered the phone. "Knight here."
"I need your help," Natalie said, trying to stay calm.
"I'll be there shortly." He was concerned about her because her heartbeat betrayed her efforts to sound somewhat calm. He noticed that she seemed to be a little scared as well.
Nick hung up, grabbed his coat and keys before heading down to the caddy. He was tempted to fly, but knew he'd need the car in case she was hurt, or if they had to go somewhere.
Natalie hung up the phone and headed for the kitchen. There she grabbed several paper towels and pressed them against where she was bleeding.
A few minutes later there was a knock on Natalie's door.
"Nick, if that's you, let yourself in."
Nick's concern rose. He pulled out his key ring, found her key and unlocked the door. As soon as he opened the door the scent of fresh blood, her blood, assaulted his senses causing his concern to skyrocket.
"Natalie!" Nick called out anxiously.
"In the kitchen," Natalie said as she carefully lifted the paper towels, pleased to see the bleeding had stopped.
Nick entered the kitchen and saw the blood on her shirt and then the blood soaked paper towels, and then was stunned to see the gashes on her wrists.
"Natalie, I'm taking you to the ER," he said, noticing she looked a little pale.
"No." She saw him about to protest. "Listen, please."
He nodded and she continued. "They'll ask questions I don't have answers for. I honestly don't know what happened. I fell asleep on the couch watching 'MacGyver' and woke up in the bathtub. I felt pain and looked down. Both wrists had been slashed. Who ever did this didn't want me to die because they slit across my wrists rather than down them."
"Nat, this could've killed you," Nick said worried.
"Yes, but not as quickly. If they had slit down my wrists there would've been little anyone could've done, as I would've bled out quickly.
"You still need to go to the ER," Nick looked at her wrists, keeping the vampire at bay the best he could. "Those are pretty deep. They need stitches."
"Nick, you were a doctor once."
"Nat, you need a plastic surgeon."
"Nick, you probably can do a better job than any doctor out there."
Nick knew she was right. "Do you have the supplies?"
"Check out my black bag. It's in the coat closet."
"You'll need a painkiller."
"There should be something in there."
Nick retrieved her medical bag and brought it over to the kitchen table. He motioned for her to join him. She laid her arms on the table, palm side up.
Nick opened and dug through her medical bag. He found bandages, antiseptic and an expired bag of blood, but nothing to suture with nor any painkillers.
"I'll be right back. Don't move."
"I won't," she said. She knew that glare was his 'don't mess with me' one and knew she'd better obey. She also knew that the less she moved the less chance of aggravating her injuries and making them bleed heavily again.
Nick left the apartment and headed for the roof. He took to the night sky heading for Toronto General as it's the closest one.
He landed in a dark area of the parking lot and entered the hospital. Nick headed for the supply room as he knew he'd find the supplies he needed, and would just whammy anyone who saw him. He couldn't get the necessary drugs without breaking into a locked cabinet and knew that any missing medication would be investigated. He wasn't willing to take that risk.
"You will not remember my being here," Nick said as he held both the nurse's gaze and heartbeat.
"I did not see you here," the nurse said in a trance.
As soon as Nick left, the nurse shook his head, snapping out of it. He continued on like nothing had happened.
Minutes later, Nick returned to Natalie's apartment and let himself back in. He headed straight for the kitchen table.
Natalie glared at him. He knew she knew he'd flown.
"I needed to get there and back quickly. No, he won't remember my being there."
Nick studied the wounds more carefully.
"When was the last time you had a Tetanus shot?"
"A couple months ago. Why?"
"Just as a precaution," Nick said. "I couldn't get Lidocaine. It's going to hurt when I clean and suture it." Nick thought a second "I could ease the pain if you want. I promise I won't do anything else."
"I know you won't. Okay."
Nick caught Natalie's gaze and matched their heartbeats.
"You will feel no pain while I clean and suture your wrists."
He broke off contact. Natalie shook her head slightly to clear it.
Nick tested the result by touching the right wrist's wound lightly. Natalie showed no reaction.
Nick opened one of the antiseptic towels he'd found in her medical bag and gently cleaned the right wrist first. It started to bleed again which threatened to bring the vampire to the surface. Nick shoved it back down where it belonged. He opened and held a gauze pad to her wrist for a couple minutes, applying light pressure, until the bleeding stopped.
He then opened one of the suture kits, pulled out the pre-threaded needle and thread. He made the first suture.
He repeated the suture four more times before studying the result more closely.
Natalie examined her sutured wrist closely.
"Nice job. I don't think anyone else could've done it better." She noticed he'd made the sutures as small as possible while still doing their job.
"I'm glad you approve."
Nick applied a flesh colored bandage over it, knowing that if he'd used a regular gauze pad and adhesive tape, she'd have removed it before she went out or saw anyone.
Nick turned his attention to her left wrist, where he cleaned then stopped the fresh bleeding while keeping the vampire under wraps, and sutured her wrist just as he had the other one. She watched him work, admiring his skill.
"You should be a doctor. You're probably better with your hands than I am," she said.
"You're one of the best I've seen," Nick said. "You're the best one who's worked on me." He applied a flesh colored bandage to the left wrist.
"Thanks." Natalie noticed the bandages blended well enough that they might not be noticed upon first glance.
Nick knew that expression of hers.
"I don't want you going in to work until they've healed. If you reopen them..."
"I know..." Natalie said. "I'll be careful."
Nick knew she would take it easy.
"How do I explain being out a week or so?"
"Flu? Injury? Stomach bug? Days off for sanity preservation?"
"I won't be able to look like I have the flu. Maybe the stomach bug. What sort of injury?"
"How about a sprained wrist or ankle?"
"Ankle's out as is a knee injury. Anyone seeing me would expect crutches. Besides that, it wouldn't prevent me from doing my job. A sprained wrist would. And it would cover one of the bandages, and hopefully keep anyone from seeing the other one. Especially if I say it's my writing hand."
"Nat, what happened?" Nick asked as he cleaned up the used supplies, bloody gauze pads and paper towels.
"I'll tell you after I change, okay?"
"Okay."
She knew how hard this had been on him and wanted to make it a little easier for him by getting out of her bloody shirt.
Nick drained the blood bag in Natalie's medical bag.
Natalie entered her bedroom and slipped out of shirt being careful not to reopen the wounds and slipped into a clean shirt. This one had long sleeves that came down onto her palms slightly. She had not worn it in a while because the sleeves were too long for work and it was also a little too casual for work. The sleeves were pretty form fitting at the cuffs so she hoped they wouldn't slide up and reveal the bandages. She wasn't ashamed as she had done nothing wrong, but she knew people would get the wrong idea and they wouldn't believe her explanation. She did not want everyone treating her like she was crazy or patronizing her, afraid she'd try it again.
Natalie returned to the kitchen to fix herself something to eat. She saw Nick stuff the blood bag into the trash bag.
"It's okay, Nick. I know how hard it was for you. Thank you for helping me," she said from the heart.
"You hungry?" He said as he saw her head for the fridge.
"Yes."
"How could I not help you? How many times have you helped me out?" He said sincerely. "Go sit down on the couch and I'll fix you whatever you want.
"You don't have to."
"I want you taking it easy. I don't want you lifting anything heavier than a paperback."
"Thank you." She knew he was right. The more she used her wrists the more she stressed the sutures and the longer it would take to heal, not to mention the risk of reopening the wounds. Besides with how crappy she'd been feeling she'd have to be foolish to turn down freely offered pampering, especially from him.
She curled up on the couch, quickly realizing the sun was rising. She rose and tightly shut all the blinds. She had just returned to the couch when Nick brought her a glass of orange juice.
"Thanks." She knew she needed the sugar boost as she had lost at least as much blood as one did during a donation.
"You promised..." he said as he sat down beside her.
"Okay. You know how I've been feeling run down lately?" She saw him nod. "Well, I came home, started to watch 'MacGyver' while I ate. Afterwards, I must've fallen asleep because the next thing I remember was waking up in the bath tub. Imagine my surprise when I looked down and saw the gashes." She sipped her orange juice.
"Did you..." Nick didn't know, but had to ask what he wanted to. He saw her hurt look. "I believe you. That wasn't what I meant. I was going to ask if you had eaten or drank anything from a new source?"
"No. I went to the usual diner, got takeout like I do when I'm too tired to cook. Do you think anyone drugged me? Why would they?" Suddenly it came to mind, that case she was investigating. Would they go that far? She sipped her orange juice.
"It's possible. But I don't know why anyone would do that. You're not working on anything that..." He couldn't find the right word.
"Actually..." she hesitated to tell him about her suspicions. She sipped at her orange juice some more.
"Nat..."
She saw his expression and gave in. "Okay. It's just some suspicions at this point," she said. "Remember the Croft case?"
"Yes. I had a few suspicions myself," Nick said.
Natalie finished her orange juice and he took the glass back to the kitchen. "What would you like to eat?" He called out from the kitchen. He checked around for any pill bottles and to his relief, found none.
"I don't care." She was too tired and frustrated to be picky.
Nick whipped up a sandwich using what he found in her fridge. He'd have to ask her what she needed from the store. He knew she'd probably want to accompany him, which was fine as long as she didn't over do it.
"Here you go," Nick said as he handed her the sandwich, making sure she didn't have to reach too far for it.
"Thanks," Natalie said as she carefully reached for the plate, pleased that it was within easy reach.
Natalie started to wolf down the sandwich.
"I'm going to go clean the bathroom."
"I don't want you to do anything that..."
"I can handle it," Nick said, cutting her off, knowing what she was trying to say.
Nick entered Nat's bedroom while she turned on the TV. He was grateful for the noise as it would cover his actions. He hated snooping around but wanted to make sure she was okay. He carefully and thoroughly checked out the bedroom and found no pill bottles. He was careful to leave no evidence of his search behind.
He entered the bathroom, startled by the blood all over the tub, the floor and the sink. The majority of it was inside the tub.
Nick checked around and again found no pill bottles. He was relieved. He hadn't found the cleaning supplies.
Nick approached the couch. Natalie looked up at him in surprise.
"You can't be done."
"I haven't started yet. I couldn't find..."
She cut him off. "Check out the pantry closet."
"Okay. Thanks."
Nick located the pantry closet and opened the door. He was surprised that he'd never been in that closet before and had not even known it was there. He grabbed the mop, bucket, spray cleaner and a roll of paper towels. He saw no pill containers in there either. He had not expected to but wanted to be thorough.
He quickly cleaned up the kitchen, then the floor heading into the bedroom, seeing Natalie stretched out on the couch watching TV. He then cleaned the blood off the bedroom doorknob, door, and the floor.
Next, he cleaned the blood off the phone on her nightstand, and all traces of it on the nightstand and floor leading to the bathroom.
In the bathroom, Nick set the supplies down in a clean spot and leaned the mop against the door frame.
He found a particular spot in the tub, wet his finger, started towards the spot, and hesitated. He knew it was an invasion of her privacy, but was the best way to get at the truth as blood never lies. He wanted to sample her blood, yet, he feared it. Would it drive him to seek more? Would it make it harder to be around her? After a minute's hesitation his desire to taste her essence won. He ran his wet finger over the spot then rubbed it until his fingertip was coated with her blood. He hesitated again as he brought the blood coated fingertip to his mouth.
He licked his fingertip, savoring the images that flashed across his mind's eye. She tasted as wonderful as she smelled. He smiled at her joys and felt her sadness over the tragedies in her life. There were far too many of them. Once again he was amazed at her inner strength.
He was now sure she had not tried to kill herself. He noticed something in her blood that should not be there. He focused on it, and brought the subtle difference into focus.
She was right. She was drugged. Was it just this time? He wondered who, how and why. He had a hunch as to the who and why but the how eluded him.
He realized he had not yet started cleaning, and began cleaning at vamp speed. Once he had it half cleaned he slowed down in case she entered.
A few minutes later Natalie entered the bathroom.
"Umm... can you hold off a moment?"
"Sure." He had sensed that she could not wait until he finished cleaning.
"Thanks."
Nick stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
Natalie carefully pushed up her sleeves, relieved herself and washed her hands. She tried to keep the bandages dry, but they got wet. She opened the door and stepped out.
"Natalie, I want to hunt down who hurt you."
"Nick, don't. Promise me you won't."
Nick reluctantly said, "I promise, I won't."
"We need to do this the smart way. If you go after them, we tip our hand. We need solid proof first. If not, they could kill both of us and make it look like a double suicide or a murder suicide."
"You're right," Nick says with a sigh.
Nick reentered and finished cleaning. He cleaned the entire bathroom, not just the bloody parts. He knew she'd appreciate it.
When he passed through the living room he saw Nat watching TV. He put away the cleaning supplies and threw away the paper towels, in the same bag as the used medical supplies.
Nick brought Natalie one of her Girahdeli dark chocolate bars. Her smile was his reward.
"How about grabbing the Band-Aids? I accidentally got them wet washing my hands."
He handed her the candy bar then fetched two clean bandages.
He carefully removed the right bandage and inspected his earlier work. All the sutures were intact. The wound was still quite tender and stung when exposed to the air. He allowed the skin a moment to dry while he opened the sterile package. He pulled the plastic backing strips off and carefully centered it over the sutured gash before settling it into place. He did the same with the other wrist. It was just as tender as the right one had been, and was stung by the air when exposed to it.
"Thanks," Natalie said as she opened the candy wrapper and devoured the dark chocolate confection.
"How about a movie?" Nick asked.
"Sure. There should be a new one by the VCR. I bought it a few days ago."
Nick headed for the VCR, found the movie, pleased to see it was a comedy, unwrapped the box, pulled out the movie and stuck it into the VCR. He then rejoined Natalie on the couch.
She leaned her head on his shoulder as she watched the movie. Both laughed through most of the film.
After the movie finished Natalie felt sleepy. Nick wasn't surprised. She'd been through a lot in the last several hours.
"I'll see you in a few hours," Natalie said as she headed for her bedroom. She skipped brushing her teeth and ran a damp wash cloth over her face as she didn't feel like washing it properly. She was impressed with how clean he'd gotten the bathroom, even the tough stains.
She carefully changed into her pajamas not wanting to re-injure herself. Afterwards she climbed into bed and was asleep almost instantly.
Nick fell asleep and had pleasant dreams. Towards the early afternoon the dreams turned into nightmares where he had been too late to save her from the suicide.
The phone rang late the next afternoon. Natalie groggily lifted the receiver.
"Hello?"
Moments later she hung up, not at all happy that it was someone trying to sell her something. She rolled over and tried to get back to sleep and failed.
She slipped into her robe and opened her bedroom door. She was drawn to the kitchen by the scent of fresh coffee.
"Good afternoon," Nick said with a grin and she walked by half conscious.
Natalie was a little startled. "Good afternoon. Thanks for making coffee."
"You're welcome. Besides, I know what you're like until you've had your first cup," he teased.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"I'm going to grab a quick shower. You might want to call into work and tell them you won't be in this week."
Natalie headed for the kitchen. Nick followed her and poured her a cup of coffee.
"Thanks."
He headed for the shower as she lifted the mug to her lips. She softly blew on it before taking a sip.
Since it was too hot, she set it back down and headed for the coat closet. She opened the door and saw her medical bag on the floor. She opened it and pulled out the narrower of the two elastic bandages. She tucked it into the pocket of her fluffy pink robe, then shut both the bag and the closet door.
She headed for the couch and called into work, while deciding what excuse to use.
Her boss picked up the phone.
"Teri, it's Natalie. I had a slight accident and won't be in this week."
"What happened? Are you okay?" Teri asked concerned.
"I'm okay. I sprained my right wrist and have a few sore muscles. I slipped on the wet bathroom floor."
"Have you seen a doctor?"
"Yes," Natalie lied, knowing Teri trusted her enough that she wouldn't check to make sure Natalie was telling the truth.
"You're right handed, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'll see you in a week, unless there's a major crisis," Teri said, knowing Natalie wouldn't be able to perform any autopsies until her wrist healed.
"Thanks," Natalie said as she hung up.
The doorbell rang.
"Who's there?"
"Grace."
"Be right there," Natalie said trying to remain calm. She grabbed the elastic bandage from her pocket and wrapped it around her right wrist and palm as best she could with her left hand, wincing as the movement tugged at the stitches and hurt. She fastened the elastic bandage in place, tugged down her sleeve, made sure the left bandage was concealed and headed for the door.
She unlocked it and let Grace in.
Grace stepped inside to allow Natalie to shut the door.
The two ladies embraced.
"You okay?" Grace asked seeing her friend still in her robe.
"I'm okay," Natalie said as she motioned to the couch. "Help yourself to a cup of coffee."
"Thanks, I will," Grace said, as she noticed the elastic bandage. "What happened?"
"I slipped on the bathroom floor and sprained my wrist." She saw Grace's expression change. "Yes, I saw a doctor."
"You're not going into work for the next several days are you?" Grace asked in her stern motherly tone.
"No. I took the next week off."
"I'm glad. You'll heal faster and better this way," Grace said as they entered the kitchen.
"I know," Natalie said as she remembered to pick her coffee mug up with her left hand.
Grace removed a mug from the cabinet and filled it with coffee. They both headed out to the couch.
No sooner had they sat down when Nick came out in his robe. He'd forgotten to bring up his clean clothes the night before so they were still in his trunk.
Grace spotted Nick out of the corner of her eye.
Her eyebrows shot straight up. "Do I want to know if your accident had anything to do with passion in the bathroom?" Grace loved watching Natalie blush.
"Nothing happened," Natalie said.
"You're both in robes, he just got out of your shower and apparently he has ONLY a robe on." Nat's cheeks turned even redder.
"Grace, nothing happened," Nick said.
She slipped, called me, and I took her to the ER then we came back here and talked until she went into the bedroom, alone, to sleep."
"Too bad. You two are perfect for each other. And there is more than friendship between the two of you. It's in the way you look at each other, the way you are around each other. You two ARE in love."
"Grace, what brings you by?" Natalie asked, changing the subject.
"We were supposed to have a girl's night out. Remember"
"I'm sorry. I forgot. Give me a few minutes to get ready."
"Nat, don't worry about it. Why don't I go get a few movies. Some takeout and we'll stay in and have fun?"
"Thanks," Natalie said.
"Grace, could you run down to the Caddy and get my spare clothes out of the trunk?" Nick asked.
"Sure." She was curious to see what else he had in the trunk.
Nick retrieved his keys from his pants pocket in the bedroom and handed them to Grace.
"I'll be right back," Grace said.
As soon as Grace left, Nick spoke. "I'll leave you two alone and be back before sunrise. Take it easy."
"I will. I don't want her to discover these."
Natalie headed for the bedroom where she shut the door while dressing. She slipped into the shirt she had worn the night before in hopes of keeping the left bandage hidden.
Grace returned and let herself back in. She handed Nick the overnight bag with his clothes in them along with his keys.
"Thanks, Grace."
Natalie took a look at herself in the mirror, making sure her sleeves were properly in place. The right one was pulled up just a little and the left one was pulled down as far as possible. She was pleased that the left cuff was still tight enough to stay put as long as she didn't do any extreme reaching.
Nick knocked on the bedroom door.
"Come in," Natalie said.
Nick saw Natalie holding her hairbrush.
"Go relax on the couch and I'll be right out."
Nat left her bedroom hairbrush in her left hand and headed for the couch, while Nick shut the door and dressed.
"Grace, mind some company picking out the movies and dinner?" Natalie asked, needing to get out of the apartment for a short time.
"If you're up to it."
Nick came out of the bedroom, sat down next to Natalie, took the brush and began to brush her hair.
Grace watched the scene before her and any doubts evaporated. These two were very much in love and hoped they'd admit it soon.
Before long, Nick finished and handed Natalie back her brush. They had been totally oblivious to Grace's presence.
Grace hated to break the mood between her two friends but she was beginning to feel like she was intruding.
"Nat, would you rather do our night out another night?"
"I have to go check out some things at the precinct," Nick said, not wanting to interfere with Grace and Nat's night out.
"I'm sorry. Grace, I really want tonight to go as planned, movies, dinner..."
"Okay. You sure?"
"I'm sure," Nat said with a genuine smile.
"Grace, make sure she takes it easy. You know how she likes to pretend she's fine."
"I do. She will," Grace said giving Natalie her 'no nonsense' look. "If she knows what's good for her."
"Guys, I appreciate it all, but I'm here and capable of taking care of myself."
She saw the looks they gave her.
"I'll take it easy. I promise. Besides... with the two of you, what choice do I have?"
"Shall we go?" Grace asked.
"Sure," Natalie said.
Nick helped Nat on with her jacket. She was careful to subtly grip the end of her left sleeve with her fingers so it wouldn't get pushed up by the jacket sleeve. Next Nick helped Grace into her jacket.
The three of them left together, Natalie locking her door a bit awkwardly as she had to do it left handed. She worked to keep the pain off her face as the movement pulled against the sutures.
Nick opened the car door for Natalie and then walked around Grace's car and opened the door for Grace as she reached it. He shut Grace's door then went around and shut Nat's door. He headed on to his car.
Grace helped Natalie fasten her seat belt. Nat could bring it over to the fastener with a little pain, but could not get it into the place you snap it into. Grace fastened it for her.
"That must've been one hell of a fall. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. I'm just a bit sore all over."
Grace knew she wouldn't get anymore out of Natalie so she let the matter drop.
"What do you feel like tonight?"
"Japanese okay?" Natalie asked, knowing it would be the easiest thing to eat.
"Sure."
"Before long they arrived at the video store. Grace released Natalie's seat belt for her.
"Need help with the door?"
Natalie nodded, hating how such a simple thing was made difficult by her injuries. Grace got out of the car, shut her door and went around to Natalie's door and opened it for her. She was wondering what Natalie was hiding from her. Grace shut her car door and locked the car.
They entered the store, Grace holding the door open for Natalie. They searched the shelves and found a couple of movies both wanted to see. They approached the check out desk and Grace pulled out her card and a few dollars to cover the fee.
When they were finished they headed on to pick up dinner. While they were enroute to their favorite Japanese restaurant, Natalie called in the order, after Grace fished her phone out of her purse.
They arrived and Grace went in to get their food. Before long she returned with the bag and set it down near the videos, at Natalie's feet.
Before long they entered Natalie's apartment. Grace helped Natalie out of her coat, before removing her own. She hung both of them on the coat rack. Their purses were dropped onto the piece of furniture next to the door.
"You set up the tape while I get the drinks," Grace said.
Grace fixed them each a glass of soda and brought it over to the couch. "Chopsticks, forks or fingers?" Grace asked.
"Fingers," Natalie cheerfully said.
The TV was on. "Which one first?" Nat asked.
"Mel."
"Good choice. Natalie opened the plastic tape case feeling a slight twinge of pain and was glad her back was to Grace.
Natalie stuck the tape into the VCR and joined Grace on the couch.
She reached for her plate and accidentally bumped the left wrist into the edge of the table. "Dammit!" Her sleeve pulled back just enough to show a tiny bit of the nearly flesh colored bandage.
"Natalie, I thought you said you were okay other than your sprained wrist. What happened?" Grace gently pulled back Natalie's sleeve, fully exposing the bandage. "Stitches?" Natalie reluctantly nodded.
Natalie knew she had to tell Grace something.
"I didn't want to worry you."
"I am worried. Why did you keep this from me?"
"Because I knew you'd freak. I'm okay, Grace," Natalie said. "When I fell I knocked a glass off the counter and I hit one of the pieces as I hit the ground."
"Will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine. No tendons or muscles were injured. There was no serious nerve damage."
"How many stitches?"
"Five." Nat was grateful that Grace accepted her story.
"That sounds like a pretty nasty gash."
"It was."
Grace handed Natalie her plate, and saw Nat's gratitude on her face.
Natalie started the movie.
At the precinct, Nick and Schanke were heading out to conduct a couple of interviews.
In the car, Schanke can't contain his concern any longer. "I heard about Natalie's accident. Is she okay?"
"She's okay. She'll be out a week. She sprained her right wrist and is sore all over. Since that's the one she writes with..."
"She's lucky she didn't hurt herself much worse."
"I know," Nick said, not sure how much worse it could've been. He then realized he could've found her on the border of having lost too much blood, or found her near death, or worse dead. That last thought terrified him beyond words.
"I hear you're taking the next several days off?" Schanke said, a slight teasing tone in his voice.
"Yeah. Nat will heal faster and better if she gets a little pampering. Plus she could use it since we've all been rather busy lately."
"You're right, as usual. She does deserve a little pampering, especially now." Schanke thought a moment. "How'd you find out she was hurt?"
"She called me right afterwards."
Nick returned to Natalie's apartment right before sunrise and handed Natalie a note telling her to make light conversation while he scanned the place for bugs. She was surprised but kept that reaction to herself. Nick scanned her quickly then methodically went over the entire apartment and found it clean. They were both relieved. They also knew he'd have to rescan the place at least weekly to make sure things didn't change. He made a mental note to scan his place the first chance he got.
That night Natalie's doorbell rang. Nick answered it as it still hurt too much for Natalie to do so.
Myra stepped into the apartment and Nick shut the door behind her.
"Hi, Myra," Nick said pleased to see her.
"Myra, hi," Natalie said.
"Hi. I thought you might like a hot meal and I thought Nick might like a break," Myra said. "How are you?"
"I'm doing better."
"I'm glad. It looks like Nick's taking good care of you," Myra said.
"He is," Natalie said with a grin.
"I heard about your accident and am glad you're okay. Be careful next time."
"Thanks. I'll try to."
Natalie didn't try as hard to hide the left bandage figuring everyone knew about it by now.
Myra noticed it. "How many stitches?"
"Five."
"Nick, is she being a good girl?"
"Pretty good."
"What did you bring? It smells good."
"I thought you might like a lasagna. I figured it would be nutritious and easy to eat."
"Thanks. Sounds great. Care to join me?"
"Sure." Myra headed for the kitchen where she served up two portions, knowing Nick couldn't eat most foods.
Myra returned to the living room and handed Natalie a plate and fork. Before taking a seat next to her friend.
"Nat, I need to go out for a while. If you or Myra need anything I have my cell phone on."
"We'll be fine," Myra said.
Natalie ate her first bite. "This is delicious."
"I'm glad you like it," Myra said.