A New Assignment Pt. 03

"Here! We're leaving." He sounds angry.

I wonder if I did something to embarrass him in my drunken stupor. I know I have had a lot to drink but I still feel like I have control of my action. I don't think I am being obnoxious or loud or acting like an idiot. Maybe he was upset by my feeling him up, although he seemed to be enjoying it.

After we make our way back through the crowd and out the parking lot, the Colonel pushes the helmet at me and jumps on the bike.

"Let's go!"

"Are you mad at me?" I ask sounding like a scolded child.

"No. It is just time to go."

We pull into my driveway. I manage to get off the bike as graceful as a drunk in a mini skirt possibly can. The Colonel is still sitting on the bike and has not turned the engine off. I hand him the helmet and wait. He turns around and straps the helmet to the seat behind him and then starts backing up the bike step by step.

"So I guess this is good night. Thanks for the dinner and drinks." I say in a barely audible tone and then I turn and unlock the front door.

I move inside, closing the door behind me and I hear the roar of the engine as he drives away into the early morning light. I trudge upstairs and prepare for bed. I remember to drink another large glass of water to help rehydrate and then quickly fall asleep.

The doorbell wakes me. I sit up and the room is spinning. My head is killing and my stomach is not too happy either. I look at the clock and see that I was only asleep for four hours. Ugh! I head downstairs, open the front door and find the Colonel standing there with a paper sack in one hand and a tray of two coffees in the other. He smiles. He looks perfect. No hang over. I on the other hand have creases on my cheek from the sheets, my hair is a mess, and I realize I am wearing some fairly see-thru lingerie that I didn't even remember putting on in my drunken stupor.

"Figure you'd need this." The Colonel says stepping into the living room. He doesn't stop walking but heads upstairs directly into my bedroom. I just stand there in shock watching him. I finally close the front door and head up to the bedroom as well. As soon as I walk in the room a t-shirt came flying at my face.

"Here, cover yourself." He grunts.

"Why, this is my home and you show up uninvited."

"Well, I'm here now and I don't want to be looking at that hideous cheap trash on your body."

I throw the shirt down and say "I'll have you know that this is very expensive lingerie and I happen to..."

He moves quicker than my eyes register and then his lips are on mine. Before I know what is happening, we are embracing each other. Our arms are entwined and our bodies are pressed together. There seems to be an electric current buzzing between us.

The Colonel's cell phone rings and we break apart instantly. He answers with a low growl, but says no words. Then he says "I'm on my way." And he turns to leave.

"Colonel?" I say softly and he turns hesitantly.

I thank him for the breakfast and hold out one of the coffees for him. He takes the coffee and leans in placing a soft slow kiss on my lips. Then he leaves.

The days pass by normally. I have been working back-to-back shifts at the hospital. They are short handed and have more patients than the staff can manage. I only go home every other day now. There is a complete set of toiletries and clothes in my locker at work. The small futon in the staff lounge has become my bed. Dr Morgan has been working almost as many hours, lives on base and tends to actually go home some days. Even he has spent sleeping hours in the staff lounge. After three weeks of craziness, the pace seems to slow back to a tolerable level. I check my schedule and finally have two whole days off in a row. I shake with excitement. Paul peeks over my shoulder and sees that there are a few regular staffers that were granted reprieve while a contractor team comes in to help out.

He suggests that those of us with days off should go out to celebrate. The last thing I want to do is spend more time with co-workers. I like them, but really want some alone time. Working so much doesn't allow much time for the brain to rest. I am always busy blocking thoughts and feelings and energies from those around me. But I could use a drink, so I agree as long as the others are up for it. I want to make sure that it doesn't end up just being me and Paul. He is always smiling at me with this look that gives me the heebie jeebies, even after I have made it clear that I will have no interest in colleagues.