The Coffee Shop Pt. 04

"I can't believe you!" I said in mock annoyance. "Here you are laid up in a hospital bed, dead tired, and you're propositioning me!"

"I can't think of anyone else I'd rather proposition, Texas," Andy said with a wink.

"Good night, Dear Heart," I said as I kissed him on the forehead and gave his right hand one last squeeze. I pulled my mask up over my face. "I love you, Andy." I said from behind my mask.

"I love you, Texas," Andy said and then closed his eyes as he finally surrendered his fight to stay awake. He was asleep in an instant. His face was relaxed, peaceful and calm. The lines of pain and worry that had marked his face earlier were gone now. His mind was at ease, and for that I was truly thankful.

I walked to where Bernie was sitting in the other chair across the room. I knew why Bernie had stayed in the room. He had been guarding the door in case the floor nurse came in unexpectedly. Bernie would give me enough time to put my mask back over my face, and to warn Andy to close his eyes and lie still. We were fortunate that this hadn't happened. We had been pushing our luck, although the odds were that if the nurse had caught it I could have adjusted her mind to remove all knowledge and memory of my visit tonight.

"Guard duty is over, Bernie," I said to him smiling behind my mask. "Thank you. I think we'd best head back."

"Okay," Bernie agreed as he stood up and walked towards the door. Our trip back to Bernie's office was as uneventful as the trip from his office had been. Thanks to my disguise we blended into the background hospital activity and no one took undue notice of my secret visit to Andy's room. Thanks to Jay Turner's help, the security cameras would have no record of it either. Andy and I were safe.

That is what I would have liked to have happened. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. Bernie and I didn't just slip in, visit Andy and slip out. We got caught. More accurately, I got caught and Bernie got in trouble.

After Andy fell asleep in his bed, I looked down at him and thought about how much I loved him and how I was going to miss not seeing him for the next few weeks. I pulled my mask down off of my face again, bent down and kissed him firmly on the right side of his face, tenderly and gently. Andy's only reaction was a soft sigh.

"Interesting bedside manner, Doctor," said a strange voice with an icy cold tone.

I jerked my head away from Andy and turned my head to the left in the direction of this new voice. I saw a young pleasant looking woman in a white nurse's uniform, staring back at me with her hands planted firmly on her hips. She was too far away from me to see what colour her eyes were. From the angry expression on her face, I was lucky there weren't flames shooting out of her eyes burning me to a crisp, right there and then. I glanced around but didn't see Bernie anywhere in the room.

"Did you want something, nurse?" I asked pleasantly as I ignored her statement and desperately tried to start talking my way out of this mess. I didn't have a clue as to how I was going to get out of this. I was just shooting from the hip. Of course I could always fall back on using my powers to extract myself from this sticky situation, but I didn't want to do that unless there wasn't any other alternative.

"An explanation, to begin with," the nurse declared. "That wasn't any physical examination that you were giving that patient. Just who the hell are you, and what are you doing in here?"

"Doctor Simpson asked me to consult with him about this patient," I replied as the germ of an idea appeared in my mind. "He asked me to check the skin condition of the patient's face. As you know doubt know, the human lips have a much greater sensitivity to touch than do human finger tips, hence the need for me to place my lips on the patient's face."

"Don't insult my intelligence, Doctor," the nurse said frostily. "I'll give you ten seconds to come clean before I call security."

"Oh, boy! I'm in deep shit now!" I thought to myself. The idea that I thought I'd come up with, had packed its bags and high tailed it out of my mind. I couldn't think of anything more to say. "Good night, nurse," I said boldly as I walked past her on my way towards the door. I figured that bluffing my way past her was worth a shot. Just then the door open and Bernie walked into the room.

"Hi Paul," he said cheerfully as he saw me., and started looking around the room. "Sorry about that but I had to answer a quick call of nature. I hope there wasn't any trouble." His words died in his throat as he caught sight of the nurse walking towards him with a less than friendly expression on her face.

"Doctor Simpson, just what in the name of Hippocrates is going on here?" she demanded as she marched up to him and planted herself squarely in front of Bernie, and started firing questions at him. "Who is this man? What is he doing visiting a patient well outside of normal visiting hours? Why did you help him get in here? Why was he kissing this patient when I walked in? I know he's not a doctor, so who exactly is he?"

Bernie's surprise and confusion at having been caught was probably as great as mine. He certainly didn't hide it any better than I had. If the situation wasn't so serious, I would have started laughing at him, because he looked so completely befuddled by the barrage of questions that the nurse shot at him.

"Doctor patient privilege, Nurse Hill," Bernie answered after a minute or so of silence. "I can't discuss it."

"Surely you can come up with something better than that, Doctor Simpson," Nurse Hill said as she shook her head in disbelief. "That story's so lame, you'd have to put in a cast for a year and a half before someone might believe it. I certainly don't."

"Nurse Hill. Jennifer. Please, don't ask," Bernie said softly. "Please, just drop it and pretend that you didn't see anything. I can assure you that nothing of a medical nature happened. Your patient, rather our patient, was in no danger. If anything, he's resting more comfortably because his mind is at peace now."

"You're asking a lot, Bernie, " Jennifer Hill said as she visibly cooled her anger and looked at Bernie thoughtfully. "If you're ordered me like you used to.but you didn't. You asked me." She studied Bernie for a minute or so as she made up her mind.

I silently prayed that she'd acquiesce to Bernie's request. It would save me from having to try and fix this not so little problem.

"All right, I'll forget what happened in here, as a favor to you Bernie," she decided finally. "It doesn't look like any harm was done. I'm surprised that you'd be willing to take a risk like this, Bernie."

"People change, Jennifer," Bernie replied. "Thank you for deciding not to mention this to anyone. I owe you one. A big one"

"Indeed you do, Bernie," Jennifer agreed., with a slight hint of a smile. "A year ago you'd never have been involved in anything like this. A year ago, you wouldn't have stayed five minutes past the end of your shift, much less two and a half hours. You've certainly changed since you first came to this hospital, and if you don't mind my saying so, the changes have been for the better. "

"Thank you, Jennifer," Bernie said quietly. "You're right. I have changed, and yes I think it has been for the better. I'd better get Paul, out of here before anyone else drops by for a visit, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I suppose so," she agreed, as she looked at me, coolly but not as sternly as before. "But before you go, I have to ask, why were you so willing to undertake the risk of sneaking this man in here? It's not something that I ever thought I'd see you doing, Bernie."

"I owed Paul a favour," Bernie said simply, as he looked over at me and smiled. His face beamed with the deep and warm friendship that he felt for me. Bernie is one of those rare people who you know you can count on, whenever you need them. Bernie turned his attention back to Nurse Hill as he continued speaking. "He's the person who helped me a while back. I'm trying to pay him back."

"Oh, I see," Jennifer replied as she nodded her head in understanding. "How long have you known this man, anyway?"

"Just over a year, maybe longer," Bernie replied. "We'd better get going, Paul." He said as he looked over at me.

"Wait just a second," Jennifer said as her eyes suddenly lit up. "You knew each other a year ago. His name is Paul. He helped you a while ago. He's THAT Paul, isn't he, Bernie?" Jennifer asked excitedly.

Bernie looked at Jennifer in stunned surprise. "Yes," Bernie answered softly and a bit reluctantly.

"Paul, you have no idea how pleased I am to meet you!" Jennifer exclaimed excitedly, as she turned to face me. "You're the Wizard who gave the former Tin Man here, a heart, aren't you?"

"I don't know about that," I said cautiously, "but I did help Bernie through some rough times about a year ago, yes."

Jennifer looked at me with a mixture of respect and gratitude. "Do you have any idea of how much good you've done? No I don't suppose you would. You've helped Bernie here to become one of the most respected, well liked and caring doctors we have on staff." Bernie blushed bright red at Jennifer's words of praise, but he didn't say anything. "Before your help Bernie was the most arrogant and condescending doctor I'd ever had the displeasure to work with. If everything wasn't perfect, he would snap at you like a bad tempered alligator with a toothache."

"I didn't do anything like that," I protested. "Bernie and I just talked a lot. I helped him to see how important it was to treat people with respect and compassion." What I actually did was have several more super hypnosis sessions with Bernie. During those sessions we had a lot of fun, but I didn't do any therapy with Bernie. We just talked outside of the sessions and Bernie started to open up to me. I learned that Bernie constantly worried about looking like a fool or an idiot in front of his patients, and more importantly in front of the other medical staff, most especially other doctors. To prevent that from happening Bernie always made sure that everything was just the way he wanted it. Everything in its place and a place for everything. Bernie never admitted when he was wrong and whenever anyone else made the slightest mistake, no matter how minor or insignificant, he dumped on them like a ton of bricks. Bernie treated people with little, if any, common courtesy.

As I thought about it now, and looked back over the months of our slowly developing friendship, I could see now how Bernie's behaviour had undergone a gradual change. I had never intended anything like that to happen when I started talking with Bernie. It all came about because Bernie asked me to explain why it was that I treated him and everyone else I knew with such kindness and courtesy. My answer was that he should try it sometime and see what the results were like. I guess he learned by example.

"Well whatever you did to help Bernie, it worked," Jennifer said with a small smile. "It would seem that I have another reason to keep my lips sealed about tonight's little adventure."

"Uhokay, thanks," I said stupidly, not knowing how to reply to her statement.

Nurse Hill smiled at me and then looked at Bernie. She smiled at him, and then glanced over at the unconscious form of Andy lying in the hospital bed. She studied Andy for a few seconds and then she looked at me again. "Paul? Paul from Texas?" She asked with a look of puzzlement.

'Yes, my name's Paul. I already told you that, but I'm not from Texas," I answered confused at her question.

"You're that man's lover aren't you?" She asked bluntly. "Yes that would explain everything, all right. Why you're here. Why Bernie had to sneak you in. The cries last night. Yes indeed it would explain it." She nodded thoughtfully as she slid the pieces of the mental jigsaw into place and discovered that they fitted together exactly.

I kept my mouth shut, and did my best to keep my expression neutral. Andy didn't need another person knowing that he was gay. I sighed softly as I realized that I was going to have to take some action tonight, and make some adjustments on Nurse Hill. Let's call a spade a space, shall we? I was going to have to use my super hypnosis powers to alter the memories of Nurse Hill before I left tonight. As distasteful and repugnant it was going to feel for me to have to mess around with another person's mind, I didn't see as I had much choice. I owed it to Andy to protect him, and besides if it wasn't for my secret visit tonight, Andy's secret would never have become known to Nurse Hill. I looked away, unable to face my accuser.

"Paul, it's okay," Nurse Hill said as she took my hand gently and patted it. I turned my head back and looked at her. She looked up at me with an expression of kindness and understanding. "You don't have to say anything. When you've worked with people in hospitals as long as I have, you get to see many things. I couldn't mistake the look of love and caring that was on your face when you kissed Mr. Anderson, earlier. I've seen that expression many times before, but never have I seen a more profound and earnest expression than the one that you were wearing when you kissed him. Either you're his lover or you're in love with him."

She paused for a moment as she reached out with her left hand and brushed the right side of my face with her fingertips in a gesture of compassion. "It's okay, Paul. I won't say a word to anyone. It's clear that you love this man deeply, and that he loves you. I think it was very brave of you to take the chance to see him like this. It was also very romantic. I hope I find a man as caring and loving as you, someday." She smiled at me warmly, as if she were trying to ease my discomfort.

"What makes you think he loves or even cares about me?" I asked calmly. (How I managed to stay calm in that situation is a mystery that I'll never solve. I just did it, I guess.)

"Last night, while he was battling a post operative infection, he had a fever," Jennifer said softly. "He kept calling out for someone named 'Paul'. He also kept mentioning Texas. Little of what he said made any sense. It was mostly half finished sentences and jumbled words. Most times when a patient has a fever, we ignore what the patient says since they are delirious. Well, your presence here tonight proves to me that delirious or not, he was asking for you. I don't understand the part about Texas, though."

My eyes teared up at hearing Jennifer's words. I couldn't help it. My rock solid control cracked and a few of those tears slipped out of the corners of my eyes as I stood there looking at her. I turned my head and looked over at Andy, lying there asleep. I swallowed several times at the tightness in my throat. I kept picturing Andy in my mind, lying there in pain calling out to me, and my not being there. It hurt. Knowing that I wasn't there for him, when he needed and wanted me most, was a new and unwelcome pain for me. It seared its way into my soul, burning right through me. Intellectually, I knew there was nothing I could have done to change things, but that didn't stop me from feeling the pain. I let the tears flow down my cheeks and choked back the sobs that tried to escape.

"I'm sorry, Paul," Jennifer said softly as she turned my head back so that I was looking at her again. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything about last night. I didn't mean to hurt you by telling you about last night. I can see now though, that your not being able to be here last night after knowing that Mr. Anderson was calling for you, has upset you. I am sorry for that. Really. Please, forgive me?"

I looked down at this young woman standing in front of me, asking for my forgiveness. I realized that she did seem to understand, even if she seemed to have the tact of a charging bull elephant. "It's okay," I muttered, barely able to get the words past that darn lump in my throat.

"It's kind of you to say that, but I know it's not okay," Jennifer said softly. She glanced down at her wristwatch and then looked back up at me. "I can give you another twenty minutes alone with Mr. Anderson," she declared softly. "Bernie and I can wait outside and guard the door for you to insure that you have complete privacy. It's not much, but maybe it will help."

"Thank you," I muttered, unable to say anything more. Twenty minutes more to spend by Andy's side would be a godsend.

"Just come out when you're ready, but remember that you have only twenty minutes," she said as she lead me to Andy's side. "Again, I am sorry, Paul. I hope this time helps make it up to you. Come on, Doctor Simpson." She directed the last few words to Bernie as she walked over to him and guided him towards the door that lead to the hallway.

I sat down next to Andy, and held his right hand in my two hands, much as I had earlier that evening. I whispered many things to him. I told him that I loved him, of course, and I tried to convey just how deep and strong my love was for him. Exactly what I said, will remain forever a secret amongst Andy, me and God. The twenty minutes were over in the blink of an eye, or so it seemed.

With Bernie's help, and Jennifer Hill's silence, I made my way back to Bernie's office and changed back onto my regular clothes. There were no further incidents of any kind at the hospital, and it was with profound relief that I climbed into a cab and made my way home. I was tired physically and emotionally, but thankful that I had not needed to adjust Nurse Hill. I had never imagined that my first super hypnosis session with Bernie, and all the others that followed would have paid dividends like this. I guess it's true what they say about ripples in the water travelling a long way.

Andy was laid up in the hospital for about two weeks, during which time I did not try to see him again. Oh I did drop by with a small house plant as a get well gift, but I didn't try to arrange any more secret visits. The episode with Nurse Hill had thoroughly convinced me that these secret visits were simply too dangerous. Andy understood, as well as did I, that we would have to wait until he was out of the hospital and more or less fully recovered before we'd be able to spend any intimate moments together. Neither of us were exactly crazy about the idea. We did our best to accept it. (Like we really had any choice in the matter?) Andy and I knew that this was just another small part of the price we would have to pay for our relationship, and having to keep it in the closet. It was a strange price to have to pay for loving someone, but then life sometimes plays strange tricks on you.

It was the second Sunday afternoon of Andy's hospitalization, when Bernie telephoned me at my apartment. He was very adamant about coming over that afternoon. In fact he even went so far as to say that I owed him an afternoon visit, since he'd done that favor for me a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to know that Bernie was referring to my after hours visit to Andy's hospital room, which Bernie had arranged. He had me there. I did owe Bernie a favor. A rather large favor. I told him that he could come on over, and that I would welcome the company. It was the truth. I was feeling a bit lonely and out of sorts. I missed Andy terribly. (Can you say 'an aching hole in my heart'?) Spending some time with Bernie, even just talking would do me some good. Bernie said he would be over in about an hour and a half, so while I waited I got the coffee maker ready to brew a fresh pot of freshly ground coffee. I knew that Bernie really liked fresh brewed coffee and it helped to pass the time while I waited for him. The coffee was ready long before Bernie was due to arrive, so I poured myself a cup and retired to the living room to enjoy the coffee as I waited for him.