Things Aren't Always What They Seem

Then there was his family; his mother, Tracy, was alone with his older sister, their father having long since walked out on them all when Tommy was just two.

They tried to visit every day, despite the fact that Tracy worked, and she couldn't help but admire the way they dealt with their misfortune.

The medication round took her almost an hour but as soon as she was finished and had locked the trolley away Niamh went straight to the side room to see the young patient.

"Hey, Tommy, how are you doing?" She peered around the door and beamed at the ten-year-old.

"Hi Niamh." He looked up at her but didn't smile back.

"What's up? You don't seem yourself?" Entering the room she went over to him and, on the pretext of taking his temperature, enquired.

"Nothing much." Shrugging his shoulders, he didn't bother to raise his gaze up to meet her eyes.

Glancing around the room she noted the football team's poster up on the wall and the blue and white scarf tied on to his bed.

"So, what's your favourite team again?" She asked casually.

Her question brought a small smile to his face, "United of course. I told you. Don't you remember?"

"Of course you did." She grinned, she knew who he supported without asking, he had told everyone when he had first arrived, "And do you have a favourite player?"

"Yeah." He nodded but didn't elaborate.

There was silence for a moment as she moved around the bed tidying the bedclothes.

"Is your mum coming in tonight?" Niamh knew his mother would be there just like she was every evening but she wanted to try to engage him and lift his spirits.

"Yeah, I expect so, if she doesn't get held up at work." He kept his gaze on the comic book he was reading, his voice a flat monotone.

"Well, it's still a little early. I'm sure she'll be here."

Continuing to tidy around the room she fussed unnecessarily for a few more minutes, continuing to chat to him about nothing in particular before she ran out of things she could do.

"I have to go Tommy. Will you be ok for a bit?"

He glanced up, "Yeah, I'm sure mum will be in soon."

"Ok but I'll be back later to check up on you." With a smile she closed the door behind her.

Once she was outside Niamh paused and blinked away the tears that had started to run down her cheeks. Tommy's treatment was clearly taking its toll on him and she wondered at the youngster's fortitude in dealing with his illness, not sure how she would cope if she were in the same situation.

Turning around she started down the corridor towards the ward office, wiping her wet eyes with the back of her hand.

+++++++++++++++++++

Parking his car Alex strolled casually through the main entrance and, following the signs, made his way to the elevators. Pausing only to read the letter again so he knew where he was going he pressed the button for the third floor.

Stepping out of the lift he stopped completely mystified as to where he should go next. There was no one around to ask and after checking the empty office in front of him he started down the corridor.

As he turned a corner he came face to face with a blonde nurse coming out of a side room and halted, mid-stride.

Heading in the opposite direction Niamh pulled up with a start, almost colliding with the man, before staring open-mouthed at the figure standing before her in total surprise.

"What are you...." They said almost in unison.

"I..."

"You...."

Niamh recovered her composure first.

"Are you following me?" She demanded almost angrily.

"What? No. I got myself a coffee after you drove away. I was always coming here."

She looked at him suspiciously, "I don't believe you. I'm calling security."

"Calm down. I'm looking for Tommy Bradley as it happens."

He was becoming more than a little annoyed at her presumption that he was stalking her.

"Are you a relative?" She immediately wanted to know, "Because if you are visiting isn't for another half-an-hour."

"Err... no, not really. I'm more of a... a friend, I guess."

His answer got him another questioning look from her.

"Well, whatever you are, visiting isn't for another thirty minutes and without getting prior approval from his mother I really shouldn't allow you in."

"Look nurse..." He paused, struggling for something to call her, "I'm sorry I don't know your name and I feel I should."

"It's Niamh. My name is Niamh."

"Holding out his hand he smiled, "I'm pleased to meet you Niamh. I'm Alex."

Just saying her name gave him goosebumps and, not for the first time, he wondered just what it was about this girl that affected him this way. He had avoided having a girlfriend for nearly three years now and, although he occasionally dated, he was quite happy with the situation he was in.

Now, for the first time in he couldn't think how long, someone had aroused feelings in him that he really wasn't sure about.

'What was it about her?'

'She seemed to dislike him and yet she still set off all sorts of strange feelings in him.'

As much as he tried he struggled to understand it.

Looking at him she felt her pulse rate leap. He was cute but there was something else, something she didn't want to consider after the car crash that was her previous relationship.

Cautiously she accepted the offered handshake, "I still shouldn't allow you to see him. Not till his mother says it's ok."

At the first touch he felt his stomach tense and something akin to a jolt of electricity shoot up from his fingers and send a delightful tingling through him.

"Please Niamh. I've travelled here just to see him."

Forcing down the feelings she was creating in him he pulled the letter out of his pocket to show her, "His mother wrote to me asking me to come and see him, so here I am."

"Plus, I've bought a few things for him." Finishing off by hefting up a bag, he looked at her imploringly, quickly adding, "I did help you with your car so I can't be all bad, can I?"

Niamh had felt the same thing when their hands met and couldn't help but grin at him, "No, that's true, I suppose not."

"So, you'll let me in to see him? Just for a few minutes?"

She giggled rather girlishly, "Ok but I'm right outside and his mother will be in very shortly."

"Thanks, you're a star." His smile of appreciation sent another ripple of delight through her that she wasn't expecting.

'Stop it, he's no different to Jason.'

She told herself firmly before answering him, "You... you're welcome."

Looking into his face her heart lurched, missing a beat, and yet again she found herself entranced by his brown eyes, despite the concerns that his similarity to her previous boyfriend raised in her mind.

"He's um... he's... in here." Blushing Niamh indicated to the door she had just stepped through.

"Thanks." Alex grinned and pushed it open still unable to work out why the girl affected him the way she did.

Quietly closing the door behind him Alex turned to look at the young boy in the bed.

"Hello Tommy." He said with a broad grin.

The young boy looked up and stared at him for a second before opening his mouth, "You're.... you're...."

Outside Niamh stood wondering if she had done the right thing in letting a virtual stranger in to see the youngster and, almost without thinking, she automatically opened the door to check.

Young Tommy was staring open-mouthed at his visitor and she could immediately see by the smile on his face that he had cheered up immensely.

"Is everything ok?" Niamh enquired cautiously, looking between the two of them.

"Still don't trust me?" Alex turned and winked at her making her cheeks colour again.

"Oh err... I... err... are you ok Tommy?" She ignored Alex's comment, focusing on the youngster instead.

"Yeah, I'm great thanks Niamh." He grinned at her, "Have you met Al...."

Before he could finish what he was about to say Alex interrupted him, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"We've already met thanks Tommy."

"Right, I'll... I'll leave you to it." Slightly embarrassed, Niamh stepped out and closed the door on them.

"I don't think she likes me much." Alex smiled and went and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Niamh's alright. For a grown up that is."

"Do you know if she has a boyfriend?"

Tommy frowned, "I don't think so. She doesn't talk about any boys."

He nodded, "Thanks."

"What are you doing here, in the hospital?"

Alex smiled, "I came to see you. That's ok isn't it?"

The youngster nodded, still staring at him, "Yeah but why?"

Fishing the letter out of his jacket pocket he showed it to him, "Your mum wrote to me. Asked me if I could send the biggest united supporter in the country a signed photo. So, I thought why not just go and see him as well."

"Wow, really."

"Yeah really." Alex chuckled, "And I brought you some stuff."

He was just passing out the various items from the bag when the door opened and a woman walked in with a teenage girl.

"Who the hell are you?" The dark-haired woman asked immediately, her eyes flashing angrily, "Who let you in?"

"Mum this is..." Tommy went to explain to his mother.

"Oh God, it's Alex Wainwright mum." The girl interrupted everyone, her eyes wide with excitement.

For a moment no one said anything and then Alex pulled out the letter from his jacket again.

"You wrote to me Mrs Bradley. Remember?"

The woman stared at him, her mouth opening and closing several times before she actually managed to speak.

"I... I... I asked for... for a photo. I never thought you would...."

He held out his hand, "I know. I hope you don't mind me coming in person. I bought some stuff to cheer Tommy up."

"No, I..."

"Look mum. I got a team shirt with my name on it. A signed match ball and programmes from some of the matches." Young Tommy couldn't help but add his own input to the conversation.

Tracy turned and smiled at her son, "I hope you said thank you to Mr Wainwright."

"It's Alex. We're mates now aren't we Tommy?"

The ten-year-old nodded enthusiastically as he studied the programmes he had been given."

"Oh, and there's one other thing. When Tommy's up for it you're all invited to be the club's guests at a match of your choice." Alex handed her an envelope, "You'll meet the players, have lunch in the VIP suite and watch the game from the directors box."

"I... I... I don't know what to say." Stammering her thanks, she took the envelope from his hand and felt the tears on her cheeks.

"Just say yes." He smiled.

For the next few minutes Alex posed for several photos with the family as well as individual ones with Tommy.

"Can I have one to?" His sister Amy asked shyly as they were about to finish.

Alex grinned and slipped his arm around the teenager as Tracy took three photos on her daughter's phone.

"Me and Alex Wainwright. My friends won't believe this... they really won't." Was all she could manage to say.

Getting up to go Alex said his goodbye's and had just got to the door when he turned back to the three of them.

"Can I ask you for just one favour." He looked at each of them in turn, "Don't tell the nurse who I am. Please."

Tommy's mum smiled, "She's pretty isn't she."

"Err... yeah, she is." He blushed and quickly left.

++++++++++++++++++++

It was just about that same moment when Niamh left the ward office to take her break, and almost walked straight into Alex as he stepped out of the room leaving the family to themselves.

"Going already?" Niamh asked and he turned to find her standing, hands on hips, looking at him

"Well, his mother and sister have arrived so I err... I thought I'd leave them for a bit and see if there was somewhere I could maybe get a coffee."

"At this time of the evening there's just the staff café at the far end of the hospital." She informed him rather brusquely.

"Great. Is it easy to find?"

"Not really." Niamh bit her lower lip before continuing, "But I'm about to go for my break so I'll show you if you want."

She wasn't sure why she offered. There seemed to be a lot about him that reminded her of Jason but there was also something that flustered her and, after all, like he said, he had got her car started.

Guiding him through the myriad of hospital corridors she kept glancing sideways at him, trying to understand her reaction to him. She had never felt like this before, certainly not about her ex, and she couldn't understand what was happening to her.

Neither of them said very much, walking along in silence, until they reached the café.

"Let me get these." He offered as they reached the counter.

"It's fine I can pay."

Alex grinned at her and she felt another unbidden tremor of arousal, "I insist. A gentleman always pays."

Capitulating Niamh asked for a cappuccino and went to find a table in the corner, nodding to another couple of nurses who were sitting nearby casting very interested looks towards Alex.

"So, how do you know little Tommy?" She asked as soon as he joined her with their drinks.

"I don't really. His mother wrote and asked me to come in to see him. She said it might cheer him up."

She took a sip of her coffee, gazing at him over the cup, "Well it certainly seems to have done that."

He shrugged, "I think that might have been something to do with the gifts I brought for him."

"Oh, what did you give him?" Curiosity got the better of her and she asked without thinking.

Somewhat apprehensively he gave her the list of presents; several programmes from United's recent home games, a United shirt with his name and the number 10 on the back plus an invitation to a home game of his choice with a chance to meet the whole team.

"Wow, no wonder he was smiling, he absolutely loves them." She looked at him with more than a hint of surprise, "How did you manage to get all of that?"

"I... err... I work in the leisure industry and I have a... a few contacts at the club." Alex told her hesitantly, trying not to say too much.

"Oh right."

"So, how's he doing?" He continued after a brief pause, wanting to change the subject.

"It's a little early in his treatment but we're all hopeful."

Finishing her coffee Niamh took her time before answering and checking her watch as she put her cup down.

"I'd better get back. My break is nearly over."

"I'll come with you, if that's ok. Then I can say goodbye to Tommy."

Feeling a little more comfortable with each other they walked back through the corridors to the paediatric ward, both absorbed in their thoughts.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?" Alex blurted out with a sudden surge of courage.

She stopped and turned to look at him, "I don't think so, I hardly know you."

"If I said please? Then you could get to know me."

She giggled, staring at him as she wrestled with herself, "I'll tell you what, give me your phone."

Taking his mobile she typed in a number and pressed send.

"There, I've sent myself a message so I have your phone number. I'll think about it and let you know, now I have to get back to work."

Disappearing into the ward office she left Alex to go in and say goodbye to Tommy and his family, promising to visit again, before making his way out to his car.

"Oh my god, who was that guy you were with?"

No sooner had Niamh sat down at the desk than one of the other nurses who had been in the café stuck her head around the door.

Niamh glanced up, "No one Claire. Just a visitor."

"Yeah, I don't believe that for a minute. Not the way you were looking at him."

"I wasn't... he was just a visitor. I don't even know his full name." She protested.

"Did you get his phone number? If you did and you're not going to ring him then will you let me have it." Claire chuckled naughtily, "He can come and visit me anytime."

"Oh, err... I err... I didn't, sorry." Niamh lied, not knowing if she would message Alex but not wanting to give the other nurse his number either.

"Well make sure you get it for me next time he comes in. I wouldn't mind him sitting on my bed." She smirked before disappearing off down the corridor.

Sitting back in her chair Niamh picked up her mobile phone and looked at the blank screen. She wasn't looking for a boyfriend, not after Jason, and certainly not another gym rat. If she wanted a man to take her out she should look for someone stable and sensible like Brian Carson, a doctor.

Even as she told herself she wasn't going to message him she found herself typing on her phone.

Outside of the main entrance Alex had paused, wondering if he would hear from Niamh, when his phone buzzed.

Yes, I'll have dinner with you. I'm off Thursday & Friday.

Breaking into a broad grin he slid into his car and immediately messaged her back.

Thursday would be perfect. Pick you up at 7?

Staring at the screen she read his message.

'Damn. She hadn't expected him to reply that quickly.'

Her heart thumped faster and making an immediate decision she could feel her stomach tighten as she replied.

Sure, hospital main entrance.

Starting the engine Alex drove out of the car park and headed home with a sense of excitement and anticipation he hadn't ever known before.

Meanwhile back on the ward Niamh fretted anxiously and spent the remainder of her shift wondering if she had done the right thing.

Over the next couple of days, as she waited for her date to roll around, she changed her mind repeatedly; first she was going to cancel then, ten minutes later she wasn't.

Whichever way her thoughts went she couldn't get Alex out of her mind.

He was cute, that was for certain, and he seemed to be a fairly genuine sort of guy but, after Jason, she was sure that the last thing she wanted was someone who's main focus was the gym and the girls there.

If she wanted a man maybe she would be better setting her sights on a doctor like Brian Carson. However, deep down she knew there was no comparison; Alex stirred feelings inside her that she didn't know she was capable of while Brian was just a nice guy.

Eventually, torn between wanting to see him again and feeling she shouldn't, Niamh enlisted the help of her flat mate, Sheena, to try to resolve her problem.

"I can't see what you're worried about? The guy's cute, you obviously like him so go out and see what happens." Her friend told her after having the dilemma explained to her.

"Yes but...."

"But what? You go out to dinner and then, if you don't like him, you don't see him again. At least you get a free meal."

Niamh rolled her eyes, "Yeah but what if I start to really like him?"

Sheena laughed, "You already do hon, that much is blatantly obvious. Your problem is that you don't want to admit it."

"You think so?"

Sheena laughed even louder, "It's all over your face when you talk about him. You like the guy..... a lot."

With a resigned sigh Niamh realised her friend was right. Even though she barely knew him she knew she liked Alex, a great deal more than she should.

Work kept her occupied most of the time but when Thursday afternoon eventually came around she was a nervous wreck. She had picked up her phone half-a-dozen times intending to cancel and every time she had put it down again without doing anything.

Her stomach was becoming a tight knot and she felt sick as the evening gradually approached.

'Was he like Jason?'

'Maybe she should cancel.'

'He was cute though and he had got her car started.'

Numerous conflicting thoughts filled her head as she flitted around the flat tidying up and doing anything she could think of to keep herself busy until it was time for her to get ready.

After showering Niamh sat at her dressing table mirror and brushed out her hair before putting on her make-up; a little mascara to darken her already long lashes, some eyeshadow and liner and a pink lip gloss.