20. Shep

TWENTY

Shep

5:59 am

I wake up with a start, my heart racing as memories of last night flood my senses. I got little sleep, at least in my own bed, but I feel refreshed and energized.

Elle's scent lingers on my skin, a reminder of our passionate reunion. A smile tugs at my lips as I replay our conversation. The misunderstandings cleared away like morning fog.

The empty space beside me feels vast and cold. I wish Elle were here, curled up against me instead of in that sterile hospital bed. But at least now I know the truth—that man in the blue hat wasn't her boyfriend. The relief washes over me again, still as potent as last night.

I stretch and check my phone. Thankfully, there have been no more emergency calls overnight. Since I got home so late, Cason is still here, so I'm hoping I can sneak back into the hospital to say good morning to Elle before hanging out with Opie today.

I think I've got time for a quick shower before heading there. I can't stop thinking about Elle as the hot water cascades over me. How soft her lips felt, how perfectly she fit in my arms.

We've still got a lot to figure out—her recovery, the distance between us, and my responsibilities as a single dad. But for the first time in years, I feel hopeful about the future—like maybe we've been given a gift to explore this again for real.

I step into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over my body. As I reach for the shampoo, my mind drifts to Elle. God, she's beautiful. Even in that hospital gown, with her hair mussed from sleep, she took my breath away.

I close my eyes, remembering how she looked last night. The way her eyes sparkled when she smiled at me. The elegant curve of her neck as she tilted her head back to laugh at one of my stupid jokes.

And her lips... I groan softly, leaning my forehead against the cool tile. Her lips were even softer this time around for some reason. Enlightened, even.

The taste of her lingers on my tongue. I want to kiss her right now. To pull her close and never let go.

The steam from the shower envelops me as I step under the scalding water, letting it pelt my skin. I try to wash away the remnants of sleep and the lingering scent of antiseptic from the hospital. I reach for the body wash, my mind wandering, as it often does these days, to Elle.

I squeeze a dollop of soap into my palm, the scent of sandalwood filling the air. My hand moves automatically, lathering the soap across my chest, but my thoughts are miles away with Elle. I can't shake the memory of her lying in that hospital bed, her vulnerability juxtaposed against a strength that takes my breath away.

My breath hitches as I recall the softness of her lips, the sweetness of her breath, and the feel of her body yielding to mine. The water streams down my back as I lean against the cool tile, my other hand slipping lower, gripping myself.

My hand encompasses my erection, and I groan at the sudden rush of pleasure. I pump my fist slowly, her face in my mind's eye.

I close my eyes and picture her lips on mine, her tongue teasing mine as we kissed frantically in the hospital room. The memory of her body pressed against mine, our hearts racing in sync, sends a jolt of electricity through me.

My breath comes faster now, and my strokes become more urgent. I imagine Elle's hands on my body, her fingers exploring every inch of me. I can almost feel her warm breath on my neck, her soft moans in my ear.

The water cascades over my shoulders as I lean against the shower wall, lost in the sensation of my hand on my aching cock. I visualize Elle straddling me, her hips grinding against mine as we move together in perfect rhythm.

My orgasm builds inside me, a wave of pleasure crashing against my defenses. With a final, desperate thrust, I come, crying out her name as the intensity of my release washes over me.

I stand there for a moment, panting, as the water washes away the evidence of my desire. My body still tingles with the aftermath of my self-induced pleasure.

I close my eyes and imagine Elle's hand on me, her delicate fingers exploring, caressing. A moan escapes my lips as I stroke slowly, savoring the building pressure, the ache that mirrors the one in my chest whenever I think of her. Elle.

I think of the way she looked at me last night, her eyes dark with desire, her cheeks flushed with arousal. I remember the catch in her breath when I kissed her, the way she arched against me, eager for more.

My hand moves faster, matching the pace of my racing heart.

I shake my head, trying to clear it. I've got surgeries scheduled today. I need to focus. But as I reach for a towel, all I can think about is how soon I can get back to Elle's room. How badly I want to see her smile again.

I descend the stairs, the aroma of coffee guiding me to the kitchen. As I round the corner, I see Cason and Opie already up, my son munching on cereal while Cason sips from a steaming mug.

"Morning, you two," I say, ruffling Opie's hair as I pass.

Cason looks up, offering a tired smile. "Morning, Dr. Duncan." She has been spending more time at my house than her own. Luckily, I am only on call every two weeks. I feel so bad, having to depend on her so much.

I pour myself a cup of coffee and lean against the counter. "You two are up early. I was planning to run in to pick something up at the hospital and get right back, but if you need to get going, Cason, no worries."

"My Saturday is pretty quiet. I'm planning on lying around and reading all day. Do what you need to do. I will take Opie to the Children's Museum. Their Saturday morning reading program is always a hit."

"Are you sure? Because I do not have to go in. I don't have any surgery or patients." I leave out the part where I desperately want to see a specific patient.

"I mean it. We'll probably be downtown until after eleven, so it's perfect."

"I do want to apologize for being gone so much lately. I know you've been putting in extra hours with Opie. This whole situation has us all a little stretched," I say, referring to Ari. She has had no new developments since the tiny bit of brain activity.

She waves a hand dismissively. "It's no trouble, really. Opie's my buddy."

"Still," I insist, "I appreciate it more than you know. You've been a lifesaver."

Opie pipes up, milk dribbling down his chin. "Cason made chocolate chip waffles yesterday!"

I chuckle, grabbing a napkin to wipe his face. "Did she now? Sounds like you two are having more fun without me."

Turning back to Cason, I add, "I want you to know I'm planning something special to thank you for all your help. And hopefully, I'll be able to take some time off soon so you can have a break."

Cason's eyes widen. "Oh, Dr. Duncan, that's not necessary. I love working with you and Ari and being a part of Opie's life."

"You've gone above and beyond, Cason. You deserve a treat. I won't accept no."

She blushes slightly, nodding. "Well, thank you. That's very kind."

I finish my coffee, glancing at the clock. "Okay, I'll make sure I'm home by eleven or a little after. Love you, O."

He nods enthusiastically, his mouth full of cereal. I grab my keys, giving Cason one last grateful smile before heading out the door.

"Daddy, can we go to the park later?" Opie asks through a mouthful of cereal.

"Maybe. I think we can make that happen if this rain doesn't come our way." I put my hand on the top of his head and mess his hair. "Let's check the weather when you get home from the museum and make a call then, okay?"

As I drive to the hospital, my mind drifts back to Elle. I can't wait to see her again. I couldn't get out of the house fast enough... There's still a chance to say good morning to her before her morning therapy. I haven't felt this way about a woman in a long time. Maybe ever.

7:01 am

I step off the elevator, two steaming cups of coffee in hand. The floor is moving and shaking, and the shift change appears complete. Fresh nurses scuttle around recording their first vitals. I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips as I approach Elle's room. It's only been a few hours since I left, but I'm eager to see her again.

As I round the corner, I nearly drop the coffees. Elle's room is empty, the bed stripped bare. A cleaning crew bustles about, wiping surfaces and mopping the floor.

My heart hammers in my chest. "Excuse me," I call out, my voice tight. "Where's the patient who was in this room?"

One of the cleaners looks up, shrugging. "Don't know, sir. We just clean 'em."

I spin around, eyes darting up and down the hallway. Did I make a wrong turn? No, this is definitely the right room. I've walked this path enough times to know.

Confusion and worry war within me. Where could she be? Was there a complication? Did they move her to another floor without telling me? I set the coffees down on the nearest surface, barely registering as some sloshes over the rim.

I hurry to the nurses' station, my mind racing through possibilities. "Excuse me," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. I don't recognize any of the nurses on duty right now. "The patient in room 412, Elle Klass. Where is she?"

The nurse behind the desk looks up, her brow furrowing as she taps at her computer. I drum my fingers on the counter, impatience getting the better of me.

"Dr. Duncan?" a voice calls from behind me.

I whirl around, hope and dread warring in my chest.

I follow Maya down the hallway, my heart still racing. The moment I step into the therapy room, relief washes over me like a tidal wave.

"There she is, Dr. Duncan," she gestures toward a table in the back corner.

Elle's long brown hair is down for a change, catching the morning light. She's playing the game Operation with a male therapist, her laughter ringing out as she carefully maneuvers the tweezers.

I take a deep breath, feeling my world right itself again. For those few terrifying moments, my mind had conjured up worst-case scenarios—complications, emergencies, her being whisked away without my knowledge. But here she is, safe and clearly in good spirits.

"Dr. Duncan," Maya says, pulling me from my thoughts. "I'm sorry if we caused any alarm. Dr. Hampton ordered an early morning therapy session, and Elle was up for coming to our therapy room. The cleaners decided to do a full room clean since she would be out for the hour."

I nod, unable to take my eyes off Elle. She looks up, spotting me, and her smile widens. It's like the sun coming out from behind a cloud.

"Shep!" she calls out. "Come see how badly I'm losing at this game."

I chuckle and make my way over to the table. The male therapist stands, offering his hand. "Dr. Duncan, I'm Tom. I'm working with Elle on her fine motor skills."

"Nice to meet you, Tom," I say, putting one of the coffees down to shake his hand. I turn to Elle, drinking in the sight of her. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Much better," she says, her eyes twinkling. "Though I think my surgical skills need some work. I've already set off the buzzer three times."

I lean in, pretending to whisper conspiratorially. "Don't worry, I won't tell the medical board."

Elle laughs again, and the sound fills me with warmth. I pull up a chair, settling in beside her. "I brought you a latte. I'm not sure if you're allowed to drink on the job. Mind if I watch the master at work?"

"Be my guest," she says, picking up the tweezers again. "But fair warning, it might shake your confidence in my ability to ever perform surgery."

I glance at my watch, realizing I've been sitting here for over thirty minutes, probably hindering their therapy. "I hate to cut this short, but I've got to do a few things in the office and then head home," I tell Elle, my voice tinged with regret. "I'm just glad you weren't abducted by aliens or anything. Finding your room empty and being scrubbed down was more than a little jarring."

Elle's eyes sparkle with amusement. "Sorry about that. I should have left a note: 'Gone to lose spectacularly at Operation. Back soon.'"

I get a good laugh, drinking in the sight of her. Her pink lips curve into a smile, and I'm overwhelmed by the urge to kiss them. The desire courses through me, hot and insistent. But I'm acutely aware that Tom and Maya are nearby, not to mention the other patients in the therapy room. It would be completely inappropriate.

Instead, I stand, purposefully letting my leg brush against hers as I do. The contact, even through the fabric of my scrubs, sends a current through my body louder and with more oomph than the buzz in the game. My heart races, and I have to take a deep breath to steady myself.

"Good luck with your surgery skills," I say, gesturing to the game. "I expect a full report on your progress later."

As I turn to leave, I can still feel the warmth of her leg against mine. My skin tingles and I have to force myself to walk at a normal pace. Every cell in my body seems to be pulling me back toward Elle, urging me to stay, to touch her again.

I make it to the hallway, leaning against the wall for a moment to collect myself. I take another deep breath, trying to focus my thoughts on the notes I need to finish writing—time for my famous compartmentalization skills to kick in.

11:04 am

As I head out of the office, Charlie Hampton grabs my arm. "Hey, Shep. Got a minute?"

I nod, checking my watch. Cason and Opie probably won't be home for another thirty minutes. "Sure, what's up?"

"How'd your call surgery go last night? I know it was a late one." Charlie asks, gesturing towards the OR.

"Easy peasy," I reply with a grin. "It was an emergency because the guy lost his vision, but it turned out to be unrelated. I removed the meningioma the size of a golf ball, though, from the back of his neck. I swear, sometimes I feel like those are all I do. The good news is, I have a zero handicap."

Charlie smiles and then clears his throat. "We should get out on the links sometime. Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something else. I've got an unconventional ask for you. The hospital's breathing down my neck about freeing up beds. We're at 100% capacity, and they need space for new acute patients."

I raise an eyebrow, sensing where this is going. "Let me guess–Elle?"

He nods. "She's ready for a rehab facility, but there's not an open bed within a hundred miles. Given her recent bout with sepsis and the fact that she's still on those high-powered antibiotics, I'm not comfortable fully releasing her yet."

I feel my heart rate pick up, anticipating his next words, hoping I'm right.

Charlie continues, "But since you two are friends, I'd feel comfortable releasing her to your care. She could keep up with outpatient therapy here at UAB for another week or so. What do you think?"

My mind races, considering the implications. Having Elle stay with me would be incredible. I think about Opie, my schedule, and all the drama I have going on with that. Having her so close could have a calming effect. And the thought of being able to have her in my bed every night trumps any hesitation I might have.

And if I'm being frank with myself, there is no hesitation on my part.

"I'd need to run it by Elle first," I say carefully. "But if she's comfortable with it, I'm on board, sure. When would you want to discharge her?"

"I can do it this afternoon if that works for y'all. Or we can make it happen tomorrow. I have five patients I could move, and I need to figure out what to do with them, and she is just one. In the next day or so, if at all possible."

"Sure, I get it. Let me run it by her, and I'll get back to you."

"Thanks, Bud." And with that, Charlie salutes, his hand in the air, and heads down the hall.

11:37 am

I spot Buster as I'm walking to the garage. He's got that shit bag grin on his face that he loves to sport.

"Hey, Duncan! You up for a beer later?" he calls out.

I shake my head, already feeling the pull of home and family. "Sorry, man. I'm done for the day and heading out. Need to put in some quality time with Opie and give Cason a break."

Buster's face falls a bit, but he nods in understanding. "Ah, the joys of fatherhood. I hear ya'."

"Definitely want to do it soon, though. I've got to fill you in on all the lady tales." I give him a knowing look, referencing our conversation about Elle at the bar a few days ago.

His eyes light up with interest. "Oh, ho! Sounds like there've been some developments. You better not hold out on me, Duncan. If I didn't have to get over to a patient, I would make you tell me now."

I chuckle, already walking backward towards the elevator. "Wouldn't dream of it. I'll text you once I see an opening, and we'll get something on the books."

"You better!" Buster calls over his shoulder.

As the doors close, I can't help but smile. It feels good to have something positive to share with my friends for once, even if Elle and I are still figuring things out. The thought of her staying with me sends a thrill through my body. I just hope she's as on board with the idea as I am.