10. Brought To a Boil

Johanna

I t had been two more weeks in the grind of the hospital. Johanna enjoyed going in, but she also found it continuously getting harder to cope. Things were not running as smoothly as she would have hoped. She didn’t know what she expected, but this wasn’t it. As the weeks went on, Ali was all but hovering over her. Ali watched her as if something horrible could happen, but by securitizing everything Johanna did, Ali thought she could be the one to prevent it.

The highlight of each day was a morning walk with Maverick. She knew that the struggle would be too much to bear without him. She couldn’t thank May enough for suggesting getting a dog. It was true what they said. When you rescue a pet, it’s hard to know who’s saving who.

Jo reached the nurse’s station and caught Ali standing there her nose pointed towards a chart. Jo snuck around her, hoping that maybe Ali wouldn’t notice her and would just continue to stare into the abyss of the chart.

Jo pulled up the documentation and started to type away when Ali cleared her throat. “And what’s the meaning of this?” she asked. Jo continued to work, not thinking that Ali was speaking to her. Ali sighed. “You don’t feel the need to respond when I’m speaking to you?”

Jo looked up and grimaced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were talking to me.” Ali looked from one side to the other, and Jo shrugged. “I was engrossed in my work.”

Ali huffed. “Well, I suppose I should be thankful for that, as long as it’s true. Your work is slipping, after all.”

Jo frowned. “Excuse me?”

Ali held up the chart. “You gave Chastity Hill fifty units.”

“That’s what was ordered,” Jo quietly replied. She distinctly remembered triple-checking the dosage. Too much, and the patient could be overdosed. So, when it came to meds, she was always extra cautious. “Do you want me to show you?”

“You don’t have to show me anything. I looked at this this morning and assure you that she only should have gotten forty. As she has been monitored. I’m going to have to take this to the board, and hopefully, since it’s your first offense, they’ll go light on you.”

Jo opened her mouth. She snapped it shut when Ali continued.

“I’m wondering if maybe it was too soon to let you give the doses without being monitored. This is a grave error on your part. You just better hope that they go light on you.”

Jo’s eyes burned, and she turned away. If she started crying, then she would regret that. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “I don’t know what happened, but I am possible I triple-checked that.” She turned to the computer, aware that Ali’s eyes hadn’t left her. She pulled up Chasity’s orders and skimmed over them until she saw the quantity. “Fifty, see?” She turned the monitor towards Ali. Ali looked over at it, her eyes narrowing in on the computer. She frowned. “Looks like Dr. Blake had to up the quantity. It shows that right here.”

Ali fell back, her eyes darkening a bit. “Well, for now, you’re safe.” She dropped the chart back on the counter and then stomped away. Jo stared after her, so many confusing thoughts directed in her direction. Why the sudden need to watch her like a hawk was beyond Jo. She thought she had been doing well, but Ali had lost all confidence in her the past couple of weeks.

She tried to push the thought out of her mind and carry about her day, but it continued despite putting Ali in her place for the one patient. It was to the point where Jo questioned her own ability. She chastised herself, thinking that if you couldn’t trust yourself, it would be hard to expect others to trust you.

One night, after another grueling schedule, Jo just wanted to get home, let Maverick out for a minute, and then crash into bed. She would forfeit it if she didn’t get anything to eat as long as she didn’t have to see the hospital walls for at least twenty-four hours.

As she got on the elevator, though, she spotted Ali hurrying towards her, before the door could get a chance to close. Jo sighed and relented to the fact that she was going to have to take the long ride downstairs with Ali. When the doors closed, she glanced over at her.

“What? Following me to the train station now? It’s not enough that you have your eyes on me 24/7, you have to see me out the door?” The elevator doors opened, releasing them from the tight quarters. Jo continued to walk, with Ali close on her heels .

“I’m only watching you, because you need to be watched,” Ali replied.

Jo stepped out into the cool air and twirled around to face her. “Says who? I proved myself when you thought I screwed up and gave the wrong dose. I was right, and you were wrong. That should have given you enough realization that I don’t have to be watched like I’m ready to do something wrong.”

“Well, we’ll agree to disagree. You already wrecked your career. I’m not about to let you wreck mine.”

Jo’s jaw dropped. “Wrecked my career? What are you talking about? People change hospitals all the time. That doesn’t wreck someone’s career.”

“It does when you kill someone,” Ali snapped.

Jo gawked in her direction. It didn’t make sense. Where did she get that kind of information? Someone was spreading rumors. While she didn’t really want to know who, it was awful that someone who worked with her would think something so terrible about her.

“That’s what you think I did?”

Ali stared her mouth agape. “That’s what I heard,” she snapped, then softened her gaze a bit. “Didn’t you?”

Jo looked down at the ground. She wanted to jump in a hole and never resurface. Ali continued to stare at her, though, waiting for her response. Either she could give it or run away and hope that nothing was ever spoken of the matter.

“I didn’t kill anyone. Not that you need to believe that, but it’s the truth.” Jo looked away from Ali as those days in the hospital came rushing back to her. “I left the hospital for unfair treatment. I was getting piled on the hours, working twelve-hour shifts with very little time off. I got overwhelmed and stressed, and ultimately, my body gave out. I collapsed before my shift, and getting out was the only way I could take care of myself.” She shook her head, her cheeks burning.

“I can relate,” Ali began. Jo arched an eyebrow. “The rumor mill can be vicious, and I’ve faced similar situations in the past. Not quite of the same caliber, but it was all still there. It’s never fun being on the other side. I’m sorry. I should have known not to believe everything you hear.”

“It’s alright. I mean, if I heard something like that, I would be cautious, too.”

“Yeah, but I should have talked to you about it first before making all sorts of assumptions.” Ali gave a weak smile. “My apologies.”

Jo nodded. “Accepted.” Before she knew it, she headed towards the train station, and Ali was right beside her. It wasn’t until they reached the station that Ali mentioned it.

“I don’t want you to think I’m stalking you or anything, but it’s late, and I thought maybe it would be in your best interest if I followed you.”

Jo shook her head. “I appreciate it.” Jo turned and looked back towards the direction of the hospital. “Of course, now you have to walk all the way back there alone.”

Ali snickered. “I have my pepper spray. I’ll be fine.”

The departure announcement came over the loudspeaker, and Jo moved towards the door. “I’ll be seeing you in a couple of days, then.”

Ali waved, then turned and walked back towards the hospital. Jo watched her for a moment before the final call came over the speaker. She turned and hurried onto the train, sinking into the closest empty seat she could find. She hadn’t talked to many people about what transpired at the hospital, but it felt good to have someone there to listen. She withdrew her phone from her pocket and pulled up Ali’s name.

Johanna:

I know I’m only supposed to use your number if I’m bleeding, but I wanted to thank you for tonight. I didn’t know how much I needed it.

Ali:

I needed it, too.

Jo smiled and leaned back in her seat. Maybe their friendship could start to blossom now. Jo wouldn’t object to that.