I took Simon back to his bed and went back to the night-desk where Nicky was sitting with her book. She looked up at me and gave me that knowing smile again.
"Everything alright?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, no problems," I replied, hoping that I sounded convincing.
"You were gone a long time," said Nicky, "I was going to come looking for you. To see if you needed any help."
The way she was grinning at me convinced me that she knew that I had been up to something with Simon. I felt myself blushing. Nicky continued, "Simon's really quite impressive, isn't he?"
I still tried to bluff it out.
"What do you mean?" Nicky closed her book with a snap.
"Oh come on, Sue, don't pretend with me, I've seen how you are with Simon, You can't leave him alone!"
I realised that denying it was futile and sat down on a chair next to Nicky.
"Oh, God," I groaned, "has it been that obvious?"
"I've been watching you for a while, Sue. You always jump up when he needs something. And you spend more time with him than you do with the other patients. It doesn't take a genius to work out that you fancy him."
My mind was racing - it wasn't a crime to fancy a patient - did Nicky know that I had done a lot more than that? Nicky continued, "Mind you, from what I've seen he certainly has a lot to fancy!"
I acted dumb, "What do you mean?"
Nicky laughed, "Sue, we've all had to tend to him at some stage. You can't tell me that you haven't noticed his huge penis!"
I knew I was blushing like a schoolgirl. I was also jealous and didn't like the fact that the other nurses might also have taken a shine to Simon. I realised at that moment that it wasn't only his cock that I was infatuated with, I was actually falling for him!
I was irritated by Nicky's comments and snapped at her, "So what! He's actually very nice you know. He's a lot nicer to talk to than most of the other crabby patients we have to deal with!"
I realised I was leaping to my defence too readily and shut up.
Nicky smiled, "Keep calm, Sue. If you get on well with him then that's great. Just don't lose sight of the fact that he is the patient and you are the nurse. I wouldn't mix business with pleasure if I was you."
So saying she got up and walked off, leaving me none the wiser as to how much she knew. Furthermore, how much did other people know?
I had had several late duties in a row and so when I went home after my duty ended I had almost 24 hours rest before I was due to return to work. I spent a great deal of time going over what Nicky had said and thinking about my actions. I knew I had acted foolishly and resolved not to be so reckless ever again. I would try and keep in touch with Simon after he was discharged because I really did like him, but until then I was determined to behave myself.
When I next went on duty I busied myself about the ward, acting like Florence Nightingale herself, chatted to Simon without any touching, and by lunch time began to feel that I had everything neatly in perspective. I even talked to Nicky a few times and we got on very well. She made no more references to Simon and I began to feel that she was on my side and supporting me. I was dealing with a patient who needed his dressings changed when a nurse popped her head through the screens and told me that Mr Walker wanted to see me.
Mr Walker was the senior orthopaedic surgeon in the hospital who dealt with all the patients in the ward. Because I was a student nurse I had been to many of his lectures.
He was very strict and quite frightening and expected us to learn about breaks and fractures almost as quickly as the medical students.
His consulting room was on an upper floor and when I had finished with my patient I went up to his office. I knocked, feeling very nervous, and heard him say "Come in!" I went in and closed the door behind me. Doctor Walker was sitting at his desk writing something on a patient's notes and I stood waiting for him to finish, getting more and more nervous.
He didn't look up until he had finished writing. Eventually he put his pen down and looked up at me.
"Now, Miss W*, do you have any idea why I have asked to see you?"
"No, Doctor." He looked annoyed.
"I am a surgeon - call me Mr Walker. You realise that I am responsible for the orthopaedic ward, and that includes the welfare of the patients and the professional development of the nurses and student nurses?"