"Hey, it's only a little blood. I've seen more when I cut myself shaving."

Nothing I said seemed to have any effect. She kept calling for help in between hugging me and telling me I'd be alright. She kept muttering to herself, "not again, not again," before calling out again.

She kept looking at the door obviously torn between running for help and not leaving me.

Samantha rushed into the room followed by an older woman in a white coat who reminded me of my mother. The woman strode over to me and gently pried me out of Christina's arms. I saw her nod to Samantha who sat Christina down in a chair.

Once she was out of the way she opened up my gown which had been put on backwards to allow easy access to my wound.

She studied the blood soaked bandages before carefully removing them.

"I think you've popped a few stitches here. I know you were told no stretching or raising your arms. We aren't going to have to tie them down are we?"

The doctor smiled as she asked Samantha to bring a suture kit.

"Mom always said I was better at sewing than she was but it's really hard to use a sewing machine in a patient's room. So I guess I'll just have to do this by hand."

She must have deadened the area because I only felt a slight tugging. Christina had calmed down but kept an eagle eye on the doctor.

"There. A comedian may leave them laughing but I always leave them in stitches."

i groaned. Christina jumped up and was at my side.

"Does it hurt?"

She shot daggers at the doctor.

"Only if I laugh." And did.

"Good it looks like my needlework is holding up. Mind you, no fooling around."

She looked right at Christina when she said that. She turned bright red and I swear she turned her toes and wrung her hands like a little girl being admonished by her mommy.

Then the doctor leaned over and in a stage whisper said to her, "you can kiss him all you like though. If I were only twenty years younger. . . "

"Doctor, can you tell me how long I'll be stuck here?"

"What? You don't like the accommodations? Is it the food? I know it can't be because of 'Pretty Face' here."

Damn, did everyone know?

"Well she won't fight with my girlfriend over me so there doesn't seem to be any point in hanging around. Even if I have to give up the green jello."

"I'm afraid you'll be here for a week or two. The bullet nicked an artery and just missed your heart. I had to do a lot of work to fix you up and don't want you to go messing up my work.

Thank goodness your girlfriend over there slowed the bleeding. She probably saved your life."

She hadn't said anything and I don't remember anything after Rick shot me and I fell down. The next thing I knew I woke up here.

I saw the surprise on Tony's face when the doctor told him that. In a way I was glad he didn't know. A part of me thought the only reason he still liked me after I got him shot was because I had helped save his life. Now I knew that had nothing to do with his feelings for me.

"You know doctor it might not be a bad idea to tie his hands down."

The doctor looked like she was seriously considering the idea and Tony was looking worried. I tried my best leer on him. Then the doctor spoiled it all by saying no.

"I don't think I should. Samantha would have to spoon feed him his jello. Actually that would be a good idea for a few days to keep those hands still, the spoon-feeding, not the hands-tying."

"Nobody's feeding him jello except me!"

The three of them all laughed at me. I can't believe I said that out loud. At least Tony could blame the drugs. My only excuse was jealousy. I finally had a man in my life and nearly lost him. I wasn't taking any chances. And Tony was just looking smug.

That changed when Samantha said it was time to change him. I never saw a guy look more embarrassed in all my life. I couldn't resist it.

"Can I help?"

Tony quickly protested that it was probably hospital policy that things like that had to be handled by staff.

Samantha grinned and said that she couldn't wear a bikini but she had plenty of baby oil just like he asked. I said I'd come back later after things had been handled.

I stared at his crotch but there was no reaction. Either the drugs kept him from reacting or he was too embarrassed.

I gave him a quick kiss and said I'd bring my laptop tomorrow so we could Zoom with our boss. Right now I needed to go hide my embarrassment. The only one to feed him! What was I thinking?

I called Ms. Lukes after I left to set up a time that we could video-conference about Tony's condition and my new job. Things were changing rapidly and I needed to earn my salary. I asked for a few things to get started.

I also called Jess to update her on Tony and check on things back at the house. She told me the cleaning people had called and said they couldn't come.

I wasn't surprised. People were already reacting to the spread of the virus and despite no official word were exercising caution. I couldn't blame them after reading the news out of China and Europe.

I was more concerned with how it would affect the various businesses Lukes Financial owned. Getting dug in and finding out things would help take my mind off Tony. At least I hoped it would.

I got back to the house to find Jess watching a movie on the big screen tv.

"What about your schoolwork?"

"They're still getting things organized. They said they'd send emails to all of us with schedules as soon as possible. Besides it's Spring Break.

Oh, and Peter called. He wanted to come over and help me go over my lines in case we got to do the play after all."

"Well, young lady. First of all you need to quarantine just like me now. And second, there is no reason you can't Zoom to practice your lines together. And when you do I want you to wear something a little less revealing than a tee shirt and panties!"

I was so glad Christina had left. It didn't do much for my masculine ego having to have my 'diaper' changed. It was bad enough Samantha was going to do it. At least she was very professional about it no matter what she might be thinking.

I just thanked heaven that for whatever reason I didn't get an erection. Then I thought she might be insulted that I didn't. And then I thought if I did she might tell Christina. The conflicting thoughts were giving me a headache!

With nothing better to do I closed my eyes to take nap only to have them snap wide open as I heard a familiar voice in the hallway. It was Dan, and he was talking with the security guard who must be in a room on the same floor. I thought it was a nice gesture on his part to visit. I didn't expect the same courtesy.

Then I heard raised voices. He wanted the guard's keys. There could only be one reason for that, he no longer had his own. So his visit wasn't what it seemed. Despite Dan's yelling and screaming the guard did not give them up. I was glad he stood his ground.

A moment later I could hear Dan arguing as a pair of hospital security guards escorted him past my door and away, hopefully out of the building. I'd have to ask Tanya what that was about.

I flagged down a passing nurse to ask her to pass a note to the security guard. She returned to say he had just been released. I was sorry I missed him. I would add this to the things I needed to talk to Tanya about.

Much as I wanted to nap the staff seemed determined to prevent it as they came in to take all sorts of readings. Then they brought me lunch and, sure enough, there was a bowl of green jello on the tray along with some soup.

I knew the next person through the door was going to be Samantha - spoon in hand. . . and I was right but a young nurse's aide was with her and she fed me my lunch.

"Is it true you called Miss Samantha ' Pretty Face? All the other nurses are teasing her about it."

I guess she wasn't the only one in the room when I said that. I felt sorry that she was being teased and said so.

"Oh no, she's been quite happy about it and all the other nurses are envious. You wouldn't consider. . ."

She looked at me hoping she might get her own nickname. I figured I was in enough trouble with Christina without giving her another reason to be jealous. I gave her a sad look but said she such did a great job feeding me that I didn't even need the bib.

She laughed.

i made myself some lunch and wondered if Samantha was spoon feeding my man. I should have stuck around.

Jess wanted me to watch another movie with her but I needed to get online and start earning my keep. As promised Ms Lukes had sent me a listing of the companies owned by Lukes Financial and a brief description of what each one was about.

It was a beginning. I'd need more detailed information to make better analyses. I noted she owned a large shipping line, luckily no cruise ships, but still many ports would be closed. This seemed like a good place to start.

As I gathered information I shot off an email to the gentleman listed as the CEO of the shipping line for details on all the ships, where they were, what they were carrying and where they were destined for.

I was soon lost in my work and might have stayed that way until Jess tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was going to make dinner. The hours had flown by.

Once again I thought about Tony and what he was doing. I knew he'd understand. Jess didn't.

"How can you sit there all afternoon and work on your computer when your boyfriend is in the hospital all alone?"

"I have responsibilities. Ones I need to fulfill to pay the bills. Tony understands."

At least I hoped he did. I could have taken my laptop to the hospital and worked there except I knew I'd get no work done. All Jess knew was I should be with Tony. If life were only that simple.

I made the two of us a simple dinner using some of the groceries I had brought from the house. Jess was quiet and excused herself to go back to the cottage saying she would probably go to bed early.

I knew she was upset with me for not visiting Tony, and for not allowing Peter to come see her. I'd allow her her privacy. She was probably going to call Peter and complain about how unfair I was. I was glad I had the excuse of exposure to the virus to fall back on.

Both of us were likely to be dreaming about our boyfriends tonight. I wondered if they were dreaming about us?