Things had gotten a lot clearer since yesterday. It helped that I didn't have to worry about Christina. The nurses did tell me about her catfight with Rick's wife. I'm sorry I missed it. Maybe there was security footage. I'd ask.

Okay, I'm a guy, the idea of Christina and another women fighting kind of turned me on. As long as she didn't find out.

"Didn't find out what?"

Damn drugs! I never realized I was talking out loud. Lord knows what else I might have said!

"When I was able to go home."

"Nice try. I'm sure there's some good footage. If you want, maybe 'pretty face' and I can fight over you."

Totally busted. The bad thing was I was actually visualizing it. I must have smiled because she punched me in the arm.

"Hey, sick person here!"

"Wait until I tell her. I bet there's hundreds of ways a nurse can make your life miserable."

"You wouldn't do that to me."

Just my luck 'pretty face' walked into the room as she said that. This was definitely not my day.

"Do what to you?"

"Your heartthrob here was just visualizing the two of us fighting over him."

"Was he now?"

They were both staring at me. I hope Christina doesn't have that stun gun in her purse. Then they both giggled.

"The look on his face!"

I started to think they orchestrated this little performance. I decided two can play this game. Probably not the wisest decision on my part. It was probably the drugs. That's what I'm claiming anyway.

"I don't think mud in a hospital is very sanitary, but maybe a lot of baby oil and bikinis?"

"Ow, ow! Patient abuse!"

The nurse, whose name I finally found out was Samantha, looked at Christina.

"What do you think? Sponge bath with ice water?"

"Duct tape bandages?"

The two them turned to me and started cackling like the witch in The Wizard of Oz and I don't mean Glinda.

"I take it all back!"

I was saved by a knock on the door and a familiar face poking his head in. It was the security guard from the office.

"Is it okay if I come in for a moment?"

"Sure. You're saving me from these two and their nefarious plans for me."

He looked at me like I was nuts but came into the room. I noticed his arm was in a sling.

"I came to apologize."

"Apologize? Why?"

"For not stopping him. For you getting shot and nearly killed."

He was almost in tears. I didn't understand. Christina gasped.

"You were the one that got shot at the office!"

I realized Tony had no idea what had happened the day he got shot. I had only found out afterwards when I spoke to Ms Lukes. She called after I had been sent home by the nurse to check on Tony and me.

Because of the virus she wasn't allowed to visit either of us. The only reason they let me visit Tony was we were already self-quarantining with each other. That, and they would have had to lock me up to keep me from him!

I didn't know the details about how the security guard got shot so I prompted him to tell his story after both Tony and I assured him that we didn't blame him for Rick's actions.

"Well, you know Mr. Wilson was fired. He was really angry and after we escorted him out, Mr. Rivers told him and us he was not allowed back in the building.

Later that day everyone was sent home because of the virus. The head of security asked for volunteers to watch the building. I'm single so was more than happy to pick up extra shifts."

This was news to me and Tony. I knew the schools had gone to online teaching from Jessica but it was obvious I needed to get back to doing my job if things were changing that drastically. It may have been what sent Rick over the edge, fired and other firms not physically hiring.

"So what happened?"

"Mr. Wilson came back the next morning. You know we don't lock the outside doors as a security guard is always present. I guess they don't want to have to give out keys to everyone or something."

"It's to make our visitors and clients feel more welcome but still have control over their entry."

Tony said that. I'd never really thought about it but it made sense.

"Anyway, he walked in and was going to go right past me like he still worked there and expected me to let him pass.

I knew he wasn't supposed to be there and told him to stop. That's when he pulled the gun and I hit the alarm button. As you know that locks all the elevators and the stairwells on the first floor are exit only so he told me to unlock them. I lied and told him I couldn't.

He got real angry and I think pulled the trigger without thinking or I'd be a dead man. I got hit in the arm and went down and he took off. I tried to get up and stop him but couldn't. I'm sorry."

He looked so crestfallen, like an unarmed security guard should tackle a guy with a gun. I thought he did great and told him so. If the building was full of people he would have saved lives. He just didn't see it that way. I would have kissed him on the cheek but kept my distance because of the virus. I also wasn't sure how he'd react if I did.

Tony told him he had a lot of guts for pressing the button and then refusing to unlock the elevators. I could see his face brighten when Tony said that even though I told him the same thing. I guess hearing it from a man made a difference. Macho bullshit.

The guard didn't mean to devalue my comments, I guess it's just the way the male mind works. In a way it was a backhanded compliment. It was apparent he thought of me as a female. It still irked me though.

I wondered why Christina suddenly frowned. Did she really think the guard should have done more so I didn't get shot? I'd have to ask her after he left.

I wanted to shake his hand but I was too weak to even lift it. I just said to get better and thanks again for trying. He gave me a thumbs up and left. I would talk to Tanya about making sure all his medical bills were paid and see about getting him a raise. To think this was the same guy who complained about the new cameras making more work.

"I wonder why he didn't just let Rick get on the elevator and then lock them again until the police came?"

I was right she did blame him. I hadn't thought about that either. She may have been born a guy but she sure didn't understand us. I knew what the guard was thinking, 'how can I take the gun away from him?' Kind of like one of those 300 Spartans guarding the pass. A woman would probably have had a better idea like just closing the pass with boulders or something. Women!

Samantha did few things, mostly I think, to aggravate me a bit, then left Christina and I alone. She had a funny look on her face as she pulled a piece of paper out of her purse and waved it at me.

"Your buddy, the cop, gave this to me on the way here this morning. He said you'd understand."

I looked at the ticket and saw the message and tried to laugh but it hurt too much.

Christina stared at me and I wondered how to explain the note to her without her giving me more grief. It was the kind of gallows humor guys engaged in to make light of a serious situation. Somehow I didn't think Christina would find it funny. I seriously debated feigning falling asleep as she stared at me, waiting.

"It was just something funny the cop said to me when he gave me that ticket after you rear-ended me."

I remembered the conversation the two had had while I waited by my car. They had both looked at me and kind of laughed. I didn't like being laughed at. I thought at the time the cop was making some remark about women drivers but it was hardly the time to say something then. Not unless I had wanted to undo Tony's taking the blame for me.

"It was guy talk. Something he said in jest. Honest, he was just joking."

I continued to stare at him.

"He said you were hot."

"And that was funny how?"

i watched as Tony turned beet red. I was torn between being miffed and feeling good that the cop thought I was hot.

"He said if I wasn't careful you'd be the death of me."

It was like being hit with a sledgehammer. The guilt that had been building up had rushed over me and I stumbled out of the room crying.
Samantha found me outside his door sobbing as Tony kept calling my name.

"What's he done now?"

"He hasn't done anything except be wonderful and all I do is almost get him killed!"

"Surely it can't be that bad. The man's head over heels in love with you."

"You don't understand. He quit his job for me, he got tasered because of me and I crashed into his car. Then I go and get him shot. And he thinks it's funny!"

"Guys have a weird sense of humor. So he finds the situation funny. Do you love him?"

"Yes but . . . "

"But nothing. That's my fucking patient in there and he needs healing, the kind of healing only you can provide. So dry your tears and get back in there or Tony may get his wish for a catfight!"

I couldn't believe my ears. She was going to beat me up? I looked up at her and saw only compassion in her eyes. She cared for him and I was out here feeling sorry for myself!

She handed my some tissue and I tried to dry my eyes. I probably looked like shit but Samantha pushed me back into the room.

"He doesn't care how you look. Right now he's worried about you and wondering if he lost you. If you don't get in there he's going to set off all the alarms and have doctors and nurses rushing into the room.

So worry about your problems later and get in there!"

I tentatively stepped back into Tony's room and tried to smile. His worried look turned into a smile.

"Are you ok? I'm sorry if I upset you."

After all this he was worried about me? I ran to the bed and grabbed him, kissing him for all I was worth. I heard him grunt in pain but when I went to let go he held me and kissed me back. I glanced down when I felt something wet and saw blood seeping into his gown. I yelled for the nurse.