Behind The Mask (Nurses Book 2) (12 page)

After talking with him for a little while, he told me that tomorrow I’m to be waiting outside for that girl to get in. To make sure that I escort her. He says that if she can feel safe with me that in the long run it will help me when I make my move.

He also gave me a long tongue lashing for not getting him when her tires were slashed. I don’t think Cori knows how cared for she is here. In just a few short weeks she has made such an impression on us that we want her to get herself better. She deserves more than to be the ‘prison riot girl.’

After Allyn left, I felt better. His harsh talk and attitude is something that makes me feel better. He’s quick witted and sharp tongued, but he’s very caring. He wants me to succeed, and I appreciate that. He wants to see me get my forever. He says that he sees a lot of his wife, CC, in Cori. They are both strong women who don't let life knock them down. CC stood by him through the war, stood by him when he lost his legs, and together they stood by each other until her end. I want that.

That kind of love and life where no matter what, you know your other has your back. That every night when you lay your head on your pillow you go to bed knowing that you are loved and cared about by someone. I never thought that after all of this, that I would become some mushy, touchy-feely guy, but I think even the hardest men just want to feel the emotion of love.

Now, I’m not saying that I love Cori, but I have a strong connection or a pull to her. She deserves happiness in her life, whether that be with me or some other guy. She has lived through a lifetime of pain in one short year.

Crawling into bed, the weight of the world has finally jumped off my shoulders for the night. Sleep comes easy for once, and the dreams are held at bay. But what I didn’t anticipate was waking up to Sam sitting on top of me, sucking on my neck.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I practically bounce her on her ass. Her body hits the floor with a dull thud. This girl has gone too far, and I realize now that Allyn is right. I need to report her ass. She’s obviously unstable.

“I just wanted to see you. I figured I would give you a good wake-up call.” Her eyes are bright and wild like something has possessed them.

“No, I told you no already. Get the hint, because I’m about to report your ass. I don’t want you, and I never have!”

The intensity in her eyes dims before flaring back to life. This time, though, she looks angry. No, not just angry, she looks fucking livid. The wild look in her eyes is back. I can see that I’m talking to a mentally unstable person, and something isn’t right inside of her head.

“How dare you! You have a beautiful girl throwing herself at you, but you want that cut up bitch? She can’t give you anything. She can’t even be touched! So you want that bitch? We will see about that. Fuck you and fuck her!”

As she storms out of my room she slams my door which then wakes up a couple of the other residents. After her little outburst, it just solidifies the need to report her ass. I don’t fear for me, though, I fear for Cori. I can’t do much to protect her sitting in my chair, but I will be damned if I let this whacko get to her.

The morning comes far too quickly, and I had nothing but broken sleep. I feel like I slept with one eye open at all times in case her ass decided to come back. Unfortunately, we can’t lock the doors to our rooms even though this isn’t like a normal hospital.

I think I’m gonna get a hold of that guy Cori knows, Martin I think is his name. He’s the Chief of Police here at the rehab. He seemed nice enough and maybe he can point me in the right direction on getting some help dealing with this girl.

Looking forward to moving on with my life, I am reminded that I also get my dd214 today, which is basically an overview of my military career. It will show that I’m leaving active duty, which is being forced upon me, I don’t think I would leave if I didn’t have to. It will also show that I’m separating from service and that my character is honorable. Basically, a fancy sheet the military gives that shows that you have done good work by them. It’s one step closer to discharge.

After a quick shower with my bathroom door open so I can hear if Sam comes back or not, and a decision to use my crutches all day instead of my chair, I head out my door ready to go see Martin. I only met him yesterday, but he seems like a good guy. He has a fatherly mentality that gives you the warm and fuzzies when you talk to him. Cori really seems to like him, and if he’s okay by her, then he’s okay by me. I want to get out to the parking lot to see Cori when she gets here and make sure she gets inside safely. Allyn promised me last night that he would look out for her, too. His words were something like “what the hell makes you think I wasn’t all this time? I could sock you in the face for not telling me about her tires.”

Slowly but surely, I make my way outside to breathe in the sweet sea breeze. It really is a beautiful sight to see and hear with the waves cresting on the rocks and the fog lifting off of the water. The cool air clears my head and gives me some much-needed breathing room. It can get suffocating in that building, and it certainly is suffocating with all of these problems that have come up since I decided to not be a hermit. It was a decision that has brought a lot of drama but some happiness, too.

After being in hell at the sandbox, I never thought I would find happiness again. I’m not truly happy, but I’m doing better than I was. I don’t know if true happiness is something that can happen to a guy like me, but I am hoping. I have goals now, whereas I didn’t before. I don’t want to go back to being the guy who fucked against bar bathroom stalls. The man whore with a different girl every night. I want to be the man who has a career and stability.

I never thought I would ever say this, but I want a wife and kids and that whole stupid white picket fence bullshit. I want the ever after that is out there for me, and I’m not going to get it sitting on my ass waiting for it to come to me. I can see a future with Cori, but she doesn’t seem to want to have anything to do with me.

As Damian’s truck pulls up,  Cori jumps out looking a little worse for the wear. She seems to have had a hard night, can’t really blame her since her sense of security here has to be shattered. I can’t imagine that anywhere a person goes they don’t feel safe.

“Hey, Gage, going somewhere?” Damian yells out the open door.

“Yeah, just around the corner.” I don’t want to say anything more because who knows where the girl is. She could be watching me from the windows.

“Want a lift?”

After getting into Damian’s truck a sense of awe hits me. I haven’t been in a vehicle in months. Well, I was in an ambulance when brought here, but strapped to a gurney is not my idea of riding in a vehicle. Giddiness takes over me, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

“So what is it you want with Cori? You have to know how much she has been through, it’s been all over the news. So what exactly are you wanting?” I guess this is the best friend talk.

“I just want her to be well. I’m not going to lie and say that I’m not attracted to her because I am. I just want her to be well, even if well doesn’t include me.”

He nods, apparently satisfied with my answer. I told him before where I needed to go and he seemed to know where he was headed which is good because I had no clue.

“I scouted this place when Cori accepted the job. She is like my little sister, and shit, she’s been through enough. I didn’t want her walking blindly into the unknown in this place. I wanted to know what she would be dealing with. I didn’t know she would be dealing with people slashing her tires, though. I trust Martin will try to find out what is going on. You have to know, this girl deserves the best. She deserves a man who will protect her, help her, and nurture her. She doesn’t like to be touched, but I know she is working on it.” Damian pauses like he’s thinking about what to say next, and scruffs his hand roughly across his chin. “You know I was the one that found her? I initially thought she was dead she was so bloody and beaten. If it wasn’t for her inner strength, I don’t think a weaker person would have lived. I know I wouldn’t have.” He is visibly getting choked up talking about this. It makes me uncomfortable, being two dudes sitting in a truck outside a police station. But I want him to keep talking. To keep telling me about her.

“How is she holding up, really though, Damian? I can see the bags under her eyes, and she’s always yawning, so I know she is exhausted.” 

“Man, I shouldn’t be telling you all of this. If she wants you to know she will tell you. Hell, she told me yesterday that she didn’t even like you, I don’t believe her, though, but I know you like her. Now, I don’t know what is going on between you and that other girl, but I can promise you this. You hurt her, and I will gut you. She is family to me, hell she’s my wife’s best friend and really she’s mine, too. Her recovery hasn’t been easy, many nights my wife slept next to her, many nights Olivia wanted to hold Cori but couldn’t. I slept on the floor with my gun outside her door for days because her nightmares were so intense that I felt like I could chase them away, but I never could. She needs someone who will crawl into the pits of her hell and slay whatever dragons are chasing her. If you think you can be the slayer she needs then you have my blessing, and I will help you in any way I can. But if you don’t think you have the ability to one day love her, then step aside and let her keep on keepin’ on.”

Damian helps get my crutches out of the back of the truck and then helps me into the station. I don’t really know this man, but I think he could be a friend.

“Martin, can I speak to you for a second?” The older man’s back is facing me, and when he turns around he seems a bit stunned.

“What’s up, Knight?”

“I need to talk to you about that nurse, Sam. She’s harassing me. Last night I woke up to her sitting on top of me kissing my neck.” I see Damian out of the corner of my eye staring at me with his mouth wide open. Guess he wasn’t expecting that one.

“I’m surprised, nobody has ever complained about her before, but it’s not often we get younger guys here. Has this been the only incident?”

After telling Martin and Damian my story, I walk away with a report taken, a promise by Martin that he will investigate, and both of their cell numbers. Damian said he would come by this weekend to get me so that I can get a cell phone and to take me to a couple of places to see about renting. I have sizeable savings already because I never spent much on anything except booze.

I feel as if a bit of weight has finally lifted off of my shoulders. Things are finally clicking into place. Going to my therapy appointments, I feel better about my life. I have tried to catch Cori today, but every time I tried talking to her she blew me off.

What the hell is up with Damian and Gage? It’s like they have this new bromance going on. I will have to tell Olivia that her man needs to stop.

Sam seems especially bitchy today, and I have no idea why. I saw her with that bitch Emily again. They were talking about how big of a dick Gage has. I wonder if he really does. I guess more to put away for my spank bank to think about later at home. Emily’s attitude towards me has gone from tolerant to just hostile. She tried tripping me today when she was sitting in the nurse’s station. I haven’t done shit to her, but her pettiness makes her so ugly and immature. I mean seriously, I am just waiting for ‘Looking for a good time? Call Cori at’ to be scribbled on the bathroom walls. Sam’s attitude towards me has changed as well. I can’t put my finger on it, but she seems so angry at me, and for what, I dunno. When I first started she was all rainbows and flowers. Now she just looks like she smells a shit sandwich when I’m around.

Not that I’m upset that someone doesn’t like me. Not in the least bit am I upset, but I just don’t like it bleeding into the workplace. Olivia and I would have our spats, but in a matter of minutes, it would be gone. We would silent treatment each other for a bit and then we were best friends again. I’m not asking Sam to be my best friend, but I would appreciate one where I’m not getting eye daggers thrown at me when my back is turned.

For some reason I feel she is jealous of me. I don’t know why she would be jealous of some fucked up scarred girl, but she seems to be. I don’t know if it’s because Gage seems to like me, but that doesn’t even make sense, I’ve avoided him for days. Barely exchanging a common hello to each other, let alone forming a relationship between us. But ever since she saw me talking to him that one day, she has treated me differently.

As the day goes on, Allyn starts talking to me about his dead wife. She seemed like a lovely lady, and I wish I would’ve gotten the chance to know her. He seems to be missing her a lot more lately. Instead of telling me funny stories, he’s preferring to tell me sappy ones. But in true Allyn fashion, he had to throw in his raunchy ones, and apparently Mrs. CC had a freakier side. Who would have thought that older women give bj’s with jolly ranchers?

I’m giggling to myself over that little fact and don’t hear Martin come up behind me, scaring the living daylights out of me. I scream bloody murder like I’ve just been shot.