The World's Worst Patient by Dinasbran

NEW ORLEANS - 1932

"Thank the Lord," muttered the nurse under her breath, "asleep at last." She hovered over her most reluctant and troublesome patient and carefully straightened out the disheveled sheets and tucked them in around the sleeping form. Relaxed in sleep, the woman's face seemed almost cherubic, though there were still some telltale signs of the pain she must have been experiencing. However, the nurse had soon found out that although Miss 'Red' Wolverton might look angelic she had a rogue's soul.

The nurse's mind went back to the day last week when a well-dressed and very agitated woman had rushed into the hospital saying that her partner was hurt and needed urgent help. The quality of the woman's clothing and general manner suggested wealth and breeding, even if her clipped accent suggested it was a northern rather than a southern gentility. Assured that, despite her obvious Yankee origins, there was likely to be little difficulty with the finances of any treatment, the chief receptionist had sent the nurse and a couple of orderlies out to bring the patient in.

Outside the main door of the hospital was a large automobile that was looking somewhat the worse for wear, it was covered in mud and scratches and the trunk looked like it was broken. Wondering at what the apparently well-mannered woman had been doing to get the car in such a state, she went to help the slight young man in the battered brown fedora that was slumped in the passenger seat. It was only as they started to lift the semi-conscious form out of the car and heard it start complaining that it could, "get out fine by m'self, thanks," that she realized that it wasn't, in fact, a man. Slapping away the helping hands the unconventional looking woman swung her legs out of the car and, in obvious difficulty, stood up and began to make her unsteady way towards the door of the hospital. The nurse's professional façade slipped for a moment as she saw the bloodstains that covered the woman's chest and shoulder. Sucking the air in between her teeth in surprise, she stared at the rips in the shirt. If it wasn't so unbelievable, she would have said it looked like a swipe from a giant claw.

Watching the determined yet wobbly progress, she happened to glance at the injured woman's companion just as she ran a trembling hand through dark, expensively cut hair. Brown eyes met hers for a second and she saw in them an odd combination of concern and annoyance. The gaze lasted for a second before, with a conspiratorial roll of the eyes, the dark-haired woman followed her slowly moving colleague towards the door.

The injured woman managed to get through the hospital's door before finally collapsing in a heap on the floor. Now able to take control of the situation, the nurse got the orderlies to lift her onto a trolley and take her into one of the private rooms while at the same time instructing the receptionist that a doctor was going to be needed. Thankfully, the other woman, though obviously concerned, let them do what they needed to do - only retrieving the battered hat from the floor where it had fallen.

Once in the room, she started to remove the makeshift dressings and the tattered remains of the red-stained shirt, using sterile water to loosen the fabric where the blood had caused it to stick. Now able to study the woman's face, she realized that her patient was older than she'd first thought. The confusion over her gender had given the impression that she was younger than the slight lines in the corner of her eyes now suggested. To her surprise, she realized the odd woman had to be a good few years older than her own twenty-five years. Her idle speculation was halted as the patient began to regain consciousness and tried to push the nurse away, but there was worryingly little strength in the attempts. Able to look into the now open blue-green eyes, the nurse was shocked to see the state of the pupils. Leaving the more obvious wounds, she moved to check the woman's head for signs of injury. Soon she found a huge lump on the back of her skull and an area of the red-gold hair that was an altogether different shade of red.

Hoping the Doctor would soon be there, the nurse returned to the job of clearing the nasty lacerations of the remains of shirt and dressings. She hadn't been doing this for long when the cheery voice of Dr. Webb broke her concentration.

"So what have we here, nurse? Looks to be a fine mess doesn't h?" there was a slight pause as Dr. Webb made the transition between the gender of the clothing and the actual body wearing them, " errm, she," he finally finished.

The nurse quickly covered his embarrassment with a business like report of her assessment so far. "Severe lacerations to the chest and shoulder and trauma to the back of the head."

Hearing this last, Dr. Webb quickly checked the patient's pupils and then gently examined the back of her head. "Hmm, this is going to need stitches and there is definitely a bad concussion but it doesn't look like the skull is fractured." Moving down to examine the nasty gashes, he added, "Nurse, if you could get the usual paraphernalia we'll soon stop her leaking all over the floor."

As the nurse left the room to fetch the required instruments, she saw the other woman look up expectantly, standing as she obviously recognized the nurse and moving towards her.

"How is Red? sorry, Miss Wolverton?" she asked, the battered hat still clutched in her hands.

Red, eh? Well that certainly figures with that hair and that attitude, the nurse thought as she calmly answered the question trying to ease some of the obvious worry in the other woman's face. "Dr. Webb is with Miss Wolverton now. There is a concussion as well as the more obvious injuries but she should be fine with rest and good care. However the doctor will be able to give a more precise prognosis once he has finished. Miss??" She paused expectantly and the other woman immediately took up her queue.

"Oh, sorry, I haven't introduced myself have I? How rude of me. Mrs. Lannis, Evadne Lannis." She went to shake the nurse's hand then realized that it was probably not appropriate, the hand moving back to its hold on the distressed headgear. "Well I am sure Red is in good hands. I'll just wait here until the doctor has finished patching her up." There was just the slightest of pauses then a half-audible, distinctly un-happy, "Again," as Mrs. Lannis patiently resumed her seat.

Having gathered together the required items, the nurse returned to the room to find the doctor had managed to clear the wound site and was now cleaning the wound itself. Again, the nurse could not think what other than a large claw could have caused the four parallel gouges that stood out lividly against the pale skin. Luckily whatever it had been had missed the throat otherwise she would have bled out in minutes. Instead, the gashes ran from the top of the right breast, up across the collar bone, which the doctor informed her was chipped but not broken, before finishing in the woman's right shoulder. Though nasty, the wound was not particularly deep and the main problem would be the ever-present danger of infection, particularly if an animal had been involved.

Now that the woman had been cut out of the shirt, the nurse could see that Miss 'Red' Wolverton not only wore men's clothing but she seemed to have muscles that would have not been amiss on a man either. Something at the top of the woman's left arm caught her eye, frowning she looked closer, there appeared to be a fresh set of scars there that also looked like a claw mark, albeit a smaller one. "So you have noticed that as well eh nurse?" The doctor's voice made her look up. "What on earth has this woman been doing, lion taming?"

The nurse left her peacefully sleeping patient and returned to her station. From what she had learned from Mrs. Lannis over the last few days it would appear that Dr. Webb's original suggestion of lion taming would have been a breeze compared to what these two women had been up against recently. At first she hadn't been sure what to make of the story Mrs. Lannis had recounted but after seeing some newspapers reports of the incident and the accounts of eyewitnesses she'd come to realize that, bizarre as it had seemed, what she'd been told appeared to have been true. As she began filling in the routine reports, her mind once more went over the events of the last few days.

After Dr. Webb had cleaned and stitched the wounds there had been little that could be done but to keep the wounds clean and hope that neither the concussion nor infection would prevail. Miss Wolverton had remained unconscious for the best part of a day and came round in time to spend the next day in a fever due to the feared infection of her wounds. Luckily, for a severe infection may have been too much for the already drained body, it was not bad and soon she had been sleeping soundly. At that point the nurse had breathed a sigh of relief that the worst was now over, little had she realized that it was only just beginning?

The first hint the nurse got that trouble was brewing was the stream of curses issuing from Miss Wolverton's room. Quickly entering the room, she found her patient struggling to sit up but, unable to use her injured right arm, she was having difficulty. In her best 'pleasant but firm' voice, she instructed the struggling and cursing patient. "Miss Wolverton, please lie down at once. You shouldn't be trying to move. You have suffered a nasty concussion and you could tear those stitches."

The patient stopped struggling and glared up at her. "Don't stand there gawking, woman, help me up will you, and then get my clothes so I can be outa this damn place."

Oh dear, the nurse mentally rolled her eyes, one of those are you? Moving closer, she gently but firmly pushed her back down onto the bed. As the patient was still suffering from the effects of her injuries this was no great triumph and it also seemed to shock her into doing as instructed. Quickly, the nurse checked the dressings but thankfully no damage had been done. Thank the Lord for that, she thought. The nurse wasn't sure who would be the most annoyed if Miss Wolverton reopened the wounds, Dr. Webb or Mrs. Lannis. A more subdued voice brought her attention back to her patient.

"Why'm I here? wherever the hell here is? What happened?" A brief pause as the woman's brows furrowed then she grabbed the nurse's arm. "Where's Evadne? Is she okay?"

Gently disengaging her arm from the weak grip, the nurse replied reassuringly, "Mrs. Lannis is fine. She brought you here two days ago when you were injured, do you not remember?"

Again, there was the furrowed brow as the odd woman apparently tried to remember what had happened to her. "No, I remember bein' in a cellar or somethin', then pain but not much else," More furrowing, this time in pain. "Shit that hurts," the woman cursed, indicating the bandages. "What happened this time?"

Raising one eyebrow, the nurse looked down into the patient's face. This time? How could she be so accepting of the damage, it wasn't ? normal. While caring for the strange woman the nurse had become aware of the mass of other scars that covered the battered body. The number of gunshot wounds alone was barely believable and she'd seen the disbelief in the doctor's eyes as he'd seen the one in the patient's abdomen and the matching exit wound in her back. In addition there were the other set of claw marks on the left arm, the pattern of newly healed cuts and scratches across her back and multitudes of smaller scars. Why on earth did she let this happen to her and then accept it so readily?

"Penny for your thoughts?"

The nurse looked down, surprised to see a grin touching the woman's face.

"Something nice I hope," the patient smirked suggestively, bringing an unexpected rush of blood to the nurse's cheeks.

"Erm, no, not really." The nurse was flustered by the change in the woman's attitude. "Erm," she floundered for a moment before her professionalism kicked in. "You suffered four slash wounds across your chest and shoulder and a blow to the head which has also been stitched. There was also a concussion from the head wound. You were unconscious for the best part of a day then in a fever from an infection to the cuts that lasted another day." Another flicker of pain passed over the strange woman's face. "I can ask the doctor to give you something for the pain now you are fully conscious if you like?" Taking the answering grunt as an affirmative, she seized the opportunity to escape the patient's disconcerting presence and went off to find the doctor.

It hadn't got much better after that. There were still constant attempts to get out of bed. And the bedpan had not gone down at all well. After a terse standoff a compromise had eventually been achieved thanks to Dr. Webb's negotiation skills - Miss Wolverton would be allowed to use the bathroom but only if she was taken there in a wheelchair by one of the orderlies. All-in-all they were practically having to strap her into the bed to make sure she got the rest her healing body needed.

***

Red Wolverton, private investigator and world's worst patient, stared at the pattern of cracks on the ceiling; a pattern she knew so well she reckoned she could probably draw it from memory if, that was, the petty sadists at this little hospital would let her do anything so energetic. Especially that nurse. How could someone who looked to be barely out of the schoolroom have such a staid and matronly attitude? Turning her head slightly, she squinted at a specific patch of cracks on the far side of the room - yup, there was definitely a map of the Mississippi river up there.

Sighing, she closed her eyes and tried to control her building frustration. Three days she had been stuck in this damn bed unable to do anything. If she was here much longer, someone was going to get hurt - she hated inactivity almost as much as she hated hospitals. Evadne's visits were her only bright spot but they never lasted long enough and just left her frustrated in a completely different way.

Opening her eyes again, she took a furtive look around the small ward of which she was the sole occupant. Checking that there were no nurses around, she slowly flexed her arm and shoulder feeling only a slight twinge and a tightness where the claw marks were healing. Cautiously, she sat up, grimacing at the stiffness that appeared to affect every muscle she had and a few she didn't know existed. That is what comes of lying in bed for so long, she thought, told that doctor I would be better up and moving. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, pausing as a slight dizziness hit her. Too much lying down that was what it was. Soon it had passed and Red started to stand up?

When she opened her eyes again it was to a wonderful view of the underside of her bed. Her return to consciousness was swiftly followed by a pounding in her skull and a throbbing in her shoulder and across her chest. This was not improved by the frosty voice that came from above.

"Miss Wolverton, what have we told you about trying to move, you've had a bad head injury, let alone the amount of blood you lost. If your colleague had not dragged you in here to get looked at properly you would probably be dead by now. Now please do what you are told or we will have to tie you to that bed."

Two highly polished shoes and a pair of shapely calves appeared in front of her nose as she felt strong hands lift her up and back onto her bed. Looking at the clearly annoyed nurse, she managed a croaked, "Nearly escaped ya that time," and the best roguish smile she could manage before flopping back onto the pillow. The nurse looked sternly down at her for a second until the slightest hint of a smile touched her face. Then rolling her eyes and muttering about 'would be tough guys' she checked the dressings and tucked in the bedclothes, before, with a final, "Stay," she left.

Red watched the nurse leave the room, wondering if Evadne had been giving her lessons. The tone of the parting order, like that used to a willful puppy, seemed very similar to the "Bath!" commands frequently thrown in her direction. It wasn't her fault that Evadne seemed to have this pathological dislike of dirt. Red really wasn't a dirty person, or disliked a nice bath, it was just that if she didn't need one she didn't see the point. She'd eventually realized that this reluctance had a lot to do with the fact that as a child, the bath had been tin and the water had to be heated on the range - none of this hot-and-cold running water for her. Even if it had been available in that one-horse town it would have been too decadent for her pa. Oh yes, it would have been the work of the devil, no doubt about that.

Minutes passed slowly. Red lifted the dressings to take a peek at the latest set of scars-in-the-making. Even she had to wince just looking at the livid gashes now held together with a neat row of stitches. She hadn't really realized the extent of the damage when the mutant sister had hit her, having been thrown into the wall and knocked out, thus gaining the famous head injury everyone was so worried about. Luckily she'd come round quickly and had been just in time to offload a burst of Tommy-gun fire into the beast, taking it down for long enough to drag herself into the next room only to see Evadne being attacked by the other sister. At least Evadne had been getting the better of her fight, throwing anything she could get her hands on at the now writhing and screaming creature. There must have been some really nasty chemicals in those bottles from what it had been doing to its skin.

With both of the twisted sisters down, albeit temporarily, Evadne and Red had reached the boat and, with Red weakly covering their retreat, Evadne had taken them to the safety of the town. Although loathe to admit it to anyone, Red now realized that she should have stayed at the store and not insisted on accompanying the posse back to the house. Although patched up, she'd still been loosing a lot a blood. It had been shear fury that had given her the strength to point her revolver at that damn caretaker when he'd tried to stop them entering the house, and only the presence of the others that had prevented her from pulling the trigger.

Smiling at the memory of Evadne's charcoal scribbled 'Evadne was here' she had to admit that the insane glee in her partner's face at having not just burnt down but blown up this house was worth the pain. Evadne's otherwise unblemished character seemed to be developing an unexpected pyromaniacal streak. Note to self, Red thought; don't leave her alone with a box of matches. Hell, Red chuckled quietly, considering the reason that they were closeted down in sticky, damp, New Orleans's. If the mob really wants to find out where we are, all they need to do is follow the trail of smashed locks and burnt down buildings.

Smile still lingering on her lips, Red's eyelids slowly drooped closed as her damaged body, over-taxed by the little foray to the floor, overrode her restless mind and she fell once more into healthy, healing sleep.

***

Having completed the morning's outstanding paperwork the nurse stretched, trying to loosen the kink in her neck she always got when spending too long hunched over her desk. A quick glance at the clock told her it was an hour until visiting time and as such was time for the next ward check. At the moment, she only had two patients under her care, the hospital having been unusually quiet over the last few days, so it wouldn't take long. The first, an elderly lady who was recovering from a stroke seemed to be enjoying the chance to spend most of her time sleeping; the second was the troublesome female investigator. She stopped outside Miss Wolverton's ward and looked inside - the peaceful sleep of an hour ago had gone and she was now tossing and turning. That woman never stays still, the nurse thought, shaking her head in incredulity. However, the movement was not enough to cause the nurse any concern about wounds being reopened, so she could leave the patient to her sleep.

Standing in the doorway, she once more found herself considering the strange but oddly appealing woman that had fallen under her care. And strange she most certainly was, with her men's clothes and mercurial behavior that switched from infuriating to charming and back again without apparent rhyme or reason. Through her talks with Mrs. Lannis she had learned that they were both private investigators from Boston and some of the details of their latest investigation that had brought them down to the south. They were certainly an unusual pair: Mrs. Lannis with the confidence and presence that could only have come from old money and this strange ruffian of a woman who had apparently been brought up in a barn if her manners were anything to go by. How on earth their paths had ever crossed the nurse could not imagine, let alone how they had ended up working together.

She glanced at the clock once more, only half an hour and the visitors would be arriving. Mrs. Lannis was there regular as clockwork each day to check up on her colleague, as much, it would appear, to check that she was not being too much of a nuisance as to check that she was getting better. The nurse decided she needed to try and speak to Mrs. Lannis once more about Miss Wolverton's behavior; perhaps she could persuade the headstrong woman that she needed to stay in her bed for a while longer. This morning's episode, when she had tried to get out of bed and the nurse had been drawn to the ward by the thud of her hitting the floor, had scared her more that she could explain. She knew it had caused her to be unusually severe on the woman as she had unceremoniously replaced her in the bed. However the gruff, "Nearly escaped ya that time," and the roguish smile had disarmed the nurse enough for the smallest of smiles to touch her face. Lord, if it had been a 'Mister' Wolverton in that bed she would have sworn that the patient was flirting with her. The nurse was well aware that many men found her attractive and she had become quite deft at dealing with such attention, but, Miss. Wolverton? That was ridiculous, why would a woman behave like that?

A noise from the bed brought her out of the perplexed musings. Miss Wolverton was talking in her sleep now and thrashing around. It looked like she was having a nightmare, the nurse could make out the occasional "No!" and, '"Keep away from me!" and assumed that the woman must have been relieving the attack that had injured her. But then she was surprised to hear, "No, pa, I promise to be good, honest I will," followed by some even less coherent, 'No!'s and 'Please!'s and 'Don't hit me!'s. Fearful that the stitches would tear under all the movement, the nurse moved to the side of the bed to wake her. Suddenly, Miss. Wolverton shot upright with a half-cry half-groan, eyes wide open and staring. Then, just as swiftly, she turned and wrapped her arms round the nurse's waist. Head buried into the nurse's stomach, the previously stoic woman quite unexpectedly began to cry, the soft noises muffled by the crisply starched apron.

Seconds passed as the nurse stood with her arms raised, looking down at the quietly weeping woman, stunned by what had happened and not quite sure what to do next. Carefully, she lowered one hand down to the gently sobbing back. After a moment, she began to rub it, making soothing, "There, there," noises as she tried to disengage the death-like grip. The sobbing slowed then stopped as the arms around her released their hold. Miss Wolverton moved away from her and slumped back on the pillows. She looked up at the nurse, embarrassed eyes still wet with the tears. "Christ, I'm sorry, dunno what came over me gettin' all mushy like that." She rubbed at her eyes, vigorously trying to remove all signs of the tears but just making them even redder. "Don' normally go 'round grabbin' strange women in my sleep I'll have you know." There was a slight pause as the woman looked mischievously at the nurse from out of the corner of her eye. "Not that it wasn't very nice an' all," and she raised an eyebrow and grinned in a way that the nurse could only describe as? licentious! Both eyebrows shot up in shock, the woman was flirting with her, what on earth was she thinking? Taking a step back, she hurriedly turned to leave the room and nearly ran straight into Mrs. Lannis. "Oh, so sorry," she stuttered, "is it visiting time already?" After a hurried glance back at the still grinning Wolverton and another apology to a startled looking Mrs. Lannis, she hurried out of the room, just catching Mrs. Lannis's, "Red, what have you been doing to the poor young woman?"

***

Red watched the nurse depart with sudden regret. She wouldn't normally hit so hard on such an obviously clueless woman, but her nightmare and the fact that the young nurse had seen her in such a defenseless state had made her react aggressively and she'd used her obvious lack of knowledge as a weapon. However, no sooner had she seen the dawning look of understanding on the nurse's face and the too-frequent accompanying look of horror, then Red had regretted her actions. How, she wondered, was she going to smooth this over in order to make her neverending stay here bearable? She sighed regretfully, then looked at Evadne. "Nothin'. I didn't do nothin' to her."

Evadne took a moment to negotiate the double negative to determine what Red actually meant before raising a disbelieving eyebrow. "Is that so? I know you, Red, and that poor nurse certainly looked as if something happened."

Red tried to outstare the raised eyebrow but she soon broke the gaze, guiltily looking down at the bed. "Yeah, well, it was stupid really an' I shouldn't have but? she?well?" As usual when put on the defensive Red could feel the anger building. Didn't Evadne trust her? Didn't she know that there was only one woman that Red loved and that was Evadne Lannis? "Jus' leave it will you, it was nothin', alright!"

Evadne was silent for a moment, making Red feel even more uncomfortable, then somewhat hesitantly she broke the growing silence. "I brought you some books to read."

Looking up, Red thought she saw a trace of that look in Evadne's eye that usually meant she was up to something that she believed would 'improve' Red. This was only heightened when a distinctly mischievous look suddenly appeared on her face. With an increasing sense of trepidation, Red reached out for the books, taking them with a gruff, "Thanks."

"I thought the top one would be the most interesting." With an index finger, the socialite tapped the uppermost of the volumes now resting on Red's legs.

After a brief glance down at the top book Red looked up to treat Evadne to her best glare. "The locksmith's art? Oh ha, ha, very funny I'm sure."

"I thought you needed a refresher course," Evadne's eyes twinkled as she tried to suppress a smile. "You seem to have become somewhat rusty lately where that skill is concerned."

Red tried to keep the glare it place but the tension had been broken and she couldn't keep the smile from her face. Rolling her eyes, she lay back on the pillows. "Dear Evadne," she drawled, "how'd I survive without you I jus' don't know, this'll sure make the hours whizz by."

Her educational material delivered, Evadne pulled up the visitor's chair alongside the iron-framed bed. Her stomach churned yet again as her gaze fell on the bandages covering her lover's upper torso. Although she had seen Red injured more times than she cared to remember, the clutch of fear never diminished. And, of course, the stubborn westerner had adamantly refused to allow Evadne to go back to the house without her. By the time the sisters had been dealt with she had been barely able to keep upright and, in the early morning light, the extent of the staining on the bandages had become abundantly clear. Sudden fear had tightened around Evadne's heart. For a long while she had feared that she'd seriously underestimated the scope of the injuries. The drive along the axle-breaking dirt tracks and roads had been hard on Red. There had been barely a sound from her, but the pale face and the grimace that flashed over her face every time the car lurched had been more than enough. It had taken all her considerable Brahmin backbone to keep from rushing to her lover's side when she collapsed on entering the hospital. Remembering how helpless she'd felt as Red had been lifted onto the gurney, she instinctively reached out, taking one of the westerner's hands in her own and pulling it gently towards her until they were shielded from the door by Red's body. For a moment she studied their clasped hands, comparing them. Hers smaller, skin smooth, nails perfectly cared for, Red's rough, scarred and if her nails had ever seen a manicure then Evadne was a Dutchmen. The hands perfectly summed up the dichotomy of their relationship - so different yet fitting so well together.

"You okay?"

Red's hand gently squeezed hers and she looked up to meet concerned blue-green eyes. She forced a smile, not wanting to give Red another reason for wanting to get out of the hospital. "I'm fine." Seeing the dubious look her assertion received she gave a quick glance to the half-open door then leaned over, placing a gentle kiss on slightly parted lips. Red's frustrated groan as Evadne backed away caused a small flush of heat to flood though her body. Once more, Evadne bent her head, this time to whisper in Red's ear. "If you behave yourself, my love, there will be more where that came from."

Red growled, her grasp on Evadne's hand tightening for a moment. "Damnit, are you trying to drive me crazy, woman."

Evadne laughed, "I think you are well on the way already, my dear." To forestall any further comments she added. "You'll be glad to know that if you manage to get through the next twenty-four hours without doing anything stupid, the good Dr. Webb believes you should be well enough to leave the hospital tomorrow."

Red sat up straighter, a joyful gleam in her eyes. "Really? That's great. Freedom at last!" Then she frowned. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

Evadne gave a one shouldered shrug. "I suppose the fact that my beloved had been flirting with her nurse, her young and rather attractive nurse, may have knocked it from my mind."

"Shit, Evadne," Red leaned forward, ignoring the pain to take Evadne's hand in both of hers. "I didn't mean anythin' by it, surely you know that?"

Evadne paused for a heartbeat, seeing the genuine contrition on Red's face. It had hurt more than expected when she'd seen the nurse flee from the room, the reason for the abrupt departure plain in the blush flooding up her face. Red's denial of having done nothing had just made it worse.

Red ploughed on, trying to make Evadne understand what had happened. "I didn't hit on her? well not really? I had once of those nightmares and, well?"

Evadne raised her free hand and Red's barely coherent explanation spluttered to a halt. "I believe you, Red." With her thumb, she gently rubbed the back of the hand wrapped around her own.

Red gave a relieved half-grin, sinking back into the supporting pillows before promptly changing the subject. "So, I can get out soon?"

Evadne gave a small shake of her head at the familiar sudden change of topic. "Indeed, but only on the understanding that you will not overdo things and I have been strictly commanded by the good Dr. Webb to make sure you follow his instructions." Seeing the calculating look on Red's face she added, "And don't think you can get around me." The memory of how helpless she'd felt as Red's still body had been wheeled away caused her to continue with increasing vehemence. "I am not going to end up with you back in the hospital and go through all this yet again, understood!"

Confused by the apparent anger in Evadne's voice, Red instinctively tried to object. "Bu'?"

Evadne cut the objection short with a terse, final, "No buts! Do you understand?"

Knowing that this particular battle, if not the war, was lost, Red put on her best obedient face and meekly answered "Yes, love." Seeing the flicker of doubt that crossed her lover's face, Red grinned inwardly. Don't think you've won, Evadne Lannis, this is not over yet?

The rest of the visiting hour passed pleasantly enough. Hands still surreptitiously clasped, Evadne brought Red up to date with the latest news on their last case then went into raptures over the latest set of weird books that had come into their possession. Red half listened to Evadne's enthusing as she pondered how she could repair the damage she had caused in her relationship with the nurse without further upsetting Evadne. Eventually the hour came to an end and it was time for Evadne to leave.

After another glance in the direction of the doorway she leaned forward once more. This time Red lifted her head to meet the gentle kiss, her hand moving to the back of her lover's head to hold it in place. For a moment Evadne played along, deepening the kiss for a second before adroitly slipping away from the restraining hand. She grinned rather breathlessly into Red's frustrated face. "I'll be back tomorrow with some fresh clothes, just see you don't do anything to jeopardize your discharge." Her voice dropped, giving it a slight huskiness that she knew Red found incredibly sexy. "You aren't the only one frustrated by your stay here you know."

Red followed Evadne's departing back with frustrated eyes. She squirmed a little, trying to quench some of the fire the kiss had provoked. With a sigh she flopped back in her bed, only to curse roundly as her forgotten injuries made themselves known. Just one more day, she told herself firmly, that's all you gotta get though.

"Are you alright?" The nurse rather hesitantly entered the room having heard the flow of curses, a voluble supply that no longer shocked her as much as the first time the strange patient had let loose her formidable vocabulary.

Red sat up suddenly, just suppressing the groan her abrupt movement caused. Uncharacteristically uncertain, she gave a nervous half-smile. The nurse stiffened, looking for all the world like a trapped rabbit. "Errm..." Red faltered and started nervously playing with the edge of the sheet. C'mon Red you great coward, she mentally chastised herself, this can't be worse than the monsters you've faced recently. She looked up again into eyes in which Red could read confusion and fear but not, she was glad to see, disgust. Taking this as a good sign she tried again. "Look, err? I..." a pause, "'bout what happened earlier... I'm sorry. I?." she trailed off not sure how to continue. The nurse she noticed seemed to be looking less like a scared rabbit and Red began to breathe a little easier. "I'm truly sorry I upset you. It was jus' that I don't usually allow my defenses to drop so low an' I struck out at you in the cruelest way I could. All I can ask is that you don't hate me for that." Red looked down once more and added in an undertone, "or for what I am." She heard the nurse move closer and then a quiet voice, "I? I don't hate you. I sure as he? heck don't understand you, but I don't hate you." Red let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and looked up at the nurse and breathed a heartfelt. "Thanks," before giving the nurse the benefit of her most charming smile. The nurse sighed in mock exasperation "Just don't start that again or you will find out how unpleasant a stay in the hospital can really be," and with an evil looking smirk she turned and left, leaving Red alone with the relieved realization that her last day here wasn't going to be as bad as she had feared.

***

The next morning, for the first time, the nurse took over the charge of her patients from the night nurse without a litany of complaints about the behavior of one of them.

Nurse Devlin gave a self-conscious smile as she handed over the notes. "I spent half the night expecting something to happen and the other half worrying because nothing did."

The nurse smiled. "I suspect she knows freedom is near. Dr. Webb is hoping she can be discharged today."

"Thank the Lord for that," the night nurse exhaled, her relief obvious if distinctly unprofessional. "I just hope the good behavior lasts, for your sake." Then the older woman headed off in the direction of the restroom leaving her younger colleague to her solitary vigil. Solitary for a while anyway, until the orderlies came on duty and the daily routine began again in earnest. After going through the notes from the night, she checked on each patient in turn. All were still sleeping peacefully, all except Miss Wolverton.

"Mornin'."

The cheerful greeting nearly made the nurse jump. Instantly suspicious, she checked for any sign that her most impossible patient had been up to something, but she could see no indication of anything untoward. Slowly, she relaxed. "Getting out today I gather?"

"If the doc says so."

The nurse studied her patient for a moment. The reply had been studiously nonchalant but there was a sense of barely suppressed excitement about her today. She really doesn't like being still, let alone in the hospital, the nurse mused, wondering not for the first time how Mrs. Lannis, socialite to her fingertips, managed to survive without being driven completely insane.

"Well, I would be lying if I said I was sorry," the nurse smiled to soften her words. "The place will be a lot quieter with you gone."

The less-than-repentant patient shot her a roguish grin. "But not as much fun I'd bet."

With a roll of her eyes the nurse turned, a wry smile appearing on her lips as soon as her back was turned. Fun wasn't exactly the word she would have used, but it would certainly be less exciting without the private investigator's spirited attempts to either escape or make trouble.

She'd been at her desk for barely fifteen minutes when the familiar sound of Dr. Webb's measured tread announced his arrival. After checking the patient's notes, he gave her a quick conspiratorial grin. "Shall we put Wolverton out of our misery, nurse?"

The nurse tried to squash the returning smile. Dr. Heading certainly wouldn't approve over such behavior but Dr. Webb was much more modern than the fusty chief surgeon. "I think that would be an excellent idea, Doctor."

"Good," the doctor gave her a nod then headed in the direction of Miss Wolverton's ward, announcing his arrival with a cheery, "And how are we this morning."

Red's usual grunted reply didn't sound quite as disgruntled as normal and she sat unusually still as the doctor examined her, answering his questions with at least an attempt at civility. Finally the doctor straightened up, giving a small smile. "Well, Red, you will be glad to know that once Mrs. Lannis arrives you will be free to go."

Now, there is a happy woman, the nurse thought ruefully as the patient struggled in vain to stop the broad grin from spreading over her face, eventually forcing it back into a half hearted glare.

"About damn time," Red muttered, more for show than for anything else. All she was thinking about was getting out of the hospital and being able to be alone with Evadne again

"Indeed," the doctor didn't bother to rise to the challenge. He'd realized within the first few hours of her regaining consciousness that locking horns with this particular patient would be a lesson in futility. "Just restrain for running riot until then," he asked only half in jest. Without waiting for an answer, he left the most difficult patient he'd ever come across to enjoy her forthcoming freedom in private.

Red watched them leave with barely concealed joy. As soon as they were out of the room, she swung her legs out of the bed moving to the room's single window to stare out into the late summer morning. Visiting time wasn't until mid-afternoon - she still had the best part of the day to survive without going completely stir-crazy. Still, at least there was now a definite end in sight. Having exhausted the possibilities of staring out the window, Red flopped back onto the bed, wincing at the slight jar of pain from her shoulder. God, I'm bored. It was in actual fact an unusual experience for her. Normally she never got past her antagonism towards the medical profession in general and hospitals in particular. Red grinned at the realization. I must be getting' old. Closing her eyes, she decided to try and do the one thing that might make the time pass - sleep.

When her eyes opened again she was surprised to see an orderly putting her dinner on the hospital table that sat over the bed. She didn't need to look at the clock on the wall to know it was midday; the hospital was meticulous in its routine. Only a couple of hours to go, she realized. The first part of which was spent wolfing down the food - her appetite unaffected by her enforced stay. Once the emptied plates were removed she laid back to await Evadne's arrival. The next fifteen minutes were spent watching the minutes ticking slowly past. Then she pulled out a book from the locker and spent the next ten staring sightlessly at the pages before tossing it onto the floor and flopping back onto the bed. After laying still for a whole five seconds, she gave a groan and sat up again, swinging around to sit on the edge of the bed. Her eyes swept around the small, four-bed ward for inspiration but without luck.

"Damn and blast it," she scowled as the growing frustration began to overwhelm anticipation. Pushing off the bed she moved towards the open doorway. Peering out she saw the nurse's desk was empty. Glancing around, she saw no sign of her. With a sly smile, she slipped out of the room and headed for the desk. A quick glance showed the well polished surface was a neat and tidy as always. Another furtive look around then Red quickly re-arranged the contents of the desk top, shuffling them around until nothing was in the place it had started in. The click, click of heels brought her head up. Bare feet making no noise, she padded back into her room, slipping under the covers.

The clicking heels got nearer then stopped. Red grinned as she imagined the look on the nurse's face. She could almost hear the sigh of annoyance. When the clicks started up and moved in her direction she lay back and closed her eyes. It was a struggle to keep her face relaxed as she heard the nurse approach to stand by the side of the bed

"Don't think you're the only one glad you are getting out of here today, Wolverton," the nurse hissed under her breath. Despite the obvious disapproval in the nurse's voice, Red could hear the faintest trace of amusement. She smiled in return, "Why thank you kindly, ma'am. Glad to know you'll miss me as much as I will you."

There was a sudden silence and Red opened her eyes to grin at the nurse. Her grin was met by a stony stare but she could see cracks in the affronted demeanor and slowly the glared softened. Eventually the nurse gave a small, disbelieving shake of the head. "You are impossible." Before the grinning soon-to-be-ex-patient could respond she added, "You have less than an hour left; see if you can behave until then."

Red didn't notice the nurse move back toward her desk. Her eyes had gone to the clock on the wall. The nurse was right, only forty-seven minutes. Suddenly she felt the flutter of anticipation and more than a little nerves in the pit of her stomach. Rolling on her side, she opened the locker cabinet and got out her wash bag. A quick glance towards the open door showed the nurse still busy rearranging her desk. With a smirk, she drew out a small hip flask and took a quick nip. It had taken some serious persuading and a hefty tip to one of the orderlies to get him to smuggle it in. The rough whisky was harsh in her throat, burning its way to her stomach to leave a warm, soothing glow. With a happy sigh, she screwed the lid back on, putting the contraband alcohol back into the bag. Turning to replace the bag in the locker, she hesitated. A sly grin appeared on her face. Why not, I'm sure I'll be able to find some more once I'm free of this joint. Taking the flask out again, she drained it in three mouthfuls before replacing the bag and its contraband flask.

Lying back on the bed, hands behind her head, Red stared at the ceiling once again. After a moment a small frown appeared on her face and she turned her head to take a quick sniff. She smiled, relieved, the bath she'd taken last night had done its job - at least she smelled okay. The hastily downed whisky was beginning to take effect, relaxing her in a way she hadn't been since waking. Now, slowly, she drifted into sleep once again.

***

"Wake up, lazy bones."

Red's eyes shot open and she sat up, yelping at the pain the sudden movement caused. "Jeez, Evadne," she growled, embarrassed at having been caught sleeping, "tryin' to scare me to death?"

"And there was I thinking you'd be raring to get out of here?" Evadne teased as she laid the small case on the end of the bed and began to remove the clothes she'd brought.

Embarrassed into swift action, Red quickly got out of the bad. Pulling off her pajama top, she swiftly tossed it onto the rumpled bed, replacing it with the freshly laundered shirt.

Evadne watched Red out of the corner of her eye as she continued to lay out the clothes she had brought. Her lover's lack of any hint of shyness could still make her cheeks burn. The brief sight of her naked upper body heated up other areas as well. Case empty, she refilled it with the discarded pajamas and the few personal items from the cabinet. Closing the lid, she watched as Red hopped around the room, pulling on first one sock then the second; further hopping saw the boots on before she knelt to lace them up. Evadne chuckled softly at the exuberance of Red's dressing, something she had witnessed many times before and still found mildly exhausting to witness. Finally, the pulling and throwing and hopping were finished and all that was left was the vest and jacket. Red paused as she took the vest, giving Evadne a questioning look.

"Your old one was wrecked, love," she explained. Red frowned for a moment then nodded and pulled on the new black vest. Evadne breathed a small sigh of relief. For someone who was so unfussy about how she looked, the westerner could be oddly pernickety about what she wore.

"So, how do I look?" Red asked, smoothing the new vest uncertainly. The nerves were back again with a vengeance and she found her mouth suddenly dry. Evadne looked wonderful. Elegant as always, in a well-cut deep-red jacket and skirt, dark hair without a strand out of place, there seem to be something especially beautiful about her today.

"Do you really want me to answer that, my love?" Evadne teased her irrepressibly scruffy lover.

Red quirked a crooked grin; her dress sense, or lack of it, had been a constant source of light-hearted banter since nearly the first day they had met. As Evadne's face lit up in an answering smile, Red quickly took the two steps that brought her within kissing range. Without caring if they were observed, she lifted one hand to cup the socialite's warm cheek, Rubbing her thumb gently over the smooth skin, she gazed into brown eyes that were full of love - love for her alone. "You're so damn gorgeous," she murmured, gazing intently into the liquid depths that held her heart enthralled. As Evadne smiled back, a little embarrassed by the public declaration, Red slid her hand around to gently hold the back of the dark head. Leaning down, her lips met Evadne's as her other hand searched forward to loosely entwine their fingers.

Evadne melted into the unexpected kiss, before slowly and unwillingly, she laid the palms of her hands on the taller woman's chest. Carefully avoiding the healing wounds, she gently pushed Red away. The look of frustration in the blue-green eyes was enough for her to want to grab the lapels of the new vest and pull her back, but sensibility as to where they were won the day.

Red laid her hands possessively over the ones still resting on her chest, the heat from Evadne's hands scorching through the material and into suddenly oversensitive skin. "I want you so bad," she growled, all trace of nerves replaced by overpowering desire.

"As do I, my love," Evadne whispered back, her voice husky, "but I think we should find somewhere private, don't you?"

Red gave a sudden grin. "I know jus' the place." Quickly, she passed a puzzled looking Evadne, returning a second later to grab the case and her jacket before giving her stationary partner a quizzical raised eyebrow. "So, whaddaya waitin' for?"

Evadne laughed, giving in to Red's enthusiasm if still a little wary as to what exactly she had in mind. "Lead on, MacDuff."

Red led her down one of the side corridors. Reaching a door she opened it ushering Evadne inside. The socialite barely caught the word 'Bathroom' before she was inside and Red was closing and locking the door behind them. As she turned to ask if it was safe, she was caught in a fierce kiss that soon deepened into something that made her toes curl.

For a long while they kissed as their hands roamed, reacquainting themselves with the feel of the other's body. Evadne pulled the shirt out of Red's pants as Red unbuttoned her tailored jacket. Evadne's nails raked gently over Red's ribs and across the muscled back that twitched at her touch. Red's hands wormed their way up under Evadne's skirt, kneading the firm backside through the silk of her underwear.

"I need?" Red moaned into Evadne's mouth, her heart thumping hard against her ribs.

"You're not alone," Evadne responded breathlessly, breaking the kiss. Removing her jacket, she laid it on the side of the bathtub as Red pulled off her vest, throwing it with much less care in the same direction before they came together again. This time Red moved to her lover's neck, unbuttoning the blouse front with deft fingers to expose more skin. There was the faint scent of lavender that Red loved and she groaned as she kissed the soft flesh hungrily. "Taste so good? so damn good."

Evadne didn't realize she was moving backwards under the gentle assault until her shoulders touched the coolness of the tiled walls. Tipping her head back, she closed her eyes, concentrating on the feel of the eager mouth moving over her neck and upper chest, the flicker of quick fingers against the cotton of her blouse. Her hands entwined in the short, red-gold hair, gently guiding that mouth to where she wanted it to be.

Blouse unbuttoned, Red's hands made short work of freeing the brassiere of its precious contents. Under the guiding hands she moved to a full breast, gently running her tongue over the rapidly hardening nipple. A groan from deep in her chest was met by a moan from above. Gently she traced the pebbled flesh of the dark aureole, her touches accompanied by a stream of small gasps. Her eyes closed in concentration as she savored the taste. "God, but I love your tits," she mumbled into the soft skin. Then the hands still resting on her head started to urge her further downward. Pulling back, she gazed at Evadne's uplifted face. The look of unbridled lust sent a jolt of heat straight to her centre. Obeying the increasingly insistent hands, she worked a trail of kisses down between her lover's breasts and over the gentle swell of her belly until she was kneeling at Evadne's feet. Her hands moved to the small of the socialite's back, undoing the fastenings there. Encouraged by the continuing downward pressure, she began to gently ease the skirt and underlying slip down until Evadne could step out then, running her fingers up the outside of stocking clad legs, she flicked the suspender belt. A sudden tug at her hair made her grin unrepentantly but she stopped the teasing, instead turning her attention to the soft skin on the inside of her lover's thighs. Stomach fluttering in anticipation, she traced a path blazed with shivers and goose-bumps, towards the silk covered treasure she now desired more than anything else in the world.

"Please, Red."

The breathy whisper was so full of need that Red delayed no more. It was the work of seconds to unclip the stockings then pull down the silk drawers. Taking a deep breath, she savored the musky smell of arousal, feeling her own groin clench in response. While her mouth peppered the skin surrounding the dark triangle with soft kisses she ran one finger through the hot, wet silkiness. Evadne's moan of pleasure urged her on, still kissing the warm skin she moved deeper. Sinking down onto her heels, Red angled her left hand upwards. Now she could feel the hard nub that would help bring her love to the point of bliss. As her thumb flicked and circled, she slid two fingers gently into the velvety warmth. Evadne's breathing was getting faster, coming in short, sharp, panting breaths as Red groaned her own arousal. The growing pressure between her legs was driving her more than a little crazy. Shifting her position until her heel pressed into the crotch of her pants, she gently rocked back and forwards in time with the rhythm of her hand.

Evadne no longer felt the cold of the tiles through the silk of her blouse or against her naked backside. Every sense was concentrated between her legs. She moaned again, pushing down against the gently probing fingers, clutching handfuls of fine hair in her fists as she tried to get the release she so desperately needed.

"God," she moaned, whimpering in disappointment as the fingers withdrew. "Red, please, I..." she didn't need to finish her plea. With a gasp, she felt Red enter her again, stronger and deeper this time. She began to move with each thrust, ignoring the burning pain in her thighs as her release built slowly, inexorably. Gradually, she slipped down the wall, legs failing until it was only the westerner keeping her upright. The pressure in her head was almost too much now, her heart felt as if it was about to burst and she was fairly sure she had stopped breathing altogether. Above the pounding of the blood in her ears, she now heard Red's whispered endearments and gentle pleas for her to come.

"Yes," she cried, feeling the edge beckoning. "Now, Red. Now."

Immediately Red understood. Moving her right hand behind Evadne she pulled her lover's hips forward, barely aware of the slight twinge from her injured shoulder. Sucking on the hard distended nub of flesh, she added a third finger to her thrusting. Moaning at the taste and the feel of her lover's arousal Red wasn't far from the edge herself. Trying not to loose the rhythm, she ground hard against her boot. Eyes closed, hands trembling, she raked her lover's clit with her teeth, pushing in hard and curling her fingers as the velvety soft walls pulsed around them.

Evadne came hard, falling in a cloud of flashing stars, her scream of pleasure echoing around the tiled room. Her thighs tightened, clamping Red's hand in place as the tumult of her orgasm seized her. Then, very slowly, like an exhale of breath, she slid the final distance to sit straddling Red's lap. For a moment she blinked dazedly, waiting for the pin-prick lights to recede. As focus returned she met her lover's unexpectedly pensive gaze. A wide, sated smile spread over Evadne's face as she gently pulled the fingers from where they still gently flexed within her bringing fresh jolts and tremors. Before Red's worried frown could settle, she pushed her backwards, moving off her legs just enough for her to go backwards without hurting herself. Quickly, she unbuttoned Red's pants, pulling them and the drawers down to the ankles. Sitting astride the now bare legs she couldn't resist rubbing along the firm muscle of one thigh, moaning as the fire in oversensitive flesh was re-ignited. For a moment she reveled in the sensation but then she remembered her task. Pushing the shirt up to her lover's shoulders she waited. Instantly, Red lifted her arms and raised her upper body off the floor allowing Evadne to remove it completely before adding it to the pile in the tub. For a moment their gazes locked. Even though they had been lovers for over four years now, Evadne was still surprised by the look of complete adoration she saw in Red's stormy eyes. Not for the first time, she wondered how she had been so fortunate.

Red didn't feel the cold floor or the sudden pins and needles that had appeared in legs bent for far too long. She watched Evadne undress her, a look of ferocious concentration on her face; felt the hot wetness against her leg; heard the hitch in Evadne's breath as her shirt was pulled over her head. A groan of pure need escaped her lips but she lay back down to wait, perfectly still, for whatever Evadne wanted. Only for this wonderful, beautiful, loving woman could she do this. Let go of her need to control. Her eyes fluttered closed as Evadne's fingers traced their gentle teasing path over her body. Warm lips placed a gentle kiss on her stomach, the twitch of abdominal muscles echoing the clenching in her groin.

Evadne placed her first kiss on the pale circular scar that marked what should have been a fatal wound. It had become a habit, this first kiss on her lover's naked body. Part reminder of what she had nearly lost; part thanks to whatever powers had restored Red to her.

***

The nurse looked around the empty corridor in puzzlement. She could have sworn she'd heard something that sounded very much like a woman's cry but there was no-one here. She was beginning to think she had imagined it when she heard another noise, this time more of a groan than a cry. It seemed to be coming from the bathroom. Moving closer, she listened for a moment. There was definitely something going on inside, she could hear movement and then another low moan. Concerned, she tried the door knob only to find it locked. Now definitely worried, she rapped a knuckle on the door. "Are you alright in there?"

Evadne froze. Lifting her head from the breast she had been suckling, she met Red's disbelieving, frustrated gaze and immediately burst out in a fit of giggles.

"Shhh," Red frowned half-heartedly at her giggling lover before rolling her eyes. When the question was repeated, she answered the nurse in a somewhat strained voice. "I'm fine." She stared at the door willing the nurse to get the hell out of there as Evadne buried her face in Red's side in an attempt to muffle the sudden mirth.

The nurse's eyes widened then narrowed in suspicion as she recognized the voice. Miss Wolverton should have left some time ago. What was she up to in there? But what if she wasn't well? Again she rapped on the door before pressing her ear against the white-painted panel. "Are you ill, Miss Wolverton?"

Red grimaced. Couldn't the nurse take a hint? "No, I'm fine." A sudden grin appeared on her face as she continued. "My plumbin's just a little? you know? bunged up."

"Red," Evadne snorted in disbelief before adding in a whisper. "I don't believe you just said that." All she got in answer was a distinctly cocky grin. "You are disgraceful," she murmured before bending down to wipe the smirk off her lover's lips with a kiss.

Mrs. Lannis? The nurse shot back from the door as if burned. Mind whirling, she stared at the wood panels. Another quiet moan came from the room and suddenly, in the same way a picture appears from a pattern of blobs, she realized the sounds were not of pain or distress but quite the contrary. Shocked, she moved another step away.

"Red?" Evadne suddenly broke the kiss as it struck her that they had not been as quiet as perhaps they should have been. Now she wondered? "Do you think she heard," she whispered urgently, "what will she be thinking?"

"She'll be thinking, 'Damn, but that woman is lucky to have someone as wonderful as Red Wolverton in her life." Red's smug grin was replaced by a wince and a yelp as a sensitive nipple was tweaked a little too harshly. Immediately, she grabbed the offending hand, pulling it away. "You're so going to regret that," she smirked then gasped as Evadne's free hand stroked firmly between her legs, groaning as skilled fingers began to work their magic.

The nurse had retreated some way up the corridor, still confused by what she was hearing. She might be young but she knew enough about life to recognize the sound of love-making when she heard it, but?Mrs. Lannis and Miss Wolverton? How was that possible? Even after the strange woman had so blatantly made a pass at her she still found it all incomprehensible. How could?? Why would?... Stopping the whirling thoughts in their tracks, she let out a sigh before glancing back over her shoulder at the still closed door. It would explain a lot, she considered, but still she couldn't quite believe it, and not just because they were both women but because they were both so? different. A loud, throaty moan made her jump then blush, suddenly ashamed at eavesdropping on such an intimate moment. Turning away she headed back to the safety of her desk where she hoped she would be safe from the unsettling noises and the thoughts they brought along with them.

***

All thoughts of the unseen audience were forgotten as Evadne kissed Red tenderly. With the tip of her tongue she traced her lover's soft lips. Suddenly, she paused as something unexpected about the familiar taste finally clicked home. Frowning, she pulled away to stare down into Red's face, one dark eyebrow raised in disbelief. "How on earth did you get whisky in this place?"

Not hearing the question, Red lifted her head, blindly searching for the sweet contact that had been so abruptly broken. Only when a hand gently pushed her back down did she open her eyes, frowning in confusion. "Wha'?"

"The whisky," Evadne couldn't help but smile at the time it took Red to rearrange her thoughts. It still amazed her that she could have this effect on someone as outwardly strong as the westerner. Finally, understanding dawned, the lust-dazed eyes swiftly becoming exasperated.

"Later," Red whispered, making no attempt to cover her frustration. "Right now I need?" She didn't get time to finish the sentence. Evadne's lips were on her again; gentle to start with then with increasing ardor. She parted her lips invitingly and soon their tongues were dancing. Red moaned, her hips lifting, trying to force the pace but they were gently pushed down as Evadne broke the kiss. Warm breath on her ear sent a jolt of lightening south and she bucked her hips again. "Wait, my darling," The socialite's voice was throaty with her own desire and Red felt sure she would come just listening to that voice. The hand holding her hips down moved slowly downwards to play with her curls. A growl escaped her throat and her hands scrabbled for a grip on the smooth floor. "Wait, lover," Evadne murmured before gently nipping the lobe of her ear. Red groaned again, the slight pain seeming to shoot a bolt of fire into her groin.

Evadne smiled as she nibbled at the skin of her lover's neck and shoulder, raking her teeth over the pale skin. Red was writhing under her hands. The socialite would not tease her for much longer, but she loved the way she could bring her to a pleading puddle of lust. Never had she felt so powerful. Leaving the copper-red curls, she moved lower, finding the hard smooth prominence of Red's clitoris she began to stroke firmly. It wouldn't take long now; it still amazed her how quickly they could bring each other to release. Another growl and an increasing desperate buck of the hips and Evadne relented. Running her fingers through the copious wetness of Red's arousal, she gently circled her lover's entrance.

"Fuck, 'vadne," Red growled, eyes rolling behind closed lids. "You're killin'?" Before she could finish her sentence Evadne's fingers entered her, hard and deep and she almost came there and then. Biting her lip, brow furrowed in concentration, she moved against the hand within her. Lips and teeth moved down her body, nipping and sucking as the fingers moved in and out with increasing speed. Then she felt her clit being taken into the warm wetness of her lover's mouth. She was so close, so damn close. "More..." she groaned. There was a pause and she almost screamed in frustration. She just heard Evadne's tentative question.

"More, Red, love, that's three al?"

"More," Red instructed urgently. She was teetering on the edge. As a warm, wet and infinitely skilled mouth began sucking at her once more, she felt the fingers withdraw. She moaned, wanting them back again and immediately her wish was granted. She winced for a second before the feeling of fullness overwhelmed her and she relaxed, internal muscles trying to pull the fingers in further. Her hips began to move of their own accord, bucking and grinding, stomach and thighs beginning to ache from the effort to reach her release. Then, in a flash of brilliant white light she came, a guttural groan was ripped from deep within her chest as the unbearable pressure became an explosion of joy, arching her body at the moment of orgasm before slumping back down. Small tremors and aftershocks raced through her, gradually receding to leave her lying limp on the tiled floor.

Evadne smiled down on Red's flushed face and sweat slicked body. The westerner was breathing hard, chest rising and falling rapidly. Evadne couldn't help a self-satisfied little smirk, congratulating herself on a job well done. Suddenly, a small trickle of red caught her eye. Her heart leapt into her throat as she scooted upwards to check the stitches. One was a little torn but fortunately didn't appear bad enough to require treatment. She breathed a sigh of relief, feeling faintly sick that her need had nearly sent her lover right back where neither of them wanted her to be. Still gazing guiltily at the tiny thread of blood, she felt tentative fingers stroking her forearm and turned to meet concerned blue-green eyes.

"What's the matter, sweetheart?"

Forcing a faint smile onto her face, she indicated where the blood still oozed from one overstrained stitch. "Looks like we got a bit too carried away."

Lifting herself up onto one elbow, Red gave the seeping wound a cursory glance before dismissing it with a nonchalant half-shrug. "It was more than worth it, sweetheart." Quickly taking the hand resting on her stomach, she turned it to kiss the palm, smelling herself on the fingers. "I love you, Evadne Lannis."

Evadne freed her hand but her heart glowed at the simple words and the simple honesty with which they had been spoken. Gently she brushed back the sweat dampened hair from Red's eyes, seeing the happy little smile her actions provoked.

"Let's go find somewhere more comfortable," Red suggested, "I'm freezing my butt off."

With a snort of laughter, Evadne nodded. Her rear end was also more than a little chilly. Moving around each other in the small space they retrieved their discarded items of clothing and re-dressed. Only when Red was about to pull her shirt on did Evadne stop her.

"Let me clean that for you," she suggested, "don't want that nice clean shirt getting covered in blood now do we."

Red rolled her eyes but let her arms fall, moving to one side to allow the socialite access to the faucets.

After thoroughly washing and drying her hands, Evadne fetched a pristine handkerchief from her reticule. Wetting one corner, she cleaned the drying blood off with steady hands and a gentle touch. "I don't think I will ever get used to this." It was uttered under her breath, not meant for other ears. It hadn't been quiet enough though and she felt Red tense in response. Glancing up, she saw the uncertainty in her eyes.

"'vadne," she started but a single finger was laid on her lips, silencing her.

Evadne removed the finger to brush the disarrayed hair back out of Red's face. Irrationally, she noted that it was high-time it was cut again.

"'vadne?" Red began again, puzzled and a little worried by her lover's pensive silence.

Evadne sighed then gave the furrowed brow a quick kiss. "Don't worry, love. I know what we do is dangerous, I wouldn't want to stop but?" she drifted to a halt then gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. "I'm just being a silly goose, aren't I?"

Red blinked, unsure how to answer. The injuries were part of the job. Before meeting Evadne she hadn't really thought about it much. The thought of death had never held much fear; it was only pure stubbornness that had kept her fighting. Now, however, she had something to live for and, perhaps more importantly, someone who needed her to live. Was it fair putting Evadne through this, putting them both in danger?

"I'll kick it if you want, sweetheart." Brown eyes jerked up to meet hers, widening in surprise. "I mean it." She smiled uncertainly, "Perhaps a life of leisure would suit me after all."

Evadne would have laughed had Red's offer not been so honestly made. The thought of the westerner, with her irrepressible nervous energy, trying to be at leisure was more than her imagination could provide. Taking the shirt from Red's unresponsive hands, she shook it out and held it ready. Anxious eyes flicked from her face to the shirt and then Red pulled it on, tucking it into her pants. Moving closer, Evadne rested her hands lightly on the subtle curve of hips now hidden by loose fitting pants. Even through the material, she could feel the warmth, the sturdy vitality of the younger woman's body. Meeting the serious gaze, she tipped her head slightly to one side. For a long moment, she studied the enigma she had fallen in love with. It was a tempting offer, and she could see it was genuine. For a moment she nearly said yes but even as the word was forming on her lips she paused. Red would never be happy living like that. Even Evadne found it stifling, one of the reasons she had railroaded herself into the investigator's life in the first place. It wasn't only the westerner who would wither without the excitement of their life together. The danger went hand-in-hand with the thrill; there could not be one without the other. With a shake of the head, she declined the offer. "No, darling. Thank you, but no." The flicker of relief in her lover's eye told her she had made the right decision. With a smile, she joked, "I don't think Boston society is ready for you quite yet, my love."

Red smiled in return, relieved that her offer had been rejected. Still she asked, "You're sure?"

Evadne shook her head in exasperation. "I'm sure," she tightened her grip on Red's hips for the briefest of moments before stepping back and breaking the contact. "Just next time, when it is suggested you stay behind, please take the hint?"

Red grinned ruefully, then nodded, "Yes, love."

After further ablutions and a leisurely redressing, punctuated by further kissing, they eventually left the bathroom. To Evadne's relief there was no-one in the corridor. As Red had opened the door, she'd half expected a shocked and outraged audience to be there to meet them. Her sigh of relief was audible enough for Red to give her a questioning look then a short laugh.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I reckon we scared her off long ago."

Evadne blushed at the implications of Red's words, sending out a fervent plea that they could get out without meeting the young nurse.

***

What is wrong with me? The nurse was finding it impossible to concentrate on the paperwork before her. Her mind seemed fixated on what she had heard. A blush surged up her face at the memory of the animalistic sounds. With an angry shake of the head she forced herself to read the notes in front of her but the words still wouldn't focus.

"Damn it!" The curse was an indication of how off-balance she was feeling, "Concentrate!"

"My, my, Nurse Lafayette, such language."

Dr. Webb's voice made her jump then blush afresh. Abruptly she stood, meeting the doctor's twinkling gray eyes. He didn't seem angry with her, quite the contrary. Still, cursing like that was not acceptable. "I'm sorry, doctor."

He gave her a sympathetic smile. "Don't say Wolverton is still causing mischief - surely she has gone by now?"

The nurse opened her mouth to disagree, paused, then shut it with a snap. There was no way she was going to tell the good doctor what she had overheard.

"Talk of the devil," Dr. Webb drawled, his gaze fixed over the nurse's shoulder. She turned abruptly to see the two women walking up the corridor, heading towards the exit. To her extreme embarrassment Wolverton gave her a distinctly smug grin and a knowing wink. Mrs. Lannis seemed to be looking in every direction but towards them, a slight pinking to her cheeks showing that she, at least, shared the nurse's discomfort.

"Looks happy doesn't she," Dr. Webb continued his commentary, "I must say she is certainly unlike any woman I've ever met before."

Isn't that the truth, thought the nurse ruefully as she watched the two women walk down the corridor. Mrs. Lannis had her arm through Wolverton's, not like two female friends might walk, she realized. Then she blinked; no, that wasn't quite true, an unenlightened observer wouldn't see anything amiss. Either they would do as she had first done, mistake Wolverton for a man, or they would assume it was the platonic touch of best friends. Now, however, she saw it for what it was - the easy touch of lovers. Unexpectedly, she found a small smile appearing on her lips. Good luck to the both of you. May I be so lucky. A small cough brought her around to face an unusually uncertain Dr. Webb.

"Um," he hesitated, plucking up courage, "Nurse Lafayette? Violet." He paused as the nurse's eyes widened in surprise. Heedless, he ploughed on. If he didn't say this now he probably never would. "I was wondering if you would, perhaps, like to accompany me to the theatre on Saturday evening?"

The nurse, blinked, paused, then gave a warm smile. "That would be wonderful, Dr. Webb. I would love too."

"Great," the young doctor gave a suddenly boyish grin. "And please, call me Robert."

The End