Jack In The Box

Riley

I looked at myself in the mirror the next morning and realized that I looked haggard and exhausted. I didn’t remember the last time I had any proper sleep. Jackson Wolfe had been on my mind. I’d played out my first meeting with him and there were a few scenarios that I imagined it would play like and all that came to my mind was Agent Starling and Hannibal Lector and it didn’t help because then I kept rolling from side to side all night until my alarm went off at five-thirty a.m.

I stared at the bags under my eyes and decided to dab some concealer, apply some compact powder, and a nude shade of lipstick. Nurse Maddy who was also my good friend in the faculty said that darker shades always suited me but wearing heavy makeup wasn’t even allowed in the hospital.

I heard the shower turn on in Ken’s room which was my cue to prepare breakfast for him. I cooked fried eggs on toast since that topped his list of most favorite breakfast of all time. My brother was a low maintenance guy, if you told him you were too busy and made frozen pizzas for dinner every single day, he wouldn’t complain.

Leaving early today. See you at dinner.

I left a small note for him beside the breakfast plate, pulled on my canvas shoes, grabbed my bag and made my way outside in the chilly weather.

Once I reached the hospital, it was quite easy to find Dr. Bennett’s office. I knocked once and stepped inside the office to find a young doctor leaning against the desk with his back to me, ruffling through a file. I cleared my throat. “Dr. Paul Bennett?”

“Yes?” He turned his full attention to me. “You must be...”

“I’m Nurse Riley Frazer. Just transferred to the C wing. I’m guessing Dr. Aaron told you about me?”

He smiled knowingly. “Yes, of course, Nurse Riley. Please have a seat.”

“You can call me Riley.”

He passed me a lady-killer smile. Dr. Bennett was tall, probably six foot three, lean with wavy raven black hair, caramel brown eyes that reminded me of honey. His face was sculpted and had a sharp jawline that could cut through glass. He had the kind of face that would have the people passing on the street to stop and look back twice. If Aaron had warned that the new ‘trainee’ looked like he was fresh out of fashion tv, I would have at least tried a little harder at my makeup skills.

Screw you, Aaron Shaw.

I bet the nurses on the floor wished this doctor took advantage of them. I knew some who would.

“Earth to Riley?”

I’d totally spaced out. “I’m...I’m sorry...Doctor. You were saying?”

Dr. Bennett chuckled and pushed a few papers towards me. “Read it carefully. You don’t want to sign something you’re not ready for.”

I laughed. Was that supposed to be a joke?

papers. It had the patient’s name on it with all the other information and my name printed down below for a signature. It read that the patient was going to be under my care from here on and he was going to be my responsibility. I signed it without hesitation. I’d done this a lot of times. A mentally insane wasn’t going to make me run for the hills. Plus if Paul Bennett, trainee slash-Aaron’s errand boy was going to work in the same wing, then why the hell not? It wasn’t every day that I saw good looking doctors

the mahogany desk between us. “I should warn you. Jackson is nothing like the other patients around here who may be mentally ill but are still easy

concerned for me. “Dr. Paul, I really appreciate your warning but I gave Aaron my

“If you say so.”

going to help me

speaking,

department since they are running short on staff.” He reached for his desk and retrieved a pair of keys. “Tell you what. It’s not exactly safe to be going to his room alone so either you wait a few hours until I’m free or we

worry. I’ll be fine Paul...Oh, I’m sorry...” I laughed.

keys. He continued to stare at my hair. “Is that a bit

a bun so it’s hardly noticeable.” I was even surprised he’d noticed my hair color, not

cotton candy that I used to have at the fair

Someone compared

He laughed. “Seriously?”

totally working those charms and like I’d been possessed by

his ring finger and found no band there,

passed me a grin.

only men could make their first move. Get outta here. It’s not like we were going to hold hands or kiss in the backseat which I’d clarify I’d totally love, but Paul seemed nice. And it’s his genuine sweetness and gentleman nature that I just had to

be lunch buddies. That’s all I was

He checked his watch. “Well, unfortunately, I’ll have to cut our

I laughed. “Right.”

slid his arms through the coat, making his way towards the office door. He stood back

be fine, Paul. Thanks.” I said, staring

I was a bit nervous. His expressions turned serious, “He’s not on his best behavior today so I gave him some meds. He’s mostly asleep by now. If he

you can call Nurse Laila. She’s the supervisor around

head, “Thanks

you around.” He said and swaggered down

transparent see-through part of the door. He was grinning at me, showing all his teeth. He was saying something that I couldn’t hear. Then again, he could be reciting a nursery rhyme for

other rooms that I’d seen before. The windows had bars and a man was sleeping soundlessly on the bed, he was wearing the sky-blue patient’s uniform. His hands were tied to the bed railing with a robe. His face was shut with

and nose. He had a babyish face. If he was a comic book character, he’d definitely be Archie. The desk across from the bed was flat

but refrained from doing so. I didn’t want to