Everlasting (Unrestrained 6)

"Yes, I am. I'm really enjoying my work here."

"Good. Like I say, early reports suggest that both the staff and patients like you, so we're glad to have you fill in. So long as there's no intrigue at the hospital, things will work out okay."

"In other words, keep my nose clean and down to the grindstone and I'll be okay?"

"Something like that." He smiled – a self-satisfied smile.

He'd just given me a warning that he and the hospital wouldn’t tolerate any drama on my part. They really must think I was some kind of rogue.

I finished my food and checked my watch. "Well, my break is up so I better get back. Thanks for joining me and for the head's up. I appreciate it."

"No problem. Any time you have any questions or concerns, you come and speak to me."

I took my tray and placed it on the conveyor belt that went into the kitchen dishwasher, and threw the garbage into the trash can and left the cafeteria. As I left, I felt aware for the first time of a few heads that had turned my way. I never thought about it before, assuming I was just a new doctor and people were curious who I was, but now I realized they knew who I was and what was going on back in Manhattan with Lisa and the trial.

Of course, the trial was the topic of national news so they may have recognized me, but when I started working at the hospital over a month earlier, I didn’t think it was that recognition which explained all the turned heads. I thought it was the fact I was a new face.

If I hoped to escape the whole business by traveling across the country and getting a new job, I was wrong. Lisa's attack on Kate and her involvement in Derek's murder had followed me to UCSF Hospital. No doubt the staff had read all about my participation in BDSM and my sexual relationship with the woman who tried to kill my pregnant wife.

What a scandal. I could imagine the staff talking behind my back while I was out of the staff room, and quickly shutting up and smiling at me, acting as if nothing was going on. Phillips warned them not to ask me about it, and that was probably the only reason no one had approached me with questions just yet.

I thought it was because I was free of my past, but I was wrong.

I went back to my desk in the office space I shared with several other ER doctors and read over some patient files, checking on test results and trying to focus on work instead of my personal drama, but it was hard and unsettled me for the rest of my shift. In the back of my mind from that time onward, I felt people's eyes on me and wondered if they knew and what they were thinking.

Kinky Doctor Morgan. Master D. Doctor Dangerous.

I wondered if anyone would say something to me about my past, and hoped they didn’t.

My little talk with Roger Phillips had ruined my peace of mind.

I spent the rest of my shift seeing patients in the ER and popping in to check on patients on the wards and before I knew it, the evening was over and it was time for me to leave and go home to a sleeping Kate and Sophie.

At least I knew I wouldn’t face any drama at home.

I arrived just before four in the morning and parked the car, letting myself into the house as quietly as I could manage. I went to the bedroom to find Kate was asleep with Sophie beside her, sucking intently on her pacifier. The two of them looked so peaceful, I had to smile while I undressed. Before I got into bed, I had a quick shower, scrubbing the day off me, not wanting to bring any germs into my family bed.

After I dried off, I slipped into bed wearing only clean boxer briefs and snuggled next to Kate, trying not to wake up her or Sophie. She stayed asleep, luckily, and so I lay in bed for a while and tried to decompress after the shift. It took me a while, for my mind was caught in thoughts of Roger's conversation with me earlier in the night and how I now felt unsettled.

Would I never be able to work somewhere without my past coming back to haunt me?

Sleep was a long time in coming...

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I woke in the morning when Sophie started grousing, clambering around on the bed. When I glanced out from under my pillow, I saw Sophie playing with Kate, sucking on her pacifier and pulling on Kate's locket. As usual, Kate picked up Sophie and took her out of the bed, not wanting to wake me up. It was too late, for I was awake and wanted to say good morning to Kate before I went back to sleep.

"Come back here," I called out. "Give me a kiss you two."

She came around the other side of the bed and sat on the edge, holding Sophie down so she could give me a kiss.

"Kisses," Kate said and I got several wet sloppies from Sophie before a kiss from Kate.

"How are my girls?" I asked, stroking Kate's arm and then Sophie's curls.

"We're fine. Had a nice time with Grandad and Grandma and then slept almost all night. How was your night?"

I tucked my pillow under my head and stroked Kate's hair. "It was good. Busy. The time passed really quickly."