"You're welcome." She laughed softly. "I was awfully nervous."
"So was I."
"No! Honestly?"
He drew an invisible X over his heart.
"You'd never know it."
"Well, I was. I haven't had that much experience with childbirth. I observed a few during med school. Assisted with a couple when I was a resident, but always in a well-equipped, sterile hospital with other doctors and nurses around. I'd forgot most of what I'd learned. This was a scary experience for me."
She stared into near space for a moment before her eyes came back to his. "I was nervous up to the point where I saw the baby crowning. Then the wonder of it all overtook me. It was… tremendous." The word fell short of defining the memorable experience, but she wasn't sure a single word could encompass it or capture its myriad dimensions. "Truly, Doc. Tremendous."
"I know what you mean."
Then for what seemed an endless time, they held each other's stare.
Finally he said, "If I ever find myself in another emergency childbirth situation…"
"You know who to call for backup. Partner."
She stuck out her hand, and he took it. But he didn't shake it to confirm the partnership. He held it. Not so tightly that it was uncomfortable, but snugly enough to make it personal, almost intimate.
Except for the time she had taped the gauze to his shoulder wound-and that had been so fleeting it really didn't count-this was the first time they had touched.
The skin-to-skin connection was electric. It created a tingle that made Tiel want to pull her hand back quickly. Or to continue holding on to his forever.
"Do me one favor?" he asked softly.
Mutely, she nodded.
"I don't want to be on camera."
Reluctantly she pulled her hand away. "But you're integral to the story."
"You said the story was secondary to your purpose."
"I also conceded that it's a heck of a story."
"I don't want to be on camera," he repeated. "Keep me out of it."
"I'm sorry, Doc, I can't. You're already in it. You're neck-deep in this story."
"For us in here I am. I had no choice but to get involved.
But I don't owe anybody out there a damn thing, especially entertainment at the expense of my privacy.
Agreed?"
"I'll see what I can do." The secreted tape recorder felt very heavy in the pocket of her slacks. "I can't speak for the cameraman."
He gave her a retiring look that asked her not to insult his intelligence. "Of course you can. You're calling the shots. Keep me out of it." He emphasized each word, so that there would be no misinterpretation of his meaning.
He got up to check on Sabra. As he moved away from her, Tie! wondered if his compliments and hand holding had been calculated to break down her defenses, a handsome man's way of buttering her up. Rather than taking a belligerent stance, had he purposefully shown her his softer side? The honey over vinegar approach, so to speak.
She also wondered what he would do when he learned that the tape about to be recorded wouldn't be the only source of video available to her when she put her story together. He had already been recorded on video and didn't know it.
She would have to worry about that later, though. The telephone was ringing.