Chapter Eight

Later in the evening Kim was sitting in her office in the hospital and stared at the papers in front of her. First thing she did when she arrived at work was checking on Tyson, her patient that had the stroke in the morning. He was feeling much better now and encouraged her that everything would be fine again and he would be playing football again soon. Unbelievable. HE encouraged her. She had to admit she admired him for his optimism.

But she knew better. She knew that they reached the limits of medical treatment. This new medication was his last chance and his body wasn’t reacting at all to it. Far from it! It only made him feel worse. She sighed and leaned back into her chair. Fuck dammit, he was nine years old and she couldn’t help him.

A soft knock came from her always wait open door. She never closed it. She never knew when she needed to sprint down the hall to one of her patients or further on to the ER.

“Hi Fran.” She greeted her best friend. They knew each other for more then ten years now. First they hated each other at high school then they became best friends. while Kim was studying, Fran became a nurse. They even learned together for tests. It was amazing how much stuff the other one knew better. Kim was still sure without Fran she wouldn’t be so human with her patients. The nurses had a much closer contact to the patients; they didn’t see only the cases in them. Something really important Kim learned right in the beginning.

She was even there when Fran gave birth to Jason being just 21 years old, seven years ago and she was there for her friend when she had to deal with the lost of her husband Michael with only 25 and raise her child alone.

“Hi sweetheart. How are you doing?” She knew her friend very well. Something was just not right.

“Well, I’m fine, but he isn’t.” Kim pointed at her papers.

“Tyson?” Fran asked and moved closer to the desk.

“Yeah.” Kim sighed. “We reached the limits.”

“Shit.” Fran said and put her hand on Kim’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault.” She knew her best friend very well. Kim took it personally when she lost a patient.

“Yeah, I know. But it doesn’t make it right. He’s nine for god’s sake. He has all his life ahead.” She pinched the bridge of her nose, tried to calm down and keep her control. She would not burst into tears because of this unfairness.

“How is Jason doing?” she changed the subject.

Fran shook her head. She would never understand Kim and her self control. “He’s still talking about the music awards. By the way he said someone wanted to see you Backstage. Did you go?”

“Uhm...well…yeah, shortly.” Kim stuttered and started to look through a pile of files on her desk.

“Kim?” Fran watched her surprised that wasn’t a typical reaction for her best friend. Normally she would tell her who she met and how it was. “Who did you meet?” Kim straightened and looked at Fran for a second.

“Could you close the door?” she said and Fran hurried to shut the world out.

“Who was it?” she whispered. Kim closed her eyes briefly and sighed. She knew Fran would freak out in the next minute. She was the Bon Jovi Fan after all. Oh, dammit and I was so stupid and didn’t get an autograph from Richie.

“I met Bon Jovi.”

Fran stared at her open-mouthed. “OMG!” she screamed and jumped up and down like the mad woman she was….well, when it came down to Bon Jovi.

“Tell me everything.” She pulled the chair closer.

“Well, Jon and I already met at the charity fundraiser two days before.” Kim started.

“Wait! You met him and didn’t tell me?”

“Uhm, yeah…I’m sorry…” Kim looked at her friend apologetic.

“We didn’t stay long at the after show party. The music wasn’t just our taste, so I invited them to my place and…”

“OMG! They were in your apartment. What did you do? Where did Richie sit? Can I get the couch?” Kim stared at her in disbelieve.

“Franny calm down…ok.” Fran frowned. Kim never understood how she could freak out about a band so much. “We talked and they got to know the dogs.”

“Oh, shit!” Fran put her hand over her mouth. Kim nodded.

“Yeah, I told them it was your idea to name them like that.” She said with an evil smile.

“You did what? How could you?” she slapped Kim’s left arm.

“Ouch, dammit.” Kim rubbed the spot frowning. “Stop it or I won’t tell you the rest.”

Fran leaned back, crossed her arms and watched her best friend walk around in her office nervously.

“I had lunch with Jon today.” Kim finally said.

Fran blinked her eyes several times. “You had lunch with him?” she whispered breathless.

“Uh, uh…” Kim nodded. “Fran…” she looked at her.”…he kissed me.” Kim whispered.

Fran stared at her for a second. Then opened her mouth, but no word came out. She gestured at her cheek, but Kim shook her head and put her hands on her lips. Fran’s eyes grew wide.

“You got your first kiss from Jon Bon Jovi. Kim, that’s great.” She hugged her girlfriend.

Kim laughed lightly. “Yeah, right? Fran what should I do?”

“What do you mean what should you do?”

“We have dinner tomorrow evening.” Kim barely whispered.

“Wow! So are you an item then?” Fran asked curious.

“I don’t know!” Kim sounded desperate. “You know I’ve never been in a relationship. I have no fucking idea how that feels. All I know is that he brought me roses, we had lunch, he kissed me, I told him about my parents, he said I’m beautiful, and he knows I’ve never been with someone before.”

Fran’s eyes grew wide. “Wow! You didn’t waste any time, huh?”

Kim shrugged her shoulders. “I told him too much, right?” Fran grimaced.

“Well, you could have at least waited till tomorrow to tell him you are a virgin.” Kim groaned and sat down behind her desk and put her head on the table. Fran patted her shoulders sympathetically.

“Where do you have dinner tomorrow?” she asked.

“Don’t know. We didn’t decide yet. He’ll call me.” Kim mumbled into the table.

“Kim! Kim, look at me.” Fran said softly. She raised her head. “Would you like to be together with him?” Fran asked her carefully. Kim thought about it for a minute.

“I think so.” She sat up. “It was fun talking with him, I felt very comfortable and he didn’t laugh or something when I told him…you know…” Fran nodded. “…and the kiss was wonderful.” Fran could see a shining in her best friend’s eyes and a smile lit up her face. She likes him!

“Then you should relax and be yourself like you’ve been the last times you met him. He seemed to like you when he wants to see you again.” Fran advised.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Kim grinned. “What would I do without you, my old lady.” She hugged Fran and laughed.

“Hey, it’s only two years. You brat!” Fran laughed too and hugged her back.

***************************************

Across town Jon and Richie were sitting in Jon’s apartment and tried to get down some new songs. Well, Richie tried; Jon was miles away with his thoughts.

“Jon, for God’s sake would you please listen to me.” Richie cursed. For the last three hours his band mate hardly said a word, but only had a dreamy smile on his face.

“Uh? What’s wrong?” Jon asked and looked at Richie confused.

“What’s wrong? I thought we wanna work, but you are obliviously still thinking about your lunch date. What did she do to deserve that dreamy look? Did you wet the sheets before she went to work?”

Jon jumped up and looked at him angry. “Don’t you dare to talk about her like that, you bastard!” he hissed. Richie looked at him surprised. This wasn’t the reaction he expected.

“Ok, ok. I get it. She means more to you than just a nice fuck.” Jon eyed him with clenched fists “Wanna tell me about lunch?” he asked calmly. Jon sighed and sat down.

“Well, nothing special happened. I picked her up, calmed the dogs, bought her roses and figured out that her favorite restaurant is also mine….”

“Whoa, whoa…you bought her roses?” Richie couldn’t believe it. Maybe he has a bigger thing for her than I thought.

“Yeah, and biscuits for the dogs.” Jon said a small smile around his lips. Richie shook his head.

“You got it bad, man!” Jon looked at him and nodded. “So, what else did happen after you calmed the dogs?”

“We talked. She told me about her parents and her work, she has a complicated case right now, you know…” Richie shook his head no, but Jon didn’t pay attention. “…it just felt so good to talk with someone…normal.”

Richie watched his friend. He really seemed to enjoy the time with her and he was much more relaxed today…absent too, but in a relaxed way. She seemed to be good for him.

“…so…uhm...you two didn’t…” Richie didn’t end the sentence.

“NO!...I didn’t wanna scare her away.” Jon explained.

“Scare her away? Do you think you forgot how it works or what?” Richie laughed.

“No, but she never…” Jon stopped in the middle of the sentence. He was so deep in thoughts that he nearly spilled her sweet little secret. He was sure she would kill him when he would tell someone else, especially one of the guys. Maybe he didn’t realize it.

Richie looked at him confused and then the lights came on. “She’s a virgin?” he shouted surprised. Shit!

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…!” Jon looked around nervously.

“Uhm, Jon we are alone here!” Richie pointed out.

“Oh, yeah right. But dammit keep it to yourself. She’ll kill me when she finds out you know it.”

“Ok, ok…my mouth is zipped….Wow.” he added.

“Yeah. She was always focused on school and work, never dated…” Richie shook his head in disbelieve. How did she survive that? “….never kissed…and she is awesome in it.” Jon smiled with again the dreamy look on his face.

“Ok, so you kissed her.” Richie said a bit relieved.

“Yeah, she has such soft lips, Rich and…”

“Ok, ok, I got it. No details please. I have to see her again, you know.” Richie interrupted him and covered his ears. Jon laughed.

“So, when will you see her again?” Richie asked after a while.

Jon smiled. “Tomorrow evening…finally.” Richie shook his head about the love sick face of his friend.