Mercury Rising Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  1.

  2.

  3.

  4.

  5.

  6.

  7.

  8.

  About The Author

  Copyright

  MERCURY RISING

  By Bobby Hutchinson

  1.

  "Chalmers did what?" Jenna Rogers couldn't believe her ears.

  "Doctor Chalmers admitted the boy at six last night, a social worker brought him to Emerg, the Emerg doc called Chalmers, he wrote the orders." The nurse in charge handed over the paper work, and Jenna scanned it quickly, swearing under her breath.

  She'd been in a terrific mood till now. Her son Ryan was spending the month of July at a summer camp, so she had the condo all to herself. It was the Friday before a long weekend. Life was good.

  Until now. Jenna scanned the chart. Willie Barnes, 10, Attention Deficit, no illness, no injury, close observation, continue med's routine, restricted to unit. Good luck.

  "Chalmers actually wrote good luck on here?" Fuming, she flung the chart down. "What exactly does he think he's doing admitting this boy on Peds?"

  The other nurse shrugged. "Willie's too young for the Psych unit, my guess is Chalmers didn't know what else to do with him. Apparently the kid burned down the garage at the foster home where he was staying, and the foster parents said they'd had enough. The social worker has no respite home for him, so she brought him to Emerg. He almost wrecked the place while he was down there. That kid is a demon, he's really bad. Here he flooded the bathroom and deleted a ton of files from the computer. And that's only the stuff we found out about, lord only knows what else he got up to. He slept maybe three hours and spent the rest of the night getting into trouble."

  "He's not bad, he's ADD," Jenna flared. "That's what ADD kids are like, I've got one, I know."

  "Sorry, Jenna."

  "Hey, no problem. I just get defensive, is all."

  Defensive, and disheartened. She felt her perfect morning heading south, and with it went tranquility. She'd come to terms with her single state. She was resigned to the fact that at 30, her life was and would be her son and her work. Getting dumped by Ryan's father had been tough, but having the second guy she'd fallen for also tell her he couldn't cope with her son had almost done her in. The fact that he was a doctor made it worse; she'd thought that he'd have more compassion for Ryan, but she'd been wrong. They'd spent more time fighting over Ryan than they spent making love.

  And now, ten minutes into her shift, she was going to have to fight with Fergus Chalmers over this kid with ADD. Willie could not stay on the unit. They were short staffed; nobody wanted to come in on the long weekend. She had to protect the other kids, and Willie himself.

  Jenna sighed. ”Where's Willie now?"

  "We found him a computer game, he's in the play room. The new aide, Kelly, is keeping an eye on him. Trouble is, with every bed full we can't spare someone just to baby-sit one boy."

  Jenna nodded agreement. "'I'll have a word with Chalmers the moment he arrives on rounds."

  The other nurse left, and Jenna busied herself with paperwork. As Nurse Manager on Pediatrics, she figured she had about the best job at St. Michael's Medical Center. She adored kids, she knew how to make even the sickest of them smile, she had good management skills, and she had a great staff. She got along famously with most of the docs, with the notable exception of Fergus Chalmers.

  New to Vancouver, he'd moved from some little town in interior B.C. six months before, and from the moment she'd first laid eyes on him, Jenna wished he'd never left wherever it was he came from.

  The hospital grapevine, trumpeting the news that the new pediatrician was 34 and single, hadn't prepared her for the fact that he was drop dead handsome. Jenna took one look at his mass of unruly black curls, at the mischievous sparkle in his royal blue eyes, and she knew this was a man she needed to find a reason to dislike- -fast, before her traitorous heart turned to mush. He made the backs of her knees sweat. Proud of her composure, she was flustered around him, and that made her furious.

  Fortunately, her temper worked to her advantage. Fergus lectured Jenna on treatment of kids with ADD after he heard her talking about the alternate methods that had been so successful with Ryan, and Jenna exploded. She let him know what she thought, that the medical mode might work for some kids, but for others, there were non-medical treatments that worked a whole lot better. They'd had a heated argument, and hadn't spoken since.

  And they were about to have another fight. She saw him ambling towards the nursing station, and she took a deep breath and drew herself up to her full height, which was still eight inches below the riotous curls on the crown of his head.

  "Doctor Chalmers, can I have a word with you?"

  He rubbed a hand through his hair, messing it even more. Why did the man always have to look as if he just got out of bed? Why did she always feel she wanted to join him there?

  "Absolutely, Jenna. I'm all yours."

  That damned wide open smile of his was so misleading. And so were his deep, slow voice and his choice of words.

  Get a grip, Rogers.

  "Willie Barnes absolutely cannot stay on this ward, Doctor."

  "But Jenna, I thought you and your nurses could handle him. Aren't you an expert on ADD?" His tone was teasing.

  The nerve of him. Jenna struggled to control her temper.

  "Ms. Rogers? Oh, Ms. Rogers- -"

  Kelly, the new nursing aide, came running towards them. The woman's voice was trembling. "Ms. Rogers, that boy, Willie Barnes- -I turned my back for a single minute and he disappeared. We've searched everywhere for him, but he's not on the ward. And Ms. Rogers? My nametag is gone. It was clipped to my pocket, but it's gone."

  Pediatrics was a locked ward. The only way in or out was to swipe the lock with the back of the nametag.

  Willie was loose in the hospital. There were a million ways for him to hurt himself. There were two million ways for him to create havoc.

  Jenna felt the blood drain from her face.

  Fergus's temper flared. "Damn it, Jenna, the reason I put Willie here was because I thought he'd be safe. I can't believe you've lost my patient." He scowled at her, and then saw the way her face paled. She looked defenseless, and his anger turned to sympathy.

  "Hey, don't look like that. You'll find him." Fergus sounded a lot more confident than he felt, but Jenna needed reassurance. He'd never seen her look scared before.

  He enjoyed teasing her, even riling her up, but right now he just felt guilty for putting her in this predicament. She was sexy as hell, and she was also the most interesting woman he'd met since he moved to Vancouver. He'd never intended to cause her real trouble. He'd just run flat out of ideas about what to do with Willie Barnes.

  "Kelly, call Security. There's so many things he can get into," Jenna said. Her voice was trembling. "Sharp's containers, med carts, monitoring equipment- -and what if he gets out of the hospital?"

  "He won't," Fergus assured her. "Security will block the exits. You've got a son with ADD, Jenna, what would appeal to him?"

  She frowned. "Electronics. Food, maybe? Breakfast was a while ago. And Willie's wearing pajamas, somebody's sure to see him. I'm going to look." She raced off towards the door that led to the hallway.

  This was a nursing problem, Fergus reminded himself, admiring the way her rounded bottom twitched. Doctors didn't go looking for lost kids. It wasn't their job. But this little kid had nobody to care about him- -nobody except his doctor.

  He had to run to catch up with her. She was already at the end of the hall, in front of the elevators. All three were open, and empty.

  "Willie," Fergus concluded. "He's jammed them wit
h the stop buttons."

  "But where did he go?"

  "Down the stairs," Fergus guessed. "There's the courtyard, and the play area- -"

  The doorway to the stairs burst open just as they reached it. A security guard, seriously overweight and scarlet in the face, panted, "Somebody's jammed the elevators. You the ones who lost the kid?"

  "Did you see him on the stairs? Did you check the play area?" Jenna's voice, usually low and husky, squeaked into the upper registers.

  "Not there. We checked." His portable beeped. He listened and then announced, "They've got your kid up on seven, in Information Systems. They'll keep him until you get there."

  "Oh, thank God." Jenna made it sound like a prayer, and Fergus silently seconded it.

  In the elevator, Jenna scowled up at him, her dark brown eyes filled with sparks and scorn and the remnants of fear. "This could have been a tragedy, and it's all your fault, Doctor. That child doesn't belong in the hospital and you know it."

  "I know." Fergus felt humbled. "I just don't know what else to do with the boy."

  With Jenna, he knew. He'd known the first time she argued with him. He loved the way her eyes crinkled and her chin tilted up when she got mad, but this was the first time he'd seen her vulnerable. He'd often thought of kissing away her anger, and now he couldn't resist the softness he glimpsed underneath it.

  He'd never had the opportunity before; they were seldom alone. There was every possibility she'd charge him with sexual harassment, but he leaned over and kissed her anyway.

  2.

  The kiss went straight to her belly. Heat and desire struggled with common sense and what should have been outrage. Desire won. She was kissing him back when the elevator stopped.

  He winked and grinned down at her as the door opened, as if he knew he'd made her toes curl inside her comfortable shoes, and now she wanted to smack him. But Information Systems was behind a glass wall right across the corridor, and anyone could see them.

  Her damned knees were trembling. She tottered out and down the hall to the door, Fergus trailing behind her like all her resolutions about men.

  The place was full of men and computers, but it was a woman who stood beside the machine where the wiry small boy in blue pajamas sat tapping the keys. He glanced up and grinned, square face alight with pleasure when he spotted Fergus.

  "Hey, Doc Fergus, I was just sendin' you an email."

  "Hiya, Willie." Fergus ruffled the boy's spiky brown hair. "What is it you want to tell me?"

  Jenna caught the tenderness and very real affection in Fergus's voice, and it touched her.

  "I don't like it in the hospital, Doc. I heard the nurse say they're tryin' to send everybody home for the long weekend, so can I go home with you?"

  "We'll talk that over, Willie." Fergus glanced at Jenna and rolled his eyes. "This is my friend, Jenna Rogers. I'll bet she can find us some cookies and maybe ice cream to go with them, right, Jenna?"

  "Absolutely. But you'll both have to come back to Pediatrics with me."

  Willie shook his head. "Nope. They got way better computers here."

  Fergus shot Jenna a helpless look.

  This was familiar territory to her. Bribery didn't work with Ryan either. Only the absolute truth and an appeal to intelligence and reason sufficed.

  "That's true, Willie," she agreed. "The computers here are superior to the ones we have downstairs. But they don't allow kids up here."

  "That's right." The young woman standing beside them nodded agreement. "This is an adult's only zone, Willie. Sorry."

  He thought it over. "Can I come back when I'm sixteen?"

  "You sure can."

  "Okay." He got up and took the hand that Fergus extended.

  In the elevator, he pushed the buttons for the third floor and then turned to Fergus.

  "Now let's talk about me going home with you, Doc Fergus."

  Fergus looked uncomfortable. "Well, Willie, I don't think that's a very good idea. See, I live by myself, and I've got no kids- -"

  But Jenna had been thinking it over. Willie himself had struck on the perfect solution.

  She purred, "Oh, but I think it's an excellent idea. We'll go back to the ward, Willie, and I'll let you use our very best computer. It's the one the doctor's use. And as soon as Doc Fergus is done for the day, I'll bet he'll come and take you home with him for the weekend. Right, Doctor?"

  The stunned expression on Fergus's face made her want to giggle. But when Jenna looked at Willie, the transparent longing and hope in his eyes almost broke her heart.

  3.

  Fergus waited to tackle Jenna until Willie was settled at the computer.

  "Since when do doctor's take their patients home with them?"

  "When they're little kids who've slipped through the cracks and haven't anywhere else to go." Her brown eyes were hot and accusing. "Would it kill you to spend a weekend making a ten year old happy?"

  She knew exactly how to push his buttons. He'd seen the way Willie's square face split into an ecstatic grin when Jenna promised that Fergus would take him home. He couldn't let the kid down now, she knew that. But a wicked, wonderful idea was taking form, and Fergus could hardly keep from grinning himself.

  "Okay, Jenna, I'll do it, on one condition."

  She looked smug for an instant, and then wary. "What's that?"

  "You come too. I know you're off duty, I checked the board."

  Her jaw dropped. "Are you nuts? I have plans for the weekend."

  "I did too, before you rearranged them." He saw the mutinous expression on her face and held up a hand. "Fair's fair, Jenna. You got me into this, you're the self-proclaimed expert on kids with ADD. I admit I don't have the foggiest clue how to deal with Willie full time, it scares me witless. I need your help if I'm gonna do this."

  He saw the uncertain glance she shot his way and the ripe color that flared in her cheeks and guessed what she was thinking.

  "Hey, nothing X-rated." He should be so lucky. "There's plenty of room. The house has three bedrooms. I'll do the cooking." His culinary skills pretty much ran to barbecue and takeout, but he could manage toast and eggs.

  She was wavering. She looked over at Willie and then back at Fergus.

  "Please, Jenna?" He didn't feel any guilt at begging or at having ulterior motives. The kiss in the elevator had unnerved him. It had also made him want more. He needed to get to know her better, and this was the perfect opportunity. "For Willie's sake." The plea was shameful, but he had to use whatever was available.

  "Okay, Fergus, but only for Willie's sake. Where do you live?"

  He felt like giving a victorious whoop, but he controlled himself and wrote down his address instead. "Bring your swimming suit, there's a pool."

  4.

  It was five in the afternoon by the time Jenna pulled into the driveway of the pretty bungalow on the quiet Westside street. She'd always imagined Fergus in a high-rise bachelor suite, complete with Jacuzzi, black satin sheets and nymphets. The house surprised her. Unless he had a gardener, he liked growing roses. The only thing that matched her preconceptions was the red convertible in the open garage.

  She could hear a dog barking, and water splashing. Carrying her small overnight bag, she made her way to the back yard. A huge shaggy wet mongrel came galumphing over, barking and wagging his tail, and she stooped to pat him, laughing when he shook water all over her.

  "Barney, you hopeless idiot, go away," Fergus said to the dog. "Jenna, welcome." He held out a hand and she took it, ridiculously aware of his warm, hard palm against her soft skin. Fergus was wearing yellow boxer swim trunks and an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, and she tried not to look at the mat of hair on his broad chest or the way his torso slimmed to narrow hips. He had long, well-shaped legs, and huge bare feet.

  "I'm just firing up the barbecue. I hope you like burgers?"

  "Love them." A little of her initial nervousness faded. Maybe she could keep this on an impersonal level after all, if she concentrated har
d. If she didn't let this handshake go on all night.

  She pulled her hand away as Willie came racing over. He'd been swimming in the kidney shaped pool, and he was vibrating with excitement. "Hey, Jenna, Doc Fergus has this real cool computer, and a wide screen TV, and a racing bike. And did ya see the BMW?" He whistled through his teeth. "That baby's a whole other story." The dog nudged him. "This is Barney, he's a mixed breed. Watch this, Jenna." He took off at speed and did a cannonball into the deep end of the pool, and the dog mimicked him.

  Jenna applauded.

  "Thank god you're here." There was a note of desperation in Fergus's quiet voice that made her smile.

  "Sounds like you're already a little frazzled, Doctor."

  He gave her a rueful grin. "More than a little. I took Willie to the supermarket, you know those automatic change things? Well, apparently he's fascinated with money, the clerk misunderstood when he scooped up the change from four different aisles. He's fast as mercury, and just as slippery. I convinced her not to call the manager, but I can't shop there again. And when we got home he hit the pool at a dead run, fully clothed. I did too. I didn't know he could swim. Barney joined us, damned near drowned us both. And somehow in all that I've lost the keys to the car along with the garage door opener."

  It wasn't fair to laugh, but she couldn't help it. "Sounds like just another day with my son."

  "You have my respect and admiration." The words held not a trace of sarcasm. "Maybe you can explain how you do it. Right now, come with me and I'll show you your room." He took her bag and led the way.

  The bedroom was at the front of the house, bright and clean, but devoid of anything a woman might have added, like plants and curtains. He set her bag on the bed, and when he turned she saw by the vulnerable look on his face that he, too, was aware of the intimacy of the situation, the electricity that arced between them.