seemed oblivious to the pain she was causing with her callous handling of

Sam's leg. She completed her exam and re-bandaged the incision. Several

pieces of tape where wrinkled and already pinching Sam.

Sam watched incredulously as the woman made some notes in her chart and

then left without another word. Sam's already glum mood slipped lower. She felt

as if everyone had abandoned her.

Chapter Four

Riley had enjoyed her day off. She had gone out to dinner with a very nice

woman she'd met at the health club a few weeks ago. It was amazing how

relaxing a date could be without having to worry about someone stalking your

every move. She'd forced thoughts of Sam McKenna away repeatedly but still

managed to enjoy herself. She knew there was no chance of pursuing a

relationship with Sam and had tried to convinced herself that she accepted that.

She headed for the surgical lounge resisting the urge to check on Sam. Riley

opened the door to the doctor's lounge almost running into Claire Thompson.

"Morning Claire. Thanks for taking care of my patients for me. Any problems I

need to know about?"

"No everyone was fine but next time find someone else to look after that

McKenna woman. You could've warned me she's such a bitch," Claire

complained.

Riley's eyes widened in surprise, Sam had never been anything but friendly and

cooperative. "What happened?" She demanded sharply.

Claire's eyebrows rose at Riley's tone and she looked down her nose at the

shorter woman. "I beg your pardon. I checked on your patient as you asked and

she acted like a spoiled bitch. Next time find someone else." Claire responded

angrily before storming out of the lounge.

Now Riley was worried something was wrong. She had to restrain herself from

rushing down to Sam's room. She finally gave up the fight and was on her way

to check on her when her pager went off summoning her to the ER.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley walked out of the recovery room several hours later having completed the

surgery on a gunshot victim. Her thought immediately turned to Sam and her

earlier conversation with Claire. She headed for her room to find out for herself

just what was going on.

She stepped into Sam's room to find her lying in bed staring into space. Riley's

concern skyrocketed. She quickly approached Sam's bed reaching out to lay her

hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam jumped at her touch and she immediately pulled

back.

"Hi." Sam said listlessly. She missed her sister and Kim. After the doctor's rough treatment of her leg the previous evening it had ached all night even with the

pain med and to top it off the tape and bandage was tight and uncomfortable. All

in all, she felt incredibly sorry for herself.

Riley placed her hand on Sam's forehead checking for fever. She knew the

nurses would have informed Claire if Sam had any problems but now doubted

Sam would've told anyone.

"How're you doing Sam?"

"OK."

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

Riley was getting frustrated. This was so unlike Sam. She racked her brain

thinking of some way to get more than a one-word answer. Sam wasn't even

meeting her eyes.

"I'd like to check your incision. Would that be okay?"

"OK."

Riley sighed and lifted up Sam's blankets. She lifted up her gown and positioned

it carefully only exposing as much of Sam as she needed to. She frowned when

she got a look at the bandage. The tape was poorly applied and wrinkled. Riley

knew it must be very uncomfortable. She wondered why Sam hadn't said

anything to the nurses. She removed it as carefully as she could but winced in

sympathy when Sam grimaced. The skin where the tape was wrinkled appeared

red and sore. Riley silently cursed Claire. Her incisions looked clean and tight.

Most of the swelling was gone and the incision was already showing signs of

healing. It wouldn't be too many more days before she could remove the sutures

completely.

"This looks really good Sam. I'm going to leave it uncovered from now on. It

needs to get some air to complete the healing. I should be able to remove the

sutures in a few days." She hoped Sam would perk up with the good news.

Sam sighed in relief to have the uncomfortable tape and dressing removed. She

glanced up at Riley finally meeting her eyes. "Thanks." She said softly.

Finding no other reason to stay, Riley left to check on her other patients.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley was back on the surgical floor later that afternoon. She hadn't been able to

get thoughts of Sam out of her head all day. Riley peeked into Sam's room and

found her alone and again staring into space. She wondered why Kim and Jess

weren't with Sam. Spotting Sue the young nurse assigned to Sam, Riley

bypassed Sam's room, heading for the nurses desk.

"Hey Sue," she greeted. "How has Sam McKenna been today?"

"Oh Dr. Connolly I'm glad I caught you. I've been worried about her. She's been

really down since her sister left. She had to go back to work. Mary walked with

her in the morning but put in the nursing notes she seemed very listless. I tried

to get her up later in the evening yesterday but she refused and asked for her

pain med."

"Was that after Dr. Thompson was here?"

Sue looked hesitant to answer, finally she just nodded in response to Riley's

question.

"Damn it Claire, what did you do to her?" Riley muttered under her breath.

"Thanks Sue."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley made a detour across the street to a local sub shop before heading to

Sam's room. She approached the bed and placed the bag in her hand on the

over the bed table. Sam glanced over and smiled slightly. She was down but still

glad to see Riley.

Riley knew she needed to do something to bring Sam out of her depressed

mood.

Smiling she asked, "How are you doing?" Sam opened her mouth to reply but

Riley cut her off. "And don't you dare say okay." She warned mock glaring at

Sam.

Sam couldn't help it; she laughed lightly feeling her mood lighten a little. She met

Riley's eyes before replying.

"Good." A long pause, "I'm good."

Riley grabbed her chest and slumped against Sam's bed. "Oh my god...two

words in a row!"

Sam reached out and playfully slapped Riley's arm grinning. "Alright cut it out

smartass."

Riley grinned standing up and picking up the bag she'd set down when she

came in. "How about some dinner? Guaranteed to be better than anything food

service can come up with." She laughed before adding. "Not that just about

anything isn't better than what the food service provides."

Sam's eyes lit up like a kid getting a treat. She pulled the bag toward her and

Riley's stomach growled expectantly. Sam laughed her dark mood lightening

further. She passed Riley one of the sandwiches from the bag. "We should feed

that thing before someone gets hurt," she teased Riley.

Riley scowled and opened her sandwich taking a big bite. She moaned in

pleasure. Sam looked down at her sandwich trying to hide her flushed face. Her

heart had started to hammer when Riley moaned. God I hope Jess and Kim are

right; this woman just HAS to be gay. I have to ask her about Keith, she

promised herself. The smell coming from her sandwich distracted her thoughts.

She unwrapped it to find a Philly cheese steak. She took a big bite of the

sandwich and moaned as Riley had.

Riley felt a flash of arousal when Sam moaned. She hid her face in her dinner

hoping Sam wouldn't notice.

"This is SOO good," Sam enthused. "Good beef and melted cheese, one of my

favorites."

"Ah a woman after my own heart, none of the health food stuff for me either."

Riley laughed.

Sam saw her chance and decided to take it. Riley stirred feelings in her she just

couldn't ignore. Please don't let her be straight. "Yep, if I was going for

someone's heart it would definitely be a woman's." She laughingly told Riley,

closely watching her expression. Riley smiled brightly.

Riley looked Sam right in the eyes. "Yes, I'd have to agree with you there." She

blushed when she realized what she'd blurted out.

YES! Sam shouted silently to herself. Before she could say anything else,

Riley's pager shrilled.

Riley pulled it off her belt and cursed when she read the display. ER 911.

"Damn I'm so sorry, I have to go. It's the ER."

Sam watched in disappointment as Riley hurried out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley berated herself as she rushed toward the ER. Why the hell did you say

that? You're supposed to be distancing yourself from this woman. Not telling her

you're gay! Riley was confused. Sam knew about Keith but had still sought

confirmation that she was gay. How did she know? I've got to talk to

her...soon. She forced all the thoughts swirling in her brain away as she entered

the ER.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam sat finishing the dinner Riley had provided. Her mind went back over their

conversation. She really needed to talk to Riley and ask her about Keith. She

couldn't help grinning at Riley's confirmation. She was never going to hear the

end of it when she told Jess. Guess her gaydar wasn't on the fritz after all, she

laughed to herself. Sam felt the most lighthearted she had since being shot. Just

the thought of having a chance with the beautiful doctor made her heart soar.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley leaned against the wall outside the recovery room. It was after 9pm and

she'd just completed the surgery on a motorcycle accident victim. The young

man was very lucky to still have his leg. She shook her head in dismay; he was

just a kid. She walked down the hall mentally debating, should she go to the on-

call room and get some much-needed sleep or stop by and see Sam. She tried

to convince herself her concern was just for the well-being of a patient but in her

heart, she knew it was far more than that. Riley was drawn to the woman and

couldn't seem to stay away. She glanced up to find herself in front of the

elevators. The doors opened and the up button arrow was lit. Well guess that

answers that, Riley thought to herself as she stepped into the elevator and

pushed the button for the sixth floor.

Sam's door was open but the room was dark except for a dim light over the bed.

She sighed in disappointment and started to turn away.

"I'm awake." Sam called out.

Riley made her way into the darkened room. She stood next to Sam's bed; she

could just make out her face in the dim light. "Sorry I woke you."

"You didn't I was just lying here." Sam said then added shyly. "I'd hoped you'd come by when you finished."

Sam reached out and gently took hold of Riley's forearm guiding her to sit on the

side of the bed. Riley resisted knowing it was inappropriate for her to be sitting

on a patient's bed or at least this patient's bed.

"Come on," Sam encouraged. "I can tell you're tired. Just sit for a few

minutes...please."

Riley couldn't resist the plea in her voice and gingerly perched on the side of

Sam's bed. Neither woman spoke for several moments.

Sam finally broke the silence. "What happened in the ER? Did you end up

having to operate on someone?"

"Yeah, a young man, well just a kid really was in a motorcycle accident. He

almost lost his leg but I was able to save it."

"Lucky for him you were around." Sam told Riley squeezing her arm lightly.

"Thanks. Well I should let you get some sleep." Riley said as she started to