Free Blurred Lines by KD Williamson by K.D. Williamson

her way forward. They seemed mostly oblivious to her anyway. She caught bits and pieces of conversation. Some were louder than others.
    “I like Mistress of Kink. It has pizazz.”
    Gossip was a childish activity, and she was not surprised that Dr. Fuller was involved in it.
    “Shhh!”
    “Please, she has a one-track mind. She’s not paying attention to us.” Taylor didn’t even bother to lower her voice.
    “Threesomes are not all that kinky unless you bring out the whips and chains.”
    “I’m sure she does that too. Never thought she would be the clingy type, though. Rader wants nothing to do with her, and she’s still hanging on. It’s pathetic.” Dr. Fuller sounded almost gleeful.
    Nora straightened her shoulders. She held no illusions about who they were talking about. The new rumors were trite, not very inventive, and an obvious attempt for Rader to save face. He had a reputation to uphold, and thanks to him, so did she. She refused to let her anger and irritation show. Nora was better than this, but there were times when she didn’t want to be.
    “Dr. Fuller?” Nora interrupted.
    “Taylor, I told you she heard you!” Dr. Crowder whispered harshly.
    “I can hear you as well, Dr. Crowder,” Nora said with authority. “Since neither of you have anything more productive to do—”
    “Oh, I’m on Rader’s service.” Dr. Fuller pointed at the board.
    Nora’s lips twitched. “I’m sure you are.”
    Taylor reddened and glanced away.
    Nora felt emboldened by Dr. Fuller’s reaction. Taylor responded as the immature girl that she was. While, as a woman in her stride, Nora met it head on. She stepped away from the desk. “Follow me…both of you.”
    Walking through the hall, Nora slowed as they neared the free clinic. The angry hushed murmurs coming from behind let her know that this was the right decision. She turned and nearly bumped into them. “You will spend your day lancing boils, removing foreign objects from patients, and adhering band aids, since a surgical rotation isn’t challenging enough for you.”
    Taylor’s blue eyes widened. “It is. There must be some kind of mis—”
    “If it were, you would have time for nothing else.” Nora smiled politely. “Have a productive day,” she said as she strolled away.
    Nora had many dissenters for one reason or another. They wanted her small and cowed, but she had hardened herself against such attacks. No cracks remained for anything to seep through. So, what she did to Dr. Fuller wasn’t retribution. It was a calculated move. Nora peered down at her watch and almost smiled. She had a Whipple procedure to remove lesions from a patient’s pancreas and small intestines scheduled to start in an hour.
    * * *
    A pleasant weariness settled on Nora’s shoulders. The Whipple was a success, and at this point, the patient needed continuous monitoring for any complications. She checked charts. Then, she did her final rounds to check the residents’ work and see to the welfare of their patients before retiring for the night.
    Nora neared Kelli’s room. There was really no reason for her to go inside. She was healing without complications or setbacks, but still, Nora stopped just outside the entrance. Curiosity got the better of her, but she knew it went deeper. The conversations, the sparring they’d engaged in had been her most genuine interactions in a very long time. After her confrontation with the residents earlier, Nora knew that this association, however brief, would be like cleansing her palate of all pretense.
    She stepped inside. Light flickered from the muted television, illuminating the room every few seconds and highlighting the empty bed. Nora stared at the rumpled sheets, confused. Kelli was essentially immobile. Nora scanned the room. Her gaze stopped at the light shining from underneath the closed bathroom door. She moved toward it, hearing the unmistakable sound of a running shower.
    A muffled, metallic crash came from the