The Exception to the Rule (12 page)

“See ya, Kat, and don’t overdo it today,” he said.

“I won’t,” I replied as I watched him walk away.

* * * * *

The week flew by, and by the end of it I was finally feeling one hundred percent myself again. Julian was right about working round the clock; I hadn’t seen any sign of him or James all week. Throughout the week I was paired up with Tricia and, to my distain, Dr. Reeves. At first he didn’t have much to say to me. As we were working together on the same patient we had to brainstorm together for the best course of treatment. Even though he never admitted it I could tell that he now had a new-found respect for women doctors. 

 I had tried reaching my dad several times throughout the week since I had missed our usual Sunday phone call, each time getting the answering machine. I left several in-depth messages. I found it odd that I wasn’t able to get in touch with him, but knew that each time I had called him was on a whim. He could have been out and about doing a number of things. 

Tricia and I were just sitting down to some so-called veggie burgers when James appeared. I surprisingly got butterflies in my stomach, thinking that maybe there was a chance that Julian was back as well. I patiently waited for him to sit down while he took forever to pick out his food. I began biting my nails and shaking my leg, two very annoying habits of mine when I became anxious about something. Tricia sensed my anxiety and she looked at me as if it were annoying her. I caught myself and stopped immediately. He finally made it to the table and I could tell right away that Tricia had a glimmer in her eye upon seeing him.

“Hey, welcome back,” Tricia said happily.

I didn’t want to come right out and ask if Julian was back. I decided to sit and listen hoping that James would give some type of clue.

“I’m actually glad to be back,” James said. “It’s like a death camp over there.”  His entire jokester personality had changed in a week.

“That’s so sad,” Tricia said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, I don’t know how Julian does this,” James said. My ears perked up at the sound of his name. 

“I guess you just can’t get too attached,” Tricia commented.

“Yeah, well that’s easier said than done,” I chimed in, thinking of how I felt the day that Akin had passed away.

“Yes, it is,” James agreed. “Even Julian, who sees this type of situation on a daily basis, wasn’t prepared for losing a patient,” he said.

“Who?” I asked sharply.

“One of the brothers who were supposed to have the surgery done - the older one,” he said.

 “Rapula,” I said quietly. I felt myself starting to get upset, the same way I had felt when Akin had passed away. I thought of Rapula’s bright smile that lit up the room. I remembered how much fun we had that day playing UNO and how happy he and his brother were. Most of all I thought of how close Julian had become to both boys. He was so hopeful that they would beat the cancer and go on and live healthy lives. I knew that he must have been crushed by not being able to achieve that. 

“Kat, are you okay?” Tricia asked, reading the expression on my face.

“Yeah, it’s just really sad,” I said, wiping a stray tear that had fallen from my eye. “How’s Julian doing?” I asked.

“He’s pretty upset, although he’s not admitting it, but he was pretty much quiet the whole ride home,” James answered.

I had gotten my answer that I had been waiting for, Julian was back. But my entire mood had shifted, and the excitement of seeing him that existed just minutes ago was now gone. All I could feel was sadness. I sat listening to Tricia giving James a recap on her week. I couldn’t stop thinking about Julian and how he was feeling right now. I excused myself to allow Tricia and James to have some time alone.

 As I entered the main building, I had every intention of going to the left hallway, which was where my room was located. Something was compelling me to go the other way, to go see Julian. I walked down the hallway, quickly second-guessing myself as I stopped at the door. What if he just wants to be alone? James said he was quiet the whole ride home - maybe he doesn’t want to talk. I thought of how Julian was there for me when Akin had died and how much better I had felt after I had talked to him.

 I lightly knocked on the door. The few seconds that it took him to answer seemed like hours. I felt my stomach drop as I heard the doorknob turn. It quickly turned back to butterflies seeing him standing there shirtless. He must have just gotten out of the shower; his hair was still wet and his back still had water beads on it. He smiled upon seeing that it was me. It wasn’t the same dimple-flashing smile that he always gave; there was something missing from it. Even his ice blue eyes seemed to be lacking their luster tonight. I walked in as he closed the door behind me.

“Hey Kat, What’s up?” he said nonchalantly, grabbing a towel off the chair rubbing his hair dry.

“I just heard about Rapula,” I said sadly. “I’m so sorry, Julian.”

“Well, I knew it wasn’t a guarantee,” he said, trying to play it off coolly.

“Yes, but I know how close you became with those boys,” I said sympathetically.

He sat down on the bed and was quiet for a few seconds. I felt a little guilty for noticing just how sexy he looked with his jet black hair still damp. I found myself becoming distracted by his rock-hard chest and perfectly sculpted stomach muscles. 

“I almost wish that I didn’t get his parents’ hopes up by arranging the surgery,” he said, breaking the silence.

I sat down beside him. “Well what about Tau? He’s still able to have the surgery, right?” I asked, trying to sound optimistic.

He nodded. 

“Then how can you second-guess yourself for arranging it?” 

He looked at me, not saying a word. The only sound in the room was the rattling of the ceiling fan overhead. I couldn’t stand the awkward silence any more or the hurt in his eyes. I took his hand in mine. “You did everything that you could for him, and because of you, his time that he did have was a lot more enjoyable.” 

He stood up, giving me a full view of his flawless body. “How did I make his life more enjoyable? By pumping him full of chemo and radiation, watching him in pain and throwing up every day only to have him die anyway.”

 “That was part of your job to make him better; you didn’t have a crystal ball telling you that it was all in vain,” I said compassionately. “I’m talking about the time you spent with him, the way he lit up when he would see you.” 

He became quiet once again. He ran his hand through his hair and stared into space. I could see that his mind was a million miles away and realized that maybe he did just want to be alone. Not everyone was like me, needing a sounding board when something was bothering them. The last thing I wanted to do was make him more upset. I decided I would leave, hoping that he would feel a little better about himself in the morning. I stood up next to him, getting ready to exit. “You can’t save them all, Julian,” I said gently.

There was a look of sadness and desire in his eyes and my heart began to melt for both. I felt the sudden urge to hug him but he beat me to it. He wrapped his muscular arms tightly around me. My face was pressed against his firm chest and I could smell the strong scent of soap coming off his skin. My hands moved up his back toward his shoulders as he slightly released his hold and gazed down at me. His eyes had now returned to their natural vitality, the same color I had grown so fond of since the day I had met him. He tilted my chin up and leaned down kissing me with a sense of urgency. I found myself responding just as vigorously. His hands slid down to the small of my back as he pulled me closer. He repositioned his hands to my face and moved my hair out the way as his lips gently grazed my neck. He effortlessly lifted me off the ground, raising me to his level removing his lips from my neck back to my lips. I ran my fingers through his thick damp hair as we continued kissing. He slowly placed me back down on the ground, releasing me as we disengaged from the kiss. He looked down at me as if he were seeking my approval. 

“Are you on -” he began to ask in a whisper.

 I stopped him mid-sentence, not wanting to ruin the moment. I was on the pill so I knew we didn’t have to worry about that. I let him know that it was okay to continue not with words, but with action. I took his face in my hands and kissed him hard as I slowly unbuttoned his pants. He smoothly lifted my shirt over my head and removed my bra with ease. My bare chest was touching his. I could feel his heart beating faster. He lifted me up and carried me over to the bed. I let him take the lead, as he slowly removed my shorts and then removed his own pants at a much faster pace. He was so gentle and caring with every move that he made. He kissed me softly throughout my body as I did the same to him. His warm hands felt like velvet as he tenderly caressed my face. I waited in anticipation and was overcome with emotion as he entered me. The heat coming off of him was strangely invigorating. I pulled him closer as he continued to bring butterflies to my stomach with each gentle thrust. I opened my eyes to look at him - this beautiful, caring gentle man who was inside of me. I never wanted anything more. I had never felt so fulfilled in my life. We made love for hours as he continued to take me so many times, so easily; each time more pleasurable then the first. I finally felt my body begin to tremble one last time as I let out a soft cry of complete satisfaction. He continued a few minutes more, burying his face into the pillow as he let out a light groan. I could feel his heart beating as he turned on his side and hugged me tight. I rested my head on his chest as he gently played with my hair. 

“You seriously have no clue how long I’ve wanted you, do you?” He asked.

“Hmm…was it that day that you were undressing me with your eyes in the cafeteria?” I asked grinning on the outside and inside.

“Ah, you’re very observant,” he smiled. “Actually it was the moment that you called me stuffy, boring and full of myself.”

I raised my head from his chest and kissed him as we both began to laugh. “God, you are so beautiful,” his tone was much more serious as he pulled me closer and hugged me tightly. I fell asleep wrapped in his arms and awoke the next morning with a smile on my face. I kissed his cheek softly, and stared at him sleeping. I knew that I had never felt this way about anyone before and realized that I had broken another one of Charles’ rules. I had completely fallen for Dr. Julian Kiron and there was no turning back now. He finally opened his eyes; they were even more beautiful first thing in the morning. He smiled at me, kissing my forehead. “Good morning,” he said, lacing his fingers into mine. 

“You know this wasn’t my intention when I came here last night,” I said, laying my head on his chest.

“Oh you know you came here to seduce me,” he laughed.

I looked over at the empty bed next to us and began to giggle. 

“What so funny?” he asked.

“I guess it’s a good thing that you don’t have a roommate,” I said as we both began to laugh.

He grabbed his watch off the nightstand looking at the time. “I have to get going soon,” he said with regret in his voice.

He and James were headed back to the other village again. He wanted to see how Rapula’s mother was doing and check on Tau. He was being extra cautious, not wanting anything to happen to the only child she had left. I didn’t think that I could have any more admiration for him than I already did, but listening to him now made me see that it was possible. He invited me along with them but warned me, it was a lot worse than it was when I was last there. I graciously declined, feeling a little selfish. I wanted to savor the happiness that I was feeling today. I knew that if I were to go, that happiness would immediately be whisked away. 

I began to worry a bit that Julian might slip to James about what we had shared. I knew that James had a big mouth and it wouldn’t take very long to get back to Charles. “Julian?” I was lying with my head on his chest as he gently traced his finger up and down my face. “You’re not going to say anything to James about this, are you?” I continued.

He looked down at me, pushing my hair behind my ear. “Of course not,” he said in a very matter-of-fact tone as he kissed the top of my head. I began to scold myself for even thinking such a thing. I knew that Julian wasn’t that type of guy. But I knew that James was and I wasn’t sure what the two of them spoke about when they were together.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I just know James has no problem telling anyone who will listen about his sex life, however inappropriate. I know that you’re not like that,” I added. I continued, feeling as if I had to further justify my comment to him. “James has a really big mouth and would end up telling Charles, who then in return would give me a lecture.” I knew that I had probably said too much as soon as the words were out.

Julian looked puzzled. “Why would he give you a lecture?”

I sat up and started dressing, trying to create a diversion from the question that he just asked, but he wasn’t forgetting as he asked again. I explained to him the relationship that I had with Charles, how he was like a second dad to me, always looking out for my well-being. How he and his wife Claire were there for me just as much as my dad when Jake and I broke up. They had seen how heartbroken I was, and he just didn’t want to see it happen again.

Julian still looked confused. “I still don’t get it.” 

I decided get it over with and be as direct as possible. “He didn’t want me to fall for you only to never see you again in a few months,” I said. I bit down on my lip and waited for his reaction.

“Oh,” he said, looking down as if it was all making sense to him now. “Well, that won’t be a problem then,” he said smiling.

Now it was me who had the total look of confusion on my face. “Because clearly you haven’t fallen for me,” he said jokingly, at the same time waiting for my reaction. 

I was at a loss for words not knowing how to answer that. I knew that I had completely, but I didn’t want to come out and say it. He must have sensed the apprehension on my face and broke the awkwardness. “So what happens if I fell for you first; do you think he would still be mad at you then?” He grinned. I smiled, loving the approach that he had in handling difficult situations.