Categories > Celebrities > Fall Out Boy > All We Are
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Love, Dani
Chapter 8
Pete’s body jerked awake as the sound of a ring pierced the quiet of the bedroom. He groaned as he tried to bury his head under the warm pillow that he had been sleeping on. Again the phone rang, and after another moment yet another ring. Finally an answering machine picked up and he heard the greeting that he vaguely remembered setting the last time he had been here in this apartment.
* “Pete! Are you there?” When Ashlee’s voice came through the speaker Pete moaned yet again. “I went to your house this morning and Maria said that you went to Chicago! What the hell?! We get in one little fight and you run off without telling me!” At this point her voice had taken on a shrill tone that was not something Pete wanted to hear first thing. She went on to say, “Then I tried to call your sidekick and it’s off! Why would it be off?!”*
He lifted his head from the pillow to squint at the clock on the night table beside the bed.10:25 AM…He toyed with the idea of answering the phone and just speaking with her. Though that thought was quickly discarded as Ashlee’s voice continued to scold him through the machine. He decided that he would talk with her later when he was rested and in a better frame of mind.
He had finally reached his Chicago North Side apartment sometime between 4 or 5 AM this morning, and didn’t actually fall asleep until sometime around 6 am. Burying his head back under the pillow, then adding a blanket for extra measure, he was able to block out the rest of the message as he drifted back to sleep.
***
The late April morning was a cool 53 degrees but the sun was shinning, the sky was blue and it promised to be a beautiful day. Payton staggered in from her morning jog out of breath but refreshed. Despite her erratic work hours and constantly being on call, she always tried to work running into her schedule.
Toeing off her trainers before discarding them in the entrance closet, she glanced at her living room clock that read 10:51 AM. She had been on call since 10 o’clock, but didn’t have to actually be at the hospital today until 3:00 pm.
After getting a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator, she picked up the phone and tried to call Debbie, hoping to catch her in the office. The secretary said that she would be in court off and on all day, so Payton just left a message that she would try to call Debbie on the first break she got tonight. ‘Guess we’ll just keep playing phone tag.’ She thought disappointed.
She had just began peeling off her black Adidas track suit before heading to the shower when her land phone rang. She answered, “Hello?”… “Oh, hi Will.” She listened for a few moments, then said in a regretful tone, “ I’m sorry, I’m on duty again tonight.”….. Sure, I promise we’ll get together sometime when I’m free.….O.K…. Hope you can find someone to go with you tonight…Bye.”
As she hung up the phone Payton thought about the man that she had just talked to. Dr. William Parrish was a pediatric cardiologist that owned his own practice here in Chicago. He had hospital privileges at St. Joseph’s and had met her through work there.
Will was an striking man with blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Being fairly tall at 6’1 he fairly dwarfed Payton when standing next to her. From the moment they had met she knew that he was interested in her. He had asked her out a few times, but the timing had just never been right.
If Payton was completely honest with herself, she knew that she was not as attracted to Will as he was her. She hadn’t been in more than a casual relationship since college, and she just couldn’t see herself having anything more than a date or two with him. Though Debbie had been on her ass about giving him a chance ever since she had made the mistake of bringing him up in conversation once.
Tonight he had asked her to attend the symphony with him, and truthfully she was relieved to have a valid excuse not to go. Though Payton loved to listen to all types of music even classical, Will was the type of man to be more interested in dressing up and mingling with Chicago’s upper crust. Not her idea as a fun first date!
Before she knew it 3 o’clock had rolled around and Payton was at the hospital beginning her rounds. She worked her way through her tiny patients one by one occasionally talking with any parents or guardians that were present. Right after her examination of Sophie Stump which was followed by a brief conversation with her Dad and Grandmother, Payton turned to Baby J.
She walked over to him and noticed that his little eyes were actually opened a bit this time. “Hi there sweetheart..” she smiled down at him.
She opened the incubator then began her careful examination, along the way she made several notations in his file. When she was finished, she noticed that his diaper was a little wet so she gently changed him. Once he was cleaned up, Payton unhooked some of the unnecessary monitors and sat down in a rocking chair to hold him for a several minutes.
Parent and relatives were always encouraged to touch the infants, and if possible to hold them. The babies always seemed to improve with that extra bit of TLC. She knew that this child would have no doting parents or relatives ready to hold him.
In these situations the nurses knew to take time and interact with these babies, and Payton always felt compelled to do the same.
As she set there rocking Baby J, Payton had an acute sense of being watched. She looked up and instantly her eyes connected to a honey brown stare.
*******
Pete finally began to stir again sometime after 12 o’clock. After a long hot shower, he set out to search for something edible. It had been awhile since he had spent any time here at this Chicago apartment, and there had been no time to have anyone stock it with food in anticipation of his arrival.
Turns out the only actual food in the refrigerator was a bottle each of ketchup and mustard, but finally in one of the bottom drawers of the fridge, he found a bag of Starbucks brand coffee grounds. “Jackpot!” he cheered pumping his fist in the air, happy to have found something without having to go out just yet.
After getting the coffee maker going, Pete sat down at the breakfast bar and pulled out his sidekick. He had a ton of messages, a couple from his manager Bob, some from the record label, one from his Mom, and of course several from Ashlee.
As he sipped on his coffee, he set about returning a many business phone calls as possible, then the last call being a personal one to his Mom. After he filled her in on everything that had happened with Patrick and Marie, he promised to make the 20 minute drive to Wilmette either later that day or the next. “I love you too Mom..” he said as he hung up the phone.
Pete went to a little side drawer in the kitchen and retrieved a set of keys to the new Chevy Tahoe that he kept in the parking garage for when he was in town. It was time to head back to the hospital to check on Patrick and his family.
********
After visiting for a few minutes with Marie, Pete decided to head over to the NICU to visit Sophie, and hopefully to catch Patrick who was suppose to be there with her.
When he got to the waiting area, he was asked to produce his ID in order to check against the approved visitor list. Once cleared to enter the NICU, he walked down toward the double doors that led to the nursery area. He peered through the observation glass for Patrick, and found him and Linda sitting beside Sophie’s incubator.
Pete decided to take one of the seats that had been provided neaby so that he could watch Patrick and his Mom with Sophie.
As he sat there, a figure moved into his peripheral. He turned his head to get a better look and his heart began to pick up speed as he realized that it was Dr. Wells standing over an incubator inside the nursery.
He sat transfixed as he watched her move from infant to infant, occasionally talking with any adult that was present with their child.
Today she wore her hair in a bun that sat high on top of her head, and he noticed once again the lovely wild corkscrew curls that seemed to have a life of their own as they escaped their clasp.
She had a wonderful glow about her as she moved among the tiny babies, and Pete couldn’t help but to think she looked like an angel.
She eventually reached Sophie, and after her evaluation she spoke briefly with Patrick and Linda. From the looks on their faces as she talked with them, it was good news.
Pete continued to watch closely as she finally reached the last incubator. She smiled and spoke to the infant as she performed her examination. When done she gently changed his diaper, and finally settled herself into a rocking chair holding the baby against her chest as she stroked the baby’s tiny back.
Suddenly her head rose up, and her bright green eyes found his gaze immediately. Pete felt a flush creep over his face at being caught so blatantly staring. He began to look away, but changed his mind when he received a gentle smile from the object of his fascination. Pete felt a fluttering in his belly as he returned her smile.
Love, Dani
Chapter 8
Pete’s body jerked awake as the sound of a ring pierced the quiet of the bedroom. He groaned as he tried to bury his head under the warm pillow that he had been sleeping on. Again the phone rang, and after another moment yet another ring. Finally an answering machine picked up and he heard the greeting that he vaguely remembered setting the last time he had been here in this apartment.
* “Pete! Are you there?” When Ashlee’s voice came through the speaker Pete moaned yet again. “I went to your house this morning and Maria said that you went to Chicago! What the hell?! We get in one little fight and you run off without telling me!” At this point her voice had taken on a shrill tone that was not something Pete wanted to hear first thing. She went on to say, “Then I tried to call your sidekick and it’s off! Why would it be off?!”*
He lifted his head from the pillow to squint at the clock on the night table beside the bed.10:25 AM…He toyed with the idea of answering the phone and just speaking with her. Though that thought was quickly discarded as Ashlee’s voice continued to scold him through the machine. He decided that he would talk with her later when he was rested and in a better frame of mind.
He had finally reached his Chicago North Side apartment sometime between 4 or 5 AM this morning, and didn’t actually fall asleep until sometime around 6 am. Burying his head back under the pillow, then adding a blanket for extra measure, he was able to block out the rest of the message as he drifted back to sleep.
***
The late April morning was a cool 53 degrees but the sun was shinning, the sky was blue and it promised to be a beautiful day. Payton staggered in from her morning jog out of breath but refreshed. Despite her erratic work hours and constantly being on call, she always tried to work running into her schedule.
Toeing off her trainers before discarding them in the entrance closet, she glanced at her living room clock that read 10:51 AM. She had been on call since 10 o’clock, but didn’t have to actually be at the hospital today until 3:00 pm.
After getting a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator, she picked up the phone and tried to call Debbie, hoping to catch her in the office. The secretary said that she would be in court off and on all day, so Payton just left a message that she would try to call Debbie on the first break she got tonight. ‘Guess we’ll just keep playing phone tag.’ She thought disappointed.
She had just began peeling off her black Adidas track suit before heading to the shower when her land phone rang. She answered, “Hello?”… “Oh, hi Will.” She listened for a few moments, then said in a regretful tone, “ I’m sorry, I’m on duty again tonight.”….. Sure, I promise we’ll get together sometime when I’m free.….O.K…. Hope you can find someone to go with you tonight…Bye.”
As she hung up the phone Payton thought about the man that she had just talked to. Dr. William Parrish was a pediatric cardiologist that owned his own practice here in Chicago. He had hospital privileges at St. Joseph’s and had met her through work there.
Will was an striking man with blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Being fairly tall at 6’1 he fairly dwarfed Payton when standing next to her. From the moment they had met she knew that he was interested in her. He had asked her out a few times, but the timing had just never been right.
If Payton was completely honest with herself, she knew that she was not as attracted to Will as he was her. She hadn’t been in more than a casual relationship since college, and she just couldn’t see herself having anything more than a date or two with him. Though Debbie had been on her ass about giving him a chance ever since she had made the mistake of bringing him up in conversation once.
Tonight he had asked her to attend the symphony with him, and truthfully she was relieved to have a valid excuse not to go. Though Payton loved to listen to all types of music even classical, Will was the type of man to be more interested in dressing up and mingling with Chicago’s upper crust. Not her idea as a fun first date!
Before she knew it 3 o’clock had rolled around and Payton was at the hospital beginning her rounds. She worked her way through her tiny patients one by one occasionally talking with any parents or guardians that were present. Right after her examination of Sophie Stump which was followed by a brief conversation with her Dad and Grandmother, Payton turned to Baby J.
She walked over to him and noticed that his little eyes were actually opened a bit this time. “Hi there sweetheart..” she smiled down at him.
She opened the incubator then began her careful examination, along the way she made several notations in his file. When she was finished, she noticed that his diaper was a little wet so she gently changed him. Once he was cleaned up, Payton unhooked some of the unnecessary monitors and sat down in a rocking chair to hold him for a several minutes.
Parent and relatives were always encouraged to touch the infants, and if possible to hold them. The babies always seemed to improve with that extra bit of TLC. She knew that this child would have no doting parents or relatives ready to hold him.
In these situations the nurses knew to take time and interact with these babies, and Payton always felt compelled to do the same.
As she set there rocking Baby J, Payton had an acute sense of being watched. She looked up and instantly her eyes connected to a honey brown stare.
*******
Pete finally began to stir again sometime after 12 o’clock. After a long hot shower, he set out to search for something edible. It had been awhile since he had spent any time here at this Chicago apartment, and there had been no time to have anyone stock it with food in anticipation of his arrival.
Turns out the only actual food in the refrigerator was a bottle each of ketchup and mustard, but finally in one of the bottom drawers of the fridge, he found a bag of Starbucks brand coffee grounds. “Jackpot!” he cheered pumping his fist in the air, happy to have found something without having to go out just yet.
After getting the coffee maker going, Pete sat down at the breakfast bar and pulled out his sidekick. He had a ton of messages, a couple from his manager Bob, some from the record label, one from his Mom, and of course several from Ashlee.
As he sipped on his coffee, he set about returning a many business phone calls as possible, then the last call being a personal one to his Mom. After he filled her in on everything that had happened with Patrick and Marie, he promised to make the 20 minute drive to Wilmette either later that day or the next. “I love you too Mom..” he said as he hung up the phone.
Pete went to a little side drawer in the kitchen and retrieved a set of keys to the new Chevy Tahoe that he kept in the parking garage for when he was in town. It was time to head back to the hospital to check on Patrick and his family.
********
After visiting for a few minutes with Marie, Pete decided to head over to the NICU to visit Sophie, and hopefully to catch Patrick who was suppose to be there with her.
When he got to the waiting area, he was asked to produce his ID in order to check against the approved visitor list. Once cleared to enter the NICU, he walked down toward the double doors that led to the nursery area. He peered through the observation glass for Patrick, and found him and Linda sitting beside Sophie’s incubator.
Pete decided to take one of the seats that had been provided neaby so that he could watch Patrick and his Mom with Sophie.
As he sat there, a figure moved into his peripheral. He turned his head to get a better look and his heart began to pick up speed as he realized that it was Dr. Wells standing over an incubator inside the nursery.
He sat transfixed as he watched her move from infant to infant, occasionally talking with any adult that was present with their child.
Today she wore her hair in a bun that sat high on top of her head, and he noticed once again the lovely wild corkscrew curls that seemed to have a life of their own as they escaped their clasp.
She had a wonderful glow about her as she moved among the tiny babies, and Pete couldn’t help but to think she looked like an angel.
She eventually reached Sophie, and after her evaluation she spoke briefly with Patrick and Linda. From the looks on their faces as she talked with them, it was good news.
Pete continued to watch closely as she finally reached the last incubator. She smiled and spoke to the infant as she performed her examination. When done she gently changed his diaper, and finally settled herself into a rocking chair holding the baby against her chest as she stroked the baby’s tiny back.
Suddenly her head rose up, and her bright green eyes found his gaze immediately. Pete felt a flush creep over his face at being caught so blatantly staring. He began to look away, but changed his mind when he received a gentle smile from the object of his fascination. Pete felt a fluttering in his belly as he returned her smile.
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