She laid the chart down on the table and grabbed exam gloves. “I don’t suppose the injury is to your groin.”
He laughed. “Not this time. I took a cleat to the calf at first base.”
“I hate to be repetitious each time we see each other, but you’re going to need to drop your pants.”
He slid off the table and unbuttoned his pants. “This is getting to be a regular thing with us, Doc. I’m thinking you just want to get to the goods.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m afraid I won’t be touching your penis or your testicles tonight.”
“Too bad.” He laid his torn, bloody pants on the table, then climbed on the table and lay on his stomach.
She removed the bandage the team doctor had applied. “Nice.”
“Thanks. I try not to half-ass anything I do.”
“Apparently. This will need several stitches.”
“That’s what Phil said. I don’t know why he couldn’t just stitch me up in the locker room.”
“According to the notes he e-mailed over, he wanted to make sure your leg is sound and there are no other injuries, especially to your knee. Or to your head, since it appears you collided with the other player. Once I stitch this up, I’ll do a more thorough examination.”
He looked over his shoulder at her. “Which probably means you’ll want me naked.”
She couldn’t help but smile at his sense of humor. “You’d like to think that, but I don’t believe your full nudity will be necessary.”
“Come on, Doc. I’m already pissed about not finishing the game. At least make the ER experience a fun one.”
“I don’t think this is the place you come to for a fun time, Tucker.” She got out the suturing kit and scooted the stool across toward the table. “You’ll need to lie still now while I clean and numb the area.”
At least he was a good patient. He didn’t complain and didn’t move, allowing her to clean and suture the wound quickly. It took twelve stitches, but he was muscular and in good shape, so the injury shouldn’t cause him much discomfort.
After she finished, she examined the rest of his leg. There were no other scrapes or scratches, and other than slight swelling around the wound area, she saw no further injuries to the back of his leg.
“You can roll over now.”
He did, and she examined his knee, which was the area Phil was most concerned about.
“How does your knee feel?” she asked.
“It’s fine. Same thing I told Phil.”
She examined his knee. He had full range of motion without pain. She saw no redness or swelling.
“Can you put weight on it?”
“I walked in here just fine.”
“Do that for me.”
He hopped off the table and walked the circumference of the room without favoring the leg.
She also did a neurological exam to be sure he didn’t exhibit signs of a head injury.
“I agree. You seem fine. But I still think we’ll get an X-ray of your leg and knee, just to be on the safe side.”
“That’s a waste of time.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “Remind me again—which one of us is the doctor?”
He shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
She wrote the orders. “Wait here and someone will be in to take you to X-ray.”
She closed the file, then started for the door.
“Wait. You’re not staying here with me?”
She turned to face him. “I have other patients, Tucker.”
“Sure. Right. You do. See you later, Doc.”
Aubry sensed something bothered him, but it wasn’t physical. She was waiting on labs for one patient, discharge papers on another. She had a few minutes, and her staff knew where she was if something came up. She leaned against the door. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?”
“No.” He waited a few seconds, then asked, “Did you watch the game tonight?”
“I’m working, as you can see.”
“Game was on in the waiting room when I came in.”
“I don’t work in the waiting room. Besides, I don’t watch baseball.”
She tried not to laugh at his horrified expression.
“How the hell can you not watch baseball? Your dad owns the team.”
“Which doesn’t mean I’m required to like baseball.”
“I have to say, I’m really disappointed in you, Aubry.”
“I’ll try to get through the rest of my life with your disappointment.”