The Grump

By Donna and Ev

“NURSE!” cried out Vincent for what had to be the twentieth time that morning. He was still in a good deal of pain from his broken tailbone and ribs, not to mention being just plain sick and tired of having to stay in bed. Adding to all that was the fact that his friend Bruno was living it up without him at the home of a mutual *friend*, Luc Teyssier. All this combined with the fact he was undergoing severe nicotine withdrawal was making the Frenchman a very difficult patient indeed! 

“Oh, what now,” sighed Sarah Jo deeply, rubbing her aching back. She was just over two weeks away from her due date, and was uncomfortable most of the time, to say the least! Duncan’s baby was not going to be a small one, and she felt extremely huge and clumsy. The doctors and the other nurse, Ancelin, were not letting her do too much at this advanced stage of her pregnancy.  But today, they were all busy doing other things, so Sarah Jo was left with the job of trying to keep Vincent happy, which was not an easy task at all! 

“Coming!” she called out, making her way slowly up the stairs. Her back had been hurting for several days now, and all the running around today was making her feet and ankles swell up like balloons. What she really wanted to do was to go home, curl up on her bed and have a good nap. 

When she entered the room, Vincent looked up at her with sad, puppy dog eyes, telling her that he was thirsty. She poured him a cup of water, but it wasn’t cold enough to suit him. Plus, he added grumpily, he would much prefer a good cup of coffee with a dash of brandy in it, and none of that merde that the residents of Edan substituted for coffee! 

“I’ll see what I can do,” Sarah Jo told him, adjusting his pillows for the umpteenth time that day while she tried to ignore his steady stream of complaints, something that was getting harder and harder to do! 

Her stomach spasmed in a hard knot while she was making her way downstairs again, and as the freckled face nurse hung onto the rail, she was almost in tears.  

“Sarah, darling?” a familiar voice called out. “Are you all right?”  It was Duncan, and he took the stairs three at a time till he got to her side. 

“I’m fine,” she told him, her eyes misty. “It’s just been a long day.” 

Behind her, Vincent screamed out “NURSE! Where is my coffee? Don’t take all day! Hurry up!” That was all it took for her to break out in tears. 

“That’s enough for you today,” Duncan growled, helping her down to the lounge.  “I’ll take care of him!” He had Sarah Jo sit in the most comfortable chair in the room, and after taking off her shoes, he put her feet up onto a stool, giving her aching feet a good rub. When he was done, he stood up, giving her a kiss before heading upstairs to Vincent’s room. 

Vincent fussed.  What could be taking that nurse so long?  He did sort of feel sorry for her, in a corner of his mind, being pregnant and everything, but he just felt so bored and miserable......  Finally there was the sound of footsteps on the stairs.  "Nurse!  What's taking so long?" he fussed.  

"She is taking a break," a deep, ominous sounding voice came from the door. "If you know what is good for you, I would suggest you be quiet for a while."  As Vincent looked up, he swallowed hard. Whoever this brawny man was, he didn't look happy! 

Looking up at this large, angry man, Vincent had a terrible sinking feeling.  He already felt terrible, was this big guy going to beat him up besides?  "I..." Vincent began, but he didn't know what to say.  Finally, he just nodded and pulled the covers up to his chin, as if they'd protect him.  

Duncan walked up to him, and leaned down over Vincent, bracing his muscular arms on each side of his head and their faces only inches away from each other. Switching to French so that there would be no chance that Vincent could misunderstand, Duncan told him off. "For your information, that nurse you have been venting your frustrations on just happens to be my wife. And she is due to have *my* baby in a couple of weeks. I want you to be nice to her. Very, very nice. Do you understand?" 

Vincent blinked and forced himself not to whimper.  It wasn't easy.  "Oui," he managed to whisper.  "I won't do it again."  He would say anything at this point to make this guy go away.  

"Good," Duncan said, tapping Vincent lightly with a finger on his nose. With that, he turned to leave. 

A few minutes later, Bruno stuck his head in the door. "Mon dieu, Vincent! Was that the husband? Luc warned me about him!" 

With a sigh, he nodded.  "No one told me.  I need to get out of here.  I feel bad enough without that one coming after me.  What is this town like?  What about Luc's house?  I am bored out of my mind in this room."  

"The town is great! It’s just like one from an old time western movie! Luc has a very nice house. And a vineyard! Not to mention a pretty young woman," he said with a smile. "Perhaps the doctors will let you go stay there if you promise to take it easy for a while." 

Vincent considered.  He was finally able to get up enough to use the bathroom.  Other than that, he was still supposed to be in bed.  He could lie around at Luc's place as well as here.  "See if one of the doctors is around, so I can ask."  

Bruno disappeared, and a few minutes later, he came back with Doc Adams, who didn't look too pleased either. He poked Vincent in the ribs, and when he didn't scream (at least not too loudly!), he announced that Vincent was well enough to be released from the clinic. "I'll arrange for someone from the livery to take you out to Luc's place in a cart." 

While all this was going on, Luc was humming and whistling while he worked in his vineyard.  They had everything planned, except for asking him if he wanted another guest.  He had gotten used to the idea of Bruno.  He, at least would help a little, when asked.  He knew Vincent all too well and would really rather not have him there.  At the very time that plans were being made for a cart to take Vincent there, Luc was feeling lucky that he was in the clinic.  

The last thing he expected when he came in from the fields was to find Vincent resting on his couch, with Marty waiting on him hand and foot!