Nurse to Heal the High Seas Doc - Chapter 14
"Did you hear they had to pull Doug back from touching another oceanic creature?” Nicole covered her mouth to keep from laughing at Shane’s incredulous look. The last month had flown by in a blur of happiness she’d never expected to feel.
“No. I swear scientists’ curiosity is why we have progressed as a species, but you can’t convince me that it hasn’t cost countless people their lives over time too. Oh, I wonder…” Shane mimicked reaching his hand out, touching something and then pretending to fall back.
There was no way to stop the giggles erupting. Nicole gripped her stomach as the rolling laughs captured her. “Shane!”
He stepped to her and pulled her into his arms, placing a kiss on her cheek.
She let him hold her for a minute then pulled back. They were always careful in the clinic. The research ship personnel were aware they were together but in this space they made sure not to get too physical.
“The problem is you don’t know which harebrained activity will result in the find of a lifetime and which one ends your life. Life means risks, I guess.” She thought she saw a twitch in Shane’s jaw but it was gone so fast.
She’d been hyperaware during her marriage, but a counselor she’d seen a handful of times said she’d need to find a new balance. Which meant not overanalyzing a possible twitch.
“A Russian scientist injected himself with 3.5-million-year-old bacteria he thinks is the elixir of life," she went on. "Found it in the permafrost and swore that after injecting himself he hadn’t had a cold or sickness in several years.”
“He did what?” Shane’s mouth was hanging open, and he was blinking faster than normal.
“He injected—”
“That is so dangerous. What?”
Nicole shrugged. “Sure, if it fails. But, at least, the last time I checked he was still alive. Though it has been several years since I looked him up.”
“That's not a real science experiment.” Shane shook his head. “It’s reckless.”
Nicole took a step back. It was supposed to be a funny story. If Dr. Brouchkov had passed, the story would have gone down as a tragedy, but he hadn’t. “Why are you upset about what a Russian scientist you’ve never met did? He knows it’s not a real experiment. He said it himself in the interview I read.” She started to take another step back then stopped herself.
Caleb had been volatile. She’d never known when a story she was sharing with him would become ammunition. Even the smallest things.
“Life does not mean risks.” Shane crossed his arms.
“What?” Nicole felt like they were having two separate conversations.
“You said life involves taking risks. It doesn’t. Or it doesn’t have too.” Shane scratched his chin. “Sorry. I know I'm acting weird. My parents were always big risk takers…and it cost me.” He took a deep breath. “But even they never infected themselves with millions-of-years-old bacteria.”
Nicole swallowed, hoping some of the tension crawling up her back would disappear. Life was risk. Sometimes you gambled and lost—like her marriage. But sometimes you gambled, got on a ship and found someone who made you feel alive.
What if I am a risk Shane isn’t willing to take?