Chapter 21 - Mark Intervenes

Mark had returned from rounds and approached Sr. Kate in the hall.

“Sister I’m going to try my luck and talk some sense into Susan.”

“Do you think that’s wise?” Sister knew how difficult Susan could be.

“Sister Kate, I have to do something! I can’t stand on the side lines and do nothing! I’m worried about my brother! He is becoming unglued over this girl! I’ve never seen him act like this over a woman before, not even Ann!”

“Perhaps your right.” Sister Kate was also concerned about Ken’s hot-tempered behavior. She didn’t want to see a repetition of another spanking to take place.

“I know I’m right! I didn’t dare mention this to Ken, but I heard that Dr. Vito DeLava has been asking around the hospital about Susan. That son-of-a-bitch is on the prowl again since his divorce became final! If Ken gets wind of that, forget it, all hell will break louse! He’ll crucify DaLava if he comes anywhere near Susan! If I talk to her, perhaps in some way I can help bring them both back together again. If that happens than it’s more than likely that she’ll come for the exam and in addition won’t give DeLave a tumble. All will be well in paradise again!”

Sister looked very concerned. “I haven’t heard good comments about Dr. DeLava. Is it true that he almost beat his wife to death?” Sister was always shocked and appalled of domestic violent occurrences!

“Yes, Sister it’s true. I happen to know the attending physician at St. Michael’s that helped take care of his wife. Vito broke her jaw and her nose not to mention five ribs. What almost killed her was a punctured lung! Also…” Mark lowered his eyes and hesitated in telling her the rest.

“What is it Mark?”

“Apparently he savagely sodomized her with a large object, seriously lacerating the lining of her rectal walls.”

Sister lowered her eyes in disgust. “He didn’t use a part of his anatomy?”

“No, sister. Paul said there was no evidence of sperm present in or around her anal area. It clearly was a large object of some kind that he forcibly and cruelly used up inside of her. The man is a sick bastard and he should be put away somewhere! The rest of his family are powerful, ruthless scum-bags! His diabolical brother Bruno, got him off with all his fancy dego lawyers! Don’t you remember Sister Kate? It was in all the papers and on TV!”

“Yes, I remember reading about it in at the time. Yet, you have to admit, Dr. DeLave is a brilliant surgeon!”

“I don’t give a damn how brilliant he is! Both Ken and myself told Fr. Ryan and Fr. FistPatrick that it was a mistake to put that cussed fiend on the staff here at St. Anthony’s. They refused to listen!

Sister said seriously, “They took him on here, because the family gave 10,000,000 million dollars towards the new children’s wing. In any event, I have to be honest. There is something about Dr. DeLava that makes my blood run cold!”

“Damn it, money always talks! Regardless if it’s money that comes about unmercifully! Sister don’t kid yourself, even if money was not a factor, the family has a way, let us say, at being very persuasive in always getting what they want. We both know that’s why he’s here, Sr. Kate! And yeah, the bastard gives me the willies too! The whole family gives me the creeps! Sr. Kate you saw how Ken acted with two harmless Russian dancers! Can you imagine what he would do if he even knew that an animal like that was even looking at his beloved Susan?!” Mark raked his fingers through his hair. “Sister Kate, if Susan mentions DeLava to you or even if she doesn’t, tell her he’s bad news and to stay a hell away from him! Ken told me that her and her sister are not from around here and haven’t lived here very long. They don’t know what that corrupt family is capable of!”

“I’ll definitely tell her!”

“Thanks. I’m going to pediatrics now to discuss Ken with her. Wish me luck! If this girl is as cantankerous as Ken says she is than I’m sure as hell going to need it!”

…

Upon reaching pediatrics Mark noticed that there was a lot of activity in the solarium. Some of the older ambulatory children were helping the nurses hollow out pumpkins for Halloween while the little ones were cutting out paper bats and pumpkins. Mark stopped to warmly smile and watch the children busily occupied and enjoying themselves. A cute, plump, freckle face little boy in a cowboy hat and western style pajamas ran up to him. He pulled on Mark’s pant leg and stretched his head all the way back to look up at him. “OH boy, you’re BIG like Dr. Ken!”

Mark smiled and crouched down on the same eye level as the child to affectionately pinch his chubby cheek. He dropped his voice to a low baritone, “Howdy cowboy!”

“Billy’s little chubby chin lowered to mimic Mark’s voice. “Howdy partner!”

“What’s your name cowboy?” Mark thought the child was adorable.

Little Billy stuck out his chest and with his small pudgy thumb pointed to himself and said, “I’m Billy the Kid!”

Mark tried very hard not to laugh at the little guy. “Wow, you’re Billy the Kid?” Mark pretended he was scared.

“Has Billy the Kid been a good boy?”

“Yes I’m good! I got a needle in my butt!” Billy went around to Mark’s back and poked him in his backside. “I got it right there!”

“YOU DID?” Billy’s little head went up and down to answer yes. Mark swiveled on his beefy haunches and grabbed the child’s little waist with his large, strong hands. “Did it hurt, cowboy?” Mark gave him a little squeeze.

“NAW! I was brave like Dr. Ken!” Mark than realized that this was the child Ken had sacrificed his sore rear end for.

“Nice going partner!” They gave each other a high five!

“ GEE, You’re BIG! What’s your name?”

“I’m Dr. Mark!”

One of the young nurses in charge walked up to them. “Billy, sweetie, go and help Lisa over there.”

Billy turned to say good-bye in child like voice. “Bye, it was nice talking to you Dr. Mark!”

“Same here pal!”

Mark stood up and turned a smiling face towards the nurse. “Cute Kid!”

‘You’re cute too,’ she said to herself. The pretty blond nurse couldn’t help but appreciate Mark’s sexy good looks as his rugged frame stood up. She assessed all of him and did so, every chance she got when ever he was in view, in and around the hospital! Her blue eyes lazily migrated down towards his crotch. She wondered if he was as well endowed physically down below as they all said he was! She raised her head high to look up at him and asked in a candy-coated voice. “May I help you Dr. Cummings?”

Mark’s eyes drifted down to also danced up and down the attractive nurse’s chesty, petite shape. He noticed her name tag. It read, Irene. Huskily he asked, “I need to speak with a Nurse Sheridan, Irene. Do you know where she might be at the moment?”

She made an attempt to flap her eyelids up at him. The sound of her voice was dripping with honey! “She’s having her break in the nurses mezzanine down the hall Dr. Cummings,”

‘Hmmm, he thought to himself, maybe one day soon I’ll give this willing stacked filly a tumble in the hay, and see what she’s like.’ “Thanks sweetheart!” Mark gave her a big wink and turned to strut down the hall towards the lounge. The nurse thought, my he’s brash! She liked that! She heatedly and longingly gawked at his powerful build and hard backside as he swaggered down the hall. Hmmm, ‘he looks as good in the back as he does in the front!’ She sighed, some girls get all the luck! Now, Susan has both handsome brothers interested in her!

When Mark entered the lounge there were three other nurses there. They quickly got up to leave when they saw him approach Susan, taking their mugs with them. Mark looked over his shoulder to see them whispering to one another. He could only imagined what it was they were buzzing about as they left the room!

Susan was sitting with her beautiful long, slender legs crossed looking captivating as always in her white starched uniform. Her head was regally bowed down reading a magazine about Halloween folklore. Mark couldn’t help but admire her classic and stunning good looks.

Her peaceful facial expression quickly changed to annoyance as soon as she lifted her head and saw Mark’s huge frame advanced towards her. “So to what do I owe the honor of this visit from the second doctor Cummings?” She was irritated at the intrusion! “Did Ken send you here to talk to me?”

“No, this was my idea,” he answered huskily.

Mark confidently grabbed a nearby chair to straddle it backwards to closely face her. As always he took his favorite posture. He wrapped his strong arms around the back of the chair, and leaned over to arrogantly perch his cleft chin on it’s top. He paused a moment to stare his piercing blue eyes at her. ‘God, she’s pretty!’

Susan made an attempt to ignore him and continued to read her magazine. ‘The little snit!’ he thought to himself. His intense, deep voice was meant to intimidate, along with the rest of him. “Oh know you don’t, young lady! I didn’t come here to watch you read!” Mark aggressively pulled the periodical out of her hand and roughly threw it on a nearby chair.

Susan was incensed at his audacity!! “You have your colossal nerve!”

“If you mean I have balls? Yeah, you’re right, babe, I do!

Susan took keen notice of his probing vivid blue eyes, but wouldn’t allow them, his imposing build nor his crude language and behavior to intimidate her into listening to anything he had to say. She also noticed how equally good looking and masculine he was compared to his brother Ken.

“Is there something you wanted, Dr. Cummings?” She asked stoically.

He sensed right away that she didn’t have a chip on her shoulder but a huge boulder instead! “Well, first I want to say that I don’t think it was very considerate of you to maliciously give my brother that lethal injection you so murderously shot up his poor ass!”

“He had it coming!”

Mark was a little perturbed at her lousy attitude. “Miss Sheridan he just wanted to help a little kid out. You took advantage of him AND of the situation.”

“He asked for it! Besides, it was pay back time for the brutal spanking he gave me not to mention the awful enemas I got from him the very first day I met him!”

“Susan , you damn well know, that a patient needs their bowels thoroughly cleaned out in preparation for a proctoscope exam! Ken was only doing his job. As far as that thrashing you received, I happen to know that he agonized over that incident for days!”

She stopped to think a moment. Her voice softened a bit. “Is…is he all right?”

“He’ll live.”

Her tone changed to a sarcastic snarl, “Perhaps you’d like some of the same!”

Mark smiled. “I’m not in need of a cruel, vindictive injection, Miss Sheridan.”

“From what I’ve heard rumored about you, I beg to differ.”

“Really, and what has Nurse Sheridan heard rumored about me?” It didn’t come as a surprise to him that hospital employees had circulated scandalous gossip about him. Hell, some of it was true! What did he care! He didn’t give a damn!

“I’ve heard enough unfavorable comments about your behavior that would justify it!” Mark gave her a questioning look. Noticing his expression she phrased it differently. “If not a shot, than a good swift kick up your egotistical ass!”

Mark thought, ‘she’s a gorgeous spitfire all right!’ “OUCH! my, my, a kick up my ass for what I do in my personal life? That doesn’t sound fair to me!”

“Well, perhaps, not for that, but definitely for putting your nose where it doesn’t belong!”

“Before you get your pantyhose all up in a further twist Miss Sheridan, hear me out first!”

“There’s nothing I wish to hear, NOW or EVER! Please go away!”

“I’m not ready to leave just yet. I need to talk to you!” Mark was not about to give up that easily!

“It’s usually a good rule, as I just said, to stay out of people’s business, Dr. Cummings!”

“Well, everyone knows here at St. Anthony’s, as you so politely reminded me a moment ago, that Doctor Mark Cummings doesn’t always follow the rules!” He waggishly grinned at her.

He’s as bold and insolent as his brother, she thought to herself. “What do you want?” ‘Let him say what he wants and than he will go away,’ she thought to herself.

“It’s very simple. I want you to sit down with my brother and have a quiet talk with him. See if you can come to some kind of amicable understanding. He’s very upset about this rift you two are having!”

“What about me? I’m upset too!” Her beautiful green eyes began to fill up with tears!

“That’s understandable.” Mark stopped to study her pretty face become stained with tear drops. He tried not to sound too stern and lowered his voice. “Listen Susan, you don’t mind me calling you Susan, do you?”

“Why should you bother asking me for permission?” She asked contemptuously. “You and your brother decide to do what you want, say what you want no matter how it might affect a person’s feelings!” Fresh set of tears sprung up in her beautiful green eyes. “Why did you come here?”

“I don’t want to see my brother get hurt!”

“Him, get hurt? HUH! He hurt me terribly! His asinine behavior was shattering and left me bitterly disappointed!” She started to wipe her face with her dainty hands. “Also, I fine his unwarranted temper to be very discomfiting!” She lowered her head and continued to cry.

He hated to see a woman cry. Mark reached into his pocket, tilted the chair forward and handed her his handkerchief. She hesitated from taking it.

“Go ahead, it’s clean.” She reached over to take the handkerchief and daintily blotted her face and eyes with it.

His voice remained soothingly husky. “Listen to me Susan. For what it is worth, I’m on your side. Ken told me what happen at the ballet studio and I told him point blank that he was wrong. He knows he acted foolishly. He’s sorry.”

“It’s too late,” she whimpered.

“It’s not too late, damn it! Mark took a breath. He was beginning to become impatient! “You know what your problem is? You’re fucking scared!”

“I’m not scared of anything!”

“That’s bull shit! I think Ken is going too fast for you! Damn it, admit it!”

“YES, he is! I mean, NO! I don’t know! Leave me alone!” She turned her head away to sob softly in the white hankie.

Mark could tell that she was strong minded but than again it was also evident to him that she was fragile and vulnerable too. “You care for him just as much as he cares for you! Hell, you can at least acknowledge that to me, can’t you?”

She quickly lifted her moist face to give him an acrimonious pout. “I don’t have to acknowledge a damn thing to you!”

Mark remained calm and his body straightened up in the chair. In the back of his mind, Mark wanted to mention Dr. Delava to her and that she should distance herself from him. He told himself, ‘to hell with it, she’s certainly not listening to me about Ken. What makes you think that she will listen to you about DeLave?’ Funny, something told him that possibly Susan would use DeLave to get back at Ken. If that was to happen, there would be anarchy! Mark decided to let it lay. “Susan if you can’t confess that you love Ken and you don’t want to have a reconciliation than at least reconsider the sigmoidscope exam! Ken is furious with you for canceling!”

“Well, isn’t that just too bad!”

“Yeah, isn’t?” Her relentless obstinate temperament was getting under his skin! Mark figured that possibly his brother hadn’t wallop her cute rump hard enough.

Mark hoped she would reconsider because he knew damn well that his brother was good to his word! He would undoubtedly, as promised, go to Susan’s house on the first of November to drag her from her home to bring her back to the hospital!

“I’m feeling a lot better. I don’t need that embarrassing, invasive exam!”

“Ken feels differently. He thinks you DO need it! As a doctor I’m inclined to agree with him, Susan!” He smiled at her. “What’s all this crap about embarrassing. You’re a nurse for Christ sake! Besides, you’ll have two people attending to your needs before and throughout the entire exam. Two people that care and love you very much!”

“If I have that done, Ken will insist upon a colonoscopy and than those terrible barium enemas!” She took a breath. “No, I don’t want any part of it!”

Marks forceful voice had a pleading edge to it. His hands tightly gripped the back of the chair. This was not going the way he had planned! “Susan he loves you! He’s worried about you! With the diagnostic tests, he just wants to make sure you’re all right. Damn it, why do you think he acted so irrationally last week? He doesn’t want to louse something else he loves to either another man OR to a deadly decease!”

Susan stared at him soberly. She knew that what he just said made a lot of sense, but for whatever reason, she still wasn’t ready to concede or deal with it just yet! “I don’t want to hear another word!”

God, she’s stubborn! He spoke gently, “Susan a sigmoidscope exam is not half as bad as a proctoscope exam. You might feel a slight discomfort at the end of the exam when Ken has to blow some air up your rectum, that’s all. Hell, the enemas prior to the exam are the worse part!” Susan’s cheeks burned pink with embarrassment. She refused to speak. Her unrelenting stare was her answer to him. Mark thought it was a good idea that she know, now of the scheduled exam. “I might as well give it to you straight, Susan. Ken took the liberty of rescheduling you for the first of November at 10:00 am.”

She was SO mad, her soft voice went up in volume! “You can tell him for me not to hold his breath because I won’t be there! He has his nerve to schedule an exam without my consent! How dare he! CAN’T YOU SEE! He just wants to continue to control me!”

Mark was showing full blown anger now and raising his voice! “He simply wants you to have the exam to insure your state of health! Damn it, woman, he loves you! What the hell is wrong with you? CAN’T YOU SEE that!

It was at that moment that another nurse came into the lounge to tell Susan that she was needed in room 108.

She was glad for the excuse to get away from Mark and his upsetting perceptions. “If you will excuse me Dr. Cummings, I’m wanted somewhere else.” She stood up and made her way towards the door.

Mark briskly pulled the chair from underneath his crotch and was up before her in a flash barring the doorway’s entrance with his strong, muscular arm.

He was a giant next to her! She first looked down onto his outstretched arm and than up at his towering form. Her changing colored eyes were filled with contempt! “Let me pass, please!”

“Not until you promise me that you will at least think about all that I’ve said to you today!” Mark took notice of her changing eye color but thought his own eyes were playing tricks on him.

“I’ll promise you no such thing!” She said emphatically.

“Damn it Susan, I’m telling you the truth about the way Ken feels! Can’t you show a little tolerance and give him a another chance.” She raised her huge green, turquoise colored eyes to bore into his blue ones. Her eyes had changed into a kaleidoscope! ‘My God! Ken was right!’ To Mark they unquestionably appeared to be almost psychedelic! He was taken back for a moment. He wasn’t expecting a surreal experience!

Susan’s dimpled chin went up and her back bristled! Her lovely face was wet with tears and her tone of voice was assiduous! “Please let me pass Dr. Cummings or do I have to call for hospital security?”

‘She’s a little witch all right!’ Mark looked defeated and his deep voice murmured quietly. “No, that’s not necessary. I came to say all that I wanted.” He let his muscular arm fall. She walked hastily past him and down the hall away from him in a huff.

He figured he’d try one more thing and called out to her. “Wait a minute Susan!” She stopped in mid-stride. He walked down the hall to where she was.

Susan turned impatiently around to face him and let out an exasperated breath! “What is it now? I thought you said everything you wanted to say!”

“Susan, would it help if I was to talk to Ken and ask him to back off a while? Would that give you some time to calmly think things over?”

“Yes, yes that’s a good idea!” She answered abruptly. “I would appreciate it if you would do that. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Off she went!

He watched her cute rounded rear end sway from side to side beneath a narrow waist as she promptly walked down the hall. He smiled when he remembered the night he listened at the bedroom door to her sighs of pleasure when Ken invaded that attractive little ass of hers with an enema nozzle! He understood now why his brother was so smitten with her. Without a doubt he would feel the same way if she was his girl!

…

Mark was sitting opposite Sr. Katherine in her office carefully studying her while he contentedly chewed on the end of a pencil. Ken had gone home early to lick all of his wounds.

Mark threw the pencil down to lean all the way over so his cleft chin rested on the edge of her desk. He was playfully smiling at her. “You know Sister Kate your remind me of a cross between Aubrey Hepburn in “The Nuns Story” and Ingrid Bergman in, “The Bells of St. Mary’s. You’re far too pretty to be a nun!”

“Oh PLEASE, would you stop, already? If I didn’t know you any better, Mark Francis Cummings, I’d think you were toying with me!” Sister Katherine began to laugh. Mark’s face cringed when he heard his middle name spoken.

Mark always admired Sr. Kate’s sedate, dignified demeanor. Next to his Mom, he always noticed how stable and sure of herself she was in everything she did and said. He also thought that Sr. Kate was extremely attractive with her aristocratic fine features. In general he didn’t like the habits the nuns wore. They covered their bodies too damn much for his tastes. But for some reason he liked the way Sister Kate, gracefully carried hers and how the white head piece snugly framed her lovely face. He often wondered what color hair she had concealed under that white veil of hers. In addition to all that he knew what a wonderful nurse she was. All considering, he thought that Sister Kate was a beautiful looking woman!

“Was Ken’s backside feeling a little better when he left, Sr. Kate?”

Soft hazel eyes looked up calmly from the paperwork she was working on. Her gentle, cultivated voice was equally tranquil and attractive. “Yes, but I think his pride is more wounded than anything else. Any success with Susan this afternoon?” She was eager to know.

“I don’t know how successful I was but I know I gave her a lot to reflect upon. Incidentally Sr. Kate, I wouldn’t expect her to be here on November 1st. She was quite adamant that she won’t come for the sigmoidscope exam. Don’t be too surprise if my brother does what he threatened!”

Sister knew and was prepared for fireworks that day. “I know your brother only too well! I’m not looking forward to seeing them both butt heads on the first of November! Susan is headstrong! She’s not going to submit that easily! ”

“Whew, brother, you can say that again! I can’t remember when the last time I ever encountered such an uncompromising woman!” She insinuated that I needed a ‘good swift kick up my ass’!” He began to chuckle. “If she was my gal, I’d whack the daylights out of her cute little booty a second time!” Sr. Kate gave him a offended look! Mark straightened up and leaned back in the chair. “Oh a…., sorry Sister Kate. Ken told me how you felt about that hard spanking he gave her!” He quickly lead the conversation to go elsewhere. “By the way, her eyes affirmatively do change color! They scared the hell out of me! Someone should use her eyes on a neon sign for this year’s Halloween festivities!”

Sister Kate began to laugh. “That’s Susan all right! Though, I’ve never seen her eyes change.” She teased, “I have a sneaky suspicion that her eyes change color only when she’s around good looking, conceited doctors that happen to be related to one another.”

“Oh sister, cut it out!” Mark knew Sr. Kate liked to joke around.

“Do you think there’s a chance that they will make up?”

“I can’t answer that. But, I did promised Susan I’d talk to Ken to lay off for a while so she would have time to think things over. What’s wrong with her is that she’s scared and needs a little time. My brother has to come to realize that!”

“Do you think your brother will listen to you?”

“No, but I’ll take a stab at it just the same.”

“You’re bother can be just as stubborn as Susan!”

“Don’t I know it! Still and all, I can see why my brother has gone ape over her! She’s as beautiful up close as she is from a distance. Conceivably more so!” Mark hesitated before asking her a question. He didn’t want to appear to be too anxious. “Is her sister Shannon as exquisite as her?” He asked nonchalantly.

“Well, I’ve heard it said that some people think Shannon is more beautiful than Susan!”

Mark’s handsome face looked up in surprise! “Get out of here! More beautiful than Susan? That’s not possible!”

Sister smiled. “I personally think that both girls are extremely beautiful looking. They look identical in the small, soft facial traits that they both own. It’s their hair and eye coloring that are different.”

“Sister, how does that make one more stunning than the other?” Mark thought that Susan’s dark hair, peaches and cream color complexion and emerald green eyes were radiantly impressive!

“I guess it has to do with preference. Possibly, it’s Shannon opulent reddish, golden hair that seems to set her apart from other women in general.”

“Hmmm,” he murmured. Mark was deep in thought. ‘My, opulent and reddish, golden hair she said?’ His curiosity was now peaked and his fervent blue eyes seemed to shine with enthusiasm!

Sister was examining his face and noticed the spark in his startling blue eyes. “What does that mean, hmmm?”

“Just hmmm, Sr. Kate!” Mark gave her a tomfoolery grin! “What about Shannon’s health? Does she suffer with similar bodily complaints like Susan?”

“Shannon has terrible bouts of constipation. At first it was only a few times a year. But lately Susan says that it has gotten progressively worse. She’s been having to give Shannon enemas more often lately. In fact, I was needed at their home two weekends ago to help Susan in that endeavor.”

Mark frowned, “I bet Shannon wasn’t too thrill about that! How did it go?”

“Let’s just say it was a arduous task! Shannon is as disagreeable as a spoiled, defiant little child. She was in denial and persistently insisted she didn’t need help! She fussed the entire time that I was there! When Susan and I were finished giving her several enemas she wouldn’t even admit she felt better, which she undoubtedly did!”

“She sounds like she too, needs a firm hand from someone who knows how!”

“Oh, you think so?”

“I know SO Sister!” Mark lowered his eyes and smiled.

“And you think that YOU’RE that someone?”

“I could be!” His cleft chin went up to defy her.

“You’re very sure of yourself aren’t you, young man?”

Unwaveringly he answered, “Yes Sister, I usually am.” Sister gave him a controlled look. Mark became uneasy under her steady stare and lowered his chin. He cleared his throat, shifted in his seat and once again steered the discussion towards the topic of Shannon. “Shannon hasn’t made an attempt to make an appointment to see Ken, has she?”

“No such attempt will take place! She absolutely will not go anywhere near a doctor! She hates health professionals and any kind of medical procedure done on her!”

“Shannon too, has never had a pap smear or a vaginal exam?”

“Never!”

“The results of dear sweet Aunt Lucy’s tender, nurturing ways, right?”

“Right! The both girls have been to counseling twice now. Let’s hope it helps.” Sister gazed at Mark from above her reading spectacles. “Do you want to meet Shannon, Mark? I happen to know that she is unattached at the moment.” Sister knew of his reckless womanizing escapades. However, she thought similar to Ken! Hence being, that Mark just needed to meet the right girl to calm his impulsive carnal ways.

“Yeah, I thought about it. I even asked Ken to set up a blind date in the event that Susan and him get back together again. Why not? I’m game!” Secretly Mark liked girls that had a little fire in them. He saw them as a challenge. He was curious as hell to see what this one was like!

“Just so you know Mark.” Sister Katherine’s voice suddenly became firm and her facial expression serious. “Both girls were carefully brought up young ladies. Despite the fact that their father left them in the hands of a disturbed woman, they have been sheltered from the worldly aspects of life.”

“What are you trying to say, Sister?”

“What I’m trying to say Mark,” she said adamantly, “is that both girls are untainted.” Mark knew what that meant. Shannon was also a virgin and inexperienced. “If and when you do decide to meet Shannon remember to treat her special and with respect. You’ll find that she and Susan are unlike most girls their age. Surely you noticed how uncommon Susan is?”

“Hell, sure, I can tell that Susan is distinctly different and definitely stands out. Sister Kate, don’t worry. When and if the time comes I’ll conduct myself like a gentleman!” Mark’s razor sharp perception told him that he had just gotten an indirect dressing-down from Sister. He thought he would change the subject entirely.

“Tell me Sr. Kate I’ve heard it rumored that you didn’t become a nun until you were 35 years old. Isn’t that kind of old for woman to joined and run off to a nunnery?” Mark gave her one of his rapscallion grins. Being as attractive as she was he thought it was a waste that she had become a woman of the cloth. “What did you do all that time before the age of 35? Did you ever experience love or perhaps that’s not a question one should ask a nun?” He wondered how many times she had gotten laid and from how many men. He leaned over again to arrogantly place his elbows on her desk. He lifted his hands to cup his cleft chin and gave her a chipper, naughty smile. Mark thought that he had thrown her off guard. But, he hadn’t!

Sr. Kate was not naive. She knew how to handle arrogant young men. As a nurse she had had a lot of practice with navy pilots and sailors when she was in the military. Telling from the complacent tone of his voice and the impish expression on his handsome face she was totally aware of what it was he was eluding to. She decided to put him in place in a subtle, dignified way. She got up from her chair to pensively looked out the window and quietly spoke. “It’s quite all right. I don’t mind answering your questions, Mark!” She delayed a moment and than, while still facing the window, she began to speak again very slowly. “I’ll tell you a little story. I was fresh off a Montana farm when I left home to become a nurse. I was only 17. After getting my nursing degree, I joined the United States Navy at 21 and served in Vietnam. I had just turned 22 when I met a wonderful, vital human being. His name was David, a handsome Navy pilot. Like most young couples, we fell in love and got married. We were devoted to one another. We were married for three wonderful years, before…,” she paused a moment, “ before he was shot down and killed over some rice patty.” Her voice began to brake up a little.

Mark looked pained and gently whispered. “Sister please don’t, it’s not necessary for you to go on.” He was remorseful, now, for asking the question.

“NO, no it’s all right. I want to tell you. I want to tell you everything.” She took another breath before continuing. “I discovered I was pregnant three days after I found out about David’s death. I was overjoyed with happiness because in a way I had told myself that my sweet David hadn’t really died. I still had a part of him growing inside of me.” Sister paused again. “Five months later I lost the baby.” Mark squirmed uncomfortably in his chair as Sister continued. “David was special and dear to my heart. I tried other relationships but no one could take his place.” Sister straightened her back and turned to look down at Mark. “I became a nun ten years later and I have had no regrets since than. So you see, young man, being a woman first, I do know a little about lust, passion and love along with despair and heartache.” Sister stopped talking and sat down again behind her desk to study Mark’s meek reaction. “I discovered that having a life with David and my baby wasn’t meant to be.” Mark had longed stop smiling at her and had rested his back against the chair with his head bowed low. “Mark, you may not agree with me, but I sincerely believe that we all have a destiny in this world. I’d like to think that mine is serving the Lord and my fellow man here at St. Anthony’s for the purpose of doing good.”

Mark’s head hung in guilt between two broad shoulders. He felt so ashamed he couldn’t look at her square in the face or even speak. He finally lifted his head humbly to do both. Sister thought she saw a tear in his eye. “I’m sorry Sister Katherine. I didn’t know.” He reached over her desk to take a tight hold of her hand. “I can be a thoughtless, insensitive blockhead sometimes. Please forgive me?”

“It’s all right Mark. I know that you young people are sometimes impetuous as well as curious about us old folks from time to time!”

“Sister Kate, don’t ever say you’re old because you’re not.” He squeezed her hand before letting go. “Ken always said that there was something about you that was special and different. I guess he was right!”

“Ken always told me that you’re not as tough as you let on to be. I guess he was right about that too? Hmmm?

Mark looked sheepishly at her. “Yeah that’s right Sister Kate. I’m not so tough! Ken knows me better than I know myself!” He felt that Sister could see right through him as well! “I guess, Ken’s not the only one around here who knows me.” Mark thought meditatively for a few moments. “I never thanked you for helping my brother when his wife, Ann was dying. My entire family will forever be indebted to you for all that you did for him and for the rest of us during that distressing time.”

Sister got up from her desk chair to place her hand gently on Mark’s shoulder. “Dear Mark there’s no need to thank me. I was glad I was here to help Ann, you, and your lovely family!

There was an awkward silence for a few moments and Mark thought things had gotten a little sappy. “Hey a…., what do you say you let this foolish blockhead buy a beautiful nun a hamburger and a milk shake?”

Sister was all smiles and graciously accepted his kind invitation. “Sure why not, that’s sounds wonderful Mark, thank you!”

…

Mark was in Ken’s office early the very next morning to have a talk with him. He began to relate to Ken the conversation he had with Susan the day before.

Mark hoped that what he was about to propose would be accepted by his brother. Mark leaned over Ken’s desk resting his palms down on it’s edge and gave his bother a critical look. “Forget about the sigmoidscope exam, Ken. Susan made it very clear to me that she won’t be here on the first of November. Allow circumstances to improve between the both of you first and than reschedule her a second time.”

“Won’t be here, huh, well, we’ll just see about that!” Ken resembled a huge angry bull from behind his desk! His stern face was bowed and he refused to even look up towards his brother’s face.

Mark ignored his brother’s angry demeanor and continued, “She needs time to be left alone with her thoughts, Ken. Give her the time she needs. She’ll eventually come around. Try to be a little patient!”

“I’ll give her time, all right. Like hell, I’ll give her time!” Ken wasn’t even making an attempt to listen to his brother’s reasoning.

Pressing is palms down harder, Mark leaned over a little more over Ken’s desk. “God damn it Ken, she’s scared! You’re going too fast for her! Slow down and give her a chance to catch her breath!”

Ken finally lifted his irate face to glare at his brother! “Forget it! I don’t want to hear any more!”

Mark’s body straightened up and was becoming irritated. “You know you two deserve one another! You’re as stubborn and as pigheaded as she is!”

Ken continued to look up angrily at his brother from behind his desk and completely ignored everything Mark had said up to that point ! “You think maybe next time you can ask my permission before you decide to talk to my girl?! Where the hell do you get off from doing such a thing without coming to me and asking me first?!”

“I just wanted to be of some help, Ken.”

“Damn it, I don’t need help from my kid brother!”

Their voices began to get loud! “You SURE as HELL need something! Look at yourself! You’re going fucking crazy over this woman!”

“Don’t worry about me! I’m fine!”

“You call this fine?” Mark lifted his hand to point to Ken’s disheveled attire. “For Christ sake Ken, it looks like you slept in your clothes last night and it appears you didn’t even bother to shower or shave this morning?”

“Forget how I look! You flirted with her, didn’t you?” Ken’s eyes narrowed with malice! “That’s why you went to talk to her? You’ll never change! Once a lover boy, always a lover boy!”

Mark was hurt and surprised that Ken would even think he would do such a unscrupulous act to his own brother! “You’re crazy, Ken, I didn’t do any thing of the kind!”

“I don’t believe YOU! You’d SCREW anything with a skirt on!”

Mark gave him an injured look and yelled, “FUCK YOU!”

Sister Katherine had quickly come into Ken’s office. “Would you two keep your voices down? I can hear you both from all the way down the hall!”

Mark’s face was red with rage. “He’s all yours Sister Kate! I wash my hands of him!” With that said Mark’s powerful body stormed out of the office.

Sister turned stiffly towards Ken to speak her piece. “Ken, Mark’s intentions were honorable!” She waited for him to respond. “Mark loves you very much! He just wants to see you happy again!”

“Sister Katherine, please, just leave me alone.” Ken leaned tiredly over his desk and brought his hands up to cover his face.

Sister Kate decided to get tough! “Sorry, but that’s not going to happen, Ken. You have an hour before your rounds. I want you to go shower and shave in the back bathroom. You still have your electric shaver in your desk draw. You also have a clean shirt in the closet. I’ll bring you a light breakfast after you have finished.”

“Don’t bother, I’m not very hungry Sister Kate.” Wearily he lifted his face from behind his open hands.

“First, you’re going to eat every mouthful! Second, you’re going to stop feeling sorry for yourself and act the way a doctor is suppose to act! Do you hear me? Personal problems are left at home! They have no business here at a hospital where your ailing patients need you! NOW MOVE IT!”

Ken looked up at her passively. “Sister Kate, you sound just like my mother!”

Sister stood there rigidly and her voice remained firm! “If that’s what it takes, Ken, than so be it! If your not careful I’ll take a whip to your backside like a mother! Also you owe your brother an apology.”

Ken gave her a warm smile and complied to everything she demanded. That very evening he did in fact apologized to Mark for his uncalled-for accusation.

From that day leading up to the first of November governing factors stayed relatively calm at the hospital, thanks to Sister Kate’s firm hand. However, when the schedule day for Susan’s sigmoidscope exam soon approached, things once again began to spark.

Chapter 21 - Mark Intervenes

Mark had returned from rounds and approached Sr. Kate in the hall.

“Sister I’m going to try my luck and talk some sense into Susan.”

“Do you think that’s wise?” Sister knew how difficult Susan could be.

“Sister Kate, I have to do something! I can’t stand on the side lines and do nothing! I’m worried about my brother! He is becoming unglued over this girl! I’ve never seen him act like this over a woman before, not even Ann!”

“Perhaps your right.” Sister Kate was also concerned about Ken’s hot-tempered behavior. She didn’t want to see a repetition of another spanking to take place.

“I know I’m right! I didn’t dare mention this to Ken, but I heard that Dr. Vito DeLava has been asking around the hospital about Susan. That son-of-a-bitch is on the prowl again since his divorce became final! If Ken gets wind of that, forget it, all hell will break louse! He’ll crucify DaLava if he comes anywhere near Susan! If I talk to her, perhaps in some way I can help bring them both back together again. If that happens than it’s more than likely that she’ll come for the exam and in addition won’t give DeLave a tumble. All will be well in paradise again!”

Sister looked very concerned. “I haven’t heard good comments about Dr. DeLava. Is it true that he almost beat his wife to death?” Sister was always shocked and appalled of domestic violent occurrences!

“Yes, Sister it’s true. I happen to know the attending physician at St. Michael’s that helped take care of his wife. Vito broke her jaw and her nose not to mention five ribs. What almost killed her was a punctured lung! Also…” Mark lowered his eyes and hesitated in telling her the rest.

“What is it Mark?”

“Apparently he savagely sodomized her with a large object, seriously lacerating the lining of her rectal walls.”

Sister lowered her eyes in disgust. “He didn’t use a part of his anatomy?”

“No, sister. Paul said there was no evidence of sperm present in or around her anal area. It clearly was a large object of some kind that he forcibly and cruelly used up inside of her. The man is a sick bastard and he should be put away somewhere! The rest of his family are powerful, ruthless scum-bags! His diabolical brother Bruno, got him off with all his fancy dego lawyers! Don’t you remember Sister Kate? It was in all the papers and on TV!”

“Yes, I remember reading about it in at the time. Yet, you have to admit, Dr. DeLave is a brilliant surgeon!”

“I don’t give a damn how brilliant he is! Both Ken and myself told Fr. Ryan and Fr. FistPatrick that it was a mistake to put that cussed fiend on the staff here at St. Anthony’s. They refused to listen!

Sister said seriously, “They took him on here, because the family gave 10,000,000 million dollars towards the new children’s wing. In any event, I have to be honest. There is something about Dr. DeLava that makes my blood run cold!”

“Damn it, money always talks! Regardless if it’s money that comes about unmercifully! Sister don’t kid yourself, even if money was not a factor, the family has a way, let us say, at being very persuasive in always getting what they want. We both know that’s why he’s here, Sr. Kate! And yeah, the bastard gives me the willies too! The whole family gives me the creeps! Sr. Kate you saw how Ken acted with two harmless Russian dancers! Can you imagine what he would do if he even knew that an animal like that was even looking at his beloved Susan?!” Mark raked his fingers through his hair. “Sister Kate, if Susan mentions DeLava to you or even if she doesn’t, tell her he’s bad news and to stay a hell away from him! Ken told me that her and her sister are not from around here and haven’t lived here very long. They don’t know what that corrupt family is capable of!”

“I’ll definitely tell her!”

“Thanks. I’m going to pediatrics now to discuss Ken with her. Wish me luck! If this girl is as cantankerous as Ken says she is than I’m sure as hell going to need it!”

…

Upon reaching pediatrics Mark noticed that there was a lot of activity in the solarium. Some of the older ambulatory children were helping the nurses hollow out pumpkins for Halloween while the little ones were cutting out paper bats and pumpkins. Mark stopped to warmly smile and watch the children busily occupied and enjoying themselves. A cute, plump, freckle face little boy in a cowboy hat and western style pajamas ran up to him. He pulled on Mark’s pant leg and stretched his head all the way back to look up at him. “OH boy, you’re BIG like Dr. Ken!”

Mark smiled and crouched down on the same eye level as the child to affectionately pinch his chubby cheek. He dropped his voice to a low baritone, “Howdy cowboy!”

“Billy’s little chubby chin lowered to mimic Mark’s voice. “Howdy partner!”

“What’s your name cowboy?” Mark thought the child was adorable.

Little Billy stuck out his chest and with his small pudgy thumb pointed to himself and said, “I’m Billy the Kid!”

Mark tried very hard not to laugh at the little guy. “Wow, you’re Billy the Kid?” Mark pretended he was scared.

“Has Billy the Kid been a good boy?”

“Yes I’m good! I got a needle in my butt!” Billy went around to Mark’s back and poked him in his backside. “I got it right there!”

“YOU DID?” Billy’s little head went up and down to answer yes. Mark swiveled on his beefy haunches and grabbed the child’s little waist with his large, strong hands. “Did it hurt, cowboy?” Mark gave him a little squeeze.

“NAW! I was brave like Dr. Ken!” Mark than realized that this was the child Ken had sacrificed his sore rear end for.

“Nice going partner!” They gave each other a high five!

“ GEE, You’re BIG! What’s your name?”

“I’m Dr. Mark!”

One of the young nurses in charge walked up to them. “Billy, sweetie, go and help Lisa over there.”

Billy turned to say good-bye in child like voice. “Bye, it was nice talking to you Dr. Mark!”

“Same here pal!”

Mark stood up and turned a smiling face towards the nurse. “Cute Kid!”

‘You’re cute too,’ she said to herself. The pretty blond nurse couldn’t help but appreciate Mark’s sexy good looks as his rugged frame stood up. She assessed all of him and did so, every chance she got when ever he was in view, in and around the hospital! Her blue eyes lazily migrated down towards his crotch. She wondered if he was as well endowed physically down below as they all said he was! She raised her head high to look up at him and asked in a candy-coated voice. “May I help you Dr. Cummings?”

Mark’s eyes drifted down to also danced up and down the attractive nurse’s chesty, petite shape. He noticed her name tag. It read, Irene. Huskily he asked, “I need to speak with a Nurse Sheridan, Irene. Do you know where she might be at the moment?”

She made an attempt to flap her eyelids up at him. The sound of her voice was dripping with honey! “She’s having her break in the nurses mezzanine down the hall Dr. Cummings,”

‘Hmmm, he thought to himself, maybe one day soon I’ll give this willing stacked filly a tumble in the hay, and see what she’s like.’ “Thanks sweetheart!” Mark gave her a big wink and turned to strut down the hall towards the lounge. The nurse thought, my he’s brash! She liked that! She heatedly and longingly gawked at his powerful build and hard backside as he swaggered down the hall. Hmmm, ‘he looks as good in the back as he does in the front!’ She sighed, some girls get all the luck! Now, Susan has both handsome brothers interested in her!

When Mark entered the lounge there were three other nurses there. They quickly got up to leave when they saw him approach Susan, taking their mugs with them. Mark looked over his shoulder to see them whispering to one another. He could only imagined what it was they were buzzing about as they left the room!

Susan was sitting with her beautiful long, slender legs crossed looking captivating as always in her white starched uniform. Her head was regally bowed down reading a magazine about Halloween folklore. Mark couldn’t help but admire her classic and stunning good looks.

Her peaceful facial expression quickly changed to annoyance as soon as she lifted her head and saw Mark’s huge frame advanced towards her. “So to what do I owe the honor of this visit from the second doctor Cummings?” She was irritated at the intrusion! “Did Ken send you here to talk to me?”

“No, this was my idea,” he answered huskily.

Mark confidently grabbed a nearby chair to straddle it backwards to closely face her. As always he took his favorite posture. He wrapped his strong arms around the back of the chair, and leaned over to arrogantly perch his cleft chin on it’s top. He paused a moment to stare his piercing blue eyes at her. ‘God, she’s pretty!’

Susan made an attempt to ignore him and continued to read her magazine. ‘The little snit!’ he thought to himself. His intense, deep voice was meant to intimidate, along with the rest of him. “Oh know you don’t, young lady! I didn’t come here to watch you read!” Mark aggressively pulled the periodical out of her hand and roughly threw it on a nearby chair.

Susan was incensed at his audacity!! “You have your colossal nerve!”

“If you mean I have balls? Yeah, you’re right, babe, I do!

Susan took keen notice of his probing vivid blue eyes, but wouldn’t allow them, his imposing build nor his crude language and behavior to intimidate her into listening to anything he had to say. She also noticed how equally good looking and masculine he was compared to his brother Ken.

“Is there something you wanted, Dr. Cummings?” She asked stoically.

He sensed right away that she didn’t have a chip on her shoulder but a huge boulder instead! “Well, first I want to say that I don’t think it was very considerate of you to maliciously give my brother that lethal injection you so murderously shot up his poor ass!”

“He had it coming!”

Mark was a little perturbed at her lousy attitude. “Miss Sheridan he just wanted to help a little kid out. You took advantage of him AND of the situation.”

“He asked for it! Besides, it was pay back time for the brutal spanking he gave me not to mention the awful enemas I got from him the very first day I met him!”

“Susan , you damn well know, that a patient needs their bowels thoroughly cleaned out in preparation for a proctoscope exam! Ken was only doing his job. As far as that thrashing you received, I happen to know that he agonized over that incident for days!”

She stopped to think a moment. Her voice softened a bit. “Is…is he all right?”

“He’ll live.”

Her tone changed to a sarcastic snarl, “Perhaps you’d like some of the same!”

Mark smiled. “I’m not in need of a cruel, vindictive injection, Miss Sheridan.”

“From what I’ve heard rumored about you, I beg to differ.”

“Really, and what has Nurse Sheridan heard rumored about me?” It didn’t come as a surprise to him that hospital employees had circulated scandalous gossip about him. Hell, some of it was true! What did he care! He didn’t give a damn!

“I’ve heard enough unfavorable comments about your behavior that would justify it!” Mark gave her a questioning look. Noticing his expression she phrased it differently. “If not a shot, than a good swift kick up your egotistical ass!”

Mark thought, ‘she’s a gorgeous spitfire all right!’ “OUCH! my, my, a kick up my ass for what I do in my personal life? That doesn’t sound fair to me!”

“Well, perhaps, not for that, but definitely for putting your nose where it doesn’t belong!”

“Before you get your pantyhose all up in a further twist Miss Sheridan, hear me out first!”

“There’s nothing I wish to hear, NOW or EVER! Please go away!”

“I’m not ready to leave just yet. I need to talk to you!” Mark was not about to give up that easily!

“It’s usually a good rule, as I just said, to stay out of people’s business, Dr. Cummings!”

“Well, everyone knows here at St. Anthony’s, as you so politely reminded me a moment ago, that Doctor Mark Cummings doesn’t always follow the rules!” He waggishly grinned at her.

He’s as bold and insolent as his brother, she thought to herself. “What do you want?” ‘Let him say what he wants and than he will go away,’ she thought to herself.

“It’s very simple. I want you to sit down with my brother and have a quiet talk with him. See if you can come to some kind of amicable understanding. He’s very upset about this rift you two are having!”

“What about me? I’m upset too!” Her beautiful green eyes began to fill up with tears!

“That’s understandable.” Mark stopped to study her pretty face become stained with tear drops. He tried not to sound too stern and lowered his voice. “Listen Susan, you don’t mind me calling you Susan, do you?”

“Why should you bother asking me for permission?” She asked contemptuously. “You and your brother decide to do what you want, say what you want no matter how it might affect a person’s feelings!” Fresh set of tears sprung up in her beautiful green eyes. “Why did you come here?”

“I don’t want to see my brother get hurt!”

“Him, get hurt? HUH! He hurt me terribly! His asinine behavior was shattering and left me bitterly disappointed!” She started to wipe her face with her dainty hands. “Also, I fine his unwarranted temper to be very discomfiting!” She lowered her head and continued to cry.

He hated to see a woman cry. Mark reached into his pocket, tilted the chair forward and handed her his handkerchief. She hesitated from taking it.

“Go ahead, it’s clean.” She reached over to take the handkerchief and daintily blotted her face and eyes with it.

His voice remained soothingly husky. “Listen to me Susan. For what it is worth, I’m on your side. Ken told me what happen at the ballet studio and I told him point blank that he was wrong. He knows he acted foolishly. He’s sorry.”

“It’s too late,” she whimpered.

“It’s not too late, damn it! Mark took a breath. He was beginning to become impatient! “You know what your problem is? You’re fucking scared!”

“I’m not scared of anything!”

“That’s bull shit! I think Ken is going too fast for you! Damn it, admit it!”

“YES, he is! I mean, NO! I don’t know! Leave me alone!” She turned her head away to sob softly in the white hankie.

Mark could tell that she was strong minded but than again it was also evident to him that she was fragile and vulnerable too. “You care for him just as much as he cares for you! Hell, you can at least acknowledge that to me, can’t you?”

She quickly lifted her moist face to give him an acrimonious pout. “I don’t have to acknowledge a damn thing to you!”

Mark remained calm and his body straightened up in the chair. In the back of his mind, Mark wanted to mention Dr. Delava to her and that she should distance herself from him. He told himself, ‘to hell with it, she’s certainly not listening to me about Ken. What makes you think that she will listen to you about DeLave?’ Funny, something told him that possibly Susan would use DeLave to get back at Ken. If that was to happen, there would be anarchy! Mark decided to let it lay. “Susan if you can’t confess that you love Ken and you don’t want to have a reconciliation than at least reconsider the sigmoidscope exam! Ken is furious with you for canceling!”

“Well, isn’t that just too bad!”

“Yeah, isn’t?” Her relentless obstinate temperament was getting under his skin! Mark figured that possibly his brother hadn’t wallop her cute rump hard enough.

Mark hoped she would reconsider because he knew damn well that his brother was good to his word! He would undoubtedly, as promised, go to Susan’s house on the first of November to drag her from her home to bring her back to the hospital!

“I’m feeling a lot better. I don’t need that embarrassing, invasive exam!”

“Ken feels differently. He thinks you DO need it! As a doctor I’m inclined to agree with him, Susan!” He smiled at her. “What’s all this crap about embarrassing. You’re a nurse for Christ sake! Besides, you’ll have two people attending to your needs before and throughout the entire exam. Two people that care and love you very much!”

“If I have that done, Ken will insist upon a colonoscopy and than those terrible barium enemas!” She took a breath. “No, I don’t want any part of it!”

Marks forceful voice had a pleading edge to it. His hands tightly gripped the back of the chair. This was not going the way he had planned! “Susan he loves you! He’s worried about you! With the diagnostic tests, he just wants to make sure you’re all right. Damn it, why do you think he acted so irrationally last week? He doesn’t want to louse something else he loves to either another man OR to a deadly decease!”

Susan stared at him soberly. She knew that what he just said made a lot of sense, but for whatever reason, she still wasn’t ready to concede or deal with it just yet! “I don’t want to hear another word!”

God, she’s stubborn! He spoke gently, “Susan a sigmoidscope exam is not half as bad as a proctoscope exam. You might feel a slight discomfort at the end of the exam when Ken has to blow some air up your rectum, that’s all. Hell, the enemas prior to the exam are the worse part!” Susan’s cheeks burned pink with embarrassment. She refused to speak. Her unrelenting stare was her answer to him. Mark thought it was a good idea that she know, now of the scheduled exam. “I might as well give it to you straight, Susan. Ken took the liberty of rescheduling you for the first of November at 10:00 am.”

She was SO mad, her soft voice went up in volume! “You can tell him for me not to hold his breath because I won’t be there! He has his nerve to schedule an exam without my consent! How dare he! CAN’T YOU SEE! He just wants to continue to control me!”

Mark was showing full blown anger now and raising his voice! “He simply wants you to have the exam to insure your state of health! Damn it, woman, he loves you! What the hell is wrong with you? CAN’T YOU SEE that!

It was at that moment that another nurse came into the lounge to tell Susan that she was needed in room 108.

She was glad for the excuse to get away from Mark and his upsetting perceptions. “If you will excuse me Dr. Cummings, I’m wanted somewhere else.” She stood up and made her way towards the door.

Mark briskly pulled the chair from underneath his crotch and was up before her in a flash barring the doorway’s entrance with his strong, muscular arm.

He was a giant next to her! She first looked down onto his outstretched arm and than up at his towering form. Her changing colored eyes were filled with contempt! “Let me pass, please!”

“Not until you promise me that you will at least think about all that I’ve said to you today!” Mark took notice of her changing eye color but thought his own eyes were playing tricks on him.

“I’ll promise you no such thing!” She said emphatically.

“Damn it Susan, I’m telling you the truth about the way Ken feels! Can’t you show a little tolerance and give him a another chance.” She raised her huge green, turquoise colored eyes to bore into his blue ones. Her eyes had changed into a kaleidoscope! ‘My God! Ken was right!’ To Mark they unquestionably appeared to be almost psychedelic! He was taken back for a moment. He wasn’t expecting a surreal experience!

Susan’s dimpled chin went up and her back bristled! Her lovely face was wet with tears and her tone of voice was assiduous! “Please let me pass Dr. Cummings or do I have to call for hospital security?”

‘She’s a little witch all right!’ Mark looked defeated and his deep voice murmured quietly. “No, that’s not necessary. I came to say all that I wanted.” He let his muscular arm fall. She walked hastily past him and down the hall away from him in a huff.

He figured he’d try one more thing and called out to her. “Wait a minute Susan!” She stopped in mid-stride. He walked down the hall to where she was.

Susan turned impatiently around to face him and let out an exasperated breath! “What is it now? I thought you said everything you wanted to say!”

“Susan, would it help if I was to talk to Ken and ask him to back off a while? Would that give you some time to calmly think things over?”

“Yes, yes that’s a good idea!” She answered abruptly. “I would appreciate it if you would do that. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Off she went!

He watched her cute rounded rear end sway from side to side beneath a narrow waist as she promptly walked down the hall. He smiled when he remembered the night he listened at the bedroom door to her sighs of pleasure when Ken invaded that attractive little ass of hers with an enema nozzle! He understood now why his brother was so smitten with her. Without a doubt he would feel the same way if she was his girl!

…

Mark was sitting opposite Sr. Katherine in her office carefully studying her while he contentedly chewed on the end of a pencil. Ken had gone home early to lick all of his wounds.

Mark threw the pencil down to lean all the way over so his cleft chin rested on the edge of her desk. He was playfully smiling at her. “You know Sister Kate your remind me of a cross between Aubrey Hepburn in “The Nuns Story” and Ingrid Bergman in, “The Bells of St. Mary’s. You’re far too pretty to be a nun!”

“Oh PLEASE, would you stop, already? If I didn’t know you any better, Mark Francis Cummings, I’d think you were toying with me!” Sister Katherine began to laugh. Mark’s face cringed when he heard his middle name spoken.

Mark always admired Sr. Kate’s sedate, dignified demeanor. Next to his Mom, he always noticed how stable and sure of herself she was in everything she did and said. He also thought that Sr. Kate was extremely attractive with her aristocratic fine features. In general he didn’t like the habits the nuns wore. They covered their bodies too damn much for his tastes. But for some reason he liked the way Sister Kate, gracefully carried hers and how the white head piece snugly framed her lovely face. He often wondered what color hair she had concealed under that white veil of hers. In addition to all that he knew what a wonderful nurse she was. All considering, he thought that Sister Kate was a beautiful looking woman!

“Was Ken’s backside feeling a little better when he left, Sr. Kate?”

Soft hazel eyes looked up calmly from the paperwork she was working on. Her gentle, cultivated voice was equally tranquil and attractive. “Yes, but I think his pride is more wounded than anything else. Any success with Susan this afternoon?” She was eager to know.

“I don’t know how successful I was but I know I gave her a lot to reflect upon. Incidentally Sr. Kate, I wouldn’t expect her to be here on November 1st. She was quite adamant that she won’t come for the sigmoidscope exam. Don’t be too surprise if my brother does what he threatened!”

Sister knew and was prepared for fireworks that day. “I know your brother only too well! I’m not looking forward to seeing them both butt heads on the first of November! Susan is headstrong! She’s not going to submit that easily! ”

“Whew, brother, you can say that again! I can’t remember when the last time I ever encountered such an uncompromising woman!” She insinuated that I needed a ‘good swift kick up my ass’!” He began to chuckle. “If she was my gal, I’d whack the daylights out of her cute little booty a second time!” Sr. Kate gave him a offended look! Mark straightened up and leaned back in the chair. “Oh a…., sorry Sister Kate. Ken told me how you felt about that hard spanking he gave her!” He quickly lead the conversation to go elsewhere. “By the way, her eyes affirmatively do change color! They scared the hell out of me! Someone should use her eyes on a neon sign for this year’s Halloween festivities!”

Sister Kate began to laugh. “That’s Susan all right! Though, I’ve never seen her eyes change.” She teased, “I have a sneaky suspicion that her eyes change color only when she’s around good looking, conceited doctors that happen to be related to one another.”

“Oh sister, cut it out!” Mark knew Sr. Kate liked to joke around.

“Do you think there’s a chance that they will make up?”

“I can’t answer that. But, I did promised Susan I’d talk to Ken to lay off for a while so she would have time to think things over. What’s wrong with her is that she’s scared and needs a little time. My brother has to come to realize that!”

“Do you think your brother will listen to you?”

“No, but I’ll take a stab at it just the same.”

“You’re bother can be just as stubborn as Susan!”

“Don’t I know it! Still and all, I can see why my brother has gone ape over her! She’s as beautiful up close as she is from a distance. Conceivably more so!” Mark hesitated before asking her a question. He didn’t want to appear to be too anxious. “Is her sister Shannon as exquisite as her?” He asked nonchalantly.

“Well, I’ve heard it said that some people think Shannon is more beautiful than Susan!”

Mark’s handsome face looked up in surprise! “Get out of here! More beautiful than Susan? That’s not possible!”

Sister smiled. “I personally think that both girls are extremely beautiful looking. They look identical in the small, soft facial traits that they both own. It’s their hair and eye coloring that are different.”

“Sister, how does that make one more stunning than the other?” Mark thought that Susan’s dark hair, peaches and cream color complexion and emerald green eyes were radiantly impressive!

“I guess it has to do with preference. Possibly, it’s Shannon opulent reddish, golden hair that seems to set her apart from other women in general.”

“Hmmm,” he murmured. Mark was deep in thought. ‘My, opulent and reddish, golden hair she said?’ His curiosity was now peaked and his fervent blue eyes seemed to shine with enthusiasm!

Sister was examining his face and noticed the spark in his startling blue eyes. “What does that mean, hmmm?”

“Just hmmm, Sr. Kate!” Mark gave her a tomfoolery grin! “What about Shannon’s health? Does she suffer with similar bodily complaints like Susan?”

“Shannon has terrible bouts of constipation. At first it was only a few times a year. But lately Susan says that it has gotten progressively worse. She’s been having to give Shannon enemas more often lately. In fact, I was needed at their home two weekends ago to help Susan in that endeavor.”

Mark frowned, “I bet Shannon wasn’t too thrill about that! How did it go?”

“Let’s just say it was a arduous task! Shannon is as disagreeable as a spoiled, defiant little child. She was in denial and persistently insisted she didn’t need help! She fussed the entire time that I was there! When Susan and I were finished giving her several enemas she wouldn’t even admit she felt better, which she undoubtedly did!”

“She sounds like she too, needs a firm hand from someone who knows how!”

“Oh, you think so?”

“I know SO Sister!” Mark lowered his eyes and smiled.

“And you think that YOU’RE that someone?”

“I could be!” His cleft chin went up to defy her.

“You’re very sure of yourself aren’t you, young man?”

Unwaveringly he answered, “Yes Sister, I usually am.” Sister gave him a controlled look. Mark became uneasy under her steady stare and lowered his chin. He cleared his throat, shifted in his seat and once again steered the discussion towards the topic of Shannon. “Shannon hasn’t made an attempt to make an appointment to see Ken, has she?”

“No such attempt will take place! She absolutely will not go anywhere near a doctor! She hates health professionals and any kind of medical procedure done on her!”

“Shannon too, has never had a pap smear or a vaginal exam?”

“Never!”

“The results of dear sweet Aunt Lucy’s tender, nurturing ways, right?”

“Right! The both girls have been to counseling twice now. Let’s hope it helps.” Sister gazed at Mark from above her reading spectacles. “Do you want to meet Shannon, Mark? I happen to know that she is unattached at the moment.” Sister knew of his reckless womanizing escapades. However, she thought similar to Ken! Hence being, that Mark just needed to meet the right girl to calm his impulsive carnal ways.

“Yeah, I thought about it. I even asked Ken to set up a blind date in the event that Susan and him get back together again. Why not? I’m game!” Secretly Mark liked girls that had a little fire in them. He saw them as a challenge. He was curious as hell to see what this one was like!

“Just so you know Mark.” Sister Katherine’s voice suddenly became firm and her facial expression serious. “Both girls were carefully brought up young ladies. Despite the fact that their father left them in the hands of a disturbed woman, they have been sheltered from the worldly aspects of life.”

“What are you trying to say, Sister?”

“What I’m trying to say Mark,” she said adamantly, “is that both girls are untainted.” Mark knew what that meant. Shannon was also a virgin and inexperienced. “If and when you do decide to meet Shannon remember to treat her special and with respect. You’ll find that she and Susan are unlike most girls their age. Surely you noticed how uncommon Susan is?”

“Hell, sure, I can tell that Susan is distinctly different and definitely stands out. Sister Kate, don’t worry. When and if the time comes I’ll conduct myself like a gentleman!” Mark’s razor sharp perception told him that he had just gotten an indirect dressing-down from Sister. He thought he would change the subject entirely.

“Tell me Sr. Kate I’ve heard it rumored that you didn’t become a nun until you were 35 years old. Isn’t that kind of old for woman to joined and run off to a nunnery?” Mark gave her one of his rapscallion grins. Being as attractive as she was he thought it was a waste that she had become a woman of the cloth. “What did you do all that time before the age of 35? Did you ever experience love or perhaps that’s not a question one should ask a nun?” He wondered how many times she had gotten laid and from how many men. He leaned over again to arrogantly place his elbows on her desk. He lifted his hands to cup his cleft chin and gave her a chipper, naughty smile. Mark thought that he had thrown her off guard. But, he hadn’t!

Sr. Kate was not naive. She knew how to handle arrogant young men. As a nurse she had had a lot of practice with navy pilots and sailors when she was in the military. Telling from the complacent tone of his voice and the impish expression on his handsome face she was totally aware of what it was he was eluding to. She decided to put him in place in a subtle, dignified way. She got up from her chair to pensively looked out the window and quietly spoke. “It’s quite all right. I don’t mind answering your questions, Mark!” She delayed a moment and than, while still facing the window, she began to speak again very slowly. “I’ll tell you a little story. I was fresh off a Montana farm when I left home to become a nurse. I was only 17. After getting my nursing degree, I joined the United States Navy at 21 and served in Vietnam. I had just turned 22 when I met a wonderful, vital human being. His name was David, a handsome Navy pilot. Like most young couples, we fell in love and got married. We were devoted to one another. We were married for three wonderful years, before…,” she paused a moment, “ before he was shot down and killed over some rice patty.” Her voice began to brake up a little.

Mark looked pained and gently whispered. “Sister please don’t, it’s not necessary for you to go on.” He was remorseful, now, for asking the question.

“NO, no it’s all right. I want to tell you. I want to tell you everything.” She took another breath before continuing. “I discovered I was pregnant three days after I found out about David’s death. I was overjoyed with happiness because in a way I had told myself that my sweet David hadn’t really died. I still had a part of him growing inside of me.” Sister paused again. “Five months later I lost the baby.” Mark squirmed uncomfortably in his chair as Sister continued. “David was special and dear to my heart. I tried other relationships but no one could take his place.” Sister straightened her back and turned to look down at Mark. “I became a nun ten years later and I have had no regrets since than. So you see, young man, being a woman first, I do know a little about lust, passion and love along with despair and heartache.” Sister stopped talking and sat down again behind her desk to study Mark’s meek reaction. “I discovered that having a life with David and my baby wasn’t meant to be.” Mark had longed stop smiling at her and had rested his back against the chair with his head bowed low. “Mark, you may not agree with me, but I sincerely believe that we all have a destiny in this world. I’d like to think that mine is serving the Lord and my fellow man here at St. Anthony’s for the purpose of doing good.”

Mark’s head hung in guilt between two broad shoulders. He felt so ashamed he couldn’t look at her square in the face or even speak. He finally lifted his head humbly to do both. Sister thought she saw a tear in his eye. “I’m sorry Sister Katherine. I didn’t know.” He reached over her desk to take a tight hold of her hand. “I can be a thoughtless, insensitive blockhead sometimes. Please forgive me?”

“It’s all right Mark. I know that you young people are sometimes impetuous as well as curious about us old folks from time to time!”

“Sister Kate, don’t ever say you’re old because you’re not.” He squeezed her hand before letting go. “Ken always said that there was something about you that was special and different. I guess he was right!”

“Ken always told me that you’re not as tough as you let on to be. I guess he was right about that too? Hmmm?

Mark looked sheepishly at her. “Yeah that’s right Sister Kate. I’m not so tough! Ken knows me better than I know myself!” He felt that Sister could see right through him as well! “I guess, Ken’s not the only one around here who knows me.” Mark thought meditatively for a few moments. “I never thanked you for helping my brother when his wife, Ann was dying. My entire family will forever be indebted to you for all that you did for him and for the rest of us during that distressing time.”

Sister got up from her desk chair to place her hand gently on Mark’s shoulder. “Dear Mark there’s no need to thank me. I was glad I was here to help Ann, you, and your lovely family!

There was an awkward silence for a few moments and Mark thought things had gotten a little sappy. “Hey a…., what do you say you let this foolish blockhead buy a beautiful nun a hamburger and a milk shake?”

Sister was all smiles and graciously accepted his kind invitation. “Sure why not, that’s sounds wonderful Mark, thank you!”

…

Mark was in Ken’s office early the very next morning to have a talk with him. He began to relate to Ken the conversation he had with Susan the day before.

Mark hoped that what he was about to propose would be accepted by his brother. Mark leaned over Ken’s desk resting his palms down on it’s edge and gave his bother a critical look. “Forget about the sigmoidscope exam, Ken. Susan made it very clear to me that she won’t be here on the first of November. Allow circumstances to improve between the both of you first and than reschedule her a second time.”

“Won’t be here, huh, well, we’ll just see about that!” Ken resembled a huge angry bull from behind his desk! His stern face was bowed and he refused to even look up towards his brother’s face.

Mark ignored his brother’s angry demeanor and continued, “She needs time to be left alone with her thoughts, Ken. Give her the time she needs. She’ll eventually come around. Try to be a little patient!”

“I’ll give her time, all right. Like hell, I’ll give her time!” Ken wasn’t even making an attempt to listen to his brother’s reasoning.

Pressing is palms down harder, Mark leaned over a little more over Ken’s desk. “God damn it Ken, she’s scared! You’re going too fast for her! Slow down and give her a chance to catch her breath!”

Ken finally lifted his irate face to glare at his brother! “Forget it! I don’t want to hear any more!”

Mark’s body straightened up and was becoming irritated. “You know you two deserve one another! You’re as stubborn and as pigheaded as she is!”

Ken continued to look up angrily at his brother from behind his desk and completely ignored everything Mark had said up to that point ! “You think maybe next time you can ask my permission before you decide to talk to my girl?! Where the hell do you get off from doing such a thing without coming to me and asking me first?!”

“I just wanted to be of some help, Ken.”

“Damn it, I don’t need help from my kid brother!”

Their voices began to get loud! “You SURE as HELL need something! Look at yourself! You’re going fucking crazy over this woman!”

“Don’t worry about me! I’m fine!”

“You call this fine?” Mark lifted his hand to point to Ken’s disheveled attire. “For Christ sake Ken, it looks like you slept in your clothes last night and it appears you didn’t even bother to shower or shave this morning?”

“Forget how I look! You flirted with her, didn’t you?” Ken’s eyes narrowed with malice! “That’s why you went to talk to her? You’ll never change! Once a lover boy, always a lover boy!”

Mark was hurt and surprised that Ken would even think he would do such a unscrupulous act to his own brother! “You’re crazy, Ken, I didn’t do any thing of the kind!”

“I don’t believe YOU! You’d SCREW anything with a skirt on!”

Mark gave him an injured look and yelled, “FUCK YOU!”

Sister Katherine had quickly come into Ken’s office. “Would you two keep your voices down? I can hear you both from all the way down the hall!”

Mark’s face was red with rage. “He’s all yours Sister Kate! I wash my hands of him!” With that said Mark’s powerful body stormed out of the office.

Sister turned stiffly towards Ken to speak her piece. “Ken, Mark’s intentions were honorable!” She waited for him to respond. “Mark loves you very much! He just wants to see you happy again!”

“Sister Katherine, please, just leave me alone.” Ken leaned tiredly over his desk and brought his hands up to cover his face.

Sister Kate decided to get tough! “Sorry, but that’s not going to happen, Ken. You have an hour before your rounds. I want you to go shower and shave in the back bathroom. You still have your electric shaver in your desk draw. You also have a clean shirt in the closet. I’ll bring you a light breakfast after you have finished.”

“Don’t bother, I’m not very hungry Sister Kate.” Wearily he lifted his face from behind his open hands.

“First, you’re going to eat every mouthful! Second, you’re going to stop feeling sorry for yourself and act the way a doctor is suppose to act! Do you hear me? Personal problems are left at home! They have no business here at a hospital where your ailing patients need you! NOW MOVE IT!”

Ken looked up at her passively. “Sister Kate, you sound just like my mother!”

Sister stood there rigidly and her voice remained firm! “If that’s what it takes, Ken, than so be it! If your not careful I’ll take a whip to your backside like a mother! Also you owe your brother an apology.”

Ken gave her a warm smile and complied to everything she demanded. That very evening he did in fact apologized to Mark for his uncalled-for accusation.

From that day leading up to the first of November governing factors stayed relatively calm at the hospital, thanks to Sister Kate’s firm hand. However, when the schedule day for Susan’s sigmoidscope exam soon approached, things once again began to spark.

To be continued………