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when the needle pierced the skin , it took everything within her to keep him on the table .
gritting her teeth , she held her ground .
finally , when the last of the blood had been withdrawn , she was able to loosen her grip .
pesh tossed the syringe into the biohazard container and then turned around .
`` i advise you take some ibuprofen for both the pain and for the anti-inflammatory benefits .
i would also do a round or two of using an ice pack on your crotch .
it would be my strongest advice that you never take anymore erectile dysfunction medication until you actually need it . ''
`` whatever , '' mr. robertson croaked , collapsing back onto the table .
`` give him about thirty minutes , and then he needs to head on home .
we 'll need the exam room , '' pesh instructed .
`` okay , i will . ''
he gave her a quick smile before exiting the room .
after thirty minutes , she saw mr. robertson to the door of the er .
as he staggered into the waiting room , she shook her head .
`` megan , '' kristi called .
`` yes ? ''
`` go ahead and take your dinner break now . ''
`` are you sure ?
i mean , i can work through it since we 're so busy . ''
kristi shook her head .
`` we 're fine .
besides , you 're going to need all your strength .
things are probably going to get even crazier after the sun goes down . ''
megan tried not to appear horrified at the prospect .
instead , she ducked into the break room to grab her purse .
when she came out , pesh was waiting for her .
`` where are you going ? ''
`` oh , it 's my dinner break . ''
pesh gave an impish smile .
`` how fortunate .
it 's mine as well . ''
realizing what he was intending , she slowly shook her head back and forth .
`` no dates . ''
after crossing his arms over his chest , pesh asked , `` and how would it be a date if we happened to go to the cafeteria at the same time and sit at the same table ? ''
`` you 're pushing it , and you know it . ''
`` after what we both just endured , how can you deny me the pleasure of buying your dinner ? ''
a teasing twinkle flashed in his dark eyes-one she was n't used to seeing on him .
for some reason , she found it completely irresistible .
`` besides , how can i possibly have romance on my mind when i just held another man 's penis in my hands ? ''
her eyes widened in shock at his words .
`` d-did you actually just say that ? ''
`` yes , i believe i did . ''
she shook her head .
`` i ca n't believe you sometimes . ''
`` do n't try to pin me as one thing or the other .
just take me as i am , '' pesh suggested .
`` i 'll try . ''
as they started to the elevator , megan chewed her lip with unease .
turning to pesh she asked , `` what will people say if they see the two of us together ? ''
`` that we 're two single people having dinner , '' he replied .
`` you 're a physician , and i 'm a clinical student .
could n't i get in trouble ? ''
`` doctors and nurses often have dinner together on their breaks .
the cafeteria is a pretty inconspicuous place for us to be alone together .
if someone came upon us in one of the medicine rooms or an empty patient room , then we might have a problem . ''
`` if you say so , '' she mumbled , as he punched the down button on the elevator .
after they stepped on the car , pesh eyed her .
`` you really are worried , are n't you ? ''
she nodded .
`` my career means everything to me .
i do n't want to do anything to jeopardize it . ''
`` then i 'll make sure we do n't sit by ourselves . ''
`` thank you .
i really appreciate that . ''
as the car started its decent down , pesh threw his head back and exhaled a long breath .
`` well , that was ... '' megan grinned at him .
`` the good doctor seems speechless .
surely in all your years in the er , you 've seen crazier or more mortifying cases . ''
he cocked his head , appearing thoughtful .
`` a screwdriver lodged in a rectum is probably the tamest . ''
`` the tamest ? ''
megan questioned incredulously , as the elevator door dinged open .
pesh laughed .
`` a man high on meth walking into the er with his penis in his hand is probably the craziest . ''
megan 's hand swept over her mouth .
`` he actually cut off his ... '' she gazed around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation .
`` is the good nurse speechless ? ''
he teased .
she rolled her eyes at him .
`` so what happened ? ''
`` we got him sedated and into surgery as soon as we could .
i heard they were able to sew it back on .
i 'm not aware of whether or not it was ever ... fully functional again . ''
`` that is crazy . ''
`` i know . ''
pesh handed her a food tray .
as they surmised their choices , megan asked , `` was that your standard line of questioning in a situation like that ? ''
`` i think we 've established that i have n't been privy to many priapism cases , but yes , any time there is an issue with the penis that is not related to the urethra or bladder , you would ask those questions . ''
after the food service worker gave them both an odd look , pesh looked pointedly at her .
`` why do you ask ? ''
she shrugged .
`` just to be prepared for the next time . ''
he cocked his brows at her .
`` do you want to practice your line of questioning ?
you know , show me what you 've learned ? ''
`` let 's get our food first , shall we ? ''
`` okay . ''
after deciding that the grilled chicken salad was about the most appealing item in the food line , she grabbed a drink and some of the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies .
just as she inched up to pay , pesh put his tray next to hers .
he had chosen some kind of stir-fry that did n't look appetizing to megan .