Chapter 3
Since talking to Odin, Thor had retreated to his room, not even greeting his lovely mother. He was too absorbed in his thoughts.
Was he really such a bad person that everyone thought him incapable of living his life alone? Probably. Thor knew he could make more of himself but he hadn't yet shown the same ambition as other young men of his age did. So far, his own pleasure had always been first.
Smiling, he thought back to the time when he had celebrated a huge victory with Fandral and Volstagg. At that time, they had played in the local volleyball team and the three men just wanted a big bottle of mead and maybe the company of beautiful women.
It had been one of the best evenings he had experienced in his young life because he had met Jane. The shy woman had sat with her friend Darcy at a table next to him and drunk a glass of red wine. Her gorgeous face had captured his interest. Confidently, Thor had walked over to the ladies and invited them to his table. Jane, however, had once looked at him critically from the top to the bottom and had thankfully refused. Never before had anyone turned him down, neither man nor woman. The young lady was the first one and his ego had been offended. In the background, his friends had laughed at him. Still, giving up wasn't an option for Thor. Piece by piece he had conquered her heart, had asked whether she had made bad experiences with men or whether she, because of her beauty, was addressed too often that evening. Jane had denied all of that and said that at the time she was simply not bothered about men as she was working on an important study for her research. That's why Thor had cleverly gotten his chance and asked if she would have a coffee with him when she wasn't so busy anymore.
The end of this story was that he had actually seen her again and the two of them had been together for a year until Jane had decided against him and for her work, which had led her to London.
His ex-girlfriend had always been a workaholic. Her studies were more important to her than romantic and sex. Back then, Thor hadn't understood her when she complained again that he was using his talents for the wrong things. She had said that if he'd use his charm to convince investors to spend money on his father's business, the Borson family would be even more successful, even more efficient.
How right she had been. Now he lay here in his old room and was faced with the ruins of his life. Thor's studies were in danger. He couldn't imagine, for the sake of it, that his dean would understand the fact that he had driven drunk. His friends had turned away from him, especially Sif and Volstagg. His sister had to keep things going, as he had been in the rehab clinic for over half a year, and had even put her own medical studies on hold. And lastly, he had unnecassarily endangered an innocent human life, the driver could have been dead after all. Shamefully, he still didn't know his name or injury. For that matter, Odin had left everything to his lawyers.
Thor hit his pillow with a frustrating scream. What had he done? He always thought that something like that couldn't happen to him because everything was running like a clockwork. But only now did he realize that it hadn't been him who had guided his life in the right way, but others. It was his father's money which had garanteed the best education and the wildest parties. His friends had been there for him and had helped him when he didn't know what to do. Years ago, Jane had already realized his problem, that he was no longer focused on important things and had lost sight of his goals. It was that terrible accident which had finally shaken him up and made him aware that he had been in a downward spiral and still was.
But he would now draw a line here. He just had to believe in himself, survive the internship and leave a good impression. After that, he hoped, his life would return to normal. It couldn't be that difficult?
****
After a quick breakfast with his sister the next day, they both drove together to the headquaters of their company, which was in New York City. Both were greeted friendly, but Thor quickly realized that from now on, things would change.
It all started when Brunhilde got a steaming coffee from her assistant and he only got a piece of paper which said where he had to go to find the nurses' room. At first, Thor stood there staring stunned at the note in his hand until he caught himself and got into the elevator, but not into the seperate car for the management, no, he went into the car for the nursing staff.
Rarely had the blonde man felt so small when the other employees looked at him in surprise. For years, he had always walked confidently through the entrance hall and now he stood in a crowded elevator, feeling insecure and bowing his head.
When Thor arrived, he almost stumbled over his own feet but otherwise managed to reach his destination uninjured. He knocked hesitantly and it took a while until he heard an annoyed 'enter'.
"Good morning. I'm Thor and will start my intership, today."
With these words, the still young woman turned around and looked at him confused for a short moment. After that, she came closer. Thor noticed that she was a whole shorter than he was, yet she walked with an over-confidence as he only knew from his friend Sif. Certainly, no patient dared to act up. When the redhead finally stopped in front of him, she just glanced at him.
"So you're Odin's offspring. I've heard that you'll start today, but honestly, I didn't expect you to make it here on time. I am Natasha Romanov and I'm the head nurse on duty. Ok, come on, put your bag into the locker and give me your size."
Thor followed her instructions and while he put his things into the small, green locker, Natascha looked for some clothes for him.
"You're lucky. We still have pants in your size."
She opened the closet and pushed the white pants into his hands. Next, he got a dark blue shirt and a name tag which said that his name was Thor B. and he was still in training.
"Do not stare. Move! I will instruct you after that and will explain which tasks you have to take over."
There was really a harsh tone on station and as Thor left the room to change, he looked around for the first time. Many nurses were walking from room to room, some were on the phone, other nurses spoke to the drivers. Everything had to be done quickly, accurately and without any mistakes. Time was precious and patients were waiting. First doubts came over the blonde man, doubts that he wasn't created to do this profession correctly. But what elese should he do instead? If he wanted to get his life back then he had to pull himself together and do his very best.
When he came back, Natascha was already waiting for him.
"What took you so long? Haven't you been taught how to put on a pair of pants? No wait, it doesn't matter now. Come here and sit next to me."
Immediately he got a small cellphone and a yellow folder, where his roster was in it.
"As you can see, you rarely have to take the shifts in the morning. In theory it's enough if you continue to be here by ten o'clock. Please have the cellphone with you during the whole shift and make sure that it is charged. You have to use it in case of emergency. But from time to time, it's also used for things, as if a driver is stuck in traffic and doesn't make it in time. The first week you'll stay with me and I want you to watch my work to get a feeling for it. You only help, if I say so and if the patients allow it. So far, is everything clear?"
Thor just nodded.
"Good. Today we'll meet with the driver in 20 minutes, we've to bring an elderly lady to her doctor's appointment. There, she will be taken care of by the physician's assistants. It'll be our task that her transport is as safe as possible and everything works out with the registration. Then we'll go on to the local university where we pick up a young man to bring him to his physiotherapeutic treatment. He's a new patient who had an accident last year and has been paralyzed from the chest down since then. As his rehabilitation is still ongoing, he needs a little more help with activities of the daily living. We'll bring him to his therapists, assist if necessary with the treatment, then drive him home and arrange things for the evening, such as preparing dinner, changing clothes and so on. About six p.m., his sister will come and take over."
For the first moment, his day sounded simple but he knew enough about nursing that even the simplest things could quickly lead to problems. But Thor was motivated. He really wanted to prove himself and to the world that he could work hard and take responsibilities. He would do anything to put his life back together.