Page 111 of Dr. Intern

The ER is a beehive of activity, with doctors and nurses moving around urgently. As I approach the nurses’ station to check in, I notice Morgan sitting casually at the desk, typing away on her computer as if the chaos around her is nothing more than white noise.

“Happy New Year,” I greet her, leaning my elbows on the counter across from her. “How was your hangover?”

Her green eyes glance up at me, clearly unamused by my interruption. Normally she’d be eating up the distraction, bantering back and forth with me for a while, but today her gaze quickly returns to the screen.

“Hangovers are for the weak,” she states simply.

I chuckle, pulling out my pager to check my patient’s location. “I think being young helps too.”

“You’re only a year older than me, dumbass,” Morgan retorts. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she adds, “Sorry, busy day.”

“Someone finally making you work around here?” I tease.

She lowers her mask and sticks out her tongue at me. “I just feel bad for Claire. Shitty day to start her externship. I’ve got her running around looking for a bladder scanner right now because I think the fucking ICU nurses stole ours again.”

The morning’s been such a whirlwind that I totally forgot Claire was around today. The nurse manager called her a few days ago and asked when she could start. Since school doesn’t begin for another week, she suggested today to get her feet wet before her schedule gets hectic.

“I’ll make it up to her tonight in bed,” I joke, trying to put us both in a better mood.

Morgan rolls her eyes and waves me off. “God, you’re so fucking gross. Get out of here.”

I laugh, already feeling slightly better as I navigate through the chaos to find my patient. I’m looking forward to getting home so that I can hear about how Claire’s first day was. She was so excited when she got the job offer, immediately rushing out to the store to buy an arsenal of scrubs and supplies. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and one of the things I love the most about her. There’s no fucking way I’m letting her go.

Fortunately, the consult isn’t an ortho case, so I pass off the patient to general and snake back through the ER. On my way out, an idea pops into my head.

I called Parker’s bluff and lost the hand. Now I’ve got to play my ace.

“Is Cass working today?” I ask Morgan while she’s frantically trying to untangle the EKG machine leads.

Letting out a pained sigh she says, “Yeah, the lucky bitch is on triage, probably reading her damn Kindle.”

Thanking her, I maneuver around a group of med students with overwhelmed expressions on their faces.

Been there guys—it’ll get better.

True to Morgan’s prediction, Cassidy is stationed at the triage desk, but she’s far from lost in her Kindle. Instead, I find her attentively engaging with a middle-aged woman who’s raising her voice at her. I momentarily think about stepping in, but Cassidy seems to have everything under control, exuding a sense of calm and empathy as she handles the heated exchange with remarkable poise. The woman eventually exhausts herself and offers an apology before retreating to the waiting area.

“Hey, Cass,” I say, leaning against the open door of the circular triage desk.

She spins in my direction, looking just as drained as I feel. Glad to know everyone’s having a shitty day, and it’s not just me.

“Hey, Buff,” she teases, knowing how much I hate the new nickname. “Come to take some of this shit off my hands?”

I grimace, imagining the day she’s had. “Well, you’re definitely not reading your Kindle with your feet propped up, like Morgan suggested.”

Cassidy rolls her brown-gold eyes, her hands running through her hair to tighten her high ponytail. “She’s so clueless. I don’t know why she thinks triage is the easiest assignment.”

“Wanna take a break?” I suggest, hoping she can find some time, or get someone to cover for her. I’m not one to let emotions fester, so I need to nip this shit with Parker in the bud before it goes any further.

Her eyes light up with the idea. “It’s like you read my mind. Give me ten to grab our charge, and I’ll meet you by the elevators.”

I take the time to write a short note about my consult and catch up on my emails. It seems I haven’t been bombarded with shit like Walker has. Technically, I still practice under his license until next year, so he’s responsible for everything I do within the walls of the hospital. It sucks that Parker’s outburst added another thing to his plate, and I’ll definitely have to take him out for drinks once this storm passes.

When Cass meets up with me, I quickly explain the situation to her now that I know she’s aware of my relationship with Claire. She listens attentively, allowing me to get it all out before she simply scoffs and takes my hand, leading me through the hospital in the direction of Parker’s office.

His door is closed, but Cassidy barges right through, not bothering to knock or check for visitors. Her boldness doesn’t surprise me one bit—she’s not one to shy away from confrontation, and it’s something I’ve always admired about her.

As we enter the office, Parker looks up from his desk, his expression unreadable. When Claire described him as robotic, she was spot on. The man maintains an iron grip on his emotions, like a damn monk.

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