Page 52 of Doctor Neighbor

I smile, thinking about the threads that connect us all. It is, indeed, a small world.

As I stand to leave, James catches my arm. "Thank you, Dr. Hankel. For everything."

I pat his shoulder, feeling the weight of his trust. "That's what I'm here for. We'll see you in the OR soon.”

10:45 am

I walk out of the OR, peeling off my surgical cap and mask. The tension in my shoulders eases as I spot Carly at the nurses' station. She looks up, her eyebrows raised in question.

"Hey, Carly," I say, approaching her. "Harrison's surgery went well. I feel much better about this second round."

Carly's face breaks into a wide smile. She holds up her hand for a high five, which I gladly return.

"That's great news, B," she says, using her nickname for me. "I'll keep a special eye on him like before."

"Thanks, I appreciate that," I reply, a wave of relief washes over me.

As I lean against the counter, I reflect on the surgery. This time, I feel more confident and assured that we’ve addressed the issue thoroughly. There’s a gravitas to this case that I can’t shake, and I feel a sense of responsibility that goes beyond my usual commitment to patients.

I know it is connected to my desire to save my father. To change how it went for him.

I also love that his family is connected to Cole. It's almost like he was meant to be on my table.

Carly's eyes light up as she walks around the nurse’s station. "You're a great surgeon, you know that? I know we all give you a hard time, and you're our resident jokester, but you're very talented with that scalpel. Mr. Harrison is lucky he got you for his surgery."

I nod, a smile tugging at my lips. "Aww. Look, you can be sweet, after all. That was nice of you to say, Carly. I'm glad to know I have you fooled."

"Never can take a compliment, can you?"

Her confidence in me bolsters my own. I straighten up, feeling reinvigorated despite the long surgery.

"I'll check in on him later. Keep me posted if anything changes, alright?"

"You got it, B," she replies with a mock salute.

As I walk away, I feel a renewed sense of purpose. The connection to Cole, however unexpected, has added another layer to my commitment to James Harrison's recovery. It's a reminder of how interconnected our lives can be and how each patient's story extends far beyond the hospital walls.

I grab my gym bag and head out of the hospital, grateful for the unexpected free time in my schedule. The morning surgery's rescheduling and my 11:00 appointment moving up have left me with a perfect window for a good workout.

The drive to the gym is therapeutic in itself. I can feel the tension from the earlier surgery starting to melt away. There's nothing like a solid sweat session to clear my head and recharge my batteries.

I walk into the gym, the familiar scent of rubber mats and disinfectant greeting me. I nod to a few regulars as I walk to the locker room. Changing into my workout gear, I can already feel my muscles anticipating the burn.

I start with a quick warm-up on the treadmill, but my mind is still partially on James Harrison's case. But as I increase the speed and incline, I force myself to focus solely on my breathing and the rhythm of my feet hitting the belt.

Smiling to myself, I think about what Mrs. Harrison said. Cole and Maddie are like family to them. I felt pride when she said that. She is beloved to so many, including, possibly, yours truly. That is more than just a physical fling. As much as I’m trying to keep her at arm’s length, she keeps showing up in person, in conversation, and my mind.

After a good run, with my heart rate up and charged, I move to the weight area. I load up the barbell for some deadlifts, my go-to for releasing stress. As I grip the bar, I take a deep breath, pushing all thoughts of work out of my mind. It's just me and the iron now.

I lose myself in the workout, moving from deadlifts to bench presses and then onto pull-ups. The physical exertion feels good, and each rep pushes away the lingering worry about Harrison's recovery.

By the time I finish with a set of brutal burpees, I'm drenched in sweat but feeling infinitely better. The endorphin rush is exactly what I needed. I quickly shower, change into my scrubs, and head back to the hospital.

As I walk back into the hospital, I feel the familiar buzz of my phone in my pocket. I pull it out, curious to see who's reaching out. A smile spreads across my face as I see Cole's name on the screen.

I open the text, my heart skipping a beat as I read her message.

We passed the inspection! The case is closed! We're officially off the hook with the health department, except for probation, but I can handle that. I owe it ALL to you and Aric! THANK YOU!!

---