Page 86 of Doctor One Night

Frankie stands across from me, suited up and scrubbed in, her eyes locked on the monitors and then on Grace, focused and intense. It’s not often you see a researcher in the OR, but there was no way I was doing this without her. This is as much her victory as it is mine—hell, probably more so.

“We’re about to place the device,” I say, glancing up at Frankie. Her eyes meet mine, and there’s a flicker of something between us, an unspoken understanding of how monumental this moment is. She gives me a small nod, her expression a mix of determination and nervous energy.

“Let’s make history,” she says, her voice steady but laced with emotion.

I turn my attention back to Grace, every movement calculated, every decision precise. “Pacing leads are going in now,” I announce to the room. “Prepare for a post-op echo to confirm placement and pacing thresholds.”

The PA and nurses move in sync, but my focus is on the device, on making sure it’s placed perfectly. Frankie’s work, her years of research, all come down to this. I carefully position the pacemaker, checking the leads one final time.

“Leads are secure,” I confirm, my voice steady, but my heart is pounding. “Frankie, want to take a look?”

She steps forward, peering over my shoulder as I finish the placement. Her breath catches—this is her baby, her design, now inside a human heart, doing exactly what it was built to do.

“Everything looks good,” she says, her voice barely a whisper. But I can hear the pride, the relief, and the weight of the moment all wrapped up in those few words.

“Let’s get that post-op echo,” I say, more to the team than to her. “I want to confirm lead placement and pacing thresholds before we move her to recovery.”

As we close up, I glance at Frankie again. There’s something between us that’s different now, a deeper connection forged in the heat of this moment. It’s like we’re the only two people in the room, even though the OR is bustling around us. We’ve shared something profound, something that goes beyond just work.

In the post-op room, Grace is still under anesthesia, her face relaxed, almost peaceful. I review the immediate post-op orders with the PA and nurses, detailing the importance of frequent vitals checks, ensuring her pain management is optimal, and keeping her on continuous cardiac monitoring for at least the next forty-eight hours.

Frankie stands beside me, her hand resting lightly on Grace’s bed. “She’s stable,” I say, glancing at Frankie. “Pacing is stable, and her rhythm is solid. We’ll keep her on telemetry and monitor for any signs of lead dislodgment or pocket hematoma.”

Frankie nods, but her eyes are still on Grace. “I can’t believe we did it,” she murmurs. “I’ve been dreaming about this becoming a reality for so long, and now... it’s real.”

I place a hand on her shoulder, a gesture that is both natural and scary. “You did it,” I correct her. “My humble job was to put it in, but you made this happen.”

She looks up at me, her eyes shining with a mix of tears and pride. “Thank you, Hunter. I couldn’t have asked for a better surgeon to do this.”

“There was no way I was letting anyone else touch this,” I reply, my voice softer than usual.

We stand there for a moment, letting the gravity of what we’ve accomplished sink in. But then reality pulls me back.

When Jonah and Tim Calloway walk in together, I turn to them. They know I'm leaving today to deal with some things with my mom's stuff in California. I'm torn about it, but it was planned before we got approval and I didn't want to put off surgery until after I returned.

“You know I’ll be available any time, day or night, if anything comes up with Grace, while I’m gone.”

“We've got this, man,” Jonah says. “You go on to Cali and put your legs up, relax. We’ll take care of Grace.”

“Ha. If only.”

“No, seriously, man, you know I’m just messing with you. You did the hard part, now we nurse her back to health. She's in good hands. You've assembled a good team. I really appreciate all you’ve done.”

Frankie looks at me, a flash of concern crossing her face. She wanted to come with me but couldn't make it work with her schedule. I was disappointed, but I didn't make a deal of it because I know she would have made it happen if she could have.

The two men walk out, leaving the two of us alone again.

“Are you going to be okay by yourself?”

“I will be. I'll miss you, but I'll be busy meeting with the attorney, picking up ashes and signing the listing agreement. It won't be fun.”

Before we walk out, I turn back to Frankie one last time. “Make sure Grace behaves herself, okay?”

She smiles, a real one this time, the kind that reaches her eyes. “I will. Someone has to take the hard-ass mantle with you gone.”

As I walk through the corridors of the hospital, my steps are lighter, like a part of the burden I’ve been carrying has lifted. We did something incredible today, something that will give people a better shot at health and longevity. But as much as I want to focus on that, my mind is already racing ahead to California, to the past I need to confront.

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