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“Yeah, sure,” I answer and hold the door open for him, since, you know, he’s carrying my kid.

We arrive at the car in no time, both in silence. There, I unlock the car, and he places him down on his chair, buckling him in and straightening his head up while I hold his jacket for him. All the while, Dylan doesn’t even stir. That kid is a heavy sleeper.

When he straightens from bending inside the back seat, I give him his jacket back. He thanks me quietly before putting it on.

“Thank you, Professor, for everything. It was very kind of you.” I smile weakly, trying to hide the discomfort of this favour that I now owe him.

“Please, call me Arthur,” he requests quietly, and I nod absentmindedly. Knowing full well I won’t do it anytime soon.

“I want to apologise, honestly,” he starts, scratching the back of his neck. “I was nasty to you from the beginning, and I had no proper reason to be. I made all of these wrong assumptions based on a really bad experience I had in the past, just because you remind me of someone.”

I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off.

“I was fucking awful to you, and every time you were nothing but polite and respectful,evenwhen defending yourself.” He sighs before continuing. “Then, when I saw that Dylan was your kid and not your boyfriend…and, em, it dawned on me that you’re not who I assumed you to be. Fuck,” he hisses quietly. “I’m rambling now.” He rubs his forehead before looking back at me. “Anyway, I really am sorry.”

His dark brown eyes are looking directly at me, unwavering, and it makes me feel weird. Even though what he did is not okay, it takes courage and self-introspection to recognise one’s mistakes. And in reality, I’m not one to hold grudges.

“Of course, Professor. Let bygones be bygones,” I say simply. “I have to go now, toddler to put to bed and all.”

We smile back at each other before I slip inside the car and drive home with a sleeping kid in the back and a small smile on my face. I don’t know why but a weight seems to have been lifted off my chest and I feel lighter.

THIRTEEN

Liam

“Davis,canyoucheckthe vitals for me?” Dr Shawn asks, and I head to the machine right away, telling him the heart rate and oxygen levels, as well as everything else he needs to know to ensure the patient is stable.

At first, I had to be walked through the steps; now, I do it automatically. It comes naturally. The hospital is the only place over the past few years where I’ve felt completely relaxed and sane. Even through the roughest shifts.

“Good, we’re almost done,” he comments, screwing the last screw into the titanium plate that’s stabilizing the patient’s leg.

This man was in a terrible car accident, being admitted exactly a few minutes before my shift was finished. But as the workaholic I am, I couldn’t pass the opportunity to stay behind and learn more while assisting Dr Shawn.

He sure can be a pain in the ass sometimes and quite demanding with me, but I’ve come to realise, over these last three months, that he’s extra hard on those he sees potential in, and it makes me proud and even more dedicated.

We’re past the point of talking about me staying extra hours when things like this happen; he wants me to stay, and he knows I won’t let the opportunity pass. It’s a non-spoken agreement between both of us.

After telling him the vitals, I rush to his side, trying not to miss much of what he’s doing. He’s already suturing up the patient’s leg which had a nasty open fracture. Fortunately, this is the worst that the accident has given him besides a few broken ribs, bruises, and skin burns. But still, this has been a two-hour surgery.

And since my shift was a ten-hour one this time, it means I’ve been in this hospital for about twelve hours. I don’t feel the exhaustion...yet. I’m sure the moment I shower when I get to my apartment, I’ll fall on the bed and sleep through the day.

“And we’re done!” Dr Shaw claims. “Deborah, Ella, can you prep the patient and take him to his recovery room?” The nurses nod, and Dr Shawn finally turns to me.

“That was awesome,” I tell him. “It took you almost three hours, though, old man. Sure you’re not losing your touch?”

“Don’t push your luck, boy, or I’ll have you do it the next time something like this comes up,” he grumbles while we doff our garments and gloves and head to the small room outside of the surgical area to start washing our hands.

“Who says that’s not what I want? I’ve seen how it’s done now; I could do it with my eyes closed.” I wink at him.

“You’re one arrogant bastard, I’ll give you that.” His voice is low and steady, with a slightly disapproving tone to it, yet it’s resigned.

It makes me laugh, and even though his lips tug up, he complains, “Pull a stunt like that again, Davis, and I’ll put you in the cleaning services for a whole week.”

I put my white coat as I answer him, “As if; you’d go crazy with all those dumb assholes running around like lost sheep when they don’t understand what you want from them.” I wink at him again before continuing, “Tomorrow’s my day off, and since I’ve been here for an extra two hours already, I am going to go now. Don’t miss me too much.”

He mutters something under his breath that I can’t quite catch, but I don’t bother. He makes it seem like I am some obnoxious kid, but he knows damn well how dedicated I am to this shit, and he recognizes it, even though I enjoy riling him up.

Heading to the locker rooms so I can change, grab my backpack, and head off, I have to go through the paediatric department, which is my favourite, and the only speciality that made me waver on my decision to go through with choosing cardiology.

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