Page 12 of The Doctor's Promise
Noemi chewed her lip. “It’s not that it’s not tempting, Laz, but I won’t feel as if I’ve earned it. What with being out of action for a year, then going abroad… I’d be stepping on some toes. Dieter wouldn’t like it.”
“Pah, who cares what Dieter thinks?”
“He thinks I’m not ready, and for once, I agree.”
Lazlo sat back, sighing. “If you have one fault, Noe, it’s your staggering and unwarranted lack of self-confidence. That is the only thing holding you back. You don’t have the killer instinct, that arrogance that means the difference between you being the best surgeon I’ve even nurtured… and, well…you.”
Noemi blinked, Lazlo’s observations coming out of nowhere. “I’m getting there, Laz.”
He nodded. “But not as quickly as you should. Want a nickel’s worth of free advice?”
“Always.”
“Break the rules. Professionally and privately. Push the boundaries, upset a few people, and then don’t apologize for it. I want to see you soar, Noemi Castor. Remember that.”
Noemi was still thinkingabout what Lazlo had told her as she sat in the cafeteria at lunchtime. Ally was moaning to Dieter about his behavior in surgery.
Dieter was shrugging. “Got the result we wanted though, didn’t I?”
“You can do it without being a total douche bag, though.”
Dieter grinned at her, leaning his chin on her shoulder. Ally pushed him away and Dieter laughed.
He nudged a toe at Noemi’s leg. “Hey, Spacecakes. You with us?”
Noemi shook herself. “Sorry. Just thinking about stuff.”
“Holy damnation and all that is glorious…” Ally suddenly sat up straight, staring over Noemi’s shoulder. “I have died and gone to heaven.”
Noemi looked around to see who Ally was lusting after. An extremely tall, surfer-blonde God was stalking towards them, a huge grin on his face. Noemi gave a cry of happiness and leapt up. The God grabbed her and swung her around in a bear hug.
“Noemi-bloody-Castor!”
“Kit, you big lug! Put me down!” She was giggling furiously. Kit beamed at the table, winking at Ally. “Everyone, this is Kit Vaughan, General Surgery God, despot, man whore, slut! Ow, ow!” Noemi giggled as Kit tickled her. He stuck his hand out and shook Ally’s hand.
“How you doing? … and you are?” His Australian accent boomed out over the cafeteria, attracting the attention of the other hospital staff, Noemi saw.
“Ally... short for Available,” Ally said, and Noemi snorted with laughter.
“Kit, you might have met your match with Ally. This is Dieter.”
Dieter and Kit shook hands, sizing each other up. Noemi was relieved when Dieter didn’t start a pissing contest; he just nodded to them and moved away.
Ally left them alone—reluctantly—and Noemi showed Kit around the hospital.
“It’s my job to persuade you to join us,” she grinned at her friend. “And believe me, I’m going to go all out.”
“I would expect nothing less after seeing what you did in Syria.”
“How is everyone?” It was the question she was dreading asking and yet the one she needed to know. Kit met her gaze.
“Everyone’s... alive. But sometimes, alive doesn’t mean everything is rosy, you know?”
“It’s bad?”
Kit nodded. “I think you got out when you should have. Some of the guys, Rick, Flynn, Sarah… they’re shattered, Noe. But we have to keep fighting to help people.”
“I know. It’s been on my mind to go back, but before I do, I need to build a life for myself here.”
