Love in labcoats

CASE FILE 05

Mavis’s POV

5:41 a.m.

I had already left my quarters refreshed and dressed in black scrubs beneath my lab coat.

I seized the opportunity to review some patient files when the hospital finally began to wake up.

From the window of my office, Manhattan looked washed in steel-blue light, the city still caught between night and morning. Ambulances moved like silent shadows below, and the cardiology floor remained unusually quiet.

I preferred it that way.

Quiet meant I could think.

Unfortunately, I was thinking about an intern.

I closed the stack of files and leaned back in my chair.

Silvia Gwendolyn Pears.

Late on her first day. Untied shoelaces. Far too much personality for cardiology.

And yet she had noticed the skin color change before the monitor alarm.

Most interns watched machines.

She had watched the patient.

That bothered me more than it should have.

Stroking my already shaved jaw, I checked the time.

5:52 a.m.

Early, if she came at all.

I expected 6:10 at best.

A knock sounded at the door.

Precisely at 5:58.

Interesting.

I opened the door and found Dr. Silvia Pears standing in the corridor holding two paper cups of coffee.

One looked dark .

Clear.

The other looked like the person who made it had no teeth left.

Her brownish blonde curls were gathered into a ponytail, a few strands escaping around her face, and she looked absurdly pleased with herself.

Almost like she won an award.

The smell reached me before the cup did.

Sugar.

Caramel.

Regret.

One eyebrow lifted before I could stop it.

“What,” I asked, “is that?”

“Coffee,” she said with alarming confidence.

No, it wasn’t.

It was dessert with a medical degree.

“ That …is caramel syrup wearing a coffee costume,” I said. I stepped aside carefully and watched her walk in.

She was shorter than I expected.

Comparing our height I should be seven feet taller even with those heels, I guessed she was around five foot eight.

I walked around to my desk and sat still watching how those green irises swept around my office.

“Sit” I ordered.

She sat immediately. Now I'm thinking, isn't she uncomfortable under my gaze or scared of my presence?

I watched her intensely as she spoke about the patient we saved yesterday. She's smart but with the personality of a social worker not a cardiologist. Not that I oppose it honestly, she brings the light into the room.

Then she said leaning into the chair with that smug smirk crawling on her lips.

“ Did you just diagnose my coffee?”

“ I diagnose poor decisions professionally” I fired back.

Quietly, she chuckled and for the first time in a long while , I found myself wanting to smile too.

Finally, with the instructions I gave she left my office still leaving that caramel syrup scent behind.

I sighed .

Picking up the paper cup,I noticed it wasn't mine when I saw a faint heart-shaped gloss print on the rim.

I smirked to myself as I took a sip.

Instant regret. It was as sugary as I predicted. Regardless, I drank it.

Checking my watch the time read 7:04 a.m.

By now she should have gathered the other interns.

By now she was probably talking.

By now she had probably turned cardiology into a social event.

The thought should have annoyed me.

It didn’t.

That annoyed me even more.

I stood, buttoned my white coat,took my caramel syrup tasting coffee and headed for the orientation room. The corridor lights reflected off the polished floor, and nurses stepped aside as I passed, greeting me with quiet respect.

“Morning, Dr. Quill.”

I nodded once.

Professional. Controlled. Predictable.

That was who I was.

Then I pushed open the orientation room door.

All eleven interns looked up immediately.

“Settle down” as I said calmly. I mentally counted the Interns present and again she's not here.

The orientation doors swung open as she walked in looking like she just got embarrassed while coming here. Refusing to look me in the eye.

“Let us continue. I said, still holding my coffee.

Twelve in number means 4 in 3 groups . Luke , Kendall, Sara and Mark you're all In group 1 and your supervising doctor is Dr Joe. Hannah, Patrick, Ethan and Kimberley you all are in group 2 and your supervising doctor will be Dr Finn . Finally, Joanna, Rule , Philip and… Silvia in group 3 . Supervising doctor, me. Are we clear?”

“Yes sir” as they echoed .

“Thank you for your time” as I walked out sipping my sugary coffee .

“Where's my team ?” I said standing in the hallway as Silvia, Joanna , Rule and Phil walked to me .

“ Now working with me is not fun. instead,you all are gonna do more work than the rest…buckle up. Here are your rules”, as I walked through the hallway and they followed.

“ Number 1 . No side talking. Just follow simple instructions and if you have questions ask me .

2. Be neat in all ramifications. Dressing, writing, attending to patients, eating you name it and no excuses. Taking a sharp right turn I continue.

Lastly, don't call me for unnecessary reasons if it's not a life or death situation, don't bother because I like my peace”. With that,I established .

My attention was drawn to my pager as it read another patient admitted .

“Alright.First lesson starts now . Follow me as I lock eyes on Silvia for a second longer than necessary . For some reason she looks adorable when she's shy .

Focus .

I turned towards the elevator and the four interns followed behind me.