ELIZABETH

“Dr. Myers, we have a gunshot wound—Code Grey!”

Great, a combative patient.

Breaking into a sprint I burst into the E.R.

An EMT, Mike Peters, fights down a young, white male baring bad teeth, cheap tattoos and a bloody left side.

I check out the kid, noting, “Pupils are dilated. Test him for everything. Is the room ready?”

Sharon nods as Peters and I strap the kid down with leather cuffs while he cusses at us like one possessed.

The EMT and Teri Johnson, his female counterpart, wheel this kid into the Trauma Room where multiple beds stand at the ready separated by curtains with an X-Ray machine waiting nearby. We don’t have time to send someone upstairs for results when patients arrive like this.

“Could be drugs or a psychotic episode. I need to know what I’m dealing with.”

Nurse Sharon nods, “You got it, Dr. Myers,” as she rolls the tray of needles closer.

The kid looks at it like he just won the jackpot.

Rolling my eyes, I mutter, “Pretty sure how those tests will come back,” and cut his shirt open with surgical scissors so I can see the wound.

Dr. Gilroy appears at my side. “Do you want me to take care of this, Dr. Myers?”

“No, I’m on it.”

“Mind if I watch?”

I don’t get a chance to state the obvious, that she should watch—she’s here to learn, isn’t she?—because the kid has started singing the Sid Vicious song, ‘My Way’ at the top of his lungs, squirming on the table. “And now, the end is near! And so I face the final curtain!”

“Yo Sid, you wanna spend the rest of your exciting life with metal inside of your ribcage?”

He spits in my face.

I pause. “Why don’t you buy me dinner first?”

He cracks up and thankfully calms downs, my comical retort having the positive effect humor often has.

Sharon smears sanitizer onto a tissue and cleans my face while I inspect the wound.

“This is too deep. Prep the O.R., and sedate him.”

“Yes!!”

“Thought you’d like that.” To Janet I cock an eyebrow. “You know what we need to do?”

She nods, “Police report.” Every gunshot or knife wound, anything involving a weapon, requires one. “Can I perform the surgery?” Janet asks again.

Since it is her job to learn I sigh, “Fine.”

Pivens walks in, “What do we have here?”

“Not exactly sure and he’s in no mood to tell us the truth.”

Janet informs him as she eyes the wound, “I’m taking the bullet out.”

For some reason, this annoys me. Or maybe it’s the spittle that set me on edge. Whatever the case, I glance to Pivens, “Oversee this for me?”

“You got it.”

In the corridor I find an unwelcome sight. The sexy police officer I escaped earlier is standing with Caden of all people. Dammit if my heart doesn’t skip two beats.

One for the wrong reason.

One for the right.

I march up to them. “Dr. Cocker, you are not supposed to be here!”

The cop and my second-year exchange a smirk.

“Caden, you know this woman?”

“Never seen her before, Wyatt.”

My lips part in shock.

“You haven’t? Because I have. Just this morning I pulled this beauty over. Reckless driving. Her music was so loud she couldn’t hear my siren.”

Caden crosses his arms, “I hope you gave her a ticket.” If I were a cartoon there would be steam exploding from my ears. “We don’t want people to get hurt out there. It would be a pity if a doctor sent someone to the hospital.”

“Guess I’ve got a soft spot for sultry brunettes. Although I have to admit she looked better without the coat.” His gaze drops to my chest.

Caden snaps, “Alright, that’s enough!” He steps forward. “Sorry, Dr. Myers. This is my cousin Wyatt, and we get carried away when we’re together. It’s a family thing. I didn’t mean anything by it. This isn’t the place—I get that. Shouldn’t have let it start up, and I definitely didn’t mean for him to look at you in that way. I am truly sorry.”

Now I’m not sure what to do—chastise him or shrug and tell him to forget about it?

Glancing over I see two nurses watching. To maintain my appearance of authority for their sake, I opt for a chilly, “Since your cousin gave me a pass on the ticket, I’ll repay the favor. I have family, too.”

Caden’s eyes flicker.

He steps back and I walk between them to continue my shift.

It takes four distracted steps before I remember that he is not supposed to be here. Their banter and awkward apology undermined my sanity.

How do I handle this?

I turn around and discover that the extremely handsome cousins are watching me. Wyatt is entertained. Caden, guarded. He cares intensely about his position at this hospital, I give him that.

“Dr. Cocker, go home.”

“I slept well last night. I can be of service here.”

“Not if you force me to kick you out of the program due to your inability to obey the rules.”

He huffs, “Why can’t you just see this as what it is?”

“Insubordination?”

“Dedication!”

We stare, and when he doesn’t move, I bark, “Cocker!”

“I’m gone.”

“I’ll wait here until the miracle takes place.”

His cousin stifles a laugh. My gaze darts to him. He doesn’t flinch.

“Officer Cocker, I have a gunshot wound you are probably here to investigate. Why don’t you do your job?”

His smile disappears. Smacking Caden’s shoulder Wyatt gives a sarcastic, “Good luck with that, Cade,” and walks away.

Caden stares after him, then flips around to ask, “Gunshot wound? Who’s digging it out?”

“Go home.”

Gnawing on his cheek, he passes me for the exit, the freshly showered scent of him nearly making me forget our positions. “See you tomorrow, Dr. Myers.” Walking backwards, darkness overtakes his features. I glance behind me because he’s not looking at me anymore.

Janet is walking up to stand by my side, face passive. “What is he doing here?”

“Is that your business, Dr. Gilroy? Why aren’t you in the O.R.?”

“Got the bullet out in no time.”

Glancing back to discover Caden is gone, I ask, “Why aren’t you filing the report with the police officer, then?”

She blinks at me, unaccustomed to this harsh tone. “Dr. Pivens said he’d take it from there after the officer said he’d stay to make sure the criminal didn’t escape when he regains consciousness, until a security patrol is put on the room. See? I didn’t slack off.”

At an approaching siren, she and I turn our heads toward the E.R.

I spring into action. “Then make yourself useful!”