Mustn't Fall for the Patient

When I yanked open the door I automatically regretted it, I turned back around and slammed the door.
“Does no one ever sleep in these anymore?!” I yelled.
I walked back to the resident’s locker room and changed into my regular clothes and shoes.I pushed my scrubs into the locker and pulled out my beanie. I walked over to the mirror and put it on and made it look good, I pulled my septum ring back down and sighed.
“Put some lotion on those tattoos.” I heard someone say behind me.
I looked over and it was another resident, I didn’t even know his name.
“It’s Xavier. Xavier Jones from Dermatology.” He said
“That explains why I didn’t know your name. I’m sorry.” I said
“It’s fine. But I’d get some lotion on it.” He said
I nodded and went to my locker and grabbed my lotion. I rubbed it on my arms to help my tattoos.
“I can’t reach the one on my upper back.” I said
“I’m a professional skin doctor, let me help.” He said
I nodded and threw him the lotion bottle, he pumped some into his hand and I moved my hair. He rubbed the lotion over the wings on my back, then he lifted up my shirt and started rubbing lotion on the rest of the wings and my unexplainable lower back tattoo.
“Okay, thank you.” I said
He pulled my shirt back down and set the lotion bottle in my locker.
“In all honesty I’m surprised they let you become a surgeon with all those tattoos.” He said
“Why do you think I always wear long sleeves under my scrubs?” I asked
“I kind of just thought you go cold easily.” He said
I laughed and shook my head.
“They’re very fitting. I like the nose ring too.” He said
“Yeah, I just tuck that up.” I said
He tucked my hair behind my ear.
“You’re very pretty Aussie.” He whispered.
“Please stop touching me.” I said.
“Okay, but I’ll be here if you ever get lonely” He said
“Okay.” I said
I slammed my locker closed and fixed my beanie as I walked out of the room. I walked down to the Peds unit and stopped.
“I’m sorry ma’am you need to be in the waiting room.” I heard
I turned around and it was Len.
“Why aren’t you doing a rectal exam somewhere?” I asked turning around
“Ohh, shit.” He said
“Len, what do you want?” I asked
“I thought you were someone’s loved one.” He said
I just looked at him and put my hand on my hip.
“You are fucking tatted.” He said
I just rolled my eyes
“Does the board know that they have a rebellious surgeon?” He asked
“Yes you idiot, they hired me.” I said
He nodded.
“Go exam a rectum.” I said shooing him
I continued my walk into the Peds unit and ran into the peds surgeon.
“Hey Aussie! Are you here to check on him?” She asked
“Yes, I want to see my favorite tiny human.” I said
She smiled and we walked to the NICU and too him.
“Hi little guy.” I said putting my hand into the incubator.
“I get to take him home soon.” She said
“Well Nyla he’s beautiful.” I said
She smiled.
“Want to hold him?” She asked
“Are you sure? He’s so small I don’t want to crush him.” I said
“You’ll do great.” She said
She picked him up out of the incubator and put him in my arms.
“Nyla seriously you and your boyfriend make cute babies.” I said
She smiled and kissed his head.
“I can’t even begin to understand how it felt not to be able to operate on him.” I said
“It was for the best. Could you imagine me freaking the hell out operating on my own baby?” She asked
“I could definitely see that.” I said
“I’m glad you were in there.” She said
“I was happy to help him.” I said
She smiled.
“Well little guy I have to get home. I’ll come visit you when you go home. Nyla’s little Austin Joe.” I said
I set him gently down in the incubator and he smiled.
“He smiles.” I smiled up at her
“He can move his hands and toes. I’m going to get to take my little man home soon.” She smiled.
I hugged her.
“I’m going to go check on my patient and head home.” I said
“Don’t scare him. He’s used to Aussie in long sleeves and scrubs.” She said
“He’s a guitarist in a band, he has two himself. Tattoos won’t scare him.” I smiled
She smiled and I walked out of the Peds unit and down to the surgical wing, I walked into Rian and Zack’s room first.
“How’re you guys doing so I can tell Lex and Jack?” I asked
“You’re Jack’s doctor right?” Zack asked
“Yeah, but I’m headed home. Don’t tell anyone I was in here without my scrubs on.” I said
They nodded.
“I’m doing okay, still have a few headaches during the day.” Rian said
“And I pretty much just feel like crap.” Zack said
I nodded.
“I’ll come back tomorrow looking like a doctor and tell you how they’re doing.” I said
“By all means there’s no reason for you to come in looking like a doctor.” Rian said
I chuckled and walked out and next door.
“Hey guys I would have been here sooner but I wanted to check on one of the tiny humans.” I said
The three of them looked up.
“Damn.” Jack said
I just looked at him.
“I mean, who knew.” Jack said
I smiled and Lisa got up and started rubbing on my tattoos.
“They’re real?” She asked
“All eight of them are real.” I said
She poked at my thigh tattoo.
“Stop poking me.” I said
“They’re awesome.” She said
“Dos on my back too, but I’ll show you that at a more appropriate time.” I said
She nodded and I walked over to Jack who was just watching me.
“How to you hide these?” He asked grabbing my arm
“Long sleeves?” I questioned
He just stared at me.
“Do you flip the septum up?” He asked
I nodded.
“Stop moving so I can check you out.” He said
“You can check me out anytime.” He smiled
“Jack!” Alex said
I just laughed and checked his head incision again.
“You checked that like fifteen minutes ago.” He said
“Things can go bad in fifteen minutes!” I squealed.
“Stay a while.” Lisa said
“Cabbage I’m exhausted. I haven’t slept in my bed in three days.” I said
She just pouted and I just looked at her.
“Before you leave Aussie will you tell me why you call my girlfriend Cabbage Patch? I understand why you’re Carrot Top.” Alex said
I chuckled.
“Her parents had the cabbage patch in their backyard. One night when I was spending the night we were running around in their yard and it was super dark. Lisa here ran straight into the cabbage patch and hit one of the divider fences. She face-planted into dirt and crushed a few of the cabbage heads.” I said
Alex just started to laugh.
“Before I go. Can I check your burns?” I asked
“How dare you ask to touch my boyfriend?” Lisa said acting offended.
I rolled my eyes and looked at Alex, he nodded. I walked over and checked them.
“Lex they look pretty good.” I said
He smiled and nodded.
“Do you know if Ana went home?” I asked
“I haven’t seen her since earlier, way before Lisa got here.” He said
“Who is Ana?” Lisa asked
“My doctor.” Alex said
“She good?” Lisa asked
“Anastasia Moore is a great doctor.” I said
She nodded.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” I said
They all nodded and I left and went home.
When I walked in Ana was laying on the couch watching TV, I kicked off my shoes and plopped down next to her laying my head on her knee. She looked down at me and poked my nose.
“How was your rendezvous with Aric?” I asked
“A total bust, I didn’t even get laid. He wanted to watch movies.” She said
I just laughed.
“Oh, I am going to get him into an on call room tomorrow.” She said
“Speaking of on-call rooms I walked in on one of your interns and the really old Anesthesiologist Mike.” I said
“Which intern?” She asked
I shook my head.
“Tell me!” She yelled
“Fred Young.” I said
“Fred is gay!?” She asked
I nodded.
“Mike is gay?” She asked
“I didn’t think so, I see his wife and kids quite often.” I said
“Oh my god.” She laughed.
“Oh, do you know Xavier from derm?” I asked
“Tall, blonde, green eyes, really hot?” She asked
“That would be him.” I said
“I’ve talked to him a few times, tried to get into his pants a few more. Why?” She asked
“I let him help me put lotion on my back for my tattoos and then he hit on me. Telling me I knew where to find him when I got lonely.” I said
“Girl hit that.” She said
“But he’s from Derm, that’s like sleeping with a nurse.” I said
“I slept with a nurse.” She said
“You sleep with everyone.” I laughed
“True.” She said
I laughed.
“He’ll take your mind off Jack.” She said
“Jack is my patient.” I said
“He’s still on your mind. How could he not be?” She asked
“He’s my patient.” I said
“Keep telling yourself that. He’s the only single one of them.” She said
“Speaking of them not being single. I met the girlfriends.” I said
“How was that?” She asked
“Pleasant actually. But I also got a huge surprise.” I said
“Sharing is caring.” I said
“Well first off Rian is dating Cassadee Pope.” I said
“The Cassadee Pope?” She asked
I nodded.
“What about Zack? That’s the muscle heads name right?” She asked
“I didn’t meet Zack’s.” I said
“Was Cassadee Pope the huge surprise?” She asked
“No. Lex’s girlfriend is Lisa fucking Ruocco.” I said
“Like your best friend from forever ago?” She asked
“The one I call Cabbage Patch and she calls me Carrot Top. I didn’t think I’d ever see her again.” I said
“Well how was it?” She asked
“It was nice, but she asked about Lizzi. That was horrible to explain.” I said
“Wasn’t she the god mom?” She asked
“Yeah.” I said
Ana nodded and pulled my hat off and ran her hands through my hair.
“Can I cut this yet?” She asked
“Fuck no.” I said
She sighed and we continued to watch Man Vs. Food. When it got late I went upstairs to my room and flopped down on my bed, it was nice. I undressed and curled up under the fleece comforter.

Notes