But something is niggling with me about that whole interaction. About her. Something doesn’t quite feel—
“Good morning, Dr. Fritz,” Dylan greets, interrupting my thoughts with a polite smile that fails to hide the smirk beneath. “Nice to see you’re still alive and well.”
“Where’s your resident?” I ask instead of addressing any of that. I can only imagine what Grace said to him last night before our fight and subsequent make-up session in my office.
“Speaking with Charlotte, her resident adviser.”
No wonder she snuck out so early this morning. After we left the hospital last night, I grabbed us Chinese takeout and we ate in front of the television before I took her to bed. My bed. And when I finally fell asleep in my tangled sheets, she was right beside me, in my arms.
Waking up alone was not how I wanted this morning to go.
“I see.” As much as I want Grace to stay my resident, it’s likely for the best if she transfers.
I start to march off in the direction of her adviser’s office when Dylan’s words pull me up short. “If I were into women and wanted to catch the attention of one woman in particular, a woman who has recently been hurt and now has some trust issues, I’d forgo the torture and plan something special instead. You know. Just for me and her.”
I spin back around, eyeing him. I take a step in his direction, looking him up and down. Dylan is tall. Lanky, but tall. Just about my height. He gives me a cautious smile, knowing he crossed a line but not backing down from it either. I haven’t given Dylan much thought other than he’s a new intern until this moment.
He reads people well, it seems, and clearly has some balls. My respect for him is growing.
I stare into his golden eyes, a stark contrast with his black skin. I cock an unamused eyebrow. “And you think that’s what I’m trying to do? Catch the attention of one woman in particular?”
“She’s stressed out right now. Confused and scared. She needs to remember what fun feels like and learn without being told that you won’t hurt her the way he did. I’d go slow and be patient.”
Not exactly my strong suit, but in Grace’s case, I know he’s right. About all of it. It’s only been a few weeks since she and Tony ended and while she seems okay with it now, I have to remind myself of the way she showed up at my apartment that first night. She might very well be licking her wounds in private without my curious eyes catching on.
I’ve been pushing her hard, my impatience to finally be with her getting the best of me.
“Psychiatry is in the other building on the eighth floor.”
“She won’t be happy with another resident,” he goes on, ignoring my barb. “The only other options with openings are Hopkins, who only performs simple D&Cs and Laverty, who can’t tell a vagina from an asshole, and she has a set of her own.”
I choke on my own saliva. “There’s no one else?”
“Nope. Everyone else worth having is full or doesn’t take on new teaching, and despite your good looks and incredible talent after the week of hell you put Grace through, I doubt any other resident will be willing to switch. Plus, now you’re down a resident.”
Well, fuck me.
“Do you know the steps for a laparoscopic salpingectomy?”
He squares his shoulders. “Not fully, but I can learn them in an hour.”
“You do that because we scrub in in two. And Dylan, if you ever try to pull the stunt you just did with me again, you won’t see the inside of an OR for the rest of your residency.”
“Understood, sir.”
I give him a curt nod and with that, I turn on my heel and march down the hall. Grace’s adviser is little more than a pencil pusher at this point, having quit seeing patients two years ago. But pictures of all the babies Charlie Higgins delivered over the years line her office walls.
She’s a legend.
And she’ll eat me for breakfast without skipping a beat if I don’t handle this the correct way.
I reach her door and with a knock, open it up, unwilling to wait to be invited in. Grace’s eyes go comically wide when she spots me, before straightening her spine to face Charlie again, effectively dismissing me. Charlie stares at me as if she was expecting me, her gray hair tied neatly back, and a no-bullshit expression firmly affixed on her round face.
“Ah, Dr. Fritz. The man of the hour. Please, come in and sit down.” She waves for me to enter before returning her hand to her desk.
“That won’t be necessary. Grace, if you’re finished here, we have surgery to prep for.”
Grace blinks at me. “But. Um. I was actually in the process of switching attendings. You know, since we don’t seem to have the best working relationship.”
I nearly roll my eyes.
Moving my attention to Charlie, I say, “Grace will continue as my resident since I am her best option for learning. Especially now that Janet Johnson will be on medical restriction for a minimum of four weeks. No other attending will be able to provide her with the education I can. I’m sure she agrees with me on that.”
“And what about your harsh treatment of her this past week?” Charlie cuts me off and touché.
“I’ve already discussed that with Dr. Hammond and made the proper apologies.” I hold in my grin as I meet Grace’s eyes and watch as color stains her cheeks. “She and I are in mutual agreement that patient care and her education are our priorities and there will be no further problems.” I smile at Grace. “Is there anything else you’d like to add to that?”
She sits up straighter, not pleased with me at all. “It seems you’ve said everything there is to say.”
“Perfect.” I clap my hands together, still hovering in the doorway. “Then if we’re all in agreement, we can get moving.”
“Grace?” Charlie questions without skipping a beat. “Is this an acceptable arrangement for you? I want to ensure you’re comfortable working so closely with Dr. Fritz. You clearly came to my office this morning with specific concerns. I agree that as of right now, Dr. Fritz is your best option for learning, but if you feel Dr. Fritz has not provided a positive learning environment, we will make the necessary arrangements to transfer you to someone else.”
“No. It’s fine. I want to continue to learn from Dr. Fritz.”
“If you change your mind at any point, please come back and talk to me. My door is always open.”
Grace rises to her feet, her hands intertwined in front of her, the ring I gave her still on. “Thank you. I understand.”
Charlie glares at me. “Dr. Fritz. A word before you leave?”
Grace exits the room and I enter, not bothering to sit down after I shut the door. Before she can start, I launch with, “Dr. Hammond and I have entered into a romantic relationship. I will be discussing this with Dr. Westerfield, Dr. Smart, and Dr. Rohrs, as I am no longer able to evaluate her work without a conflict of interest. Dr. Hammond has asked that we keep our relationship a secret and separate from the walls of the hospital as she does not want it to reflect negatively on her work. I have agreed to this as I am unwilling to risk her current or future career. But in order for my position as her supervisor to remain ethical, I will be transferring that aspect of her residency to my supervisor, Dr. Westerfield.”