Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond
Chapter 0292

- Josie -

By mid morning my eyes were heavy and I was struggling to stay awake. Of all days, today I had left to write my reports on the recent treatments of patients that had been signed off Doctor Abel's care in the past month. Hindsight can be a bitch...if I had known I wouldn't have slept last night, I would have done these days ago. With no office of my own, I use Doctor Abel's to complete the paperwork before moving to my store room to complete my inventory of stock that I need to re-order. Thankfully we haven't got any patients in today to attend to, and I can keep my head down.

Moving to the store room, I check through my jars of herbs, making lists of what needs to be reordered as I tally off stock levels on my paperwork before submitting it by the end of my shift. I could easily gather most of the herbs in the meadow and woods, but Doctor Abel likes to order in...to make sure everything is done correctly. I think that's one of the reason I look up to him so much, he never cuts corners...no matter how easy it can be to do so. He stays true to his character.

My body was now starting to feel just as heavy as my eyes from over tiredness. I didn't ever ask for special treatment but I must say the thought of working this afternoon with no sleep... let's just say I am grateful that I am finishing at lunch time today. Or so that was the plan.

"Josie?" Doctor Abel's low voice calls out to me from the hallway.

"In here." I chime out, slightly perturbed by his tone. He sounded unlike his usual self.

"We have a transfer coming in from the emergency rooms, can you prepare everything." He orders as I step out of the store room to find him putting medical gloves on. I watch him as he places a disposable apron, frustration exuding off him. "Doctor Abel?" I take a closer step towards him.

"He is really starting to piss me off. He's decided to go on a long lunch and leave us to stitch up the patient." He growls out as his eyes dart to me.

"I'm sorry, I'll have to cancel your leave this afternoon." He slams a glove back down as he accidentally pierces a hole through it from being too aggressive with placing them on. I reach for another pair, helping him to feed his hand through without damaging them. "That's fine, I'll do what I can to help." I start placing PPE equipment on myself in preparation for the incoming patient.

I can't believe the Head Doctor in emergency is holding it against us that we treated two warriors without his knowledge at the time.

I can't believe he would let his personal grievances get in the way of his medical care, of his doctor's oath. That he thinks having a lunch is more important than a patient's care.

"Follow my lead, and do as I order." Doctor Abel looks at me as we stand by the elevator, watching the floor numbers on the display. As soon as these elevator doors open, the patient will be ours.

"Yes Doctor." Adrenaline courses through me, memories of no sleep leaving me completely as my body ignites back to life.

...

"Steady Josie." Doctor Abel warns me as the lights of the operation theatre shine brightly above my head. Their heat causing my brow to sweat and my eyes to become a little unfocused. "Like this?" I push through.

"Yes, take your time. The patient is steady for now, let's keep it that way." I can't see his mouth through the face mask, but I can hear the smirk behind his words.

Things had deteroriated quickly with the patient...somehow he had landed on a branch during the nightwatch, puncturing through his stomach and we were still trying to stem the bleeding.

How the hell the staff downstairs missed the signs of internal bleeding are beyond me.

They offered to transfer the patient back to them to perform the operation, but Doctor Abel stepped up. I've never seen him like this, never seen him exude so much anger and power. He refused to give the patient back, causing an uproar from the emergency department. The department's staff member's eyes on us from the watching room above as we currently perform the operation. I've never experienced so much pressure in all my life as I do right now. Not even with shooting.

I was in awe of Doctor Abel's medical knowledge, as he showed me how to check for internal bleeding, how he was now letting me stitch the patient back up.

"Do you want to put some of your bandages over the stitches?" He asks me, my eyes lifting up as I finally place the utensils down. My hands still trembling from what I have just achieved.