Brad and Emily were doctors in their early 30s. Talented, aspiring and dedicated. The both of them were known for topping their classes and thrilled when they were offered to work under their world renowned boss, Dr Anthony.
Anthony on the other hand was in his late 40s. Eccentric yet incredibly intelligent, Anthony had a knack for sarcasm, often leaving many doctors that work under him speechless and doubting their intelligence.
The following story happens late into the night, in an old 80s cafe where the 3 colleagues, Brad, Emily and Anthony were seated around a small table having supper after a long day at the hospital. As they recalled past events, they laughed loudly and the atmosphere was just happy and comfortable.
EARLIER THAT DAY
A Caucasian male was rushed to the hospital after a severe car accident. Emily being the first doctor on the scene quickly accessed him by checking his pupils and breathing, the patient only responded by starting to seize. Hands flailing, legs kicking, the nurses panicked as the patient proved far too strong for them to hold down until Brad arrived to help stabilize him.
"Thank god someone's been working out", Emily smiled at Brad while attaching an IV drip to the patient.
Brad smiled back. "Nah, I'm just naturally strong."
The case of the Caucasian Male proved to be more complicated than just trauma from an accident as more symptoms surfaced along with the day. Doctors were stumped and nurses were just struggling to keep him alive. Anthony and his elite team of doctors were assigned to the patient and a furious brainstorming session ensued. Theories as to what the patient was suffering from were continuously pitched but rejected almost immediately by Anthony for being "simply not it".
It wasn't until two ideas were said, each by Brad and Emily, that Anthony responded, "Now that's what I'm talking about." Both theories were equally plausible but Brad and Emily didn't agree. Brad felt that pursuing Emily's theory would be a waste of effort, while Emily thought that Brad's theory was ridiculous. The heated debate was only ended when the doctors received notifications that the patient was having a heart attack.
A tough fight to keep the patient alive. The next time that Emily could sit down to rest was only at lunch time, and boy, was she exhausted.
"Guess who!" Emily was surprised as warm hands covered her eyes as she was taking a break in the doctors lounge.
It was her fiance, Rob, with a packet of lunch, "I was near and dropped by to make sure you don't skip your lunch again today."
Emily was pleasantly surprised, the couple embraced each other and were having lunch until Brad walked in.
"Hey, I don't think we've met, I'm Brad, Emily's colleague."
"Hi, I'm Rob, Emily and I are actually engaged." Rob replied as they shook hands. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat but I have to get to back to work soon. Emily told me that you have a tough case on your hands so help me make sure she eats her dinner yeah?"
As Emily left to send Rob off, Brad sat down to make a call to his girlfriend.
"Hey baby, I'm so sorry, I'm not gonna be able to come home tonight" ... "This patient, a real tough nut to crack, and I think that he might not live the night if we don't solve his case soon" ... "I love you too baby."
Reports from scans done earlier were done and the patient was brought into the radiology department for a CT scan by Brad and Emily. The room was dark and quiet; filled only with the sounds of machine whirring and segmented conversations between Brad, Emily and the patient.
"You know, I don't know why we're scanning his brain when the problem is obviously in his heart." Brad said, in hushed tones.
Emily replied, softly but mildly irritated, "In an accident, multiple seizures, and unconscious since he entered the hospital? He's obviously had some head trauma. Anthony probably just didn't reject your idea because he wanted to see if you would admit you were wrong before we prove anything."
"Then I guess we'll have to see who's wrong" Brad gave a sly grin.
"Hello??" a weak voice came from the speakers. The patient was awake. "I...I can't see...where am I? Why....ah...AHH....AHHHHH!!!" Moniters flashed and alarms buzzed as the patient went into shock from the pain of his burns from the accident. Brad called for backup while Emily rushed to find some pain medications. Screams emanated out of the CT room as nurses rushed to and fro, until Emily came back with an injection to knock him out.
Blindness. That was the last clue needed. The patient definitely had a neuro problem. Emily was right and once again the two doctors were in the scanning room finishing up the scan of the patients brain.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. We could have gone home a long time ago, instead of staying past midnight debating."
"Nah, that's why we're a team isn't it? To throw ideas and stand for them, in case the next time you were right...." Emily spoke slowly and softly.
"Well, I'm lucky to have a colleague like you, you're smart, you're determined, and you...don't make fun of me when I'm wrong..." They both shared a laugh.
The room fell silent. It had been a long day at work. Both doctors looked at each other in the cold, dark room. Right then Emily could only think about how she's always felt that Brad was attractive, funny and intelligent. Brad on the other hand always felt comfortable communicating his beliefs to Emily. Their bodies were close. Faces closer. Emily leaned towards Brad, who was looking longingly at her lips.
"Supper?" The two were stopped abruptly just inches away from each others lips by Anthony who poked his head through the doors.
And so the three colleagues were having the late night supper. Past patients, ridiculous failures, other coworkers all kept them laughing until Anthony left to go home. The once comfortable atmosphere grew serious. Brad talked about his girlfriend while Emily talked about her fiance, their fingers touched and they looked into each others eyes.
They did finish that kiss ....... "What are we doing?"
