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I turn back to the bed as Dr. Massey finishes presenting. “What that means, Ms. Abbott, is that everything looks good. We reviewed your films, the EKG, your last stress test, and you’re healing exactly like we would want. So, I’ll need to see you in another three months; but as of today you can return to all your normal activities. You can return to your life before surgery.”
The patient gives me a small peculiar smile. “I don’t think I’m ever returning to that life.”
I give her a tight smile. “Well, we’re just waiting on a few more lab results, but baring anything unexpected you should be released from Phase II of your care, in an hour or so. Dr. Massey will finish up your paperwork.” I give her a curt nod and move towards the door; Massey following closely on my heels.
Out in the hallway I stop and turn to face the resident, “Go check on Ms. Abbott’s lab results and bring them by my office as soon as they’re ready.”
“Of course, Dr. Hahn.”
***
Hours later the timid knocking on my office door pulls my attention away from the computer monitor. “Yes.”
The door cracks enough for Dr. Massey to barely peek her head in. “Dr. Hahn, I’m sorry. But…Ms. Abbott refuses to sign her release forms.”
I know my face betrays my annoyance. “Dr. Massey,” My words are slow and calm, tinged with venom. “Are you telling me you can’t get a patient to release themselves, after the hospital as given them the all clear?” I wait expectantly, my eyebrows raised in anticipation. Massey simply looks down at the floor. Are they teaching these students anything these days? “Excuse me?”
Massey swallows hard and her eyes shift around the room nervously. “I’m sorry. I tried…really I’ve never had this happen before. But…she just won’t take no for an answer. She insists on talking to you before she signs anything.”
I exhale loudly and slowly, rising to my feet. She instinctually opens the door further as I move across the room. “I’m sorry, Dr. Hahn. She insists.”
I fix her with an irritated glare. Extending my hand to her, I deadpan, “Give me the chart.”
***
I stalk back into the patient’s room, raising my eyebrows at her now sitting fully clothed on the edge of the bed. “Did you have some additional concerns Ms. Abbott?”
She gently shakes her head and eyes the resident over my shoulder. I turn curiously to Massey, who quickly clutches the pocket of her pants containing her pager. “I think I just got paged.”
“I didn’t hear it go off.”
She digs the small device from her pocket. “I uh…Have it on vibrate.” Massey stares down at the pager for a second. “Yeah, got a page. I have to go, sorry Dr. Hahn.”
“I thought you were on my service today.”
She pauses with her hand on the door knob and raises the pager in her fist. “911…sorry.” Massey slips quickly through the door and I shake my head before turning back to the patient.
Opening the chart, I flip through for her release papers. “Well, everything looks good and they’ll make an appointment for you to come back in three months.” Holding the previous pages back, I set the chart onto the small tray by her bed. Pulling a pen from my lab coat pocket, I click the tip and hold it out to her. “If you sign here, we can get you out of here this afternoon.”
She takes the pen and holds it carefully between her fingertips as she lowers it to the paper. Hesitating a second she extends the pen between her long fingers and lays her palm over the papers. “Dr. Hahn, I don’t want to return to my life before this surgery.”
“Ms. Abbott, I know it can be a little scary. But, trust me, your heart is fine. It’s strong; you’re an otherwise healthy woman. As long as you continue to follow the program we’ve discussed, you will be able to do everything you used to do. I’m releasing you to resume all normal activities. We’ll reassess when I see you in three months.”
“What if I don’t want to wait three months to see you again?”
I notice the color that has risen to the apples of her cheeks. “If you feel anything. If you begin to have any complications, just come in. You know that. Don’t hesitate to come in if you’re having any pains, or shortness of breath, or if you’re feeling sick - “
She interrupts me with a small smirk playing at her lips. “I’m not talking about an appointment, Dr. Hahn.” She pauses and patiently looks at me. I can tell she’s not quite waiting for a response. To be honest, I’m not sure what she’s waiting for; apparently something from me, but I’m not sure what. “Look, Dr. Hahn…Erica. Do you mind if I call you Erica?” she quickly leans forward and signs the release forms.
“Actually, I do mind.”
She suppresses a grin and hands the pen back to me. “Of course you do. Erica, I’m trying to be subtle here, which obviously isn’t work.” I step back slightly as she rises from her perch on the edge of the hospital bed and moves to lift her jacket from the end of the bed. “I’m either no good at subtle or you’re really bad at reading subtle. I suspect it might be the latter.”
She slips her arms into the jacket and my lips open and close once before I find the words in my throat. “Excuse me, I do subtle just fine. But frankly, I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you want a second opinion. I’m not going to tell you - “
I swear to god she chuckles, and it infuriates the hell out of me. All these months I never even recognized how insufferable she could be. Flipping down the collar on her jacket she turns back to face me and her gray eyes flash with glee. It makes my blood boil even more. “I’m not talking about your diagnosis. You are bad at subtle, terrible really. Despite that, I still like you.”
My head nearly snaps back involuntarily. She runs her hands down the front of her leather blazer, and my eyes trail their smooth descent over her chest and the front of her abdomen. “Dr. Hahn…Erica, I’ve tried to be subtle for four months now, and it’s not getting us…It’s not getting me anywhere. So,” Her hands spread out in front of her, as if she’d laying something before me. “Can I buy you dinner?”
I recognize my mouth is hanging lose and quickly close my jaw, clearing my throat as I rise up to my full Dr. Hahn height, gaining distance and perspective with every millimeter. “You’re a patient. And I don’t have dinner with patients.”
She steps forward, her voice lowering, a small crosses her lips. “But, you could have dinner with a patient.”
Shaking my head resolutely, I cross my arms over my chest. “No, I couldn’t. It violates any number of ethical codes.”
“So you want to date me? But, you can’t?”
“What’s the difference?”
Her eyes widen for a second and she rolls back on her heels, “Well, there’s a huge difference. Either I need to find a new cardiologist, or I need to stick with you.” She tilts her head to the side and softly smiles, waiting on my response.
I inhale quietly, considering her carefully. Is she serious? Am I going to look an opportunity in the mouth and turn my back? I flip her chart open, scribbling a few revised notes, and initialing them with a quick punch of the pen. “You still need periodic monitoring. I’ll have the staff call Presbyterian. Dr. Jackson is good, I’d let him operate on me in a pinch.” I hold out the chart for her to sign the release waver with my corrections.
She takes the pen and scratches out her signature, looking up at me, her hand draws the pen across the paper in a long flourish. “In a pinch, huh?” She hands me back the pen, our fingertips brushing as she holds it a few seconds longer than necessary.
“We all have our standards.” She gives me a sexy grin that I return despite the admonishment I give my facial features to stay put. With a click I return the pen to my pocket and turn on my heel. “Ms. Abbott, the staff will call you to confirm once the appointment has been arranged. Best of - “
“Wait.” I turn back around, my hand on the door knob. “What about my date?”
“Well…Cynthia.” Her name rolls over my tongue. The sound floating in a gravely tone between us. It’s the first time in all these months I’ve used her given name. But, it’s not awkward or strange, just nice. “You were asking me out, right?
“Right, so … you free tomorrow night?”
“What time?”
She hesitates for a second; how quickly the tables turn. “…Six?” The word is drawn out slowly, as if she’s trying to anticipate my reaction.
“You can call me here tomorrow for directions.” Pausing I watch her lips pucker a few times into a silent question and then release in a silent puff of air.
“You’re picking me up. You inappropriately asked me out, remember.”
***
I inhale quietly as Cynthia cuts the engine off. Parked in my drive it’s the end of the line and I’m more than slightly disappointed the evening ended so quickly. She slowly slides her hands over the curve of the steering wheel. “I had a nice time tonight.”
I nod and rest my hand on the door latch. “Me too.” Licking my lips, I pull the latch, flooding the care with dim overhead light. “You have my number.”
As I move to open the door her right hand lays firmly on my forearm. “Erica, wait.” When I turn back to look at her, Cynthia’s eyes are dancing and her shoulders lightly shake with soft, silent laughter. “Wait.” She turns in her seat, leaning barely over the console. “Do you want to get away from me that badly?”
“No…I…”
“You what?” Cynthia pauses, then slowly nods her head. “You were going to kiss me good night, right?”
I pull the door to, again enveloping the car in darkness. “Well, I could kiss you good night.”
Cynthia’s eyes shine in the moonlight seeping into the car, and her voice is low as she leans further across the divide between us. “So, you admit you could.”
Moving forward, to meet her approach, my lips turn up slightly. “And I would.”
Her lips are soft and pliant beneath my own. I close my eyes and involuntarily inhale deeply, relaxing into her kiss. Cynthia’s mouth is warm and sweet, her lips coated in a thin layer of balm that allows my lips to easily slide over hers. My hands rise to cradle her head, gently tugging at her lower lip, sliding my tongue forward to trace that plump lip, I seek the opportunity to venture further.
Cynthia moans faintly and opens to me, tilting her head to fuse our lips together. Her tongue is soft and deliberate, sliding over and into me. Her hands in my hair, her short nails scratching over my shoulders, her body rising from her seat and moving towards me. Gasping she pulls back, drawing deep breaths into her lungs. “Erica…aren’t you going to invite me in?”
Chuckling I run my thumb over her soft cheek. She’s so beautiful, so tempting. But, I’ve gone far enough in the last two days. “Not on the first date. You’re going to have to work a little harder than that.”
She leans in closer, her eyes seductively hooded. “Oh, I can work really hard. You have no idea.”
I let her tease my lips again. She lays gentle kisses along the corners of my mouth, her hand sliding down from my shoulder, over my collarbone, to my breast. The flat of her palm caresses a slow circle over me. I open my mouth and sigh against her as her tongue slips between my lips, soothing the effect of her gentle touch.
Releasing my mouth, her lips lower to trail my jaw line with the tip of her tongue. “I have a very hard work ethic.”
Pulled back to reality, I lean back from her and gently move to lower her hand at my breast, threading our fingers together as I pull it down between us. “Good, because if I’m one thing, I’m not easy.”
Smiling at her crestfallen face I leave over and place a last gentle kiss on her cheek. As I flip the door latch, the car floods with overhead light. “Good night, Cynthia.”
I step out of the car and have to fight with every ounce of willpower within me to not invite her in. Before closing the door I rest my left hand on top of the car and lean back down. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”
Cynthia’s features instantly brighten. “Working hard?”
This entry was originally posted at http://h4hahn.dreamwidth.org/26794.html
I turn back to the bed as Dr. Massey finishes presenting. “What that means, Ms. Abbott, is that everything looks good. We reviewed your films, the EKG, your last stress test, and you’re healing exactly like we would want. So, I’ll need to see you in another three months; but as of today you can return to all your normal activities. You can return to your life before surgery.”
The patient gives me a small peculiar smile. “I don’t think I’m ever returning to that life.”
I give her a tight smile. “Well, we’re just waiting on a few more lab results, but baring anything unexpected you should be released from Phase II of your care, in an hour or so. Dr. Massey will finish up your paperwork.” I give her a curt nod and move towards the door; Massey following closely on my heels.
Out in the hallway I stop and turn to face the resident, “Go check on Ms. Abbott’s lab results and bring them by my office as soon as they’re ready.”
“Of course, Dr. Hahn.”
***
Hours later the timid knocking on my office door pulls my attention away from the computer monitor. “Yes.”
The door cracks enough for Dr. Massey to barely peek her head in. “Dr. Hahn, I’m sorry. But…Ms. Abbott refuses to sign her release forms.”
I know my face betrays my annoyance. “Dr. Massey,” My words are slow and calm, tinged with venom. “Are you telling me you can’t get a patient to release themselves, after the hospital as given them the all clear?” I wait expectantly, my eyebrows raised in anticipation. Massey simply looks down at the floor. Are they teaching these students anything these days? “Excuse me?”
Massey swallows hard and her eyes shift around the room nervously. “I’m sorry. I tried…really I’ve never had this happen before. But…she just won’t take no for an answer. She insists on talking to you before she signs anything.”
I exhale loudly and slowly, rising to my feet. She instinctually opens the door further as I move across the room. “I’m sorry, Dr. Hahn. She insists.”
I fix her with an irritated glare. Extending my hand to her, I deadpan, “Give me the chart.”
***
I stalk back into the patient’s room, raising my eyebrows at her now sitting fully clothed on the edge of the bed. “Did you have some additional concerns Ms. Abbott?”
She gently shakes her head and eyes the resident over my shoulder. I turn curiously to Massey, who quickly clutches the pocket of her pants containing her pager. “I think I just got paged.”
“I didn’t hear it go off.”
She digs the small device from her pocket. “I uh…Have it on vibrate.” Massey stares down at the pager for a second. “Yeah, got a page. I have to go, sorry Dr. Hahn.”
“I thought you were on my service today.”
She pauses with her hand on the door knob and raises the pager in her fist. “911…sorry.” Massey slips quickly through the door and I shake my head before turning back to the patient.
Opening the chart, I flip through for her release papers. “Well, everything looks good and they’ll make an appointment for you to come back in three months.” Holding the previous pages back, I set the chart onto the small tray by her bed. Pulling a pen from my lab coat pocket, I click the tip and hold it out to her. “If you sign here, we can get you out of here this afternoon.”
She takes the pen and holds it carefully between her fingertips as she lowers it to the paper. Hesitating a second she extends the pen between her long fingers and lays her palm over the papers. “Dr. Hahn, I don’t want to return to my life before this surgery.”
“Ms. Abbott, I know it can be a little scary. But, trust me, your heart is fine. It’s strong; you’re an otherwise healthy woman. As long as you continue to follow the program we’ve discussed, you will be able to do everything you used to do. I’m releasing you to resume all normal activities. We’ll reassess when I see you in three months.”
“What if I don’t want to wait three months to see you again?”
I notice the color that has risen to the apples of her cheeks. “If you feel anything. If you begin to have any complications, just come in. You know that. Don’t hesitate to come in if you’re having any pains, or shortness of breath, or if you’re feeling sick - “
She interrupts me with a small smirk playing at her lips. “I’m not talking about an appointment, Dr. Hahn.” She pauses and patiently looks at me. I can tell she’s not quite waiting for a response. To be honest, I’m not sure what she’s waiting for; apparently something from me, but I’m not sure what. “Look, Dr. Hahn…Erica. Do you mind if I call you Erica?” she quickly leans forward and signs the release forms.
“Actually, I do mind.”
She suppresses a grin and hands the pen back to me. “Of course you do. Erica, I’m trying to be subtle here, which obviously isn’t work.” I step back slightly as she rises from her perch on the edge of the hospital bed and moves to lift her jacket from the end of the bed. “I’m either no good at subtle or you’re really bad at reading subtle. I suspect it might be the latter.”
She slips her arms into the jacket and my lips open and close once before I find the words in my throat. “Excuse me, I do subtle just fine. But frankly, I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you want a second opinion. I’m not going to tell you - “
I swear to god she chuckles, and it infuriates the hell out of me. All these months I never even recognized how insufferable she could be. Flipping down the collar on her jacket she turns back to face me and her gray eyes flash with glee. It makes my blood boil even more. “I’m not talking about your diagnosis. You are bad at subtle, terrible really. Despite that, I still like you.”
My head nearly snaps back involuntarily. She runs her hands down the front of her leather blazer, and my eyes trail their smooth descent over her chest and the front of her abdomen. “Dr. Hahn…Erica, I’ve tried to be subtle for four months now, and it’s not getting us…It’s not getting me anywhere. So,” Her hands spread out in front of her, as if she’d laying something before me. “Can I buy you dinner?”
I recognize my mouth is hanging lose and quickly close my jaw, clearing my throat as I rise up to my full Dr. Hahn height, gaining distance and perspective with every millimeter. “You’re a patient. And I don’t have dinner with patients.”
She steps forward, her voice lowering, a small crosses her lips. “But, you could have dinner with a patient.”
Shaking my head resolutely, I cross my arms over my chest. “No, I couldn’t. It violates any number of ethical codes.”
“So you want to date me? But, you can’t?”
“What’s the difference?”
Her eyes widen for a second and she rolls back on her heels, “Well, there’s a huge difference. Either I need to find a new cardiologist, or I need to stick with you.” She tilts her head to the side and softly smiles, waiting on my response.
I inhale quietly, considering her carefully. Is she serious? Am I going to look an opportunity in the mouth and turn my back? I flip her chart open, scribbling a few revised notes, and initialing them with a quick punch of the pen. “You still need periodic monitoring. I’ll have the staff call Presbyterian. Dr. Jackson is good, I’d let him operate on me in a pinch.” I hold out the chart for her to sign the release waver with my corrections.
She takes the pen and scratches out her signature, looking up at me, her hand draws the pen across the paper in a long flourish. “In a pinch, huh?” She hands me back the pen, our fingertips brushing as she holds it a few seconds longer than necessary.
“We all have our standards.” She gives me a sexy grin that I return despite the admonishment I give my facial features to stay put. With a click I return the pen to my pocket and turn on my heel. “Ms. Abbott, the staff will call you to confirm once the appointment has been arranged. Best of - “
“Wait.” I turn back around, my hand on the door knob. “What about my date?”
“Well…Cynthia.” Her name rolls over my tongue. The sound floating in a gravely tone between us. It’s the first time in all these months I’ve used her given name. But, it’s not awkward or strange, just nice. “You were asking me out, right?
“Right, so … you free tomorrow night?”
“What time?”
She hesitates for a second; how quickly the tables turn. “…Six?” The word is drawn out slowly, as if she’s trying to anticipate my reaction.
“You can call me here tomorrow for directions.” Pausing I watch her lips pucker a few times into a silent question and then release in a silent puff of air.
“You’re picking me up. You inappropriately asked me out, remember.”
***
I inhale quietly as Cynthia cuts the engine off. Parked in my drive it’s the end of the line and I’m more than slightly disappointed the evening ended so quickly. She slowly slides her hands over the curve of the steering wheel. “I had a nice time tonight.”
I nod and rest my hand on the door latch. “Me too.” Licking my lips, I pull the latch, flooding the care with dim overhead light. “You have my number.”
As I move to open the door her right hand lays firmly on my forearm. “Erica, wait.” When I turn back to look at her, Cynthia’s eyes are dancing and her shoulders lightly shake with soft, silent laughter. “Wait.” She turns in her seat, leaning barely over the console. “Do you want to get away from me that badly?”
“No…I…”
“You what?” Cynthia pauses, then slowly nods her head. “You were going to kiss me good night, right?”
I pull the door to, again enveloping the car in darkness. “Well, I could kiss you good night.”
Cynthia’s eyes shine in the moonlight seeping into the car, and her voice is low as she leans further across the divide between us. “So, you admit you could.”
Moving forward, to meet her approach, my lips turn up slightly. “And I would.”
Her lips are soft and pliant beneath my own. I close my eyes and involuntarily inhale deeply, relaxing into her kiss. Cynthia’s mouth is warm and sweet, her lips coated in a thin layer of balm that allows my lips to easily slide over hers. My hands rise to cradle her head, gently tugging at her lower lip, sliding my tongue forward to trace that plump lip, I seek the opportunity to venture further.
Cynthia moans faintly and opens to me, tilting her head to fuse our lips together. Her tongue is soft and deliberate, sliding over and into me. Her hands in my hair, her short nails scratching over my shoulders, her body rising from her seat and moving towards me. Gasping she pulls back, drawing deep breaths into her lungs. “Erica…aren’t you going to invite me in?”
Chuckling I run my thumb over her soft cheek. She’s so beautiful, so tempting. But, I’ve gone far enough in the last two days. “Not on the first date. You’re going to have to work a little harder than that.”
She leans in closer, her eyes seductively hooded. “Oh, I can work really hard. You have no idea.”
I let her tease my lips again. She lays gentle kisses along the corners of my mouth, her hand sliding down from my shoulder, over my collarbone, to my breast. The flat of her palm caresses a slow circle over me. I open my mouth and sigh against her as her tongue slips between my lips, soothing the effect of her gentle touch.
Releasing my mouth, her lips lower to trail my jaw line with the tip of her tongue. “I have a very hard work ethic.”
Pulled back to reality, I lean back from her and gently move to lower her hand at my breast, threading our fingers together as I pull it down between us. “Good, because if I’m one thing, I’m not easy.”
Smiling at her crestfallen face I leave over and place a last gentle kiss on her cheek. As I flip the door latch, the car floods with overhead light. “Good night, Cynthia.”
I step out of the car and have to fight with every ounce of willpower within me to not invite her in. Before closing the door I rest my left hand on top of the car and lean back down. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”
Cynthia’s features instantly brighten. “Working hard?”
This entry was originally posted at http://h4hahn.dreamwidth.org/26794.html