“You call that preparation, Dr. Clarke?” Dr. Mitchell’s voice boomed across the operating room, his eyes blazing with fury. “Do you have any idea what could’ve gone wrong because of your oversight?”
Ethan stood stiffly under the weight of the accusation, his face an unreadable mask.
The other surgeons and nurses shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. Ava clenched her jaw from where she stood near the back of the room, watching the scene unfold.
“Dr. Mitchell,” Ava said, stepping forward, her voice firm but controlled. “That’s enough.”
Mitchell turned to her, his brows shooting up. “Excuse me?”
“I said, that’s enough,” she repeated, standing her ground. “The complication wasn’t due to Ethan’s preparation. It was an equipment malfunction, and I’m the one who approved the faulty device. If anyone is to blame, it’s me.”
The room went silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a scalpel.
Mitchell’s expression shifted, momentarily caught off guard by Ava’s unexpected defense.
“Well,” Mitchell huffed, clearly searching for words, “it’s still his responsibility to check the equipment. Residents should—”
“With all due respect, Mitchell,” Ava interrupted, her tone sharp, “Ethan followed protocol. I reviewed the reports myself. If you’d like to discuss the matter further, my office is open. But berating him in front of the entire team serves no purpose.”
Mitchell glared at her but ultimately backed down. “Fine. We’ll discuss this later,” he muttered, storming out of the room.
The door swung shut, leaving an uneasy silence in its wake. Ava glanced at Ethan, who was staring at her with a mixture of confusion and something she couldn’t quite place.
“Dr. Grant,” Ethan said finally, his voice low, “I didn’t expect that.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Expect what? Basic professionalism? You might be a pain in my ass, but I won’t let anyone treat you unfairly.”
A flicker of a smile crossed his lips. “Wow, I feel... honored.”
“Don’t get used to it,” she snapped, turning on her heel. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have actual work to do.”
Ethan followed her out into the hallway. “For what it’s worth, thank you. Seriously.”
Ava stopped and looked at him. His usual cocky demeanor was replaced by something softer, more genuine. For a brief moment, she saw the man beneath the arrogance.
“You’re welcome,” she said simply, brushing past him.
****
Ethan found himself replaying the incident in his head. Ava defending him? It was as unexpected as it was... nice. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had his back like that.
“Why are you smiling like that?” asked Nurse Emily as she passed him in the corridor.
“Am I smiling?” Ethan asked, startled.
“Yeah, like a weirdo,” she teased, narrowing her eyes. “You didn’t pull another prank on Dr. Grant, did you?”
Ethan smirked. “Not this time. Speaking of which, how long do you think it’ll take her to figure out the coffee machine only makes decaf now?”
Emily rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” Ethan replied, his smirk fading slightly. “But she’s not as bad as I thought.”
Emily gave him a knowing look. “Careful, Clarke. You sound like you actually respect her.”
Ethan shrugged, avoiding her gaze. “She’s earned it.”
Meanwhile, Ava sat in her office, reviewing patient charts. Or at least she was trying to. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan.
Why had she stood up for him like that? Sure, Mitchell had been out of line, but it wasn’t like her to intervene so publicly.
“You’re overthinking,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head.
A knock at the door startled her. “Come in.”
Ethan stepped inside, holding two cups of coffee.
“I thought you could use a break,” he said, placing one cup on her desk.
Ava eyed him warily. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Just coffee. Though, full disclosure, it might be decaf.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Decaf? Are you trying to get yourself banned from my office?”
He chuckled, sitting down across from her. “Relax, it’s the real deal. I figured you could use something stronger after today.”
Ava took a cautious sip, her expression softening slightly. “Thanks. But don’t think this makes us friends.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, smirking.
They sat in silence for a moment, the usual tension between them replaced by something... lighter.
“You’re good, you know,” Ava said suddenly.
Ethan looked at her, surprised. “What?”
“You’re good,” she repeated. “As a doctor. You have a lot to learn, but you’re talented.”
He leaned back in his chair, clearly caught off guard. “Coming from you, that means a lot. Seriously.”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” she said, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips.
Ethan studied her for a moment, his usual bravado tempered by a rare sincerity. “Why did you defend me today?”
Ava hesitated, then shrugged. “Because you deserved it. Mitchell was wrong, and I don’t tolerate that kind of behavior. It’s not about you, Clarke. It’s about doing what’s right.”
Ethan nodded slowly. “Fair enough.”
As he stood to leave, he paused at the door. “For what it’s worth, I’m trying to be better. Not just for you—for me, too.”