Mia's Open Heart (Choices Open Heart AU)

Chapter 31: Ached and Fatigued

Early every morning, Ethan and Mia would wake up extra early to go on a run. This was something Ethan consistently did, and also got Mia to start to. And yet, every morning, Mia complained for doing it, not wanting to wake up that early.

"I know you turn into a little kid when it comes to exercise, but please just let me sleep today." she said quietly. This was shocking to Ethan, usually she would say angry things to him (which he shockingly found adorable), but this time she said it sweetly and pleadingly.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked.

"What do you mean what's wrong?"

"Well, usually you don't tell me so nicely to let you stay in bed, you usually just say rather foul words and get mad but end up doing it."

"Ethan, I'm just tired, okay?" she said.

"Do you feel sick?" he asked, as she refused to meet his gaze.

"...Maybe." Ethan put the back of his hand against her forehead, as she frowned. Whenever she got sick, it was a reason for worry for the both of them. Because the cure for the maitotoxin wasn't widely tested, there was always a fear and caution towards her health and any ailments she might get.

"Well, you don't have a fever. You should take a day off work." he said warmly, as she simply frowned more. "What symptoms are you experiencing?"

"I can't not go to work today, I'm completely fine." she said. "Stop treating me like a patient."

"I'm not treating you like a patient, I'm taking care of you because you're my wife." he said. "And why can't you not go?"

"Because today is my first day overseeing the new interns." she said. Different attendings would switch off with who would oversee the interns, and because of the honeymoon and because it had been a month since the new year, she was the last attending they were yet to meet.

"Fine, but if anything happens at work, you page me immediately." he said. "And I'm not going on the run, and I'm cancelling my dinner with Dr. Calhoun tonight." Dr. Serena Calhoun was an old friend of Ethan, Tobias, and Harper from their early days at Edenbrook, and since she was in town she was going to have dinner with them.

"Stop being so dramatic, either you go on that run, or you go to that dinner." she said, as Ethan sighed and reluctantly climbed back into bed, signaling his decision. She drifted back to sleep, sleeping for another hour before they had to get ready for work.

As they awoke, Mia only felt worse. She had a rather terrible headache, and felt dizzy when she stood up. These symptoms were attested by her history with migraines and anemia. She hid how terrible she felt from Ethan, but yet he still saw it.

"Are you okay?" he asked, quickly coming by her side.

"Calm down, I'm fine." she said, brushing him off before going and getting ready.

Upon reaching the hospital, Mia went over to where the interns were waiting for her. On her way there, she found Esme.

"Are you going to the interns?" Esme asked her.

"Yeah, I'm their attending today."

"Good luck, they've all been gossiping about you." Esme scoffed.

"Oh, just what I needed today." Mia said, sighing as she rubbed her forehead, her headache still prominently annoying her.

"I'll come with you." Esme said. "This'll be fun."

"I'm scared to see you this excited over this." Mia said. As they made their way there, they saw the interns, about 12 in total. They were broken apart in little groups, whispering as they saw Mia and Esme arrive.