Hurricane

Chapter 3

The rag tag team of doctor's sat around Naveen's large dining table in the wooden room with endless windows looking over the river. They had copious amounts of wine accompanying Ethan's homemade meat lasagna and garlic bread. Naveen sat at the head of the table, Sienna to his left with Elijah and Rebecca to his right with Ethan.

The conversation was pleasant enough. The only awkwardness was Ethan, though the others were oblivious to it. Ethan stayed quiet at the end of the table drinking his wine and assessing how everyone moved about. He desperately was still trying to diagnose the outcome of their predicament.

The young doctor's were adaptable and Naveen took to them with fatherly glee. Neither of the older doctors could remember the last time this cabin was so full of life. It was easy to notice how the young doctors moved around each other like family, without any regard for the others personal space. For a while Ethan felt completely out of place.

Naveen watched their antics like a doting parent, jumping in and out of the conversation with delight. While Ethan was on the sideline wondering if he could ever find the courage to take the leap. He doubted it. Ethan was well past his jovial years - he was too old for twenty-something antics and anything that didn't serve a concrete purpose in the continuation of life. At least, that's what he told himself.

Could he see himself mixing with the personal daily lives of these residents regularly?

The notion sent a shiver up Ethan's spine.

Sure, Trinh and Greene were nice and accommodating enough - a pleasantry even. And Ethan was thankful they kept his rendezvous with Becca secret, but could they be his friends too? No. He was a world older than them. They had a lot more learning to do.

But they're Becca's family...

Could he do it for her? Did he care enough to do it for her? 

Naveen's next question pulled Ethan out of his thoughts.

"How are you finding your interns, doctors?" Naveen asked with dazzling curiosity. 

"It's..." Sienna began to say, not wanting to damper the evening with second-year struggles. Dr. Sienna Trinh had been grappling with the daily grind since intern year - her pure soul so easily crushed by rude patients and unfortunate circumstances. Her incompetent and manipulative intern didn't help ease her anxiety one bit. 

"Challenging," Becca finished for her.

The Chief's interest was piqued, "Oh?"

Becca bit her lip before speaking, "I know Dr. Ortega is brilliant, but a bit hot headed and impulsive." Dr. Esme Ortega had some character flaws Becca was well used to working with - the fiery intern reminded Becca a lot of herself, and her standoffishness and unwillingness to trust others was definitely reflective of Ethan. She knew with just some faith and a little push Dr. Ortega would be best in her class.

"Sounds like someone I know," Naveen jokes. 

Becca continued on, "She needs to think more before she acts sometimes." 

A confident mumble came from Becca's right, the first words he's spoken in a while, "May I suggest taking your own advice, Dr. Lao?" 

She turned to look at him. Ethan's eyes met her own. There was a crinkle at the corner of his lips, the ghost of a coy smile.

"Oh shut up, Ethan," she rolled her eyes playfully. "You know what I mean."

Their eyes were locked on one another and bodies frozen in place. Ethan's implored Becca silently asking her why she didn't tell him she was having problems. She gave an immobile shrug.