Gained Approval | Chamber & Viper

One

Patients were brought into their assigned rooms, categorized by the receptionists who were now handling around five more patients.

A sigh escaped her lips, rubbing her temples with her fingers, trying to figure out the problem that emerged in one of the emergency rooms. These unsettling yet calming white walls felt like it would close in on her as every second passed by.

"Dr. Sabine." A personal nurse of hers, Katie, approached with a file of documents organized by her from first to last patients that needed urgent help and care today. "Here are the files you asked for."

"Thank you." Right before the nurse turned around to leave, Sabine stopped her with a small talk. "By the way, have you seen John? I haven't seen him." A smile found its way up her nurse's face, knowing the reason why after overhearing the subject from yesterday's argument. "I'm not sure. I can go ask the other nurses if you'd like-"

"No, thank you." She cut her off, knowing that her looking for John will cause a commotion in the hospital. The nurse left, holding in her smile as she closed the door behind her, glancing over to the figure standing a few feet away from the door. "Talk to her." And with that, she left John, scratching the back of his nape, thinking of a way to start a conversation.

A pair of eyes scanned around Sabine's office through window of the plain white door, still trying to figure out a way to not disturb her somewhat peace and quiet. "Go big or go home." He whispered to himself before quietly opening the door, a bouquet of flowers in his hand while a small box of chocolates was inside the pocket of his long, white lab coat.

"Sabine." A certain voice caught her attention, gulping at the sight of him entering her office with such caution. "John."

"I'm sorry for yesterday." No matter how much Sabine wanted to ignore her partner, she just couldn't, especially with how soft the way he talks despite his low voice. "Hm, what about yesterday?" The lady in her early 30s crossed her arms in front of her chest, acting tough.

"Okay, okay. I know you don't want to have a pet... yet because we're both busy but you have to admit, that puppy was so cute."

"And?" Sabine raised an eyebrow, keeping her eyes on the files placed on her desk.. John walked towards her, swirling her office chair around to face him and stood right in front of her, slightly crouching. Slowly placing the bouquet he bought in front of his face, taking the box of chocolates and softly smiled. "Please, forgive me."

With how soft and melted her heart has gotten, Sabine couldn't help but pout and accept the bouquet and box of chocolates from her partner, standing up to face him properly as he did as well.

Though, a question came to mind as she received them.

"John, when are you going to stop courting me?" Sabine averted her gaze to the figure in front of her, curious of his answer, in which he just smiled.

"When you've decided to let me love you more than ever." The small smile she's been trying to hide dropped, replacing it with shock then suddenly turning crimson red. She cleared her throat and fiddled with the flowers and box of chocolates instead, placing it on her desk before awkwardly looking back at John who's been smiling widely at her reaction.

"What's wrong, doc? You usually have something to say every time I talk." The latter lightly touched her chin, raising it up a bit to fully look into her eyes in which are trying their best to avoid his.

"N-Nothing." Shit! Sabine stuttered, accidentally giving the reaction John's been wanting to see - something about cold-looking women suddenly getting shy and flustered has always been so attractive to him; especially Sabine.

A playful smirk was displayed on the latter's face as he snaked both hands on Sabine's waist, pulling her closer to him. "Hm?" As he was about to tease her even more, the door opened, revealing a panicked nurse.

"Doc, a patient in room 101 needs you!" John quickly lets go of his partner and followed right behind her, closing her office door. All three of them rushed over to room 101, running down the flight of stairs as there was no time to use the elevator.

Sabine gathered her essentials with her, asking for about two nurses as she checked on the patient. Complications started to show up as soon as they got there, giving difficulty to the patient in using all five of their senses.

Sabine did everything she could under pressure. Everyone's breaths shivered in fear, anxiety and nervousness; yet, she was the only one who was calm despite knowing that the life of her patient was in her hands.

Seconds into helping them, a suspicious look crept its way up in her face; raising an eyebrow and slightly tilting her head to the side. Did someone take care of this patient?

"Did anyone take care of her before I came inside the room?" Sabine scanned around the room, reading each and every facial expressions and emotions they were all portraying, excluding John. "Answer my question!"

"Y-Yes. Doctor Sepi did." That dick? Then there's no denying it that he injected way too much in her that her body's having difficulty fighting against it. The doctor's eyebrows in front of them furrowed, inspecting and yet doing everything she can. "Is there something wrong?"

Sabine glared at the nurse standing at the back, barely doing anything. "Everything is, Mark. That je-"

"Sabine." John cut her off by calling her name, shaking his head as a signal to not say anything more. The lady clicked her tongue in frustration. "That doctor of yours injected way too much substance to the point that her body is having difficulty fighting against it. At any point, she can die!"

Just what kind of a doctor is he to carelessly put that much amount and let his patient slowly die? Sabine tried and tried until the monitor showed a flatline, producing a high-pitched sound, letting them know that the patient isn't with them anymore.

And another one died in my hands.

Everything felt dirty for her especially her hands. She stared at it for awhile, temptation of breaking them seeping in. It was disgusting.

John took a deep of breath as he watched Sabine observe her hands with a disgusted look on her face. He knew what was going on in her mind, it has happened before.

"Sabine, you can't blame yourself for it. Just reminding you, you can't save everyone."