Surgical Steel Heart [Doctor x Reader]

Treatment

You let out a sigh as you remove your surgical mask, a long day at work coming to a close. Though your skill as a surgeon allows you to live comfortably, the hours are long and the work is exhausting. You tell yourself that the smiles of a family whose relative you just saved make it all worthwhile; yet somehow, the sights of joy and great relief have become dull.

Trudging through the main hallway of the hospital where you work, you make your way to the exit. Along the way you wave goodbye to your coworkers, all of them equally as exhausted as you. Before you can leave, you hear the voice of your superior calling your name.

Upon turning around you see a tall, well-dressed figure standing beside her. Understanding the situation, you nod and follow her into her office. It isn't uncommon for wealthy patients to seek you out for their surgeries. They often request you because of your reputation, even for the smallest surgeries. The jobs are easy and make you plenty of cash, so you never complain.

The air in your superior's room is off. She typically keeps her composure, though you pick up on subtle signs that show her nervousness. Her worry stems from the fact that this is no wealthy patient who called you in, this is a CIA agent.

The agent informs you of your transferral, something you had no say in. Starting tomorrow, you are to report to Lery's Memorial Institute. A stack of documents is dropped in front of you and the agent takes their leave. Not a word is said until the sound of the agent's footsteps fades.

"How are you feeling?" Your superior asks. It's clear she has much more to say, but shes holding back.

"I'm not sure yet. I'm so exhausted, and this is so sudden, it... it doesn't feel real." She nods at your response.

"I understand. Well, we'll be sad to see you go, but I'm sure this will be a great opportunity for your career." She gives you a reassuring smile, "I always knew your skills would lead you somewhere beyond this old place." With that, you bid your old superior farewell.

You don't give your new position much thought as you make your way home. The idea of getting home and laying in bed is occupying all of your brain power. So upon your arrival, that is exactly what you do. Tossing your work clothes aside you flop onto your bed, falling unconscious as soon as your body hits the mattress.

* * *

Even as you get ready for the day, the reality of your new job has yet to sit in. The documents the agent gave you weren't any help either. It was just a notice of your transferral, the legality behind it, and instructions on how to get into the building. For all you know, this is the same job, just at a new location. Regardless of how samey it all feels, you put a bit more effort into your appearance for the sake of first impressions.

Doubt clouds your mind as you arrive at the address you were given. The building is huge and the security measures are high. You never doubted your abilities before, but it's difficult not to when faced with something so profound. You read the address over again. You are at the right place. The old architecture gives the building an eerie appearance that only grows creepier as you enter.

You keep your head down as you navigate through the long corridors. This institute is unlike any hospital you've ever seen before. From what glimpses you catch into other rooms, it looks more like a prison than a hospital.

Perhaps it's the fear of your environment, but you get the feeling that you are constantly being watched. You try to reassure yourself that it's just imposter syndrome making you feel like this, and that no one is actually watching you. Anytime you pass by someone, they almost run into you because of how unbothered they are by your presence. Despite this, you can't shake the feeling of eyes glued to your back.

You can hardly wait when you see the agent from yesterday waving you into a room. You want to get out of these hallways and finally shake the feeling of being watched. The room you enter doesn't feel any safer, but you can only feel the eyes of the agent and the other man in the room on you. The agent leaves after you enter, leaving you with the man sitting at his desk. He welcomes you in, offering you the seat in front of him which you take. The nameplate on the desk reads: Otto Stamper.

"You were transferred because your skills are better suited here. You may have saved a few lives at that old hospital, but here you will save millions." Dr. Stamper speaks loudly with strength in his voice, similar to a leader addressing his subjects. "There are many bad people we have locked up here... enemies to our great nation. It is our job to stop them." He finishes his short speech and turns to look you in the eyes. "Tell me, surgeon, how does that sound?"

Put on the spot, you don't know how to reply. You break eye contact since his intense stare is not helping you think.

"It sounds..." You start, just trying to fill the silence in hopes that the right words will come to you. "Great. I mean, the work you do here sounds very important, but I don't understand why I'm here." You are finished talking, but Stamper remains silent. He just keeps his eyes on you, waiting.

The silence is worse than anything you might blather out, so you continue. "I mean, I'm a surgeon. I don't think I'm cut out for stopping national threats." Finally satisfied with your answer, Stamper speaks.

"You are very smart, but you already know that." He chuckles, "Your job is to aid our... interrogators, with their work. They tend to get a bit messy." You shudder. You can only imagine what 'messy' means if they need a surgeon to clean it up.

Without warning, Stamper shoots out of his chair and walks out the door of his office. "Follow me," is all he says as he begins walking down the hall, leaving you to hurry and catch up. Once you reach him, you follow closely behind until you arrive at an operating room. Stamper knocks and it doesn't take long for the door to open, a tall man wearing formal attire under his lab coat emerges.

"This is Dr. Carter, he will give you your first assignment." Stamper gives the doctor a quick nod and leaves. You look up at the doctor and swallow hard. His presence is overwhelming, but his eyes feel strangely familiar.