Living with my greatest fear.

~ Chapter 48 ~

Grant's POV:

We all sat in the staffroom to have lunch and then carried on with the rest of the day until 3:30pm.

A few weeks ago, I'd asked everyone to block out from 3:30pm to 5:30pm in their schedule for today as I wanted to do staff check-ups. We generally do them every 3-6 months as I believe it's best for the people giving care to others to be the healthiest they can be otherwise they are being somewhat hypocritical. Not everyone has to have a check-up if they do not want one or they have booked in with someone, usually me, so they don't need another one before then. I think everyone is having one today anyways.

There's 5 minutes before everyone comes into my room to start all of the check-ups and currently I'm just sat with Ellie in my room.

"You want to be the last one, yeah?"

"If that's okay.." She replies, looking down to the floor.

"Of course, sweetheart. Do you want Tobey or anyone to stay in here whilst I have a look, or do you just want me and then we can go?"

"Ummm.. I think maybe just you..." She says. Ellie stands up as the door opened, probably not knowing where to really stand as there are going to be quite a few people in here. I wouldn't be surprised if Ellie gets overwhelmed, but I forgot to tell her that she can go into the staff toilets if she gets overwhelmed because I know no one else will be in there and I can just go and calm her down a little later. To make sure she knows, I quickly message her as James walks in.

(G - Grant, E - Ellie)

G - I forgot to tell you, E - as there is going to be everyone in here, if you feel overwhelmed at any time, just go into the staff toilets and I'll come down as quick as I can, okay? I don't want to make you feel like you have to be in here all the time.

E - Okay, also...do you know the order of everyone?

G - No, we're going to decide that once everyone is in here. Normally it goes whoever wants to go next goes next. All of them know not to pressure you into having a check-up whilst everyone is in here. I've told them that we're doing our own thing, okay? So don't worry about them.

E - Okay, thank youuuu

I smile over to Ellie and she returns it.

"Hiya, mate. All set for 2 hours straight of check-ups?!" James laughs, as he sits down on the dental chair.

"I think so, hopefully everyone is alright! 6 check-ups shouldn't take too long, just as long as everyone does as they tell all their patients!" I say, laughing too.

"Honestly mate, I'm not sure I'm going to be a clean sheet this time... The last time I had a check-up was the last time we had staff ones, which isn't that ideal and I've had so much coffee since then and I think I'm going to need mine whitened."

"Jeez, don't scare me like that, mate. I thought you were about to say you had bad toothache! I can do whitening for you later if you want. I think I have space tomorrow."

"Brilliant, I was thinking of asking Dan, but I didn't want him to think we were all hypocrites telling our patients to stop drinking so much coffee and I drink my bodyweight in it everyday it feels like," he laughs.

"True! He's having a check-up I think as well today. His first one since being here. I think he's going to be a bit later though, he couldn't block off 2 hours as his patient needed seeing today and he's been pretty busy all day."

Dan is a new member of staff at the clinic. He started about 4 months ago and is the only member of our Orthodontics team currently. Since he's been here, he's been so busy all day as he's one of the only orthodontists locally.