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The steam from Ethan's shower had fogged the bathroom mirror. Blake stared at her reflection, a blurry image with sleep-mussed hair and eyes that held the faint shadows of exhaustion. She brushed her teeth on autopilot, the rhythmic hum of the shower the only soundtrack to the quiet morning. It was a rare moment of peace, a stolen breath before the chaos of the hospital day unfolded.
"So yesterday," Blake began, her voice carrying over the sound of the shower, "we had this insane case. A woman came in with what she thought was just a stomach ache. Turns out, she had a massive tumor that was wrapped around her intestines. Took us hours to get it out."
The shower sputtered to a stop, and Ethan's voice, warm and slightly muffled, came from behind the curtain. "Wow. And I thought my day was intense. How did it go?"
Blake rinsed her toothbrush, the sound echoing in the steam-filled room. She unfurled the towel from her hair, letting the damp strands fall around her shoulders. "We got it out, but it was touch and go for a while. Dr. Bailey was amazing though. She kept everyone focused. I don't think anyone else could have handled it the way she did."
The shower curtain rustled open as Ethan stepped out, a towel slung low on his hips. "You're pretty amazing too, you know," he said, stepping closer and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulder, his warmth radiating through the thin fabric of her tank top. "Handling cases like that day in and day out. Takes a certain kind of strength."
Blake leaned back into him, the familiar comfort sending a wave of relief over her. "Thanks. It's a team effort, really."
"Still," he continued, his voice dropping to a husky murmur, "you're incredible. I don't think I could do what you do everyday."
