And Then There Was You...

Chapter 17: And So It Was A Miracle...

3rd Person POV:

The snow outside the hospital windows fell in heavy, silent drifts, covering the city in a blanket of white. Inside, the atmosphere was anything but peaceful. The emergency department was abuzz with activity, as doctors and nurses rushed to treat the influx of patients from a massive pile-up on the highway. Christmas Eve had turned into a long, grueling double shift for everyone, including Connor and Grace.

For nearly twelve hours, they'd been moving nonstop, treating one trauma case after another. Connor hadn't seen Grace in hours, and his concern for her was growing with each passing minute. He finally managed to take a short break and headed toward the doctors' lounge, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

When Connor stepped into the lounge, he found Grace sitting in front of a computer monitor, her face illuminated by the cold blue light of the screen. She was hunched over, eyes focused intently on something, her expression tense. As he walked closer, he saw what she was reading—a detailed surgical plan for a complex and risky heart surgery scheduled for after Christmas.

Connor's heart ached as he saw the anxiety etched on her face. Grace was a brilliant surgeon, but he knew how much pressure she put on herself, especially when it came to high-stakes procedures like this. He could see the fear in her eyes, the doubt creeping into her mind.

"Hey," he said softly, breaking the silence.

Grace looked up, startled out of her concentration. "Connor," she breathed, her voice a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "I didn't even hear you come in."

He smiled, pulling up a chair beside her. "I've been looking for you. It's been a crazy day."

She nodded, rubbing her temples as if trying to ward off a headache. "Tell me about it. I've been going over this surgery plan. It's... it's intense."

Connor glanced at the screen, then back at her. "It's a tough one, but if anyone can do it, it's you."

Grace shook her head, a small, worried frown tugging at her lips. "I don't know, Connor. This one's different. It's so risky... what if I mess up? What if something goes wrong?"

He reached out, taking her hand in his, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles. "Grace, you're the best surgeon I know. I've seen you perform miracles in that OR. You're going to do great. I believe in you."

Her eyes softened at his words, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "You always know what to say," she whispered, leaning into his comforting presence.

"It's because I know you," Connor said, his voice tender. "I know how much you care about your patients, how dedicated you are. That's what makes you an incredible surgeon. And it's why you're going to nail this surgery."

Grace smiled, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Thank you, Connor. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out," he replied, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead.

They stayed like that for a moment, wrapped in each other's warmth, finding solace in the brief respite from the chaos outside. The world outside the lounge might have been spinning at a hundred miles an hour, but in that moment, time seemed to slow, and everything else faded away.

Eventually, Grace pulled back, her smile more genuine now. "I guess we should get back out there."

Connor nodded, but he didn't let go of her hand. "Yeah, but we'll get through it together. Just like we always do."

"Together," she echoed, squeezing his hand before finally standing up. "Let's go save some lives."

The chaotic rhythm of the emergency department had settled into a focused intensity as Connor and Grace scrubbed in for surgery. The patient—a twelve-year-old boy who had been crushed in the pile-up—lay unconscious on the operating table. His condition was critical, the damage to his heart extensive. It was a daunting case, but there was no hesitation in either surgeon's eyes as they prepared to do what they did best.