Home Hunting

Chapter 5: Unwanted Visitor

Evelyn's POV:

As I walked into the radiology office, I could nearly feel my stomach turn. I was on Dr. Shepherd's service today, and this time, I was alone: no Jules or Dr. Montgomery to buffer for me.

Don't get me wrong; I love neuro and I absolutely admire Dr. Shepherd. But I walked in on her. I walked in on her with Robbins! And I don't know who Dr. Shepherd is more irritated with: me for walking in on them, or Robbins for not locking the door!

"Good morning, Dr. Bowers," Dr. Shepherd greeted me as I walked into the room, seemingly normal so far.

"Good morning," I replied simply with a smile.

"Have you studied up on the case as I requested?" She asked.

"Of course," I replied. "55 year old male with a history of vertigo and vision blackouts. Scans show a large tumor covering the occipital and temporal lobes infringing on the optic nerve."

"Very good," she smiled. "She's a beauty," she added, admiring the tumor.

"She?" I asked.

"I like to give them a personality. I like to be on a personal basis with them when I cut out their ugly faces and send them to pathology," she replied. "These are the most recent scans," she added after a moment of silence. I wasn't exactly sure how to reply.

"It looks bigger than I remember," I said.

"That's because it is. It's progressing quickly, and we'll need to operate today before the optic nerve is completely compromised."

Dr. Shepherd stepped over to the desk and opened one of the interactive computer modules.

"Here, step over and we'll go over the path I'm planning," she said, motioning me to come closer.

I followed her directions, listening carefully as she explained her chosen path.

"Bowers," she added, turning to look at me. "Take a breath." I didn't respond, unsure of what she meant. "You're so tense you're practically shaking. Is this about the other night?"

"I won't tell anyone, I swear," I replied honestly.

"I'm not worried about that Bowers," she smiled. "Well I would appreciate it if you didn't inform the entire intern class that you saw me naked. But what I wanted to say was that I'm sorry. You don't have anything to be sorry about. It was unprofessional of me to be in there in the first place."

"Oh," I replied, releasing a breath. "Yea I won't tell that to the rest of my class," I laughed.

"Great!" she exaggerated. "Now that that's out of the way, let's get to work."

***

"Bowers, would you like to assist?" Dr. Shepherd asked me about 30 minutes into surgery.

"Y-yes," I replied.

My hands immediately began to shake as I made my way over to Dr. Shepherds left, being careful to maintain the sterile field. I had never assisted in a surgery before, much less a neuro surgery.

"Wilkins, step to the side," Dr. Shepherd instructed the older resident. "Hand the suction over to Dr. Bowers."

I took hold of the instrument, being careful to hold it steady despite the fact that it was not yet even in the patient's brain. I felt an extreme sense of awe as I gazed at the surgical field, my position allowing me to be closer than ever. That was until the gravity of the situation started to hit me. I was about to place an instrument in a real, living person's brain.