Incision of the Heart

Chapter 7: A Heartbeat Away

The next morning, the hospital seemed quieter, as if the early hours had lulled the bustling corridors into a temporary calm.

Emily walked in with her usual brisk pace, a coffee cup in one hand and her clipboard in the other.

Today marked the start of her first procedural observation—a valve repair surgery performed by none other than Dr. Patel, the renowned cardiothoracic surgeon they were shadowing.

The excitement coursing through her veins mingled with the ever-present anxiety of being under scrutiny.

She glanced at the surgical schedule pinned on the wall outside the scrub room. Liam’s name was also listed as an observer.

Of course.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Liam appeared, dressed impeccably in scrubs that somehow looked tailored to him. He gave her a once-over, his smirk firmly in place.

“Ready for the big leagues, Carter?” he asked, his tone teasing.

She raised an eyebrow, refusing to rise to the bait. “Always.”

---

Inside the OR, the air was thick with focus. Machines beeped rhythmically, and the sterile smell of antiseptic filled the space.

Emily and Liam stood off to the side, observing as Dr. Patel prepared to lead the team through a mitral valve repair.

Dr. Patel glanced at them briefly before addressing the team. “This is a complex case—a minimally invasive repair on a degenerative valve. Precision is key. Watch and learn.”

Emily’s heart raced as the surgery began. She watched in awe as Dr. Patel maneuvered the instruments with a confidence born of years of experience.

The surgeon explained each step of the procedure, her voice calm and authoritative.

“Carter, what’s the primary complication to watch for in a case like this?” Dr. Patel asked suddenly, her gaze sharp.

Emily straightened, her mind racing through her notes. “Para valvular leak, caused by improper sealing between the valve and the annulus,” she answered confidently.

Dr. Patel nodded. “Correct. And you, Grant?”

Liam didn’t miss a beat. “Increased risk of atrial fibrillation post-surgery due to atrial remodeling.”

“Good,” Dr. Patel said, returning her focus to the patient. “Stay sharp, both of you.”

---

As the surgery progressed, Emily found herself leaning slightly forward, captivated by the intricate dance of the instruments on the monitor.

It wasn’t until Liam nudged her arm that she realized she’d been holding her breath.

“Careful, Carter,” he murmured. “You’ll pass out before the patient does.”

She shot him a glare but said nothing, her cheeks warming.

By the time the surgery concluded, Emily was mentally exhausted but exhilarated.

Dr. Patel removed her gloves and addressed the team. “Excellent work, everyone. Carter, Grant, meet me in the conference room in ten minutes. I want your thoughts on the case.”

---

The conference room was small but functional, with a long table cluttered with case files and medical journals.

Emily and Liam sat side by side, their notes ready, as Dr. Patel entered.

“Impressions?” she asked, sitting across from them.

Emily started, her voice steady. “The minimally invasive approach minimized the trauma to surrounding tissues, but I noticed the repair took longer than expected. Was that due to the patient’s anatomy?”

Dr. Patel nodded, impressed. “Good observation. The patient’s calcified annulus required more meticulous debridement. And you, Grant?”

“The choice to use a neochordoplasty technique was interesting,” Liam said, leaning slightly forward. “It seemed to provide better leaflet coaptation compared to traditional annuloplasty. Was that planned or decided intraoperatively?”

Dr. Patel smiled faintly. “Planned. Excellent attention to detail, both of you. Keep it up.”

---

Later that afternoon, Emily and Liam were called into Dr. Patel’s office.

The walls were lined with certificates and awards, each a testament to her extraordinary career.

“I have an assignment for you two,” Dr. Patel said, fixing them with her piercing gaze. “There’s a research paper I’m publishing on mitral valve repair outcomes. I need a detailed case study included, and I think you’re both capable of handling it.”

Emily’s pulse quickened. This was a huge opportunity, but working with Liam again?

“We’d be honored,” Liam said smoothly before Emily could respond.

Dr. Patel handed them a file. “You’ll be working closely on this. I expect a draft in two weeks.”

As they left her office, Emily turned to Liam, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t think for a second I’m letting you take the lead on this.”

Liam smirked. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Carter. This should be… fun.”

---

Their workspace for the evening turned out to be a cramped conference room with a single laptop and stacks of files.

Emily and Liam settled in, the air between them charged with unspoken tension.

As they divided tasks, their bickering resumed, each pushing the other’s buttons with a precision that came from years of rivalry.

“Your handwriting is atrocious,” Emily said, frowning at his notes.

“And your highlighting is aggressive,” Liam shot back, waving a page covered in neon yellow streaks.

Despite their sniping, they made progress.

By midnight, they’d compiled a detailed outline for the case study.

As they packed up, Emily glanced at Liam, a reluctant admission forming in her mind. “You’re not as bad at this as I thought you’d be.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Careful, Carter. That almost sounded like a compliment.”

“Don’t get used to it,” she retorted, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

---

Walking out of the hospital together, the night air was crisp and cool. For once, they weren’t arguing.

“You love this, don’t you?” Liam asked suddenly, his voice softer than usual.

Emily looked at him, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“Medicine. Surgery. All of it. You light up when you’re in the OR,” he said, his expression unguarded.

Emily hesitated, caught off guard by his sincerity. “I guess I do. Don’t you?”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I do.”

For a moment, they walked in silence, the rivalry that usually defined their relationship giving way to something unspoken but undeniable.

As they parted ways, Emily realized with a start that for the first time, she didn’t mind Liam’s company.