Incision of the Heart ✓

Chapter 29: The Crossroads

The hospital at night was a world of its own-a mix of eerie calm and unpredictable chaos. The hum of fluorescent lights, the distant beeping of monitors, and the occasional hurried footsteps created a rhythm Emily had grown accustomed to.

But tonight felt different.

Emily was stationed at the nurses' desk, finishing up a chart, when the atmosphere shifted. It wasn't the usual rush of adrenaline that came with an emergency call. No, this was something else entirely.

"Dr. Malcolm's been asking about you," Nurse Harper said, smirking as she handed over a patient file.

Emily groaned inwardly. "What is it now?"

"He's been raving about how impressive you were during that transplant last week. Rumor has it he's planning to recruit you for his private research team."

Emily forced a polite smile, trying to focus on the file. "That's... flattering."

"Flattering, huh?"

Emily's head shot up at the sound of Liam's voice. He was standing a few feet away, arms crossed, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her.

"Don't mind me," he said, his tone deceptively light. "I just didn't realize you had fans now."

Emily rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. It's just professional."

"Right," Liam drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because Dr. Malcolm's reputation for professionalism is legendary."

Nurse Harper stifled a laugh and quickly excused herself, leaving Emily and Liam alone.

"What's your problem?" Emily asked, trying to sound annoyed, but the heat rising to her cheeks betrayed her.

"My problem?" Liam leaned on the desk, his voice low and intense. "My problem is watching that guy circle you like a shark. Did you hear the way he spoke to you during rounds earlier? 'We'd make a great team, Emily.'" He mimicked Dr. Malcolm's tone with an exaggerated smirk. "Give me a break."

Emily bit her lip, fighting back a laugh. "Are you jealous?"

"Jealous?" Liam scoffed, standing upright. "No. I'm... concerned."

"Concerned," she echoed, crossing her arms.

"Yes. Concerned," he repeated, though the way his jaw clenched told a different story. "Because you deserve better than his sleazy attempts to impress you."

Emily couldn't help herself-she laughed. "Liam, you're being ridiculous."

"What's ridiculous," Liam shot back, stepping closer, "is how blind you are to the fact that he's not just interested in your skills as a doctor."

Emily's laughter faltered as his words sank in. The intensity in his eyes made her stomach flip.

"Why do you care so much?" she asked, her voice softer now.

For a moment, Liam didn't answer. The space between them felt charged, the air thick with unspoken emotions.

"Because it's you, Emily," he finally said, his voice low but firm. "And the thought of someone else trying to win you over makes me want to-" He stopped himself, running a hand through his hair. "Forget it. Just... watch out for guys like him, okay?"

Before she could respond, a voice crackled over the intercom, summoning both of them to the ER.

---

The ER was its usual chaotic self, a blur of activity as the team handled a series of emergencies.

Emily and Liam worked side by side, their earlier conversation hanging between them like an unresolved chord.

It wasn't until hours later when the pace had slowed, that Emily found herself alone in the supply closet, restocking syringes.

The door creaked open, and she turned to see Liam standing there, looking sheepish.

"Are you following me now?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Liam didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The small space suddenly felt much smaller.

"I'm not following you," he said, leaning against the wall. "I just... needed a minute."

Emily set down the box she was holding and crossed her arms. "A minute for what?"

"For this," he said, meeting her gaze. "To tell you that I can't stop thinking about you. Even when I'm furious or jealous or trying to focus on anything else, it always comes back to you."

Her breath caught. "Liam..."

"I know this is messy," he continued, his voice trembling slightly. "We're both busy, we're both under pressure, and this hospital isn't exactly the most romantic setting. But none of that changes how I feel."

Emily felt her resolve cracking.

She had tried so hard to keep things professional, to maintain a boundary, but Liam had a way of breaking through her defenses.

"I don't know if I can do this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Why not?" he asked, stepping closer.

"Because I'm scared," she said, her eyes glistening. "Of what it could mean for us. For everything we've worked for."

Liam hesitated, then gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "Emily, I'm scared too. But I'd rather take the risk than spend another day pretending I don't care about you."

Her heart raced as he leaned in, his forehead resting against hers.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence filled only by the sound of their breathing.

Then the intercom blared again, pulling them back to reality.

---

By the time their shift ended, it was nearly dawn. The hospital was quiet again, the night's chaos giving way to the stillness of early morning.

Emily found Liam sitting in the on-call room, his head resting against the back of the couch. He looked exhausted, but when he saw her, he managed a small smile.

"Hey," she said softly, closing the door behind her.

"Hey," he replied, patting the seat beside him.

She hesitated for a moment before sitting down, the space between them barely an inch.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"I think so," she said, leaning back against the couch. "It's just been... a lot."

Liam nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah. It has."

They sat in silence for a while, the tension from earlier replaced by a quiet understanding.

"Do you remember our first night shift together?" Emily asked suddenly, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Liam chuckled. "Sure! How could I forget? You yelled at me for something very insignificant."

"And you deserved it," she said, laughing softly.

"Fair," he admitted. "But I knew from that moment that you were someone special."

Emily looked at him, her smile fading. "Liam, why do you do this? Why risk everything for me?"

He met her gaze, his eyes unwavering. "Because you're worth it. And because I can't imagine going through this without you."

Her chest tightened at his words, and before she could stop herself, she leaned her head against his shoulder. He froze for a moment, then relaxed, wrapping an arm around her.

They stayed like that, the weight of the night finally lifting as they found solace in each other's presence.

"Liam," Emily whispered after a while, "if we do this... if we try, it has to be real. No games, no pretending."

"It will be," he promised, his voice steady. "I'll make sure of it."

She closed her eyes, letting his warmth envelop her.

For the first time in a long time, she felt at peace.

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window, Emily realized that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she and Liam would face them together.