November 25 2019
Hospital Hallway | Morning Rounds
AJ walked briskly down the hall, lab coat trailing behind her, a coffee in one hand and a folder in the other. Nurses moved aside. Interns followed like ducklings. The usual.
But something felt...off.
She stopped.
Luke was by the nurses' station. Talking to a resident. Except—he wasn't talking. He was nodding. Tight-lipped. Avoiding her eyes.
That wasn't normal.
She kept walking.
---
In Her Office Dave Shows Up
Dave stepped in without knocking, coffee in hand. He smiled like he always did—but it didn't reach his eyes.
AJ looked up from her desk.
Aj - That's your 'something's-wrong-but-I'm-not-gonna-tell-you' smile.
Dave raised an eyebrow.
Dave - Wow. Spot-on.
AJ - I'm a neurosurgeon, babe. I can read brain scans and bullshit.
He laughed softly, but said nothing.
AJ's gaze narrowed.
AJ -Talk.
---
Dave sat across from her, tapping his thumb against the lid of his coffee. He hesitated.
Dave - Luke told me he's in love with you.
The words landed like a dropped scalpel.
AJ froze.
Her lips parted, then closed again. She set her coffee down slowly.
AJ- Oh.
Dave- That's all you're gonna say?
Dave asked.
AJ looked away.
AJ - I didn't know.
Dave- I believe that.
AJ - But I should've seen it
she whispered.
AJ - I usually do.
Dave nodded, quiet.
Dave -He said he never crossed a line
he added.
Dave - That he never would.
AJ - He wouldn't
AJ said immediately.
AJ - He's not..
She stopped herself. Thought of **Ron.** Of blood. Of shaking hands and a quiet presence in the corner of that hospital room who didn't ask anything of her. Just stayed.
AJ - Luke's safe
she said softly.
AJ - He always has been.
---
Dave reached for her hand across the desk.
Dave - I'm not jealous
he said.
Dave -I just needed to say it out loud. So we're not carrying secrets.
AJ nodded, but her eyes were distant.
AJ- I owe him more than I've ever said.
Dave- You don't owe him anything
Dave said gently.
Dave -But maybe he gave you something you didn't realize you needed.
She swallowed hard.
AJ- He gave me silence. When I needed it most.
---
AJ Finds Luke Later
She saw him by the staff elevator, badge slung at his hip, eyes focused on the ground.
Aj - Hey
she said as she walked towards him
Luke looked up, startled.
AJ - Can we talk?
she asked.
He nodded once. Followed her into the empty stairwell.
No words at first. Just the buzz of fluorescent lights and years of history hanging in the air.
Then AJ said quietly,
AJ - Thank you. For everything. Especially the things you never said.
Luke didn't look at her.
Luke - You don't owe me gratitude.
AJ- I know
she whispered.
AJ - But I owe you truth.
He turned his head slightly.
AJ's eyes were glassy now.
AJ - You saved me from Ron in a way no one else could. Not just that night. Every day after.
Luke's voice broke.
Luke- I just wanted you to feel safe.
AJ -I always did
she said with a smile
And though nothing changed between them in that moment, **everything deepened**.
