October 28 2020
NEURO WING, EARLY AFTERNOON
The hallway smelled faintly of antiseptic and fresh coffee. AJ Brewster stood near the nurses' station, her white coat draped perfectly, hair pulled back, eyes locked on the patient chart in her hand.
A family sat on the benches in front of her — a worried mother, a pacing father, and a teenage son in a hoodie. AJ's tone was calm, deliberate, but warm.
AJ - We'll get him into imaging today
she said, voice steady but reassuring.
AJ - I'll be there personally to review the scans and walk you through next steps.
The mother nodded, visibly relieved. AJ offered a small, genuine smile before heading toward the charting desk.
---
ACROSS THE HALL
Camilla leaned against the counter, sipping from a paper coffee cup. Beside her, Gabriel stood a little too still, watching AJ as she passed — not with lust, but with the kind of quiet admiration usually reserved for mentors or heroes.
Camilla's eyes flicked sideways at him.
Camilla - You're staring.
Gabriel blinked, pulling his gaze away.
Gabriel- Was not.
Camilla smirked.
Camilla - Please. I've seen puppies look less devoted.
Gabriel shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to play it cool.
Gabriel - She's... she's just really good at what she does.
Camilla raised an eyebrow.
Camilla - Uh-huh. And you just 'happen' to be standing here every time she's on this floor?
Gabriel didn't answer, and Camilla's smirk softened into something gentler.
Gabriel- Relax. Admiring her doesn't make you weak. It makes you human.
Across the hall, AJ looked up from her chart, catching Gabriel's gaze for half a second before moving on, already onto the next crisis.
Camilla chuckled under her breath.
Camilla - See? She didn't bite. Yet.
Do you want me to do that next?
