Motion (Sequel to "Collide")

CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR

A/N: ahhhhh how I've missed cliffhangers! It's going down, people! The butterfly effect is in "motion" 🫠

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I blinked a few times, trying to keep my eyes open as I went through what felt like the hundredth résumé since I got to the hospital. I looked up from the sheet of paper in my hands, and took a quick look at the clock on the wall in front of me.

3:11PM.

It meant Carl and I had been in the lab for the last six hours. Choosing the people we would interview to eventually become our coworkers was harder than I had expected. The only other time I'd had to do something like this was when Michael asked me to help him hire Neverland's medical crew.

This time, we had to choose over seventy people. Nurses, physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, secretaries... Everything that was fundamental to making a hospital—well, a hospital.

Naturally, we both started with what we were most comfortable doing.

"I kinda like this one," I told Carl, who was sitting across from me. "Elena Morales. She's a pediatrician at a county hospital," I said, sliding the résumé across the table toward Carl.

Carl examined the paper, a frown forming on his face at each word he read.

I could already tell he wouldn't agree with me.

"She's been a pediatric attending for a year," he said, shaking his head. "I don't think hiring someone who still needs mentoring is a good idea. If anything, it'll create additional work, and we can't have that once the training program is established."

"I understand, but look at her volunteer work," I urged him. "She's worked at free clinics and she's been involved in community health initiatives targeting children without reliable access to primary care. She could fit right in."

"And you have to give her credit for that, but we're reopening a hospital, Hale. We can't risk hiring someone who's going to be a liability to the department's development."

"A liability? That's a strong choice of words," I raised both of my eyebrows. "She may lack experience, but her profile is what we're looking for. Pro bono work is going to be a big part of what we'll do here. And who knows, maybe she's a fast learner," I added, which caught Carl's attention. "I was inexperienced once, too. Yet, you hired me, and I learned from you."

He sighed heavily, probably because he knew I was right. "You were the exception that proves the rule. That's not fair."

"Maybe she will be, too," I shrugged, and Carl gave me a pointed look. "Don't look at me like that. You know I'm right."

Carl didn't answer, but instead he rummaged through the papers scattered in front of him before sliding a sheet of paper my way.

"This. This is what we're looking for."

I picked the paper up and read the résumé. It didn't take long before I understood where Carl was going. He wanted to play it safe.

Dr. Susan Whitmore had seventeen years of experience in pediatrics. She remained employed at the same community hospital for fifteen years, which made her a low-risk hire. I went through the pages and noted that she had strong references. Her employer stressed how much of a loss it was to see her go, but she needed to relocate for family reasons.

"I see," I nodded, looking from the sheet of paper to Carl. "But there's something we have to determine. She hasn't worked in a teaching hospital for years. What if she's not interested in teaching residents? That could be counterproductive."