How To Save A Life

Chapter 2

When Harry showed up in the OR, the patient was already sedated and ready on the table. He went straight to the scrub room, hoping to avoid running into Dr. Tomlinson while being alone. He scrubbed for about five minutes just to be sure. He was about to leave the scrub room as Dr. Tomlinson stepped in wearing a blue scrub-cap over the dark brown hair and a mask around his neck.

"Dr. Nelson wasn't happy when I told her I would have you with me in there, she said you were supposed to join the rest of them in the gallery." He exclaimed as he started scrubbing. Harry looked at him while dragging his brown curls up in a bun and putting a cap over them.
"I managed to persuade her though." He continued looking over at him with the enchanting blue gaze. Harry didn't say anything, just stood there semi-paralyzed not knowing how to react.
"Oh, lighten up, Harry. You're the first of your cohort to see the inside of an OR." Well, he obviously had no idea what kind of awkward position he was placed in.

"Styles... it's Dr. Styles." He mumbled looking down. Dr. Tomlinson stopped scrubbing and turned the faucet off with his elbow. He turned around holding his hands up making sure they wouldn't get desterilized. His expression was unreadable.
"I'm pretty sure it's Harry, unless I say otherwise." He said lifting his shoulder and walking past him into the OR.

Harry took a deep breath. He wanted to punch something... or someone. He wished Dr. Nelson had been resistant, refusing him the privilege of joining the surgery. Sure, he would probably learn a lot, and it was a great opportunity, and he was certain Dr. Tomlinson was a great surgeon, but he just didn't want to be in there. He got that he was an attending, that he was a nobody compared to him, but he didn't want to be treated like this. Not that he had done anything fully inappropriate, at least not yet, but refusing to call him by his last name was not how it was supposed to be. He wasn't even supposed to know his first name, and that just reminded him of how he needed to forget last night. He took another deep breath and walked slowly into the OR.

Dr. Tomlinson had dragged the mask over his face and stood behind the patient's head. Harry couldn't help but sigh. Of course his eyes had to match everything he was wearing, of course the mask had to reflect the blueness making his eyes even more irresistible.
"Are you coming?" For a split second Harry managed to take it the wrong way, thinking that his amaze for him was that obvious. He shook his head to shake the thought away and walked over to the operating-table. Dr. Tomlinson seemed to have understood his interpretation of what he had said and shook his head.

"Don't you think that was a bit inappropriate?" he whispered as Harry reached him. Harry didn't reply, just cleared his throat looking helplessly up at the gallery where Niall and the rest of the interns were seated.
"Scalpel." Dr. Tomlinson acclaimed.

The surgery went by tremendously slow. From time to time, Dr. Tomlinson asked questions Harry had no idea how to answer, and he managed to seem utter incompetent.

"Harry, hold the clamp." He suddenly said reaching the clamp over to him. Harry just stared at it for a few seconds.
"Really?" he mumbled.
"Does it look like I'm joking? Take it for God's sake, I've only got two hands." Dr. Tomlinson nearly shouted. Harry swallowed and grabbed the clamp.

...

"You need to change your attitude." Dr. Tomlinson said back in the scrub room.
"You're slow and unfocused, plus you need to learn how to speak up." He continued tossing the mask in the trashcan.
"... after all, you didn't seem to have any problems with the volume of your voice last night." Harry's eyes shut wide. Enough was enough, he was pretty sure he now had crossed a line.

"Come again?" he whispered. Dr. Tomlinson turned around piercing him with the blue gaze.
"Oh, I'd love too." He replied smirking.
"... just, that would be sort of against the rules, wouldn't it?" he said walking up against him. Harry's gaze flickered. The OR was cleared, there was no one in sight, they were completely alone. In all honesty, he really wanted to just grab that rude little bastard and throw him against the wall till he begged for mercy, but it was more likely it would happen the other way around.