The Smile

IV - Training

The large common dining area welcomes the calm rush of white blouses. Blue blouses had joined the hungry mess. Claire and Sam sit alongside Eva and Simon. Lisa waves at a colleague and takes her salad in her office. She was focusing on her cellphone and didn't notice the young student in front of her. They bump into each other. The director apologies before leaving in a run.

Simon wasn't eating. Eva was pleased to meet Sam and Claire. Because she was a psychiatric, she had never talked to these two. Dr Dearing kept an eye on the exits doors, under jokes of Dr Mandell and Wylde :

" ..and then, she enters, yelling ..where are my blue gloves ?!

- Please, Sam.. Claire tries.

- Dr Dearing, you yelled at Dr Linder ?

- I.. didn't know.."

They all laugh loudly. Eva stops faster than the others, paying attention to Simon :

" What's that ?

- Paperwork and notes. I'm trying to specialize.

- Oh that's interesting.

- You're a surgeon ! Claire is amazed.

- I am. Why ? Is that a problem ?

- No.. Not at all. I am fascinated by surgeons actually. I thought I could be one.

- You're a dentist..

- Oh. That's right."

Eva smiles at Sam, a sign of compassion. She mimes a good luck with her lips. Simon stares at Claire for a while.

Sam remembers something :

"Claire ! We have a meeting !

- OH WE'RE SO LATE !"

Before she even had the time to add something, Claire leaves the table, leaving her food and files. Sam yells at her :

"YOUR FILES ! CLAIRE ! "

They go out under the laughs of Simon and Eva. "Those dentists.. always stressed.."

Doctors and interns arise in a rumbling stream from the emergency service. Audrey was busy with files and reports, under the eyes of her colleague and friend Jennifer. The whole wave of blues and whites uniforms snatched snacks quickly, before leaving in a minute to the service again, under surprise eyes of others interns.

Sam, Claire, Ryder, Gal and Sara are sitting in the meeting room, waiting for an answer. Dr Elizabeth Darcy comes back in with cardboard envelopes. The boss clears her throat before starting :

"Hi everyone. I asked you to come here so we can discuss on our new goals."

Silence settles calmly. Claire looks worried, and tries to found out what are those goals, browsing in her own files and notes. Sam raises an eyebrow.

"I mean, of course, you're all doing an amazing job. But is it constant ? The numbers are here.. no these are olds one, Dr Dearing. We must focus on new targets here. While keeping our rhythm, our technique, we should start new schedules.."

Claire is lost in her paperworks, and this last word wasn't of any help she would have appreciate.

"I understand we are already overwhelmed, but we must keep up. This is why, I suggest to all of you, a little challenge."

Sam liked the idea of a game. Gal smiles. Ryder turns at Claire.

"The challenge is, you'll work, now, by yourself. Yes Dr Hedstater, you too as well. And you'll have to take in charge as much patients you can. May I also add, that you must be as fast, as your techniques are excellent. I will not accept any fail. Work in an effective and rapid way. You'll have three weeks to improve and make me proud. Yes, I can see you Dr Dearing, you can do it. Don't doubt your abilities. You are all talented and strong."