Shaylene

Two

The late- evening breeze provided a sense of calm over SHAYLENE MACKENZIE as she rounded her shift, leaving her last assigned patient's room.

It was a man in his late sixties who had just been diagnosed of PD _Parkinson's Disease. Though they had come to terms with it's lack of cure, his response to treatment had been swift and she was grateful.

"When do you get off?" Leigh Anderson, her friend and co-surgeon asked as she walked towards the waiting area of Princeton Medics.

"Right now." she grinned in triumph. "I survived another thirty-six hours."

"And you're proud? When will you stop taking over the shift of others. You need to live a little, MacKenzie."

"I agree." Mark, another one of her doctor friends joined them. "I'm still curious why one of the powerful MacKenzies is living the hard life of a resident. No special treatment whatsoever when she should be cruising on some yacht right now at the prime of her life or atleast be a senior doctor at the family hospital."

Leigh hit his arm and shot him a warning glare. Shaylene laughed. "It's okay, Leigh. He won't find out today."

She bent over the log-book and swiftly in a sordid motion signed out.

"Whatever. Where the hell is Tim? He was supposed to sign out few minutes ago but his name isn't here." His brows knitted in confusion as he scanned the book.

Shaylene wasn't surprised by his abrupt change in topic. It saved her the anxiety that came with having to share her story with any of them.

"He's probably somewhere in the building. He mentioned something about having to visit Nikka."

The patient had been admitted two years earlier, after going violently berserk. Though she had exhibited no prior symptoms of psychological degeneration, she had suddenly begun to break things in her dormitory, cutting herself and bleeding out in the process. Her roommate had found her and called the ambulance, narrating the ordeal to the doctors.

Tim had been the one to find out that she had a cranial tumor and twenty four hours later the growth had been removed from her frontal lobe. Few days after the surgery, Tim had continued to check up on Nikka whenever he could.

"She would be discharged tomorrow" Leigh sighed tiredly. "He went to break the news to her. The tumor's been declared benign."

Shaylene nodded and turned to Mark.

"Is Gigi taking over your shift?"

Mark nodded. "In about two hours."

"Please tell her to check up on David atleast twice. He was asleep when I went over."

"Sure. Are you leaving now?" Leigh asked.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?"

"Back to your apartment." Mark stated with a slight undertone of disapproval.

Her friends had complained about her social life or rather lack of it but had stopped complaining after almost eight months of disapproval. Unlike most of her friends, she was living alone. It was luxury she could afford and had indulged herself in. She loved her privacy which was why her apartment was far from the hospital _to avoid visits.

"Are you going to take the bus? I didn't see your car when I got here."

"I didn't feel up to driving today. I was hoping I could get a ride from one of the other nurses leaving."

"They wouldn't get to your side of the city. No one does. Hold on for Tim. He'll drop you." Leigh suggested with a sly smile. It was obvious she knew about the friction between the duo.

"No!" Her reply was quick and it came sharper than she intended. Mark shot her a weird look. She cleared her throat. "I mean, I'll be fine. You make it sound like I stay in a forest. Besides, I wouldn't want to impose."

The truth was that she wasn't on the best terms with Tim. He was reserved and harsh with his comments which didn't sit well with her. She was always cautious around him and kept him at arm's length. She figured he was like that only around her and summed it up to be as a result of her last name. 'MacKenzie' It always attached a stereotype to her.

"Who's imposing?"

Shaylene stilled. The voice. Tim Monroe, his short dark hair, his blue eyes _eyes that were cold and unsettling as they settled on hers in question.

"Shaylene." He said in greeting. His face was devoid of emotion.

He'd cleaned up since she last saw him _bent over a patient in the emergency room, blood on his coat with a surgical mask on, stitching gun wounds with high concentration and fluidity. Although he didn't look all that different, his hair was slightly wet and curly and he looked peaceful.

"Hi." Shaylene smiled. "How's Nikka?"

"She's excited. Ready to get back on track with her life." He had a gleam in his eyes as he spoke about her. It was obvious he loved his job, as did she which was why no matter the strain, she'd pick it up a thousand times.

"Mark and I were just talking about having you drop Shaylene off on your way home." A small smile played around the corners of Leigh's mouth.

''I will arrange a taxi to take me home.'' she said, defiantly, knowing she couldn't just bear the thought of being in the same vehicle as him.