anon prompt (of a sorts) who asked: "i wish u could write a fic where one of malice gets hurt which is enough for alice to realise she has no time to lose"

prepare for some angst! but it'll end happy

Alice kept her eyes on her watch as she checked Mr. Waverley's pulse.

12:57 pm, pulse is slightly elevated, but within normal bounds, patient seems to be recovering from an acute myocardial infarction quickly, will still prescribe nitroglycerin to stave off any possible future attacks.

She tuned out the hospital bustle behind her, focusing her attention on the patient before her. Taking on a bigger role in the hospital, coming out of the morgue more and more, gave her many opportunities to work on her interpersonal skills.

(Even if she still preferred the quiet of the dead to the confusing antics of her peers. Matthew said she was improving and she took it to heart.)

"Doctor Harvey!" Nurse Wolfe rushed up to her side (one of the few nurses Alice actually got along with) and diverted her attention from Mr. Waverley's check up.

"Yes, Nurse Wolfe?" Alice asked, smiling briefly at Mr. Waverley and his wife as she updated his chart.

"There's an incoming emergency, Dr. Hubert is still in the OR, you're the only doctor on call."

She sighed and nodded. "Remind me to ask the director about our short staff. Where are they coming in from?"

"Ambulance bay, Doctor."

Alice checked her watch again.

1:01 pm

"What are we preparing for?"

"Arrest gone bad, a brawl broke out during a police raid, the patient received multiple blows to head and torso, possible broken ribs and concussion, officers at the scene mentioned a possible stabbing as well."

"Right," Alice nodded as they rushed to meet the gurney. "I want x-rays after I take an assessment of the patient. Has a room been prepped?"

"Yes, Doctor, OR 2 is ready to go."

"Please tell Radiology to clear a slot for us, Nurse Wolfe."

"Yes, Doctor Harvey," she dashed off as the gurney came around the bend.

Alice spied a bruised - but walking - Bill Hobart following the gurney, worry etched into the lines of his face. The newest sergeant - Carter, Matthew called him Carter - trailed behind Hobart, his face unreadable. Constable Crowe was nowhere to be seen.

And neither was Matthew.

"Status?" she demanded as she hurried towards them, her white coat billowing behind her, stethoscope banging against her sternum.

"Patient's slipping in and out of consciousness, possible concussion, multiple puncture wounds to the left lateral anterior, contusions to the face, head, and torso."

"Have the puncture wounds hit any organs or arteries?"

"Unknown, Doctor."

Alice nodded, "Let me see them."

The ring of medical personnel and police officers parted enough for Alice to reach the patient's side and she felt the blood in her face drain and the air leave her like someone had punched her in the gut.

Matthew

Matthew lay on the gurney, both eyes blackened, bruises littering his sharp features, his lip split and oozing blood. Alice fought back tears and bile as she took all of his injuries in. Schooling her face into a smooth mask, Alice stepped into the role of Doctor Harvey - barking orders at the staff around her, cooly and calmly assessing the situation and sending Matthew down the hall to OR 2.

Alice, on the other hand, was screaming inside her head - full on screaming and crying, falling to her knees because it was Matthew lying there, and they didn't know if he'd wake or recover.

What if this is it, what if we are out of time? - What if I've squandered my only chance at happiness? - What if he doesn't know how I feel? - What if… what if…?

She didn't let any of it show - couldn't - aside from her shaking hands as she watched his gurney round the corner where he'd be prepped for surgery. Out of habit, Alice looked at her watch.

1:07 pm

She rounded on Hobart and Carter, "What the hell happened?"

Hobart flinched at the venom in her tone - he'd known her long enough by now to hear it. Carter looked appalled at her question, surprised that she had the gall to question them in the first place. Alice didn't give a damn; she'd eviscerate anyone who caused this to happen, regardless of their standing.

"There were more people there than we were told, Doc," Hobart answered, scratching at the back of his neck. "Another group of them ambushed us and Boss got caught up in it all. We're still not sure who stabbed him."

She clenched and unclenched her fists, willing her brain to calm down, to shut off the personal ties she had in this and focus on the medical side. Matthew needed her calm, he needed her to be Doctor Harvey, not Alice. Her nails dug into her palms and the pain helped clear the fog.

"I would go find out, Sergeant, unless you need to be seen medically. I'll call with news once he's out of surgery."

Hobart nodded, "Sure thing, Doc." He pulled Carter away, the two of them quickly exiting the hospital without another word to her.

Alice rushed towards the OR where Matthew was waiting.

1:10 pm

She washed her hands urgently, her mind spinning and whirling through what needed to be looked at, what needed to be done, as Nurse Wolfe helped her into a surgical gown.

"We've got Superintendent Lawson hooked up to fluids and blood, the puncture wounds have slowed their bleeding, but it's still worrisome, Doctor."

"Any word from Radiology?" Her hands shook as she pulled on gloves - Calm, Alice, Matthew needs you calm and collected for this - Wolfe tied a mask over her face and the cap on her hair. Alice chanced a look at the clock as they entered the OR.

1:12 pm

"They're on standby as soon as his condition is stable."

"Good, let's get to work."

Alice willed her hands to be steady, even as her heart leapt into her throat and stayed lodged there the entire time Matthew was under her knife. She knew she was short with the hospital staff, but one look into her slightly wild, burning eyes stopped any protest and Alice could only imagine the rumors that would circulate about her after this.

She didn't care, all she wanted and needed was for Matthew to be stable, to be okay, to wake up and give her one of his rare smiles. Stealing a moment once his stab wounds were stabilized and no other internal damage detected, but before he was sent to Radiology, Alice pulled down her mask and pressed a shaky kiss to his forehead when everyone else's attention was elsewhere.

She ignored the tear that landed next to the faint lipstick print and briskly sent him off for x-rays.

1:23 pm