Disclaimer: Not mine.
When Edward got in at noon, both the dialysis patients were already being treated. He did find, however, that his schedule was no miraculously full. Someone complaining of side pain, one with high creatinine levels, a regular suffering from nephritis and finally one who'd been experiencing discomfort in his lower back and had undergone kidney function testing. This was out of place. He figured that perhaps Iverson had assigned him all of his patients so he could go into the surgery, but he had no history with these patients. Edward considered familiarizing himself with the patients before going in, but Schmidt from ER walked in without knocking.
"Eddie-boy, we just sent in a patient to ICU. He's had a recent appendectomy, but there seems to be some abnormal bruising on his back near the lower ribs. They're sending him for an MRI. Maybe you could suggest urine tests?"
"Thanks for the heads up, but shouldn't you be telling this to someone who has the authority?"
"Believe me, I've tried. This is the second case like this we've had this month. Iverson thought I was stupid for trying to cost the patients money on more tests. You sound like a rebel, you'll do it," Schmidt raised his eyebrows suggestively. Edward had no idea how Rosalie could stand to be in the same room as this man.
"My schedule's booked, but I'll try to drop by the ICU in a few."
"I knew I could count on my Eddie," he thumped Edward on the back before strutting out the door.
Edward's next patient was in twenty minutes. He pondered whether or not he could send in an order for a kidney function test for a patient he hadn't even met. "Idiot," he muttered before calling Schmidt's cell. "Name," he said simply as soon as Schmidt answered.
"What?"
"How am I supposed to see a patient if I don't know who he is?"
"Oh! Sorry. Calvin Bjorkman. Anyway, a seizure just came in. See you."
Snapping the phone shut, Edward decided against going down to see the patient. He put in an order for the tests from the computer and hoped that no one noticed that he had not actually seen the patient. He wanted to go down, but it seemed like someone wanted him busy up here. He wanted to see what was going on in the OR. Fixing his badge, he readied himself to see his 12: 30. He was already ten minutes late, which in hospital speak meant he was right on time. Just as he stepped out, however, he collided with Iverson, who looked frazzled as he entered the office.
"Edward, can you handle the 1:30 surgery with Callahan? Something's come up and – "
"I think you're forgetting I never trained as a surgeon. I wouldn't mind assisting, but – "
"Oh, right." Iverson looked distracted as he pondered what he should do.
"How about I handle whatever's come up and you do the surgery?"
"I don't know if…look, I just came out from a transplant, and… I don't know how to explain it, but the patient seemed to have residual scarring as if – as if I don't know. It seemed like a chunk of his kidney was missing, taken out roughly."
"Any history of surgeries?"
"Six months ago, a month before his problems started. A splenectomy."
"Who was the surgeon?" Edward held up a somewhat nonchalant façade, but was completely interested, his patient now forgotten.
"Schmidt and Rogers. I oversaw it. I couldn't have missed something like that." He looked thoroughly confused.
"Why don't you report it?"
"Yeah, yeah. Look, go ahead. I know you have a busy schedule today. I'll go ahead with the surgery, and I'll report it this evening." Edward had a sneaking suspicion that he did not want to report it. As the overseeing surgeon, he'd get a lot of flak and have to undergo and in-depth investigation. He toyed with the idea of reporting it himself later today. Pushing it out of his mind, he went to attend to his patient, now a good twenty-five minutes late.
Feeling exhausted after seeing patient after patient, Edward finally took a long break around five. Sitting in his office, he was finally able to concentrate on the reason he was here. He considered snooping through Iverson's files, but was not able to capitalize on the thought as Callahan and Iverson walked in, deep in conversation.
"I reported it, but they're going to through with the investigation on me no matter what."
"There's no way you're going to avoid that, but as long as your record's clean, you have nothing to worry about. Besides, Schmidt's already gone through the same investigation twice before. He's clean. You're clean. Why don't you talk to Rogers?"
"Admin wants to keep it quiet. I'll let them take care of it." At this point both doctors turned to Edward, who flashed a wary smile in their direction. Either the surgeries for the day had been cancelled or the last transplant had been a cinch because both doctors were wearing civilian clothes, scrubs nowhere in sight and coats neatly hung on the door.
"Masen, how was your day?"
"Drop the act, Callahan. I already know what happened. Were the rest of the surgeries cancelled?"
"The kidney was a no-go, so they cancelled. He's still top of the list, so we'll be able to find another match."
Biting the inside of his mouth, Edward excused himself as he speed-walked to Rosalie's office, his new shoes squeaking loudly as he slid to a stop outside her door. "Rosalie," he said before he knocked twice.
"Come in."
"Rose! Did you hear about the transplant this morning?" She shook her head no. Quickly, he jumped into what he knew, and they began discussing the best plan of action.
"I think we should get Schmidt's older records first. Then, maybe launch our own investigation into Rogers."
"You think Iverson is actually clean?"
"No, but why don't we save the best for last?" Rosalie grinned as she continued, "As terrible as this sounds, would it be appropriate for me to be happy?"
"Very appropriate. Finally, a move on the case!" The two discussed their next plan of action. Rosalie had wanted to come back tonight when the Internal Medicine department was quieter, but Edward said that Chief (Alan) would want to know about the new movements in the case before the two took their first step. After much convincing, Rosalie finally agreed to wait until their conference call tonight at 11.
When both had made it home later that night, Rosalie in the Benz and Edward on the bike, their conversation took a lighter turn.
"Mm, Eddie. I got back Bella's results this morning."
"And…"
"I wasn't completely wrong!"
"What? What's wrong with her?"
"She's anemic, which would explain why she keeps falling at every available opportunity. She's probably not as strong as she should be."
"Oh. Are you prescribing those disgusting iron pills?"
"Ugh, no. I think I'll prescribe food first. Then, we'll move from there."
"You have an appointment with her tomorrow?"
"Yes, but – " The two were interrupted by the doorbell. Pushing his chair away from the table, Edward made his way to open the door.
"Edward! It's been so long!"
"Alice! Just yesterday. I saw you just yesterday!" He peeled Alice's arm from around his neck before finally getting a view of the person behind him.
"B- Bella! What are you doing here?"
"You already know each other? Fantastic!" Clapping her hands together enthusiastically, she jumped up and down. Nothing had changed about the pixie before him. "Aren't you going to invite us in?! it's snowing out here!"
"It's not like you weren't going to come in if I said no." Moving back to allow them to come in, he asked again, "To what do I owe the incredible displeasure of having you here?"
"Oh, Brother. I missed the sarcasm. I was just showing Bella around the neighborhood. She's considering buying a place here with her father. I thought it'd be awesome to drop in on you while we were here, you know?"
"Very awesome, indeed. Rose and I were actually in the middle of something."
"Oh, shut it. I know the most you two ever do is talk from five feet apart. Some marriage you have." She rolled her eyes.
"What the hell, Alice!" He pulled her roughly aside, as Bella stood back looking obviously awkward. "I thought I told you our relationship and the reason I'm here is strictly between us. My boss doesn't take this lightly. Both you and I will face repercussions if he finds out that you know, and you're doing nothing to hide it," he whispered to her frantically, hoping she'd understand.
"Oh, posh! I'm not doing anything to blow you're cover," she whispered back before loudly adding, "It's not my fault your marriage is going through a rough patch!"
"Alice, darling, let's keep marital problems on the down low, alright?" Rosalie had decided to join the conversation. To Edward she added, "She's quite the handful, isn't she?"
Edward's eyes popped as he realized what Alice was doing. In a quiet but deadly tone (one that had made him one of the most feared men in his time undercover with the drug running gangs in the south), "Alice, you will not now nor ever try to set me up with someone while I'm on the job. Understand?" His grip on Alice's arm had tightened incredibly. She looked like it was started to hurt her. Noticing the look, he quickly let go, apologizing before turning to Bella.
"Sorry about that. I hope you ignore anything my friend says about me from here on out. She's very -
"- sorry for the intrusion. Bella and I will be leaving, now." Though she looked angry, her eyes looked somewhat fearful.
"No, wait. Alice, I'm sorry." He ran his hands through his hair, looking frustrated. "You don't understand. This – " he sighed heavily before continuing. He knew he was going to regret this. "This – this thing that's going on between Rose and I – it's taking a toll. I'm sorry for taking it out on you." He rolled his eyes as Rosalie looked at him grinning widely. Alice's eyes displayed the shock she felt as she listened to Edward agree with her story.
Alice, like Edward, was quick to forgive and forget. Before long the quartet was sitting around the living room sofas talking amicably. Edward could not keep his eyes from wandering toward Bella as they spoke of the current housing market, her father and anything but what had just happened.
"And you wouldn't believe it. Fran toppled every single book in the library. It was a mess! No one believed that quiet Fran would do anything like that. Everyone thought that as a teacher, I was completely capable of doing that!"
"Obviously, Bella, just look at those hulking muscles." Edward couldn't stop laughing at all the stories Bella had to tell about her students. Bella, in turn, giggled. She giggled. She didn't have the time to consider why she was giggling as Edward launched into a story of his about a patient he'd seen just last month. No one would believe that the two didn't know each other from the conversations they were having. Rosalie and Alice shared a look as Edward and Bella broke into another fit of giggles.
Alice's mind was already jumping into overdrive, as she watched the two. Edward, watching her out of the corner of his eye, could only hope that she wasn't thinking up some evil plan to go with the look she had on her face. Of course, he had no idea what her evil genius was going to cause.
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A/N: I'm just realizing that you have no idea as Bella's character. I'm thinking half of next chapter will follow Bella so you can get a whiff of what her character is like. I promise more interaction between the two, even though I fail at writing romance. It's all so cheesy to me.
Anyway, reviews and constructive criticism are, as always, appreciated.
In regards to a comment in one of the reviews, I just wanted to say that Jasper's last name when he was pranking Edward was something he made up. Kwakowski is a play on the word "quack." His actual last name is Hale, which is what he introduced himself as. I should've made it more apparent. Sorry for the confusion. :)