Tyler stormed back through the ward and aimed for the staffroom. She needed to get out of AAU fast. They asked a lot of questions here. Darwin was far simpler, far less emotional and the staffroom much more comfortable. She heard someone shouting after her and debated whether to stop. Then, she recognised the voice. Valentine. She turned around and stared straight into his icy blue eyes.
'Don't think we're done,' he hissed. Tyler flinched subconsciously and felt the cut on the side of her head reopen. Hot blood soaked her scalp. Valentine took another step closer and fear, pain and fatigue blurred her vision. 'What you did was stupid. I'm going to have to report it and how is that going to look on both of our folders? Do you want to be a surgeon, Tyler?'
'Yes, sir.'
'You're not acting like it. I don't know how much longer I can work with you.' He was breathing more heavily than she was now and she could see the tell-tale beads of sweat on his white brow. He was getting really angry. Tyler remembered how he had looked in theatre and saw how dangerously further gone he was now. She somehow managed to maintain eye contact despite the fact it felt like her heart had stopped beating.
'I'm sorry, sir,' she whispered.
'You know what? That's just not good enough, I'm afraid. A boy died on my watch, Tyler! Mine! And all you can do is apologise?'
This had gone too far and Tyler knew it. She'd tried to placate him, but it wasn't working. She took a step away, hoping to make a break for it. She knew it was cowardly, but if she was honest, she didn't really care. Mr Valentine closed the space and some, so close she could see the small hairs on his arms standing on end.
'I don't- I-'
'That's right, burble. Come on, Tyler, what is it?' His voice was savagely loud and she could see several nurses pause and point. She hoped desperately one would come and help her.
'Please- I-' It was like she was ten years old again, caught for a petty misdemeanour. But, this was so much scarier and so much more dangerous. 'I didn't mean to, I swear!'
'I hope you didn't,' he hissed, grabbing her wrist so tightly she could feel him on her bones. 'Because if you did-'
'Is everything alright, Dr Tyler?' came a quiet, measured voice from behind her. Tyler swung around, but the wash of relief and sharp movement blurred her vision into a white wash and she lost her balance, careering into Mr Hanssen. She righted herself straight off and took a step away, but one of his hands stayed on her arm. She stole a glance at Mr Valentine.
'Fine,' she whispered. His eyes bore into hers and she let herself look away. He turned on his heel, throwing a comment about an incomplete report over his shoulder as he went. The threat he had begun still hung menacingly unfinished between him and Tyler and her heart twitched in fear. However, as he slammed through the doors and out of sight, a wave of faintness came over her and she fought to stay upright.
'Why are you here, Mr Hanssen?' she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. He looked down at her through his glasses.
'I heard about your patient and I had come down to speak to Mr Valentine about how you were coping,' he explained, speaking as though he were treading on a glass pane that might shatter.
'How I was coping?' Tyler repeated, dumbly.
'Indeed. It is never easy, losing a patient, especially your first one. It has ruined many a good doctor.' A feeling of determination came over Tyler.
'Not me.' Mr Hanssen regarded her for a couple more seconds as if gouging the truth in her words, before looking back up.
'How are you coping?' he asked, then seemed to freeze. Tyler felt the first drip of stickiness on her cheek and lifted her hand to the cut on the side of her head. It came away deeply red. 'Dr Tyler,' Mr Hanssen said, warning evident in his voice. Tyler's eyesight dipped and somehow she ended up on the floor, sitting against a wall. She could hear Mr Hanssen's voice shouting for Fletch and she blinked deeply, darkly. She could hear her heart beat in her ears, quick and panicked, and swallowed, the taste of blood thick on her tongue. Then all time seemed to stop.
I love this story and I would really appreciate some feedback so please don't forget to drop a quick review. Thank you!
-The Nefelibata
