Beatrice is a new resident at Chicago Central Hospital and really focused on building her career here. Tobias is an attending who is known to be particularly exigent with his students. But when Beatrice enters his life he may reconsider his method of teaching.

Beatrice

Well, I could not exactly say that I am settled but it's better than nothing. The studio that I found is not really in superbe condition but it's the closest one to the hospital that I could find. And knowing the reality of residency I will need to be quickly at the hospital if I want to be on top of my game.

Today is orientation day, which is way I can wake up kind of late and enjoy a chill morning before coming in for a few hours. But I know very well that today may be my last chill day at all for the foreseeable future.

Tobias

"The new residents arrive today you should be excited Tobias!"

"Come on Zeke stop playing with me you know very well that I hate new residents. This means starting all over again and having to pay attention to them so they don't kill anyone."

"You always say that, but each year we have some fun"

"Yes if you forget that some of them should not even be allowed near patient with the mistakes they make. This is trauma for fuck's sake we are not playing with toys. It shouldn't be so hard to understand."

We wait in the lobby with Zeke for the residents to arrive. Zeke is my best friend since college and works in trauma with me. We managed to do our residency together and make a good impression so the hospital hired us as attendings after the boards.

As we talk I can suddenly hear a mass of people coming our way chatting their ass off. There is around 20 of them but we will have only three for trauma we just have to call up and see who comes.

"Hey ! Everyone shut up !"

Now that every one of them is looking at me in some state of shock I can talk and be heard.

"So I m Dr Heaton and this is Dr Pedrad we are part of the trauma team. The ones who are specializing in trauma you may join us. For the other, continue on your way and try to find your attendings I don't really care."

Beatrice

This is off to a good start, my attending seem to be so kind and patient. I already know that he won't be the kind you have drinks after your shift with. I might as well get on with it.

"Hi Dr Prior, I'm specializing in trauma, looks like I will be on your team."

As I introduce myself I see two other residents walking forward and doing the same. They introduce themselves as Andrew and Christina I believe, they seem rather nice. I suppose anyone will seem rather nice compared to Mr Teddy Bear right here.

We begin with rounds on the patient that are already admitted in the service. Dr Heaton looks really picky about the way we deal with charts and patient informations and vitals.

"I like to do things my way because it as been proved to work. You are residents so for the time being you will also do things my way !"

Andrew and Christina look really into the tour that he is giving us. He looks really passionate so it is kind of captivating. The type of doctor that did this because it's his thing.

Tobias

I think I've been given some of the good in the batch because they all listen carefully and look at me like I'm preaching some shit. But one intrigues me particularly ; Beatrice doesn't look afraid or tense when I make remarks about the rules and my strict method.

After rounds, I take them to the ER where I explain the procedures when patients come in either by themselves or with the ambulance. And when I tell them that they will begin their work here in two hours Andrew and Christina look a bit concerned but Beatrice stands tall ready to be send off somewhere.

"Okay team thank you for listening to my speech. Now you have two hours to put your stuff in the resident's room where it belongs and then be back here and expect incoming traumas."

I turn away from them and go for the desk where the charts are to begin my work. I expect them to use the two hours they have left to the full extend because after those they won't get much break for the years to come.

But when I hear someone behind me I turn surprised.

Beatrice

"HumHum"

"Oh Beatrice ! Aren't you with the others ?"

"I didn't bring anything, actually I just moved here so I don't have anything. I figured I could just start working ?"

"We… Well yes of course if you want ! Here take the chart you'll follow me to do the global exam and then if need be you can admit the patient"

"Great thank you !"

He looked surprised to see me still here after he practically send us away. But I think I just made a good first impression.

The first patient we see is here for a second degree burn to the arm. Basic wound that we study really early in med school.

"Do you know how to dress the wound as to avoid infection and minimalize scaring Dr Prior ?"

"Yes I do sir"

"Very well then you can do it while I go see another patient. Come and get me when you're done so that I can check your work."

"Okay !"

I need just a few minutes to do the bandage correctly. Then I get Heaton to check it and he looks rather impressed. For a minute when he examines the patient I see a look of admiration in his eyes and I don't know why it makes me so happy.

"Keep up that good work Dr Prior and you will be welcome to observe my next surgery."

We exchange a smile that feel warming. After discharging the patient I get on with a few other easy cases that Heaton assigns me.

"Well looks like everyone finally arrived and two full hours ! You can thanks Dr Prior that as done all your work. Listen, the two hours it was a test. If you want to keep working here you're supposed to be itching to work. Beatrice here didn't take her sweet time she was there from the beginning and so is already far ahead of you. I would try to catch up right now if I were you."

What the … ? I was examining a patient when I heard Dr Heaton's little speech and I was kind of blown away. What can I say I truly had nothing to figure out I'm only here to work.

Christina and Andrew look kinda surprised and talk my ear off about the little speech during lunch.

"Did you hear that ? Looks like Heaton already has a favourite !"

She looks at me really suggestively

"Don't say that Christina I don't know why he said that, plus I only asked to help because I truly had nothing to sort out. I'm not the favourite but I am for sure not mad that I got into his good graces. He said I could observe his next surgery !"

"Not the favourite but already doing triple times what we get to do eh ?" says Andrew with a look of real boredom and disappointment.

Later that day we get an incoming patient with multiple trauma injuries due to a car accident. Christina and Andrew are busy with other patients in the ER so I get the chart and start assessing the damage.

Heaton gets into the trauma room and looks quickly at the wounds.

"Prior get an OR ready something is seriously wrong with this guy's abdomen we need to open him !"

"On my way !"

After scrubbing in furiously I get into the OR very excited. As first year residents we almost never get to assist.

"Ok Beatrice I need you to follow my every move with the suction, it's looks like he is loosing a lot of blood. I hope you don't have any plans tonight because we might be here a while !"

"No sir nothing to do."

He looks at me in contempt and we start working. The surgery goes into the night because we need more than four hours to fix the damage and stop al the bleeders.

When I finally come out of the hospital the sun is down and when I go looking for Christina and Andrew I figure they probably went home. Well, what a first day I think with exhaustion but then the idea of going back to my empty apartment isn't really exciting.

"You're not going home ?"

I'm startled by the voice only to turn around and discover it's Dr Heaton.

"I don't know… I just moved in and my apartment is so empty I don't even own a proper bed."

"Well do you want to go for a drink?"

A drink with my boss ? On the first day ? I don't know if it's against some of the rules, but then again he asked me so I'm sure as hell not gonna say no.

"As long as yours buying Dr Heaton !"

Tobias

For the first time in long I had a great day. Even though the two other interns just fell into the trap I laid open for them. Beatrice really intrigued me, she looks confident but not cocky and is not reluctant when it's comes to work. A trait that we rarely see nowadays.

Maybe I shouldn't have asked her to get a drink. I don't really go out except when Zeke drags me out telling me that I'm the youngest geriatric patient he as ever met. So my resistance to alcohol isn't really my strong point. But something makes me want to know the mysterious Dr Prior, she just moved in, no family and apparently nothing in her apartment.

I like that she give it all when she is working, when she talks to patient I see true passion in her eyes for the work she does.

"Of course I'm buying !"