"He's still sat there" the man whispered looking through the glass panelled door into the almost deserted office.
"Maybe he isn't very sociable" she replied with a shrug. "You know what these academic types can be like."
"These academics? We are some of these academics you idiot" he said incredulously. "He seems quite normal when you see him around the hospital?"
"It's not normal to be sitting in work at 8 o'clock on a Friday night if you're not on the schedule!"
"True" he replied. "Should we go and say hi?"
Before she could answer him their decision was made for them. He lifted his head and looked straight at them, looking a little confused as to why they would be stood there watching him work. He raised his hand in a greeting.
"Ah well" he shrugged. "Not much choice in the matter now" he said pulling open the door and stepping inside.
"Hi" Neil said as they walked up to the desk he was working at. "You guys okay? Did you need something?"
"We were actually wondering if you were okay?" the woman asked. "It's Friday night and everyone else went home hours ago."
"I'm fine" he said with a smile. "Got some bits I wanted to finish up, that's all."
"Oh good" he replied feeling a little awkward. "I'm Ryan by the way, and this is Lucy. We're nurses on the surgical wards"
"I'm Neil" he said, standing and putting out his hand. "Good to meet you."
"We know who you are Dr Melendez" she smiled, talking his hand and shaking it firmly.
"Neil, please" he insisted with a smile.
"We just wanted to check that everything was okay, you being sat here alone on a Friday night?"
"I'm fine, thank you. It's living in a hotel which isn't so much fun anymore!" he laughed. "After two weeks, the novelty has definitely worn off, hopefully they'll find me somewhere soon."
"Isn't it nice being waited on?" Ryan asked. "I thought it would be fun. It looks great in the movies!"
"It was, but even the food is too much. I just can't wait to just cook for myself" he smiled.
"If you're that desperate to cook dinner, you could always come to ours" Lucy laughed earning herself an elbow from Ryan who thought she was being too forward.
"Thanks for checking in, I appreciate it" he smiled.
"Feel like getting a drink tonight? We could show you a few nice local places? " Ryan asked but as if on cue, his cell lit up and vibrated across the desk.
"Sorry, I should get that" he replied, glancing at it.
"Girlfriend?" Ryan asked seeing the name flash up on the screen.
"Complicated" Neil replied with a shrug. "Can we take a rain check? Maybe next time?"
"Definitely" replied Lucy. "Night."
"Night" he replied, taking his seat again and unlocking his phone to return the call.
X
"Hey Aud" he said as she picked up.
"Hi" she replied surprised at herself for feeling a little nervous. This was the first time they'd actually spoken since he'd left almost a fortnight ago and she had felt apprehensive all morning.
"You okay there?" he asked cautiously knowing that the first time they spoke could be tense. They had exchanged plenty of messages as a group with Neil regaling them with tales of his trip so far. There had been some messages between just the two of them but after a slight misunderstanding and a message being read the wrong way, they'd decided it'd be better to call from then on.
"I'm good" she said at last. "It's good to hear your voice" she said smiling.
"You too" he replied. "What's been going on? You all coping okay having to pick up all my surgeries?"
"It's a breeze" she laughed. "Let's be honest I'm probably doing a better job!"
"True" he laughed, glad that the ice had been broken.
They talked for around ten minutes before he heard Audreys pager go off in the background and she announced she had to go.
"Go see if you can catch up with those people from earlier" she said. "It'll be a long six months without any friends" she laughed.
"I will" he smiled. "I'm glad you called."
"Me too."
"Night Aud."
"Afternoon Neil" she retorted before ending the call.
Sitting a few moments longer, he reached forward and turned off the monitor in front of him. Grabbing his jacket and phone he walked quickly to the door and made his way to the main exit hoping to catch them.
"Hey" he called as he saw them ahead, just about to turn a corner. They stopped and turned.
"Hey yourself" Ryan smiled. "She talked you into getting a drink then?" he smirked.
"Pretty much" he replied. "That okay?"
"Sure" Lucy added. "Let's go" she smiled as she linked her arm back with Ryan's and they turned to head out for the evening.
X
"Remind me again why you wouldn't go on a date with Neil, but you're happy to go for a drink with Mateo 'Whats-his-face' the first time he asks" Kevin teased Audrey a few weeks later after she'd agreed to go out with a police officer who had accompanied a patient into the ER.
She rolled her eyes at what had now become a common topic of conversation. One that she usually diverted at every opportunity... except this one.
"Because it wouldn't have been fun with Neil" she snapped back immediately regretting her words and her tone. "That came out wrong" she said quickly, seeing her friends shocked reactions.
"I'm a little curious to hear what exactly you did mean?" Jo asked with a frown.
"I just meant that it would be an instantly serious thing with Neil. I'd have gone straight from my marriage into something just as heavy and I don't think that's what I need right now" she said trying to redeem herself. "I need 'fun'."
"Okaaay" Kevin replied sounding dubious.
"I got myself a book" she announced. "It was an interesting read so I'm going to try and follow some of the steps and see what happens."
"Did it basically tell you the same things we did the other night?" Jo quipped.
"Pretty much" she replied with a little laugh as Jo nodded smugly to Kevin. "Maybe you actually had some good points and I don't want Neil to be my trial run. He's too..." she said.
"He's Neil" Kevin finished getting a nod of agreement.
"Like we said, we're here for you until you figure this out" Jo reminded her. "However long it takes."
Audrey smiled and nodded as she picked up her cup and drained the last of her coffee before they headed upstairs for mornings rounds.
X
By the end of July, Neil had moved into the Marlin Apartments near London Bridge. They really had gone all out after leaving him in the hotel for almost six weeks and he was more than happy with his new accommodation. It was bright and spacious with an open plan living space and a well equipped kitchen, much to his delight.
The floor to ceiling windows would have given fantastic views across the city if money had been no object and he was up a few floors higher, but at this point he was just grateful to have his own space. The location had allowed him to be a proper tourist and he was loving nothing more than wandering around Borough Market in his downtime and choosing from the amazing fresh produce to cook his own food. One of the first things he did was make dinner for Ryan and Lucy as a thank you for their kindness over the last few weeks.
He had shown his friends around during a Skype call early one evening and they were equally impressed wishing they could take him up on his suggestion of a vacation. Before the call had finished, Audrey announced that she had to run and quickly said her goodbyes.
"Have fun!" Kevin let slip without thinking and turning back to the screen to see a questioning look from Neil.
"She has a date" Jo said quickly.
"Anyone I know?" he asked.
"No, an officer that came into the ER a couple of weeks ago" she confirmed. "He asked her a few times before she agreed."
"That's okay then" he replied much to their surprise. "What?" he asked smiling at their bemused faces.
"I don't know" Kevin replied. "Maybe we thought you'd be upset?"
"If she's happy, so am I" he replied diplomatically with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You'll have to let me know how it goes" he said being the good friend but not really wanting to know at all.
A few days later, he caught up with Audrey himself and took the opportunity to ask her how it had gone in a roundabout sort of way.
"So the other night" he started. "Did you guys go to the movies?"
She grinned at his attempt to be subtle and obviously failing. "We did not" she smiled. "Like I'd go watch it without you."
"You're going to wait until I get back?" he asked, feeling impressed.
"Heck no!" she replied. "We'll both go on the weekend and we can talk about it on here afterwards" she suggested.
A grin almost split his face in two before he answered. "Great" was all he said. "Can't wait."
Their next call a few days later was a critical breakdown of the new Guardian's of the Galaxy movie which they both thoroughly enjoyed and as they hung up, they both sat with daft little smiles on their faces. It obviously wasn't the same as their usual trips, but it would certainly do under the circumstances.
X
The summer passed quickly and the time eventually came for Lily to be admitted for her procedure. On her most recent scan, she was told that her aorta had grown to 4cm in diameter and that the surgery was needed as soon as possible. Once the vessel reached 5cm the chance of rupture was significantly increased but they had done the work and they were ready.
The patient displayed many of the physical manifestations of Marfan Syndrome. She was 6ft 2in and had abnormally long and slender limbs, fingers and toes. She had been diagnosed at birth unlike her father who had suffered aortic dissection aged 18. He'd had three open heart surgeries since and would be dependent on blood thinning medication for the rest of his life.
Lily, who also suffered from scoliosis of the spine and severe osteoarthritis in her hips, had previously heard about the development of PEARS from her time spent at medical school. When the opportunity arose to take part in the pioneering steps of the research, she jumped at the chance.
"So you obviously know why we have developed this procedure" Dr Melendez began as he met with Lily in the days leading up to her surgery. "But I still have to explain what we are about to do as a matter of procedure. That okay?"
"Of course" she replied with a smile, looking around at her parents who nodded in agreement.
"As you know, this isn't conventional heart surgery. It can be carried out while the heart is beating so a bypass machine isn't needed, the procedure is quicker and there is less chance of stroke and other complications" he reeled off. "The recovery should be quicker, there will be less blood loss and the procedure time is much shorter so it's a pretty attractive option" he smiled. "Do you have any questions?"
"How big will the scar be?" Lily asked after a brief pause. "Will it be..."
"We will make it as neat as we possibly can. We could make the incision in a slightly different position so it's easier for you to conceal" he smiled, understanding exactly what she needed to hear. He didn't want her to feel conscious about having this done. "The scar from this will be significantly neater than one from emergency open heart surgery" he smiled.
"Thank you" she replied. "Thank you for listening to what I need, it means a lot."
"Anything you need" he replied. "We've lived and breathed this procedure for the last few months. I could talk about it all day long" he laughed.
"That's okay" Lily's mother laughed. "I could listen to you read a cereal packet!"
"Mum!" Lily scolded, blushing a little. "My dad wishes that the PEARS procedure had been around when he was younger" she said trying to change the subject.
"But I'm so happy that she's been able to have it done. We're very close because of both having Marfan syndrome and have very similar personalities" her father said picking up Lily's hand and kissing it lightly. "You seem to be genuinely interested in her care, not just the glory which put us all at ease. We know she is in good hands."
Days later, they celebrated as the procedure went without a hitch and after a few beers, he ungracefully stumbled in his front door. Flopping down on to his sofa, he glanced at the clock on the wall opposite and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. With his thumb hovering over the green icon next to her name he started an internal argument while his mind raced with pros and cons.
Taking a deep breath he felt a wave of confidence wash over him and he hit the button.
He waited.
The call rang and rang and his heart sank a little as the it went unanswered despite knowing that she was likely in surgery herself. The tone sounded and he smiled softly to himself as he heard her dulcet but abrupt answer phone greeting.
"We did it!" he exclaimed, before pausing briefly. "I just wanted to let you know. I'll call another time" he sighed before ending the call and carelessly casting the handset aside. He lay his head back and let sleep take him knowing he'd dream well tonight.