-It's been awhile :) -
I get in the door and immediately go to my room. I take anti-inflammatory medication and began work on my shoulders.
The hours of craning my neck during surgeries is what did this. The fact that I did, not just regular procedures, but trauma cases was too much on me. As hard as it was on my body, I couldn't stop working so much. I hadn't ever given myself away that I was incredibly lonely when I didn't work. The constant surgeries were a distraction for me, so I'd pile up my schedule.
The feeling hasn't been as prevalent for the past 2 days, I began to wonder. My lonely thoughts had been replaced with a haze of optimism and new purpose and I had no clue why.
Losing track of time, I look at the clock and immediately rise to get ready. I only had an hour until Butch's big stunt show and I had to go, I promised him this morning that I would. My brothers mean everything to me, they're the only family I have most of the time.
Toby is sleeping at the end of my bed as I change my clothing and put on a jacket. The weather was much cooler than usual because of the morning rain, so I needed to stay warm. I didn't want my shoulders acting up again. I didn't want to have to call in...
I put down Toby's dinner and rush out the door, I didn't feel hungry enough to eat right now, so I guessed that was going to happen during or after the show. The drive there is a speedy 20 minutes.
I purchased a ticket at the entrance and made my way to find a seat in the unpopulated middle. At stunt shows like this, people choose to be up close or far away. It was to see the action or stay safely away from it.
I was very anti social out of work, I socialize with people in my job and only hang around my cat at home. I sat there, I was always slightly uncomfortable during these, because people were always getting hurt in some way. I usually see the aftermath of a show like this in my operating room.
When I heard the announcer, I also heard the deafening crowd and the sound of shrieking women. I rolled my eyes and sat through 3 extremely dangerous monster truck stunts barely paying attention, for the sake of my own sanity as a surgeon, before hearing my brother's stage name getting announced.
I finally paid attention to everything, I usually just went off into space during the other stuntmen. But I had to make sure my brother saw that I was watching him. I look down at the top of the ramp to see Butch on a dirt bike.
I knew he spotted me, because he made eye contact with me and stuck his tongue out. I flip him off and he laughed before putting on his helmet, getting on the bike and preparing to do his stunt.
We have had this relationship since we were kids. I was very close with both of my brothers, but Butch and I were very tight knit. As the older and middle brother, we were like a unit showing our youngest brother the world. Our parents were alive at those times, they unfortunately had jobs that took em away from raising us.
I feel a tightness in my chest watching him fly down the ramp and lifting off into the air, over a line of semi trucks and perfectly sticking the landing with a grace only someone as crazy as him could muster. Relief washes over me immediately.
The crowd goes wild as Butch skidded into a stop and threw his helmet off, proudly fist pumping in triumphant glory. I saw the life in his eyes, because he was doing what he loved. He found a passion in risking his life and was having fun doing it.
I never understood why, but I never stopped him. I was always the book smart, quiet guy. He was a wild card that took life by the horns, bringing this wild energy with him. I knew my presence here was a little gift I could give him.
He wanted his big brother to be proud of him and I was, as worried as I could be for his safety, I couldn't ever take it away from him. Like being a surgeon for myself, this job was his life. His gift to all those screaming fans and admirers.
At the end, I exit the stands and go to the area where the stuntmen are meeting their fans, I reach the area where my brother was and I'm pulled into the biggest bear hug in existence. I chuckled in acceptance, because there was no escaping his hugs.
Even if I was older, Butch was much bigger and bulkier than me. He was big in working out, I didn't have time to do that stuff. I went to the gym only twice a month.
"I knew you'd show up Dr. Sexy... My big brother never lets me down!" Butch said proudly. I rolled my eyes at that, a smile on my face. "I gotta show you to someone! I need my big brother's approval! " He pulled me past the other guys and by his dressing room. There was a child like excitement in him, this intrigued me. "Who?" I questioned curiously. "I finally met a girl I wanted to keep around!" He sounded very happy.
"Oh yeah?" I chuckled, I wonder what woman had the iron will to deal with my brother. If he was this excited, I was sure enough that I was bound to like her.
He pulled me into the dressing room and I see the back of her first, she had dark hair and felt incredibly familiar... Almost too familiar, like I already knew her.
"Here she is!" My brother stated proudly, this caught her attention. When she turned around, I recognized her immediately. Her eyes widened and she was the first to speak. Both of us in complete shock.
"No way!" She sounded surprised, I feel a small smile coming onto my face. Butch felt the need to question this reaction, "What's up BC? It's just my older brother that I told you about..." He raised a brow.
"That's my sister's doctor! I know he's not in scrubs, but those eyes and that smile are a huge giveaway! " BC exasperated and then a huge grin reached her features. Butch looks between the two of us in shock, "My brother is your sister's doc?" He asked us in intrigue.
"I am..." I nodded, I knew BC sounded like my brother. Go figure that she was the girl he'd want. "Is her sister that stubborn patient you were going on about this morning?" Butch raised a brow at me. BC let out a laugh, "Sounds like Bloss to me..." She grins at my brother.
Butch puts his arms around both of us, "Let's discuss this over steak..." He started ushering us to lead us towards the restaurant in question. It was a popular steak house across the street.
"You and your steak..." I rolled my eyes at him, that man eats nothing but a healthy helping of meat, his diet was mostly protein.
Butch lets out a hearty laugh, "It's the greatest creation from a cow!" BC rolled her eyes with me and Butch felt like the need to assure us. "I swear I put green suff in my workout smoothie!" He grins at our reactions.
I responded with a chuckle " Believe it or not, that's a start... I eat vegetables in every single meal I have..." I smirk in his direction and he rolls his eyes dramatically. BC felt like chiming in too.
"I'm the one who can have a salad for lunch and a buger and fries for dinner..." she chuckled. Butch puts an affectionate arm around her. "I love watching a girl who can pack a nice meal in and still look fine as hell..." He grins, I can see her cheeks reddening.
-(a few minutes later)
"So your sister is little miss stubborn?" Butch asks as we're finally seated in a large booth. His eyes spark with interest, and his arm pulls BC closer.
"Yeah... She's a fighter... Been dealing with her condition since childhood... I just hope she goes into remission again..." BC sighed, and I put a hand on her shoulder. I felt like I needed to reassure the poor girl.
"I have a very good feeling about your sister... She's only being monitored because her oxygen isn't stable, but she's not in the wrong lane yet..." To be honest, I actually agreed with those words.
After looking at her chart, she's going through a good round of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Her body seems to be incredibly strong, her immune system was healthy enough.
"You really think so?" Her eyes showed hope. I could tell how much Blossom's sisters loved her. I nodded and she grins.
"She's actually got a better chance than 90% of my current patients in the hospital... Her vitals are great and her immune system is tough... She's on a type of chemotherapy that has been specifically prescribed to send her into remission, her body is very strong... The key is keeping her mental health just as strong..." I was explaining that so BC could understand.
I hated how most doctors were too brisk with their patients and the people advocating for them. The key to greater success is bringing the understanding of the patient's condition to every single person they are involved with.
"I guess being in a relationship with my sister's, doctor's brother is definitely paying off for me right now... Her other specialists didn't tell us shit..." BC chuckled.
"I'm not her other specialists..." I grin and Butch chuckles too. "He's not all that serious... Right Dr. Sexy?" Butch jokes now. BC raised a brow at Butch's nickname for me.
"Dr. Sexy? Where'd that nickname come from?" She probably found it amusing. I just rolled my eyes, the story behind it is very embarrassing.
"He is the youngest male doctor in the hospital he works at, every single nurse in the hospital has a crush on him and I heard the nickname they gave him while I was waiting for him one day... He goes by two nicknames there... Most of the the doctors there call him "Dr. Brick" because he's stubborn, but the other is from the nurses... That nickname is "Dr. Sexy" or "Dr. Hot Stuff"... I found it greatly amusing..." He was smirking at me the entire time he was explaining.
"He's that popular with the ladies huh?" BC giggled now. I sigh, I told all of them that I was far from interested, but that didn't stop them from looking.
"I'm not big on the swoon factor... I'm just there to do my job..." As I finish that statement, we finally got the chance to order food and I offered to pay for it.
"Are you sure?" BC asked me with concern and I just shrugged. "We're here celebrating Butch's big stunt, why not carry it into dinner as well..." I noticed Butch's huge smile as I said that, I felt it was the right thing to do. I made 3 his salary and didn't have much to spend it on. I lived in that big house with just Toby.
"Don't bat an eye doll face... He's always spoiling his little brothers..." Butch cut in in, she blushes at that nickname. He wasn't wrong, I was the person who helped him get into that apartment he's in. He wouldn't accept a house from me, he wanted to earn it like I did.
"I guess having a surgeon for a brother is definitely a a blessing at times..." BC was still blushing, but she obviously liked my brother. "I'd rather spend it on family instead of someone who doesn't appreciate it..." I sighed, my last three attempts at a relationship was a few gold diggers looking for me to fund their shopping habits.
"Is that why you're single?" BC was now curious. I nodded and Butch chuckles, "You should have seen how fast he dumped the last one... She tried to get him to buy her a purse worth $20,000 and his response was, "Why the fuck would I spend that on a peice of leather?", it was hilarious! She threw a good fit and he told her to get out..." I blushed at my brother and his lack of humility in all fronts.
BC now grew curious, "Not to pry, but what is your annual salary? I've never really paid attention to that, I just assumed all doctors made big bucks..." As she asked this I had to think if I should share this... It is not that I didn't trust her, I'm just used to previous women in my life going for my wallet... She didn't jump on me buying food and assumed I was rich, so I guessed telling her wouldn't make her want anything more than what Butch gives her.
"3 million annually... I'm not just a surgeon, I'm a specialist as well... I only ever spend it on mortgage, utilities, property taxes, food and Toby..." As I reveal this, Butch is even in shock. I usually don't share my funds with anyone, but I didn't see the harm here.
"Shit... No wonder why surgeons work all the time!" BC jokes and I smile. Her joking was the best response I've ever gotten.
"By the way, who's Toby? I've heard you and my sister talk about him..." BC was getting into the conversation as we finally started our meals.
"My purebred munchkin rescue cat..." I shrugged and she grins. I guess not a lot of people expect me to own a cat. "You totally don't seem like a cat person, but that's amazing..." Her grin widened. Butch cut into the conversation again.
"I'd fuckin die for Toby!" Butch laughed, but that was partially because of how much he loved that cat. BC raised a brow, "Now I gotta see this cat!" She laughed too.
"You guys can stop by for a little bit if it tickles your fancy... I don't have much to do tonight..." I offered and Butch grins. I don't usually let him bring girls to my house, but this wasn't just some girl. She was the sister of a gifted patient in my care.
"I'm in..." Butch said while lightly nudging BC. Her blush appears again and then a smile, "I guess it wouldn't hurt..." She wasn't expecting this, I could see that.
"And yes Butch, I definitely approve..." I say and both of their eyes lit up. After that the conversation was animated and lively. We talked for a good while before getting up to leave.
"We'll meet you there?" Butch was still smiling, I nodded in response. "You already know where I live..." I say beginning to head to my car. It was nice to finally have company around.
"Yeah, yeah..." Butch waved me off with a smirk. I decided to rush home in case I needed to clean up anything. The drive was quiet, but at least it stopped raining today.
As soon as I enter the front door, I hear Toby chirping in the kitchen. I enter to find him playing with one of his toys on the floor. I looked around, the place was clean enough, at least I didn't have to do anything.
"Toby..." As I say his name, he stopped mid paw swing and looked up at me. A loud meow erupted from him and I smile, taking him into my arms. The purring immediately started as I took him into the living room and sit on the arm chair with him.
A few minutes later, my front door opened and Butch strolled in with BC. "Bro?!" Butch was calling for me, Toby stopped lounging and meows for my brother. I can't help but chuckle, my cat adores him.
"Living room..." Butch mumbles to BC, both walked in and her eyes land on my lap. "So this is the infamous Toby?" She grins, "Bloss will be jealous that I got to meet him first..." She walks to the couch and sat down. Butch was right behind her, but he chose to steal my cat out of my arms.
"My turn bro!" Butch said as Toby burrows into his arms. Butch absolutely dwarfs him, but Toby didn't care. He just fell asleep on him.
"You got a pretty cozy place here..." BC was looking around the living room. "It was a good starter place... I just fell for it because of the location..." I finally got comfortable enough to take my sweater off.
"This was a starter place?" She sounded shocked, I get why... My home wasn't exactly small. "It was because I didn't know where to live at first, so I chose convenience over extravagance... This place is 15 minutes away from the hospital..." I was large, but it wasn't a mansion.
"It seems large enough for more than just you..." She jokes and I nodded. "That's why i got Toby... I felt that this place needed more than just myself..." Toby helped cure most of the loneliness.
"Sounds too lonely for me... That's why I live with my sister..." She finally started to pet Toby. I pondered for a moment...
I guess most people wouldn't want to live by themselves, but I've been alone for so long that I just got used to it.
"I guess it kinda is..." My smile is subdued, but they're too distracted by Toby now too noticed.
-he's lonely :( poor Brick...-