Author's Note: Thank you to all who followed, favorited and especially took the time to leave a review. It's much appreciated and more than I expected response-wise. XOXO

Because there was no Jeff Clarke whatsoever in last night's episode of Med, and I personally feel ripped off, here's another chapter. ;-)


SAVIOR COMPLEX

Chapter 2

Take a breath, count to five. There was no reason to be nervous about this. Her future profession was based entirely on interpersonal interaction. And there was no place for bouts of social anxiety in that. Even though, as Dr. Charles said, being a good psychiatrist was more about listening than talking, being able to speak clearly and concisely was also very important.

And she needed to be clear and concise about this. Because the incident the previous night had her head in an anxiety spiral.

You got this, Sarah.

She tugged the lapels of her lab coat in a self-conscious attempt to make herself seem more presentable. She tried not to analyze why she needed to look presentable, put together, attractive? No. Just professional. She was going for professional and confident (because she felt neither after last night's incident).

And then she strode into the Emergency Department. No, don't stride. Just walk with confidence... through the part of the hospital that always seemed harried. 'Controlled Chaos' is how Sarah liked to think of it. Because Dr. Choi, and more so the head nurse, Maggie, kept a strict sort of underlying order in their department.

It was particularly hectic at the moment. But she needed to do this now or be plagued by it the rest of her shift (and likely until she did get the confrontation over with).

Where was he? Maybe she should ask… No. She didn't want to interrupt any of the preoccupied nurses, doctors or staff working hard to save lives... Which, well, he might be doing, too. That could be why- No, there he was. Taller than the personnel he weaved around to return to the station, the harsh lights highlighting his striking silver-streaked hair.

Okay. She could do this. Just walk up and- he turned around bumping into her, his solid form knocking her back against a desk.

"Sorry," he said taking a step back, his blue-grey eyes turning from apologetic to amused as he discovered who had bounced off from him. It must happen a lot, given his size and the cramped quarters. But she wasn't going to be thwarted by the incident.

She straightened.

"Jeff Clarke." She'd decided to use his full name. Using only a person's last name had never felt right to her. And she couldn't call him 'Mr. Clarke'. That was even worse. He'd told her to call him Jeff the previous night, but it seemed too personal, especially with keen ears surrounding them. She knew the hospital gossip mill was flourishing. It's how she knew the man was an ex-marine, ex-firefighter, ex-lover of Dr. Manning, who happened to be his best friend's widow. It's how she knew half the nurses wanted to get into his pants. But she supposed she could see why. He was an attractive man with a charming smile (and a savior complex). Not really her type, but-

"Can I do something for you, Dr. Reese?" God, how long had she just been staring at him? His lips twitched as he smiled at her.

"I wanted to make sure you got enough sleep. And to thank you for last night." Had she really just used that wording? She winced, but he chuckled and shook his head.

"You don't have to thank me." His eyes were very warm for being such a cool-grey color. He put his hand on her arm, making her feel simultaneously scrawny and safe as he gave her bicep a gentle squeeze. "It was my pleasure."

And then his large, warm hand was gone and he was turning his attention to a tablet on the counter. Probably a patient's chart and she should really let him get back to his work, but... She stepped in closer, placing her hand on his arm, mirroring his own behavior towards her. His blue-grey eyes found her face again.

"Can we keep..." She dropped her voice to a whisper. "What happened last night just between us."

Again, his lips twitched.

"I'm the soul of discretion." His already soft voice grew even huskier as he leaned in to whisper his reply in her ear. It sent a shiver down her spine. She glanced up to find his expression had sobered. "And you already know what I think you should do."

She nodded, appreciative that he respected her enough to let her make her own decisions and not pressure her any further to file a police report. She gave his forearm a squeeze in thanks before she turned away to make a hasty escape.

Because there was something a little overwhelming about Jeff Clarke's presence. Something she'd brushed off as adrenaline and nerves after Derek surprising her and the ex-soldier's even more surprising intervention. Something she'd have to pick apart and analyze later because she was blushing and noticed a certain woman's eyes on her.

Nothing torrid had happened. She could be friends with whomever she wanted. If Dr. Manning was jealous and territorial about her ex-lover, then that was her issue.

Nevertheless, Sarah avoided making eye contact with the attractive brunette doctor as she left the ED at a calculated pace; not too quickly, not too casual as to appear studied.

...

Jeff smiled to himself as he went to order the labs Doctor Choi had prescribed for their latest patient. Because he'd passed the young psychiatry resident and her mentor consulting with a patient in the ED, had caught her eye and gave her a wink, eliciting a startled fawn response that was adorable as hell.

After having run into her at Molly's the other night and spending a number of hours in her company, he felt he knew Sarah Reese quite well now. Knew that feeling self-conscious afterward, she'd probably picked apart every word she'd said. Well, every word that she could remember saying. She'd gotten quite tipsy. So tipsy, he'd had to escort her home again. This time not just watching her enter her building but all the way to her front door, through her front door to deposit her on her couch with a bottle of water and some aspirin... Which had made him wonder why she'd shown up at the bar two nights in a row, why she'd approached him specifically in the busy place? They were square, understood one another. At least it had seemed that way after she'd checked with him the morning after he'd apparently overstepped bounds and come to her rescue. So offering to buy him a beer to pay off the debt hadn't been necessary.

He'd wondered if she was still worried that he'd tattle on her being stalked. But then she'd just begun to chat with him, small talk at first, and then random things, more serious things, even got most of his life history out of him (a feat few managed). But primarily she'd done most of the talking. A bit of a chatterbox when she got going, but... He hadn't been annoyed. She was a know-it-all, but without condescension. She was actually rather sweet in her wide-eyed eagerness to absorb every bit of information she could. So many questions about his experiences in the Marines, as a firefighter, life in general... Maybe it was her innocent face, her wide-eyed naiveté, or the alcohol, but Jeff had actually found himself sharing instead of deflecting.

"What's going on with you?"

Thankfully, his startle response had been tempered long ago by military training. Still, he had been caught zoning out, hadn't he? He gave the petite brunette a confused look.

"Nothing that I know, Nat," he said. Natalie Manning's lips were set in a smile, but she wasn't smiling. "Why?"

"I don't know..." she feigned indifference, studying the tablet in her hand. "You just seem... different."

Jeff sighed inwardly. He'd heard the gossip in passing. It had exploded the very instant Sarah had approached him in the ED the morning after the incident. Maybe if they'd been closer colleagues, had reason for more regular interactions... Maybe if it wasn't out of the ordinary for her to seek him out for a conversation... Nah, who was he kidding? It wouldn't've made a smidgeon of difference. As far as the Hospital scuttlebutt was concerned, he was spending his nights in the young woman's bed. Or did they have her the one diving in between his sheets?

Not that it mattered. It was ridiculous, and he was fine with ignoring it. But for Natalie to believe such a tale... He honestly didn't know how to respond.

"She makes you happy?"

Whatever happiness he had felt contemplating the amiable, curly-haired psychiatry resident vanished entirely. Maybe hanging out with her did make him happy. Maybe it was refreshing to spend some time with a woman who didn't just want him to help her forget her troubles, to assuage her own needs. Sarah Reese was undeniably quirky, but she didn't throw her baggage at anyone (if she even had any).

"I... You know I only want you to be happy," Natalie said. He'd always felt that way about her, but honestly, he was having a difficult time believing her sincerity with that smile that was more grimace.

And this wasn't the time or place for this. When he still didn't respond, Natalie's smile turned into a pursed lip expression of frustration, and then she sighed before returning to her doctor mode and going off to see to a patient.

Jeff shook his head. God, this place was worse than a firehouse for gossip. And that was saying something. How a woman who knew him so well could just believe rumors and jump to conclusions without... well, she had tried to talk to him... But jesus, Natalie, what the-

One good thing about Chicago Med's Emergency Department, it was never slow, never gave a man too much time to over-think his situation in life. Because here was another critical case coming through the doors, paramedics calling out the stats. Despite the urgency and sobering sight of blood and pain, Jeff exchanged a smile of greeting with Gabriela Dawson as te ambulance girls handed off the gurney with the unconscious man, his wrists thickly bandaged.

"Attempted suicide," Brett, the blonde paramedic had announced before listing off the stats. Dr. Choi was already calling out commands. Normally, Jeff was good at snapping to orders, but he hesitated.

"Clarke, you with me?"

"Uh, yes, prep three units of o-neg," he repeated. "We might want to alert Doctor Reese."

"Why's that?" They parked the gurney next to a bed and began preparing the patient to move him.

"He's one of her patients, I think." More like stalker. Shit. Had Jeff's putting the fear of god into the guy caused him to slice his wrists open?

He shoved the notion aside as Choi gave the count and they transferred the patient to the bed and got down to the messy work of saving his life.

...

Why hadn't she just diffused the situation last week? Why had she just let Jeff Clarke step in with his intimidating male ego?

Okay, that was unfair. She knew that now. He wasn't at all an overbearing alpha male type, but paradoxically he had some of the standard traits. It was strange the way he casually wore his confidence, the way he could switch from quiet, passive observer to the man in charge, asserting control over a situation. He wasn't outwardly aggressive yet seemed to be territorial at his core, protective of those he viewed as being his responsibility... (which appeared to be anyone he deemed in need of help).

And he'd only meant to help, but she shouldn't have let him bully a patient who suffered from depression and suicidal tendencies. And she should've told Dr. Charles what had happened. Because this was all her fault.

"I should've-"

"There's not always signs, Dr. Reese," her mentor said in his calm, soothing voice. There was a hint of sadness to it, only detectable because she'd spent so much time listening to that voice, dissecting his inflection and tone, his professional demeanor. And she well remembered his cautionary tale about getting too close. He'd missed the signs before, too. Or more correctly put, there had been no signs.

Only, "There were definite signs. I messed up. I-"

Dr. Charles patted her arm. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, I think you need to be with your patient."

Sarah chewed her lip and nodded, trying to figure out how to put her game face on. It didn't help that Jeff Clarke picked that moment to come out of the room, tossing his bloody gloves into the disposal as Doctor Choi briefed them on Derek Gavalas' condition. He was stable and expected to make a full recovery. Sarah didn't catch the specifics, she was too busy caught in a silent exchange with her unsolicited knight-in-shining armor.

His steel-colored eyes were quite eloquent.

He didn't think she should ever be in the same room with the patient again, let alone talk to him. The creep was a stalker. She should've filed a police report. She should at least tell her mentor about the situation and heed his advice. She shouldn't go in to see the guy who'd just slit his wrists open on account of her.

She refused to be cowed by the captivating steely gaze.

Because the medical student had no idea that Derek had tried to kill himself because of Sarah, because of the encounter the previous week. And if the troubled young man had been watching her in the bar, following her, then hadn't Jeff Clarke been doing so as well?

"Is he conscious?" she asked, turning her attention to the head of the emergency department.

"He lost a lot of blood and is pretty out of it, but yes, he is conscious," Choi confirmed before being called away.

Sarah swallowed down her nerves and fears and entered the hospital room. Derek's olive skin tone was ashen and he had dark circles under his eyes. They probably would've strapped him down to prevent him from hurting himself further, but it looked as if he were too weak to even lift his bandaged arms. And she supposed that was actually her call to make as the psychiatric consult for the troubled young man, her responsibility to determine whether he was a danger to himself... or others.

But he was awake and somewhat aware, his glassy brown eyes finding her.

"Sarah." His voice was no more than a rasp. He had to be dehydrated after so much blood loss, even though they'd given him transfusions. One bag of o-neg was still hooked up, refilling his veins with blood. "I knew you'd come."

Shit. This wasn't good. She wished that Dr. Charles wasn't giving her a longer leash these days, pushing her out of the nest to fly on her own. Normally, she appreciated the vote of confidence. But if he knew the extent of the situation... It was her own fault for not informing him. But she had to press on now. She had to think of the patient's health.

"How are you feeling, Derek?" she asked, purposefully not touching him.

"Better now that you're here" His fingers flexed and straightened as if he were trying to reach for her. And he was staring at her with disturbing intensity. She looked away, only to find another man staring at her with equal intensity. Only his eyes were a steely blue-grey. His expression was serious; two-parts worry and one part disapproval.

Then, with a shake of his head, Jeff Clarke walked away.


A/N: What are Derek's issues? What will Sarah do about the situation she's gotten into? Can Jeff really just walk away? Stay tuned to find out! ;-)