Chapter Text
Dennis stared blankly and panicked at the blood on his hands. James, who had been pressing on the patient's wound, just stared blankly.
“IT'S BLEEDING! OH GOSH!! CALL DR. SANTOS!”
James stared at him for a few seconds before leaving the room, after taking off his dirty gloves.
Dennis cursed softly. The new kid seemed to hate him—he never did what he was told properly, couldn't move quickly, and ended up making Dennis get scolded because he couldn't teach the new kid properly.
Dr. Robby had scolded him three times this week—maybe not scolded, more like reminded him, but in Dennis's eyes it was more than just a reminder and correction.
Robby was close to being disappointed, and Dennis felt like he wouldn't be able to breathe if that happened.
Piiiiiippppp
Flat line.
His hands trembled as he tried to find the bleeding point in the patient's veins, but he was too slow.
“God, please, I beg you, don't... don't.” His voice was trembling.
SREEEKKK!!
“GOD DAMN IT, WHITAKER, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?”
Dennis quickly turned to the curtain that had been roughly opened, Robby's voice booming in unison with the loud monitor.
“GET OUT OF HERE!!! SANTOS!!! GARCIA!!!”
Robby not only verbally expelled him, but also dragged him out of the patient area. And now he stood frozen, his hands trembling, his face pale, and nearly his entire front covered in blood.
“Oh Whitaker, sweetheart, are you okay?” Dana was the first to enter his field of vision, holding a wet tissue, wipe his face—
The tissue changed color.
Huh? Did blood drip on his face too?
“Tsk.”
The sound entered his ears and he turned to James, who was leaning against the nurse station counter, acting as if nothing had happened.
As if he hadn't just failed to stop the patient's bleeding and made Dennis the scapegoat.
SREKK!!
“Whitaker!!! What the heck happened to you, huh?!”
Robby cursed harshly, throwing a pair of bloody gloves on the floor, right in front of Whitaker. “You knew that wound had the potential to hemorrhage, so why did you take so long and not stitch it up immediately?!”
Dennis looked at Robby in panic, “Doctor Robby, the patient was assigned to Ja—”
“JAMES?! IT WAS JAMES' PATIENT, SO YOU DIDN'T WANT TO CORRECT JAMES' MISTAKE?!”
Dennis was about to open his mouth, but it seemed that Robby had had enough.
It had happened three times, and maybe this was finally it...
"IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SAVE PATIENTS HERE, THEN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I'M SICK OF YOUR EXCUSES. AS A RESIDENT, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GUIDE JAMES!! DID YOU SEE OTHER RESIDENTS BEHAVING LIKE THIS WHEN YOU WERE A MEDICAL STUDENT?!?!"
Dennis stared blankly, all his explanations stuck in his throat. He couldn't say a word.
“I'll write a notice. Pack your things and go home for today,” Robby said as he walked past him.
The gurney carrying the deceased patient squeaked as it passed Dennis, who was frozen.
* * *
“This is nonsense!!”
Dennis jumped when footsteps entered the locker room, and he turned his head. Victoria and Trinity didn't look very pleased.
“Hey...” Dennis greeted them softly.
Victoria snorted loudly, “I knew that damn kid would act irrationally, but this is too much!! He slandered you!!! I heard it myself!” the girl screamed in frustration.
“Huckleberry, believe me, I will bring you back here. That stupid old man is crazy to dismiss you like this.” Trinity continued.
Dennis sighed, his backpack was ready, he didn't have many things here anyway. He looked at Trinity and Victoria, "Thank you for believing in me... but please don't do anything that could jeopardize your positions. I'm fine, I'll try again somewhere else..."
Dennis didn't really know what would happen after this, what Robby would write in his recommendation and transfer letter, Dennis didn't know...
He was helpless.
It was okay if he had to repeat, maybe he would look for a part-time job first before continuing his residency.
He didn't know.
His head hurt from thinking about everything that had happened.
“Nope, I'll still convey my opinions and complaints to Dr. Robby. Javadi too. We'll do our best to protect you. What do you think we are? Coworkers?” Trinity scolded while adjusting the hoodie Dennis was wearing.
She acted like the eldest sister. Dennis said in his head.
Dennis was grateful to have them both as friends.
“Thank you... I don't know what would have happened if I didn't have you two,” Dennis replied softly, a little embarrassed because he seemed to always be a bother.
Victoria hugged him before giving him some money. “My mom told me to buy lunch for everyone, but since you're going home first, use this to top up your bus card. I'll ask Santos for lunch.”
Trinity pinched Victoria's cheek before adding, “Oh yeah, you're going home by bus, right? Rest at home today. When I get home, we'll talk about what to do next. Okay?"
Dennis smiled, a little embarrassed to accept money from Victoria. Actually, he was going to walk because he didn't have any money. “Thank you very much...”
“Oh gosh, why is it so mellow.” Trinity snorted before hugging Dennis, then Victoria joined in.
Dennis felt that they were starting to resemble the Teletubbies.
“These preschoolers are so adorable.”
Another voice joined in.
Dr. McKay smiled from the doorway, approaching slowly, looking a little awkward, but her hand on Dennis's head felt very sincere.
“Hang in there, Whitaker. Me and the others will try to talk to Robby, once he's cooled down, of course.” A pause. “James' timing and words are why this got so serious. You're not always right or great with patients, but you've never been this reckless.” McKay ruffled Dennis' hair affectionately.
“Consider this an experience. Hopefully, in the future, you can stay away from colleagues like James. You're too nice, Whitaker...” McKay said with a sad smile. “And that kid is more cunning than we thought. I'm sure Dana is ready to defend you, and so are we... just wait patiently, okay?”
Dennis looked down, his eyes feeling hot.
He was too nice?
Was it all because he was too kind to the new kid?
Was it his fault?
“Go home and get some rest, will you?” McKay said before leaving the locker room.
Dennis murmured a quiet thank you, then sighed.
"Huckleberry, we really want to defend you. So, go home and rest, okay?" Trinity patted Dennis on the shoulder, then gently pushed him out of the locker room.
“Text us when you get home.” Victoria said before Dennis walked out of the PTMC area.
He walked with his head down as he passed the nurse station. He could hear people whispering, talking about him.
Dennis forced himself to walk faster.
He faintly heard Robby giving orders to the medical students.
Dennis bit his lip, holding back tears.
Beyond what he had with Robby, disappointing his attending was Dennis’s greatest fear.
Robby always praised him, complimented him, provided solutions to his difficult cases, and answered all of Dennis's questions.
Beyond the label of the relationship he and Robby had, something private and unprofessional, Dennis always upheld their relationship at work. Attending and Resident.
Dennis always hoped to make Robby proud as a Resident.
“HEi!! Are you coming or not?!”
Dennis jolted awake.
His legs walked on autopilot to the bus stop near PTMC.
“Ah, sorry. I'm in.”
Maybe Trinity was right; he needed to go home and calm down first before deciding what to do next.
* * *
1/2
.
* * *
Preview next chapter.
CODE YELLOW!
MULTIPLE VEHICLE COLLISION! 7 PEOPLE ETA 6 MINUTES
“ROBBY!!! 7 VICTIMS OF A MULTIPLE COLLISION ARE ON THE WAY! THE BUS DRIVER AND 2 PASSENGERS IS IN CRITICAL CONDISION. THE BUS IS CRUSHED BETWEEN TWO TRUCKS, AND THOSE 7 PATIENTS IS THE ONLY SURVIVED ONES AND CAN BE MOVED HERE." Dana reported from her station, and Robby nodded in understanding.
.