Erika's POV:

If it wasn't for clinical rotations, I wouldn't have the chance to meet all the surgical departments. Granted, I was placed in orthopedics, which frightened me at the beginning. My short stature wasn't of any help in that department.

Still, learning from doctors like Dr. Marshall was something I wanted to take full advantage of. Trauma, bone diseases, sports-injuries; the man was a legend in that department. Giving the ability to a patient to walk again, returning normal function to their extremities, gaining back their life; what was not to admire?

Deciding to follow a career in surgery had its perks; studying together was one of them. Working for assignments together was always fun, although a bit tricky. Still, with Stella buffering the situation, the competitiveness between siblings was kept at a minimum.

Most times anyway.

As rounds came to an end, I sat with the other interns to finish up my paperwork. It was a busy morning, and since I wanted to stay on top of my game, I tried to finish this part of my work as soon as possible. Running labs, confirming tests and signing other patients in or out of the hospital was part of our routine. That, along with studying for a surgery I wanted to be prepared for, it was definitely a busy morning.

I was working on Brandon's case, when Stella approached me with a smile that reached her eyes.

"So... tell me all about him. How is he as a person? Is he as intense as he seems?" She was expecting anything but the confused expression on my face. "You do know who he is, don't you?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said, returning to my work.

"Oh, come on. Of course you, know him. You can't not know the Guardian. Damn, that explains chief's weird attitude this morning."

"You noticed that too? For a moment I thought I was imagining stuff."

I turned to look at my best friend who was now resting her head in the palms of her hands on the desk I was working on. She should be getting home soon. She really looked exhausted her nightshift.

"He smiled didn't he, I am- Wait a second. You are changing the subject. Back to the handsome man-" she wasn't going to let it go.

"There's no going back to any man? Now let me do my job," I tried to push her off the desk, but she wasn't having it.

"Right..." she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, before continuing. "Damn it, he's hot though. I mean, ¿cuándo Brandon King se puso tan sexy?" she whispered, stealing glances of the people moving in and out of the room.

"Can we talk about it when we get home?"

I looked around us wary and she nodded, since some were already giving us weird looks.

Turning back to the pile of paperwork in front me, Stella kissed the top of my head, before getting back to her own work next to me. The sooner she was done, the sooner she could go home. Nelle joined us, working on her own work, pulling stacks of paper from a similar folder as ours. The three of us worked in silence for a few minutes, until I caught her attention.

"You alright? Your face is red. You run a fever or something?" Nelle reached for my forehead, her eyes growing in size at my increased temperature.

Even though it wasn't flu-season per say, since it was the beginning of summer in Chicago, some days were colder than others.

"Just skipped on a few valuable hours of sleep," I tried to explain, pushing her hand away from my face with an awkward chuckle.

"And food," Stella added, exasperation in her voice.

"I'm fine," I said, ignoring the looks the two exchanged between themselves, as I got back to work on a certain patient of mine.

"So, about your patient from today..." Linn approached our table, a few iv-bags in her hands.

"Why is everyone so invested in him?" I felt my patience wearing thin. "He's just another patient."

"You're right, but when your boss, in my case Savi, comes inside the office, warning you to do a job well done or else, you start wondering about the guy..."

It wasn't easy finishing work in a common office with so many people. Still, I tried to shut the voices down to concentrate.

"...Mrs. King this and that. I don't even know if she was talking about his mom, his wife, or herself."

I turned towards Linn, eyes wide as saucers.

Was it true? Was any of it true? Was I flirting with someone, a patient at that, who already had someone else in his life?

In that moment Stella's elbow nudged my side, shaking her head at whatever the girls were talking about. "We'll talk when you get home," she whispered, continuing her work as if nothing happened.

"I think part of it is because he's pretty wealthy; at least that's what I heard."

It wasn't a surprise the nurses knew everything going on in this hospital; it was no secret, that if not for them, the hospital wouldn't function like clockwork, so maybe knowledge came with the job.

I don't know which part was worse, but hearing them talk about him like that bothered me.

I wanted a way out.

"By the way, this Friday I'm housing a small get together..." Nelle changed the subject as she handed us a piece of paper with her address on it.

It wasn't the first place visiting her place, but right now I was truly thankful for the smooth change in conversation.

Although we were working in the medical field, most of us were fresh out of university, so gatherings like that were always a breath of fresh air. It wasn't anything crazy. Just a safe place to hang out with colleagues while taking a break from the hospital. Every intern was invited, as long as they hosted another gathering in return.

The thought of a party at the end of a most definitely tiresome week, brought a smile to my face. It was a chance to hang out, play games, dance, talk about anything and everything and drink. Drink to our heart's desires.

"...tell Marcus as well. Linn, you're one of us, so I'll see you at my place, 9 o'clock. Plus-ones are always welcomed. Oh, and don't forget the drinks, girlies," Nelle informed us, making both of us laugh.

The atmosphere of the office was interrupted by Savi when she furiously called my name. I was sure I did nothing wrong, but still awaited her verdict.

"That's Savi for you," said Linn before moving away from our desk, returning to her own job

"Please, for the love of everything that is holy... go draw blood from your patient. He won't let me near him, acting like a ten-year-old brat." Savi looked exasperated, with sweat gathering on her forehead.

She gave a real fight before retreating.

"You must be joking." I tried to control my lips from turning upwards, but my attempts were futile.

"Look, I'm not proud of this." She was really disappointed in herself. "And yes! I know how this is a basic skill. But I was trying all morning. I have all that paperwork I need to do."

I faced the demonic stack of paperwork she was referring to, freezing at the sight behind her desk; a large box filled with case files that needed to be done and sorted out with.

Linn was surprised as well.

"Savi... Those files had to be sorted out by noon... yesterday!" She took a deep breath, before heading towards the table with the medication of other patients she was sorting out, before all this had even started. "Give me a minute, and I'll come help you."

I turned towards an exhausted Savi.

"Fine. Don't worry I'll take care of him," I stood up, collecting my work, before I turned back to her. "But you cut the 'Italian Mafia' crap. Stella's not even Italian, she's from Spain. We're more like the 'Three Musketeers', really," I told her, while gathering needles, bandages, antiseptic spray, and everything else I needed to draw blood and inserting an intravenous catheter to the ten-year old.

My hands shook for a moment, as I felt my heart flutter. Knowing it was from the lack of sleep, I shook my head, ridding it from any extra, unreasonable thoughts.

"Promise, shorty!" Savi said, crossing her arms in front of her chest, a teasing smirk on her face. I paused what I was doing, facing her while I rolled my eyes. "What? I can't help it. You are my favorite shorty."

"I'm already regretting this."

"Trust me, we'll be best friends one day," she called out to me.

"Keep dreaming, bambina. Keep dreaming," I whispered under my breath.

Now for the greater task at hand: how to tame a certain someone without looking like an idiot in the process.

If only I was stronger; maybe then, I could avoid all the missteps I was sure to take.

Don't forget to tell the people you love how much you actually do. It might come as a surprise, but even the strongest ones need encouraging words sometimes.

Thank you for being here and enjoying my story. I'll do my best to make it a good one.

*¿Cuándo Brandon King se puso tan sexy?* = When did Brandon King get to be so fucking sexy?