Callie’s surgical gown was stained with blood, and the exhaustion from the procedure caught up with her.After washing up, she curled up in a corner of the operating room, closed her eyes, and attempted to rest briefly.Jamison removed his mask and gloves, checked on the patient, then re-entered the room to find Callie slumped against the wall, fast asleep despite the constant din around her.Jamison couldn’t help but smile at the sight.He lifted Callie in his arms, carried her to the doctor’s lounge and placed her on a bed, making sure she was comfortable.Then he found an armchair and plopped down in it.The surgery took a toll on him as well.Hunger gnawed at him.Observing Callie, Jamison reasoned that she, too, was likely famished.Callie excelled at caring for others but often neglected her own well-being, and Jamison had grown accustomed to it.He decided to head to the cafeteria and grab some food for himself and her.Angelia spotted him and approached. ‘Dr Garcia, is this yo
‘Hear me out,’ Wendy asserted, releasing Callie’s shoulder and gently tilting her chin. ‘Besides Elias, Jamison was the only one genuinely worried about you. You didn’t see it because you fainted, but I did. Jamison cares about you a lot.’Callie didn’t find comfort in Wendy’s words.Instead, they felt like a heavy weight on her heart.Her smile vanished as she opened the thermos and sipped the contents, ignoring the untouched lunchbox.Wendy pushed the lunchbox towards her. ‘Callie, since Jamison packed it for you, why not have some? It’s still hot.’‘I’d rather not.’ Callie shook her head. ‘I don’t want to give him false hope or complicate things. It’s better to decline his kindness than to accept it without reason.’Callie had a soft heart and disliked hurting others.She understood that blurring the lines could easily hurt Jamison, which was something she wanted to avoid.The only person she truly cared about was Elias.Wendy respected Callie’s stubbornness and didn’t press furthe
‘Harriet...’ Callie murmured, dread filling her.She quickly proceeded to the emergency operating theatre.Elias stood at the door, his face tense and devoid of emotion.His military uniform was stained with blood, unmistakably Harriet’s.Lemuel was looking equally concerned. ‘Thank god you are here! Dr Angelia Hawthorne and Dr Meyers are already inside. They probably need your help.’Elias’s eyes focused on Callie, and at the same time, recognised Jamison who stood by her side.Callie quickly assessed the situation and hurriedly put on a surgical gown and gloves with the help of a nurse.As she was about to enter the operating theatre, Elias spoke, ‘Callie, you must save Harriet.’Callie understood the gravity of the situation.Harriet held a special place in Elias’s heart.She was a childhood friend and a trusted comrade.Elias saw her as a sister, and he couldn’t bear to lose her.‘I’ll do my best.’ Callie nodded at him, and entered the operating theatre alongside Jamison.Inside,
The sinister intruder, that bullet, was finally ousted, no longer posing a threat to Harriet’s fragile existence.Callie’s heart raced in sync with Harriet’s as she passed Jamison the vascular forceps he needed to stem the bleeding.Their eyes met briefly, a silent nod to their shared triumph over adversity.With meticulous precision, Jamison and Ramiro worked together to mend the damaged blood vessels and tissues, each stitch a testament to their unwavering dedication.Callie kept a watchful eye on Harriet’s vital signs, never wavering in her vigilance.The once-silent room now buzzed with a profound sense of accomplishment.They had won the battle for Harriet’s heart, but the war was far from over.Harriet’s frail form, still tethered to monitors and tubes, bore the scars of her ordeal.As the emergency operating theatre doors swung open, Ramiro and Angelia emerged, carefully transferring Harriet to a stretcher.Elias and Lemuel, their faces etched with worry, eagerly sought news of
Elias held Callie close, his lips gently brushing her forehead.With a sigh, he spoke, his voice tinged with concern. ‘You’re always looking out for everyone else, darling—Harriet, the patients, and me. But when do you ever look after yourself?’Callie smiled.She always wore a gentle smile, the one that made it seem like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders without complaint.Even when she wasn’t happy, it felt like no one would notice.But she was his wife, and he sure as hell didn’t want to be the one neglecting her.She’d risked her career and medical license to save Harriet, even if Elias hadn’t asked.He might not have been a doctor, but he could still see the danger in that gunshot wound on Harriet’s chest.Elias couldn’t be with Callie in the operating theatre, but he could imagine the icy tension and the immense pressure the surgeons were under.Callie leaned against Elias and sighed contentedly.The rhythm of her heartbeat pulsed beneath his hand, but her hea
Elias’s breaths brushed against her neck, his lips grazing her delicate skin.‘Elias!’ Callie’s spine tingled. ‘I’m trying to have a serious chat here. Quit fooling around and get some rest.’She pulled back and playfully nudged him. ‘Off you go, back to your dorm.’She sent Elias on his way, his eyes filled with affection.Then, she headed to the intensive care unit to check on Harriet, who was still unconscious but stable.Afterwards, Callie got busy with her morning rounds, but the chilly air made her fingers stiff.Wendy couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Callie, you still can’t handle the cold. Let me see those hands.’Wendy took Callie’s hands and noticed they had turned red. ‘You’re freezing!’Callie grinned. ‘Looks like I might be growing frozen carrots.’Wendy teased, ‘Should I tell General Westwood? He might be quite concerned.’Callie chuckled. ‘Wendy, don’t be ridiculous.’Wendy persisted. ‘What’s absurd about it? Someone’s got to speak up since you won’t.’Callie shook her head. ‘
‘Harriet, can you hear me?’ Callie’s soft voice reached Harriet’s ears as she slowly came to. ‘Can you open your eyes for me?’With her strength returning bit by bit, Harriet blinked, cracked her eyes open, and focused on Callie.Realising Harriet no longer needed the oxygen mask, Callie gently removed it. ‘Harriet, how are you feeling?’‘Callie... Elias... See him...’ Harriet whispered, her voice feeble.‘No, you can’t,’ Callie replied firmly. ‘You’ve just woken up, and you’re still weak. Anything you need to tell Elias can wait until you’re in better shape.’Harriet disagreed but understood Callie’s point.She tried to speak again but realised how weak her voice was.Callie reassured her with a smile. ‘You are just out of a major surgery. Don’t push it. I promise to let Elias know you’re awake, and once you’re up to it, you can chat with him.’Reluctantly, Harriet accepted the advice and decided to rest.Callie made a mental note to inform Elias later about Harriet waking up.Close
The frostbite on Callie’s hand wasn’t as bad as yesterday, but it still looked a bit swollen, tugging at Elias’s heart.Elias crouched down, resting his forehead against Callie’s, his eyes locking onto her almond-shaped ones. ‘Does it hurt?’‘Not really.’‘Seriously?’Callie nodded, her cheeks warming as his breath caressed her face.Despite the chaos of the borderland they lived in, the scene sent her heart aflutter.Elias, a rugged man, stood before her in the snow, gazing at her with profound affection.‘Elias, I’m truly fine.’‘Alright.’Elias gently removed the glove from her other hand, sliding his own into her white coat pocket.From his military coat pocket, Elias produced a pair of leather gloves, passing them to Callie.‘I don’t like you wearing other men’s gloves,’ he stated firmly. ‘You’re mine. I don’t want the scent of other men on you.’Elias knew those gloves were from Jamison, meant to keep Callie warm.But he couldn’t bear the thought of another man caring for her.S