Dangerous Elysium || Chapter One

Aiden let out a frustrated sigh and clenched his fist. He was walking back and forth in front of Dr. Tim and the assistant nurse. They are facing a lot of problems now because of the malfunction that happened to one of their patients. He did not catch up immediately because he was busy with other patients yesterday.

"You're saying that they filed a lawsuit?"

"Yes and the board members want the official list of the doctors and nurses who happened to be at the OR. They will take care of the intern. They will also take care of how to deal with the patient's family." Aiden turned to look at Dr. Tim, anxiety is also visible on his face.

He sighed deeply. In the meantime, he was assigned by his father, Leon, to manage their hospital. His father has not been able to return to management after he became ill. He felt that was just part of his father's plan. Leon wants him to come back home several times but he prefers life in Australia. He was freer there than here in New York with many people observing his every move.

"Why did you let it happen? You know that he's not yet trained enough," he hissed.

The tension around them intensified. No one wants to answer first; which made Aiden's head even hotter. A few lines cracked on his forehead and he let out a deep breath. This is what he's worried about; it will be difficult for him to get along with them because apart from wanting serious work and not wanting a single problem, surely the people in his father's hospital have a habit of creating problems.

"We're sorry, Dr. Collin. But we'll try to talk to the family outside," Dr. Tim said after a while. He motioned for the assistant nurse to leave first.

After shutting the door, Dr. Tim looked at Aiden. "Don't do that infront of them, they may think you are too strict and rude. they will shun you," he said.

A small smile curves on his lips. Dr. Tim was right, he also noticed that since he came here. "I can't help it. You know how strict I am when it comes to the hospital and the patients."

Dr. Tim just chuckled and patted his shoulder. "I'll leave first, gonna talk to the patient's family," He left after saying goodbye.

Aiden lazily sat on his chair. He got a serious headache from what happened after he arrived at the hospital. The thought of being here for about 2 or three months made him groan.

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead. Great, this will be hell for him every day. Aiden shook his head in frustration. He really has no escape. His father's health problem brought him back to New York and he is the only one who his father can count on.

A loud knock on the door wakes Aiden on his deep thoughts. He was about to shut off whoever was behind it when the door opened and another reason for his headache barged in like he owns the office.

"Dude! People are talking about the malfunction that happened," Kaegan said right after he plopped himself down the chair.

Aiden was just about to shoo out his friend when Kaegan picked up the food on the side table, ate it without permission.

"Food will be the cause of his death." He rolled his eyes and turned his attention to his laptop.

He clicked his tongue. "What are you doing here? If you ask for help again because you were beaten at the bar, don't do it now," he said firmly.

"Not that. I accompanied Amy for a check-up. My princess has a cough again. Maybe later her throat will swell and she won't be able to talk to me. Then—"

"You and your imagination again, Kaegan. . . You're really an advanced thinker," Aiden interrupted the rest of what he had to say. He smiled after. Amy is Kaegan's little daughter. Even though he is a single Dad, he still gives his daughter the right attention. He raised his daughter without his wife, he also took his job seriously for her. So he admires his friend.

"Chill! You're always stiffly. Marry me and I'll make your life easier." He said with his famous grin.

Aiden threw a crippled paper at him. "Fuck you!"

Kaegan smirked. "Your age is about to disappear from the calendar. You should be looking for an inheritance right now," he joked. Aiden just laughed, he has never thought of having a wife and children.

"Soon. After I go to the medical volunteers, I'm gonna find my future partner there," he said. But they both know that when he is at a medical site he has nothing to do but to focus on the condition of his patients.

"Oh come on, all you need to do is come to the Bachelor's Pad and go home with some hot babes." 

Their story was cut short when the secretary called him. He said goodbye to his friend first. He took his doctor's gown and came out. Aiden grimaced when he saw his schedule. It was full; this gonna be a long, long night again.

He first adjusted his doctor's gown before heading to his station. He noticed that onlookers avoid looking at him. It looks like his rebuke earlier with the doctors and nurses involved the malfunction was widespread. 

Aiden was used with that attitude towards him. He wasn't the type of doctor who anyone can befriend. He just wants his work to be done, nothing more. 

***

"PAGING Dr. Collin. Paging Dr. Collin. You need to come to ... "

"Dr. Collin, please come to operating room 2. Dr. Collin, please come to the operating. . ."

His mind was distracted by the speaker's voice. He also noticed the running nurses and some doctors heading to the said OR. He wasted no minutes. He also ran with them. When he arrived at the OR he saw in the mirror that the nurses and doctors were already in a commotion; they're surrounding a patient.

Aiden quickly cleaned his hands. The people inside looked at him as he entered. The surgical techs immediately attended to him to help with his surgical suit.

"Condition?" Aiden asked immediately. Looking at the machine connected with the patient. 

"Unstable," replied the attending nurse.

Everyone seems tense. The concern for the patient's condition is obvious on their faces. The resident surgeon gave him the chart.

"Better stop what you're thinking. Focus!" Aiden said emphatically. They immediately took their places and focused on the patient.

"Scalpel."

Aiden backed away slightly when he saw the patient's heart condition. Her state is very low. Two things can happen: the patient will die during surgery if they make a mistake or the patient will die if it is not operated on immediately.

"Dr. Collin?" The resident surgeon asked him. Aiden gets his attention back to what he is doing.

The patient was given a general anesthesia. After cutting an 8 inches in her chest, the heart was exposed and he looked for a healthy vein to make a new path due to the blocked artery. 

After how many hours they spent in the OR, he breathed a sigh of relief when the operation ended successfully. 

"Dr. Collin, I will finish this." He looked at Dr. Tim and nodded.

Exhausted,  he came out of the OR. When he returned to the office, the darkness mirrored by the window immediately grabbed his attention.  He can only see the streetlights below. He stood there, making himself comfortable.

***

Nimueh was trying to calm down herself. She was afraid being at the hospital but she needs her check-up. Walking at the hallway with her eyes avoiding to see the stretchers, the patients, the stuff used by the doctors, her heart was beating aloud. 

"Oh wow! What are you doing here?" Nimueh saw Dr. Tim, the doctor who always tried to hit on her whenever he saw her in the hospital. He was leaning on the counter in the reception area, looking good with his doctor's gown.

"Had a check-up. I got a fever last night," she replied. 

"Oh, are you okay now? Do you want me to give you a ride?" He said cockily. 

Nimueh rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Dr. Tim. But I can go home by myself. As you can see, there are many patients who need you. Just assist them."

Dr. Tim chuckled. He always wants to date the woman who caught his attention since he first saw her in the hospital. But Nimueh got plenty of synonyms for NO. 

"Fine. Just be home safe and sound. I don't want you to get hurt," he replied. "By the way, are you free tomorrow night? I have two tickets for a movie." He walked closer to Nimueh who hurriedly stepped back. 

"I still have work till night," she replied. Thankfully, she always has many reasons to decline him. The doctor was surely determined to have her yes. 

"Then after your work?" 

Nimueh was about to reply when someone behind her groaned. She got startled and almost toppled over. Her whole body shivered when a cold pair of hands circled around her waist. Her eyes narrowed and unconsciously put her hands on top of them. 

Dr. Tim scowled. He raised his eyebrow to Nimueh, looking down to her waist. 

Nimueh frowned after and looked up to the owner of the hands. Her panties literally almost fell off at the sight in front of her. 

'Oh my! Why does she seem to be suddenly hungry? This man is yummy!'

Even though he was wrapped in his doctor's gown, the man's sexiness is overflowing. He was sex on legs. Thick eyebrows, green eyes visible on his eyeglass, pointed nose, long curly brown locks tied up. It was as if his face was sculpted by a great sculpture. Her mind screamed secretly because of the sudden thought.

But she immediately woke up to her own fantasy when the man pushed her aside. She did not expect it so she grunted with the sudden loss of his touch.