"I need a doctor... Right NOW!"

"Oh my God. She's bleeding! Someone call Dr. Marshall"

"GET A DOCTOR RIGHT NOW!"

"What's the meaning of- No... No, no, no... Erika!"

"She's unconscious... her pulse is strong, though."

"Get an OR prepared. NOW!"

"Yes, sir."

"Please, be strong for me, baby."

All the noises and the clutter of voices around me were just that. Noise. But his voice was what brought me almost back to my senses. Like a magnet, I felt him pulling me back to consciousness. I wanted to open my eyes and comfort him. I wanted to tell him everything would be alright. But alas, the pain was unbearable and I was tired; I was so tired. I just wanted the pain to end.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm afraid you need to stay here for now..."

"Don't leave me, angel. I can't live without you. You hear me? You're strong, baby."

His hands held my wrists as I felt his lips on my forehead. All the times he did this in the past rushed in my mind, making me feel like we're going down memory lane.

"Sir, you can't go any further-"

His hands slipped away, and just like that I felt my body and mind slipping away into a dark, cold abyss.

"I'll be here, angel. You just come back to me, Erika."

I felt lost and unprotected with the loss of contact; my skin was seeking his warmth. The pain in his voice made the pain in my body a hundred times worse; I didn't want to die. I didn't want to lose him.

How did we end up like this anyway?

When I first walked through these hospital doors, I never would have imagined, that one day it'd be me laying on a hospital bed, in the same OR table my patients fought for their lives; now I was fighting for my own.

And just like that, my life now depended on my coworkers and colleagues...

My friends...

My family...

~~~

The sun was shining on my skin as I parked my small Ford car at the Chicago Hospital's parking lot. Rushing into the hospital's locker rooms, I changed into my dark purple scrubs and white lab coat. I shoved my phone and a small notepad in my coat's pockets and wrapped my stethoscope around my neck.

Pushing my big round glasses up my nose, I looked at my reflection in the mirror smiling. I admired the precious accessory around my neck; the black elastic of my stethoscope created such a contrast to the rainbow colored metal earpieces. I remembered the day I held it in my hands for the first time on our 21st birthday. Markus got one as well, but his was all black.

I run my fingers through my dark brown hair one last time before pulling it in a lose bun and run as fast as my legs could take me towards my fellow interns and residents.

Before reaching the conference room, I spotted my best friend, Stella. She was writing something in a patient's file before she saw me heading towards her.

Thank god. I wasn't that late.

"Someone had trouble waking up", she said winking at me. "I tried getting your file from Savi, but she just wouldn't cooperate. She said you'd have to go by her office after the meeting." I rolled my eyes at nurse Savi's actions; she would always do this. I had a feeling the woman loved tortutring interns for breakfast. "You can see the new patients' list from my file until after the meeting." I hugged her the moment I was by her side, a silent thank you for her efforts, before I reached for the documents in her hands; the blue file had her name on it.

I was in serious need of caffeine, as I tried to decipher the information in the file.

"Thanks" I said, skimming through the twelve paged booklet in my hands. All new patients' information and cause of admission to the hospital were listed inside. "I had the afternoon shift before midnight, and I just couldn't get out of bed today," I said, still breathless.

"Thought so... You're in need of coffee, aren't you?" I nodded furiously and she chuckled. She knew me so well. "I'm afraid we're a bit late for that, chica, but I swear I'm not leaving without you next time. Plus I would like to avoid walking the whole way here, while you take the car." I chuckled, because this wasn't the first time, and it certainly wouldn't be the last time they left without me, leaving the car we were sharing behind for me.

"Let's go find the others in the conference room," I pulled her towards our destination, wishing the other attendings and chief of surgery wouldn't be there yet.

I was feeling exhausted; not just from my afternoon shift, but also the all-nighter study session I had to pull. There was no end of it, and since I wanted to be on top of my game, sleep-hours had to be sacrificed. Thankfully our apartment was in the area, and so Markus and Stella could walk all the way here, while I slept another half hour.

"Here you girls are," my twin brother Markus' hushed voice started me, as I didn't hear him take a seat behind us. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Erika," he said, giving me a lopsided grin.

Even through his cheerful demeanor, I knew he was scolding me. That look was so familiar to me since, even as children, he always felt a sense of responsibility towards the people he cared about. Thankfully, his overprotectiveness bordered on the line bearable, but sometimes he knew too well what was right and what was best; just like our dad.

Men!

He was a real medical genius, if you ignored the fact that he was a constant pain in my ass. And all that, simply because he was born three and a half minutes earlier than me.

I turned to face him, rolling my eyes slowly, so I was sure he saw my distaste in this argument before my first sip of coffee. A look he was also familiar with.

"Oh, come on. If you were so worried, why did you leave this morning without me?" I pouted, challenging him. He rolled his eyes, folding his hands in front of his chest. I turned around, knowing the argument with my twin was over.

"Good. Seems like I won't be making up an excuse for you today," he spoke by my ear, making both me and Stella turn towards him.

Dio mio, when was he going to stop scolding me like a little child?

"Now, listen to me carefully, Markus Ricci." Stella was ready to give him an earful. "You are going to leave my chica alone, baby boy. That happened just once, so stop bringing that up."

Even though this type of lovers' quarrel happened often between them, I couldn't help but chuckle and feel blessed to have her in my life; to have them both.

Stella Caloi was one true partner in crime! My life saver all through life. My best friend.

If there was something that came as a surprise in my life, was this beautiful human. She moved in Rome after leaving Cartagena for good. On her first day of school she made sure no one would mess with her. And me. She saved me from my bullies who tormented me about my short height, by giving them a piece of her mind and six year old fist.

Markus was always our bodyguard, after that day. His natural overprotective self never left our side; especially in the city of Chicago. We were quite inseparable. The three of us going through med school together and working at the same hospital was the only thing keeping us sane, since we were miles and miles away from our home for the last couple of years.

"She's here, isn't she? Besides... Next time don't leave without us," she winked at him, making my brother choke.

She always put him in his place when he was in the wrong. Stella loved provoking Markus and he just couldn't stand it. Or could he?

I didn't know what I would do without them...

He placed his hands in his pockets, staring anywhere but her. She coughed once, daring him to answer her. He stared down at her, a smirk playing on his lips.

I narrowed my eyes at them; what the hell were they doing this time? I wanted in on the game. No. I actually didn't.

Their staring only made me feel uncomfortable so I turned away.

The room slowly filled with interns and doctors, and I made eye contact with Linn's bright hazel eyes, one of the friendliest nurses of this hospital. She smiled when she saw me and I said a silent 'good morning' to her, seeing as she was caring a warm cup of coffee in her hands.

Thankfully Marcus and Stella's back and forth bickering came to a halt, when Dr. Marshall's voice boomed throughout the room.

"Good morning to you all." His voice was strict as he eyed each and everyone of us, assigning us to our patients for the next couple of days. "If you haven't already, you'll receive your case files from nurse Savi on your way out. I'll see you at rounds. Don't screw this up. Dismissed." And with that our attending and chief of surgery left.

I sighed, realizing I was holding in a breath.

"Does he ever smile?" I whispered to the others.

There were seventeen muscles controlling expression in the human face, and smile muscles were fundamental to the way humans interact. But I had a feeling his were non-existent. That, or they atrophied. He was middle aged with the body of a giant and his tall physique in combination with his stern façade terrified me sometimes.

"We might never find out. Let's see what Savi has for us," Stella said, interrupting my chain of thought.

We headed towards the nurses' office to get the case files and found all the nurses occupied with paperwork. It was no secret that paperwork was my least favorite part of the job. I wasn't the only intern who came in late today; Nelle and Gordon, two interns in the same medical program, did too, as they avoided Savi's stern look.

"Ugh... The Italian Mafia is here." Savi's high pitched voice echoed off the walls of the small office.

This was an amusing game she picked for herself, ever since she learned where we came from. Of course Stella was from Spain, but it didn't matter to her. The Mediterranean temperament was all the reason she needed, even though this joke was getting old.

"Good morning to you too, shorty," She said, winking my way.

I could see from the corner of my eye Stella rolling her dark eyes before sighing, while Markus clenched his jaw. If his deep blue eyes were little laser beams, he would pierce right through her. As my fraternal twin, we always had this bond, and he hated it when someone deliberately tried to hurt me. I turned around to see his deep blue eyes throwing daggers at Savi, confirming my previous thoughts and my heart almost melted.

He was a giant teddy bear. Even if he towered over me by a whole foot. I loved him for all that he was, but he shouldn't worry about me.

I was a tiny firecracker, when I needed to be.

"Good morning to you too, nurse Savi. As fluttered as I am, I'm 24. Do you think I haven't heard that pick up line before?" She laughed at my words, even though they were spoken genuinely. I wanted to say more, something along the lines of 'You should up your flirt game, bambina,' but I wanted to be on my merry way to my patient and she was the one holding my file in her manicured hand.

"Could we have our files so we could be on our way," Stella stepped in to speed things up; we all had a job we needed to do.

"Fine. Just get out of my way." Savi said, before giving us our files. "Oh, and Ricci?" she said, glaring my way, "try to be on time from now on. This is a hospital, not a playground. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," I said, speed walking as far away from her as possible.

"I'll see you guys at rounds." We didn't have much time to talk about what happened, since we wasted time chit chatting with Savi. Of course it was all my fault; I had to be cautious around her, because now she had her eyes on me.

Walking down the corridor towards my patient's room, I stopped in my tracks when I saw my attending in front of my patient's room. "Dr. Ricci!" Dr. Marshall's voice held no emotion, his arms crossed in front of his chest, making me take a serious stance. "Your patient in room number 7... He is a delicate case, to put it lightly. Try to be on your best behavior, while trying to tame his attitude as best as you can", he said, stressing the word.

He smiled for a second, before returning to his serious self. I nod and Dr. Marshall continued down the corridor.

"You have 30 minutes before rounds start. I expect diagnosis and possible treatment for your patient."

"Yes, sir!" I said and walked towards my patient's room.

"Good morning sir. Mr. Anthony, is it?" I said, trying to read the file I just recieved.

"Actually, it's Brandon Antony King."

His voice snapped my attention away from the file I was holding and towards the man in front of me. I took a moment to look at him and my eyes widened. His honey colored skin complexion accentuated his handsome features, his dark hair framing a sharp jaw covered by light stubble.

I almost ignored the playful smirk on his face.

"Antony is my middle name. What's your name, angel?" I felt a fluttering, irritating feeling growing in the pit of my stomach.

He was making me nervous.

Proofreading the file in my hands, I ignored him for a few moments as I tried to grasp this case. My eyes widened at the notes of the referring doctor and a possible shoulder dislocation. If that was the case, then the man in front of me should have been in immense pain.

I turned to look at him, ready to question him, when I looked into his forest green eyes. For a moment, time seemed to still, as I lost myself in the depths of the forest. His chuckle broke my trance, and I shook my head to get a hold of myself.

How was it possible to feel lost in a stranger's eyes?

He was laying on the hospital bed casually, wearing dark ripped jeans and a dark grey shirt, while the hospital gown laid neatly folded on the edge of his bed. He should have changed already and be ready for his examination. What was this man doing?

"Right... Mr. King. I am Dr. Ricci, medical intern, and I will be checking your injury. The emergency doctor wrote in your case file that you have dislocated your left shoulder. Could you please tell me how that happened?"

He tensed a bit before he cleared his throat.

"I fell... from my motorcycle. The pain I felt in my shoulder was... it was like shit, really," he chuckled before he continued. "I knew I had to come to the hospital. So I pushed my shoulder back in place and drove here-"

"You drove here by yourself? You should have called 911 immediately. You risked not only your life on that bike, but of the people around you as well." I shook my head in disbelief.

How could some people be so reckless?

I wrote quickly on my note pad, when I paused upon realization. "I'm sorry, did you say you pushed your shoulder in place? How?" Worry overtook me, and I moved closer to him on instinct.

"I was in the area, angel, no need to worry. I got here ten times faster," he said, his voice sounding stern. "Let's just say I know how to patch me up when times are difficult."

I scratched behind my ear, thinking. "Are you sure you just fell from that bike?" I raised an eyebrow questioning him again.

He sighed, looking at his hands on his lap. He chuckled to himself for a moment, biting on his bottom lip, before returning his gaze towards me.

"Yes! Now can we move on with this check up? I really need to get to work."

Although he seemed to have a cheerful personality, he sounded frustrated and in pain, so I decided to get things moving. I turned my back to him, trying to write everything in his file, as I planed my next course of action.

"Well, I'll have to inspect your shoulder first, so if you could please take off your shirt-".

"Is this how you play, angel? You know my name for, what, just a few minutes and already want to get me naked... Damn! And I thought you were different, angel," he said chuckling.

I was blushing so hard; my face sure looked like a tomato, so I kept looking away from him. This never happened to me before and I felt frustrated and mad at myself. I couldn't help it, though; his presence was just so overpowering, consuming even.

"Mr. King, please! Just take off your clothes. I need-"

"Aren't you gonna tell me your name before undressing me, angel?" His raspy voice brought tingles to my skin, as he sounded closer to me.

He stood in front of me, looking down at me as he towered above me. His eyes concentrated on mine, almost as if he was searching for something. I had the urge to cower away from his piercing emerald eyes, but I stared right back at him.

I felt conflicted. It almost irritated me that I couldn't control the overwhelming emotions this stranger made me feel.

"Sir, I really need to do this inspection before my attending arrives. As a matter of fact you should have been wearing the hospital gown by now. And I'm Dr. Ricci, not angel." My voice meant business, but that only brought a smile to his lips.

He sat at the edge of the bed, the smirk on his lips still there. He struggled to undress himself, using only his right arm; his left arm laid on his leg. He was in real pain.

I excused myself to bring him painkillers and water, before returning in his room to find him almost shirtless. He only took off his left sleeve, the rest of the shirt still covering half of his torso. He refused the painkillers, saying he could take a bit of pain, and I questioned him with my eyes, without voicing my concerns.

I started inspecting his torso, seeing noticeable bruises on his ribs and chest. His jaw clenched, as I softly touched his shoulder. It was colored a deep blue and was burning; this was worst than I thought. I had a feeling he tore a muscle. I turned to look at him, and he turned away as he lifted the paper cup to his lips and gulped just the water. For some strange reason, it bothered me to see that much pain in his beautiful face.