Chapter 288
[ 504 words ]
Chapter 288:
Caroline took the paper cup. She murmured a highly distracted “thank you.” Her eyes immediately drifted back to her phone screen, checking for encrypted messages.
Julian and Brenna exchanged a quick, worried glance over her head. Julian’s brow furrowed slightly. “Everything okay, Caroline? You seem a thousand miles away.”
Caroline gave a vague, one-word answer. She was entirely consumed by the gut-wrenching fear for Jarrod’s safety, the terrifying realization of how dangerous his current mission was gnawing at her stomach.
A trauma code was suddenly called over the intercom. Caroline snapped instantly into professional mode. She abandoned the expensive coffee and rushed toward Trauma Bay 1.
Julian followed right behind her. They worked side by side stabilizing a bloody car crash victim. Their professional synergy was as flawless and efficient as ever.
During a lull in the intense procedure, as they both reached for supplies, Brenna, who was assisting, noticed the dark circles under Caroline’s eyes were more pronounced than ever. “Hey,” she whispered, her voice laced with genuine worry. “You’re really out of it today. After this, you, me, and Julian should grab a quick lunch. My treat.”
Caroline barely registered the offer. Her focus remained entirely locked on the patient’s rapidly dropping blood pressure on the glowing monitor.
Julian misinterpreted her intense focus as a sign of extreme stress. He saw her pale complexion and the slight tremor in her hands as she worked.
The patient was finally stabilized. As they washed up at the stainless steel scrub sink, Julian complimented her quick thinking. His tone was professional and encouraging.
Caroline nodded tiredly. She splashed freezing cold water on her pale face. She told him flatly that it was just standard trauma protocol.
Brenna came up behind them, drying her hands. “Seriously, C. You look like you’re about to collapse. Maybe you should go home early.”
𝘈𝗱dіct𝗶v𝗲 ѕ𝗍𝗈𝘳𝗶еѕ 𝘰𝗇 ga𝗹𝗇о𝗏𝘦𝘭𝘴.со𝗆
Caroline sighed. She rubbed her throbbing temples. She declined the lunch offer immediately, stating she was exhausted and just wanted to go straight home to sleep.
Julian’s face filled with a doctor’s concern. “Brenna’s right. You’re pushing yourself too hard. Don’t burn out. If you need a medical note to leave early, just say the word.”
The offer was kind, but it felt like an intrusion. Caroline stepped away automatically, creating physical distance. The thought of anyone else trying to “take care of her” felt like a betrayal to the man who was currently fighting for his life somewhere in the dark.
She excused herself abruptly to update the patient’s charts. She left Julian and Brenna standing alone at the sink, their shared concern for their friend evident in their troubled expressions.
Brenna turned to Julian, her voice a worried whisper. “She’s not okay. I’ve never seen her like this. It’s like she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.”
Julian put a comforting arm around her. He watched Caroline’s retreating back, his mind analyzing the symptoms. He completely misread the entire situation, assuming she was suffering from severe professional burnout, terrified she was on the verge of a breakdown.
Caroline never made it to the cafeteria.
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