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Chapter 21 – Down on Bended Knee
Isitaloneatone of the breakroom tables eagerly updating my procedures journal for the latest surgery that I participated in.
“Cardiac ablation,” comes the male voice from over my shoulder. “Impressive.”
I turn to find Andrew smiling holding two cups of coffee. He holds one out to me.
“One sugar, two creams, right?” he asks disarmingly.
“Yeah, thanks, Andrew,” I say, accepting it. I’d been trying to steer clear of him since the little spat Bash and I had over me giving him a ride home a month ago. But earlier this week, Andrew pulled me in on an emergency cardiac procedure which added greatly to my list. I can’t repay him with the cold shoulder. Bash can’t begrudge my speaking with a colleague.
“Mind if I sit?”
“Be my guest.”
He lowers himself into the chair next to me. “How’d the ablation go this morning?”
“Not bad, I think they’ll have me back.”
“Was it a maze procedure or convergent?”
“Mini maze actually,” I reply. “They let me make the incisions in the ribs,” I say motioning at mine, “and I partially guided the camera into the chest cavity. It was great.”
Andrew’s smile matches mine, but he sort of just sits there staring at me for a moment.
Oh boy.
He shakes his head as if snapping out of his daze. “Surgery, you’re such a natural in there. The surgical team can’t seem to get enough of you.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. I hope Presbyterian’s surgical team will like me too,” I say, hoping it didn’t sound too cocky. I shift my gaze away. “I can’t help noticing that Simon’s in the O.R. just as often as I am, so I shouldn’t be getting my hopes up too high.”
His mouth pulls to the side disapprovingly. “I don’t know about that. I think you’ll edge him out.”
“I’ll believe it when I open that envelope on match day.”
His smile widens. “Ah, good old match day, I remember it well.” He has a nice smile, and his brown eyes are kind. Andrew’s extremely knowledgeable and a talented physician in his own right. ER medicine suits his disposition quite well.
“You must have been so thrilled to see you’d received your top choice.”
He nods and rakes his fingers through his slightly thinning, dirty blond hair. “I was over the freaking moon.”
“And what’s next for Dr. Andrew Cooper? I mean when you complete your residency?”
He considers it a moment, his mouth quirks to the side again. “I’m not sure just yet. For now, I’m content to stay right here at Bellevue.”
“It’s been a great teaching hospital,” I quickly fill the silence, sensing an uncomfortable segway approaching. “The residents and faculty have been so supportive and encouraging. Well…for the most part that is.”
He grimaces, “Let me guess, Clegmire?”
“You too?”
He glances around furtively and then leans in. “That guy’s a first-class asshole.”
I blurt out laughing and cover my mouth just as Lisa walks in.
Andrew and I both clam up and try to look like we weren’t just criticizing the ER chief. But Lisa’s eyes linger upon us, she glances at our two cups of coffee…her eyes fix upon me as if she’s caught us at something far more nefarious than two colleagues having coffee.
“Hey Lisa, how’s it going?” I ask.
