Page 50 of Dr. Lillian Harrington
Lillian groaned dramatically, burying her face in Rebecca’s chest. “I don’t wanna.”
Rebecca laughed, running a hand through Lillian’s hair. “Trust me, I don’t either. But we have a hospital to run.”
Lillian sighed, her head lifting to meet Rebecca’s eyes. “Fine. But we’re getting breakfast first. No skipping meals, Dr. Lang.”
Rebecca smiled softly, nodding. “Deal.”
As they packed up their things, the lightness between them remained, the playfulness from the morning carrying them through their departure. They teased each other about their morning routines, joked about the people they’d seen at the conference, and made plans to get dinner that night, even though they knew they’d both be exhausted from a long day back at work.
As they walked out of the hotel and into the crisp morning air, Rebecca couldn’t help but glance over at Lillian, her heart swelling with affection. They weren’t just returning to their professional lives; they were returning to their lives together. And even though the hospital was waiting, even though the world would continue to be demanding and exhausting, Rebecca knew that she had something real with Lillian.
Something that made everything else worth it.
As they got into the car to head back, Rebecca reached over, her hand finding Lillian’s and squeezing gently.
“You ready for another day?” Lillian asked with a small smile, her eyes twinkling.
Rebecca nodded, a sense of peace settling over her. “As long as I’m with you, yeah.”
And with that, they drove off, the city waking up around them, but for Rebecca, the day already felt full of promise.
17
LILLIAN
Lillian stood just outside the operating room, adjusting her mask and trying to calm the growing tightness in her chest. The weight of today’s procedure hung heavy in the air. It wasn’t just any surgery; it was a high-stakes cardiothoracic operation, and she was assisting Rebecca Not just her attending physician, but the woman she had come to care about more than anyone else.
The patient, a middle-aged man, had a complex case involving severe coronary artery disease. The procedure required precision, expertise, and flawless execution—everything Lillian had spent years training for. But this time, it felt different. This time, the stakes weren’t just professional; they felt personal. All eyes would be on her, especially Rebecca’s.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the operating room. The scrub nurse and other residents were already prepping, their movements efficient and practiced, but there was an unspoken tension that always accompanied major surgeries. Lillian approached the scrub sink, scrubbing in alongside a few familiar faces.
"You’ve got this," Benji said from beside her, offering a supportive smile through his mask.
Lillian nodded, though her stomach churned with nerves. "I know," she replied, her voice steady but thin. "It’s just…a big one."
"Yeah, but you’ve handled worse, right?" he said, trying to ease the tension with his usual casual demeanor. "And hey, at least we’ve got Lang in there with us. Nothing goes wrong with her around."
That didn’t help. If anything, it made the pressure worse.Exactly, she thought. Rebecca’s reputation was flawless, and here she was, desperate not to be the one to tarnish it.
The door to the OR swung open, and there she was—Rebecca Lang, in full surgical gear, her posture as rigid and controlled as ever. The moment she stepped into the room, the air seemed to cool. The chatter quieted. Everyone turned their attention to her, waiting for instructions and for her to take charge.
Lillian's heart skipped as Rebecca gave her a brief, calm nod. It was professional, distant, but there was something more in her eyes—a flicker of expectation and pressure. Lillian straightened her back, reminding herself that she was capable. She had worked hard to get here.
"Everyone ready?" Rebecca’s voice was crisp, cutting through the quiet hum of the equipment.
The scrub nurse and other residents confirmed, and Lillian’s throat felt dry as she nodded along with them. She caught Rebecca’s eye for a moment before the surgery began, but there was no warmth there, just the same cool professionalism Rebecca always carried into the OR.
"You’ve assisted with procedures like this before," Rebecca said as she turned to Lillian, her voice steady but cold. "Just follow my lead and don’t second-guess yourself."
Lillian nodded, trying to hide the slight tremble in her hands as she prepared to assist. "Got it," she replied, her voice stronger than she felt.
The patient lay on the table, draped and prepped, the monitor’s steady beep filling the room. Lillian took her place beside Rebecca, her heart pounding as they began. Rebecca’s hands moved with the kind of precision Lillian could only hope to master one day. Each instruction Rebecca gave was clear, firm, and without room for error.
As they opened the chest and exposed the heart, the tension in Lillian’s body grew tighter. She could feel Rebecca’s presence next to her—commanding, flawless. Every move Rebecca made was calculated, and it reminded Lillian just how high the bar was set.
"You’ll handle the next part," Rebecca said, her voice leaving no room for hesitation.
Lillian swallowed, nodding as she carefully took the instruments handed to her by the scrub nurse. This was her moment to prove herself. She couldn’t afford a single mistake.
