“Hey, Leto? Dr. Sorenson is asking for you to deal with a VIP patient.”
Leto Torrence lifts her head from her pillow with a groan, before turning to face the nurse at the door. Miranda Wallace raises an eyebrow at her in return, before offering her a teasing smile.
“I’m sorry, did I interrupt your nap with that wonderful news?” Leto immediately flips her the bird, and Miranda laughs. “Better put that sauce away before you get to Sorenson. He’s not going to want to hear it.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Leto sighs as she gets to her feet. She glances in the mirror to make sure she doesn’t look a mess, before turning to Miranda. She starts to pull her hair up into a high ponytail as she speaks. “Tell me about the patient.”
“Ever heard of Aiden Wellington?”
“The diamond heir?”
“That’s the one. Wellington came in with a head injury after a car accident, and since his family gives mega-money to the hospital, Sorenson wants the best on the case.” They round the corner past the nurse’s station, and Miranda reaches for the file to hand her. “Lucky you.”
“Is that sarcasm or a genuine sentiment? I can’t tell.” Leto raises an eyebrow at her curiously over the edge of her rounded glasses.
“Oh, totally genuine. You haven’t seen the patient yet.” But the conversation ends there as the back of their department supervisor, Doctor Sorenson, materializes in the hallway. Taking one last glance at the file and smoothing herself down, she steps closer with a bright smile.
“You wanted to see me, Dr. Sorenson?”
“Yes,” the older man offers a broad smile. “Dr. Torrence, I’d like you to meet Aiden Wellington. Mr. Wellington, she’ll be handling your case, but I’m a phone call away if you have any trouble.”
Leto turns to face the man on the gurney and offers him a wide smile as she takes him in. A nasty gash cuts across his forehead, though the bleeding seems to have slowed for now. He’s handsome that much is true, but Leto’s immunity to good looks and charm kicked in somewhere in high school. She places the file on one of the nearby tables before making her way closer.
“Hi, Mr. Wellington. Can you tell me what happened?”
“Aiden. Just a little fender bender,” he says, flashing her a charming smile that she assumes usually means he gets his way. “No need to fuss, I’m sure I’m fine.”
“Well, let’s just check you out to make sure.” She moves to the head of the bed so that she can get a better look at the gash on his head. That’s her most significant concern at the moment. “Can you tell me what happened in the crash?”
Aiden sighs. “I was sober if that’s what you’re implying.”
“I’m not implying anything, Mr. Wellington.”
“Aiden.”
“I’m simply trying to assess if there might be anything more to this head injury.”
He sighs again, before nodding as he removes his hand to let her assess the wound. “I was on my way to a gala event, and I was waiting at a red light. The light turned green, we started to move forward, and I guess the person coming up behind me didn’t realize how slow we were moving because he slammed right into me. Head hit the steering wheel, but honestly, I’m fine.”
“I’m sure.” She looks over the wound. Not too deep, probably just bleeding because head wounds bleed, not because of any underlying problem. “Let’s get this stitched up. Are you feeling any chest pain or bruising from the seat belt.”
“A little, but nothing terrible.”
“Mind if I take a look?”
A salacious grin crosses his face. “Are you asking me to get topless, Dr. Torrence?”
She rolls her eyes slightly. “No, Mr. Wellington.”
“Aiden.”
“Mr. Wellington. Is it okay if I check your ribs?”
“By all means, Dr. Torrence.”
She leans forward, pressing lightly across his torso, to be safe. “Does any of this hurt?”
“A little sore.”
“On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst?”
“Two?”
“Okay.” She pulls back before going to find a suture kit in one of the nearby cabinets. “I do want to send you up for a CT scan just to be on the safe side with that head injury, but I think if that comes back clear, you should be good to go.”
Aiden groans. “Do I really need a CT scan?”
“It’s out of an abundance of caution, it’s true, but head wounds are tricky. I would feel much more confident about releasing you if we had the scan.”
As she returns with the suture kit, Aiden reaches over and takes her arm gently. Her body tenses, and she looks up to meet his eyes as he speaks slowly and deliberately.
“I don’t think it’s needed. You really can send me home now.”
She blinks in surprise, her brow wrinkling in confusion as she pulls back. “Excuse me?”
He seems equally surprised by her response, and he leans back, brow furrowing in confusion. “Forgive me. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I’m sure.” Her tone becomes flatter and much less friendly, feeling a little uncertain about being alone in the room with him. There’s a flash of relief as Miranda steps into the room.
“What are we looking at, Doc?”
“We need to send Mr. Wellington up for a CT, but as long as that comes back clear, he’s free to be released.”
“Fantastic.” She reaches for the tablet on the bedside table as Leto gets to work on the sutures. “I’ll put the order in and see what the wait looks like.”
“Thank you,” Leto singsongs. She gets to work, trying not to make eye contact with Aiden in the process. As Miranda slips back out the door, Aiden turns to face her again.
“I am sorry. That behavior is unacceptable. I just don’t want to be stuck here all night.”
“I understand,” Leto nods, before finishing up the sutures and stepping away. “Though with your bankroll, I’m sure you’ll get through quickly. If you need anything else, feel free to page one of the nurses.”
“Dr. Torrence … ”
“Have a good night, Mr. Wellington.” With that, she flees the room before he could say anything else, trying to avoid the strange creeping feeling in the back of her mind that something was just different about him.
- - - - - - -
Five hours later, Leto makes her way out of the hospital, tired from a long night on her feet. All she wants to go is go home, take a shower and collapse into bed, but as per usual, the Fates have other plans. As heads to her car, a man rises off the nearby bench, calling after her.
“Doctor Torrence!”
She recognizes the voice instantly, stiffening as her steps come to a stop. She glances over her shoulder, noting the security guards at the doors, and the other doctors getting some fresh air or having a smoke on their break. She then turns to face Aiden, straightening as she tries to hold on to her resolve.
“Mr. Wellington. I released you four hours ago.”
“You did. I waited. And that sounds far creepier than I intend it to be, but I just wanted to apologize.”
“You did apologize.”
“Apologize again.” He sighs. “I guess it’s just been … a long time since someone’s been immune to my charms. Or my bankroll. I honestly did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that you did.” She sighs. “I’ve already accepted your previous apology. Can I just … go home?”
“Yes. Of course. I … I was hoping we might be able to get to know each other better. If you were interested? Maybe have a cup of coffee?”
“If I say no, will you be stalking me to my house now?”
He laughs, as though she was making some joke rather than asking a serious question. When he realizes she wasn’t kidding, his face sobers, and he shakes his head. “No, of course. If you say no, then we go our separate ways here. You never have to see me again.”
For some reason, there’s something about him that makes her way to say yes. Part of her that’s curious and wants to take him apart, try to find the answers to why there’s something about him that bugs her. But that doesn’t seem like a safe option, so she takes a step back.
“I think I’d rather not, Mr. Wellington.”
“I understand.” He nods, and then steps aside, as promised. “Have a good night, Doctor Torrence.”
She nods again, sparing him one last glance over her shoulder before nodding. “You, too.” She makes her way out to her car, sliding into the driver’s seat and taking a deep, calming breath. She isn’t sure what it is about Aiden Wellington that gets under her skin, but she desperately wants to find out.
#004 ~ leto & aiden ~ original ~ 1,510
“Hey, Leto? Dr. Sorenson is asking for you to deal with a VIP patient.”
Leto Torrence lifts her head from her pillow with a groan, before turning to face the nurse at the door. Miranda Wallace raises an eyebrow at her in return, before offering her a teasing smile.
“I’m sorry, did I interrupt your nap with that wonderful news?” Leto immediately flips her the bird, and Miranda laughs. “Better put that sauce away before you get to Sorenson. He’s not going to want to hear it.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Leto sighs as she gets to her feet. She glances in the mirror to make sure she doesn’t look a mess, before turning to Miranda. She starts to pull her hair up into a high ponytail as she speaks. “Tell me about the patient.”
“Ever heard of Aiden Wellington?”
“The diamond heir?”
“That’s the one. Wellington came in with a head injury after a car accident, and since his family gives mega-money to the hospital, Sorenson wants the best on the case.” They round the corner past the nurse’s station, and Miranda reaches for the file to hand her. “Lucky you.”
“Is that sarcasm or a genuine sentiment? I can’t tell.” Leto raises an eyebrow at her curiously over the edge of her rounded glasses.
“Oh, totally genuine. You haven’t seen the patient yet.” But the conversation ends there as the back of their department supervisor, Doctor Sorenson, materializes in the hallway. Taking one last glance at the file and smoothing herself down, she steps closer with a bright smile.
“You wanted to see me, Dr. Sorenson?”
“Yes,” the older man offers a broad smile. “Dr. Torrence, I’d like you to meet Aiden Wellington. Mr. Wellington, she’ll be handling your case, but I’m a phone call away if you have any trouble.”
Leto turns to face the man on the gurney and offers him a wide smile as she takes him in. A nasty gash cuts across his forehead, though the bleeding seems to have slowed for now. He’s handsome that much is true, but Leto’s immunity to good looks and charm kicked in somewhere in high school. She places the file on one of the nearby tables before making her way closer.
“Hi, Mr. Wellington. Can you tell me what happened?”
“Aiden. Just a little fender bender,” he says, flashing her a charming smile that she assumes usually means he gets his way. “No need to fuss, I’m sure I’m fine.”
“Well, let’s just check you out to make sure.” She moves to the head of the bed so that she can get a better look at the gash on his head. That’s her most significant concern at the moment. “Can you tell me what happened in the crash?”
Aiden sighs. “I was sober if that’s what you’re implying.”
“I’m not implying anything, Mr. Wellington.”
“Aiden.”
“I’m simply trying to assess if there might be anything more to this head injury.”
He sighs again, before nodding as he removes his hand to let her assess the wound. “I was on my way to a gala event, and I was waiting at a red light. The light turned green, we started to move forward, and I guess the person coming up behind me didn’t realize how slow we were moving because he slammed right into me. Head hit the steering wheel, but honestly, I’m fine.”
“I’m sure.” She looks over the wound. Not too deep, probably just bleeding because head wounds bleed, not because of any underlying problem. “Let’s get this stitched up. Are you feeling any chest pain or bruising from the seat belt.”
“A little, but nothing terrible.”
“Mind if I take a look?”
A salacious grin crosses his face. “Are you asking me to get topless, Dr. Torrence?”
She rolls her eyes slightly. “No, Mr. Wellington.”
“Aiden.”
“Mr. Wellington. Is it okay if I check your ribs?”
“By all means, Dr. Torrence.”
She leans forward, pressing lightly across his torso, to be safe. “Does any of this hurt?”
“A little sore.”
“On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst?”
“Two?”
“Okay.” She pulls back before going to find a suture kit in one of the nearby cabinets. “I do want to send you up for a CT scan just to be on the safe side with that head injury, but I think if that comes back clear, you should be good to go.”
Aiden groans. “Do I really need a CT scan?”
“It’s out of an abundance of caution, it’s true, but head wounds are tricky. I would feel much more confident about releasing you if we had the scan.”
As she returns with the suture kit, Aiden reaches over and takes her arm gently. Her body tenses, and she looks up to meet his eyes as he speaks slowly and deliberately.
“I don’t think it’s needed. You really can send me home now.”
She blinks in surprise, her brow wrinkling in confusion as she pulls back. “Excuse me?”
He seems equally surprised by her response, and he leans back, brow furrowing in confusion. “Forgive me. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I’m sure.” Her tone becomes flatter and much less friendly, feeling a little uncertain about being alone in the room with him. There’s a flash of relief as Miranda steps into the room.
“What are we looking at, Doc?”
“We need to send Mr. Wellington up for a CT, but as long as that comes back clear, he’s free to be released.”
“Fantastic.” She reaches for the tablet on the bedside table as Leto gets to work on the sutures. “I’ll put the order in and see what the wait looks like.”
“Thank you,” Leto singsongs. She gets to work, trying not to make eye contact with Aiden in the process. As Miranda slips back out the door, Aiden turns to face her again.
“I am sorry. That behavior is unacceptable. I just don’t want to be stuck here all night.”
“I understand,” Leto nods, before finishing up the sutures and stepping away. “Though with your bankroll, I’m sure you’ll get through quickly. If you need anything else, feel free to page one of the nurses.”
“Dr. Torrence … ”
“Have a good night, Mr. Wellington.” With that, she flees the room before he could say anything else, trying to avoid the strange creeping feeling in the back of her mind that something was just different about him.
Five hours later, Leto makes her way out of the hospital, tired from a long night on her feet. All she wants to go is go home, take a shower and collapse into bed, but as per usual, the Fates have other plans. As heads to her car, a man rises off the nearby bench, calling after her.
“Doctor Torrence!”
She recognizes the voice instantly, stiffening as her steps come to a stop. She glances over her shoulder, noting the security guards at the doors, and the other doctors getting some fresh air or having a smoke on their break. She then turns to face Aiden, straightening as she tries to hold on to her resolve.
“Mr. Wellington. I released you four hours ago.”
“You did. I waited. And that sounds far creepier than I intend it to be, but I just wanted to apologize.”
“You did apologize.”
“Apologize again.” He sighs. “I guess it’s just been … a long time since someone’s been immune to my charms. Or my bankroll. I honestly did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that you did.” She sighs. “I’ve already accepted your previous apology. Can I just … go home?”
“Yes. Of course. I … I was hoping we might be able to get to know each other better. If you were interested? Maybe have a cup of coffee?”
“If I say no, will you be stalking me to my house now?”
He laughs, as though she was making some joke rather than asking a serious question. When he realizes she wasn’t kidding, his face sobers, and he shakes his head. “No, of course. If you say no, then we go our separate ways here. You never have to see me again.”
For some reason, there’s something about him that makes her way to say yes. Part of her that’s curious and wants to take him apart, try to find the answers to why there’s something about him that bugs her. But that doesn’t seem like a safe option, so she takes a step back.
“I think I’d rather not, Mr. Wellington.”
“I understand.” He nods, and then steps aside, as promised. “Have a good night, Doctor Torrence.”
She nods again, sparing him one last glance over her shoulder before nodding. “You, too.” She makes her way out to her car, sliding into the driver’s seat and taking a deep, calming breath. She isn’t sure what it is about Aiden Wellington that gets under her skin, but she desperately wants to find out.