Ashley was on her way out of the hospital. It was six in the morning and she had just finished her night shift. She didn't have another shift around the corner except in the afternoon. All she was thinking about was her warm bed and food. The cafeteria ran out of food last night due to a sudden rush of patients on the weekend.

She had nothing after lunch last day and starved for almost eighteen hours.

"Dr. Ruth? "

Ashley looked back, praying hard not to hear a sudden emergency, she can't go back again to attend to the patient.

"Yeah?"

" Director wants you in his office, ASAP. "

Ashley was about to cry in frustration, "Why?????"

"I don't know, Doctor. Can you make it fast?" the ward boy asked her.

"Yah yah coming," Ashley blurted out. Already irritated.

She headed to the elevator cursing at probably every human in the world. Who calls someone at this hour? Couldn't it wait?

She knocked on Director's door.

"Come in," a voice came out.

She entered and saw Dr. Cameron and Sharon were there too. At that moment she knew what was these all about.

"Have a seat, Dr. Ruth," the director pointed at a chair in front of him.

She sighed and took a seat.

"I think you already guessed what these are all about."

Three of them nodded in unison.

"Can I have an explanation about what the hell happened last day?"

"An example of excellent operative skill, maybe?" Dr. Cameron said with a poker face.

Ashley had to try hard not to laugh out loud. Dr. Cameron was savage as usual.

"This is not funny, Dr. Cameron," the director said in a stern voice.

"We are listening," Ashley replied.

"You, Dr. Cameron. What did you think before making a burrhole on your patient in the middle of E.R?" Director was irritated.

"Don't know." Dr. Cameron shrugged,
"Probably saving his life?"

This time Ashley had to look away to hide her smile. Sharon was terrified, but she also couldn't hide her smile at Dr. Cameron's saying.

"You know, you will end up losing your license if that patient sues you?" The Director was not smiling.

"Why would he sue me? I just saved his life!" Dr. Cameron sounded casual again.

"You are not a neurosurgeon. You were supposed to wait for a neurosurgeon to do that. That's the legal procedure. But you didn't."

" You are welcome." Dr. Cameron sounded bored already.

"Well, I am not thanking you." The director was frustrated.

"You should." Ashley decided to step in. "If he didn't do that, that person could have died right at that moment."

"Saying the doctor who had to put her ass in line to fix that mess." The director looked at her, "Don't defend him. You both made blunders."

"And you..." The director looked at Sharon, "Do you have any explanation for your behavior?"

"No, Director." Sharon lowered her head.

Ashley watched her for a moment. And decided to speak up, "I have."

Sharon looked at her in shock. What would she say?

Ashley took a deep breath, "She did nothing wrong. I made the mistake."

"Dr. Ruth..." Sharon started but Ashley spoke again not taking her eyes off of the director.

"The complication was created by me, and I fixed that. That was very unprofessional of me. Sorry to disappoint you, Sir."

The director looked composed, "Dr. Ruth, you know we have the records of the operation, right? Why are you trying to cover for her?"

"Director, I made the mistake, not Dr. Ruth....she....." Sharon started.

" Don't speak between your seniors, Sharon." Ashley's voice was firm, cold.

"You know the consequences, Dr. Ruth? Are you ready for it?" The director said, still professional.

"She is my responsibility, Sir," Ashley replied, "I was supposed to guide her, I was the lead surgeon. I failed. It's my fault, not hers."

"I saw your work. It was beyond incredible. Good job, Dr. Ruth. It's hard to see such cold and immediate responses with great leadership in doctors except for the E.R specialist, " Dr. Cameron spoke with admiration,
"take my words as the E.R. director. If you ever think about changing field, I  am only one call away you know," he was not giving any damn about the serious conversation rather praising her.

Ashley replied with a small "thank you" and tried to maintain a straight face. He was funny.

"So, Dr. Ruth, you know the drill. Take the time off," said the director.

"Are you serious? You are firing her?" Sharon was shocked.

"No, Dr. Sharon," Dr. Cameron replied, "she is being suspended for time being while things get cooled down a bit."

"I can't afford to lose a skilled doctor like you, Dr. Ruth. Especially after what we have seen yesterday." The director smiled, "but don't take it as encouragement."

Ashley smiled, "Don't worry, I won't."

"And You, I hope you've learned your lesson. I am giving you chance to prove yourself. Don't make Dr. Ruth's vouching for you a waste."

"Yes, sir." Sharon lowered her head in guiltiness.

"And, Dr. Cameron..."

"Ah, don't bring it up. You can't suspend me. I am the E.R director and the best one you have," Dr. Cameron sounded pissed, "You can't run your E.R for a day without me. I don't need your job, but you need me."

"Don't smack that on my face Dr, I know that already," the director was pissed even more. "I am not suspending you, but I am giving you the last warning."

"Got that, boss." Dr. Cameron saluted him teasingly, "Now if you are done, the three of us had a long night."

"Go on then," the director whooshed at them looking like a given-up parent. But called back Ashley before leaving the room.
He was smiling at her encouragingly,
"I am proud of you."

"Dr. Ruth....." Sharon was crying already, "you are taking the hit for me..."

"Dr. Sharon, don't get overwhelmed," Dr. Camron said, "If every doctor was to be punished for their first mistakes, every one of us would be jobless now. You did nothing wrong."

"And I think I have time for another tour just out of the blue!" Ashley smiled brightly, feeling great suddenly.

"Look at her," Dr. Cameron said to Sharon pointing at Ashley, "Probably she had done this knowing she'd get time off her work. Such an opportunist! "

They laughed altogether at this and the mood lightened all of a sudden.
Sharon got down from the elevator on the fifth floor.

Ashley and Cameron came out of the hospital together. Ashley said goodbye to him and proceeded towards her bike. She could collect her belongings the next day, or not collecting them at all. She was going to come back for sure after all.

"Don't tell me you are going to ride that all the way down after the whole night shift," Dr. Cameron said.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I am going to do." Ashley smiled.

"Come on! Hop on," He opened the passenger door of his car, "let me give you a ride."

Ashley politely denied it.

"You didn't have dinner for sure, me too. There's a cafe nearby. Let's grab breakfast together. I insist," Dr. Cameron was a gentleman as always.

Yeah, why not? She was hungry too.
"Sure," she got into the car.

The breakfast cafe was very popular for the night shifter doctors as it was near the hospital and the price was very reasonable as well.
They talked the whole time while having breakfast. Sharon was right. Dr. Cameron was a very smart and funny person. He was a very professional and ethical person with a heart of gold. Ashley was loving his company very much.

After breakfast, he offered her a ride back home and she gladly took it. The idea of getting home as fast as she could and plopping onto her bed seemed more attractive to her at this hour.

She was in front of her house in less than fifteen minutes.
Before she went in, Dr. Cameron called her back. He was already out of his car.

"I did enjoy our times together."

"Yes, me too. I wish we could grab breakfast again sometime," Ashley smiled.

"Dr. Ruth, umm...." Dr. Cameron scratched the back of his head, he was hesitating, "do you wanna.....I mean, do you wanna perhaps go out with me? "

"Dr. Cameron...." Ashley was a little surprised.

"I mean, we can grab some coffee sometimes, if you want." His face was getting red in embarrassment.

"I would love to, Dr. Cameron." Ashley carefully responded, "but I am sorry, I can't."

"Oh, ok...." he smiled shyly, "I had been seeing you recently and I found you really cool."

"Thank you, you are an amazing person, Dr. Cameron. But I am really sorry." Ashley really was sorry.

"It's ok, no big deal." He smiled gently. "But does it have anything to do with that incident? You know I was there, right?"

Ashley looked at him, she was caught off guard.

"Don't get me wrong, but here are some words as your senior, you have to move on. don't just push everything away." His eyes were soft, "You have to at least for once, live."

"It has nothing to do with it, Dr. Cameron," Ashley smiled weakly, "It's just......I am not ready. Yet.
just Not ready."

"I understand." Dr. Cameron nodded. He got into his car and waved goodbye smiling, "Best of luck with your vacation!!"

Ashley sighed, why he had to bring up those pasts she was running from?