"That's it Mickelson! I'm paying Dr. Bravucci a visit." Marianne threatened as she grabbed car keys from the kitchen counter.

"Marianne stop—don't do that." Seth sighed tiredly. "Please."

"I'm sick and tired of seeing you moping around. I want my best friend back! Is that too much to ask for?"

"I'm right here."

"You know exactly what I mean, you're always far away in space and I don't know how to reach you anymore, Seth. I'm getting scared okay?"

"There's nothing to be scared of." Seth responded with an evasive shrug. "You're putting too much thinking into it, you probably need to chill out."

"You haven't performed any surgeries since you came back from Italy and we both know that is so not you." Marianne spoke softly. "Are you even sleeping properly, Seth? I noticed you've been skipping meals too."

Slowly but surely Seth was getting irked with the whole interrogatory questions. He loved his best friend but not when she took it upon herself to be an overbearing mother hen. "What are you? A stalker? For once in your life mind your own damn business!"

Marianne turned to face Seth with eyes filled with nothing but shock. "I understand you might not want to talk about what happened in Italy but I know for sure whatever it is, it has something to do with Dr. Bravucci. I'm going to have a civil chat with him. Hopefully he will be kind enough to fill in the blank spaces."

"He now knows." Seth groaned, cutting off Marianne's threats. "He now knows I was a thief."

Marianne's eyes widened. "You...told him?" She asked tentatively.

Seth shook his head. "I didn't tell him, I wasn't ready yet but Aiden probably has, at least by now."

"Aiden?" Marianne looked lost for a second then she quickly recovered. "The guy you—"

Seth didn't respond but Marianne knew better. "I wish I knew what to say." She muttered whilst staring at her friend. "So, what is Leonardo saying about it?"

"Nothing." Seth replied curtly drawing a scowl from Marianne.

"What do you mean nothing?"

"We haven't talked since the night I left Italy."

"You ran without explaining yourself." It was not a question.

"It was the only logical thing to do."

Marianne scoffed at that. She knew Seth had commitment issues but this was a new record for him. The guy had taken ridiculous and extreme measures just to sabotage his own perfect shot at love.

"You always have an option but you chose the most convenient one for you, typical. Why am I not even surprised here?" She was clearly not impressed.

"Not when my license to practice medicine was on the line!"

"Yeah, yeah as if you were practicing medicine for these past eight days or so."

"You don't get it Marianne." Seth shoved fingers inside his thick curls thanks to frustration before starting for the nearby exit. "I don't think you will." He said quietly before leaving for Moneda.

Marianne was left there gawking.

It's been eight days since Seth bolted from Europe and the resident spent most of his time feeling demolished, wanting to take back the last four years of his life and perhaps do things differently. He was in denial but deep down he knew whatever that was brewing between him and Leonardo was officially over and there was no way of fixing it.

To Marianne's oblivion, Seth desperately wanted to explain himself to Dr. Bravucci but that would do nothing good except taking away the last dignity he possessed, if he still had any at all. Seth just had to resign to the fact that Leonardo possibly hated him now. With a track record like that. Who wouldn't?

Resuming work at Sullivan Hospital was even harder than what Seth had anticipated.

He was such a raw tender nerve, any slightest reminiscence could possibly trigger an embarrassing emotional display. So far he had punched quite a number of walls and sometimes he sobbed completely out of the blue, in absolute solitude obviously. No one else needed to know how much of a pathetic loser he was. It was his grave called regret to bury himself day and night, alone.

. . .

The announcement of Dr. Bravucci's return to duty was a slight drop in temperature causing a pedigree of silence in the hospital hallways. Without even turning around, Seth instinctively knew he was right behind him. 

It was only a matter of time until Seth came face to face with the man he'd been dreading to lock eyes with. How could he ever look at him after everything? Unfortunately, the odds were not in Seth's favor.

"Dr. Mickelson do you have a clear explanation why you lost a guide-wire inside a patient's body during your 8:30pm surgery?" Leonardo sounded bored to death.

Seth wanted to teleport anywhere else but Sullivan Hospital at that very moment. The look on Leonardo's face was the confirmation he needed, there was no hope for them.

"Respectfully chief, I wasn't the one who lost a guide-wire, that was my intern but I managed to get it out before it caused damage to any vitals."

"You're the chief of residents Dr. Mickelson and if your interns cannot hold a simple wire maybe you are to blame here."

"Dr. Bravucci I—"

Leonardo's stare was ice cold and full of malice. Seth swallowed hard, he couldn't recognize the man standing in front of him. "You almost took a patient's life because of your incompetence tonight, Dr. Mickelson."

Seth exhaled slowly. This was going to be one hell of a ride. "I take full blame and rest assured, it will never happen again."

"Better not, because next time you'll be off my surgical floor and if you're lucky I might allow you to help in the clinic. They could use a doctor like you." Leonardo stated before taking off on his heels leaving Seth's jaw slackened.

What a certified prick.

Seth was seething soon after his encounter with Dr. Bravucci in the hallway. Not only did the scene attract unwanted attention, it made him feel like someone was ripping his heart from inside out. It was excruciatingly painful listening to Leonardo speak to him as if they were nothing but total strangers, he loved the man for fuck's sake. Seth charged to the nearest on call room to catch a breather. He needed to get his act together if he wanted to survive this night at all.

"Dr. Mickelson," The voice was soft, familiar and subtle. It was the intern who had messed up during surgery, his name was Xavier Wembley. "Why didn't you tell the chief it was me?"

Seth rolled his eyes. "You think I didn't tell him?"

"So he likes yelling at you for no reason or—"

That's what happens when you sleep with your boss.

"I take heat for everything that happens during surgery, including colossal mistakes that I'd never make since I'm the one responsible. As your resident all your actions are my liabilities, Dr. Wembley."   

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to lose the guide-wire. I just—"

"You almost killed a patient today." Seth stated in a low strict tone causing the intern's eyes to widen a bit.

"I–I said I was sorry..." Xavier was barely audible.

"Not as sorry as you will be if you don't practice how to perform a central lining a hundred times up to perfection in the skills lab." The intern gulped when Seth thrusted a guide-wire in his hands. "I want you to hold on to this wire, wherever you go make sure you have it. Until you know how to hold a wire, this one will be your best friend. Got it?" Dr. Mickelson demanded.

"I guess that's...fair enough."

"Good. Now move, finish up my post-op rounds."

"Copy that Dr. Mickelson."

Seth was deeply frustrated and he was taking it all out on anyone who happened to be in his way that night. His interns received the most fatal blows which was highly unfortunate for them. Seth thought maybe he was too soft with his interns and it was high time he toughened up. He had never questioned his teaching methods but after being literally yelled at, one or two things needed to change. No more playing Mr. Nice guy with interns.

Technically speaking it wasn't even Seth's fault but Dr. Bravucci was aiming to nick the resident where it hurt the most, so far the man was on to something. 

"Can we talk, please?" Dr. Mickelson asked after being granted access to Leonardo's office later that very night. Seth felt his heart aching deep inside his chest when the man didn't even bother to spare him a single glance. He was now unworthy of his time.

"If it's nothing work related I suggest you show yourself out of my office." Dr. Bravucci drawled continuing with whatever he was doing before Seth walked in.

"Leo please, you have to hear me out." Seth tried negotiating again. Worst idea ever.

"I'm going to make things clear to you Dr. Mickelson. I'm your boss and I expect you to use my proper titles whenever you are addressing me. Most importantly I'd appreciate it if we kept our relationship strictly professional. Now, if you may close the door on your way out."

"I miss you, a lot." Seth sounded solemn which made Leonardo clench his jaw tightly. "I know you probably hate me which I totally understand but I love you Leo and it sucks not being close to you. I wish we could talk then you can continue hating me after I say what I've got to say."

"I told you to leave my office." Leonardo said in a monotone. "You are now just another doctor in my faculty Dr. Mickelson. There's nothing left to talk about."

"You are angry, I get the memo. I will give you some time to thaw out." With that being said, Seth left Leonardo alone inside his office.

What is wrong with him? Leonardo couldn't help but rake fingers inside his dark hair in aggravation. Was this some form of sick game to Seth? Leonardo was so mad he wanted to wreck his office but that'd be so much work getting all the shit back together in position. He decided to pour out all his anger on a punching bag instead.

I love you Leo.

Those simple words haunted Leonardo, they refused to evaporate out of his head and it was driving him insane. Seth was virtually torturing him. He couldn't stop thinking about him day in day out, he missed him a lot too. He craved his voice, his smile, his soft touch, those emerald eyes he adored, his scent and mostly just his mere presence.

Fighting his feelings for Seth was like trying to swim across the Antarctica. It was a dead end zone and that raved Leonardo remarkably. Sometimes he got so upset he wanted to wrap his hands around Seth's neck and demand the truth out of him but most of the times he thought about how Seth's lips would feel on his. Long story short, the man was damned from the word go.

"Fuck this!" Leonardo was maniacally hitting the punching bag, sweat trickling from his brows down to the rest of his face. "Cazzo!" He swore again, feeling abnormally hot.

"Are you good?" It was Dr. Brad, he seemed genuinely worried. "Since when do you use the hospital gym?" He used Leonardo's line on him in attempt to lighten up the mood.

"Since today." Leonardo said breathlessly as he worked on another ruthless punch. "Didn't know you were working night shift."

"Covering for Dean." Bradley stated with a shrug. "Looks like you've got Seth by the balls man."

Leonardo paused a bit to stare at his best friend. "Giovanni told you what happened in Milan, didn't he?"

"He told me to look out for Seth among other things."

"That traitor." Leonardo muttered. "During these past eight days I've been trying so hard to hate him," he ended up shaking his head in desolation. "But I can't. The more I try, the more I'm hurting myself."

"Have you tried talking to him then?"

"I can't." Leonardo breathed. "Hell, I can't even look at him without feeling the betrayal in my gut."

"I'm sorry." Dr. Brad stated quietly. "I had no idea he was..."

"Well, don't be. It's not your fault."

"At least try to find out the truth from him, Leo. Maybe things were genuine between the two of you. Who knows?"

"I know, Seth is nothing but a mendacious snake."

"You don't know that." Brad pressed. "You don't even know why he did what he did to Aiden."

"I thought you were on my side."

"You know I am, but I'm also being fair and reasonable here. You can't completely ignore the fact that we all don't know Seth's side of the story."

"I think I'm done here." Leonardo declared as he wiped thick beads of sweat dribbling down the nape of his neck and face in preparation to leave the hospital gym.

Brad knew Leonardo was stubborn as hell. It was only up to him if he wanted to let Seth off the hook otherwise he couldn't do anything about it.

"Drive safe." Dr. Brad sighed when Leonardo started for the main exit.

"Catch you later." Dr. Bravucci said without turning back.