My office's fluorescent lights buzz faintly overhead, a constant reminder of the sterile environment I've come to accept as my second home. A folder lies open on my desk, patient notes scrawled in my precise handwriting. My pen taps against the desk, a repetitive motion I don't even notice until I force myself to stop.

This week has been busy. Not in the usual sense, where work demands every shred of energy I have. Though, it does. But because of everything happening outside of these walls. The group. Us. Elias.

I lean back in my chair, the leather creaking under my weight. My eyes drift to the framed degrees on the wall, their clinical perfection offering no comfort. Valarie's voice echoes in my head, a replay of the conversation we had a few days ago when she told me about Declan and Elias forming a romantic bond. "It's new," she'd said, her green eyes wide with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "But it's real."

Real. That's the word that stuck. Declan and Elias, forming something deeper, something neither of them expected. I'm not sure why it took me by surprise. Hell, the chemistry between them has been there for weeks, even if they didn't see it themselves. But knowing it and hearing it are two different things. It's not jealousy. I've worked through that particular demon already. It's more... displacement. Like there's another layer of connection between them that I'm not part of, no matter how much I want to be.

The three of them all have each other, and all I have is Valarie. I mean, not like that. Valarie is plenty enough for me. I just wish I could form a bond with Declan and Elias the way that they've formed a bond.

Well, maybe not exactly like their bond.

I pick up the pen again, twirling it between my fingers as my gaze lands on the clock. Another hour until surgery. Plenty of time to stew in my thoughts, apparently.

Elias is the real concern. Or, more accurately, his deflection. The man is a fortress. Walls so high, not even Valarie can scale them, and she's the most determined person I know. We've all tried to reach him. Declan, with his quiet intensity. Valarie, with her unwavering care. Even me, with my... what? Calm logic? Availability? I'm not even sure what I bring to the table in situations like this. But Elias keeps brushing us off, insisting he's fine even when he's drinking himself into oblivion or cracking jokes that don't reach his eyes.

And Declan. God, Declan looks wrecked. He hides it well, but the devastation is there in the tight set of his jaw, the exhaustion in his eyes. Watching him try and fail to get through to Elias is like watching a slow-motion train wreck. He's carrying the weight of Elias's grief on top of his own worries, and it's crushing him.

I've done everything I can think of to help. I've been there to talk, even if no one takes me up on it. I've been the designated driver on nights when the drinking gets a little too heavy, ensuring everyone gets home safe. I've offered my presence, my support, my everything, but it feels like throwing pebbles into a void. Small gestures that make no difference.

My pen slips from my fingers, clattering onto the desk. I sit forward, rubbing a hand over my face. There's no manual for this, no guidebook for navigating the complicated mess of emotions and connections we've built. I'm trying. God, I'm trying so hard to be what they need. But right now? I feel like an outsider.

The phone on my desk vibrates, pulling me from my spiral. I glance at the screen. A reminder for an upcoming surgery. A few taps on the screen dismiss the notification, but my mind is already moving. It's what I do. Shift focus, compartmentalize. It's how I've always handled emotions. Not suppressing them, just... placing them where they won't interfere with the task at hand. It's served me well, but it's also made me painfully aware of the gap between how I process things and how the others do.

They feel everything so openly. Valarie wears her heart on her sleeve, her emotions as clear as day. Declan, for all his guardedness, can't hide the depth of his feelings when it comes to the people he loves. Even Elias, for all his avoidance, radiates intensity when he lets his guard down. And me? I'm the guy sitting on the sidelines, trying to figure out how to connect without losing myself in the process.

A knock at the door pulls me back to the present. "Come in," I call, my voice steadier than I feel.

A nurse steps in, her expression apologetic. "Sorry to bother you, Dr. Stone, but they need you in OR 3 for a consult."

"On my way," I say, rising from my chair. I grab my coat and head out, my thoughts already shifting gears.

As I make my way to the OR, I can't help but wonder how tonight will play out. Another gathering at Valarie's place. Another attempt to reach Elias. Another chance to figure out where I fit in this tangled, beautiful mess we've created.

I push through the doors, the cool air of the operating room washing over me. For now, I'll focus on the task at hand. The rest can wait.

***

We were supposed to all be here tonight. Me, Val, Declan, and Elias, all crammed into Valarie's tiny apartment. But Elias wasn't answering his phone again, and Declan went over to check on him. That left just me and Valarie, which, honestly, hasn't happened in weeks. Between everything going on with Elias and juggling work, the chance to just be alone with her feels rare. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't grateful for it.

She's lying next to me on her bed, scrolling through her phone with one hand, the other resting limply on her stomach. Her hair's messy, a few strands falling across her face, and she looks exhausted. Not the kind of exhausted that comes from a long day at work, but the kind that comes from carrying too much. Worry, stress, uncertainty. It's etched into the lines of her face, in the way her shoulders curve inward like she's bracing for something.

"You've been quiet," I say, breaking the silence.

She glances at me briefly, offering a tired smile before turning back to her phone. "Just thinking."

"About Elias?"

She doesn't answer right away, but I know I'm right. Her thumb hovers over the screen before she sets the phone down with a sigh. "Yeah. I keep checking my phone, hoping Declan will text or call, but nothing yet."

I nod, scooting closer to her until our shoulders touch. "He's in good hands. Declan will get through to him."

Valarie huffs out a bitter laugh. "I don't know. Elias is so good at putting up walls. And Declan..." She shakes her head. "Declan's been carrying this too. He looks like he's barely holding it together half the time."

"He cares," I say simply. "Probably more than he knows how to deal with."

Her eyes soften, and she turns onto her side to face me. "How do you stay so calm through all of this? You're like this steady presence while the rest of us are unraveling."

I smile faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Someone has to be. And honestly, it's not like I'm immune to everything going on. I just process things differently, I guess."

"You're a better person than me," she mutters, burying her face in the pillow.

I nudge her shoulder gently. "Hey, don't do that."

She peeks up at me, her green eyes shadowed but still so damn captivating. "Do what?"

"Diminish yourself. You're the glue holding us together, Valarie. Don't forget that."

Her lips quirk up into a small smile, but it's fleeting. "I just... I hate feeling this helpless. Like there's nothing I can do for him."

"You're doing more than you realize," I tell her. "Just being here, being you, it's enough. It's more than enough."

She doesn't respond right away, just watches me like she's trying to decide whether to believe me. Then, slowly, she shifts closer, resting her head against my chest. I let out a breath and wrap an arm around her, pulling her against me.

Her body molds to mine, warm and soft, and I can feel the tension in her frame slowly ease. "This okay?" I ask, my voice quieter now.

She nods, her cheek pressed against my shirt. "More than okay."

For a while, we just lie there. The room is quiet except for the sound of her breathing, steady and rhythmic, and the occasional buzz of my phone on the nightstand. She feels so small against me, so vulnerable, and all I want to do is protect her from everything weighing her down.

"I know things have been crazy," I say finally, breaking the silence. "But I'm glad we get this. Just us, for a little while."

She tilts her head up to look at me, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Me too. It's been too long."

Her words hit me harder than I expect. She's right. Between the chaos with Elias and the everyday demands of life, moments like this have been rare. And I didn't realize how much I missed it, missed her, until now.

"I missed this," I admit, my fingers tracing idle patterns on her back. "Missed you."

Her gaze softens, and she reaches up to cup my cheek. "I missed you, Adrian. Always."

The sincerity in her voice makes my chest ache. Before I can think too much about it, she leans up and presses her lips to mine. The kiss is soft at first, tentative, but it quickly deepens, her fingers tugging at my short hair as she pulls me closer.

My body reacts instantly, heat pooling low in my stomach as her mouth moves against mine. Her weight shifts, and suddenly she's straddling me, her knees on either side of my hips. My hands find her waist, holding her steady as her lips trail down to my jaw, then my neck.

"Val," I murmur, my voice strained. She hums in response, her teeth grazing my collarbone, and I groan, my grip on her tightening.

Her hands slide under my shirt, her nails scraping lightly against my skin, and I feel like I'm going to come undone. "God, I love you. You're so damn beautiful," I whisper, the words spilling out before I can stop them.

Valarie freezes for a split second, her hands still against my chest. Her eyes snap up to meet mine, wide and searching, her lips slightly parted. The air between us feels like it's been sucked out of the room.

"Adrian," she says softly, almost like she's testing the word, trying to find the weight in it. Her hands slide back up to my face, cupping my jaw as she studies me. "Say that again."

I swallow hard, my heart pounding against my ribs. I hadn't meant to let those words slip out. I mean them. Oh God, do I mean them. But this isn't exactly the right time to be confessing my love. I haven't spoken with the other guys. I haven't really even worked through these feelings myself.

But, there's no pulling back now, no taking it back. Not that I want to. "I love you, Valarie," I repeat, the words steady this time, clear and sure. "I've loved you for a while now." And I have. A lot longer than I want to admit.

My infatuation with her started long before we did. How could it not have? I seen her so often at the hospital. It started with a few passes here and there, but then we started actually working together. I knew after our first interaction that I was a goner.

Her expression shifts, something between relief and disbelief softening her features. "You love me?" she whispers, her voice trembling just enough to break my heart.

I nod, my hands settling on her hips as I hold her gaze. "Yeah, I do. And I'm not just saying it because of everything going on with Elias or anyone else. I mean it, Valarie. I love you."

A slow smile spreads across her lips, and it feels like the sun breaking through a storm. "Adrian," she breathes, leaning down to kiss me again, this time softer, more deliberate. Her lips move against mine like she's trying to memorize every detail.

When she pulls back, her forehead rests against mine, and her breath fans across my face. "I love you too," she murmurs, her voice barely audible but carrying more weight than anything I've ever heard.

Those three words settle something deep inside me, something I didn't realize was even broken. I let out a shaky breath, my grip on her tightening as I pull her closer, holding her against me like I'm afraid she'll disappear.

"You have no idea how much I needed to hear that," I admit, my voice rough with emotion.

She shakes her head, brushing her nose against mine. "I think I do."

Her lips find mine again, and this time the kiss is slower, lingering, like we have all the time in the world. Her hands wander, her fingers tracing the lines of my shoulders, my chest, like she's trying to memorize me too.

The tension in my body starts to ebb, replaced by something softer, warmer. Her weight on top of me feels safe, like she's anchoring me in place, keeping me from floating away. My hands slide up her sides, her skin warm under my touch as I push her shirt up just enough to brush my fingers along her bare back.

She shivers, her breath hitching, and I can't help but smile against her lips. "Cold?" I tease, my voice low.

"Shut up," she mutters, but there's no heat in her words, just a soft laugh that makes my chest tighten in the best way.

Her hands tug at the hem of my shirt, pulling it up, and I lift my arms to help her. The fabric is tossed somewhere across the room, but I barely register it because her hands are on me again, exploring, tracing, driving me fucking insane.

"God, you're beautiful," she murmurs, her eyes raking over me like she's seeing me for the first time.

I chuckle, my hands settling on her thighs. "Pretty sure that's my line."

Her lips curve into a smirk, but her eyes are softer now, filled with something I can't quite name but want to drown in. "You can borrow it," she says, her voice teasing but tender.

"Generous of you," I reply, my tone matching hers as I slide my hands higher, brushing against the soft fabric of her shorts.

She leans down again, her hair falling around us like a curtain, and kisses me, slow and deep. My fingers dig into her thighs, and I feel her smile against my lips before she pulls back just enough to rest her forehead against mine.

"You make me feel safe," she whispers, her voice so quiet I almost don't catch it.

The confession catches me off guard, my breath hitching as I stare up at her. "You are safe," I say, my voice firm but gentle. "With me, with all of us. You're safe, Val. Always."

Her eyes glisten, and she nods, her lips brushing against mine in a silent thank you.

I pull her closer, needing to feel her warmth, to reassure her with more than just words. My hands slide up her back, tracing the curve of her spine. She melts into me, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

Then, I'm flipping us over in one smooth motion. She squeals in surprise, her laughter echoing through the room as I hover above her.

My lips find her neck, trailing kisses down to her collarbone. Her fingers tangle in my hair, tugging gently, and I groan against her skin.

I work my way back up to her lips, capturing them in a searing kiss that has us both gasping for air. Her legs wrap around my waist, pulling me closer, and I can feel the heat radiating off her body.

I break away from her lips, panting slightly as I take in her flushed cheeks and darkened eyes. God, she's beautiful. My heart races, desire and something deeper pulsing through my veins.

"Val," I breathe, my voice husky with want.

She arches an eyebrow, a playful glint in her emerald eyes. "Yes?"

I open my mouth, then close it, suddenly at a loss for words. How do I tell her that she's not just safe with me, but cherished? That I want to protect her, pleasure her, be everything she needs? That I'm falling for her harder than I ever thought possible?

Instead of speaking, I pour all those emotions into another kiss, deep and passionate. My hands roam her body, memorizing every curve, every dip. She responds eagerly, her fingers tracing patterns on my back, sending shivers down my spine.

I pull back, drinking in the sight of her - hair mussed, lips swollen, eyes filled with trust and desire. "You're incredible," I murmur, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Her smile widens, a mix of shyness and mischief dancing in her eyes. "You're not so bad yourself," she teases, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my chest.

I can't help but chuckle, the sound rumbling through me. "Oh really? Just 'not so bad'?" I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear. "I think I can do better than that."

She shivers, her breath catching. "Prove it," she challenges, her voice barely above a whisper.

Challenge accepted.