New Editions

All doctors and nurses on Level 1 were instructed to gather in the main nursing unit, provided their circumstances were allowed. There was a palpable excitement in the air concerning the arrival of a new doctor at North Star. Speculations circulated, with some suggesting that this new addition was the reason behind Nick's departure to work at Denver's General Hospital. Others claimed that the doctor had excelled academically and received generous compensation from the board to lend a helping hand.

Dr. Kim and Dr. Bryant found the situation rather amusing as they discreetly entered the blue circular station room. Coming to a halt in front of the staff, they attempted to capture their attention. However, as the conversations continued, Dr. Bryant resorted to clearing his throat loudly, prompting the crowd to fall silent and direct their gaze toward him.

"Good morning, everyone."

The greeting was met with several returned greetings. "It has been a while since we last held these meetings, but I believe it's time to reinstate them. Starting promptly at eight o'clock every morning, any available doctors and nurses on this floor will convene here, which we will now refer to as the hub, given its central location. All other stations will be referred to as stations, there will no longer be a main station in each ward."

"We will be meeting here in the morning for important announcements and to ensure everyone's well-being. Additionally, starting tomorrow, each one of you will be issued a new pager. I understand that we rely heavily on our phones and pagers may seem outdated, but these pagers are state-of-the-art and more innovative than ever before. We now have complete signal coverage throughout the entire hospital, so there will be no more dead spots."

The staff responded with enthusiastic applause, recognizing the significance of eliminating communication gaps that could potentially endanger patients. With the introduction of these new pagers, they felt reassured, knowing they could be reached anywhere without any interruptions. However, the applause gradually transformed into hushed whispers, as curiosity surrounding the sudden changes arose.

Dr. Bryant surveyed the crowd in disbelief. Instead of receiving inquiries, they indulged in gossip. Realizing it was time to address these rumors and speculations, he aimed to quell the whispers. "Some of you may be aware that a new doctor will soon be joining us, but their arrival has nothing to do with the recent renovations. The decision to renovate the hospital was solely driven by the board, although it is disheartening to admit that their motive was to compete with Denver's General Hospital and their own renovation plans." The disappointment was evident on many faces, but Dr. Bryant, unlike them, felt more irritated than let down.

For years, every staff member, even the patients, had been requesting hospital renovations, yet the board had only acted when faced with competition from other hospitals; it was disheartening more than anything that the board prioritized status and appearances over the well-being of both patients and staff. "However, despite the board's questionable motives, let's focus on the positive aspect. These renovations will enable us to facilitate our patients' recovery and save lives more efficiently." Nevertheless, some staff members remained dispirited, prompting Dr. Bryant to turn to his colleague, hoping he could uplift the mood. "Dr. Kim, do you have anything to add?"

Dr. Kim nodded and stepped forward. "The new doctor's arrival is entirely unrelated to the renovations. She is highly respected and genuinely dedicated, as attested by other doctors. It may seem ironic, but the renovations were not orchestrated for the sake of Dr. Thorne or in response to her transfer," Dr. Kim stated, attempting to convince both the crowd and himself, who had suddenly become captivated by his words.

In approximately eight weeks, a state inspection was scheduled, implying that North Star's board, driven by their greed and cost-cutting mindset, had deliberately delayed renovations until shortly before the inspection. The state had even urged the hiring of an additional doctor on Level 1, a request that had been pending since the previous year.

The timing of welcoming a highly regarded doctor from one of the nation's premier hospitals, just in time for training and showcasing as their latest addition, seemed incredibly ironic. Ryan found it absurd that the board would prioritize a flashy display over supporting their own staff. As he glanced back at the crowd from his thoughts, everyone stared intently at him, including Michael, who appeared slightly agitated.

A voice echoed his thoughts. "Did you mention Dr. Thorne?"

Ryan stood there, stunned, as the room erupted once again with numerous voices.

Michael attempted to regain control, but his words fell on deaf ears. Frustrated, he looked at Ryan. "You better fix this mess."

Rolling his eyes, Ryan approached the crowd. "Excuse me," he said, but everyone continued talking, completely ignoring him.

"Excuse me!" he raised his voice, yet again receiving no response.

Michael chuckled, provoking irritation in Ryan. He smirked back at Michael. "It's been a while since I had the opportunity to yell at my cadets. I wonder if I've still got it." Expanding his lungs and throat, Ryan released a mighty roar, causing Michael to hastily step back.

"Excuse me!" Ryan's powerful voice resonated, capturing everyone's attention in an instant. Some even took a step back, aware of Dr. Kim's military background. While they had never witnessed him in action, this thunderous shout served as a stark reminder to avoid crossing him.

Ryan smiled contentedly at Michael. "As I was trying to say, today marks the final renovation for this floor. Starting tomorrow, everything will return to normal, with full traffic in your respective wings. Please remain vigilant and alert. I have emailed a map to every individual on this floor, even the janitors. It outlines the location and purpose of everything, so make sure you memorize it by tonight. Now, Dr. Bryant, back to you." Ryan concluded his statement by playfully extending his arms forward, allowing Michael to step forward.

"As Dr. Kim seems determined to avoid acknowledging his oversight, let me clarify that a new doctor will indeed be joining us tomorrow, and that doctor is Dr. Thorne. We haven't had a female doctor on this floor for quite some time, so this may be an exciting development for many. However, she is not a celebrity; she is just like the rest of us. I request that you treat her with normalcy and hospitality. All right?" Numerous heads nodded, accompanied by vocal agreements, enabling Michael to release everyone back to their duties swiftly.

Nevertheless, a few familiar faces lingered behind. As Michael noticed that most of them hailed from Dr. Kim's wing, he burst into laughter.

Dr. Cruz was the first to approach, extending his hand to shake Michael's. "Good morning, sir. Thank you for bringing us a new surgeon. It has been quite challenging in the ICU, and having a female colleague will provide valuable insights into our patients' thoughts and concerns, particularly from a female perspective."

Ryan and Michael raised their eyebrows, while Dr. Cruz sighed. "I hope it's clear that I didn't mean anything negative. I would never consider dating a colleague anyway."

A tall man with distinct brown hair joined Dr. Cruz, playfully slapping his shoulder. "At least you won't date them here." Dr. Cruz swatted his friend's hand away, giving him a mock glare, while Collins chuckled.

Dr. Collins was someone Michael particularly enjoyed conversing with, as he had a way with words. "And how are you, Dr. Collins?"

"I'm doing well," he replied with a smile. "I simply don't understand the fuss about this new doctor."

Dr. Cruz nodded in agreement. "What makes her so special?"

"She has delivered a lot of babies and saved many lives," Michael said vaguely. He hadn't told anyone besides Ryan that she was an OBGYN. She generally operated on surgeries like c-sections, hysterectomies, or pelvic injuries, meaning she would rarely be seen or used in the ICU.

Before anyone could process what Michael said, he quickly looked to switch the topic. Dr. Bryant's eyes fell upon another stranger who was lost deep in thought. "Dr. Kang!"

Quickly, Dr. Kang's head snapped in slight panic. He looked around and then smiled when he saw his friend Michael signaling him over.

"How are you doing?" Michael asked. "You seemed deep in thought over there."

Dr. Kang gave a small laugh as he walked closer. "I was just wondering about how I'm going to have to get used to sharing the same nursing station, I mean, hub with the women's and maternity wing.

Ryan also nodded his head and gave a look to Michael. "I was thinking about it after we talked, Michael, and our dynamic with the women's and maternity crew may not match."

Michael gave an exasperated sigh. "Is there a war I'm not aware of between the ICU and maternity wing?"

Dr. Kang quickly clarified, "No, it's not that. I just don't want to see certain people." Dr. Kang knew it could probably sound petty to Michael, but everyone knew why he was hesitant.

And Michael already knew too. "Nick quit a couple of days ago."

"Let me guess," Dr. Cruz said. "Denver's General Hospital."

Michael just nodded his head. Dr. Kang chuckled, "In that case, I don't care then. I think it's a great idea." Everyone laughed at his sudden change of mood. "I actually get to see one of my favorite people and my nephew."

"Are you talking about me?" Everyone turned around to see Dr. Grant waddling over with her ponytail swinging behind.

"Evelyn, how could I not?" Dr. Kang reached out his hand to help her, but she quickly swatted it away.

"The more people help me, the more crippled I feel." This made everyone laugh, but Dr. Grant stopped smiling. "Now on a serious note."

The light atmosphere was now chucked to the side with a tense air. "This doctor will be my new OBGYN, right? Nick did nothing to help me, even when I have this big thing hanging off of me." Evelyn pointed at her big bump.

Michael laughed and gave Evelyn a side hug. "I'm not evil. She'll be at your office at 8:30."

Evelyn clapped her hands. "Oh, thank you."

Dr. Cruz did the timeout sign. "So are we not getting a surgeon for the ICU?"

Michael smiled. "Technically, you are." Dr. Cruz didn't smile, which made Michael almost laugh. "I'm looking into it, okay? You gotta cut me some slack, Rafael. You know how greedy the board has been with the budget. I had to choose between an OBGYN and a surgeon, and right now we need more help in the maternity wing."

Rafael nodded his head in understanding. Seeing how dreary the mood had quickly gotten, Dr. Collins smiled at Dr. Grant. "Well, at least you get help. We have a few surgeons and resident surgeons, so it's fine. We can handle the pressure. Whereas you've been the only one in your wing since Nick."

Dr. Grant smiled. "When Nick quit, I was just praying that this week was slow, and it has been. We actually have recorded the lowest births this quarter. Still, I've been so stressed out."

"Aren't you always stressed?" Dr. Kang joked.

Dr. Grant simply stared at Kang and said, "If it weren't for the fact that you and my husband are best friends, I would kick you right now."

Kang looked at Michael in shock and asked, "Didn't you see my colleague threatening me?"

Michael turned around and walked away, leaving Ryan laughing as he followed him.

Dr. Kang glanced at Dr. Grant playfully and asked, "So, how is my nephew doing?"

"He's doing okay," she replied. "He kicked me so hard last night that I almost peed myself, and Brandon did nothing but chuckle."

Kang tried to suppress his laughter and changed the subject. "Do you think he's going to be a redhead like you or blonde like his dad?"

"Blondes are boring, so he'll probably be a redhead."

"Well, I'm pretty sure Brandon isn't boring. In fact, I think he's the exact opposite," Kang said, reminiscing about their high school detentions and pranks.

"Sometimes I wonder if you guys are related," Evelyn joked.

"Different blood, but the same mind. For example, I think we'd both agree that I should walk you back to your office."

"And why is that?"

Dr. Kang pointed at her feet. "I feel like I'm looking at purple yams."

Evelyn rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand for support, leading him down the corridor. "One day, when you decide to stop being so cold to the world, you'll have a family too, you know. Then you can tell your wife she has purple yams."

"I am not cold," Dr. Kang replied. "I am very transparent."

"Yeah, with your friends. Sometimes you're too transparent."

"You can never be too transparent."

"Uh, yes, you can."

"I just wanted to be a gentleman and walk you to your office. I don't need a lecture," Kang joked as he opened the door to her office.

She let go of his hand and waddled over to her desk. As she sat down, she signaled for him to close the door behind him. He sighed, closed the door, and then sat in the seat across from her.

"Are you okay?"

"I am fine," he chuckled.

"Rowan, you haven't been in a relationship in almost, what, three years?"

His eyes snapped to hers with a bewildered gaze. "Have you been counting?"

She ignored him and leaned back further in her chair. "Rowan, I'm serious. You need to find someone. You're going to be thirty this year."

"You sound worse than my parents," he chuckled, earning him a pencil to the head. "Ow!"

"You're boring and hang out way too much at my place. I literally see you 24/7."

"Well, that's one way of kicking me in the gut."

Evelyn laughed. "I'm not kicking you, at least not yet. I'm just saying you need a partner."

Rowan pointed at her belly. "My nephew will be my partner."

Evelyn sighed in annoyance. "Since you're stubborn, can you at least promise that you'll try to be more social?"

Rowan looked at her, wondering if she was serious. After a few seconds of staring, he realized she was. "Fine, but if I get more agitated at work, don't blame me."

"You'll only be agitated because of your awkward and antisocial heart."

Once again, Rowan looked at her in shock. He quickly got up and walked to the door. "I'm going to go. You're literally piercing my awkward and antisocial soul."

"But you know I love you," Evelyn smiled.

Rowan rolled his eyes. "Save that stuff for your husband. I'll see you around lunch, okay?"

"Oh, and you're buying," Evelyn said as she began to look at her files for her next patient. "Now close the door."

Rowan grumbled about hormonal pregnant women and his feelings as he shut the door. When he reached the hub, he paused. Was he really as boring as she said he was? But before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, a nurse came flying out of the ICU doors in a panic, searching through everyone in the room.

Her eyes landed on Rowan, and a huge sigh of relief escaped her as he approached. "He's fourteen years old, and a fishing hook is in his left eye. And there are patients arriving in multiple ambulances. They need you, Dr. Collins, Cruz, and even Dr. Nunez. Apparently, every patient is missing some type of ligament." She hurriedly opened the door, and right before he entered, he glanced back at the maternity swing doors and gave a slight smirk. Nothing about him or his job was boring.