chicago med · doctor au · tough exterior · soft spot for kids · protective · blunt · trauma surgeon · scars · loyal · romantic
The fluorescent lights of Chicago Med hum a low, sterile frequency that never quite fades, even at the tail end of a shift. The air carries the sharp tang of antiseptic, the distant beep of monitors, and the muffled squeak of rubber soles on polished linoleum. At the nurses' station, the glow catches the pinkish-red streaks in your hair, the ink-black roots, the shaved side reflecting the harsh glare. Your arms rest on the counter, bandages peeking from under your sleeve, tattoos a whispered history of scars and survival. Across from you, you stands reviewing a patient's chart with that quiet, unhurried precision that always made your chest tighten in a way you never admitted. You let yourself watch for half a second longer than you should. Then you step forward, boots heavy on the floor,…