#mine: miranda bailey

[forbescaroline]

TOP 5/10 CHARACTERS PER SHOW (as voted by my followers) ↳ grey's anatomy edition #10. Miranda Bailey portrayed by Chandra Wilson

[lopeirce]

TOP TEN IMDB RATED EPISODES OF GREY'S ANATOMY

[babyjapril]

Grey's Anatomy 6.08

Invest in Love

[sunlightgalaxy]

GREY'S ANATOMY OUT OF CONTEXT (I)

[kirasknightley]

Endless List of My Favorite TV Shows: Grey's Anatomy (2005- present)

[detective-jane-rizzoli]

[mayasdeluca]

CARINA DELUCA, MIRANDA BAILEY, BEN WARREN Station 19: 6x13 ‘It’s All Gonna Break’

[she-karev]

Mama Bear (Andrew DeLuca x Alex Karev’s Sister Imagine)

Previous Chapter Here

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: Two of Three

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

Canon Season and Episode: Season 19 episode 9

AN: This chapter is set a few days after the first one. I’ll try to post the final chapter tomorrow so bear with me and I hope you enjoy.

Summary: Amber confronts Hunt after Allison bit Lucy again that turns physical. Later Andrew tells her their plans that night that shock her.

Words: 2270

January 13th, 2023

I sling my bag over my shoulder barely able to contain my anger as I exit the resident’s lounge. I slam the door loudly behind me causing some of the staff members to look at me but I ignore them so I can march straight to daycare. I was ready to clock out early happy when while I was changing into my red shirt and jeans, I got a call from the people at daycare who called to tell me to come down to file another incident report…against Allison Hunt.

It’s been a few days since she bit Lucy the first time and I calmed down enough and told myself kids bite and that it won’t happen again. But then it happened again and I never felt like tearing into a three-year-old girl until now. My baby is being bullied and I will be damned if I let it happen again even if it means threatening her parents who are my bosses. Alex and Jo follow me no doubt concerned after I nearly slammed the door off its hinges.

“Hey what’s going on?” Jo asks.

I rant to them, “That little bitch thinks she can ruin my family well she has got another thing coming.”

“Did DeLuca cheat?” Alex asks no doubt in fury, “Do I need to kick his ass for you?”

“No DeLuca is an angel Hunt and Altman’s kid on the other hand was handpicked by the devil to reign chaos in the daycare.” I growl angry as I get in the elevator with Alex and Jo, “Allison bit Lucy again. Two times that little demon has sunk her teeth into my baby, it’s not a coincidence it’s a problem and she is a problem child.”

“Okay I can see why your so angry.” Jo says understanding, “You’re not gonna kill her though, are you? Because I feel the need to report you if you’re planning a baby murder.”

“I’m not crazy of course I’m not gonna kill her. I’m gonna kill her parents.”

“I feel the need to remind you that Altman is the chief now and lashing out at her and punching her husband could cost you, your job.” Alex tells me.

“I don’t care!” Alex winces at my yelling, “Her child is bullying my baby and I am not gonna stand for it even if I lose my job. I am not a resident and she is not my boss right now, I am a mama bear and Altman and her spawn are hunting my cub and I will slash her face off if I see her pointing a gun at my baby.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared of you.” Alex admits fearfully, “And you put a garter snake in my shower while I was using it.”

“You did?” Jo asks, astonished.

“It was a pet of mine I found him in the yard and he escaped.” I explain and turn to Alex, “Just be glad I got to Snakey before he bit off your snake.”

“Snakey?” Jo asks with a chuckle.

“I was six sue me.” The elevator doors open and I march down the hall until I spot Bailey, Hunt and Ben Warren outside the daycare waiting for us. I stand in front of them with an angry frown directed at Hunt who clears his throat. I turn to Bailey and Warren, “His daughter bit yours again too?”

“Yep.” Warren confirms with a calm voice but disappointed frown.

“Look I’m sorry I-I really can’t apologize enough.” Hunt tells us but it doesn’t make me feel better, “Now I will talk to my wife and she will come to you and figure out what to do moving forward.”

I chuckle darkly, “Hiding behind your chief wife that’s classy.”

Alex tries to step in, “Amber why don’t we-”

“Shut up.” I command in a harsh voice and he does so as I turn to Hunt, “Hunt I don’t want to be at work worried over my baby being around your devil spawn child.”

Hunt looks at me offended, “Excuse me I will thank you kindly not to insult my daughter.”

“So long as your daughter doesn’t assault ours again.” I point out, “Now I can’t reprimand your wife but I can reprimand you because you have less power here than my five-month-old. Do something or I will take matters into my own hands.”

Hunt sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, “I have to pick up my kids and take them home.”

“I’m not done here.” I tell him but he starts to turn and I react by pure rage and grab him by his ear pinching my thumb nail against his scapha causing him to yell out in pain as I bring him back outside leaning down so he can look up at me, “I said I am not done.”

Hunt groans in pain as I keep a hold of his ear, “What are you doing?”

“Taking matters into my own hands.” I coldly inform him.

Bailey tries to step in but Warren stops her, “No, no we should stay out of it those nails look sharp.”

Hunt groans in pain, “They are!”

I press my thumb nail down harder to make my point, “Now listen to me Hunt and listen to me good if your little brat doesn’t stop picking on my daughter not only will I give her full permission to kick her ass when their grown but I’ll be kicking yours and your wife’s right alongside her, do you understand?”

“I think I feel blood.” Hunt informs me and I press my thumb nail harder causing him to groan in pain, “Yes! Yes, I understand!” I let go of him and he rubs his ear after my vice grip looking at me like I could snap at any minute, “I’ll talk to Teddy I will just…Jesus.” He goes inside to pick up his kids and I look to see the others looking at me frightened.

“What? The man needed a lesson on what kind of family he’s messing with.”

“Hey, I am on your side.” Jo looks at Alex surprised, “That’s my niece his daughter bit.”

“Thank you.” I turn to Bailey and Warren, “And unlike the two of you I have an insurmountable rage inside me that can’t be contained.”

“Clearly.” Bailey confirms, “I think I saw your rage bleeding out of Hunt’s ear.” I see Hunt walking his kids out of daycare and I go in to check my daughter out so I can forget this horrible day.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The smell of garlic hits me as soon I open the front door carrying Lucy in her car seat. I follow the scent to the kitchen where I find Andrew in full cooking mode wearing a ‘Kiss the Chef’ apron and sauteing the peeled peppers in garlic over the stove. I smile at the sight and get Lucy out of her car seat so I can hold her as we get closer to her dad while he’s cooking.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” Andrew smiles at us, “I see you two got out early.”

I hold Lucy against my hip, “Yeah I got a resident to take over so I could spend the night with you guys.” I inhale the sweet aroma deeply moaning in pleasure, “Roasted peppers on olive oil?”

Andrew nods, “Yep, with lots of garlic.”

I kiss his cheek, “You spoil me. I could really use some of your Italian cuisine after the day I had.”

“Well don’t get mad but this isn’t all for us.” I look at him confused, “It’s for the dinner party tonight.”

“What dinner party?”

“At Hunt and Altman’s.” My eyes widened at that information, “She invited us yesterday as a way to apologize for what happened at daycare. Ben and Bailey are coming too. I already got Carina to babysit tonight don’t worry she was actually more than happy to do it.” He notices my shocked face, “Didn’t I tell you about the dinner?”

“Um no but then again we’ve been so busy we’ve barely had time to shower let alone catch up.” I move to sit in a chair by the island, “I guess now would be a bad time to tell you that Allison bit Pru and Lucy again.”

He looks at me shocked as he puts the peppers in a glassware dish, “What? When did this happen?”

“Today I went there before I came here.”

He groans, “Okay it’s fine the dinner might be awkward but we’ll talk and hopefully resolve this with clear eyes and full hearts.”

I clear my throat, “I think I should tell you that I confronted Hunt about Allison and…blood was literally spilled.”

He looks at me scared but treads carefully, “What did you do?”

“Um…” I scratch my head to find the words, “I might have grabbed him by the ear and told him to keep his brat in line or me and our daughter would give him hell in the future.” My husband reacts with wide eyes, “Also there might have been some blood from the pinching his ear.”

“…Well at least you got your point across.” I look at him blankly, “I mean I don’t really know what to say here. On the one hand I’m shocked you would stoop to physical blows but on the other I’m a little turned on by this badass side of you.”

I groan at the unfortunate timing, “Let’s skip it, it’s gonna get bad and I am in no mood for a showdown with the Hunt’s.”

“We’re not gonna skip it.” Andrew stands next to me holding Lucy’s tiny hand, “It would send the wrong message and we should apologize for you manhandling Hunt so we can continue to afford our comfortable lifestyle.”

“I did not manhandle him.” He raises a suspicious eyebrow at me and I break. “Okay fine I did but he asked for it! Their daughter has now bitten our daughter. Twice. It’s a problem and making them your heavenly peppers sends the wrong message.”

“What message?” He asks dumbfounded, “That we’re Italian?”

“No, it sends a message that what their daughter did is okay and it’s not! I made that clear to Hunt. I have to protect my child even if you won’t.” Lucy starts to get fussy.

“Whoa hey of course I want to protect Lucy, I’m just saying physical blows are gonna make this worse not better.”

I scoff, “It started getting worse when their child bit our child for a second time!” Lucy cries in my arms and I rock her to soothe her, “Great and now Hunt and Altman are upsetting her at home. Something needs to be done because short of getting a nanny Hunt and Altman need to fix their problem child. Let’s just stay in and watch Moana for the hundredth time it’ll be better than what ever that dinner will entail.”

Andrew sighs and Lucy calms down, “Look we’ll go we’ll eat the peppers with Altman’s dry chicken and politely talk to them about Allison. Perhaps this feud of ours will be resolved if we talk to them and use our words instead of our fists.”

I stand up and go to the diaper bag to get Lucy’s dragon for her to play with, “You know calling it a feud sounds a little melodramatic.”

“Okay and what would you call it?”

“It’s a war.” Andrew chuckles at that. Lucy is holding her dragon as I sit on the couch with her on my lap, “They declared war on us when they didn’t do squat and let their daughter bite our daughter again. Now we’re the Montagues and Capulets, the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s it’s a war between the DeLuca’s and the Hunts and going over to their territory for false promises of peace is like asking out loud where the trap is and how hard we should step on it.”

Andrew sits next to us and grins at Lucy who’s busy biting her dragon’s arm, “Be honest Lucia who’s more melodramatic, me or your mama?”

“You really don’t want us ganging up on you when she’s a teenager because you don’t stand a chance.” I coldly inform him.

“Amber all I’m saying is that tonight don’t think of it as a dinner table, think of it as a peace table. And I’m sure as mad as Altman is at him, I don’t know if she’ll approve of you making her husband bleed. I mean come on I think this war of ours is at a standstill after the ear assault. It’s just a couple of hours and if it comes down to it, we will leave. Plus, when was the last time you and I had a night out with our adult friends without a baby present?”

I think on it for a moment with Lucy in my lap and come up empty, “Fine we’ll go but if they piss me off, we tag team with Bailey and Warren and go all Rocky and Creed on their Drago.”

“I’m pretty sure Creed died.” Andrew reminds me.

“Because he didn’t tag out with Rocky do you see what we’ll do differently?” Andrew chuckles and kisses me and then Lucy and goes back to the kitchen to his peppers. I exhale at the predicament I got myself in while my daughter is oblivious as she plays with her plush dragon. I grin at her in envy kissing her on top of her soft dark hair, “Your lucky to have parents who are willing to fight in the ring for you baby.”

[alisonscotlock]

TAG GAME: EIGHT SHOWS TO GET TO KNOW ME

tagged by @sarahlancashire 💖

scott & bailey - this is the show that got me into fandom and fanfiction (reading and writing) and basically without it i would never have met any of my internet friends. aside from that, i am not immune to fictional middle-aged female detectives with wine-red nail varnish - gill murray and julie dodson i’m looking at you both. special mention to any and all episodes written by amelia bullmore bc gdi the woman is a comedic genius

home fires - i don’t really go for war stuff usually, but this cast drew me in and thank the gods it did bc this was gorgeous. this is the show that gave me my username bc alison scotlock is the loml. it has it all - great stories, beautiful cinematography, excellent acting, a great soundtrack, plentiful pretty ladies for the milf lovers amongst us...

yonderland - only wanted to choose one show by the six idiots and honestly it could have been any of them, but yonderland won because it’s just so CLEVER while being utterly silly, which is absolutely my kind of thing. negatus is supposed to be the baddie but is just... silly and incompetent, which makes him adorable. lots of wise elder vex’s lines became lil echolalia things for me for months after i watched it

call the midwife - this is the show that has been with me for the longest time. it started when i was 15 and it’s seen me through so much and it’s my annual ‘let’s have a big cry every sunday in january and february’ comfort show with a side order of intense emotions. i have loved and/or appreciated 99% of the storylines, midwives and nuns. phyllis crane and sister julienne are my LOVES

dinnerladies - victoria wood. need i say more? this show is like an old friend to me. i can’t remember the first time i watched it but i must have seen it over 15 times. victoria’s writing is incredible and all of the cast are VERY good at bringing her characters to life. this is a get to know me and also my family kind of show - it’s the one we will all sit and watch and laugh along to and we quote it every day

last tango in halifax - look, i’m not saying some of these shows to get to know me aren’t mildly to extremely traumatising, they’re just the shows that have had the most impact on my life. sally i will never forgive you for THAT and also series 5 was so weird, but this was the first show with wlw in it that i watched after i came out and also caroline elliot is another loml (ok i have a lot...)

mum - sitcoms with added pulling hard on the heartstrings are where it’s AT. this is SO well-written and i’m a sucker for that realism. if you think it’s slow and boring then you’re watching it wrong. cathy walker, i love you. she’s so gentle. you know this show is good bc there’s a het relationship that i cry about. it’s the yearninggggg

holby city (series 14 - series 21) - again, this is not The Best by a LONG shot, but berena was my whole life when i was not great mentally and had very little else. they are my ultimate ship and bernie wolfe has my whole entire heart and basically the ik they’re fictional but if the two of them can go through the most traumatising shit and still be “happier than i ever thought possible” finding the love of their life at over 50 years of age, that gives me boundless hope <3

not tagging anyone, but if you see this and would like to be tagged, consider yourself tagged!

[bdzonthareel]

Wicked part one

So here we go again, another Broadway to Hollywood adaptation. If you have been following the blog long enough, you know that I have some strong opinions and that goes double for anything theatre related. It’s a special interest of mine and one I take very seriously as there is no shortage of misfires in this subgenre of movie musicals; however, that doesn’t mean every single was a faceplant, look no further than the works Lin Manuel Miranda with the adaptation of his first show In The Heights, and his directorial debut with Tick Tick Boom. It is possible to do the source material justice, which is why I was trepidatious about Wicked, so let me spin you a yarn about my experience with part 1.

For the uninitiated, Wicked is an adaptation of author Gregory MacGuire’s first novel in a 4-book series that reimagines the lore of the Wicked witch of the west (who given the name Elphaba, a nod to Oz creator L. Frank Baum). The musical itself reimagines the book significantly as well, focusing on the relationship Elphaba and Glinda the good witch of the North, who are both college roommates and eventually best friends.

So if you’re familiar with the source material, then you’re going to nitpick quite a bit, I mean with a nearly 3 hour run time how could you not? A handful of scenes ran long in the tooth and the padding was painfully obvious, but it didn’t really hurt the end product.

And allow me to put my fan boy goggles on, and what a product it was! I was mesmerized by stunning visuals that made each and every scene come alive! Even that darkest forests felt alive, which is fitting for the wonderful land of Oz. Many of the set pieces felt like they cast members and they felt like they had their own stories to tell, much like how a theatre actor has to make the characters which they play their own.

From the costumes to the props, they all excel at visual storytelling.

Casting was filled with obvious choices such as Cynthia Erivo, Arianna Grande and Jeff Goldblum, and unexpected casting such as Michelle Yeoh… who I had no idea could sing.

Yeoh’s gift for playing both graceful and stoic characters, really shine as the intimidatingly strict Madam Morribel.

Jeff Goldblum was a pique as the Wizard.

Fiyero is one of my dream roles, and Jonathan Bailey of Bridgerton fame, encapsulates why I love the character with his natural charm and swagger. He had many in his numbers questioning their sexuality (and maybe a few audience members...)

Ethan Slater was a lovable simp as the pathetically lovestruck yet kindhearted munchkin Boq.

Marissa Bode was delightful as the tragically beautiful Nessarose, and as I applaud Universal for casting an actual disabled actress for the role as many know how I am a huge champion for representation.

And of our leading ladies own these roles; the outspoken and at times controversial Cynthia Erivo put every ounce of talent into the role of Elphaba, being Broadway Royalty I would expect no less. Grande, who I think is an amazing comedic actress channel her Cat from Victorious/Sam & Cat into the role of Galinda/Glinda, however there were instances where it felt like she was trying to impersonate the original actress to play Galinda, Kristin Chenoweth. But they worked brilliantly as a duo and their chemistry bled over into real life as they became thick as thieves after filming.

And what’s a musical without dancing? Because OH MY GOD was that dance choreography legendary! I was in love and if I had paid for the screening it would more than make up for the abhorrent prices of movie tickets! And besides, this is the filmmakers’ style.

And of course, the most important ingredient being the music, every song is here with little extra, and I am delighted by this fact because adaptations tend to cut songs, characters, etc. To get the full affect I highly recommend watching in IMAX or whatever equivalent your theater has.

This shouldn’t have worked, but Director Jon M. Chu a man who has dance coursing through his veins was determined to bring the modern legend of theatre to life, and this goes for the set pieces, performances and so on. I love his work and if part two is anything like this, it could be his magnum opus.

It won't change anyone's minds about musicals, but for people like me who had to fight the urge to sing out loud, you are going to have a Wicked good time! (I'm sorry)

I give Wicked (part one a 4 out of 5)

[anewkindofme]

I started writing the first chapter of my next WIP for "My Boy" on Tuesday. Then...Wednesday happened and I had to take the day to recover...and now I am sick, but I am hoping to get it up by the end of this weekend.

Anyway, here is a sneak peek.

---

“No, but April’s been talking for about 45 minutes straight, so…” Meredith rubs her temples. “I hope we still have a babysitter.”

Addison laughs. “I think it’d take a lot more than that to scare off Miranda Bailey.”

A deeper voice echoes from closer to the living room. “Addison’s the only smart one, I see.”

It’s still odd for Mark to see Bailey dressed down. She’s in a blouse that looks like a blue and green lava lamp design, paired with some comfy pants. 

“Thanks again for doing this,” Mark says, pulling her in for a side hug, which she quickly pulls out of.

“It may not happen if your brother doesn’t stop pestering me with lists.”

Derek leans in the doorway to the living room. “Emergency contacts, Bailey. I gave you a list of emergency contacts.”

“May I remind you that I work with everyone on that list? I don’t need Amelia or Lexie’s numbers. They’re in my phone. And let’s not get into the step-by-step instructions you left for bedtime.” Mark shifts his own bag, wondering if he can hide the notebook until he’s left the house. “Don’t get that look, McSteamy. I know you have your own.”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” he fibs.

“Yeah, right.” Derek scoffs. “It’s longer than mine.”

“Wow, way to stay together.”

“Anything to get Bailey off my back.”

[forbescaroline]

FORBESCAROLINE'S 9K CELEBRATION TOP 20 GREY'S ANATOMY SHIPS (as voted by my followers) #5. Miranda Bailey and Ben Warren We may only be together five minutes every two months, but, when we do, we will savor every second. Because we both know how valuable those five minutes are.

[lopeirce]

grey's anatomy; song beneath the song

[babyjapril]

Grey's Anatomy 8.24

Flight

[emma-m-black]

Doctor White - Chapter Eleven

Tom Koracick x OC (FanFiction)

This is a super rough draft of a Tom Koracick x OC story I've had in my head. I got a ton of chapters done, but then kind of his a block at a cliff hanger and I figure, perhaps if I post it, maybe I can figure out what to do next.

Rating is probably close to PG, don't think there is any spicey bits, pretty tame.

Read: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten,

Chapter Eleven:

Elizabeth rolled over, blinking sleepily, only to catch Owen watching her. His gaze was warm, amused, and entirely too focused. She groaned, pulling the covers up over her head like a shield. “Ugh, please tell me you’re not watching me sleep.” Her voice was muffled beneath the blankets.

Owen laughed, the sound low and easy in the quiet morning. “I wasn’t watching you. I just happened to notice you do this cute little thing where your nose twitches and—”

“Stop talking.” Elizabeth’s groan deepened, and she burrowed further under the covers.

“—and,” Owen continued, undeterred, “you snore. Just a little.”

Elizabeth emerged slowly, her face appearing over the edge of the blankets like a reluctant groundhog. She squinted at him, her expression a mix of mock offense and genuine embarrassment. “I don’t like you anymore,” she deadpanned.

Owen grinned, opening his mouth to reply, but their phones buzzed in unison, shattering the cozy atmosphere. He grabbed his off the nightstand while Elizabeth reached for hers.

“Incoming traumas,” Owen read aloud, his tone resigned.

Elizabeth glanced at the screen, noting the time: 3:35 a.m. She groaned again, this time out of genuine frustration. “Guess we’re going in early.” Tossing her phone aside, she swung her legs out of bed, already moving towards the bathroom. She paused in the doorway, looking back over her shoulder with a mischievous glint in her eye. “I’m going to shower first. You’re welcome to join me.”

Owen didn’t hesitate, tossing the covers aside as he followed her. “I wouldn’t dream of saying no.”

By the time Owen pulled his truck into the hospital parking lot, both he and Elizabeth had been fortified by hastily purchased coffee—Elizabeth’s insistence, despite his initial grumbling. The emergency lot stretched before them in the pre-dawn stillness, the air sharp and cool, the kind that promised chaos was just around the corner.

Elizabeth sipped her coffee as they walked, her other hand tucked into her coat pocket. “See? Told you we’d need this,” she teased, nudging him lightly.

“You were right,” Owen conceded, though his tone was begrudging.

Inside the emergency room, the contrast was stark. The usual bustling activity had been replaced by a tense, expectant silence. A cluster of doctors—Webber, Bailey, Avery, and Koracick—stood huddled in conversation, their yellow gowns bright under the fluorescent lights.

“Perfect. Hunt, White,” Miranda snapped the moment she spotted them. Her voice cut through the quiet like a whip. “Ambulances are less than a minute out. Stop drinking your damn coffee and get gowned and gloved!”

Owen quickly handed his and Elizabeth’s coffee to a passing intern along with her purse and coat. “Resident’s lounge for hers, attending lounge for mine,” he instructed curtly before turning back to Elizabeth. “Come on, let’s suit up.”

At the gowning station, Elizabeth tied her yellow gown into place with practiced efficiency. She glanced over at Owen, who was busy slipping on his gloves. Then her gaze shifted, drawn instinctively to Tom, who stood across the room in conversation with Richard.

For a moment, Tom’s eyes met hers. His expression was unreadable, but something flickered there—something that made Elizabeth’s stomach tighten unexpectedly. Just as quickly as their gazes connected, he looked away, focusing back on the conversation.

She swallowed hard, the feeling of disappointment catching her off guard. What are you doing? she thought, chastising herself. He wanted this, didn’t he? He pushed for you to go out with Owen. But knowing it didn’t make it easier to push away the nagging sense that something between them had shifted, or perhaps had been lost.

“Come on, people,” Richard’s voice boomed, pulling her back to the present as the sound of sirens grew louder outside.

The operating room was a blur of activity, the air thick with the hum of monitors and the urgency of saving a life. Elizabeth worked alongside Richard and Jackson, her focus sharp, her movements precise.

“So,” Jackson began conversationally from his position by the patient’s leg, “you came in with Hunt this morning.” There was a teasing note in his voice.

Elizabeth glanced at him, her lips quirking into a faint smile. “Yeah, he might’ve been trying to stay the night before we got interrupted.”

Richard cleared his throat pointedly, his gaze flicking to her in mild reproach. “More suction, please,” he directed.

Elizabeth quickly repositioned the suction rod, guiding it towards the pooling blood. “Sorry, Dr. Webber,” she murmured, her professionalism snapping back into place.

The door to the OR opened, and a nurse stepped in, her voice cutting through the focused silence. “Dr. Koracick is requesting Dr. White in OR three.”

“Go ahead,” Richard said, his tone steady. “We’re nearly finished here. Dr. Avery can assist if needed.”

Elizabeth handed off the suction to a scrub nurse before carefully stepping back and out of the sterile field. Her hands moved mechanically, shedding the gown and gloves with practiced precision, but her mind was already racing. She scrubbed out quickly, adrenaline driving her movements as she left the room and hurried to the next.

The sight of Tom in the operating room greeted her, his shoulders taut with concentration as he worked on one of the incoming trauma patients.

“Go scrub in quick. I need an extra set of hands. I’ve got an AVM.”

Elizabeth didn’t need to be told twice. She rushed to the scrub room, her fingers trembling slightly as she washed up. When she re-entered, a nurse was waiting to gown and glove her. The smell of antiseptic stung her nose as she moved into position beside Tom.

“Tell me what you need,” she said, her voice steady, though she felt the weight of exhaustion pressing against her.

The seconds dragged into minutes, every heartbeat of the patient matched by the relentless ticking of the clock in her mind. And then, the inevitable. The heart monitor’s high-pitched whine cut through the room, a sound that still managed to sink its claws into her chest, no matter how many times she heard it.

Tom threw down his tools with a sharp clatter, his jaw clenched as he rasped, “Time of death, four forty-six.” His voice was rough, each word dragging like a blade. Without another glance, he moved past Elizabeth, disappearing into the scrub room.

Elizabeth lingered, staring at the patient—someone who had been alive less than an hour ago. A person with a story, now just a silent shell. She took a breath and followed Tom, wiping her hands clean and pulling off the mask. She didn’t expect to find him so undone, but the sight of him in the elevator—the way his shoulders slumped against the wall, his head bowed like the weight of the world rested there—made her heart twist.

“Tom?” she ventured softly, stepping into the elevator just as the doors began to close. She placed a tentative hand on his shoulder. He stiffened under her touch, then turned to face her, his eyes bloodshot, his expression raw.

Before she could process what was happening, Tom leaned forward, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both desperate and consuming. The air between them crackled with unspoken words and suppressed emotions, a dam breaking under the weight of their shared anguish. One hand cradled the back of her head, his fingers threading through her hair with an aching tenderness, as if she were something fragile yet vital. The other wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her closer, anchoring her to him in a way that felt both protective and possessive.

The kiss was fleeting yet electric, a jolt that surged through her veins, awakening something raw and primal within her. Time seemed to splinter, each heartbeat a resounding echo in the stillness. She could feel the heat of his breath mingling with hers, the unrelenting pressure of his lips against her own, a silent plea for connection amidst the chaos.

When he finally pulled away, her chest rose and fell as if she’d forgotten how to breathe. Her lips tingled, a phantom memory of his touch lingering, and her heart ached with the weight of emotions she wasn’t ready to name. In that suspended moment, everything felt both impossibly fragile and heartbreakingly real.

His forehead rested against hers, their breaths mingling in the small, charged space. “Promise me you’ll fight,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

“What?” Elizabeth blinked, her thoughts still scattered from the kiss.

“Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll fight,” Tom said again, his thumb tracing a line along her cheek. His eyes, so often sharp and filled with resolve, now brimmed with a vulnerability that struck her like a blow.

The elevator dinged, breaking the moment. Tom stepped away, retreating as quickly as he had leaned in, leaving Elizabeth stunned and alone as the doors slid shut behind him.

Her fingers drifted to her lips, replaying the moment, searching for meaning. But no answer came, only the lingering warmth of his touch and the ache in his words.

The next time the elevator opened, she was back on the operating floor. Owen stepped in, his familiar presence pulling her from the haze.

“Were you coming down?” he asked, looking concerned as he hit the button to close the doors.

Elizabeth shook her head, trying to muster a coherent response. “I… I must have dozed off,” she muttered.

Owen gave her a small smile, brushing it off as exhaustion. “Were you going to head home?”

“No,” she replied quickly. “I have a meeting with Amelia in two hours. I’ll find an on-call room and try to get some sleep.”

His arm slid around her, his lips pressing briefly against hers in a kiss meant to comfort. But Elizabeth barely registered it, her mind already spiraling back to the weight of Tom’s words, to his kiss.

By the time she found an on-call room, she was moving on autopilot. She leaned against the closed door, her head tipping back as she let out a shaky sigh.

“Elizabeth?”

The voice startled her, sending her heart leaping into her throat. She gasped, her hand flying to her chest as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. “Tom?”

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, his figure silhouetted in the shadows. She crossed the room and sat down beside him, her movements cautious.

“Did I imagine that kiss in the elevator? You told me to fight… it felt real, but—” Her words faltered as she saw his expression, the unspoken weight in his eyes.

Tom reached out, his hand covering hers. It was the smallest gesture, but it carried the force of a thousand words. She knew in that instant what he wasn’t saying.

“You didn’t tell me the results of my scan,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding in her ears. “It came back.”

Tom’s silence was confirmation enough. “It came back,” he repeated, the words heavier than she could bear.

Her hand trembled in his grip as the truth settled in. A sharp, panicked breath escaped her lips, and then another, each more ragged than the last. Her chest constricted painfully, the walls of the room closing in as her lungs fought for air.

“I can’t… I can’t breathe,” Elizabeth gasped, clutching at her throat as her vision blurred.

Then, suddenly, she felt him. Tom’s arms wrapped around her, his body anchoring hers as she fell apart. He held her tightly, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm against her back. His voice, low and steady, was a lifeline.

“Breathe with me,” he murmured. “In. Out. Again.”

Slowly, the darkness receded, her breaths evening out as his presence pulled her back from the edge. She turned her head, her cheek brushing against his shoulder.

“Tom,” she whimpered, her voice broken. “I don’t want to die.”

His grip on her tightened. “I won’t let you,” he whispered fiercely.

And for a moment, she believed him.

Chapter Twelve

[jxrm]

book log - 2024

diva by daisy goodwin

the heiress by rachel hawkins

only if you’re lucky by stacy willingham

the chateau by jaclyn goldis

just stay away by tony wirt

the other mothers by katherine faulker

middle of the night by riley sager

the disappearance of astrid bricard by natasha lester

every time i go in vacation, someone dies by catherine mack

the last caretaker by jessica strawser

just for the summer by abby jimenez

house of glass by sarah pekkanen

the mayor of maxwell street by avery cunningham

first lie wins by ashley elston

the phoenix crown by kate quinn

murder road by simone st. james

the fury by alex michaelides

happiness falls by angie kim

the house of last resort by christopher golden

run rose run by dolly parton

the chalice of the gods by rick riordan

there should have been right by nalini singh

the mysterious case of the alperton angels by janice hallet

darling girls by sally hepworth

the pieces around us by leigh fields

love, theoretically by ali hazelwood

the teacher by frieda mcfadden

x by jack croxell

iron flame by rebecca yarros

the only suspect by louise candlish

throwback by maurene goo

the housemaid is watching by frieda mcfadden

zara hossain is here by sabina khan

slice by angie caedis

the ways of the dead by neely tucker

orphan train by christina baker

a court of silver flames by sarah j. mass

come and get it by kiley reid

the drowning woman by robyn harding

when i bleed: poems about endometriosis by maggie bowyer

the house in the pines by ana reyes

only say good things by crystal hefner

the mother-in-law by sally hepworth

daughter of mine by megan miranda

lore olympus: volume four by rachel smythe

this time it’s real by ann liang

anna o by matthew blake

the girl with the louding voice by abi dare

where the forest meets the stars by glendy vanderah

a friend in the dark by samantha m. bailey

the wife app by carolyn mackler

howl’s moving castle by diana wynne jones

the spanish love deception by elena armas

divide by jessa russo

lies and weddings by kevin kwan

the foxhole victory tour by amy lynn green

dying to tell by keri beevis

my father, the panda killer by jamie jo hoang

the wedding party by l.r. jones

girl gone mad by avery bishop

starter wife by bethany lopez

the queens of new york by e.l. shen

theater lovers by ciara blume

once upon a broken heart by stephanie garber

the surrogate mother by frieda mcfadden

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

don’t forget to write by sara goldman confino

the next girl by carla kovach

the paradise problem by christina lauren

ivy league liars by grace costello

every summer after by carley fortune

the ballad of never after by stephanie garber

a curse of true love by stephanie garber

the devil’s storybooks by natalie babbit

expiration dates by rebecca serle

the murmur of bees by sofia segovia

growing up hadley by dana harp

the vacation by john marrs

rum punch regrets by anna kemp

the five-star weekend by elin hilderbrand

people to follow by olivia worley

the treasure hunters club by tom ryan

you shouldn’t be here by lauren thoman

trophy wife by bethany lopez

seven summers by paige toon

veridian sterling fakes it by jennifer gooch

the friendship club by robyn carr

women of good fortune by sophie wan

the smuggler’s apprentice of guatemala by lachlan page

this summer will be different by carley fortune

natural selection by elin hilderbrand

the passengers by john marrs

asap by axie oh

island of shadows by christopher kvintus

swan song by elin hilderbrand

lore olympus: volume five by rachel smythe

blue hawaiian by carla luna

the villain edit by laurie devore

hermione granger and the order of the phoenix by sara baines-miller

the hotel nantucket by elin hilderbrand

bummer camp by ann garvin

pink glass houses by asha elias

cut and thirst by margaret atwood

the exception to the rule by christina lauren

#crimetime by jeneva rose

incidents around the house by josh malerman

the mistress by valerie keogh

kiki’s delivery service by eiko kadono

when we were friends by jane green

the honey-don’t list by christina lauren

worst wingman ever by abby jimenez

the perfect couple by elin hilderbrand

home is where the bodies are by jeneva rose

the only good indians by stephen graham jones

roar by cecelia ahern

the wedding people by alison espach

look in the mirror by catherine steadman

fit to die by daniel kalla

uglies by scott westerfield

hideaway by nicole lundrigan

the fortune teller by natasha boydell

crazy rich asians by kevin kwan

the wish by nicholas sparks

how the penguins saved veronica by hazel prior

the plus one by s. c. lalli

the haters by robyn harding

china rich girlfriend by kevin kwan

rich people problems by kevin kwan

the haunting of moscow house by olesya salnikova gilmore

the lonely hearts book club by lucy gilmore

the measure by nikki erlick

somewhere beyond the sea by tj klume

adam and evie’s matchmaking tour by nora nguyen

i was a teenage slasher by stephen graham jones

here one moment by liane moriarity

badass bonita by kim guerra

zetas till we die by amber and danielle brown

shred sisters by betsy learner

one of the girls by lucy clarke

society of lies by lauren ling brown

the radius of us by marie marquardt

fantasticland by mike bockoven

sheets by brenna thummler

the boyfriend by frieda mcfadden

delicates by brenna thummler

no one will know by rose carlyle

lights by brenna thummler

counting miracles by nicholas sparks

the night we lost him by laura dave

ghost stories by ron ripley

the hitchcock hotel by stephanie wrobel

for better or cursed by kate williams

the last one at the wedding by jason rekulak

creation lake by rachel kushner

like mother, like daughter by kimberly mccreight

libby lost and found by stephanie booth

the nosy neighbour by nita prose

needy little things by channelle desamours

the reappearance of rachel price by holly jackson

not another love song by julie soto

we used to live here by marcus kliewer

the stillwater girls by minka kent

yours for the taking by gabrielle korn

52 weeks and a party of one by bianca pensy aba

youthjuice by e.k. sathue

the manicurist’s daughter by susan lieu

the invisible life of addie larue by victoria e. schwab

the housekeeper’s wedding by frieda mcfadden

what does it feel like? by sophie kinsella

the anti-heroes by jen lancaster

the christmas book hunt by jenny colgan

christmas every day by beth moran

cruel winter with you by ali hazelwood

winter in paradise by elin hilderbrand

holiday hideaway by mary kay andrews

merry ever after by tessa bailey

what happens in paradise by elin hilderbrand

the widow's husband's secret lie by frieda mcfadden

trouble in paradise by elin hilderbrand

wrath of the triple goddess by rick riordan

deep dish by mary kay andrews

buried road by katie tallo

25 days by per jacobsen

please tell me by mike omer