As Hayden headed out of the room to get Owen something to eat, Emily greeted him at the door with a sympathetic smile. "Hey, how's he doing?" she asked, nodding towards Owen.
Hayden's expression softened. "He's okay. Just a bit shaken up."
Emily patted his arm. "You did good, doc. You saved him."
Hayden smiled, a hint of exhaustion creeping into his eyes. "Just getting him some food. Be right back."
As he slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him, Blake and his bodyguards approached him. "Bro, are you okay?" Blake asked, his eyes scanning Hayden's face.
Hayden nodded, trying to brush it off. "I'm fine."
But Blake wasn't having it. He started checking Hayden for any injuries, his hands moving with a familiarity that made Owen's eyes narrow.
Meanwhile, Owen and Emily watched the scene unfold through the door glass, their view unobstructed.
"Maybe you're right," Emily said, her voice low and teasing. "These two might be into each other."
Owen's face darkened, and he clenched the bed sheets, his knuckles white. He didn't like the way Blake was touching Hayden, his hands all over him. A spark of jealousy ignited within him, and he felt a growl building in the back of his throat.
He turned away from the glass, his eyes fixed on the wall, trying to calm himself down. What was wrong with him? He had no reason to be jealous. Hayden was just his doctor, his friend...
But the feeling lingered, simmering beneath the surface, as he wondered what exactly was going on between Hayden and Blake 😊.
Minutes passed
Hayden walked back into Owen's room, a tray of food in his hands. Owen looked up at him, his expression neutral, but Hayden could sense a hint of tension.
"Food's here," Hayden said, setting the tray down on the bedside table.
Owen glanced at the food, then back at Hayden, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What did you bring?"
Hayden smiled, trying to read Owen's mood. "Just some soup and crackers. You need something bland to settle your stomach."
Owen's gaze lingered on him, as if searching for something. Hayden shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
"Nothing," Owen said finally, his voice a little softer. "I just... "
Hayden leaned forward, interested. "What?"
Owen's eyes flicked to the door, then back to Hayden. "Just wondering what Blake wanted."
Hayden's expression turned serious. "Just checking in. He was worried about me."
Owen's eyes seemed to darken, but he said nothing, focusing on the food instead.
Hayden watched him, sensing the tension. Was Owen... jealous?
"Hey," he said softly, reaching out to touch Owen's hand.
Hayden snap out his thoughts "I'm fine. Just here to take care of you."
Few days later
a sense of unease settled over Greenview Hospital as a government convoy arrived, flanked by heavily armed guards. The hospital's staff watched in trepidation as the government officials escorted a patient, clearly infected with the zombie virus, into the hospital.
Dr. Patel, the hospital's head, met with the government representative, her expression stern. "We cannot in good conscience admit this patient. It's a risk to our staff, our patients, and the community."
The government official, a stern-looking man with a cold expression, shook his head. "This patient is a VIP. They require the best care, and that's what we're going to provide. I assure you, the nurses and doctors here will handle it."
Dr. Patel's eyes flashed with frustration. "You can't just bring a zombie into our hospital and expect us to-"
The official cut her off, his voice firm. "I'm not asking, Doctor. I'm telling you. This patient is staying here, and it's your job to make sure they receive the best care possible. Do I make myself clear?"
The doctors and nurses exchanged worried glances, knowing that admitting the patient would put everyone in the hospital at risk. But the government's word was law, and they had no choice but to comply.
As the patient was wheeled into a specially prepared isolation room, the hospital staff couldn't shake the feeling of unease. This was a ticking time bomb, and they were just waiting for it to go off
Hayden's expression was grim as he rejoined Owen, who was watching the commotion with concern. "This is bad," Owen said, his voice low. "How are we supposed to treat them when we have no cure for them yet?"
Hayden's jaw clenched, but before he could respond, a professor approached him, a look of urgency on his face. "Dr. Hayden, I need to speak with you."
Hayden excused himself and followed the professor to the lab, where the affected patients were being kept behind a glass enclosure with electric fencing.
"Why did you bring me here?" Hayden asked, his tone curt.
The professor's eyes lit up. "I heard you were a scientist, Dr. Hayden. I thought you might be able to help us create a cure."
Hayden's expression turned dismissive. "That was a long time ago. I'm a doctor, not a scientist. Let the scientists do their job."
The professor looked taken aback, but Hayden didn't wait for a response. He turned and walked out of the lab, his mind racing with thoughts of Owen and the danger they were all in
Hayden walked back to Owen's room, his eyes scanning the scene before him. Owen was talking to a doctor, who was looking increasingly agitated.
"...you need to start taking care of the patients, Owen. It's part of your training," the doctor was saying.
Hayden's expression turned stern as he interrupted. "What's going on here?"
The doctor turned to him, a hint of defensiveness in his voice. "Dr. Hayden, I was just telling Owen here that he needs to start taking care of the affected patients. It's a great learning opportunity."
Hayden's eyes narrowed. "Did you ask me for permission to assign Owen to those patients? He's my intern, and I decide what he's ready for."
The doctor's face fell, and he took a step back. "Ah, no, Dr. Hayden. I didn't think it was necessary to-"
Hayden cut him off, his voice firm. "It's necessary. And now, I think you've got other patients to attend to."
The doctor nodded hastily and beat a quick retreat, not daring to question Hayden's authority again.
Owen watched the exchange with a mix of surprise and gratitude. "Thanks, Hayden," he said, his voice soft.
Hayden turned to him, his expression softening. "No problem. You're not going anywhere near those patients without proper training and gear. We can't risk it."