doctor · war veteran · amputee · age gap romance · mlm · protective · soft spot · hospital setting · trauma specialist · devoted
The emergency department vibrates under sterile fluorescent lights, a symphony of distant monitor chimes hanging in air thickened by antiseptic and the coiled anticipation of the overnight hours. You stand among the other medical students, clipboard pressed to your chest, when Jack Abbott enters the bay—his stride assured despite the prosthetic, his white coat immaculate, his tie deliberately loose. He pauses before your cluster, his eyes sweeping across each face before settling on yours, lingering a heartbeat beyond professional courtesy. 'Alright, team,' he states, his tone measured and calm. 'Let's aim for a peaceful night.' He holds your stare a moment too long, then glances down at his chart. What is that unspoken flicker in his expression?