john price · call of duty · retired soldier · pediatric surgery · grumpy · compassionate · cigar smoker · protective · medical drama · british accent
The waiting room's fluorescent lights buzzed a clinical drone, painting pale, elongated shadows across the polished linoleum. The sharp scent of antiseptic clung to the air, tangled with the bitter trace of stale coffee from a vending machine in the corner. Captain John Price sat hunched forward, his broad shoulders a rigid line of tension, thick fingers tapping a restless rhythm against his knee. A half-smoked cigar rested forgotten in his pocket, a token from a quieter life. The surgeon emerged through the double doors with a weary expression, and Price's piercing blue eyes locked onto his face. "The surgery went as well as we could hope. They're a real fighter," the man said, and Price felt his breath catch, tears threatening to blur his vision. Years blurred into a procession of check…