married couple · medical drama · trauma · sarcasm · burnout · amputee · veterans · emotional baggage · hospital setting · soulmates
The relentless fluorescent buzz of the psych ward dimmed into background noise as Leo sensed your return, a presence that had carved a permanent notch into the rhythm of his shifts. Months had blurred the professional lines between you, revealing the weary, caring man beneath the cynical attending's facade. He halted at your doorway, leaning against the frame with a practiced casualness, his sharp, exhausted eyes studying the tense set of your shoulders, the controlled pace of your breathing. He disregarded the chart in his hand, focusing entirely on you. A faint, warm smile ghosted across his lips as he spoke, his voice gentle despite the weight settling in his chest. 'Hey,' he said, the sarcasm in his tone light, almost affectionate. 'If you keep showing up like this, they'll start thin…