

Description
Dr. Ethan Clarke, a confident, rule-bending new resident, clashes with his no-nonsense mentor, Dr. Ava Grant, from the moment he enters the hospital. Their opposing approaches to medicine lead to constant tension, but as they navigate the pressures of saving lives, mutual respect begins to surface. Ethan's attempts to break through Ava's guarded exterior are derailed when her colleague, Dr. Spencer, surprises everyone with a public marriage proposal. Now, Ethan must decide if he's willing to fight for Ava or step back and let her choose her own path. In a high-stakes hospital environment, professional boundaries blur, and both must confront their feelings before the moment slips away.
Chapter 1
Nov 19, 2025
A New Resident
"Clear the way!" a deep, urgent voice boomed through the ER doors as a gurney barreled in, pushed by a tall, disheveled man in scrubs.
His brown hair was unruly, his stethoscope swung wildly around his neck, and his piercing green eyes were laser-focused on the unconscious woman on the stretcher.
Dr. Ava Grant, standing a few feet away with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. She was used to chaos in the ER, but this? This was another level.
"Who’s that?" murmured one of the nurses.
“New resident,” a med tech replied. “Dr. Ethan Clarke.”
Ethan didn’t wait for introductions. "Patient is a 34-year-old female, found unresponsive. BP’s tanking—60 over 40. Suspected cardiac tamponade. We need a pericardiocentesis, now!" He locked eyes with a nurse. "Sterile gloves and an 18-gauge needle. Let’s move!"
“Wait!” Ava’s sharp voice sliced through the room as she stepped forward. "Who authorized you to take charge here?"
Ethan glanced at her briefly, his hands steady as he continued prepping the patient. "No time for introductions, Doc. Unless you’d like to let her die?"
The other residents and nurses froze, their eyes darting between the two doctors like spectators at a tennis match. Ava’s jaw tightened, but she stayed rooted, watching as Ethan slid the needle into the patient’s chest with precision.
“BP’s rising—90 over 60,” a nurse reported.
Ethan exhaled, his expression softening. "That’s more like it."
Before he could bask in the moment, Ava stepped in, her tone icy. "Who gave you the authority to bypass protocol, Dr. Clarke?"
Ethan turned to her, wiping his hands on a towel. "The patient gave me the authority when her life was on the line."
The room was silent. All eyes were on Ava.
“Everyone, back to your stations,” she ordered curtly. “And someone get this patient to imaging.” As the staff dispersed, she faced Ethan. “Follow me.”
Ethan smirked, unfazed. "Lead the way, Dr…?"
“Dr. Ava Grant,” she snapped, already walking toward an empty consultation room.
Once inside, she shut the door behind them and turned to him, arms crossed. "I don’t know how things were done wherever you came from, but here, we follow protocol. Your little stunt might have worked this time, but if you ever pull something like that again without consulting me, I will personally see to it that your residency ends before it starts. Are we clear?"
Ethan leaned casually against the wall, his smirk never fading. "Crystal. But for the record, I didn’t see anyone else stepping up to save her."
Ava’s eyes narrowed. "You’re reckless."
"And you’re intimidating," he countered. "But that’s not necessarily a bad thing."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "You think this is a joke?"
He shrugged. "No, Dr. Grant. I think this is medicine. Sometimes, you have to act fast."
Ava inhaled sharply, reigning in her temper. "You may have impressed the residents with your theatrics, but this isn’t a show. If you’re going to be part of my team, you’ll do things by the book. Understood?"
Ethan held her gaze, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "Understood."
"Good." She opened the door. "Now, get to orientation. You’re late."
"Yes, ma’am," he said with a mock salute, earning a glare from Ava as he strolled out.
Ava found herself in the hospital’s conference room, addressing the new batch of residents. She scanned their eager faces, but her gaze landed on Ethan, who sat at the back, legs crossed and arms draped over the chair like he didn’t have a care in the world.
"As your mentor," she began, "my job is to ensure you leave this program as disciplined, competent surgeons. That means hard work, long hours, and—most importantly—respect for protocol. If you’re not prepared for that, there’s the door."
Ethan raised a hand, his casual demeanor drawing muffled chuckles from the group. Ava’s eyes narrowed. "Yes, Dr. Clarke?"
"Does respect for protocol include saving lives, or is that optional?"
The room went silent. Ava stared at him, her tone razor-sharp. "You think you’re clever, don’t you?"
He grinned. "I’ve been told."
“Well, cleverness won’t save you here,” she shot back. "Skill and discipline will. Let’s see how far your charm gets you in the OR."
The residents exchanged uneasy glances as the tension crackled between them. Ethan, however, seemed thoroughly amused.
After the orientation, they all moved out, including Ethan after giving her a brief smile.
In the locker room, Ethan was packing up when one of the other residents, Jamie, approached him. "You’ve got guts, man. Taking on Dr. Grant like that? Most of us are too scared to even look her in the eye."
Ethan shrugged. "She’s tough, but she’s fair. I can respect that."
Jamie laughed. "Fair? She looked like she wanted to strangle you."
"Maybe," Ethan admitted. "But she’ll come around. They always do."
Jamie shook his head. "Good luck with that. Dr. Grant’s like a glacier—cold, hard, and immovable."
Ethan smirked. "Glaciers melt, eventually."
As Ethan headed out, he couldn’t help but replay the day’s events in his mind. Dr. Ava Grant was undoubtedly the most intimidating mentor he’d ever had, but there was something about her—something that made him want to prove her wrong. Or maybe… prove himself to her.

Code Blue: I'm Falling for You
10 Chapters
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