After getting the scoop he needed from Agent Jesse Peggy, Adam let his imagination run wild for a bit before tossing all that unrelated stuff out of his head.
The next day, he zeroed in on the fourth and fifth cases for his clinical research project.
These two lucky ducks?
One got sidelined by Mr. Aubrey's bad-luck filter.
The other got swept up in Mr. Aubrey's lucky streak.
Adam was feeling good about it.
These cases weren't just gonna work out—they'd push his research to new, exciting heights.
Bright and early, he took the Fab Four on rounds.
"Hey there!"
"Dr. Grey, is that him?" A teenage girl on the bed sized Adam up while shooting Lexie a sneaky wink.
Last night, Adam had assigned the short intern and Lexie each a patient. Clearly, Lexie hit it off with hers.
"She gave you a nickname," Lexie said, throwing an apologetic glance his way.
"Oh?" Adam was in a great mood lately—patient teasing didn't faze him. He grinned at the girl. "What's it?"
"The New York Medical Center Cranium Cracker!" she said with a playful smirk.
"Sorry about that," her parents jumped in quick to apologize.
Calling him a "cranium cracker" could easily conjure up vibes of a certain infamous ripper. Not exactly a compliment.
"No worries!" Adam waved it off with a laugh. "Cranium Cracker, Adam's Hands—whatever works. Though in the hospital, just stick with what everyone else calls me: Dr. Duncan."
"Got it, Dr. Duncan!" the girl chirped, flashing a cheeky grin.
She tried to salute like a soldier, but one arm wouldn't budge, and the other barely twitched before she gave up. Her eyes dimmed.
The tumor had already half-paralyzed her. 😔
"So, walk me through the surgery?"
"You're injecting a virus into her tumor?" her parents asked, worry creasing their faces.
"Yup, an optimized virus," Adam explained. "Max damage to the tumor, minimal harm to the patient."
"There's still risk, right?" her mom pressed, anxious.
"Yeah," Adam nodded. "It's research-stage stuff—risks are high."
"But you've pulled it off before, haven't you?" her dad asked, hopeful.
"Yep!" Adam smiled.
"Oh, so I'm not the first?" the girl fake-pouted. "Guess if I make it, I won't get my name in the medical books!"
"Even if no one had succeeded before, you still wouldn't," a voice laughed from the doorway. "Because I'll be the first success—and the one history remembers!"
Everyone turned.
The girl's face lit up like a firework.
"You didn't call," said a good-looking teenage boy, pointing at her with a fond, teasing grin.
"I thought you bailed," she said, beaming so hard tears spilled out.
"Break our deal? Never," he said, strolling over to her bedside.
"Come here!" She strained to lift her one working arm, hooked it around his neck, and—bam—public makeout session engaged. 😘
"They know each other?" Lexie's eyes went all gooey.
Adam glanced at the girl's parents.
Her dad shot his wife a helpless look, begging her to step in.
Her mom stood there, stunned, before finally breaking up the lovebirds.
"Jamie, what are you doing here?" she frowned.
"He's the other clinical research patient," Adam clarified.
"I knew Beth didn't find this trial on her own!" her mom grumbled.
"Maybe they found it together," Lexie piped up. "Tons of people apply for Dr. Duncan's trials—it's pure luck they both got picked."
"So, it's me and Jamie's fate, huh?" Beth said, practically glowing.
"Dr. Duncan, can we talk outside?" Beth's mom shot him a pointed look.
"Sure." Adam knew they didn't want to air this in front of Beth. He led them out—not far, just outside the room, blinds up so he could keep an eye on things. No way he'd let this escalate into something Beth's parents couldn't handle.
"They met last year at the Mayo Clinic," her dad explained. "Chemo together, radiation together, even joined the same support group for kids like them…"
"You don't want them together?" Lexie asked, surprised. "Having a support buddy like that in sickness can boost Beth's will to live—it's good for her!"
"Dr. Grey!" Adam gave her a sharp look.
"No, no, we like Jamie—he's a good kid," Beth's dad said quick. "I feel for him, no family around, but we're worried about Beth. She thinks she's in love, and we don't want her getting too attached, especially to someone who…"
"Who might not make it," Adam finished, nodding. "You're scared if Jamie doesn't pull through, Beth might give up—even if her surgery works."
"Exactly!" Both parents nodded hard. "You get it, right, Dr. Duncan?"
"Yeah," Adam said. "Let's hold off on this talk and focus on today's surgeries first."
Back in the room, the scolded couple played nice, sticking to mushy heart-to-hearts.
By the time Adam and the parents returned, the sappy stuff was winding down, and they'd switched to catching up.
"Oh, forgot to tell you—who do you think called me?" Beth said. "Carroll from the support group. You talked to her lately?"
"Nah…" Jamie hesitated. "She…"
"Oh God," Beth got it instantly.
"Her husband said they tried one last round of radiation. Didn't work," Jamie said with a bitter smile. "Her last day, she didn't even recognize him. That kind of pain…"
They both went quiet.
Beth's mom's eyes screamed "get him out but don't break her heart"—a total mess of a vibe. 😣
"Hey, at least we don't have to worry," Beth rallied first, forcing a smile. "Surgery's gonna work—Dr. Duncan's already nailed it once with those Adam's Hands…" She glanced at Adam, then back at Jamie. "And even if it doesn't, no pain for us, right?"
"Right," Jamie perked up, leaning in so their foreheads touched, sharing warmth and strength.
"…" Adam felt a chill—like a bad omen creeping in.
Later, Beth's mom insisted on switching rooms to keep her away from Jamie.
Beth flat-out refused, even threatening to kick her mom out in front of everyone—saying it'd let her kiss Jamie properly.
Then Jamie hit the floor, convulsing.
Adam jumped in, pulling off a clutch save. Once Jamie stabilized, he put the short intern on watch and ordered pre-op rechecks.
"Dr. Grey, what'd you say?"
Outside the room, Lexie sidled up with a hushed suggestion—and Adam's face went dark. 😑
(End of Chapter)