The Surgeon's Nightmare

(Thoughts in italics)

(Draco’s POV)

He wasn’t ready for this. He could never have prepared himself for what was about to bring him into the operating room downstairs. Draco ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

Why didn’t I say something when we graduated?

Why couldn’t I have just faced my fear and told him?

A loud buzzing sound tore through Draco’s thoughts. It was his pager. Draco worked in a hospital. His mother supported him the whole way. There were only two things that she didn’t support that Draco did anyway. Draco got his dream job, a Trauma Surgeon in a hospital. Except, it was a muggle hospital and he moved into the muggle world. There were times when he forgot that he ever came from a wizarding background. Sure he missed his mother and some of his friends but he truly loved living in his house and he loved his job. His job never ceased to amaze him but, one day his job got the best of him.

Draco looked down at his pager and ran out of his office. He walked over to the incoming patient. The patient didn’t look recognizable. At least, not with all the blood covering his face. Draco followed the paramedics and nurses into an open hospital room and watched as they transferred the patient onto the bed. A nurse, April, was doing chest compressions. April was Draco’s best friend in the hospital other than Dr. Crockett Marcel. Crockett had personally trained Draco himself.

“Hello Dr. Malfoy, how nice of you to join us.” Dr. Marcel said in his usual upbeat voice.

“Crockett,” Draco said, nodding his head towards Dr. Marcel. “Do we know who the patient is?” Draco took another step into the room.

“According to the ID in his wallet, Harry Potter and he’s 23. He’s got three broken ribs, a possible Pneumothorax, and a ruptured spleen.” One of the doctors said from the corner of the room.

Draco felt the all too familiar lump rise in his throat but he immediately swallowed it.

“Shit.” Draco rushed over and moved April out of the way, taking over chest compressions. He was giving CPR to the boy he’d been in love with since their fifth year at Hogwarts.

Why did it have to be him?

Why couldn’t it have been me?

Why did this have to happen now, right when I start thinking about him?

Please, Merlin, let him live!!

In his mind, Draco was praying to every God, magical or not, that he knew of, hoping. Hoping that one of them would bring Harry back to life. He’d been without a heartbeat exactly three and a half minutes.

God Dammit Harry. You better not die on me. If you do I will be immensely pissed off. Please don’t die.

Right as Draco said that in his mind, the machine began beeping. There was a pulse. It was strong and steady.

“Thank Merlin!” Draco whispered under his breath.

“What was that?” Crockett asked, looking a bit relieved that Harry had ‘come back’.

“Dr. Marcel, can I have a moment?” Draco asked, gesturing to the door.

“Of course.” Crockett followed Draco out into the main reception area of the hospital.

“What’s going on Malfoy?”

“I know this patient is supposed to be in your care but, can I take over?” Draco asked in one breath.

“What is it with you and this patient?”

“Nothing,” Draco said, looking down at the floor.

Crockett seemed to relax as a wave of realization washed over him. “You know him.”

Draco nodded his head in response. “I’ve known him since we were eleven and if anything were to happen to him while I’m around, I couldn’t live with myself. I couldn’t live with the fact that my friend died and I could’ve done something to help but didn’t.”

Crockett lay a hand on Draco’s shoulder. Draco flinched at the touch then relaxed into it. “Draco, you know that I can’t.”

Why did I even bother asking?

I knew he was going to say that, it’s standard procedure. He can’t just “hand-off” a patient to a new doctor.

Draco sighed and began to back up. “I knew you would say that. It was worth a shot to ask.”

“But, in this case, I’ll make an exception. The patient is now in your care.” Crockett smiled a smile that made Draco laugh.

“Thank you, Crockett. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Believe me Draco, I do. Now go, your patient is being taken up to the OR.”

Draco didn’t need to be told twice. He ran to the OR and got scrubbed in.

You’re going to be okay Harry. I promise. I can’t lose you this time. I won’t lose you.

Draco stepped into the OR and saw Harry, unconscious and a breathing tube down his throat. He lost so many people in his life, he couldn’t possibly lose Harry too. This had to be the best surgery he would perform.