drgunther

[drgunther]

"Well, where to start?" he began, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "I'm originally from New York, currently in my first year of residency as a surgeon. It's been quite the journey so far, to say the least. I've always been passionate about medicine, and I feel fortunate to be able to pursue it as a career."

He paused momentarily as the waiter arrived with their drinks, offering Rory a friendly nod of thanks before continuing. "Outside of work, I enjoy staying active - whether it's hitting the gym or going for a run. But enough about me, what about you? What do you do when you're not out on dates with charming surgeons?" he asked playfully, a twinkle in his eye. @auroraxjackson

Closed starter for @drgunther

Location: The Delyle

Being on a date for the first time in what felt like forever, Rory was both nervous and excited. So when she and Gavin had matched with each other on Hinge, she was down to meet up and see how things went. After they had made it to the restaurant and got a table, Rory was excited to get to know him. "So tell me a little about yourself," she asked as they were waiting for their drinks.

[drgunther]

Gavin sighed softly, understanding the frustration in her tone. He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together on his lap before responding. "I hear you," he said gently, his voice devoid of any pretense. "And yes, I'm done for now. We'll see each other in three weeks for your check-up. If the pain gets worse come in immediately, for now take care until then." @camilaquintanalopez

"Thanks," she said with a sigh. Yeah the situation sucked. It would've been difficult enough without Gavin here, but things were as they were and there was little she could do now but try to handle it. She looked out the window as he spoke. It was too much. She didn't look back to him when she replied. "They already did interfere. I get it, you're doing your job. Don't pretend to understand though, because you don't. Now are you done?"

[drgunther]

the end.

Sarah simply nodded with a sigh. “I can see we’re not going to get anywhere here, and I think I’ve made myself perfectly clear where I stand. Do your job and then as soon as she’s cleared, you leave her alone. As long as you’re in this town, I’ll make sure you do that.” She definitely didn’t expect to be having that conversation when she went to get her morning coffee, but she did promise Camila that she would have a word with Gavin. As far as she was concerned, she said everything she needed to say, and if Gavin stuck to his word, they wouldn’t need to have the conversation again.

[drgunther]

Gavin met Sarah's intense gaze, his expression unwavering as she laid into him. "Sarah, I understand your anger, and I won't deny my past mistakes. What happened with Camila was a terrible decision on my part, and I've regretted it every day since. But here, in this hospital, I'm not her ex-fiancé. I'm a surgeon. My job is to save lives, and that's the role I'm committed to, regardless of personal history."

He sighed, trying to convey the complexity of his situation. "I didn't choose to be placed here randomly, and I certainly didn't plan to end up in the same town as Camila. The medical board decides where residents go, and they don't consider personal matters when making those decisions. I can't change my past, but I can control how I handle my responsibilities now."

Gavin stood up as well, his tone firm but not confrontational. "I know you want what's best for your sister, and I respect that. But my focus is on being the best damn surgeon I can be. If that means working in the same town as Camila, then so be it. I won't let personal history compromise the lives of the patients I'm responsible for. That's the reality of my job, and I take it seriously." @sarahpetersonruiz

"How can you appear to be so detached and cold about all of this? You're acting like she's a patient you gave the wrong dosage to, not your ex-fiancé." She took a moment, shaking her head. She knew she was getting nowhere with him, but she wanted to say everything she had bottled up for the past few weeks when Camila told her what had happened. "You can say whatever you like, but I just can't accept that you somehow were placed in this town randomly, and you had no idea that Camila would be here. Either karma fucking hates you, or you truly didn't give two shits about Cami if you couldn't even remember what town she's from in the years you dated her." She threw back the rest of her coffee, sliding back the chair from the table. "You might not be afraid of me, but you should take me seriously. I swear to god, if you come anywhere near my sister or hurt her again in any way, you will be afraid of me." She stood up from the table, grabbing her bag. "That's all I came to say. Have the day you deserve."

[drgunther]

Gavin acknowledged Verity's greeting with a nod, a subtle tension hanging in the air. "Hey," he replied, his tone guarded. The mention of the new year added a layer of awkwardness that neither of them could ignore.

"Yeah, Happy New Year," he replied, his eyes briefly avoiding hers. As they waited in line, Gavin couldn't help but acknowledge the elephant in the room. "It's really hard to avoid people in this town, huh?" he said, a faint smile attempting to lighten the mood, though the weight of their shared history lingered beneath the surface. @veritywagner

Verity didn't often treat herself to things. Having been so focused on saving up as much as she possibly could in order to be able to fulfil her long term dream, straying in her spendings wasn't something she often did. But thanks to her uncle, she didn't need to worry about that anymore. Therefore, she had made her way to the coffee shop for the second time this week to grab a coffee on her way to work. As much as the past year had been looking down for Verity, things were finally starting to look up. As she stepped foot inside the shop, the smell of brewing coffee immediately made her feel more awake as she approached the counter slightly with her eyes glued to the menu, before the drifted to the other person inside. She kind of froze in her tracks for a moment when her eyes landed upon Gavin. Taking a deep breath, she forced her lips into a slight smile. "Hi.." She responded, turning slightly to place her order before she returned to the waiting line next to him while they made the orders. "Um.. Happy New Year.."

[drgunther]

Gavin nodded, acknowledging Cami's agreement. "I appreciate your understanding, Cami. And yes, you'll need to make the appointments as you leave today. I'll make sure everything is in order for a smooth transition."

He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully, "I get it, Cami. I know my presence isn't easy for you. I never intended for things to get this complicated, but I'm committed to fulfilling my professional responsibilities. I won't let my personal mistakes interfere with the job, and I'll do my best to minimize any discomfort for you during this time." @camilaquintanalopez

Until the end of the day sounded way too long. Being there doing nothing all day would already be difficult on its own but knowing Gavin was nearby didn't make things easier. It used to, but that seemed so far away now. "Okay." She replied.

And she listened. It was awkward and she wished she was anywhere but here, but she knew this was important. "Alright, will I need to take the appointments as I leave today?" She asked and then sighed. "I know, you don't need to keep repeating yourself."

[drgunther]

Gavin maintained a steady gaze, acknowledging Sarah's anger without flinching. Taking a deep breath, he spoke with a calm yet firm tone, "Sarah, I won't deny the pain I caused Camila. I messed up, and I take full responsibility for that. I understand your anger, and I'm not here to make excuses or seek forgiveness. I can't change the past, but I can control how I move forward."

He continued, "I'm not here to worm my way back into Camila's life. I know I lost that privilege. My actions have consequences, and I respect her need for distance. My focus now is on rectifying my mistakes and learning from them. I'm not afraid of your threats, Sarah. I know the damage I caused, and I'm not trying to downplay it. But my presence here is solely for my job, not to disrupt anyone's happiness." @sarahpetersonruiz

Sarah simply rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You don't get it, do you? There is no way for you to make this right. There is no way for you to snake your way back into her life or make us suddenly forget what you did. Do you not realise that you were engaged to be married to Camila? You led her into a false sense of security; a false sense of belief that you were going to be committed to her for the rest of your lives. You ripped that away from her and completely ruined her ability to trust. You can't stick a bandaid over this and 'make amends'. You can sit there and say you're sincere until you run out of air, but your words mean fucking nothing. Your actions show everything we need to know. I'm not here for any sort of apology or resolution, I'm here to promise you that I will make your life hell if you come anywhere near my sister or interfere with her happiness in any way. Am I making myself crystal clear?" She leaned over the table, her dark eyes piercing into Gavin's, unblinking.

[drgunther]

Gavin sighed inwardly, aware of the tension between them. "I know this isn't the most ideal situation, Camila. I get it," he said, his tone serious. "But you need to stay at least until the end of the day for observation. After that, you can head home."

He looked at her with a hint of regret. "I won't push you to stay longer than necessary, but you'll need to follow up with physical therapy twice a week. It's crucial for your recovery," he added, trying to keep a professional tone despite the awkwardness. "I want you to heal properly, Camila. That's the priority here." @camilaquintanalopez

It was difficult and weird to pretend like this was all normal and it was just a discussion between a surgeon and a client. Camila wanted nothing more than to leave but it would prove to be a little hard at the moment even if the doctors somehow agreed. And seeing the doctor was exactly who she was trying to avoid, it's even worse. She did her best to listen without anything clouding her thoughts. Someone should have been there with her to take notes because she wasn't sure she was paying attention all that much.

She kept in mind that at least, that whole ordeal was on the way out. If she'd only gone home when she should've, none of this would be happening. She might have been in the dark and cold at home, but this would've been avoided. She couldn't contain a sarcastic laugh when Gavin talked about her wellbeing. It slipped out. "Sure." She replied. "Okay, I understand. Hm, how long do I have to be here?"

[drgunther]

Gavin gave Isla a reassuring smile as he noted her concern. "It's just a minor power hiccup. These things happen sometimes," he said, gesturing to the flickering lights, and the gust of wind outside. "And no, I don't work here. I'm usually at the hospital working as a surgeon. Just came in here to seek shelter" he said shaking his head. @islaricci

The End.

Isla had just made it through the doors of the animal shelter when a familiar face approached her. Opening her mouth to speak, a small gasp emitted from it instead once the lights flickered for a moment. “Oh gosh, things are really taking a turn for the worse!” She huffed, arms folding themselves tightly around her in a poor attempt to warm up. “And yes, I’m okay—“ She eventually confirmed, smiling at him, “Are you? I didn’t think you worked here?” She added as she didn’t recall seeing him in here before but was left confused by the scrubs he was wearing.

[drgunther]

where: coffee shop who: @veritywagner

The soft hum of the coffee shop provided a backdrop as Gavin stood in line, waiting for his order. He absentmindedly stirred his thoughts, contemplating the day ahead. The chime of the door interrupted his musings, and as he turned, his eyes met Verity's. Time seemed to pause for a moment as their gazes locked.

Gavin's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and uncertainty. It had been a while since their last encounter, a time when he'd promised to leave Verity alone. He hadn't expected to bump into her again, especially not in a place as mundane as a coffee shop. Torn between acknowledging her presence and respecting the boundaries he'd promised to uphold, he hesitated, a swirl of emotions playing on his face. "Hey"

[drgunther]

Gavin maintained a professional demeanor, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "Camila, we've successfully removed the foreign object from your leg. The procedure went well, and we've taken steps to ensure the wound is treated properly. You're in recovery now, and we'll monitor your progress closely."

He glanced at her medical chart, keeping the conversation focused on her care. "You'll need some time to recover, and we'll be here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions about your treatment plan or need anything, feel free to let me know. My priority is your well-being." Gavin avoided delving into their personal history, maintaining a professional boundary in the hospital setting. @camilaquintanalopez

Camila had thought herself safe in the university and ended up with burettes in her leg. Had followed a long while with nothing but sort of moral support. She'd been so relieved when emergency services were finally able to get her to the hospital she'd forgotten Gavin worked there. And not only did he work there, he'd been assigned to her. She probably could've protested but she also knew that the hospital was probably really busy and she didn't want to wait more than necessary. And despite Gavin's many flaws, she knew she would be in good hands. Reluctantly.

"G- Dr. Gunther." She replied. It wasn't a Cami and Gavin conversation. It was a Camila and her surgeon conversation. "Okay... So what's going on?"

[drgunther]

Gavin sighed, his expression showing a mix of frustration and understanding. "Sarah, I'm not trying to pull an angelic act. I can't just pack my bags and leave; it doesn't work that way with residencies. The board decides, and I go where they place me. I didn't choose East Haven, and I certainly didn't know Cami was here until I arrived. And about holding things over her, that's not my intention. I'm her surgeon, and I'm here to do my job professionally. If there's a way for me to make amends, I want to try. But I get it, trust is earned, not given freely."

He leaned back, looking at her earnestly. "I understand you're protective, and you have every right to be. I can't change the past, but I'm here to do my best in the present. If you have concerns, let's address them. What can I do to prove I'm sincere about making things right?" @sarahpetersonruiz

Sarah let out a small, unamused laugh as she shook her head. "I find that really hard to believe, because if you truly were regretful, you'd pack your bags and go find another hospital hallway to haunt," she shrugged. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, taking another sip of her coffee and wishing it was something stronger. "Sorry, I'm not buying this whole angelic act. The last thing that poor girl needs is you holding this over her to try and get her to forgive you. She doesn't owe you anything, and the fact you even had the audacity to slime your way into her hometown just shows what type of person you are. So, are we going to be honest with each other or are you going to continue to be a shit-faced little liar? Why did you really come here?"

[drgunther]

Gavin's hand froze mid-air as he reached for his coffee, the familiar voice cutting through the hum of the coffee shop. Sarah's presence sent a jolt of tension through him, and he turned to find her sitting across from him. Her words, laced with sarcasm, hung in the air, and he felt the weight of guilt settle on his shoulders.

"Sarah," he began, his voice carrying a mix of remorse and unease. He took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "I know I messed up, and I'm not expecting you to forgive me. What happened between Cami and me is something I'll regret for the rest of my life."

Gavin shifted uncomfortably in his seat, avoiding direct eye contact. "Right now, my focus is on Cami's well-being. I'm her surgeon, and I'm here to ensure she gets the care she needs. I understand if you're angry, and you have every right to be. But I'm not here to make excuses. I just want to do my job and make sure Cami is okay." @sarahpetersonruiz

(closed starter @ the human bean with @drgunther)

Sarah let out a yawn as she waited in the queue to get her coffee. She had gotten to the point in her pregnancy where sleep didn't exactly come easy, and she had tried to hold off her coffee for as long as possible, knowing she was only going to be able to have one. Just as she reached the counter and placed her order, her ears pricked up when she heard the barista call an order. "I have a coffee for Gavin". Her eyes followed the figure of a man who made his way up to the counter to grab it, and suddenly her tiredness disappeared.

She waited until she got her coffee before she casually slipped into the chair opposite Gavin, deciding to completely skip the niceties. As far as he was concerned, he didn't deserve them. "I was wondering when I'd have the pleasure to run into you," she started, a sickly sweet smile on her face as she took a sip of her coffee. "What, was hell full for the day?"

[drgunther]

where: hospital who: @camilaquintanalopez

The sterile scent of the hospital room couldn't mask the tension as Gavin entered, his gaze meeting Cami's as he closed the door behind him. The air seemed charged with unspoken words and the weight of their shared history. He maintained a professional demeanor, aware that their personal issues needed to be set aside for the moment.

"Cami," Gavin began, his voice a blend of concern and clinical precision. "You've just come out of surgery. The procedure went as well as could be expected, but I need to inform you about the injuries we've been dealing with since the storm. It's been chaotic, and the situation is challenging, to say the least."

[drgunther]

"Gavin, but call me Gav." He said nodding his head. Gavin returned Mo's smile, appreciating the camaraderie in the midst of uncertainty. "Absolutely, Mo. Comfort and support can make a world of difference in times like these." He paused, considering the storm's unpredictability. "We should also try to gather information. Is there any news about emergency services or rescue efforts? Communication might be sporadic, but it's worth checking." @moxfontenelle

"Mo," he chuckled, rarely going by Morgan unless it was by his parent's. Even Morgan felt too formal for the laid back man. "Yeah, at least we will be able to have some comfort from them and give them comfort as well." Mo smiled at the other, "Yeah?" He looked down at his phone himself, glancing at the time once more. There was no telling how long they'd have to stay where they were. "What are you thinking, if anything?" @drgunther

[drgunther]

Gavin glanced around the makeshift shelter, the gravity of the situation reflected in the faces of those seeking refuge. The storm raged outside, a symphony of chaos and destruction that seemed distant yet ominously present. "Glad to hear you're holding up," Gavin replied, his expression mirroring a mix of concern and determination. "We need to gather essential supplies – blankets, water, and any non-perishable food we can find. There's a storage room nearby; let's check there first."

As they navigated through the shelter, Gavin continued, "We're going to need everyone's cooperation. Keep an eye out for anyone who might need assistance, especially the elderly or children. The more organized we are, the better chance we have of getting through this." @alaricfarrow

The overwhelming intensity of the situation was not lost on Alaric, feeling like a fish out of water, beyond the confines of his comfort zone. He was familiar with the educational halls of Heywood University, the smell of books and the sound of his students' chatter among the lessons he taught. Though, not with this. Not with a storm as disastrous as this one.

Following Gavin, Alaric took note of each syllable the surgeon spoke, confirmed he'd understood with a nod. "That sounds reasonable," he agreed. "What would we need?" And as he was asked about his own wellbeing, he took a moment to pause, as if he'd have to give it some seconds of serious contemplation. "I am fine. A little shaken, perhaps, but overall, I am fine." Unlike some others who had come in to seek refuge. A pause and Alaric only deemed it appropriate to pose the question in return. "And you?" @drgunther

[drgunther]

Gavin took a moment to absorb her words, a mix of understanding and regret filling his eyes. He could sense the pain in her voice and the difficulty of the situation they found themselves in.

"I hear you," he said softly, his gaze meeting hers. "I won't push myself into your life. You've got enough on your plate, and I respect your need for space. Congratulations on the postdoc offer; that's a fantastic opportunity."

Gavin took a step back, acknowledging the weight of the past that lingered between them. "I know I messed up, and I'm truly sorry for the hurt I caused. If you ever change your mind and want to talk, I'll be here, but until then, I'll respect your wishes. Take care of yourself." @camilaquintanalopez

END.

She hated that he was right but he was. She'd left New York so fast and hadn't warn many people of where she was going. It had all happened very fast. She'd told her own sisters she was here only after she'd arrived. She couldn't even fault him for not warning her, she had him blocked everywhere and wouldn't have answered if she didn't. "I got a postdoc offer at the university. It was all pretty last minute," she admitted. She looked down. It wasn't like she could chase him out of town and she wasn't leaving. "Just stay away then. This is hard enough."