Doctor to OR

I walked through the thick glass doors and the smell of sterilisation assaulted my nose immediately.

The fluorescent corridors teamed with life as bodies rushed too and fro. Even at two in the morning, the hospital was alive and running at full steam.

I made my way to the cafeteria, which thankfully was mostly empty. A friendly familiar wave to the cafeteria-staff and I sat myself down at a table, placed the coffee I had brought on the cool marble surface and powered up my laptop.

I had been catching up on work for about half an hour, people came and went. A doctor rushed over and plopped herself down in the seat next to mine.

"Oh shit! I'm sorry I'm so sorry I'm late." The words tumbled out hastily, her hands moved about with manic speed, her eyes darted back and forth clearly in a panic.

I held up my hand and pointed at the coffee.

"Oh thank fucking god!"

She leapt forward and grabbed one of the foam cups, punched the lid open with surprising speed and began gulping it down.

I closed down the laptop, took my own cup of coffee and watched my companion visibly relax as the caffeine hit her bloodstream.

"Mmmmmmmm Caramel Frappacino. You get me bae."

"That I do, love. Because." I winked.

"Because. D'accord," she agreed.

She undid her hair which had been held at the back of her head like the plumage of a hawk, and let it fall to her shoulders. She closed her tired eyes and her mouth curled into a smile of bliss as she took a well deserved break from saving lives and giving hope.

"Bae you have the meeting tomorrow. You didn't have to come over so late," she said with sudden seriousness.

"Shush you."

I leaned over and we shared a caffeine sweetened kiss.

"No seriously, go home and sleep. I'll be home in a -"

I interrupted her with another peck.

"Mmmmmmmm," her smile widening even more.

"I will bae, in just a bit. I'll finish up this report and head home."

"Abhi chalay jao naaa. Get in bed and work."

"Naaah I like being close to my bae," I winked again, trying to annoy her.

But she didn't crack. Her smile betraying her mischievous intent, "acha na jao, whatever."

She snuggled into my arm and placed her head onto my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her and held her close, enjoying our warmth.

"Long day, huh?"

She nodded sleepily.

"It'll be over soon, love," I kissed her forehead.

"Mhmmm."

Her phone beeped. A text from the OR.

"Back to being an angel, dear?" I teased.

She punched my arm, gave me a deep hug, and a quick sweet kiss, "I love you, Jay."

"Go go! I love you Roobaby. See you in just a bit."

Cowboy, Ninja, Viking.

The man walked into the dingy room, his purposeful gait ringing in the bar.

His wide, manic eyes scanned every corner from underneath his stetson.

Nine bald, tattooed, snarling Yakuza thugs. They huddled around tiny tables, groping barmaids, gulping bad beer and inhaling worse weed.

A twisted smile formed on the man's thin lips, a finger traced the hilt of the katana on his hip.

"Tell you what mate, you kill more of these shits than me and I'll give you my whole bottle of Inderal."

"You are on."

"Heh."

The man, tall and thin, glared at the scum in the room. The thugs noticed his presence and lifted their heads from their cards, flexing muscles, revealing side-arms and blades.

"Let the game begin. You can just hand me the bottles now."

The man's arm blurred and two thugs slumped dead in their chairs, throwing stars perforating their bodies.

"Psssh, you are getting slow there mate! Watch this."

The Yakuza, aware of being under attack, rushed the stranger.

The man's left hand whipped a six-shooter from his side and unloaded into the charging attackers. Four more hit the dirty ground, brains and guts spilling out of bullet holes.

"Dammit."

"Guess another sleepless night for you mate!"

"It is not over yet, gaijin. These two are mine."

"ENOUGH! I WANT BLOOD!"

The man hefted the battle axe strapped to his back with both hands and decapitated a thug with a single blow.

"HAHAAAHAA! NOW THIS IS FUN!"

The surviving baddie pissed himself in fear as the man approached.

"See you in helheim, cocksucker."

The axe fell once, twice, thrice and the thug littered the floor with his limbs, head and spleen.

"Dammit you barbarian shit! This was between me and pyjama boy!"

"I need Inderal to fucking sleep."

"Ain't my fault you both are fucking pussies."

The man closed his eyes and rubbed his fingers into his temples, brow deeply creased.

"Shut the fuck up all of you."