Dr. Dixon officially joined the team.
In the blink of an eye, it was Christmas Eve.
Holidays always turn the ER into a war zone, so after glancing at a few pics of festive outfits from his assistant Lisa, Adam circled a super cheery red embroidered qipao mini-skirt and headed straight to the chaos.
"George, head home early, yeah?"
It was already past shift hours, and seeing George still hanging around, Adam nudged him. "Spend some time with Mrs. O'Malley."
"No need."
George shook his head. "She's got Ronnie and the gang with her. One more doesn't make a difference. Besides, home's not exactly feeling like a reunion anymore."
"You sure?"
Adam gave him a once-over, checking his vibe.
"Positive."
George nodded firmly.
"Alright then."
Adam shrugged, then turned to Carter with a smirk. "What about you? Still here? Isn't there a Christmas tree near the Carter estate begging for your axe? I bet the Carter family tomahawk's itching to chop!"
"My folks are off in England."
Carter grinned. "It'd just be me and the staff back home—kinda boring. I'd rather stick around here and learn a thing or two from you, Dr. Duncan."
"Tsk tsk!"
Adam couldn't help but marvel at Carter's old-money flex.
Old money's old money for a reason—casually dropping "the staff" like it's nothing! 😏
"Need any help?"
"She won't do!"
"Can I assist you with something?"
"He's no good either!"
While Adam chatted with George and Carter, a nearby conversation caught his ear.
Lexie had spotted a middle-aged couple lingering by the ER nurse's station, looking tense and uneasy. Being the sweetheart she is, she'd asked if they needed help.
But the husband took one look at her, turned away, and muttered, "She won't do."
Then Melendez stepped up to offer help, only to get the same treatment—a quick glance and a firm "He's no good either."
"Thanks, but we'll wait a bit longer," the wife said, clearly embarrassed.
"Anything I can do for you?"
Adam strolled over with George and Carter in tow.
"He won't do either!"
The husband, visibly uncomfortable, flicked his eyes at Adam and immediately looked away.
"He's Adam Duncan—the genius doctor!"
The wife jumped in quick. "Let him take a look—he can definitely help us!"
"I'd rather have someone… more seasoned."
The husband snuck another glance at Adam, recognizing him after his wife's nudge, but still grumbled under his breath.
"We're all doctors here, and we're plenty professional."
Adam, already piecing it together, kept his tone serious.
"My husband and I—"
The wife started, only to get cut off by her husband.
"Our kids are off at college—one at Stanford, one at Columbia."
He stepped in front of her, dodging the topic entirely.
"So?"
Adam eyed him. "Are your kids the ones needing medical help?"
"Of course not!"
The wife slipped around her husband, spilling the beans. "It's Christmas Eve, the kids aren't home, so we thought we'd try something new… something slick. And, uh, we lost it…"
"Rachel!"
The husband, mortified, tried to stop her, dropping the hand-to-face act. He blurted to the growing crowd of docs, "We read about it in a magazine…"
"Right here!"
Rachel, catching on, yanked a tattered magazine from her bag and handed it to Adam.
Her husband didn't stop her this time—just rubbed his eyes again, avoiding everyone's gaze.
"20 Ways to Reignite Your Long, Lonely Nights…"
Adam read the title with a straight face, all pro-like.
Carter and the others? Their faces started twitching.
"We tried number nine," Rachel mumbled, turning her head to avoid eye contact.
"Alright, Grey, get her into a gown and order an X-ray—"
Adam barked the order on purpose.
"Not me!"
Rachel waved her hands frantically. "It's him! He did number nine!"
"We did it together," the husband clarified, red-faced.
"Sure, but I didn't get it stuck in—"
Rachel, equally flustered, tried to shift the blame. "Point is, it's him—he's the patient!"
"Okay, sir, please take a seat."
Adam stayed cool and collected. "We'll sort this out for you."
"…I think I'll stand, actually."
The husband, done pretending, finally owned it.
"My bad—lie down then."
Adam kept it professional. "Carter, O'Malley, take Mr. Kramer for an abdominal X-ray."
"Got it."
Carter and George jumped into action.
"Pfft!"
Once they were gone, Lexie couldn't hold it in anymore and snorted.
"Professionalism, Grey!"
Adam cracked a grin himself.
"Yes, sir."
Lexie bit her lip, struggling to keep it together.
"This magazine's a bestseller, huh?"
Adam flipped through it, handing it to Melendez with a tease. "Bet Dr. Sloan or Sadie's tried number sixteen."
"Hahaha!"
Lexie lost it, bursting into laughter.
Melendez skimmed it and couldn't help but smirk too.
Soon, Carter and George wheeled Mr. Kramer back on a gurney, X-rays in hand.
Adam held one up to the light for everyone to see.
Carter and the crew were dying trying not to laugh.
"Guys, we're doctors—keep it pro."
Adam shot them a look, then turned to the patient, all business. "Mr. Kramer, your bilateral abdominal X-ray shows a foreign object. We'll do a sigmoidoscopy and remove it manually."
"You can get it out?"
Mr. Kramer's face lit up.
"Absolutely."
Adam nodded. "If it went in, we can get it out—unless it's some expandable special material. With the right medical approach, it's no problem."
Emmm…
Even if it's something tricky that noninvasive methods can't handle, surgery's an option.
But then Mr. Kramer might really have to kiss his precious hips goodbye.
---
Operating Room
Adam guided Carter through the sigmoidoscopy. Amid Mr. Kramer's yelps, they extracted the object.
"Damn it, I'm never chasing thrills again!"
Mr. Kramer let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Good call."
Adam chuckled. "Some things you shouldn't mess with. Once you cross that line, there's no going back. You said this was to reignite your spark, right?"
"Yeah!"
Mr. Kramer nodded.
"If you keep chasing thrills like number nine—props, wife, the whole deal—"
Adam gave him a knowing look. "It's a slippery slope to some dark places. Not only might you fail to rekindle things, but your wife could end up burned to ashes, and the whole relationship goes up in smoke.
Not worth it.
Up to you, though."
In this zero-sum game, his wife could easily lose everything.
Judging by her vibe, she didn't exactly seem eager for him to try number nine either.
Emmm…
Best not to overthink it.
Mr. Kramer: "…"
(Chapter End)