ep 1

(Police Officer x Doctor, Slow Burn, Emotional Depth)

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Dr. Leo Evans had always found peace in the sterile quiet of the emergency room. The hustle and bustle of the hospital, the constant influx of patients, and the soft hum of machines felt like home to him. But tonight, something was different. The usual calm was replaced by an odd tension that gnawed at him.

He stood by the nurse’s station, reviewing the list of patients for his next round. His thoughts kept wandering back to the conversation he’d overheard earlier.

"Officer Cole Mason—on his way in."

Leo glanced up at the front entrance of the ER, spotting the tall figure of a police officer walking in. Cole Mason, the cop who seemed to always end up here after some altercation or accident, was as much a part of the hospital routine as the late-night caffeine runs.

Leo had never spoken to him more than a quick greeting, but something about Cole always caught his attention. The way he carried himself, with an unspoken burden, the slight frown that never left his face. Cole's sharp eyes and muscular frame made him a striking figure.

But tonight, Leo noticed something else—something that had nothing to do with his uniform or his role as a first responder. It was the way Cole seemed exhausted. His normally confident stride was slow, weighed down by an invisible load.

"Dr. Evans," one of the nurses called out, snapping Leo from his thoughts. "We have a situation with Officer Mason. He’s been in a scuffle, and there’s concern about possible fractures."

Leo blinked, his heart skipping a beat. He quickly walked toward the treatment area, his mind already running through possibilities. Cole, a man of action, rarely ever showed signs of vulnerability. What had happened?

---

When Leo entered the treatment room, he found Cole sitting on the examination table, wincing slightly as he removed his jacket. A large bruise was already forming on his shoulder, and there was a cut on his lip that had begun to swell.

"You look like you’ve been through a war zone," Leo remarked, trying to break the ice.

Cole glanced up, and for a moment, their eyes locked. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—something fleeting, yet intense. Cole didn't smile, but there was a slight softening in his expression.

“Yeah, well, part of the job,” Cole replied, his voice gravelly.

Leo moved closer, gently placing a hand on Cole’s shoulder to guide him back onto the table. “Let me take a look at that bruise. It might be a fracture, but we need to be sure.”

Cole gritted his teeth, trying to mask the pain. Leo couldn’t help but notice the way his breath hitched slightly, as if he was trying to be tough, to avoid showing weakness. It was something Leo admired, but it also made him feel a strange desire to help, to ease whatever discomfort Cole was carrying, even if it wasn’t just physical.

As Leo examined the injury, he let the silence linger between them, both men acutely aware of the tension that had formed in the room.

“I’ve never been to the ER for myself,” Cole finally said, his tone a bit lighter, though there was still an edge to it. “But I’ve seen enough to know what a mess it is.”

Leo chuckled softly, pulling out a sterile wipe to clean the cut on Cole’s lip. “Well, you’re certainly not the worst case I’ve seen tonight.”

Cole let out a small laugh, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Leo couldn’t help but wonder what was behind that guarded exterior.

“You always this calm when you’re around injured people?” Cole asked, his voice low.

Leo met his gaze, his heartbeat quickening for reasons he couldn’t fully explain. “It’s just the job, Cole. You learn not to panic. There’s always something to fix, something to heal.”

For a long moment, Cole said nothing, just watching Leo’s hands move as he worked. The tension between them seemed to build with every passing second. There was something undeniable about the quiet intensity that filled the space.

“You’re a good doctor,” Cole said finally, breaking the silence. “I’ve been to a lot of ERs, and I can tell you really care about your patients.”

Leo felt a warmth bloom in his chest at the compliment. It wasn’t often that someone saw him beyond the white coat and the medical title.

“Thank you, Cole,” Leo replied, his voice sincere. “It’s what I love doing.”

Cole’s eyes softened slightly, a flicker of vulnerability slipping through the cracks of his tough exterior. “I think I could use someone who cares right now.”

Leo looked up at him, their faces now mere inches apart. There was something unspoken in the air, an invisible thread that connected them, pulling them closer with every heartbeat.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Leo asked gently, his hand resting on Cole’s uninjured arm.

Cole’s eyes dropped to Leo’s hand, and for a brief moment, he didn’t say anything. It seemed like he was weighing the decision—whether to open up or to shut himself off, as he always did.

Finally, Cole shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Maybe not tonight. But I appreciate it, Doc.”

Leo smiled, pulling back slightly. He could respect Cole’s need for space. He wasn’t one to push, but there was a part of him that couldn’t help but want to reach out, to offer Cole a sense of peace.

“Alright,” Leo said softly. “Just let me finish up here, and I’ll get you some pain meds.”

---

As Leo finished tending to the injury, the silence between them felt comfortable—no longer awkward, but filled with unspoken understanding. Cole wasn’t ready to open up yet, but Leo could tell there was more to the man than what he showed on the surface. And maybe, just maybe, Leo could be the one to help him heal.

“Thanks, Doc,” Cole said as he stood up, pulling his jacket back on. “I owe you one.”

Leo watched him, a soft smile on his face. “No need for that. Just take care of yourself.”

Cole paused at the door, turning back to Leo. His gaze was steady, almost searching. “You ever get off work early?”

The question surprised Leo. “I… yeah, sometimes.”

Cole’s lips curved into a smirk. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime. Off duty, I mean.”

Leo’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Cole was suggesting…?

“Yeah,” Leo replied, feeling his pulse quicken. “Maybe we can grab a coffee sometime.”

And just like that, there was a spark—something that hadn’t been there before, something promising.

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To be continued.....

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