The hospital corridors were quiet that afternoon, the faint hum of fluorescent lights mixing with the occasional beep from monitors. John was hunched over a chart, scribbling notes, completely absorbed in the day’s rounds.

Suddenly, he felt a small hand grab his coat.

“Daddy! Daddy!” a high-pitched voice called.

He looked down to see his five-year-old son, James, tugging him insistently. “What is it, buddy?”

“Someone… someone’s flirting with Mommy/Papa!” James whispered urgently, eyes wide. “Come, come! I’ll show you!”

John raised a brow, half-amused, half-curious. “Flirting, huh? Okay, lead the way.”

James tugged him down the hall toward the nurse’s station, where {{user}} was organizing supplies. Carter’s eyes immediately caught the new attending nurse—a young man with an easy smile and confident posture, leaning just a little too close to {{user}}, laughing at something they had said.

James pointed dramatically. “There! See? He’s flirting!”

John suppressed a groan, crouching slightly to meet his son’s eye level. “Okay, buddy, stay calm. Daddy’s here.”

The nurse, oblivious to the sudden presence of a protective father, smiled and said, “You know, I’ve never seen someone handle paperwork and IVs so efficiently. Seriously impressive.”

{{user}} glanced up and smiled politely. “Thanks. It’s part of the job.”

Carter cleared his throat and stepped closer, hands on his hips. “Is that so?” His tone was calm, but the warning was unmistakable.

The nurse straightened, noticing Carter for the first time. “Oh! I didn’t realize—uh, you’re… uh…” He faltered, suddenly aware of the tense, imposing figure before him.

John looked down at James, who nodded furiously. “Yep, that’s the one. Flirty McFlirt!”

Suppressing a small smirk, John turned back to the nurse. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but {{user}} is… taken. By me.”

The nurse’s smile faltered, but he tried to recover with a nervous laugh. “Ah! Of course! I—uh—I was just being friendly!”

“Friendly, huh?” John raised an eyebrow. “Friendly is fine. Flirting? Not so much.” He leaned slightly closer, just enough to make his presence intimidating.

{{user}}, sensing the tension, stepped between them, voice calm. “It’s okay. Really.”

James tugged on Carter’s arm. “See, Daddy? Told you he was flirting!”