Machines hummed softly and distant footsteps echoed down the hallway. The chaos from earlier still clung to the air like static.You stood near the nurses’ station, arms folded tightly.

Across the room, Dr. Robby was reviewing charts like nothing had happened.Like Dr. Mohan hadn’t collapsed on the floor two hours ago.

You exhaled slowly, then walked over and talk to him "Dr. Robby."

He didn’t look up but still speak up "If this is about the trauma intake forms-"

You cut him "It’s not."

Now he looked at you and his eyes were tired, sharp, impatient.But didn’t back down until you say "You didn’t have to treat her like that."

Robby frowned slightly. "Treat who like what?"

"Dr. Mohan and you told her to go home like she was useless."

"She couldn’t work." Robby’s gaze sharpened."You’re an intern and you don’t get to lecture me on how this department runs."

You held his stare. "No, but I know what I saw." The hallway felt smaller now as you keep going speaking to him "She thought she was having a heart attack and the first thing she heard when she came back around was you telling her she was a liability."

Robby looked away for a moment, irritated."We don’t have room for breakdowns in the middle of trauma intake."

You cut him again , "Then maybe we should stop pretending we’re machines."

That made him look back, really look.

Your voice was steady and eyes were burning."She’s one of the best doctors in this department and today she needed help."

A long silence followed. Robby rubbed the back of his neck. "You think I don’t know that?" he muttered.

You didn’t answer.He sighed heavily. "I shouldn’t have said it like that." It wasn’t quite an apology but it was the closest thing Robby ever gave easily.You nodded once, "She respects you." you said.