DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything, I'm just a fan and borrowing the characters.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
Epiphany
By lysachan
I've always wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to help people and make a difference. So corny but also so true. And by being part of the NIH's number one team I can do just that. Not that it's easy: the globe's full of gross bacteria and weird viruses which we have to face almost daily and I'd be lying if I said it didn't get to me sometimes. There're moments I truly question my choices in life; like being a doctor and not letting someone else with more experience do this job. What the hell was Stephen thinking when he hired me?!
And this is definitely one of those 'questioning' moments. Why do we bother with these deseases anyway? Clearly someone's trying to let us know this planet's way over-populated and what are we doing? Trying to stop natural selection from happening.
Not that stopping seems very likely in our current case. I've tested all the samples and compared the discovered virus with all the other viruses we have in our records. Search result: no matches. Nothing. I can't help glaring at an enlargement of the bug on my computer screen. Well, fuck you too.
I lean back in my chair, closing my eyes and exhaling slowly. There's a soft knock on the door and I'm greeted by a sweet smile as I look up. No matter how pissed off I am, a happy smile quickly makes an appearance on my face as well. And the familiar tingling somewhere deep inside of me makes a comeback, once again.
"I though I'd bring some coffee. You've hardly stepped out of here today" Eva steps in and hands me a paper cup full of steaming hot coffee. I gratefully accept it and after taking a small sip I look up, surprised.
"Well someone's done her homework"
"Hey, everybody knows you drink yours black" she shrugs but there's a little smile playing on her lips. For a moment there she looks almost shy. "So, no luck yet, huh?" she continues after a while and points to the screen where red and blue worm-like objects are slowly moving around. She takes a seat next to me, her eyes still on the colourful picture.
"No, nothing. I've tried everything. It's not even in our database" I sigh and take another sip from my cup.
"You'll figure it out" her voice is so confident that I almost believe myself. Finally I just shake my head and snort. "Oh c'mon Nat, you always do" she adds after seeing my disbelief. God, her smile could melt the Antarctic Continent.
"Let's hope so. I can't really afford to fail, Stephen's counting on me" I offer a weak smile in return.
"In case you haven't noticed you're not in this team alone" she rolls her eyes.
"I know that, I do. It's just, well, this can be a bit overwhelming at times. And sometimes I'm not so sure I'm the right person to do this. Too much is at stake, you know?" I can't believe I just admitted that.
"I think we all go through that phase every now and then" she says, fiddling with her own coffee cup, now half empty.
"But I don't think I'm supposed to" I add quietly after realising she understands me. "I mean, I should be sure. I should feel like I'm the best one for this job. But instead I feel like there'd be dozens of fine doctors better than me"
"I pretty much doubt that. Just the fact that you sometimes question things makes you better than the rest of them" I must look shocked because she chuckles and shakes her head. "You're a great doctor and you know it. Stephen wouldn't have chosen you otherwise. And at least you're a real doctor, I'm just a press liaison" she grimaces.
"Oh please, you're so much more. You've no idea" I smile. There's a brief silence. Not one of those uncomfortable silences but one you're just happy to share with someone.
"I should probably leave you with that bug thing" she gets up and tosses her empty cup into a trash can. "Can't be that difficult tho. Keeping this thing from the whole damn press, now that's difficult" she adds smiling and winks.
"Well, good we have the best press girl then" I can actually feel my cheeks changing colour to bright red. Even if she notices she doesn't say it.
"Damn right!" her smile grows even wider. "Don't worry Nat, you'll figure it out" she adds confidently before opening the door.
"See you later Eva" I watch her turn around.
"Yes, you will" her smile's lighting up the room once more before the door closes. I sit quietly for a minute. A faint smile still on my lips I return to my work.
Suddenly my life doesn't seem so bad after all.
The End