Adrien slams his locker door shut and lets out a heavy sigh.

Even if doctor DC told him that he only has a 0.00001% chance with her and claimed that he's happy about it, the mere thought still bothers him.

"Adrien?" A voice calls out. Adrien turns and forces a smile at the person.

"Hey Nath," he greets him.

Nath enters the locker room and opens his locker. "I thought you left with Nino an hour ago. You both live in the same unit, right?"

"Yeah," Adrien breathes out. "Nino got to end his shift on time," he mutters with his voice trailing off at the end.

Nath tilts his head in confusion as he studies Adrien's expression. "You okay?" He asks him.

Adrien shrugs it out and forces a laugh. "Don't worry about me! I should be asking how your day went. Doctor Chloe must have been all over the place."

"Oh, she really was," Nath says with a smile, not bothering to push the first topic with Adrien further. "She's the reason why I ended late today. She dragged me along to all of her patients. I'm happy I got to learn a lot today."

Adrien had to hide his frown. Nath had a good reason as to why he's still here at the hospital at a late hour.

Adrien's reason is a whole different story.

After being left behind by doctor DC, Adrien had no place to go but the nurses' station. There he waited for hours for any doctor to take him around with them as they did their rounds. It was Nurse Rose who kept on persuading him to end his shift earlier than expected, but he would not budge. Adrien waited if doctor DC would take him back to join her as she did her rounds. But it never happened.

Thus this leads everything back to the sulking Adrien.

"That's good to know, Nath. Anyway," Adrien walks away from his locker and heads to the doorway, he slings his bag over his shoulder. He looks back at his friend. "I'll go ahead."

"See you tomorrow, Adrien."

Adrien lets out another heavy sigh as he heads out of the hospital. It's night time already and the breeze is cool as it lets the hair on Adrien's arms stand. He grabs his jacket from his bag and puts it on before proceeding to walk to the apartment complex nearby.

The streetlights are one of the things that illuminate Adrien's way as he walks to his new home that he shares with Nino. The sidewalks that are always busy every morning and afternoon with vendors selling all kinds of stuff and civilians on their way to work or school are empty in this late night.

Just when Adrien turns right at the corner, he notices a familiar figure walking about a few feet ahead of him. He cocks his head to the side to make sure that his eyes were not deceiving him.

Is...Is that Doctor DC?

Even if she left him like that back at the hospital, he couldn't stop his heart beating like crazy to see her again. He felt happy yet weird about himself - he's like a lovesick person. No woman has ever made him feel this way. That's why, above anything else, Doctor DC is his angel.

The maverick doctor continued to walk ahead, not aware of the nurse behind her.

Adrien was stuck between two things: if he should go to her or not. In an instant, he didn't stick with the latter.

"Doctor!" He calls out to her, rushing to catch up to her.

The doctor glances back to check who was calling her then clicks her tongue to find that it's just the lovesick newbie.

"Why are you still here?" She asks in a monotonous voice, continuing to stride in a cool manner with her hands in the pockets of her dark blue coat. It's like as if she is still in the hospital.

Adrien fixes the sling of his bag, matching his pace with the doctor beside him. "Uh, I finished late at the hospital, doc."

"Doctor Chloe got you after?" She continues with a bored expression sketched on her face.

"N-No, actually," he answers truthfully. Adrien looks down at his feet in shame.

"Hm, thought so," she comments, still not even giving him a glance.

They continue to walk in the same direction and it's not because Adrien was following her. He is actually on the right path to his apartment, he's just not sure with the doctor beside him. He does not know where she lives.

"Hey," she suddenly says. "I suggest you train at the pediatrics department tomorrow."

Adrien almost freezes in spot but refrains from doing so as he'll be left behind by the doctor. Yet, he couldn't hide the shock that is clearly written on his face.

"Are...are you kicking me out?" He asks, already dreading the definitive answer she will give him. He has always been taught to expect the worst...and this may be the direct definition of that word.

The doctor stays silent though. She even has the audacity to run a hand through her hair, letting it loose from being tied in a ponytail. She, without a care, checks her fingernails and clicks her tongue when she notices that she needs to get a manicure.

"D-Doctor?"

"It's advice straight from a doctor." She looks at him, going up the front steps of an apartment complex. Adrien follows her.

She really is kicking me out. He thought anxiously as his heart has dropped right out of his body.

The cardiology department may have a new patient.

Him. Adrien Agreste, male, 29 years-old.

Diagnosis: Heartbreak. Stage 4A.

He continues to follow the doctor up the steps to the second floor not because he wants to ask her to reconsider everything (well, that is part of it). His unit is located in the second floor of this building.

Marinette stops in front of the door that leads to her apartment. Just now she realizes that the newbie has not left her side. "And why are you following me?" She asks, her eyebrows furrowed. If she's going to gain a new stalker, she's ready to beat him to crap.

"Uh...I live here." Adrien points at the door a few feet beside Marinette's.

Oh my God, they both thought at the same time. We're neighbors.

Adrien's thoughts though were laced with amazement and excitement. Marinette's were laced with dread.

Marinette squeezes her eyes shut and pinches the bridge of her nose. "From all places..." she grumbles under her breath. The door in front of her suddenly opens. Her roommate, Alya Cesaire, gazes at her lazily while taking a bite from a microwavable mozzarella stick.

"Hey, you're late," she utters, her mouth albeit full of cheese.

Marinette shoots a glance at Adrien then looks right back at Alya. "Sorry, encountered a road bump."

Alya scoffs as she notices the blond man watching their interaction. "Whatever." She moves out of the way to give Marinette space to enter. "Your late dinner has been waiting for you."

Marinette could feel her stomach growling for food. "Ah, just in time as my small intestines have contractions."

"Oh, shut up, doctor. Get in."

Just as Marinette takes a step forward, she pauses and turns back to the newbie who has been standing in front of his door the whole time.

"Take my advice," she merely says. Flashing him a 'friendly' smile before going inside and closing the door behind her.

Take her advice? Adrien thought sadly. He faces her door, taking one last look at it for tonight. How will I ever get to reach your heart?

------------

"Dude, I'm so happy that you'll be with me today!" Nino clasps Adrien's arm and shakes it in excitement. "It's really fun around here and it's so refreshing to play with the kids."

This department has more color and decorations than any other department in this hospital. It also has its own makeshift play area filled with toys right beside the nurses' station.

It is still Adrien's first hour in the pediatrics department and he has encountered enough children that could last for days. No wonder Nino is fit for this department. He's a natural when it comes to handling them.

"Don't always think of playing with the children, Nino," the head nurse of the department, Caline Bustier, reminds Nino from behind them. "They still are under our intensive care after all."

"A-Ah, yes, Nurse Bustier." Nino bows his head apologetically. "Sorry."

She lets out a soft laugh. "Don't think too much about it. The kids, in fact, are starting to love you here. I hope you'll choose to stay in this department."

Nino looks up and grins at the head nurse. "I'll give my best!"

Nurse Bustier then faces Adrien. "Nurse Adrien Agreste, right?"

Adrien nods. "Yes, Nurse. Thank you for allowing me to train in your department today."

The nurse flashes him a smile then juts her chin towards the corridor which leads to the patients' rooms. "Follow me. I'll show you around the area." She grabs two charts and hands one over to Adrien. She struts her way through the corridor and Adrien follows her from behind.

"Our patients here are the most talkative of them all," she starts. Adrien grabs his mini notebook from his pocket and proceeds to jot down notes. "They love to ask questions and tell stories." Nurse Bustier stops at the entrance of one room and gestures at Adrien for him to come closer. He does and looks through the clear glass on the door. Right inside the room are around six kids who are all sitting on one bed as a girl, probably the eldest out of them all, reads from a storybook out loud to them.

"They're really cute," Adrien comments as he continues to watch them.

"That's the reason why I've been the head nurse of this department for the past 15 years." Nurse Bustier looks at Adrien. "I can't let go of taking care of innocent patients like them." She starts to walk again.

"Where are we going next?"

"I'll show you how our department is connected to the main facilities in this hospital."

She leads him to an open area where there are different equipment that help test out the physical abilities of patients, especially those who are in rehabilitation.

"Our young patients also need to take the same tests such as adults," the nurse informs him. She spots one patient at the stationary bike with a doctor and nurse accompanying the patient. "Look at that patient over there that's currently undergoing an exercise stress test."

Adrien looks at the direction where the nurse is pointing at and gets surprised with how young the patient at the bike is. But he finds himself more surprised as he entirely recognizes the doctor who is with the patient.

"Why is Doctor DC here?" He immediately asks the nurse. It is such a different and unfamiliar sight to see her smile widely at the young patient. She continued to cheer for the patient and even showcased a little victory dance for the patient.

"Ah, she also has patients here," she replies, crossing her arms.

"Really?" Adrien spits out in disbelief.

"Of course! You think the 'Devil' is not capable of smiling and taking care of young kids?"

"I...Uh..." Adrien was starting to feel too shy to give her an honest answer. He rubs the nape of his neck. "...Maybe?"

"The patient she is talking with right now is diagnosed with Pediatric cardiomyopathy. Her name is Manon. She's 11 years old and has been coming in and out of this hospital for the past two years. Doctor DC has been taking care of her ever since."

Adrien starts to notice how Manon pushed the pedals slowly yet with much effort. With her brown hair tied into a ponytail, the beads of sweat forming on her forehead have started to accumulate. "But...why would Doctor DC be in-charge of a patient in the pediatric department?" He asks, still in confusion, "Don't you have pediatricians to take care of her?"

Nursr Bustier hums then turns to Adrien, tilting her head. "You're planning to be part of the cardiology department, right?" She asks instead of answering.

"I...I am not so sure," he answers. "It was Doctor DC herself who told me to help out here today. I think she kicked me out of the cardiology department..." He lets out a heavy exhale.

"Well, I don't think so," she quips.

"Huh? How so?"

"A lot of the new nurses think that once they choose a department to work at, they only stick to that particular department." Nurse Bustier lets out a chuckle then shakes her head. "That's not the case at all. Some of the patients you'll take care of will be as old as 90 or as young as Manon. It is our job, as nurses, to know how to handle people of different ages. Just like how Doctor DC handles the kids who specifically need her help here. Take Manon, for example. She needs a heart transplant for her to get cured, and fortunately Doctor DC is well-renowned in that area."

Adrien watches Doctor DC bring out her hand for Manon to high-five with her. Instead Manon reaches out to the doctor and embraces her, taking Doctor DC by surprise. The doctor lets out a laugh and hugs her back.

"I don't think Doctor DC meant to kick you out of the cardiology department," Nurse Bustier continues while watching the interaction of the doctor and patient as well. "rather she gave you the exposure you need. Think about it, Nurse Adrien. Out of all departments, why would she recommend the pediatric department to you?"

And that reignites the flame that was extinguished recently in his heart.

There is hope after all.

Finally, he allows himself to smile while continuing to watch his favorite doctor take care of her patient.

He'll try to gain back all the confidence he's lost. He'll show Doctor DC that he is meant to be in the cardiology department.

And he'll show her that he is worthy of her heart, as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heyyy, hope you liked this short chapter hahaha

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