Medical Center – Nurse Station
"Dr. Duncan!"
A female nurse called out to Adam.
"Rosie, what's up?"
Adam stopped and smiled.
Remembering everyone's name in the hospital was a small challenge he set for himself.
For him, it was easy.
But to others, it was a sign of respect.
Details make all the difference.
"There's a case here that needs your attention."
The nurse, Rosie, beamed at him.
"A gunshot wound to the head?"
George, who was flipping through medical records, caught a glimpse of the patient file in her hand. His eyes widened. "That's not fair! I've been digging through these files for so long, and you just had this one hidden away?"
"They're all patients, and they all need doctors."
Rosie explained seriously, "Different cases require different doctors. This one happens to need a doctor as outstanding as Dr. Duncan."
"…"
George's chubby face was full of grievance.
Women these days…
"He survived a gunshot to the head?"
Adam walked over, took the file, and was genuinely surprised.
"Not only did he survive, but he also drove himself to the hospital to schedule surgery."
Rosie nodded toward the waiting area.
"A miracle."
Adam followed her gaze and saw a middle-aged man sitting there, flipping through a magazine. The bullet hole right in the middle of his forehead was glaringly obvious.
"Thanks, Rosie."
Adam sincerely appreciated it.
A case like this? Whoever gets it is lucky.
Sure, Rosie was looking out for him.
But it was also just his good fortune.
After all, if the patient had come too early or too late, she wouldn't have dared to do this. She probably saw Adam arrive and immediately pulled the file from the stack.
Meanwhile, poor George had to sift through them one by one, while the nurses registering patients had the full picture.
"You're welcome."
Rosie blushed slightly and hesitated before asking, "Dr. Duncan, can I get a copy of last night's lecture recording? I'd love to study it."
"Of course."
Adam was only briefly surprised before agreeing.
He had made multiple copies anyway, planning to distribute them and spread his reputation.
Nurses might be at the bottom of the hospital hierarchy, so they weren't the best for boosting his name.
But hey, why not?
Besides, maybe she really meant it.
There were nurses who worked hard, studied diligently, got into med school, and eventually became doctors.
"Thank you."
Rosie's smile grew even sweeter.
Of course, she wasn't actually planning to study it.
She wouldn't even understand most of it.
Nurses transitioning to doctors were rare. Becoming a doctor wasn't that simple.
She wanted it… as a movie.
At this point in time, the term "fangirling" didn't exist.
But her actions were a perfect example of it.
"You're welcome."
Adam nodded at her and walked toward the patient, file in hand.
"Mr. Linden? I'm Dr. Duncan. Mind if I do a quick examination?"
"Of course not."
Linden put down his magazine.
As Adam began his exam, Linden started explaining. "I was cleaning my gun when I accidentally pulled the trigger. I thought I had already removed the magazine. I never expected this to happen."
"Oh, really?"
Adam gave him a knowing smile.
Why not just say you're some kung fu master?
Pointing a loaded gun at his own forehead, pulling the trigger, failing to stop the bullet with his fingers—but miraculously surviving because of some invisible force?
Now that would be a great story.
"You don't believe me?"
Linden got anxious. "It was an accident! You don't think I tried to kill myself, do you?"
"Relax."
Adam reassured him. "I'm a doctor. My job is to remove the bullet from your head. The rest isn't my concern. But the police will want to ask you about it."
"The police? Why do they need to be involved?"
Linden became even more flustered.
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"Any gunshot wound must be reported to the police. It's the law."
Adam explained, "Even if it was accidental. The key is whether the police believe your story."
Linden fell silent for a moment, then muttered, "Everyone makes mistakes. I'm no exception. And now I'm paying the price for mine."
Adam glanced at him thoughtfully. "Mr. Linden, we need to do a CT scan first."
"Whatever."
Linden seemed disheartened.
When the CT scan came back, Adam was amazed.
The bullet had entered through his forehead but miraculously avoided all major brain structures and lodged itself inside.
"Oh my God! Doctor, how's my husband?"
When Adam returned to the hospital room after calling Dr. Sheppard, a middle-aged woman was already standing by the bed, panicking.
"He needs surgery, but the exact plan will be determined once Dr. Sheppard arrives."
Adam explained.
Dr. Sheppard arrived shortly after.
"Duncan, what's your take?"
"From the CT scan, we only need to clear out the necrotic tissue caused by the bullet's path. We don't have to take the risk of removing the bullet itself."
Adam said, "It's the safest approach. The downside is that he won't be able to undergo an MRI in the future, and airport security might be a hassle."
"Sounds good."
Dr. Sheppard nodded, then turned to the Lindens. "That's the plan. Removing the bullet is risky. Leaving it means some inconveniences. Your decision?"
"We'll leave it in."
The couple answered in unison.
"Alright."
Dr. Sheppard closed the file and instructed, "Duncan, schedule the OR and run pre-op tests. Let's get this done soon."
"Yes, doctor."
As Adam returned from scheduling the surgery, he heard a heated argument inside the room.
"I've loved you for 21 years! I forgave you!"
"You cheated! Don't act all magnanimous! You betrayed me!"
"I have a bullet in my brain!"
"That doesn't make us even!"
"You shot me!"
"Oh, please. When you cheated, you should've seen this coming! We've been together for 21 years—do you just now realize what I'm like?"
"…"
Adam stood outside, half amused, half speechless.
So there was more to the story.
It really was an accidental shooting.
But Linden accidentally shot himself first—then got shot for real by his wife.
She must be from Texas, just like Adam.
But Linden must really love his wife.
Without some insane luck, he'd be dead.
And his wife? She definitely meant to kill him—hence the direct headshot.
As Linden was being wheeled into surgery, the police arrived to question his wife.
Adam shook his head.
With her fiery temper, even if Linden covered for her, unless the police decided to look the other way—like Adam—it'd be impossible to keep it under wraps.