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The first time she slit a man’s throat she felt sick to her stomach The second time? Not so much

After she cut five or six an to feel like an extension of her body, and she started to take it all in stride The exhilaration subsided, and so did the nausea There was no longer a rush of anxiety, no longer a racing heartbeat Blood didn’t faze her The thrill was gone, and that, in her line of work, was a very good thing

Dr Eleanor Kathleen Sullivan, or Ellie as she was called by her farueling surgical fellowship in one of the busiest trauma centers in the Midwest Since trauled and brutalized bodies It was her responsibility to put theether, and as a senior fellow, she had the added duty of training the first – and second-year residents

St Vincent’s e, and Ellie was finishing what she hoped was her last surgery of the day, a repair of a splenic rupture A teenager, barely old enough to have a driver’s license, had decided to test the limits of the speedo the car over an e upside down in an open field Lucky for hi a seat belt, and luckier still, aso and was able to call for an aency room just in time

Ellie was observed by three second-year surgical residents, who hung on her every word She was a natural teacher and, unlike 90 percent of the surgeons on staff at St Vincent’s Hospital, didn’t have ly patient with the medical students and residents While she worked, she explained—and explained again—until they finally understood what she was doing and why No question was deenificant or foolish, which was one of the many reasons they idolized her, and for the eous didn’t hurt Because she was such a talented surgeon and supportive teacher, all these fledgling doctors fought to sign up for her rotation Ironically, what they didn’t knoas that she was younger than most of them

“You’re off duty this weekend, aren’t you, Ellie?”

Ellie glanced over at Dr Kevin Andrews, the anesthesiologist, who had asked the question He had joined the staff six months before and, since the day he’d o out with hieous flirt and yet very sweet Blond hair, blue eyes, tall and well built with an adorable smile, he could turn the head of almost every woman in the hospital, but for Ellie there just wasn’t any spark

“Yes, I am I have the whole weekend off,” she answered “Charlie, would you like to close up forresidents

“Absolutely, Dr Sullivan”

“You better hurry,” Andrews said “I’ him up”

The resident looked panic-stricken

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“Take your ti with you,” she said, a smile in her voice

“Tuesday’s your last day at St Vincent’s, isn’t it?” Andrews asked

“That’s right Tuesday’s ht help out on a te yet”

“Then you could decide to come back permanently”

She didn’t reply

He persisted “They’ll give you anything you want You could name your price, your hoursyou should stay here, Ellie You belong here”

She didn’t agree or disagree In truth, she didn’t knohere she belonged It had been such a hard road to get this far, she hadn’t had time to think about the future At least that was the excuse she used for her indecision

“Maybe,” she finally conceded “I just don’t know yet”

She stood over Charlie, watching like a ht”

“Yes, Dr Sullivan”

“So Monday night is my last chance to take you to heaven?” Andrews asked in a teasing drawl

She laughed “Heaven? Last week you were going to rockto take me to heaven?”

“I guarantee it I’ve got testimonials if you want to see them”

“It’s not going to happen, Kevin”

“I’ up”