Deanna reviewed the operating room schedule. No frozen sections were booked for the morning. Haas was the attending on-call. This was her chance.

She knocked lightly on the doorway of Haas’s office.

“Dr. Haas?”

“Deanna. I didn’t know you were on today.”

“I’m not. I was wondering if you had time to talk?”

“Of course. Is it about your plans after residency? Only one more year. Did you follow up on those fellowship programs we discussed?”

Deanna remembered that earlier conversation—how Haas, surprisingly attentive, had helped map out a timeline and made lists of fellowships, noting the strengths and weaknesses of each. Haas had been proud then, almost motherly.

“I did follow up, and I’d love to revisit that. But today, I came to discuss something else.”

“Oh? What’s this about?”

“It’s about James Deetan. He’s been struggling since Dr. Elliot’s case.”

Haas tilted her head, brow furrowed. “Which Elliot case?”

“The mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.”

“Yes, very interesting case. I was going to ask you to help James write it up for a paper.”

“Dr. Haas…” Deanna steadied herself. “I’d be happy to help, but James is afraid to talk with you. He thinks you’re upset with him.”

Haas frowned. A long pause. “Afraid? Why would he think that?”

“Respectfully, he was distraught when he told me what happened.”

“Distraught? He should have been happy!”

“Happy?” Deanna blinked. That was the opposite of what James and the other residents believed.

Haas leaned back, her voice suddenly softer, edged with fatigue. “Deanna, James is a first-year. He doesn’t yet understand the protocols during sign-out. But Elliot is satisfied. Pittman at Children’s confirmed the diagnosis. The patient is responding to treatment. It’s all good.”

Deanna studied Haas. The words sounded conciliatory, but beneath them was something heavier—something brittle. For a fleeting moment Haas looked older, lonelier, her hands lingering on the edge of the desk as though bracing herself. Grief? Deanna wasn’t sure, but she felt it.

“I see,” Deanna said carefully. “Then I’ll let James know we can begin working on the paper. It’ll be a good experience for him.”

“You’ll be a good mentor.” Haas almost smiled. “When I was a first-year, my chief resident helped me, too. We all need each other—though sometimes it comes out differently. Personality fits. Common goals.”

“Yes.” Deanna forced a laugh. “Dan and I aren’t exactly the best personality fit, but he’s still helped me quite a bit.”

“Exactly. Some relationships just need to be approached differently.”

Deanna relaxed slightly. “You’re right. I’ll speak with James. He has potential and a good attitude.”

“Potential.” Haas’s smile sharpened, though her eyes drifted away. “Let’s not waste it.”

Deanna thanked her and stepped out into the hall, her mind buzzing with contradictions—Haas’s warmth edged with ice, encouragement tangled with hidden sorrow.

She nearly collided with Audrey.

“Good morning, Dr. Berkowitz. I was looking for you to go over the OR schedule since you’re on call.”

“Thanks, Audrey. Looks like a quiet morning. But why are you doing this? Franklin usually handles it.”

“Yes. I know.” Audrey hesitated. “Do you have a minute?”

Deanna nodded.

“You’re always helping everyone—especially the transcriptionists. You put in a good word for me so that I could get this part-time position here at Memorial. Such a relief from ULS. Some of the attendings can be…demanding. But you treat us like colleagues, part of the team. I just want to thank you.”

“Audrey, you are part of the team. We couldn’t do our jobs without you.”

Audrey lowered her voice. “You see people clearly, Dr. Berkowitz. You know that sometimes things aren’t what they seem. A mislabeled slide, a bad section, even relationships. You don’t overreact like some others do.”

“Thank you, Audrey. We need to watch out for each other. Sometimes we’re thrust into situations and it’s easy to jump to conclusions.”

Audrey smiled faintly, though her eyes were harder to read. “I want you to know I support you. I’ve got your back, Dr. Berkowitz.”

“I’m sure you do.” Deanna whispered under her breath as Audrey walked away, leaving her with the faintest chill.

Next Chapter: Chapter 22-Never Letting Go