“Lucky for you, I’m covering an on call tonight.”

Which was super unlucky for Frazer since her Monday was going to be as normal, meaning a meeting in five hours and then her usual work day. Thankfully, the night had been uneventful thus far, and she’d slept in the on call room on the top bunk above a snoring resident she’d never met.

“What are you doing out here, Sean?”

Even in the dull light, Frazer could see the red that swept up his neck and into his cheeks.

“She kicked me out.”

Frazer was unable to bite back her amusement. “She throw something at you?”

After a pause, he nodded. “A tissue box.”

Frazer snorted and Sean smiled weakly as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Let’s go see how Tanya is doing.”

For a minute, Frazer thought he’d refuse, but then he straightened his shoulders and gave a nod. It was as if he was about to go into battle. Frazer almost felt bad for him.

Almost.

Even as tired as she was, the usual excitement overtook her. She missed on calls sometimes. But she supposed she was lucky that being the head of Midwifery still left her a few days a week on the ward. She’d go crazy if all she ever did was deal with budgets and rostering and staffing issues. Besides, it was kind of nice to go back to her roots.

Inside the room, Frazer was hit by fluorescent lights and a woman on the bed who looked ready to cry. Or scream. Or all of the above. Her large, pregnant belly was straining and Frazer remembered that the nurse who had woken her had told her that Tanya was at nine centimetres and almost ready to go.

“Frazer.” The woman on the bed grunted, veins popping in her neck. “Thank God it’s you. Sean is being fucking useless.”

Already next to the bed, Sean flinched, arms hanging at his side.

Frazer choked down a laugh. Tanya had never sworn in Frazer’s presence before. Always soft spoken, gentle—she’d seemed on the timid side.

“Well,” Frazer said as she washed her hands and looked over her shoulder so she could keep her patient’s eyes on her, “it’s your lucky night.”

Tanya’s already flushed cheeks were growing redder, and the sheen of sweat on her forehead shone in the light. With a flick of her wrist, Frazer threw the paper towel in the bin and snapped on a pair of gloves. As Tanya huffed on the bed, her eyes screwed shut, Frazer dropped onto the wheeled stool by the sink and pushed herself to the edge of the bed. Tanya had already scooted down it.

“Do you want me to ask Sean to go?” She winked at him as he jolted up, staring at her wide-eyed as if she’d just betrayed him.

“No! No.” Tanya’s eyes snapped open, and she gripped Sean’s arm, yanking him half onto the bed, her knuckles white. “No. I want him here.”