Emilia walked briskly down the hallway, her heart hammering against her ribs. The weight in her chest from earlier had not eased, but she refused to let Dr. Michaels' silent warning shake her resolve. Whatever storm was brewing, she'd be ready.

As she rounded the corner, she spotted him again, standing near the faculty lounge, engaged in an animated discussion with a colleague.

She stiffened instinctively. He hadn't seen her yet. Not wanting to take any chances, she quickly averted her gaze and stepped up her pace, slipping past him without so much as a glance. The knot in her stomach loosened slightly when she reached Dr. Claire Robbins' office door unbothered. Taking a steadying breath, she knocked twice.

A moment later, the door swung open to reveal Claire, holding a coffee mug in one hand, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting into the hallway. She smiled warmly. "Emilia! Come on in, dear."

Emilia stepped inside, the familiar office offering a small measure of comfort. Books lined the shelves, and a soft afternoon light filtered in through the blinds. Claire gestured for her to sit in the chair across from her desk, taking a sip of her coffee before setting the mug down. "How are you holding up?" she asked gently.

"I've been better," Emilia admitted with a small, weary smile.

Claire nodded knowingly. "Understandable. These things are never easy." She leaned forward slightly. "But let's get right into it, so you know what to expect."

Emilia sat straighter, her hands clasped in her lap.

"The ethics board will be handling the situation from here," Claire began. "Their primary concern is ensuring that all protocols were followed correctly and that any necessary corrective actions are taken. Now, based on the preliminary information, they're going to conduct a thorough review of all relevant documentation—emails, reports, anything that can give them a full picture of what happened."

Emilia nodded, absorbing the information.

"They'll also be conducting interviews," Claire continued. "That includes you, any other relevant staff, and, of course, the primary individuals involved. They'll want to determine if there were any procedural lapses and whether there was any intentional misconduct."

Emilia swallowed. "And what happens if they find something concerning?"

Claire offered a reassuring smile. "It depends. If it's a minor procedural oversight, there may just be a recommendation for additional training or policy reinforcement. If it's something more serious, there could be formal reprimands, revisions to institutional guidelines, or even external investigations if necessary."

Emilia's chest tightened. "And what about me?"

Claire softened her tone. "You've followed the right steps by reporting everything appropriately. The board is not looking to punish people who do the right thing. Your cooperation will be important, and as long as you're honest and forthcoming, you should be fine."

Emilia exhaled slowly, some of the tension in her shoulders easing. "Okay."

Claire gave her an encouraging nod. "Take it one step at a time. And if you need anything—clarifications, support, anything—my door is always open."

Emilia felt a deep sense of gratitude. "Thank you, Claire. That means a lot."

"Of course." Claire picked up her coffee again, taking another sip before adding, "Now, how about I walk you through what the interview process might look like so you can be prepared?"

Emilia nodded, but before Claire could continue, she added, "Chase and Hallie... they'll have to be talked to as well, won't they?"

Claire hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Yes, they will."

A flicker of hesitation passed over Emilia's face. She pressed her lips together, a deep crease forming between her brows. The idea of Chase and Hallie being pulled into this made her stomach twist uncomfortably. She had wanted to shield them as much as possible, but now it was clear that was no longer an option.

Claire seemed to sense her unease. "I know it's difficult, but they'll be given the opportunity to share their perspective. The board isn't looking to place blame where it doesn't belong."

Emilia forced a small nod, though the worry still gnawed at her. "Right."

"Let's focus on what you can control," Claire said gently. "I'll make sure you're as prepared as possible."

Emilia nodded, feeling steadier than she had when she first walked in. Whatever was ahead, she at least had a clearer understanding of what to expect.

Just as Claire was about to continue, both of their pagers vibrated simultaneously. They glanced down at the screens. Emilia's heart skipped a beat as she read the alert calling her to the NICU. Claire's brows lifted as she checked her own.

"Well, I suppose that's our cue," Claire said with a small smile, setting her coffee aside. She stood, and Emilia followed suit.

"We'll talk more later," Claire assured her. "You've got this."

Emilia gave a grateful nod. "Thank you, Claire." With one last steadying breath, she turned and headed toward the NICU.

Upon arrival, she was greeted by one of her colleagues, Dr. Patel, who gestured her over. "Hey, Emilia, can you help me check something?"

Emilia nodded and immediately switched into work mode. The NICU was its usual symphony of quiet beeping monitors and hushed voices. A nurse stood beside a tiny incubator, monitoring the vitals of a preterm infant. Dr. Patel handed Emilia a chart. "I just need a second opinion on these readings. I have a concern about the oxygen levels."

Emilia scanned the chart quickly before glancing at the fragile newborn inside the incubator. She adjusted her stethoscope and gently checked the infant's breathing. After a moment, she nodded. "I see what you mean. Let's adjust the oxygen flow slightly and monitor the response. I'll check back in thirty minutes."

Dr. Patel sighed in relief. "Thanks, Emilia. I just wanted to be sure."

Emilia offered a reassuring smile. "Better safe than sorry."

As Emilia moved through her shift, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She stole a quick glance between patient rounds and saw Henry's name flashing on the screen.

Henry: Hey, Dr. Baby Whisperer, I hope you're not too busy saving tiny humans to read this.

A second later, another message popped up—a meme of a baby with oversized glasses, peering at a medical chart with the caption: "Ah yes, according to my calculations, I am indeed adorable."

Emilia bit back a laugh, shaking her head as she typed a quick response.

Emilia: Busy, but never too busy for your terrible humor.

Henry: Excuse me, my humor is a national treasure. And speaking of treasures, don't forget you're the best baby doctor in the business. Keep being awesome, doc.

Her chest warmed at his words, even as a yawn escaped her. She hadn't realized how much she needed that moment of lightness. Before she could respond, another message appeared.

Henry: Also... don't work too hard, okay?

There was a pause before he sent one more message.

Henry: I know you love what you do, Em, but I still worry about you in that hospital. I trust you, but just... take care of yourself too.

Emilia swallowed the lump in her throat, quickly typing back.

Emilia: I promise. And thank you, Henry.

With a soft smile, she slipped her phone back into her pocket and got back to work, feeling just a little lighter than before.

As she moved through her next few tasks, the weight of her earlier conversation with Claire lingered at the back of her mind. Even while checking vitals, reviewing patient charts, and speaking to nervous parents, a small part of her kept replaying Claire's words. Chase and Hallie... they'll have to be talked to as well.

She pushed the thought aside, refocusing on the moment. Right now, her patients needed her full attention.

At one point, a nurse called her over to check on a newborn who was struggling with oxygen levels. Emilia read the monitor, her brows drawing together in concern. "Let's adjust the flow slightly and see how they respond," she said, her voice calm but firm. She stayed for a few minutes, watching the tiny chest rise and fall, before nodding in approval. "We'll check back soon. Let me know if anything changes."

The hours passed in a steady blur of activity. She assisted in a high-risk labor, spoke with a mother nervous about her upcoming C-section, and checked in on a preemie who was finally stable enough to be held by their mother for the first time. The warmth in that mother's eyes when she cradled her baby made Emilia's exhaustion feel worth it.

Still, by the time her shift was winding down, fatigue was creeping in. Her shoulders ached from being on her feet all day, and a dull throb settled at the base of her skull. As she reviewed one last set of patient notes, she realized she'd been staring at the screen for a solid minute without reading a word.

She blinked hard, rubbing her temple before shaking it off. Just a little longer.

Henry's words from earlier drifted through her mind. Don't work too hard, okay?

Emilia sighed softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. Maybe she'd let herself rest—eventually. But for now, there were still babies who needed her.