Yale looked me up and down, his eyes wide, and then he could not help but laugh.

"Cut it out! I'm here to complain about him, not to praise him. Dr. Cunningham's the one who's supposed to be treating my son.

"He's an expert? With a brain like that?"

I was right behind him, shaking my head slightly at Paul.

Paul's brow creased in a mix of confusion and concern, but he was all about keeping the peace.

"I've got the picture. Tell you what, I'll go with you to get that skin treatment, and we'll cover all the costs. As for Dr. Cunningham, I'll handle it. Let's just apologize to each other and move on, okay?"

He slapped the table hard, his eyes flashing with barely contained loathing.

"No way! If we let this guy off the hook today, who knows how many more patients he'll screw over later?"

Yale had it out for me, like he was obsessed. Back when we were kids, he accused me of stealing a ring and did not hesitate to lay into me.

Even after we found the ring in a drawer, he still gave me that look from his high horse.

"It's partly your fault. If you just helped me find it before I hit you, wouldn't that have been better?"

In his eyes, I could never do anything right.

I folded my arms, my mind made up.

"Well, that works for me. I wasn't planning on apologizing to you anyway.

"I'll play ball with the investigation and blow the lid off your lies. I even got a lawyer on the line who told me I should sue you for slander. So, brace yourself for a legal smackdown."

"And if you're so set on seeing me benched, you got it," I unclipped my badge and flipped it down on the desk, "Dean Harris, save your breath. Let's just get my suspension in the books, okay?"

Yale was clearly caught off guard by my move, his face a mix of panic and anger. "Fine! A month off the job, plus we'll blast it out to everyone, making an example out of you!"

Paul looked like he was in a tight spot, waving his hand like he was trying to swat away the tension. "Let's all just take a breath. Mr. Johnson, weren't you counting on Dr. Cunningham to work his magic on your kid?"

"What's going to happen to your son if Dr. Cunningham's out of the picture now?"

Yale's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "What's that supposed to mean? You're using Dr. Cunningham as a bargaining chip against me to protect this greenhorn doctor?

"Listen here, my son's case is one for the medical books. Dr. Cunningham ought to be thanking me for handing him the chance of a lifetime!"

I felt a wave of serenity wash over me. "Enough, Dean Harris. No point in preaching to the choir. I'm stepping down willingly, just do what you gotta do."

He still looked torn, "I get you're steamed, but we're supposed to be with a heart of compassion."

Yale was beyond reasoning, brandishing his phone like a trophy for all to see the name on the screen. "I'm running out of patience! Get this sorted out now, right in front of me.

"My buddy's significant other is big-time at the health department. One call from me, and they'll be crawling all over this place!

"I bet you've got skeletons in your closet too."

Paul was at a loss for words. "Fine, fine, fine, we'll do it your way, but don't come crying to me later."

The news of my month-long suspension spread like wildfire through the hospital.

Yale, looking like he just won the lottery, flashed me a smug grin. I did not give him the satisfaction of a response; I just spun on my heel and stormed out of the door.

He was still making a scene behind me, hollering for the dean to drag Dr. Cunningham out there.

However, Yale caught a glimpse of my name tag and flipped it over. The second he read it, his face went from smug to shocked in a heartbeat.