Chapter 8
Two ambulances arrived in the bay at seven pm. Lexa took the lead on one case and Lincoln took the other. Her case would not require surgery, she later learned. Her patient needed stitches and possibly physical therapy, but Lincoln’s was more intensive. She assisted him in an OR for the next hour. He talked about his weekend plans with Octavia and Raven’s plan for an outing. Raven had invited her out during their fight that morning, which she vaguely accepted. The other woman seemed fine with her answer. Clarke was listed to work the night shift on both days. She was even less motivated to go out knowing Clarke would not join them.
“Now I know why you left Chicago Med,” someone said very loudly. The crowd of nurses and staff parted as Anya made her way toward Lexa. “You just get to stand around here.”
“At least I’m at work,” she said, smiling.
“Yeah, I guess I am slumming it here with you.”
Lexa chuckled as she walked around to meet Anya on the other side of the nurse’s station. It had been years since she left Chicago Med but a month since she last saw Anya. She had been too busy with moving and starting her job to coordinate their schedules. Anya was a classic workaholic though she would never admit the truth. Her specialty was orthopedic surgery, but she preferred staying in trauma as much as possible.
They had bonded easily. Anya was the person she missed most from Chicago Med and one of the reasons she stayed as long as she had. Even while working in the rehab facility, the two had gotten together often even if they just ate dinner together in one of their apartments.
“What are you doing here other than demeaning me?” Lexa asked.
Anya shrugged and leaned one elbow on the counter. She watched people walk by, unimpressed thus far. “Wanted to check out your new place,” she said. “Perhaps meet the famous Clarke Griffin everyone at Chicago loves.”
“Right,” she said. “She isn’t on the floor right now.”
“Oh yeah? Surprising. I heard she works twenty-four seven.”
“She does. I think she’s in a board meeting.”
Anya scoffed. “What kind of thirty-year-old trauma surgeon is on the board of a hospital this size?” she asked.
“One who owns the damn place,” Raven said, stopping beside them. “Who the hell are you?”
“Who the hell are you?” Anya asked.
“Anya, this is Raven,” Lexa said. “Raven, this is my friend, Anya. She works at Chicago Med.”
“Well, that explains it,” Raven said.
Lexa smiled as she shrugged at Anya. She had not imagined the two women meeting. Both were outspoken and opinionated, which would make for an interesting interaction. People from Chicago Med often spoke negatively of Clarke because of her status at Griffin Memorial. They felt she had only worked at Chicago Med to prepare for her own hospital which was, most likely, accurate. Clarke had elected to gain experience in another environment to broaden her horizons before starting at Griffin Memorial where she knew she would spend her career. People in the medical field naturally put Clarke on a pedestal because of her status. The woman must have known she would gain notoriety from her last name alone. She wanted to be treated like the med student she was then. Lexa would have made the same choices.
“This is who you left us for?” Anya asked.
Lexa rolled her eyes and was about to respond when Clarke pushed through the doors separating the emergency wing from the rest of the hospital. She was reading a paper in her hand as she walked. Her eyebrows were drawn together. She looked more stressed than she had been before the meeting, which was not a good sign.
“Now, I get it,” Anya said, watching Lexa who was suddenly distracted.
Raven smiled at the woman she had previously been arguing with. “Yeah, it’s a whole thing,” she said.
“Seems so. Not that I’m surprised. I’ve seen pictures of her.”
Raven grabbed the paper from Clarke’s hand when she was close enough. The blonde grabbed for it, but Raven shoved the paper behind her back. “Meet Lexa’s friend,” she said. “Clarke, this is Anya.”
Clarke’s expression immediately changed to a friendly smile. “Hi,” she said, holding out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she said.
“I’m going on break,” Lexa said. “Does anyone want anything while I’m out?”
“You know what I want from the burger place, right?” Raven asked.
“Yeah, I got it. Clarke?”
Clarke grabbed the paper from Raven and turned down the offer. She sat in one of the rolling chairs to finish reading as Lexa left the hospital. She shoved both hands in her pockets, prepared for whatever Anya was going to say. She was also worried about Clarke.
“That little blonde’s got you in a chokehold,” Anya said.
“No, she doesn’t,” she said.
“Sure, Lex. But you seem happier than I’ve seen you in a long time.”
“I like it here. It’s fast-paced. Something’s always happening. I missed Chicago’s emergency room.”
“I do wish you had stayed, but I get it. You always had a bleeding heart for the addicts. Must stem from your dad.”
Lexa’s father had been addicted to steroids for many years which eventually killed him. He suffered a massive heart attack. She suspected there were other drugs he was taking as well. Her father had been lucky enough to have a successful career but was otherwise troubled in other aspects of his life.
“Maybe,” she said. “We see plenty here. I’m usually the one they call which is nice.”
“Is it different from Chicago?”
“Not really. There are fewer doctors on the floor at any given time, but it keeps me busy.”
“Does Griffin run everything?”
“She makes the schedule if that’s what you mean. She works more than anyone else. I’m not sure what you’re really asking.”
Anya chuckled. Lexa had missed her best friend. She had not realized how much until that moment. She had never felt as close to anyone besides Costia. They complimented each other well. Anya was ready to argue about anything while Lexa would rather keep the peace. They were both hard workers and passionate about their jobs.
“Chokehold, Lexa,” she said. “I’m saying this because I love you.”
“Anya, please,” she said. “I’ve been here for three weeks.”
“I’m just saying. It’s nice to see. Is she gay?”
“I have no idea.”
“Can’t you ask the rude one?”
“Rude? You came in with an attitude, An.”
“Everyone knows I’m mean, Lex. I didn’t know docs here were so fragile.”
Lexa smiled as she looked at Anya. She had really missed the woman despite her persistent need to involve herself in Lexa’s love life. There were not many other people who cared enough to try.
Clarke was in a trauma room when Lexa and Anya returned. She focused on the sound of Lexa’s laugh as they walked past the door. It was a nice sound. She exited the room and smiled at the two of them. Lexa returned the smile but the other woman, Anya, did not.
“Raven’s assisting in an arm reset, so you may have to put her food in the breakroom,” Clarke said.
“Thanks,” she said.
An ambulance arrived and Lexa’s friend left. Clarke offered the lead to Lexa who accepted. She agreed to assist. Her mind was reeling from the meeting earlier. She was fine with taking things easy for a bit.
“How did the fight with Raven go yesterday?” she asked from the other side of the table.
“She’s getting better,” she said. “I think Lincoln takes it easy on her when they’re practicing. Unfortunately, my dad did not teach me that skill.”
“Raven told me a little about your dad,” she said. “I know absolutely nothing about fighting.”
“He was good. Really good, but the other shit is what killed him. The fame was too much, I think. He was constantly worried about his body image. The steroids are what killed him.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine the pressure that was put on him. And you.”
“He kept me out of his job for the most part. We traveled sometimes, but Becca liked to keep us home during the school year. She and my dad fought about it sometimes.”
“Becca’s your stepmom?”
“My dad’s partner. Costia’s mom. They started dating when I was seven.”
Clarke would have never guessed they were stepsisters. They talked while on the floor together but did not seem as close as she imagined sisters would be. Knowing Costia’s personality, it made sense.
“Raven told me about your dad,” Lexa said. “I’m sorry, Clarke.”
“Yeah, me too,” she said.
“She’s worried about you.”
“She shouldn’t be. I’m fine. It sucks, but it’s been a long process. He’s been going through it for three years now. I always knew what the outcome would be. He did too, apparently. He stopped treatments.”
“Do you get to see him often?”
“I go over there every few days. He’s out of it most days.”
“Have you considered taking time off?”
“How did Raven rope you into this conversation?”
Lexa smiled at being caught and shrugged. “As I said, she’s worried about you,” she said.
“Tell her that I’m fine. I think too much at home.”
“I understand. I’d probably feel the same.”
She looked up at Lexa who was focused on stitching. She caught Clarke staring and grinned behind her mask. It took every ounce of Clarke’s self-control to take her eyes from the woman’s face.