Work Text:
It's like a well-rehearsed dance: everyone knows where they should stand and what to do. Everyone knows when to simply walk away, their shift over. A "normal" shift is already challenging; after what happened today, it's simply monumental.
In those moments, when everything is chaotic and you don't know if it's a day or night shift, you just do what you know, instructions fly by, and there's no time to overthink. You must help as many people as you can in the shortest amount of time possible. Time is precious. Still, a few seconds are enough, perhaps...there's no need to overthink it.
"Take the win, Dr. Mohan” ...really? What was he thinking? He wasn't thinking, that's the problem, not with her by his side.
He needs to take a power nap and he needs more than a day to catch up on sleep. The sound of the machines is almost like a lullaby, the silence in the emergency room at this moment is something unthinkable, and the coffee in his hands seems to be doing his job.
With most people treated and the day shift gone and the night shift in place, he can take a few minutes to breathe and not overthink what he did. Outside, the ambulances are no longer beeping, which means there are no more victims, so far.
Somebody is at his side, Robby or maybe Dana. "I'll be fine, Robby. I won't have time to go up to the rooftop and overthink things," he says without turning around, looking for an ambulance or a car with new victims.
“I'm not sure what do you mean about rooftop, but I'm not Dr. Robby”
Her, shit, his neck crack while turning to see her “Oh, hi...sorry about it, is usually..."
"It's ok, I just wanna say thanks, for everything, today was a definitely learning opportunity". She said while smiling.
"Yeah well, you’re welcome, not every day should be like that, but..."
"I just want to give you this" she said while blushing, giving him a piece of paper.
"A paper?” He didn't know what to do with that.
"It not just a piece of paper" she takes his left hand and makes him take that piece of paper.
"Ok?"
"Take the win, Dr. Abbot"
"What? What are you…?" He tries to open that paper, but she didn't let him, still holding his hand.
"Just wait until I’m gone... I don't... I'm...I just..."
"Are you ok?”
“Yes, just... I’ve never done this before" She was red all over her face. "Ok, I'm going to leave, and go to bed...take care Dr. Abbot" and then she starts walking.
The piece of paper is still in his hand. It took him a minute or two, but he opened it, inside her phone number.