"Do you want to know what I heard?" Haleh glimpsed quickly over her shoulders, checking the coast was clear before continuing. "I heard that Dr Legaspi and Dr Weaver split up." Nodding firmly as if to validate her own story, Haleh levelled her eyes on Abby who only snorted, dismissing the claim immediately.
"Come on she did not Haleh, it's all just rumours."
"So then why is it that Dr Legaspi has suddenly turned the mute down here? No more dinners, no more conversation between them."
"Because," Abby began, trying to piece together the situation as she saw it; Kerry had been in a secret relationship with Kim, after the Shannon Wallace incident Kerry failed to defend Kim, so the couple split. At least that is what she had heard trickling down from Pedes… "Look this is insane how do we even know they were a couple to begin with?"
Haleh stood defiant, folding her arms defensively over her chest, "Jerry told me."
"And we should always believe that?" Abby smiled, shrugging her shoulders dismissively at the conversation. "All I'm saying is we have no proof, this is all speculation… and shit here comes Weaver!" Abby quickly ducked around, grabbing up the nearest pile of boards and hovering her pen over the pages, trying to look as busy as possible.
Haleh moved too slow and before she knew it the familiar clicking of the crutch was beside her, the small redhead's gaze boring into her own. "Haleh, catheter in curtain two," she thrust the board into the nurse's hand who stood dumbstruck, fearfully hoping the older woman had not heard the conversation. "Watch out, he's a wriggler." Kerry then turned to face Abby, who kept her gaze on the boards.
"I've signed them."
"Oh Dr Weaver… I didn't see you there." Abby tried to feign ignorance as she looked up into the tired eyes of Kerry.
"I said I've already signed them." Kerry repeated, her voice losing it's authority and becoming more exasperated as she stared at the young doctor.
"Oh I know that," Abby replied, flashing her boss a small smile, "Just reading over some notes… you know, on…" She let her voice trail off as she glanced down at the top board, "erectile dysfunction." She flatly finished, rolling her eyes at the stupidity of it all but it seemed Kerry wasn't even paying attention.
"I see," Kerry mumbled quietly, her attention now drawn to the elevator where a tall blond in a striking blue blouse had exited, a board firmly held to her chest and her perm bouncing as she moved towards admit. Lowering her eyes quickly, Kerry redirected her attention at Abby. "So what are you on at the moment? Need any help?"
Kim approached the two women and she lay the board down, her eyes trying not to meet Kerry's. She smiled warmly at Abby who then picked up her own board again, offering it to the psychiatrist. "Waiting on my Psych consult which would appear to be ready."
"Ok well I'll sign of on it later then." Kerry forced a smile before turning to leave the front desk, heading towards the lounge.
Both Abby and Kim stood in silence for a moment, the awkwardness of the situation still hanging in the air. Kim looked up and exhaled slowly, her blue eyes shining now with a smile, "I'll get started then, I'll meet you there in ten?"
"Yeah sure, she's in trauma one." Kim nodded and sauntered off, her pace noticeably quicker. Abby took a moment, her eyes flitting between the lounge and where Kim had just left, From the corner of her eye she saw Haleh approaching, peeling of surgical gloves with a grimace, a yellowing stain now down the front of her scrubs. Noticing Abby staring, Haleh called out, "Go on, make my day!"
"Okay, I think you were right."
Settling back into the sofa, Kerry grimaced as she felt her hip relaxing, the tension of her shift beginning to leave her sore muscles; but not her mind. Sighing deeply she closed her eyes, relaxing her grip on her crutch. Pull yourself together Weaver it's been two weeks, she thought somewhat angrily, upset that just a few seconds in the presence of that woman was enough to hurt her now. She could remember back when seeing Kim exit the elevator had caused her heart to skip a beat but now all she felt was a sickness in the pit of her stomach. She felt like a deer trapped in those bright blue headlights.
Shaking off the feeling, Kerry opened her eyes and stared at the wall opposite, feeling a lone tear make it's way over her cheek and fall softly onto the lapel of her white coat. It was fine when she was kept busy at work, rushing around, saving lives had become a safety blanket for her but when it was time to head home, to enter her house in the dark, that was when her mind threatened to break her down every time she stared at something the blonde had touched.
Lifting herself up off the sofa, Kerry stood, stretching her leg and feeling the bones pop gently. She moved over to her locker, spinning the lock swiftly and letting it fall open, an envelope dropping to her feet as she did so. Reaching down carefully, balancing on her crutch she picked up the small envelope, her name written neatly on the front. There was only one other person who knew the combination to her locker.
"Kim," Kerry muttered under her breath, her hands making quick work of the seal and pulling the folded sheet of paper out. Neither had really said a word to each other since Kim told Kerry that she had appreciated her hand written sentiment of her feelings; but that nothing would ever change.
Scanning the page slowly, her eyes drinking in the cursive loops of Dr Kimberley Legaspi, she remembered how Kim used to leave her small notes tacked to the fridge reminding her of dinner plans or just to say hi when they had been working long shifts apart. As she reached the bottom of the page Kerry felt her anger beginning to return. She had laid her soul bare to Kim and all she got in return was a sentiment free note and a crushing pain in her chest.
Lowering the piece of paper, Kerry took note of her options. She had known that the relationship was practically finished but to finally be told this in a note? She could of course confront Kim on what she had written but she knew that would end badly. Deep down a part of Kerry still thought this situation was salvageable, that she could convince Kim that things could be different. She could be different and she knew what she had to do.
When she had heard Haleh beckon Abby over she had leant up against a nearby wall, just out of sight but still able to hear. Everyone practically knew anyway so why was this such a big deal to step out amongst them and declare it all true? These people had probably known before Kerry had and they hadn't treated her any differently. When she confessed all to Luka everything carried on as normal. But she couldn't shake this feeling that it all wasn't this easy and the one person who could help her through this was the one person who could barely utter a word to her.
Feeling tears beginning to threaten once more, Kerry slipped the note back into it's envelope and placed it back into her locker, wishing to just spend one more night with the false hope that the phone would ring and Kim would be there, telling her everything was going to be alright. Grabbing out her coat she awkwardly wrapped it around herself, her mind on other things. She closed the locker door firmly making her way out of the staff room and into the ambulance bay, before her legs could take her back into trauma one.
A/N - Okay so I have been quiet for a little while but this struck me earlier and I just had to write this… please R&R and let me know what you think… to be continued…