Blah, I'm certain this sucks but Rach asked for some Marsan and who am I not to fulfill.
Dedicated to Rach for being epic in her epicness.
Disclaimer: I own nada.
You're the direction I follow to get home,
When I feel like I can't go on, you tell me to go,
And it's like I can't feel a thing without you around,
And don't mind me if I get weak in the knees,
'Cause you have that affect on me.
-Hey Monday 'Six Months'
The cool Chicago air whipped through her hair and cleared her thoughts. The tears on her cheek grew cold as she wrapped her jacket around her tightly, walking through the streets of her hometown. She couldn't believe that she was home. Six months in the desert had done her in; her boss was a jerk, she hardly saw Susie, she was miserable without her best friend. Her things had been dropped off at her new apartment and she had three job interviews set up for later in the week. The sounds of sirens pulled her from her thoughts and her eyes raised from the sidewalk to the building in front of her, County General Hospital.
"Home." She mumbled, her voice just above a whisper. A smile grew to her face as her hands snaked in the pockets of her leather jacket. It felt like a century since she had left the hospital six months ago. She had missed the peeling paint, the frequent fliers, the staff that had grown to be more like family than co-workers.
The doors to the ambulance bay swung open and Susan slipped inside as she surveyed the overfilled waiting room. She grinned when she saw Carol and Doug fighting over the last orange slice at the admit desk. Approaching the desk, she cleared her throat, "Wow, you guys are anything but observant."
"Susan!" Carol's head shot up as she left Doug spinning as she sprinted around the desk to hug her friend, "What are you doing here?"
"I moved back." She explained, her voice muffled by Carol's hair.
Doug moved around to extract his girlfriend from the hug, "Thank God." He said, pulling at Carol's arms, "Let her breathe, Carol."
"Can't." Carol hugged her tighter and Susan chuckled, "Missed her too much."
"I'm staying, Carol. Not leaving, promise."
"Good," Doug grinned impishly, "'cause we're all about ready to murder Mark. You've got to go talk to him."
"Amen," Carol agreed, "He's been impossible to work with since you left."
"Great," Susan sighed, playing with her left pinky, "Where is he?"
Doug pointed at the doctor's lounge. Extracting herself from Carol's death grip, she walked to the lounge with heavy feet. Things hadn't been left on the best of terms and she hadn't had the will power to pick up the phone and talk about it. Her palm flat against the door, she pushed it open slowly and smiled when she saw him hunched over a mountain of paperwork. Her tongue felt like lead as she swallowed hard, "The coffee still suck?"
A grin spread to his face, "You still an Arizonan?"
"Nope." She stepped inside, leaning against the door, "Chicago is more my style. The Cubs, The Bears, actual seasons, …you."
"Yeah?" He removed his glasses and wiped his tired eyes, "I've kind of missed you too."
She gave a soft smile and shrugged, "What now?"
Pushing back the desk chair, he stood and stretched before extending his arms to her, "C'mere."
"That I can do." She walked slowly across the floor, sliding her arms around his waist and burying her head into his chest as his arms surrounded her. His lips pressed against the crown of her head and tears pooled in her eyes as she breathed him in. Pulling her head back, she looked up at him, "I do love you."
"I'm glad about that." He smiled and dipped his head, his lips brushing over hers, "I love you too."