Clarke pulled the car up just outside of the trauma bay, where the ambulances usually pull in to drop off patients. Lexa was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle, her eyelids seeming to droop more and more with each passing second. The woman's fatigue was now setting in, and she appeared to be much less alert than she had been a few minutes beforehand. Maybe it was because of the sudden shock of learning that she was in a city completely unfamiliar to her, or maybe it was because the shock brought on by her injuries was now fading. Regardless of the reason, the brunette looked like she was struggling to stay awake, and Clarke could feel her own concern growing every time she noted the stranger's disheveled, and somewhat mutilated, appearance.

What in the world has this woman been put through?

Clarke shook her head lightly as she pushed the gear into 'park.' She could wonder those things later. Now wasn't the time to figure out the cause of the injuries. Now was the time to figure out the extent of those injuries. From what Clarke could observe, the wound on Lexa's side was the injury in need of the most attention. Based off of the woman's external appearance, though, Clarke could figure that running a few scans and checking for any head or internal injuries would be vital as well, just in case.

The blonde practically jumped out of the car, moving quickly to the passenger door. She let out a quiet sigh of relief as she saw the handful of doctors who were already making their way from emergency entrance over to Clarke's vehicle. A few minutes before they'd reached the hospital, she'd called the nurse who typically worked at the desk during these hours and explained the situation as best as she could. When she noticed that all of the approaching doctors were well-trained rather than interns or younger residents, Clarke made a mental note to thank Harper later on. That nurse was a god-send.

Clarke reached across Lexa and popped the seatbelt off, and her concern only grew when Lexa didn't even react to the fact that they were now at the hospital. Instead, her half-closed eyes just followed Clarke's movements. The woman's exhaustion was clearly extreme, and Clarke wasn't sure how the brunette was still even managing to stay conscious. Behind the fatigue, though, Clarke could still see the film of fear in the brunette's eyes.

"You're gonna be okay, Lexa" Clarke promised quietly as she brought one arm under Lexa's legs and the other behind her back. She knew that it was wrong to promise the woman anything so extreme, but something compelled Clarke to reassure the woman as best as possible. "We're gonna help you."

Clarke then lifted the woman, hoisting her out of the vehicle and gently but hastily turning around to the three alert doctors who were waiting there with an empty stretcher beside them. Lexa's only response to the sudden movement was a weak, pained groan, and as Clarke set her down on the stretcher, the two made eye-contact for a moment. Lexa's eyes were almost pleading, and, had the situation not been so emergent, Clarke probably would have asked the brunette if there was something she could do to help the suffering stranger. Time was of the essence, though, and Clarke knew better than to attempt some sort of conversation with the woman.

"We need to get her hooked up to a monitor now," Clarke looked up and ordered professionally, her tone leaving no room for questioning as they began to push the stretcher toward the building. "She's got a deep laceration on her lower-left abdomen requiring immediate attention; based on the amount of bleeding, it looks like there may be a punctured organ. Call for an OR to be prepped, and page Neuro to run a CT scan. She was disoriented when I found her, so I want to check her for any kind of brain damage." She glanced apprehensively down to Lexa's abdomen as they pushed the stretcher down the hallway. "If I'm right about the depth of that wound, she's going to need immediate surgery."

When they got to the intersection in the hallway, the doctors nodded, aware that Clarke was finished with her orders. They quickly began to head left, and Clarke's eyes widened in light shock when she felt a weak grip around her wrist. She looked down to Lexa, whose tired eyes held tears.

"Please don't leave," she begged weakly.

Clarke, not knowing what to tell the brunette, stood there dumbly for a moment. She was surprised that the woman seemed so desperate for her to stay by her side. It's probably because I'm the only person in the whole damn city that she's even interacted with in any way, Clarke told herself, trying to find some sort of logical explanation. The other three doctors waited apprehensively, unsure of whether they should keep going or not. After a few seconds, Clarke gave Lexa's hand a light squeeze, hoping that she could -in some way- reassure the woman.

"I have to," Clarke replied softly. "But you're in good hands, Lexa, and I'll be back as soon as possible. You're gonna be alright. Okay?" It was an empty promise. Clarke knew that. It was foolish and unprofessional of her to assure a badly-injured patient that everything would be fine, but Clarke felt the need to say whatever was necessary to help the stranger.

The brunette's features fell slightly, her expression a mix of worry, pain, and now even disappointment. She started to make an attempt at sitting up, like she was going to ask Clarke once more to stay, but as she began to strain her body more, her face twisted with pain. She let out a loud groan, grimacing as she fell back onto the stretcher. Clarke gave the waiting doctors a stern nod and they immediately started pushing the stretcher quickly down the hall to the left.

"Niylah," Clarke gently grabbed the arm of the female resident as the others kept going. Clarke trusted her the most out of the others in the group, and she knew that the woman would follow any instructions that were given to her. Niylah turned around, her eyes curious. "Page Jaha," Clarke spoke in a quieter tone. "I'm not sure how extensive those injuries are, and I want him in on this... Just in case."

Niylah nodded in understanding, beginning to turn away, but Clarke spoke up once more. "And Niylah?" The other woman turned her head to Clarke, eyebrows raised. "Page me as soon as there are any updates." Clarke's tone was serious. "I don't care if it's minor or if it's critical. Page me."

Niylah replied with a quick "of course" before jogging down the hallway after the other doctors, and Clarke let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through her hair as she leaned back against the wall for a brief moment. She wasn't even sure how to process everything that had just happened within the last five hours.

Her mind flashed back to the previous events of the day, and she let out a shaky breath, shaking her head. She clenched her jaw as she tried to compose herself. She wasn't even supposed to be back at the hospital yet, and here she was, even more of a mess than she had been when she'd left shortly beforehand. She took in a steadier breath, opening her eyes as she swallowed the knot in her throat. She was a doctor. She was professional. She had to be professional, under all circumstances. With her mind made up regarding her next move, she set off down the hallway with determined, wide strides.

Two minutes later, she was pushing open the door to the Chief of Surgery's office, not even caring to knock before making her entrance.

"I know that you told me to take a leave of absence," she spoke boldly, shutting the door behind her. "But I know for a fact that I can be of better use here, in this hospital, right now."

Had she been any other doctor, she would've been suspended on the spot for speaking to a superior that way. Had she been any other doctor, she wouldn't have had the nerve to burst into the office without even asking for permission. But she wasn't just any other doctor, and the chief wasn't just any other superior.

"Clarke," Abby spoke, surprise evident in her voice as she rose from the leather seat behind her desk. She gave her daughter an incredulous look, somewhat concerned and somewhat frustrated by her daughter's brash entrance. "I thought that you'd left the hospital ages ago, what are you still doing here?"

"I did leave," Clarke asserted as she crossed her arms over her chest, stepping forward and looking the older woman in the eyes. "And then-"

Abby sighed heavily, interrupting her daughter as she gave the younger woman a dismissive wave of the hand.

"You know what Clarke, no. I don't want to hear it right now. My instructions were clear before you left this room earlier." She stepped in front of her desk, her exhaustion evident, and left Clarke no time to respond before she continued to speak. "You are not permitted to continue working in this hospital, Clarke. You are suspended, until I say otherwise.

'If you really want to work so badly, then do as I say, Clarke." There was some exasperation in voice, and her tone got softer as she let out a quiet sigh. Her eyes were almost pitiful as she shook her head. "Go home, get some rest. See a counselor, then figure out what your next step is. Then, when I see that you are ready to get back to the operating table, I'll sign off on all the papers. But right now, you don't work here."

Clarke clenched her jaw, holding back some of the words that she was ready to fire at her mother. She'd heard the speech earlier on, and for a short amount of time, she'd actually convinced herself to do what her mother wanted. But as soon as she'd seen that woman in the road, clearly battered by somebody, Clarke found herself refusing to listen to her mother's instructions once again. She was a surgeon. She wasn't supposed to be 'resting,' and as much as Abby would argue her on it, Clarke didn't need to see a counselor. She was fine.

Clarke threw her arms into the air, taking a step forward, leaving the shadows of the back of the office. "Mom, how many times am I going to have to tell you that I don't need a freaking shrink? I'm fin-"

Abby's eyes widened in shock and worry, and before Clarke could even begin to realize what was going on, the older woman was moving quickly toward her.

"Oh my god, Clarke, honey, what happened?" She asked quickly, their discussion seemingly forgotten. She placed one hand on Clarke's arm, and the other one went to Clarke's shirt. "Are you okay? What-"

Upon looking down to whatever Abby was so concerned about, Clarke realized what her mother was suddenly so panicked for. Her blouse, which had initially been a shade of off-white, was now dark red across the chest. Clarke hadn't even noticed the blood earlier, and she supposed that her mother must not have noticed it right away because she'd been too busy lecturing her. Clarke's frustration almost immediately vanished as she attempted to assuage her mother's worry. Sure, she was still aggravated that her own mother was suspending her from work, but she could also sense the near-panic that now enveloped her mother. Abby Griffin was a passionate doctor, but she was an even more passionate mother, and Clarke knew that her mother was probably imaging the worst scenarios possible through her mind.

"Mom, Mom," Clarke spoke sharply but gently as she placed a hand on Abby's shoulder. "It's not mine, Mom," she insisted strongly. Abby's eyes met hers, relief now present alongside apprehension. "I'm fine," Clarke asserted once more, keeping eye-contact with her mother. "It's not mine."

Abby let out a heavy breath, her features flooded with exhausted relief.

"I was driving home, and there was awoman lying on the street," Clarke began to explain. "Calling an ambulance would have taken too much time, and-" Before she could even finish, Abby cut her off.

"And that's why you're here," Abby nodded, her voice quieter and understanding, yet still laced with concern. She was calmer now, but it was clear that she was still somewhat anxious. She let out a tired sigh, running a hand down her face before looking back at her daughter. "But how do you think staying here is in anyone's best interest, Clarke? I'm sure you saved her life by getting her here, but you're not going to be anymore help, hun. You need to go home."

The blonde recoiled somewhat at the harsh comment. Clarke was a damn good doctor, and for her mother to even suggest that Clarke's presence would be anything other than beneficial to an injured patient was absolutely absurd.

"I know you don't want to hear it," Abby continued, no longer sugar coating her words as much as she had been, "but you being here is only going to have a negative impact." Clarke's jaw dropped. That one hurt. "You're a mess, Clarke, and while a month or two ago you would have been the best surgeon to handle a hit-and-run victim, you aren't right now. Right now? Right now you are a liability."

Clarke didn't know how to feel. Her mother's words cut like a knife. Abby Griffin was typically a calm and collected person. Even with doctors and residents and nurses who weren't related to her, Abby wasn't one to put down one of her staff. Sure, she could be harsh sometimes. She was known to be serious and stern, but she was also known to be open-hearted. She was known as an understanding chief, an empathetic superior. Even at home during Clarke's childhood, Abby would never say anything to bring down her daughter. Abby was only ever encouraging and motivating. Sure, she urged Clarke to be the best she could be, but she would never say or do anything to make Clarke believe that she wasn't capable of anything. She would never say anything to suggest that Clarke didn't matter. But here she was, labeling Clarke as an inconvenience. An impediment. And that stung.

At the same time, though, Clarke was fuming. As much as her mother's words hurt, Clarke didn't believe them whatsoever. Clarke knew that she wasn't a 'liability.' She knew that she was more than capable of helping any patient in that hospital, and even if her mother couldn't see it, she knew that she was overwhelmingly beneficial to the majority of the hospital's occupants. Her mother was wrong, and entirely out of line for what she'd said.

She took a deep breath and settled on her decision to not even react to Abby's harsher words. Instead, she kept her focus on what mattered most at the moment: the woman. Lexa, Clarke reminded herself of the stranger's name.

"I don't think she's a hit-and-run victim." Clarke's voice was devoid of the hurt and anger that was boiling inside of her. If Abby was so desperate for 'professionalism,' than that would be what Clarke would give her from now on, in and out of the hospital.

Abby furrowed her brow, somewhat frustrated and confused about the fact that Clarke didn't even move to defend herself, but also interested in what her daughter had to say.

"I didn't get the chance to take a very good look at the extent of her injuries because I was in such a hurry," Clarke explained in a neutral tone, "but she had a significant amount of bruising from what I could see. A few lacerations, too. She was disoriented, had know idea where she was or even which city this is. She has a deep cut on her side, a stab wound maybe."

Abby's expression fell slightly, pity evident in her features. "Abuse," she muttered quietly.

"Maybe," Clarke shrugged. "There's no way to know right now. I told the residents to prep an OR and to get some scans done. Niylah has also been instructed to page me with any updates, and-"

"You can remain updated on the case," Abby interrupted, looking somewhat hesitant. "But I don't want you operating, Clarke-"

"Mom, I'm not a danger to this hospital," Clarke asserted, anger flowing from her words. "I am-"

"It is not up for discussion," Abby cut in coldly. "I shouldn't even be letting you stay, so before you make me change my mind, let me finish my sentence." Clarke bit her tongue, knowing that it was for the best. "You may remain updated on the case," Abby started again, "but you will not be operating. This will not be your case, and you will not be making any medical decisions. This woman is not going to be your patient, and if you even so much as attempt to overstep the boundaries that I am generously setting for you, then you will be met with extensive consequences. You can stick around, you can remain updated on the woman's case, but until I say otherwise, you are not an active surgeon in this hospital and you will not take part in or interfere with her care. You may observe and oversee the case, but you have no say in her care. You are not her doctor."

Clarke clenched her jaw. As much as she wanted to argue with her mother, she knew that there would be no budging the older woman's decision, and she knew that she was probably lucky to receive what her mother was allowing her. So she nodded, muttered a "thank you," before turning to walk out the door, and let out a quiet sigh.

"Clarke," Abby's voice cut through the silence just as Clarke reached the doorway. Her tone was gentle, even sympathetic. Clarke looked over her shoulder, already having an idea of what her mother was going to say to her. "I know why you want to be involved in this case," she spoke softly. "I'm not going to stop you from helping the woman find the help that she needs, but just... just don't get too attached, okay? Don't put yourself through it again."

Clarke knew that her mother meant the best in her words. She knew what her mother was referring to, even if a decent time ago they had both come to the same silent, mutual decision that they wouldn't say those words out loud -that was too painful. So Clarke just nodded, giving her mother a small, sad, appreciative smile. Regardless of how much Abby wanted Clarke to protect herself, though, the blonde had every intention of doing anything she could for the stranger. She was going to help this woman find help, and she was going to do so before it would become too late. No matter the risks.


Note: Hey all, I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to update. I lost touch with the story because I wasn't sure how I wanted this chapter to go. It's been hard to write in general lately. I managed to find the motivation today, though, and I really like the route that this chapter went. I know that there are a lot of questions left unanswered after this chapter, and I promise that we'll get to those answers in due time. I have a lot of hope for this story, though. It will be a bit of a rough ride before we'll be able to get to any sort of 'happy ending,' but I promise it'll be worth it. I'm excited to continue, so I hope you guys can stick with it too.