The first seconds were filled with fierce eye-contact. From both of us.
Did she follow me? Why?
"Pardon, Ai-je-" She said, then stopped herself by taking a large breath. I watched her close her eyes and collect her thoughts. "Sorry, did I startle you?"
The thick French accent she spoke with caught me off guard. Her correction into English was adorable, and I couldn't help but notice that her words sounded a little shaky. Was she nervous?
I blinked a few times, trying to will myself to speak. I opened my mouth, ready to reply, but I couldn't think of anything to say. Her accented words floated around my otherwise empty brain. All I could get out was a throaty squeak in reply.
She broke eye-contact first, looking down to the floor with a smirk on her face. From here I could see the light freckles dotting her face. When she looked back up at me, I could see the golden flecks in her hazel eyes even more pronounced than before.
"Doctor Niehaus, right?" She said and pointed to the name embroidered on my coat. "Pediatrics is my specialty as well."
Of course, I knew that my name was there. But in reaction, I looked down at my own coat and read over the cursive letters myself. The act of literally having to check made me laugh out loud. When I looked backs up, I could see relief flood her face. In reaction, she laughed back.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. "Sorry." I finally got out "It's…it's been a day…already…" And a day it had been. When I walked into the break room, I was trying to ask Scott for a consult on my newest Peds patient. I had gone over the case a hundred times this morning. I still couldn't give myself or his mother an answer for his newest flare-up. On top of that, in my down time last night I had decided to check my neglected Facebook. I found out that my ex and ex-best-friend were now officially dating. My hands instinctively went to my forehead and down my face and neck, finding their home on my hips.
Congratulations, Cosima. You finally made a complete sentence.
"Um, please, call me Cosima." I glanced at her lab coat as well, my eyes traveling over the black embroidered letters. The folded lapel covered most of her first name, but I could make out Cormier, MD and below it, Pediatrics.
Dr. Cormier held out her hand to shake mine. Her hand was warm, familiar even. My skin was buzzing from the moment of contact and so was my mind. There was just…something about her. I couldn't really put my finger on exactly what that thing was, but I was damn sure going to find out.
"Delphine." She replied shortly, looking back at our hands. My eyes traveled there was well. I glanced at her outstretched arm, noticing goose bumps forming along the soft skin. "Enchantee."
"Enchantee" I replied, hoping I hadn't butchered the French word.
"Pleasure to meet you." She whispered. The sound of her voice had me trapped there, my feet unwilling to leave their place even if I had wanted to.
"Uh, yea…you too." My brain felt like it was on sleep mode. The screensaver started to play out, and I was waiting for someone to shake the mouse so I could resume again. But no one was there. They'd probably abandoned their post and I was standing there, helpless.
Delphine's mouth turned up into a slight smirk before speaking.
"I um…I'm going to need that hand back…" She chucked and looked down at our joined hands.
I looked down as well, and I was indeed, still clutching hers. I let go and kept my eyes down towards the floor, momentarily embarrassed that I had spaced out. To keep the conversation going and to wipe my mind of that botched interaction, I quickly blurted out a question at her.
"You-you're new here?" I asked.
"Oui-Yes." Her open-mouthed smile reached across her face and it shone so bright it took over the whole hallway. I couldn't help but smile back at her.
I was about to speak when my pager went off.
Shit.
I flashed her an apologetic smile and I took the pager out of my pocket. I read the number across the screen.
Double shit.
I closed my eyes and hoped that his condition hadn't worsened. "I'm really sorry, it's a patient of mine." I looked up at her, noting the change in her emotions as well. Her face fell, but only for a split second. Had I not looked up when I did I would have missed it. "I have to go."
"Of course."
I turned to walk away but stopped in my tracks instead. I looked back at her still standing there. "So, since we're both in Peds…" I turned back around to face her. "I'll have to give you the Cosima Welcome speech and the grand tour." I flashed her a toothy grin as my arms opened, gesturing to the hall. "Just so you know."
She cocked her head to the side, a puzzled expression plastered on her face.
My smile grew wider and I couldn't help but stifle the laugh brewing in my belly. "You know, unless you'd rather Rory give you the tour…"
Her eyes widened and both of her arms shot out in front of her. "Non, sil vous plait." She huffed. I couldn't help but think how cute she looked while asking me not to put her in that predicament.
I bit my lip to keep myself from smiling any further. Honestly, my cheeks were starting to hurt. I was not used to smiling this much. "Don't worry, I wouldn't subject you to spending time alone with him." I knew that I didn't really know her, but something told me just by her response that she probably didn't like him either. "Anyways," I stepped one foot back and then the other. I still had somewhere else I needed to be. "He's in Plastics, not Peds." I cocked my head to the side and grimaced at her, sticking my tongue out a little through my teeth.
She shook her head and smiled behind her free hand. "You, you know." The hand left her mouth and pointed a finger at me. "You're very, what is the word?" She looked away, searching her brain for the right word. "Cheeky, you're very cheeky."
Further proving my busy schedule, my phone chimed twice. I recognized Scott's tone right away. He probably wanted to know why I was being such a space cadet earlier.
I opened my mouth to reply but she was quick to react to the page.
"Please, go." She said sternly, but her eyes still twinkled playfully.
"Right, yes." I spun again, making my way towards my destination. "Patients come first!" I exclaimed and pushed a pointed finger in the air. From behind me I could hear her chuckle.
"And Cosima?" She called after me.
My heart jumped to my throat at my name falling from her mouth. I slowed my pace but didn't stop moving. I looked back at her and saw her grinning into her cup of coffee.
She looked back up at me and eyed me curiously. "That tour?" She bit her lip, and I swear, for a second I blacked out. "I would like that very much."