CHAPTER IV – One Way Street
"Another party with the same kids, another night with the same drinks, I need to find myself a new chick, I need to kiss a set of new lips!" Eva was driving to work and singing at the top of her lungs "She's gotta be something new to me, a fresh face, someone new to please, so come on come on girl, just you and me, oh come on girl, just you and me!" She looked in the rearview mirror. She was happy, content. She didn't even remember when was the last time she had felt like that. Usually, her trip to work was boring and made her sleepier; but not that day.
She entered RR UCLA forty minutes before the beginning of her shift. Went straight to the cafeteria, she was starving. Grabbed a cup of coffee and a bagel. When she turned around she spotted Dr. Cameron and Ruby at a private round table chatting and having breakfast.
"She's going to be hard on you, like she was on me and everyone else in this hospital, but sooner or later you're going to realize you're a better surgeon and a better person too" said Ruby to Allison.
"Hush" the blonde warned the other.
"What? It's not like she's going to be here now, she's always late" Ruby said totally convinced as Eva walked straight to her. Ali looked down.
"She's right behind me, isn't she?" asked the youngest woman.
"Good morning Ruby" said Dr. Zambrano sarcastically grinning.
"I told you to shut up" the resident added. She was having so much fun.
"So… apparently you were talking about me, right? Mind sharing?" said Eva in a friendly tone, but they could tell she was being utterly serious.
"I was telling Dr. Cameron here that you are a great boss" replied Ruby being honest. It came out as a joke. "I'm not lying, I swear…"
"Just leave it alone, it's not going to get any better" Allison interrupted her. Eva sat right in front of the blonde and started drinking her sultry coffee.
"I'm surprised you got here before me, Allison" whispered Eva.
"Didn't we have a deal? It was something like 'work hard and never be late' as I recall" the blonde quipped. "I don't break deals, it's dangerous". She was being a smart ass and Eva liked that but would never admit it.
"Very good. So… did you leave your phone on the bus this morning?" said the brunette smiling.
"Ok, I think I'm going to go do something else… somewhere else" said Ruby as she felt ignored. And she was, because no one seemed to hear. She had the last sip of her tea and rushed to the hall as if there was some kind of emergency.
"Nope, here it is" answered Allison as she took the phone off her pocket. "I wouldn't want the bus driver to knock on my door". She loved this whole joking thing and could tell her boss did too. Eva let a shy laugh come out of her mouth.
Ruby came in running, ten times faster than she had left. "I'm sorry to interrupt your little chat but we have nine gunshot victims from a bank robbery, we need you both" The three of them let their full cups and hurried to the 4th floor. When they got to the operating room Dr. Humbert was already about to start. Cameron and Zambrano put on their surgical gowns a started operating. Ruby left to help out with another surgery.
"Dr. Cameron, I think you know how to intubate" she assumed looking at the blonde firmly. She continued "and remove the bandage, I'll remove the bullet. Do it fast, we don't have much time". One of the gunshots had punctured the victim's left lung, again. "Dr. Humbert, please do the same with the wound on his right arm". Two hours later they had saved another life.
"I'm proud of you Allison" Eva admitted as she took her gloves off "You did great". The blonde couldn't hide her excitement so she let a huge smile out. The chief came out to talk to the victim's family.
"He's recovering, he'll be fine" said Dr. Zambrano to two worried parents. "You may see him when he wakes up. I'll let you know". After being hugged and thanked she left to the locker room to change. She always carried three uniforms to change in between surgeries; she felt dirty and sick if she didn't. It was almost lunch time so she went down to the cafeteria again and sat completely alone.
"Hey chief" someone said. The blonde was standing right next to her with a tray in her hands "may I sit here?"
"Suit yourself" replied the boss. She moved so the other could sit.
"Thanks" She grabbed the fork and started twirling her spaghetti. She looked at the other. "Are you ok? You're playing with your food" asked Allison when she saw the brunette's troubled look.
"I'm fine, I'm just not hungry" lied the older woman.
"Tell that to your pretty face, you look concerned" said Allison. Eva immediately faced her partner. "What?" The blonde hadn't realized she had said 'pretty face'.
"Never mind. How old are you anyway?" enquired Eva looking at her full plate again. Clearly she was caught up in her own thoughts. A lock of hair fell off from behind her ear. The intern looked at her and sighed.
"Shouldn't you have read my file? I'm 32" replied Allison in a failed attempt to make a joke.
"I haven't had the time yet, Dr. Cameron" seriously stated the chief. Allison reached Eva's hand and hold it. The brunette let go of her fork and froze.
"What's with you today? You look lost and flustered" sincerely asked the blonde.
"I'm fine Miss Cameron" answered quite annoyed the other woman. She took her hand off Allison's.
"Ok, just know you can open up to me too. It's not a one way street" She was being genuine and Eva noticed that but didn't say a thing. Awkward silence. "Are you going to eat that apple, boss?" The chief shook her head, stood up and left, leaving a preoccupied Allison alone to sink her teeth into the fruit.