Rey and her fellow residents attend a party where the drinks are flowing and things take an unsettling turn.
*mildly suggestive scene, slightly dark due to alcohol and drug references
-o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o-
By the third mile, Poe was starting to think that he should have left Rey sitting by herself on the couch all afternoon. Finn was working that weekend, so Poe was left to suffer through her questionable movie choices for an entire morning without the benefit of additional male input as he tried to lend his support.
After the sixth hour, he had had enough.
Poe strode over to Rey, grabbed the remote from her hand and shut off the television.
"Rey?" he asked. "You know I love you, but if I have to watch one more Nicholas Sparks or John Green movie-or anything that has "Love" in its title for that matter-I'm going to throw the TV through the wall. And I'd hate to do that, since it's mine and I'm kind of attached to it."
Rey glowered at him from her half-eaten pint of Ben and Jerry's and pulled her blanket further up around her.
Poe finally convinced her to go for a run to work off some of her negative energy. Half an hour later, Rey looked like she had just started, while his lungs were on fire.
"Rey, you're literally going to run me into the ground at this pace. Can we slow it down a bit? Or even better, take a break?"
Rey gave him a sideways glance and felt a pang of guilt. He was trying valiantly to keep up and failing miserably. His damp curls were plastered against his forehead, his breath coming up in shallow huffs, and his face had the look of someone who would rather be anywhere but here. She took pity and slowed herself down to an eventual walk.
"Sorry, Poe. Of course we can." She gave him a smile. "Thanks for helping me get out of my funk."
They cooled down and stopped by a small park to sit. The afternoon sun was beautiful, and a gentle wind rustled the leaves overhanging the bench, still green, their shadows flickering below like a kinetoscope. The sounds of laughing children and their scolding parents mixed with the colors of the painted pavement and vibrant swing sets. Rey breathed deeply, allowing the sights and sounds to settle her spirit and empty her mind.
When she opened her eyes, Poe was looking at her, his eyes gentle and warm, protective, patient.
Rey sighed. "You know, Arkanis isn't half-bad. I miss you guys like crazy, but a lot of the residents are really nice. I'm having fun, and I get to see a lot of things that we don't do at Republic." She bit her lip. "Kylo was one of the first attendings to show trust in my skills. He seemed so kind and encouraging….so sweet."
She closed her eyes, recalling how he held her, how his touch seared her senses. "I thought there was a connection between us. Maybe I was just imagining things. I've been on my own for so long I'm not good at reading signals anymore. I mean, you saw him. You saw who he was with. Why would someone like that be interested in someone like me?"
Poe looked at her gently. "Why wouldn't he be? You're gorgeous, Rey, and I'm not just talking about on the outside. You've got brains and beauty, and you're all heart and loyalty. If it weren't for Finn-well, and the fact that I'm into guys-I'd scoop you up in a second."
Rey looked up to Poe and gave a wistful smile. "Poe, seriously, what am I going to do? I've got another seven weeks to go."
Poe thought. "Why don't you ask him about his research and see if it's something you want to do? If you're interested, join his team. You'll get a chance to do something you're excited about, and you'll spend more time working with him in the process. Really get to know him. Maybe he's not worth your efforts, or maybe he's the guy who's going to sweep you off your feet. But you won't know if you don't try." Poe looked at her, a challenge in his eyes. "And I've never thought of you as the kind of person who would back away from something meaningful."
Rey mulled over his words and agreed. "OK, I'm going to do it tomorrow." Poe's hug was full of encouragement and support, and it was the best she had felt in over 48 hours.
-o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o-
Rey approached Maz on Monday.
"Hi, Maz. Can you tell me if Dr. Ren is in? He mentioned something last week about working on one of his grants. "
Maz looked up. "Sure, dear, his office is down the hallway and to the right. First door on your left." Maz looked at Rey thoughtfully. "Dr. Stanley has had many wonderful things to say about you. How has your experience with us been so far?"
Rey contemplated her question and answered her honestly. "It's different from what I'm used to, but not in a bad way. I'm learning alot. I've met so many wonderful people, and Simon is the best chief ever." She remembered something else. "Oh, and the food is amazing!"
Maz laughed.
"I'm happy to be here, Maz. Thanks for asking."
Maz looked at Rey. "We're glad to have you here too, Dr. Kenobi." She glanced at the clock overhead. "It's 12:30. You should be able to catch Dr. Ren in his office right now if you hurry. His patient hours start at 1:00."
Rey smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Maz!"
The hallways were bustling as patients moved throughout the hospital. Some lay on stretchers, worried looks on their faces, holding the hands of their loved ones en route to the OR. Others leaned back in their wheelchairs, smiling and making small talk with the transporters in an effort to mask their uncertainty as they headed towards various tests. None were completely confident due to the position they were placed in and all were doing their best to put their trust and faith in those who were managing their care.
Rey escaped the activity of the main corrider and turned right to the row of private offices. The rich, mahogany doors were a warm counterpoint to the sterility of the hospital walls. She lifted her hand towards the one inscribed "Kylo Ren, M.D." and knocked
She felt a flare of nervousness as his deep voice called from within.
"Come in."
She turned the handle and pushed. Kylo sat behind his desk, his white physician's coat pressed and spotless over an elegant shirt and tie, charts neatly stacked on his desk. On display were his numerous awards and accolades, their variegated frames landscaping every inch of the wall behind him. Textbooks and journals filled a bookshelf to the side. A picture of him and Snoke sat on the top shelf. They were holding a medal, Snoke's and Ren's hands on either side of the presentation case, flanked by dignitaries, all smiling for the camera. The only thing hinting at disorder in the room were the numerous cups of coffee which spilled out over the garbage in various states of consumption.
His eyes seemed to startle fractionally as Rey entered, but his expression otherwise remained inscrutable.
"Dr. Kenobi." He shook his head as Rey went to close the door behind her. "Please. Leave it opened."
Rey walked forward tentatively, his cold formality causing her confusion. "Dr. Ren. I'd like to speak with you about your research. I've given it a lot of thought over the weekend, and I'm very interested in participating. I was wondering if—"
Kylo cut her off abruptly. "I'm very sorry, Dr. Kenobi. All of the research slots on my current projects have been filled."
Rey's mouth dropped open. "All of them? Since last week?"
"Yes," he said, his eyes flashing a curious mix of anger and sadness. His look darkened as he ground out the next words. "If you are truly interested, I believe that Dr. Hux may have some openings on his team."
Deep down, he was fervently hoping that she would decline.
Rey sputtered, too shocked to negate the possibility outright. Kylo's eyes narrowed, nettled by her lack of a verbal response.
She looked down at the floor, then back up again, uncertainty stamped on her face. She didn't know him at all. It wasn't just the cold and impersonal nature of his words. It was the way he was looking at her, the tension in his carriage, the displeasure underlying his actions.
She forgot her place, needing to know. "Dr. Ren, if I may be so bold. You had recently spoken of working together as a team. Have I done something since then to offend you? Have I overstepped my bounds in anyway? If I did, I sincerely apologize, I-"
Kylo stood, and walked towards her, towering over her petite frame. "Dr. Kenobi, your line of questioning is entirely inappropriate. Please remember that I am one of your supervisors. I hope you will keep this in mind and not color any of our previous interactions with a schoolgirl's fantasies." His persisted, cruel in his words in order to drive the wedge between them further.
"Be mindful of your place, Dr. Kenobi." He stood near the door to usher her out. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I have patients to see."
Rey's face burned in embarrassment and anger. How could she have misjudged him so?
She held her head high. "I will make sure that I always know my place, Dr. Ren."
Kylo watched as she walked out his door and down the hall, unable to look away until she disappeared around the corner and out of his sight. Closing the door, he paced back and forth, raging at his impotence. He stood in front of the window, eyeing the picture of him and Snoke. Hands trembling, he held it and stared at the image, his anger directed at the man who was puppetering his life and at himself for allowing him to do so. Unable to deal with his feelings of shame, he hurled it against the wall, extracting little pleasure from the resulting cacophony of shattering wood and broken glass.
Rey rounded the corner back to the surgical suite. She marched up to Maz.
"Maz? Would you mind giving me the extension for Dr. Hux?"
-o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o-
Over the next several weeks, Rey kept her head down and threw herself into her work. She avoided cases with Ren, even choosing to scrub in with Hux on occasion. The way Hux ran the OR like a precision machine made her uncomfortable however, and she tried to avoid neurosurgical cases altogether whenever possible.
Rey was charting in the residents' room with James when Phasma entered.
Phasma sat down next to them, her posture betraying her exhaustion after the long day. "So, are you guys going to the party this weekend?"
The Department of Surgery periodically threw end-of-rotation parties for residents of the transitional program who completed their monthly surgical electives. In reality, it served several purposes: it allowed the department to show their appreciation for their own surgical residents; it fostered a sense of comraderie and pride within the department; and it allowed the department to flaunt its wealth and superiority over the other medical divisions which didn't have the resources for such indulgences. Traditionally, the parties were held in staid and pricey restaurants, but this time Bazine was in charge of the planning. Through her connections, she was able to book a private room in Tatooine. Tatooine was both a restaurant and a club, a mecca of New York City nightlife. It frequently made the entertainment news for its after parties, celebrity sightings, and the occasional brawl.
James nodded. "Definitely. Poor Unamo and Godrich. They're going to miss out because of call. You going, Rey?"
Rey looked uncomfortable. She didn't want to run the risk of seeing Kylo there.
"Oh come on, Rey," Phasma urged. "My brother and his girlfriend are in town for the weekend, and I'm ditching them for a couple of hours to go. It's going to be amazing, they never throw parties at places like this. Open bar. Plus, I never get a chance to hang out with you outside of work."
"Isn't it going to be weird with all the attendings and everything?"
James shook his head. "Nah. They usually make an obligatory appearance for an hour or so, get their food and go. Since this isn't a dinner, I can't imagine most of them even showing up."
Rey thought about it and nodded. It would be nice to hang out with her new friends outside of the hospital.
"OK, sounds like fun."
"Don't forget to let Maz know you're going so she can put you on the guest list," Phasma reminded her.
-o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o-
Rey was actually excited by the time Friday night arrived. Finn and Poe were heading out with friends that evening as well and made her promise to give all the salacious details the next morning. She allowed herself to splurge on a cab, not wanting to take the subway at night by herself in heels. She relaxed against the cracked leather of the back seat for the long ride downtown.
"West 12th and 9th Avenue, please."
The cab pulled up half an hour later to Tatooine. There was already a line outside the door filled with attractive people waiting to get in. An exotic passageway decorated by plush couches accented with silken pillows led the way to the restaurant which sat on the ground floor. Amber colored sconces warmed the deep wooden tones of the wall, highlighted by colorful ethnic art. Tables were set in a circular pattern as waiters navigated the dimly lit room. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, diffusing soft light through crystal prisms onto the scene below. Rey noted the appreciative look some of the male patrons threw in her direction as the hostess led her to the club area upstairs.
The upstairs lounge was also dimly lit, but had a distinctly different vibe. Furniture in jeweled tones of cobalt blues, regal amethyst and glistening golds invited people to sit and linger. Individual rooms off of the main dance floor lent a degree of privacy from the crowd. The bar ran the length of the main room, its backlit mosaicked panel lighting the way, a beckoning invitation urging thirsty clubgoers to indulge. The DJ was situated in the booth nearby, mixing inimitable lounge beats, sending out a primal, thumping base which pulsated over the room. Rey looked around and spied Phasma and Thomas, who were excitedly waving her over.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Bazine really outdid herelf," Phasma said as Rey joined them.
James widened his eyes in appreciation as he saw her. "Wow, Rey, you look hot."
Rey was dressed in a form fitting black camisole top, it's cropped length hinting at her toned belly. Dark blue skinny jeans rode low on her hips, paired with stilettoed ankle boots which added another 4 inches to her frame. A short black leather jacket added a bit of modesty and highlighted the delicate length of her neck. Her hair fell to her shoulders in soft, loose waves, it's femininity contrasting with the leather underneath.
"Awww, thanks James. As do you," Rey replied, feeling rather chuffed. She kissed him on the cheek as he blushed at the greeting.
"Come, let's get a drink." Phasma said, pulling her towards the bar.
The hostess was leading more groups upstairs as Rey ordered a cosmoplitan and Phasma a martini. Rey took a sip, the texture of tiny ice crystals playfully stinging her lips as the mix of cointreau and vodka swirled in her mouth, sweetness tempered by the tartness of cranberry and lime. The alcohol made her feel relaxed, amplifying the sounds and sights of the room, as it progressively became more crowded, heated and loud.
There was a brief commotion and the buzz of a hundred whispers filled the air as heads turned surreptitiously to view the next entrants. A tall male with jet black hair frosted at the tips and gelled into spikes sauntered in, confident and commanding of the room. He had an easy swagger, and his black lined eyes surveyed the room until he spied the roped off booths in the back.
"Who is that?" Rey asked Phasma
"That's Mos Eisley. He's the lead singer of Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes. I think they're playing The Garden tomorrow."
A group of women and a large burly bodyguard were crowded around him. A third male brought up the rear of the entourage, towering above the group with his 6'3" frame.
Rey recognized him right away. "How does he know Dr. Ren?"
Thomas joined in. "I heard that Ren helped him out with one of the band members a couple of years ago. The guy was on a bender, totally wasted and fucking around when he fell off an overpass. He sustained a massive head injury. Ren performed the surgery and helped keep the sordid details out of the press. The guy survived, but he's still got some major memory problems. He plays occasionally on some of their albums, but he's no longer in any shape to tour with the band."
Rey watched as the group was led to the back, settling into their table. The security guard was stationed in front, and the women flanked the two seated men on either side, draping themselves around them.
Kylo looked out across the scene with a slightly bored expression on his face until he laid eyes on Rey.
He felt his breath hitch and a slam in his gut as he was assaulted by the sight of her. He hadn't seen her since their confrontation in his office two weeks ago, and never had he seen her looking like this. Her top pushed up her breasts, as if to proffer them for his hands and mouth to revere. Her heels aligned her body in such as way as to lengthen her legs and accentuate her ass. Her hair, usually pulled back from her face, fell softly in loose waves, silk against skin. Her face was slightly flushed from her drink and the heat of the room, her lips reddened and soft, begging to be kissed.
She looked so beautiful and so utterly fuckable.
Rey turned to James and Phasma and the rest of their group . "Anyone want another before they shut down Open Bar?" Taking orders, she weaved her way through the throngs of partygoers to the side of the room.
"Two Heinekens, one Silver Tree on the rocks, and a Rum and Coke, please." Rey left a ten on the counter as the bartender turned to make the drinks.
"Planning for a long night?" Rey felt a light touch on her arm from the man seated next to her, his hand lingering with unwanted familiarity. She looked up to see Hux. His handsome face was appraising her, his eyes assessing her body and she drew back slightly.
"Dr. Kenobi." He inclined his head, a slight leer in his expression.
Rey shrunk back as he leaned forward in his seat. The crowd behind them also added to her discomfiture as they tried to compete for the bartender's attention, pushing Hux further into her space.
Hux continued, eyes steadily on Rey. "Maz told me that you were looking for me the other day?"
"Yes, Dr. Hux. I had considered applying for one of the research positions within your department. However, I realized since that I don't have the time to give it it's just due, especially as I only have one month left on my rotation at Arkanis."
Hux slowly trailed his finger from her upper arm and rested it on the back of her hand. She felt trapped, unable to withdraw it without being obviously rude. He suggestively rubbed the edge of her thumb.
"Rey," he said, a predatory look in his eyes. "You may not have an opportunity like this again. The prestige and power of Arkanis, the reputation of Snoke and myself behind this project. I would be willing to make allowances for your schedule even after your rotation here has finished. It would be worth your while to reconsider." The pressure was becoming more insistent and demanding, his hand stroking hers in bigger circles as he moved closer.
Hux moved suddenly as someone bumped into him from behind, pushing him forward from his chair. Hux used his arms to brace himself against the bar as Rey withdrew her hand quickly. He angrily looked behind him to see Kylo standing over him, sneering.
"Goddammit Ren, watch where you're going!"
"Hux. My apologies." he said sarcastically, barely repressing the anger in his voice. His hair hung forward into his face, eyes glinting dangerously, his powerful body moving closer.
The two men stared each other down while Rey grabbed her drinks and begged a hasty retreat back to her friends.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, the lighting, the bass moving through her, or her need to forget. Rey just wanted to have fun and let loose. She took off her jacket and the group moved onto the dance floor, joining the other revelers. She let the music take over her senses, its pounding, pulsating beat a primitive driving force pushing her forward. She closed her eyes, raised her arms, and moved closer to James and Thomas, hips moving suggestively, the space between their bodies closing in.
The dance floor became progressively more crowded as other clubgoers entered their circle. A handsome man moved towards her, insinuating his body next to hers, moving in then withdrawing slightly, back and forth as the music continued to contract and expand. Drinks flowed as Rey moved with and against the men and women surrounding her. Kylo watched Rey from the darkness of his booth in the back of the room, ignorant of his immediate surroundings. His eyes burned with lust, unable to look away as he watched her body writhing, inviting and free. She was intoxicated by the music, disinhibited by the booze, the dance floor throbbing and the angles of the walls tilting, shimmering and shifting with each turbo bass beat.
Rey was feeling flushed, her top clinging to her body, outlining every curve and movement of her chest. Colors and noise started to meld into one, a million sensations intense in their acuity, euphoria mixing, spinning and distorting with time. She suddenly felt overly warm and slightly disoriented, and excused herself from the group to head towards the bathroom.
The coolness and relative quiet of the bricked corridor leading to the restrooms was a welcome change from the heat and noise of the dance floor. As she was about to enter, a strong arm grabbed her, pushing her against the wall.
She looked up. Kylo's eyes glinted back at her angrily, his face inches from her own. He held her wrist tightly, almost painfully, entrapping her.
Rey felt unfocused as the music continued to pound in the distance, intimidated by his strength and presence.
"What do you think you're doing?" he hissed.
"Having fun," she retorted, a slight slur to her words. "What are you doing?"
"I'm watching you make a fool of yourself. Behaving like a harlot."
"You're one to talk. I've seen the women you keep in your company," She spat out the words, laced with a hint of jealousy. "Isn't that what you like, Dr. Ren?"
She grew bolder, sliding her body towards him suggestively. "Isn't this what you want?"
His voice strangled in his throat. He pressed forward so his right leg straddled her hip, his arms encircling her face, a feral look in his eyes as he responded. "Be careful what you ask for, Rey. You just might get it."
The music pulsed and became distorted as he lowered his head to hers, crushing the softness of her lips with the hardness of his own, punishing her for her wantonness and for his lack of control. The searing heat of the kiss burned her lips. She inhaled the scent of his cologne as she moaned, feeling his tongue pressing against hers, tasting the mix of alcohol and sweat, trying to erase the memory of anyone she's kissed before. His tongue warred, bruised, and claimed her own. She responded as her fingers twisted in his shirt and pulled him down, arms moving up to knot his hair, wallowing in his essence, his masculinity.
He brought his hands down to her waist, pulling her closer as his knee worked her legs apart. He felt needy, unable to get enough of her as she arched into him, repositioning her legs despite the sounds of protest from the sticky floor. He was rock hard, grinding his erection against her thigh, trying to get her to submit despite all the layers of clothing between them. Her fingers splayed against the hardness of his chest, clenching, grasping, voracious in her need for him, only slowing down as a slight nausea began to build in her stomach.
Rey pulled back, dizzy and uncertain, and stumbled slightly against the wall, Her legs felt weak and she noted a confusion in his eyes as he made the effort to draw back from their kiss. She was staring, trying to focus, hearing a babbling in the background which could have been her own.
"Rey?" His voice sounded slightly distant.
Her head was spinning, the room blurred, tilting. Kylo's worried eyes swarmed in and out of focus.
"REY?!"
She was breathing erratically, pupils dilated, eyes glassy. He took her hand and led her back to her table, eyeing the drink which sat on it, a tell tale bluish tinge in the candlelight.
Rohypnol.
Kylo scanned the room furiously, unable to discern the perpetrator in the sea of moving bodies. He brought Rey over to Phasma, whose eyes widened in shock as she saw Rey.
"Shit, what happened?!"
"Someone spiked her drink," Kylo replied angrily. "Rohypnol."
Phasma looked confused
"Rohypnol." Kylo expanded. "Roofies, Forget Me, Memory Erasers?"
"Shit, we've got to get her out of here."
Kylo looked around. "We can't leave her alone. With all the alcohol she's taken and God knows how much of this drug, someone has to keep an eye on her. Can you take her back to your place?"
Phasms shook her head slowly. "My brother and his girlfriend are in from town and have my bedroom. I've been relegated to the couch as it is."
Kylo looked around. Thomas and James were getting lucky with some pretty randoms, and there was no way he could trust Rey with Hux or Bazine. Phasma dialed Rey's home number, with no response.
Rey hung onto Kylo and Phasma, legs unsteady.
Kylo made a quick decision. "Help me, Phasma." They loaded Rey into the back of the cab and climbed in next to her.
"Church Street, between Franklin and Leonard. And step on it."
When they arrived, Phasma and Ren helped Rey out of the cab. He kept the meter running as they brought her to the bank of elevator doors. Kylo handed Phasma enough money to cover the cab fare and then some.
Phasma tried to keep the hysteria from creeping into her voice. "Are you sure you're okay with this? Is she going to be okay?"
"Yes, Phasma, " although Kylo was uncertain himself. "Thanks for your help. I'll take her to the hospital if her condition worsens." He gently nudged her along. "Go on, get home before the driver takes off with another fare." Phasma nodded, giving him a look of encouragement as she climbed back in the cab and drove off.
Kylo and Rey rode up to the top floor, the stillness in the elevator broken by an electronic pinging noise announcing each passing floor. Rey leaned more heavily into him, breathing in the scent of his jacket.
"Come on, Rey, we're almost there," he whispered gently as the doors opened. He supported her as they walked down the hallway to his apartment. As he fumbled with his keys at the door, she looked up at him, eyes opened wide in a fleeting moment of clarity.
"Kylo..." she said, full of trust and love, volumes of meaning in her unfinished sentence. Her legs suddenly gave way and she fainted, her weight collapsing against him. He held her body tightly to his, breaking her fall.
Shit, he thought, wondering what he had gotten himself into as he gathered her up in his arms and carried her in.
