Here and Now

Connor Rhodes struggles with life choices, his career, parenting and broken relationships. But one thing is for sure, he will never be like his father.

I own nothing.

CH 7.

Sarah hadn't told Connor about Claire, didn't want to cloud just how calm he'd seemed in the last couple days. She'd heard him talk to Natalie about taking some time off to be with Hannah since Meghan was going on a trip with her folks for Christmas, one to which he'd been invited to but declined saying he had a lot to do.

"Well it's settled then, Owen, Helen and I would love to have you guys over." Natalie had said. "Will is spending it with his Dad and Jay, so... We could use the company."

"I'll think about it, I promise." Connor said with a smile as his eyes focused back on the tablet he'd been holding.

"Have you heard anything? From your father?" Natalie asked after a moment.

"No, not yet. I'm thinking he's going to wait until the last second to dump all his crap on me." He admitted grimly.

"Maybe he had second thoughts?" Natalie said. Connor eyed her for a bit. His father was like a lion catching his prey. It was only a matter of time. "Sorry I brought it up."

"No, it's fine. I just..." Connor said tiredly. "I don't want you to get yourself worked up over Cornelius Rhodes, it's not even worth it."

"Connor..." Natalie said softly. "You do know I'm here if you want to talk, right?"

"I know." He answered back with a half smile. "Thanks."

"Dr. Rhodes?" Maggie called. "Your cousin is here."

"Got it." Natalie shot him a puzzled look. "She's officially relieved from babysitting for the next week." He explained.

She followed him out to find Meghan and Hannah. "What time do you have to be at the airport?" Connor asked.

"About an hour. Hey Nat."

"Hey." the older woman said. "Connor tells me it's kind of a big family trip."

"Skiing, my little sisters are pretty excited." Meghan said. "This one didn't want to go."

"I told you I can't take so many days off." Connor put in. "You ready kiddo? I'm buying you some lunch." Hannah nodded with a smile. "Have a safe trip Meg, I'll miss you."

"Of course you will. Merry Christmas cuz," Meghan kissed his cheek softly as he hugged her. "Han, you're in charge of keeping your dad out of trouble. Think you can do that?"

The little girl nodded. "That's all I ask for". Meghan grabbed her bag as she waved them goodbye. "Okay, I gotta or Carter is going to kill me. Nat, Merry Christmas."

"You too." She said. "Hey, speaking of lunch, you guys mind if I join in?"

"Of course not, where's Will?" Connor asked as they walked over to the food truck, Hannah quickly got a hold of her dad's hand.

"He's staying with a patient until her parents get here. Might as well take him something to eat." She said.

"Right." Connor smiled. "So what do you want munchkin?"

"Hotdog please." Hannah said, she scrunched her nose in deep thought.

"Hotdog it is. Nat?"


Sarah Reese couldn't be jealous. Could she? Natalie Manning was nothing to Rhodes but a close friend. They shared that special bond single parents did, but as she watched them both laugh and eat together she couldn't help but feel like these last few mornings, where'd she felt like there was more to Connor being her ride were beginning to feel less and less relevant.

She couldn't be thinking he'd be interested in dating.

Not after all that had happened with Robin, but he had been so sweet to her since the Christmas Festival. He'd bought her coffee everyday and made sure to ask how she was feeling.

She was a little shaken still, couldn't really sleep, but she couldn't tell him that. Not that he'd worry for her or anything but it made her feel self conscious of just how her job was starting to affect her.

"Reese." He heard him call for her. Maybe he had gotten into her head to much. "Reese?"

"Uh?" She looked over to see Connor, Natalie and Hannah all staring at her. "You all alone?"

"Sit with us Dr. Reese!" Hannah echoed. Sarah smiled at the little girl. They opted by the side of the wall. Connor picked up Hannah to put her up on the step of the wall as he leaned over.

"Daddy, I'm almost as tall as you!" Hannah giggled excitedly touching the top of his head. "See,Nat?"

"Oh wow, that can't be from eating all hotdogs, can it?" Natalie bantered on making Connor roll his eyes.

"No, Robin always said you had to eat all your veggies so you could grow tall" Sarah could see how Connor had shifted his weight as the mention of his ex. "She left me a video, did I tell you?"

Sarah pretended not be curious. Natalie shot Connor a glance. Reese listened closely as Hannah rambled about how Robin had told her she had wanted her to be happy and that she'd always be in her heart. "She said we could see her soon if her doctors let her." The little one finished.

"Well, it's great to here she's doing better, I'm glad sweetie." Natalie said.

"Yep. Daddy's gonna send her my Christmas present." Hannah put in. "I also asked Santa to bring her some but not sure if he'll find her."

Suddenly Nat's pager went off. "Gotta go. Let me know about dinner later okay?" She told Connor as she rushed inside with her and Will's lunch.

"Is it movie night at Nat's Daddy?" Sarah swallowed.

"No, she thought we might make it a plan and join her and Owen for Christmas Dinner, what do you think?"

"Do you want to go?" Sarah loved watching Connor interact with his daughter, he always made an effort in taking her into account, a different approach to the one her mother had taken with her, just as soon as she'd gotten some money, Sarah had been thrown into the arms of a nanny.

"Yeah well, I'm sure Helen is a better cook than I am." He counted shyly. "What about you Reese? Are you headed home to see your mom?"

Reese froze up again. "Nah, I don't think so. I'm just going to make it an early night." She said. "My mom isn't big on Christmas."

"Aunt Liv loves it!" Hannah said grinning. "We where there last year."

"Oh." Sarah said. "That sounds fun..."

"Yeah, well I wasn't big on Christmas either until this one came along." Connor said playfully. "I get it"

"Maybe Nat won't mind if she comes too Daddy?" Hannah said suddenly, taking her father and Sarah by surprise.

"Han I don't think..." Connor said awkwardly. She could see how his eyes emitted an apologetic flare.

"I'll ask her for you Dr. Reese..." Hannah said firmly. "Kay?"

Sara honestly didn't know what to say.


"So here's where you've been hiding?" Natalie said later that day as she found Connor on the roof. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"No, I'm just... Christmas doesn't make me all that joly." He admitted. "I know Hannah's meant to believe in the magic of all of it but..."

"Yeah, can't be easy." Natalie said. "It's not easy for me either or Helen, Jeff loved Christmas and always hoped to share that with Owen." They remained silent for a minute.

Connor turned to her. "So about that dinner offer?"

"You're gonna turn me down?

"No, actually. I'm going to take up on it." He sipped a little bit of the coffee he'd been holding.

"Really?" She asked surprised but with a teasing tone. "That's a first."

"What?" He asked annoyed. "You're going to give me a hard time because I said yes? I'm doing this for my kid, I might not have had the regular Christmas experiences but I don't want her to miss out."

"I know, it's okay, although we might have to add another seat." Connor turned to her. "Hannah told me about Reese."

"Right. She's way too embarrassed to say anything." He added in. "I'll talk to Hannah."

"Why? If Sarah's all alone, she shouldn't be." Natalie put in. "Cheer up, It'll be great. Plus she seems smitten over you." Connor's heart skipped.

"What does that mean?" He asked. Natalie stared at him.

Men seemed so clueless.

"Well you seem to have done something for her to like you so much, maybe it's those early rides to work." She winked at him. "She does worry about you, I've seen it."

"You do too."

"Yes, but it comes with the habit of being your best friend." Natalie said with a smile. "Sarah, on the other hand..."

"Some patient busted her tires, I'm just trying to help her out. She did help me with Hannah."

"Of course..."

"There's nothing going on with me and Reese, Natalie." He put in dryly.


Connor couldn't stop thinking about his conversation with Natalie. Had he really given Sarah that impression of him? If he had been flirting, it wasn't because he'd intended to, he was just returning a favour.

To a colleague.

"You ready to go kiddo? It's just going to be you and me for the next week." Connor said as he went to fetch Hannah from the lounge.

"Yep. And then Sunday, we're going to Nat's, right Daddy?"

"That's the plan," He told her.

"Dr. Reese is going too. She told me." Hannah put in.

"Did she?" Hannah nodded. "Well at least she won't be alone, that's very kind of you to invite her."

Just as on cue Sarah appeared. "Reese. You heading home?"

"Yes." She said, adding rather quickly. "Noah's driving me."

"Oh, right. Okay." She had been taking lifts from anyone who would put up with her after work, that thing with Claire was eating her inside. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"But you're not coming to work." She said. "I don't want you to drive all the way if you don't have to, I'll just take a bus."

"It's no problem Reese," He said kindly. "Your shift isn't that early anyway."

"No really, I'm fine." She seemed sad, Conor assed.

"Sweetie, do me a favor and go wait with Maggie. I'll be right out." Hannah looked over from Reese to her dad.

"Are you going to have a grownup talk?" She asked. Connor smiled but nodded.

"Connor, I really..." Sarah began.

"Is something bothering you Reese... Sarah?"

"I saw your sister." She said as she let out a loud sigh. Connor glanced at her confused. "She didn't recognize me but I did, She was in the crowd during the Christmas Festival. Actually I find it funny you didn't see her at all."

Connor ran his hand trough his hair in frustration. "I know it's none of my business but I just thought you should know."


What's Connor going to do now?

Thanks all for the awesome support!