Chapter 11

Lexa instantly wrapped her arms around the blonde doctor and kissed her forehead without thinking about what she was doing. Turning around she looked at her mother who was standing beside them very confused.

"He's going to be fine, he'll need a lot of rest and a lot time to recover but he's as tough as ever." Clarke smiled. She liked when she got to give good news, especially when it was a patient she cared about. "My mom is cleaning up and then she'll be with him during recovery, you should be able to see him in the next couple of hours as long as he stays stable and I'll be here all night, and I will check in on him myself when I can."

Her face went into shock as both Callaway women wrapped their arms around her. "You're the greatest doctor in the whole world." Lexa whispered into her ear.

"That would be my mother, I only helped a tiny bit."

"You were there, he loves you like you are his own daughter and you helped more than a tiny bit Clarke."

Clarke smiled at Elizabeth as Costia finally moved next to Lexa and wrapped her arms around the slightly taller woman's waist. "I have to get back to work but if you need anything at all, please ask one of the nurses to page me, I'll come running."

They watched as Clarke walked away, giving a small wave to Octavia and Anya before she turned the corner.

"We're going to head out, does anyone need or want anything before we do?" Anya asked as she moved in to give Elizabeth and then Lexa a hug.

"No thanks dear, but thank you for staying."

Lexa shook her head as well. "Thank you both," she looked at Octavia who nodded.

"Don't mention it."

XOXO

Two hours later Abby comes to get them but tells them that only one person is allowed in the room at a time because she's breaking hospital policy by letting anyone in. They nod and Lexa tells her mother to go in.

She's sitting in the waiting room chair, still in her dress and heels with Costia's head on her shoulder. "You should go home and get some rest."

"I'm okay, I'm not tired." Costia lifts her head off Lexa's shoulder.

"What's wrong? Dad's going to be okay?" Lexa says with a smile.

"It's nothing." Is all Costia can say.

Lexa gives her a worried look. "Talk to me, what is it?"

"I tried everything to get you to not get on that bike but you weren't listening."

Lexa's eyes softened as her hand came up to hold the side of Costia's neck. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking, it's all a haze to me."

"It's not that, do you know what Octavia said to get you to step back?" Lexa shook her head and Costia could tell she was being honest. "She told you that your mother and Clarke would kill you if she let you get on that bike, and that she'd drive you on the bike instead."

Lexa closed her eyes and tried to remember but she couldn't. She barely remembers getting to the hospital. "I'm sorry Cos but you have to trust me when I say that there is nothing between Clarke and I."

"I know, it's just the way you gravitate towards her. You don't even mean too."

"You're right and I'm sorry, I really am. It's not something I realized."

Costia nodded as she leaned her head back down on Lexa's shoulder. "I know you don't. Lately I've been feeling like I come second, like I'm the backup plan and now really isn't the time to talk about this because all that matters is that Jeff is okay."

"Thank you, for being here, for taking care of things back at the house. You aren't second and I'm sorry you think that but that's not how it is. Now that she's home it's weird, I forgot our intertwined our lives are here. There's a long family history between the two of us but that's all it is. History, of the past."

Costia let out a small laugh and a yawn. "You're such a nerd."

"I like to read, it's fun. Now please go home, get some rest for the both of us. I'll be okay here but I'll feel much better knowing you're getting some sleep especially with your case tomorrow."

"I don't mind staying."

"I appreciate that more than you know but please, take the car home, get some rest. Love you."

"I love you, more than anything." Lexa smiled and stood up to kiss Costia one last time before she left. She watched her leave before taking a deep breath and swallowing the lump in her throat. She slumped back down into the chair, she was drained and her feet hurt way too bad to stand anymore.

"Hey, Lexa, wakey wakey." She let out a yawn as she started to wake up. "Lex." The nickname came out easily, too easily for Clarke's liking. She was still mighty pissed, angry, and hurt but she had more than one rule, and maybe it was her most important rule. No matter what you put your anger aside when your family was hurting and as much as Clarke hated to admit it the Callaway's were her family, Lexa to a degree was still her family.

"Clarke?"

"The bear wakes, you can see your dad now." Lexa nods, still in her half asleep haze. "I'll walk you there."

Lexa shook her head. "It's okay I can find it I'm sure you have lives to save."

"Stop arguing. Where's Costia? Should we wait for her?"

The brunette shivered. "No, no, I sent her home hours ago. She has a case tomorrow, she needed sleep and I hate people fussing over me but I guess you kinda knew that."

Clarke offers her a gentle smile in response as they make their way onto the elevator. They fall into somewhat of an awkward silence but it was nowhere near as awkward as it should have been. In times of trouble they always seemed to set everything else aside.

"The room is straight down the hall, left hand side, room 12. If you need anything, ask the nurses, they'll get it for you."

Lexa walked off the elevator and turned back around to face Clarke almost as the doors were closing. "Thank you, Clarke. For everything."

"It's my job, no need to thank me. Give Jeff a hug for me and tell him I'll come see him soon.

XOXO

6.5 Years Ago

"Who invented winter because they seriously need to be bitch slapped with an icicle.

"So much anger." Clarke grinned, her mitten covered hand trying to figure out the best way to hold Lexa's.

Lexa scowled with a pout. "No pouting."

"I'll pout if I want to because my face is frozen in this position. Couldn't you have picked a med school in, I don't know, Hawaii or Maui?" She shivered and sniffled slightly. She definitely wasn't used to the cold.

Clarke leaned into her girlfriends arm, pulling them as close together as she could. "But it's almost Christmas which means, fun window shopping and building gingerbread houses."

Lexa pulled her hat as far down as she could in order to trap in some of the heat. "Or we could go be on a beach somewhere, all nice and warm. Bikini bodies on full display but no instead we're window shopping and freezing." If she was being honest Lexa really didn't mind the window shopping or walking the streets and exploring with Clarke but she really, truly, with every fiber of her being hated the cold.

"If your cold it just means I can warm you up later." Clarke grins and Lexa remembers how much she loves that grin and hates the fact that she can no longer see it everyday, though they make it a habit to try. "You know, by the fireplace, spiked egg nog, your favourite Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer cartoon on the tv."

"Okay okay you win but I expect a lot of cuddling." Clarke grins wider than Lexa has seen in awhile and she doesn't need anything else because her heart feels like it's on fire in the best possible way. She'd deal with the cold for Clarke because she wouldn't want to be anywhere else, with anyone else. She promises herself to make Christmas in New York their new tradition, even if that means she has to deal with the cold.

XOXO

Lexa sat next to her dad's bed for a while, holding his hand as he and her mother slept. She watched over them both, a tight feeling in her chest. All she could think about was how time didn't stop and that the world didn't slow down and wait for you to catch up to it. She thought about how much she had been working and how this wasn't what she expected her life to be.

At some point around 3 a.m. Lexa wakes up because of a pain in her neck but she realizes she's no longer cold. Which is good because she hates the cold. When she opens her eyes it's too her mother smiling at her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep, is everything okay?"

Her mother nods. "Everything is fine dear, you needed the sleep."

"You know we're your parents right? Not the other way around?"

She looks over at the voice and she has the hold back the tears that are threatening to come out. She can't speak, not yet because she knows if she does she'll start crying. "I know dad."

"Where's that other daughter of mine? I need to thank her for saving my ass."

Elizabeth shook her head with a slight laugh. "She said she'd be back in later to check on you."

"Clarke was here?"

"About an hour ago, how do you think you got the blanket? She also left some clothes for you, she said she was sorry but that's all she had in her locker." She looks over on the table to find a pair of sweat pants and a Columbia Medical sweater.

There was a gentle knock at the door and Lexa looked up hopeful but to her dismay it was the wrong doctor Griffin. Abby apologized for coming in so late but that she wanted to check in and let the Callaway's know she was headed home for the night.

Lexa excused herself to change into what Clarke had left her because as much as she wanted to be stubborn she was no longer comfortable sitting around the hospital in her dress and heels.

"You okay Lexie?" Abby asked once Lexa came out of the wash room.

"As okay as I can be."

Abby smiled and motioned for her to meet her in the hall. "I didn't just mean with your dad, I mean with everything else." It took a minute but Lexa nodded.

"It's weird but I'm glad she's home, I know you've missed her."

"I have, but I know you have too. I'm not saying that in a 'you were almost engaged to my daughter' way but in a concerned mother way because engaged or broken up you are still another daughter to me. I've watched you grow into an amazing woman and I want you to know how proud of you I am regardless of what happened between you and Clarke. I know I've said it before but I also know how hard all of this is on you. You were the only person who understood how it was when she left."

"I'm okay. It's a little hard to believe, that she's back, that she's here, that she's a doctor and all her dreams came true but I'm happy for her. I really am, this is everything she always wanted."

Abby held back the 'almost everything' that was begging to slip out. "Come with me, I want to show you something."

Lexa looked back at her parents through the glass and nodded in Abby's direction before following her. Five minutes later, on the other side of the hospital Abby led her up a small flight of stairs. When she walked into the room with the large glass window she could have sworn she walked into a scene on Grey's Anatomy.

"Stay in the back row of seats and she won't see you but I wanted you to see what you helped her accomplish. I know you like knowing how things work and this is how she works. Though I don't know how she manages to listen to such crappy music sometimes." Abby laughed as they heard the sound of bass and beats coming from downstairs. "She says it helps keep her alert. I much prefer when she's listening to Motown."

Lexa lets out a laugh she wasn't aware she had been holding as she looked down at Clarke, hands bloody, surgical tools in hand. A smile on her face and Lexa was sure she was probably singing the words to the song even though there weren't many. "Thank you, Abby."

"Anytime. Don't stay up here too long and if you get caught, you found it all on your own."

Lexa nodded. " I understand."

She stays and watches Clarke for nearly two hours before going back down to her father's room. Abby had been right, watching Clarke work did make it all feel more real. Clarke really truly was home, and as Lexa watched her work she realized that they weren't the same people they were four years ago.

XOXO

Lexa wakes up to the feeling of movement next to her. She figures it's just a nurse and keeps her eyes closed. Dreams were so much easier than reality currently and she wanted to stay in her dream haze for just a little while longer.

"You're staring again." She says a few minutes later, somewhat unsure as to why her half asleep self let the words actually come out. When she opens her eyes she can see the smallest of smiles and blonde hair.

"Sorry." It was no louder than a whisper but Lexa had heard it as felt herself let out a slight content sigh.

XOXO

USC – Senior Year

They had decided to come home for spring break even though that meant leaving their apartment empty and sleeping in different places. Even though they knew they would more than likely end up having juvenile sleepovers every night. Especially with the way Abby worked, it left a lot of time for Clarke to spend at Lexa's. And that's what she did, except when she was hanging out with Raven and her friends.

They were healthy in that way. They loved being together but they also loved spending time with their friends, even if it meant that they wouldn't see the other all day. It kept them wanting more of each other.

"You're staring again." Lexa croaked out as she stretched her back with a yawn where she was lying on the lawn chair. The warmth of the sun on her skin had put her to sleep in the early hours of the afternoon.

"You like it when I stare at you." She smiled as she heard Clarke's voice and felt her move closer. She felt a cold wet drop of water hit her bare stomach causing her eyes to fly open with a scowl as she felt Clarke straddle her waist.

"You're going to pay for that, I was all warm and toasty."

Clarke wrapped her arms around Lexa's neck as they sat pressed together. "I was hoping you'd say that but come on, we need to go get ready for the bonfire tonight."

"So you woke me up, got me wet only to tell me we have to go and put clothes on?"

Clarke raised an eyebrow and a mischievous grin on her face. "I got you wet did I?"

"Get your mind out of the gutter. You literally got me wet Clarke, such a perv." They both laughed as they stood up from the lawn chair.

"If I recall last night correctly, you seem to like it."

xoxo

Hours later they sat on the beach in front of a small fire. It had been a spring break tradition that they had all started back in junior high. Except back then Clarke and Lexa never sat so close to each other. Now Lexa's back was pressed into Clarke's chest, her arms sat on Clarke's legs that were stretched out on either of her as Clarke's arms held her around the waist.

"Your hair smells good." Clarke mumbled as Monty played something on his guitar.

Lexa leaned her head back on Clarke's shoulder and looked up at her girlfriend with a smile as a flash went off, it didn't pull their attention away. "I took a shower, just for you." They shared a laugh before Clarke leaned and connected their lips in a soft kiss that didn't last as long as they would have liked. Another flash. "Seriously Ray-Ray? Clarke looked up at her best friend with a shake of her head.

"Be adorable somewhere else then. One day you'll thank me for my incredible photo taking skills."

"You mean photography skills?" Lexa questioned with the raise of an eyebrow.

"No, I said what I want to the first time, smart asses." Raven huffed as she took a swig of her beer.

"You want another one?" Lexa asked her girlfriend, referring to the drink in Raven's hand. Clarke smiled and gave her a wink as Lexa stood up.

It wasn't until she was walking back from the where the cooler was, two beers in her hand that she realized the hoodie Lexa had been wearing all night. It was dark grey, and she wasn't sure how she missed the bolded blue letters that said COLUMBIA and the smaller letters that said medical. She had gotten a letter from the school a week ago but couldn't bring herself to open. In the craziness of being home she had forgotten that she gave it to Lexa and told the other woman to open it for her.

Lexa handed her a beer. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Lexa asked looking around to see if she was missing out on something behind herself.

"I got in? I got into Columbia?" Lexa grinned at Clarke's realization.

"You got in." She confirmed as the look of shock wore off and was replaced by a look of excitement. She nearly fell over when Clarke jumped up and wrapped her arms around her neck.

"I got in." She yelled as everyone stopped and looked over before realizing what Clarke was talking about.

"I'm proud of you. You deserve it."

Clarke grinned as Lexa spun her around. "Do I get to keep the sweater? With you in it of course."

Lexa nodded. "You get to keep the sweater, me and it will keep you warm in New York."

"You're the best." Clarke mumbled into Lexa's neck as they held on to each other a little while longer.

XOXO

"I'm sorry, I just came to check his vitals and make sure you were all doing alright."

Lexa rubbed the sleep out of her eyes with the back of her hand. She found the blanket around herself once again and realized that it wasn't her mother who had draped it over her but the woman standing in the door way.

"I thought nurses usually did that?" Lexa asked, slightly confused, still mostly asleep.

"They usually do, except when I tell them I'll take care of it myself. I'll let you go back to sleep." With that she turned and left the room, closing the door behind herself.

"You're still here? That seems like a long shift." Clarke turned in the quiet empty hallway at the sound of Lexa's voice.

Clarke nodded as she tried to ignore the sweater she had given Lexa to wear. "It's been a busy night, I'm not sure when I'll be done to be honest but I don't mind. I'm about to try and get a nap in."

They stayed silent for long moments, unsure of what to say. "Your mom told us. You said it was her that did most of the work in the operating room, she told us it was you that found the tear and you that fixed it."

Clarke didn't know what to say. She was never good at taking credit for doing her job, which was one reason why she had said that Abby had done most of it. "I saw you, in the gallery, I take it that was my mothers idea?"

"I think she knew I was still freaking out."

"And now?" Clarke took a step forward so they weren't so far apart, "Are you still freaking out?"

Lexa took a deep breath. "No, I trust you to take care of him in there and you did. You really are amazing at this, watching you work made it real and for whatever it may be worth, even if it's nothing, I have to say it." Clarke knew what was coming but she braced herself for it anyway. "I am so proud of you."

TBC…