Chapter 10 "Brave New World"
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN WAITING FOR THIS CHAPTER! It's not too long, but the next chapter is almost finished and it'll be longer. :)
Thank you for reading and for the reviews! You guys are amazing!
And thank you again to Erica for her help—your support and guidance is so appreciated and so helpful! Thank you!
Enjoy!
Kate sucked down her coffee, pouring over charts in the doctors' lounge, catching up from her previous day of chaos. Her eyes felt heavy, her brain foggy, the early morning taking its toll on her. She knew four cups of coffee in the future she would be more awake, but at the moment, she knew she could lay her head down on the papers and find herself asleep in seconds. She welcomed the distraction as Arizona entered the lounge, looking fresh as always, a pleasant smile across her pretty face.
"Good morning, Kate! You're here early," she poured herself a cup of coffee, checking her phone as she sat down across from Kate at the large round table. The brunette flashed a sleepy smile. Her hair was still wet from her 4am shower, not an ounce of makeup on her freckled face.
"Trying to get caught up. Yesterday got away from me a bit." Kate marked a few things on the chart in front of her, sipping her coffee, knowing she'd need a refill in a moment or two.
"Oh, that's right! The surgery was yesterday! Is it true Young Shephard came to Derek's rescue?" Arizona's eyes widened as she recalled the previous day's events.
"Rescue is a relative term, but yes, he did end up repairing the damage Derek caused. He didn't mean to cut her spinal cord, clearly, it was an accident-"
"He severed her spinal cord? Chief Shephard? Are we talking about the same person?" The surprise was evident on the blonde's face, and Kate was slightly surprised the news hadn't traveled as quickly as usual.
"It was an accident, a millimeter mistake. Jack stepped in, sutured it up, and she's fine for now. I haven't checked on her yet because I'm severely behind, but I haven't received a page yet saying she's not, so I'm biding my time." Arizona began to speak but Kate continued, a look of warning across her freckled face, "Do not spread what I just said, please. For the sake of the brothers, and Stella." Arizona clamped her mouth shut for a moment, thoughtful.
"I just can't believe it. What a surgery! Can't believe I didn't hear about it. I guess sometimes the nurses have respect for people," the two women chuckled at that thought, knowing that the nurses at Seattle Grace were very good at spreading rumors and conjuring up stories, but something about this being about Jack and Derek seemed to have stalled the words on their lips. At least so far.
Kate stood to refill her coffee, as Arizona clicked away on her blackberry. Kate looked up through the blinds that covered the glass windows surrounding the lounge, and her eyes widened a bit as a very handsome plastic surgeon was striding toward the door.
"Arizona, did I tell you about my run in with Dr. Sloan in the locker room?" Kate headed back to her seat at the table, her face red. She had maybe a minute to spit the story out for an ask of sanctuary. Arizona's head popped up, an interested twinkle in her eyes.
"Sloan? Mark Sloan? No, you didn't! What happened?" She leaned forward in interest and Kate giggled.
"He asked me out to lunch, and I-"
"He did?!" Arizona put her phone down with a thud, and as she did, the door to the lounge opened.
"Hello ladies!" Mark bellowed with a smile, shutting the door behind him. Arizona turned to face him in her chair, a still stunned smile across her lips.
"Hey Mark! What brings you to peds today?" She inquired, looking back at Kate who was suddenly huddled over her charts, appearing very interested in a case she was working.
"Making my rounds, and thought I'd stop by and see all the cute kids you've got up here." He took a seat at the end, between the two women. "Hi Dr. Austen," he greeted with a grin. Kate looked up and smiled shyly, her cheeks pink. Arizona bit her lip to keep from laughing at her friend.
"Hello Dr. Sloan," She replied, locking eyes with him, only to feel her stomach butterfly a bit. She couldn't deny it, he was very attractive. He was always cleaned up, his hair always perfect, his cologne always fresh and seductive. She couldn't help but blush under his gaze, who could? "How are you today?" She spoke when neither of the other two said anything.
"I'm great, and yourself?" Everything about the man was self-assured and confident. She kept writing, a corner of her lips rolling up in a half-grin.
Mark found her nervous habits, the chewing of her lip, the trying to appear distracted, adorable. He could smell the soft vanilla scent that radiated from her, and wondered if it was her shampoo or her body wash. Her dark hair looked almost black as it was pulled tightly up on her head, still wet from her shower, though a small curl found its way down around her temple. He had the urge to playfully tug on it, but resisted, knowing how lukewarm their last meeting had been, and knowing the gesture would probably scare her away for good. He did notice the circles under her eyes, and questioned whether he should head down the path he'd chosen. He continued anyway.
"I'm good, thanks." Arizona watched the exchange and her imagination ran wild with exactly what the lunch conversation had entailed.
"Have you given any thought to having lunch with me?" Kate figured he wasn't a shy man, but she wasn't ready for his question in front of their mutual friend. Kate could tell Arizona was very in tune with their conversation, despite her sudden attention to her blackberry.
"Umm, I'm working all days this week, and I'm not really sure what my schedule holds for next week-"
"How about dinner then? I'm available tonight, and I know this great Italian place." Mark leaned back in the chair, his charming smile lighting up his handsome features, and Kate was at a loss for words, trying to get them out.
"Well, I've got a lot to do today, I'm not sure when I'll be done, I..uhh..-" Her pager went off and she jumped, her mind frazzled, her feelings a mess.
"She's available on Saturday! I mean, who passes up an Italian dinner?" Arizona burst out for her friend, the prospect of a personal life, and a night of fun for once, so glaringly needed and obvious for Kate.
Kate's face turned a shade of red Arizona had never seen before, and Mark looked at her expectantly. She looked at Arizona, her eyes wide, her voice gone for a moment, before looking back at Mark.
"I have to go check on patients, can I get back to you?" Kate gathered her things, rapidly closing charts and shoving her blackberry in her pocket, trying desperately to get out of the lounge.
"She'd love to. It's a date." Arizona interrupted her friend again, now clearly part of the conversation. Mark grinned, seemingly happy with the vote in his corner, and Kate felt the moment grow more uncomfortable as Callie had entered as Arizona had spoken up.
"Hi guys. Who's got a date?" She inquired, taking a seat next to Arizona. Arizona's devilish eyes met Callie's.
"Kate. She's going to dinner with Mark on Saturday." Her voice displayed the gossip she was spreading, and her excitement about it. Callie's eyes grew wide, as another surprised smile crossed her face.
"I've got to go!" Kate replied, her voice slightly higher than normal. Arizona nodded, as Mark smiled.
"I'll pick you up at seven." Mark stood, touching Kate's arm slightly as he did so. All she could do was nod, and wave goodbye as the good-looking plastic surgeon made his way out of the lounge. As soon as he was gone, Kate threw her pen at her opposing friends.
"Seriously? Dinner with Mark Sloan? Are you nuts?!" She scoffed, placing her hand on her forehead in embarrassment.
"Kate, when was the last time you went on a date?" Callie countered, laughing as Arizona threw the pen back at her friend. "And besides, Mark is a great man to get your feet wet with. He clearly finds you attractive, he asked you out. Just go with it!"
"Seriously? I've got to go," She shook her head at her friends, suddenly looking stressed, and Callie and Arizona exchanged a look of concern.
"She's just…pathetic!" Arizona's brow furrowed, before she continued with a grin, "I've got plenty of dresses for you to choose from." Kate didn't look as though that made her feel any better.
"What's that saying, Kate? When you fall off a horse…" she looked to Arizona for help, and she chimed right in.
"You have to get right back on!" Her fist pump and enthusiastic expression didn't exactly cure Kate of her nervousness.
"I don't think I ever thought Mark Sloan would be my next rodeo." She replied exasperated, with a sigh, before pushing open the door to the lounge, making a mental note to avoid her friends for the next five days.
Stella was heavily sedated to keep her from moving much. Tuesday didn't provide my solace for Kate, Wednesday was about the same. Derek had explained to the parents that it would take time for the tear to heal, that they wouldn't be able to go back in until her cord was stable. Despite the trauma, they had been able to get a good piece of the tumor for pathology. Kate could begin chemotherapy on the child as soon as she was strong enough. They would look to remove the rest in the coming weeks.
Kate hadn't seen Jack around since the surgery, and worry settled in her chest. By Thursday she'd found the nerve to ask Arizona and Callie, not wanting to seem interested in the man's life from anything other than a co-worker's perspective. Watching his interaction with his brother had been intense, and eye-opening. She'd kept it to herself however-containing his privacy was important to her. She shouldn't have been in the gallery anyway, but seeing him so distraught and alone….she couldn't help herself.
"I heard Derek put him on a leave of absense until he got his act together." Arizona shared the gossip. Callie nodded, chewing her sandwich.
"I heard from a few nurses that he refused to come back. And that he punched Derek in the OR! The shiner Derek is sporting supports that story." Arizona nodded her agreement.
"I really just hope he's okay after what he did," Kate muttered, her friends both turning to look at her.
"What's with your fascination about the guy anyway? He may be talented, but his personality could use some work," Callie's honesty wasn't always Kate's favorite.
"He's actually a really nice guy," her friends raised their eyebrows at her defense, "he's been through a lot of trauma. When I got divorced, it was horrific. I can't imagine loosing a child."
"Your ex-husband is an awful, awful person. You were liberated that day. Do not call it horrific. Marrying him was horrific." Arizona's compassion for her friend was evident, and Callie nodded her agreement. Kate shrugged, no real response available to compete with Arizona's words.
"He gave me everything I have-the house, the stables, the horses. I can't complain about those things." Kate replied quietly, thankful for much of what she had.
"You're entitled to hate him, Kate. Don't think you're not." The conversation was interrupted by Callie's pager. "Oh, I've gotta go, needed in the ER." She kissed Arizona's cheek and gave Kate a comforting pat on the hand. They said their goodbyes as they watched her leave.
"He's all I've known of a relationship," Kate sighed, rubbing her temples.
"And that, my dear, is why you're going out with Mark on Saturday. Mark may be a man-whore, but he's a gentleman. You'll have fun."
"Ehh, if you say so. I'm not really looking forward to it." Kate replied honestly, sipping her water.
"Come over before, we'll help you get ready! It'll be fun! Just remember-dates are supposed to be fun! Enjoy a nice guy's company. Going on a date doesn't mean you have to sleep with him," Arizona laughed at her own words-knowing Mark would try.
"Thank goodness for that, because that is definitely not happening," the two women laughed and Kate tried once more to suppress the anxiety she felt bubble up within her stomach.
