Unexpected

Fitz was just about to finish his shift at the hospital. He glanced outside and noticed that the sky had begun to get dark. He glanced at his watch and noticed that it was well past quitting time. He typed in some notes on a patient file and was walking the iPad back to the nurse's station when he noticed four familiar fresh faces coming his way. It was his favorite nurses. "It's about time all of you showed up to do some work around here."

"And it's about time for you to go home and get some sleep." one of the nurses said.

"You're cranky at the end of your shift." another one said sarcastically.

"It's been a long ten hours." he said on a yawn.

Olivia walked through the front doors of the hospital at that moment. She spotted Fitz and sent him a smile as she made her way to the nurse's station to stand beside him. "Hey. Sorry I'm late. Are you ready to go?"

He put his arm around her waist and kissed her temple. "Yup. I was just getting verbally abused by the nurses first."

"Not these nurses?" Olivia gestured to the women standing nearby and winked at them.

"These women aren't just nurses. They are my work wives whenever I'm on the night shift." Fitz answered.

"But you wanted your work wives to get these doughnuts, right?" Olivia brought out a big box with a dozen of the soft round pastries inside. "You didn't change your mind, did you?"

"Now that I think about it, those are actually for the nurses on the third floor." Fitz told her. He took the box off the desk.

"Like hell they are." one of them said, propping her hand on her hip.

"I know he didn't just say what I think I heard him say?" another one said, shooting him a look.

"There's the elevators." Mama nurse said pointing to them.

Fitz gave her a genuine smile. He knew she didn't mean it. "I've missed you too." He put the big box back on top of their desk and with a big smile said, "What kind of man would I be if I didn't take care of my favorite nurses?"

The three women shot each other knowing smiles as they shook their heads back and forth before turning their attention back to him and pouring it on thick. "You're such a good man, doctor Grant."

"You need to give my home husband pointers" another one said as she grabbed a chocolate frosted round pastry and headed off.

"Oh wow. No wonder you love being at work so much." Olivia chuckled.

"What?" Fitz asked innocently.

"I know exactly what you're doing." Mama nurse said with a chuckle.

"I can't bring you all a little treat at work without ulterior motives?" He began scrolling through the patient list on the iPad.

"You think you're treating us, but in reality, you're treating yourself." she said. He was no more reading what he was looking at than she was the Pope's sister.

"Uh oh. I think she's got your number, Fitz. This oughtta be good.." Olivia said, propping her elbow up on the desk.

"How do you figure that?" He had missed working with her and the crazy conversations they had.

"You bring doughnuts to work, which the nurses love. But in return they don't bother you as much with trivial things. They keep you better updated on patients than any other doctor in this hospital, and they respect you more too."

"Ahhh, you're forgetting the most important part."

"I can hardly wait to hear this." she said dryly.

"I'm their favorite." Fitz answered with a grin.

"Oh boy." Olivia muttered.

"It must be exhausting being that amazing?" she said sarcastically.

"I constantly need a nap." he chuckled.

"And on that note, I think we should go home." Olivia said chuckling.

"Get away from my nurse's station and go enjoy your evening." Mama nurse said shooing him away.

"You said go away but all I heard was that you missed me." Fitz set the iPad on its dock and sent the nurse a smile and a wink. "Let's go, Livvie."

"Nice to see you again, Julia." Olivia said before turning around and heading for the door with Fitz.

"That boy is as crazy as hell" mama nurse muttered to herself.

Once they were outside Fitz asked, "where do you want to go for dinner tonight?"

"Not the restaurant where I work." Olivia replied.

"But I had such a nice time the last time I was there." he said with a smirk and reached a hand down to the back of her thigh.

"Come to think of it, I did get this really nice bag out of that visit." she patted her now favorite bag with a huge proud smile. "I changed my mind. We can go there for dinner if you want to?"

"You've gotten spoiled to the lap of luxury I see. It's back to the yellow tables and grinning clown at McDonalds for you." he said grinning.

"They have the best fries. You won't hear me complaining." she replied.

"Are you serious? Because I am craving a Big Mac now for some reason."

"Maybe you're pregnant?" she giggled.

"Maybe I shouldn't have you come pick me up at work anymore?"

She stuck her tongue out at him and said, "I am serious, by the way. I love McDonalds."

"Really?"

"Really. I'm gonna want a McFlurry too, just so you know."

Fitz scowled at her. "You think I'm made out of money or something?"

"You're a doctor. So...yea!" she laughed.

They came upon the golden arches a few minutes later and went inside and placed their orders. Olivia looked around while they waited. The ordering area wasn't bustling with business, but there was a group of teenagers as well as a family of five waiting for their food. A little boy who looked to be around four smiled and waved to Olivia. She grinned back and waved to him.

Their number was called out a few minutes later and the two of them went to sit down and eat. Olivia grabbed one of his fries, even though hers were right in front of her and popped the end of it into her mouth. "These things are so good! Better than any other fast food fries."

Fitz opened the box to his big mac and inhaled deeply. "They are pretty damned good. And stop eating my fries. Eat your own!" he said pointing at her red box of the golden yellow sticks. "I wanna know who was the first person who thought that thousand island dressing on a burger would taste so good?" Fitz took a large bite and groaned happily. "Sokjfghjdhgood."

"I don't know what the hell you just said over all that food. It's rude to talk with your mouth full. Do I need to call your mother and tell her you're being rude?" Olivia asked with a little smirk.

Fitz carefully chewed and swallowed his food and then wiped his mouth. "Go ahead. But while you're telling her all about the rude things I do around you, make sure you tell her about all of the rude things I do TO you too." He winked lustily at her before taking a sip of his soft drink.

Olivia chose to ignore him and continued happily eating her fries.

His phone chimed, and Fitz said, "it's the hospital. I'm sorry, but I've got to take it."

She listened to him tell someone at the hospital about somebody who was apparently in the hospital. Once the doctor jargon began, Liv tuned him out. She picked up her cup and started drinking from the straw and glancing around the room as she did so.

There were a group of six or seven teenaged boys being loud, laughing at each other around a table covered with empty fast food boxes and balled up napkins. They were filled with the exuberance of youth and it made Olivia smile. She listened as they loudly cheered for their friend who had apparently asked a certain girl to go to the prom with him as he told them the story of how he had done it.

There was a white haired couple who were sitting side by side in a booth. They were holding hands on top of the table and ate their food with little conversation. There may not have been any words spoken between them, but the loving looks they gave each other spoke volumes. They were in their own little world and seemed to be very happy being there together.

Olivia noticed the girl working the drive through window. She wore a big smile for anyone to clearly see. Olivia watched as she served a few customers who sat in their cars on the other side of the window. The girl chatted with the people she served and had one woman laughing along with her. They gave her a big smile and said thank you before driving off with their bag of food.

Some of the kids that were working behind the counter talked with each other when the line of people had been waited on. Some of them cleaned. One of them did nothing at all, but stare at the clock. Olivia followed the kid's gaze to the clock on the wall. She could relate. Some nights at her own job she spent clock watching. Others, she was kept so busy she all but forgot where the clocks were even located.

Do something you love to do, Olivia thought as she looked at him. She should take her own advice. Working as a waitress was not her goal in life. It wasn't where she saw herself a few years ago either. Fitz hadn't let up about helping her study for the bar exam. He had been leaving little hints here and there in their conversations. She had picked up on all of them but had said nothing. Now, though, watching this teenaged boy, probably hating where he was at the moment, made her realize that she didn't want to stay where she was. She wanted to move forward with her life. She wanted to finish what she started and become a lawyer. She couldn't wait to tell Fitz.

Olivia looked over at him with a huge smile. He was still on the phone, but she could tell that the call was winding down. The conversation had turned to trivial things, but he kept his eyes locked with hers. "I think I'm gonna do it." she said nodding and feeling immensely proud of herself.

"Hold on a sec." Fitz said into the phone. He hit the mute button and put the phone on the table. "What did you just say and were you talking about what I think you were talking about?" He was smiling now too.

Olivia's face turned to a horrified look and she forcefully said, "Oh my god. NO!"

Fitz watched her scramble to her feet and sprint away with wide eyes. He stuffed his phone into his pocket and followed her. "Liv? Where in the hell are you going? Would you slow dow..."

Olivia squatted down on the floor beside a table where a woman was holding onto her small son and crying. It was the same little boy who had smiled and waved to her while they were ordering their food. Right now though, he was wide eyed and trying to gag as little noises came from him.

"SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP! HE'S CHOKING! OH GOD!"

"You've got to help him, Fitz. HELP HIM NOW!" she shouted.

Fitz physically moved her out of the way in order to get to the boy. He looked at the teary eyed mother and said, "it's ok. I'm a doctor." She quickly moved and Fitz asked, "what's his name?"

"Brandon." the mother said on a sob.

"Brandon? Are you okay?" He knew it was a stupid question, but it had to be asked.

Brandon wildly shook his head back and forth with his bug eyes and put his hands on his neck.

"Someone call 911." Fitz said. He got behind Brandon and struck him between the shoulder blades with the heel of his hand. The boy's parents, as well as Olivia, were watching on with eyes almost as wide as the boys. He struck the boy a second time, but nothing happened. Fitz felt like the two of them were stuck in molasses and that everything was moving much slower than it really was.

"Please help him." The mother tearfully pleaded.

Everyone inside the restaurant had stopped what they were doing, and all eyes were nervously glued to Fitz and Brandon. Fitz struck him between the shoulder blades once again. He knew after four or five strikes, he would have to start doing the Heimlich maneuver on the boy. He hoped it wouldn't come to that though.

Brandon was still grasping at his throat, still not breathing on his own, and still had those wide eyes. So, Fitz struck him for the fourth time. Suddenly, something came flying from the little boy's mouth and he began to cry.

Fitz breathed a sigh of relief.

Brandon's mother cried harder and gathered her son into her arms, asking him if he was alright. He nodded and everyone inside clapped and cheered loudly as the EMT's came running into the restaurant and knelt beside the family, who were all sitting on the floor at this point.

Fitz and Olivia stood up and she hugged him tightly as tears streamed down her face. "That was amazing. YOU are amazing." She released him and reached for his hand when Brandon's mother launched herself into Fitz's arms, holding him tightly and repeatedly saying thank you over and over.

He hugged the mother for a moment as Olivia watched with a smile. Fitz told her "you're welcome. I'm glad he's okay now." She released him and went back to her family.

Olivia and Fitz went back to their seats and sat down wearily. "Wasn't expecting that." he said.

"Yea. Not your typical dinner at McDonalds huh?" She picked up a fry and brought it to her mouth before realizing that she was no longer hungry and dropped it on her tray unceremoniously. "Can we go home please?"

Fitz reached for her hands with a smile and said, "you were about to tell me something before all the ruckus started."

"Of course, you remember that small insignificant thing." she said rolling her eyes.

"What was it? I'm sorry. My brains a little bit jumbled up right now. I can't remember what it was that you said."

She smiled in spite of herself and shrugged. "I've decided that I'm going to retake the bar exam.

"Heyyyyyy!" he exclaimed.

She pointed a finger at him. "But you're going to help me study. I mean it, Fitz."

"That's not insignificant." He stood up and pulled her into his arms. "That's amazing! I'm really proud of you, Livvie. That is great news!"

She didn't want to worry about how hard it was going to be. Or how much it would cost. Or the fear of possibly not passing the bar for the third time. Olivia let herself be held by this man who already meant so much to her and reveled in his positivity. She grinned and held on tighter. "If you're half as good at studying as you are at saving little kids lives, I don't have anything to worry about now do I?"

Fitz let go of her waist and held her hand instead. They headed for the door and watched the ambulance drive off when they got there. "Brandon is gonna be fine. And so will you. Doctor daring delivers results. That's a guarantee!"

"I am the only one who is allowed to call you doctor daring. It just doesn't sound right coming out of your own mouth." she advised.

"Fine. You know, I'd really like to hear you scream that during sex though. What's the possibility of that happening any time soon?"

"Slim. You said you'd help me study for the bar so sex is going to be low on the priority list until I pass it."

Fitz stopped walking. "Whoa! I did not sign up for THAT! You are going to pass it when you take it or you're going to stay a waitress for the rest of your natural born life!"

"Wow. Tell me how you really feel."

Fitz chuckled. "I'm just kidding. Mostly. We'll get through this together though."

"That's the right answer." She said, as she laid her head on his shoulder and they continued home.