Author's Note: I am including the addition of Snow Greyson, Rocknrollprincess131's character in First You Get Hurt, Then You Get Close to my story. I am most humbled that she has allowed me the honor of being able to do so. Go check out her stories, Checkered Hearts, and of course, First You Get Hurt, Then You Get Close. You won't be sorry. These two stories are awesome! Thank you all for your continued support, follows, and of course, reviews. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate it.

Chapter 26

Cassie made her way to the auditorium and signed in on the tablet that was waiting for her. The employee behind the table handed her a binder and a gift bag.

"Welcome to Chicago Med."

"Thank you," she said as she juggled the binder, gift bag, and her coffee. She wished for a minute she would have brought her bag, but she didn't think it would be necessary.

She walked inside the auditorium and found a seat. The place was filling up. She found an empty aisle seat and headed for it.

"Hey, Hi," the girl in the second seat greeted.

"Hi," Cassie said as she glanced at her.

She was dressed like everyone else—business casual. She had pulled her hair into a ponytail. Cassie noticed blue and magenta streaks at the bottom. For an instant, she was jealous that she couldn't have streaks in her hair. She was young and eager. 'Just like me, 12 years ago,' she thought.

"I'm Snow Greyson, by the way," the girl said as she held out her hand.

"Cassie Robertson," Cassie said, realizing that she almost said Cassie Rhodes.

She shook her head. That was close.

"So, where are you gonna work?" Snow asked.

"ED. Graduate Nurse Practitioner"

"ED? Me too!" Snow squealed. "Maybe we'll be working together."

"Maybe. They have self scheduling, which makes it nice."

"Miss Goodwin told me when she interviewed me. That's going to be nice. And it's nice that we can work 12's too."

"12's are hard in the beginning, but you get used to them. I've been doing them for so long, I don't know what an 8 hour shift is like anymore."

Snow laughed. "Been a nurse long?"

"12 years. I used to work at Lakeshore."

"I used to work at Bridgeport Hospital in Michigan. I applied at Lakeshore, but they called me too late. I had already taken the job here."

"It's a good hospital. I loved working there."

"So, why'd you come to Chicago Med?"

"I was doing my last clinical here. Miss Goodwin offered me a job. I thought I could learn a lot from the ER staff. And I have."

They sat through the first two hours of the new employee orientation. Cassie found herself checking her watch and wondering if she would be lucky enough to catch Connor in the cafeteria for either a coffee break or lunch. When a break was announced, Cassie practically jumped out of her seat.

"So, you wanna go get coffee?" Snow asked.

"Gladly. About half a gallon's worth."

They grabbed coffee in the cafeteria, and found a table by the window. Cassie peeled back the paper of her muffin, and cut it in four sections.

"Mind if I join you?" she heard a familiar voice ask.

Cassie smiled. "Of course not. Sit down."

He sat down beside her and she handed him the cream pot.

"Dr. Rhodes, meet Snow Greyson, one of your new ED nurses. Snow, this is Dr. Connor Rhodes, ED Attending and Trauma Fellow."

Connor held out his hand to Snow. "Hi, Snow. It's nice to meet you."

Snow blushed a bit, then took his hand. "Nice to meet you too, Dr. Rhodes. Looking forward to working with you."

"So, how is orientation going?"

"You know. You've been through it."

"Yeah. Boring."

"That's for sure," Snow said as she added another packet of sugar to her coffee.

Connor took a sip of coffee. He barely got it swallowed before his pager went off. He glanced at it and stood up. He gave Cassie a kiss on the cheek.

"See you later."

"Go save lives," she said as he hurried down the hall.

Snow looked over at Cassie. "You and Dr. Rhodes?"

Cassie nodded.

"No wonder you didn't want to stay at Lakeshore."