Ava's first hours back in psych felt strange. She had a meeting with Phillip at first time in the morning, where she made sure to transmit what really was going on in the ER. There was a problem between the ER and the psych department, but the focus was on the wrong side. The ER handled more patients than Ava had imagined in a single shift, and it was normal the residents, who didn't get any lectures on psych issues at all, called in for consults very often.
The truth was harsh but that was why Phillip had hired her, right?
Sara glanced at her watch. She was surprised to see Terrell still at the nurses' station waiting for Dr. Kapoor. He had been paged over an hour ago. Although not as prompt as she would have liked, he still usually appeared more quickly than some of the other psychiatrists. The thought popped into her head. Ava would have already been here.
"Page Dr. Kapoor again." Sara said, as she approached the waiting resident. She sighed to herself.
"He's in the room with the patient." Terrell said, a dissatisfied look on his face.
Dr. Kapoor was good at treating patients, but he had shown no interest in teaching the residents. Although she suspected the answer, Sara asked anyway. "Why didn't you go with him?"
"He wouldn't let me. Told me I would be too distracting to the patient." Terrell scowled. Dr. Sharpe let me observe and even help." He muttered just ñoud enough for Sara to hear.
Yes, I miss her too. Sara understood the resident's frustration. Now that they knew how much better things could be with Ava covering the ER, the problems with psych seemed worse than ever. She had heard people complaining all week.
"Well, hopefully Dr. Sharpe will be back in a few weeks." Sara said. A strange, but not unpleasant sensation skittered across the back of Sara's neck.
Terrell's attention was drawn to something behind Sara's back. A bright smile lit his face. "Hey, Dr. Sharpe. When will you be covering the ER again?"
"Haven't seen next month schedule yet, so I can't say exactly."
Sara willed away the automatic brilliant smile that wanted to grace her face at the sound of Ava's voice. While she admittedly respected Ava professionally, Sara had been unprepared for the fact that she had missed her on a more personal level this past week. She turned to face her. "Dr. Sharpe." She said, offering a brief nod and a smile.
Sara had not expected Ava to continue her lecture series until she returned for her next rotation. She had found her last Monday in the conference room already talking to some of the residents, and she made clear she intended to continue doing so.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Lance. Could I talk to you for a few minutes?" Ava asked.
Now's your chance. Ask her! Laurel had called several times to find out if she had asked Ava to go jogging or see a movie. Sara had struggled with this decision all week. Her brain insisted on presenting all the things that could go wrong, but one thing Laurel said had stayed with her. Everyone, no matter how self-sufficient, could use a friend. Sara was tired of being lonely.
"Sure. Let's go to my office." Sara motioned for Ava to follow her. This was her opportunity to talk to her privately.
The words had barely left Sara's mouth when the ambulance bay doors swang open and a man staggered in. His chest and arms were covered in blood.
Sara yelled for a gurney and a gown. After a quick apologetic glance at Ava, she sprinted for the patient.
Ava nodded in greeting to several staff members as she made her way to Sara's office. She had finished her lecture and hoped to have the conversation with Sara that had been interrupted earlier. Remembering Sara's discomfort the last time she had come to her office made her hesitate. This is different. This is business. She knocked on Sara's door.
After a few moments Ava heard Sara's distinctive voice call out. "Come in."
She opened the door to find Sara at her desk talking on the phone.
"Oh, sorry. I was just wondering if you had a few minutes, but I see you're busy."
"No problem, have a seat." Sara said, gesturing toward the small couch against the back wall. "I'll be right with you." She said before turning her attention back to her caller.
Ava sat down on the couch. The room was very small, she couldn't help overhearing the conversation.
"Sorry for the interruption." Sara said. "Anyway, I won't be able to pick him up tonight. If you could give him his dinner and settle him for the night, that would be great. I'll pick him up first thing in the morning…" a loving smile spread across Sara's face. "Okay… give my boy a big hug from me. Thanks. Bye."
Her boy? Sara has a son! The revelation was stunning. It brought home to Ava the fact that she knew next to nothing about Sara personally.
Loneliness was new to her and something Ava thought they shared. Guess you let your own emotions cloud your judgement. Although she had gotten to know quite a few people at LA Metro casually in the six weeks she had been here, Ava had not let anyone into her personal life.
Normally she made friends easily at a new hospital, but not this time. Her experience at Memorial still affected her.
"Ava?"
Ava shook herself out of her thoughts. "Sorry. Was thinking about a case from earlier." She lied.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm working a double shift, so I needed to let the daycare know I wouldn't be able to pick up Thor until tomorrow."
"Thor?" Ava blurted out before she could stop herself. What kind of name is that for a kid? Ava glanced up at Sara to find her looking very uncomfortable. Nice going, stupid. She shares something personal, and you question her kid's name.
"Yeah… He goes to doggie daycare three days a week. Whenever I work extra shifts they keep him overnight."
Thor is her dog!
Sara shifted in her chair and looked down at her desk. "I know most people probably think it's weird to send your dog to daycare, but I work long hours and it's not fair to him to be cooped up in the house alone all that time."
Ava got up from the couch and moved over to sit on the chair in front of Sara's desk. "I didn't know there was such a thing available. I think it's great. We had a dog when I was a kid and I really miss that."
"Dogs are great companions. But they do require a lot of attention."
Sara looked up, and Ava's breath caught at the warmth in Sara's eyes. Sara hesitated and seemed to be debating something. Ava had no idea what. She tried not to let her disappointment show when Sara's expression turned businesslike.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Sara asked.
Ava forced her thoughts back to business. "As you know, Phillip assigned me as liaison to help solve the problems between psych and the ER. I met with him on Monday to let him know what I had found." Ava hurried on when Sara's expression darkened. "The fault rests primarily in psych."
Surprise widened Sara's eyes.
Ava smiled. "Weren't expecting that, were you?"
"Honestly, no." Sara said with a smile of her own.
"The residents do request a number of unnecessary consults, but" Ava added quickly when Sara started to object. "That's mainly psych's fault as well."
Sara nodded. "How do you propose we fix this situation?"
"I'm going to continue my lecture series. Phillip has agreed to try and fit in a couple of lectures as well. I don't know if any of the other psychiatrists will be willing to lecture." Ava admitted.
"That's great. Phillip giving lectures is an added bonus." Sara shrugged. "I would have expected the other psychiatrists to agree to lecture." As if to lessen the implied criticism, she quickly added. "Your lectures have been very appreciated by the residents. And me as well. It's going to be a big help in cutting down unnecessary consults."
Sara ran her hand through her hair. She offered a slight smile. "Not that I'm not grateful for all you've done so far, but do you think you might convince some of your fellow psychiatrists to let the residents into the exam rooms with them?"
Ava laughed. "Great minds think alike. That's the exact same thing I told Phillip."
"Well, to be honest, the residents have been complaining since you returned to psych." Sara smiled sheepishly. "I think you've spoiled all of us in just two weeks. Everyone is asking when you'll be back in the ER."
A sense of satisfaction, out of proportion to the praise, filled Ava. The fact that Sara had included herself in that group meant a lot to her.
"Phillip is going to talk to the other psychiatrists at the next staff meeting."
"I appreciate you going to bat for the ER regardless of the outcome." Sara said.
Realizing her business with Sara was complete, and that she should let her get back to work, she stood up.
"Thanks for your time."
"Anytime." Sara said. Now's your chance. Ask her before she leaves. Sara stood up as well. She had almost asked Ava earlier if she wanted to go jogging when they were talking about Thor, but she had lost her nerve. It had been a long time since she had invited anyone into her personal life. You're just asking her as a friend. It doesn't have to mean anything else. Distracted by her thoughts, Sara didn't find her voice until Ava had almost made it to the door. "Ava." Sara stepped out from behind her desk.
Ava turned back toward her with a questioning look.
Come on, you're a grown woman. You can do this. It's not like you're asking her on a date. With that little pep talk, Sara gathered her courage. "You mentioned earlier that you liked dogs. I usually go jogging on Saturdays with Thor. I was wondering if you'd be interested in meeting us at the park and jogging with us?"
Sara's spirit sank a bit when Ava stared at her with an incredulous expression on her face. What did you expect? It isn't like she doesn know by now that you don't socialize with anyone at the hospital. Maybe a bit of levity would help. "Weren't expecting that, were you?" Sara asked with a smile, echoing Ava's earlier question.
Ava stepped back over to Sara's desk. A grin broke out on her face as she regained her composure. "Honestly, no."
The last thing Sara wanted to do was make Ava uncomfortable or damage their working relationship. "I know it's last minute. You probably already have plans for your Saturday." She said, offering Ava and easy way out.
"Actually I don't have any plans. I've been wanting to find a good place to jog. I haven't kept up since I moved. So if you don't mind the company, going jogging would be great."
A knot of tension between her shoulder she had not even been aware of eased at Ava's words. Sara smiled warmly. "Good. Do you know where the Griffith Park is?"
Ava nodded. "I know there are several different sections of the park."
Sara pulled a piece of paper from a desk drawer. "Here. Let me give you directions on where to meet us." She wrote down directions to the dog park, figuring it would be a good place to meet. Handling the paper to Ava she said "Oh, I guess I should ask how you feel about big dogs. I have kind of a big dog."
Ava's face lit up. "I love big dogs!"
Should I tell her just how big a dog I have? Sara allowed a bit of her mischievous side to see the light of day. Ah, what the heck. She'll find out soon enough what a big dog really is. "Alright then, we'll meet you at the dog park at, say nine tomorrow morning?"
"Works for me." Ava said. "Well, I should head back to psych." She walked over to the door and stopped just before opening it. She turned back toward Sara with a regretful look. "Oh, I just realized…"
A shaft of disappointment struck. I knew that went too well. She's already changed her mind.
"You said you're working a double today. Are you sure you're going to feel like going jogging in the morning?"
Sara's breath almost whooshed out in relief. She hadn't realized how much she really wanted this to happen. "I'm sure. It'll be fine." Sara met Ava's eyes and smiled. "I'm looking forward to it." She added a bit shyly.
Like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, a brilliant smile blazed across Ava's face. "Me too. I'll see you tomorrow."
God, she's beautiful. Sara pushed the intruding thought away.
She flopped down into her desk chair as soon as the door closed behind Ava. She was both excited and nervous at the prospect of spending time with Ava outside the hospital.