Kate POV
Another day, another shift. I walked through the familiar doors of Gaffney Medical Center's Emergency Department, letting my eyes scan the entire room. We were relatively empty today, so things looked to be going slow.
"Hey Maggie, how are we looking today?" I greeted the head nurse and friend of mine as I walked up to her office.
"We've only had two incoming so far today, so things look really calm."
"I hope that lasts," I nodded, making my way towards the doctor's lounge to leave my bag and coat and prepare for my shift. On my way there, I spotted Connor talking to Dr. Lanik right by the lounge, and Connor looked ready to punch him. Then again, Dr. Lanik always had that effect on people. I had yet to meet anyone who didn't feel like beating the hell out of him after spending five minutes in his presence.
"Good morning gentlemen, how are you doing today?" I smiled, keeping my gaze on my friend.
"Hey Kate, just fine," Connor smiled at me.
"Better now that you are here Dr. Karson," Dr. Lanik smirked, and I tried really hard not to roll my eyes at him. Everyone knew that Dr. Lanik was a flirt, and a bad flirt too. He used the cheesiest lines any woman had ever heard, and he tried them on any woman he deemed worthy of him, doctors and nurses included.
I ignored him and went to my locker to put my things away. As I closed my locker and pulled on my stethoscope, I heard the ambulance sirens closing in.
"So much for a calm day," I sighed, running out to tend to whoever had come to our door.
Connor POV
I was trying to explain to Dr. Lanik about the extra supplies we had to order for the hybrid OR when Kate arrived, all smiles and joyful energy. Seeing her there gave me the courage to withstand our idiotic Head of Trauma for a few more minutes.
And just as I was about to get away from him, he just HAD to go and piss me off even more.
"You two a thing?"
I paused, not sure I had heard correctly. Had he actually asked me that?
"What's it to you?" I responded to his question, feeling prote4ctive of my friend.
"Give me a heads up when she dumps you," he smiled that smug smile of his before he walked away, leaving me a lifeless statue.
One sentence and all the good vibes I had in me flew away. Did this idiot enjoy sucking the life out of everyone around him, leaving them miserable and grumpy?
I only realized I had left my mind drifting on what was the best way to kill that idiot without getting caught, when Will came up next to me and nudged me, bringing me out of my troubled thoughts.
"Hey, earth to Connor, are you there?"
I shook my head to clear it, a frown slipping on my face.
"Yeah, just great," I grumbled, trying once more to focus on the charts of my patients. Honestly, it was like I was trying to read in a foreign language, I was so upset.
"What happened man, what did Lanik say that made you so mad? If looks could kill, you'd have murdered him three times over by now," my friend chuckled.
"He actually asked me to let him know when Kate dumps me," I scoffed, the urge to punch the insufferable idiot growing as I thought about him getting anywhere near her.
"But I thought you and Kate are just friends, or at least that is what you both keep on insisting."
"We are Will, it's the idea of Lanik even thinking he is worthy of Kate that bothers me," I defended.
"Well, you never know. She might actually like him," Will shrugged.
I turned to glare at the red-haired doctor, suddenly having the urge to punch him too.
"Seriously Will, Kate with Lanik?"
"Like I said, you never know. He might have hidden talents," my friend wiggled his eyebrows.
I rolled my eyes at him, the very idea so surreal, it might as well be part of a fantasy movie.
"The Kate that I know would get sick to the very idea of Lanik even touching her."
"Well, you know Kate as your friend, not as a woman. Who knows, she might actually like him. After all, it's none of your business who she dates. It's not like you have a romantic interest in her, right?" the former plastic surgeon asked pointedly.
"We've been through this a hundred times Will, and the answer is still no," I pointed out.
"Okay then, let Lanik try his luck, he and Kate might be good together," Will shrugged as he walked away, leaving me to fume on my own. I guess Nat had hit him on the head last night, there was no other explanation for his ridiculous suggestions.
Around midday, I finally took a break from my patients and tried to track down Kate, hoping she had a few minutes to spare and have lunch with me.
I looked around the ED and the surgery floor, but there was no sign of her.
"Hey Maggie, have you seen Kate?" I asked when I reached the nurses' desk.
"Yeah, she went to the cafeteria about 10 minutes ago, Dr. Lanik asked her to have lunch together."
I paused, not sure if our head nurse was playing tricks on me.
"Maggie, Kate and I are just friends," I reminded her.
"Ah ok, 'cause I think Kate might actually like Dr. Lanik," our head nurse shrugged, and I felt as if a bucket of cold water was dropped on me.
"I don't really have a say in it Maggie; Kate is a grown woman, she is free to do whatever she wants," I shrugged.
"And whoever she wants," Maggie added.
I walked away, choosing not to answer to Maggie's teasing. All of our friends enjoyed teasing both me and Kate that we liked each other more than friends, and every time we laughed it off. I wasn't about to rise to Maggie's taunting, not after hiding my true feelings for so long.
Kate POV
"Nat, what you're suggesting is completely idiotic, I can't do that!"
"But it's the only way to find out if Connor really wants you. We have to make him jealous to see if he reacts, and Lanik is the perfect candidate!"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. For the past half hour, Natalie and April had been trying to convince me to accept going out with Dr. Lanik, only to see if Connor would get jealous and do something about it. But they were forgetting one crucial part: Connor was already in a relationship with Ava Bekker, his colleague and rival in the Cardio department.
"Nat, Connor sees me only as a friend, and I'm happy with that. Can't we leave it at that and focus on something more pleasant?"
"If he sees you only as a friend, then why is he freaking out every time a cute guy speaks to you? Do you remember how he reacted when you and Kelly Severide went out to dinner?" April pointed out.
"That was because he was worried Kelly might break my heart. Everyone knows he's a womanizer. And in any case, Kelly and I never had anything."
"And yet, whenever Kelly comes in to talk to you, I see Connor glaring at him, even if he's trying to be all stealthy about it," Nat commented. "To me, that sounds like he's got a crush, and a big one at that."
"You're imagining things girls, there's nothing there."
"Then why did he freak out today when Lanik asked him to notify him when you were available?" Nat questioned, raising her eyebrow as she stared me down.
"What?" I turned to Nat.
"When you came in today, Lanik was with Connor-"
"Yeah I remember, I greeted them both," I nodded.
"Right. And when you passed by, Lanik asked Connor if you two are a thing," April offered.
"That's right, and when Connor didn't reply, Lanik merely asked for Connor to let him know when you dumped him," Nat added.
"Great story girls, you two should be writing scenarios for soap operas," I rolled my eyes at them.
"They're right, I heard it too," Maggie jumped in, making me groan.
"Come on Mags, I thought you were more mature than our two little matchmakers here."
"I'm just saying I saw him fuming when Lanik leered at you," our head nurse shrugged.
"Well of course he would, he's my friend and he cares about me. It doesn't mean he's got a crush on me. And you all seem to forget that he's dating Ava Bekker."
"They're not, at least not anymore," April shook her head. "He's been avoiding her for the past few weeks."
"That he has, Doris can confirm it."
"Ah okay, if the head gossiper of the hospital can confirm it, then it's okay," I scoffed.
"Never doubt the observant eyes of the nurses," Maggie poked her finger at me.
"I don't, but not on every occasion," I shook my head.
"Then why not try this, see if we are right?" April challenged.
I sighed in defeat, seeing how I would never get away from them.
"Okay, I will," I nodded, accepting my fate. "I'm going to flirt with Lanik to see if Connor will react. But when he doesn't-"
"He will," Nat hurried to reassure me.
"Alright, IF he doesn't," I looked at all three of them, "you guys must never bring up this subject again, understood?"
"Okay," April nodded, as did Nat. Maggie just shrugged.
"Alright, how do we do this?" I asked my friends.
"I have a plan," Maggie smiled, gathering us all close to her.
Around midday, I decided to put the girls' plan to work. Since it was the time that most people went to get something to eat, chances were Lanik would be there, Connor as well. Although I had to admit this was definitely immoral, it was a great way to clear the air and perhaps help me get some closure over my crush on Connor, maybe even move on with my life (definitely not with Lanik though).
I had fallen for Connor without even realizing it, however cliché that sounded. From the first day he came in, riding on the gurney doing chest compressions on that man, he had managed to leave his mark on everyone, one way or another. It had nothing to do with his good looks or the money he had from his family; it was his drive, the passion he had every time he tried to save a patient. He gave his everything into being a doctor and did whatever he could to save a life, even if it got him into trouble sometimes. He wasn't perfect, not by a longshot, but to me, he was.
With renewed resolve I walked up to the nurses' station and left the last of my notes, noticing that Dr. Lanik was within earshot.
"Maggie, I'm going to get something to eat, if anyone needs me I'll be in the cafeteria."
"You got it Dr. Karson," Maggie nodded, winking at me when Dr. Lanik wasn't watching.
I kept my cool and walked to the double doors that led to the food area. The place was filling quickly so I made my way to the line, greeting friends and colleagues as I did. I picked up my lunch and, just as I was about to pay for it, a voice interrupted me.
"I'll get that."
I turned and found Dr. Lanik standing behind me, a supposedly seductive smile on his face.
"Oh, there's no need for that Dr. Lanik," I tried to stop him, but he shook his head before I could finish my sentence.
"It's my pleasure. I do ask that you sit with me though."
"Of course, lead the way," I nodded, feeling so disgusted with myself. Focus on the outcome, it's not like you're gonna have to kiss this moron I thought, and took some comfort from that.
He paid for both our lunches and led me to one of the tables near the windows that overlooked the small park next to the hospital. I sat with my back towards the door, so I wouldn't be affected if I saw Connor coming in. I had to remain focused on Lanik, seduce him in the most discreet way. I was sure the nurses that were taking their lunch right now had their eyes and ears focused on any possible gossip source, and I was not going to taint my reputation by acting all flirty towards my boss. The gossip mills had long memories around here, and it took a lot of effort to get rid of the label they'd stick on you.
"You know, it has been so long that I've wanted to have lunch with you Dr. Karson," Dr. Lanik started, that ever-present smirk of his making me wanna punch him right on the nose. I held myself back though, hoping to hit two birds with one stone and maybe put this little turd in his proper place as well as figuring out if Connor had any romantic feelings for me.
"It's Kate, and why didn't you just ask me Dr. Lanik?"
"It's James, and I thought you were involved with Dr. Rhodes," the idiot shrugged, picking at his pasta. "I didn't want to invade foreign waters."
"Connor and I are just friends, he's with Dr. Bekker," I shook my head, smiling at my idiotic boss.
"That may be, but he sure is protective of you."
"Aren't all friends protective of each other?" I shrugged. "Besides, he's probably like that because he saw what I was like after my last relationship."
"What happened?"
"Let's just say that the guy enjoyed having several ladies to please him at the same time while pretending he wanted to marry me."
"He was an idiot then, having a lovely lady like you and trying to hook up with others. If I had a girl like you, I would never let her go," he winked at me, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
"Well, he's history, so let's not focus on him, he's not even worth talking about. How about you James, you got anyone in your life right now?" I smiled softly, hoping he took this as flirting.
"Nope, my busy work schedule won't give me much time. Not to mention it's difficult to date anyone who cannot understand the kind of pressure we are under."
"Indeed, it's very challenging for anyone who has not been through a typical day in the ED to understand why sometimes we have to stay here late, or why we have to answer a call in the middle of the night. Literal lives are at stake, and it's up to us to save them."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean we cannot enjoy the finer things in life. After all," he smiled that disgusting smile of his, "we have earned it."
"We certainly have," I agreed, smiling back.
I noticed a figure in black scrubs moving towards us, and got ready for the big showdown.
"Dr. Karson, make I speak with you for a moment?" Connor asked, his eyes focused on me, shining with anger.
"Oh, hey Connor," I smiled at my friend. "Sorry, I'm having a conversation with James, is it an emergency?"
Connor seemed taken aback that I had used Lanik's first name, and I even caught a glimpse of the idiot's face. He was smug, smiling such a big smile that it was a wonder it didn't hurt his face.
Connor kept staring at me, his lips pressed so thin they were barely visible.
"No, it's fine, no need to interrupt your lunch. I'll see you later," my friend growled, then turned and left without even saying goodbye.
Though I wanted to jump up and down, I kept my composure and turned to smile at Lanik once more.
"What got into him?" I shrugged, giggling a bit.
"He's probably jealous that you preferred to stay here with me," Lanik smirked, and I forced myself to chuckle.
"Well, it would be rude to just get up and leave, after all we're having a conversation, aren't we?"
"Oh yes," the idiot leaned closer to me, "we certainly do."
A shrill noise came from his coat pocket, making us both jump.
Saved by the bell, literally, I thought.
He pulled the pager from his pocket and checked it, cursing under his tongue.
"It's an emergency, they need me upstairs in the OR. I'm sorry I have to leave you like this."
"It's okay, I understand," I nodded. "We can continue another time," I smiled the sweetest smile I could, feeling sick that I stooped that low. It's for a greater cause, suck it up, I scolded myself.
"We definitely will," Dr. Lanik smiled before he rushed off to whoever had been calling him.
As soon as he was out of sight I leaned back on my chair, taking a few deep breaths to calm my erratic heartbeat. A smile formed on my lips. The plan had worked. Connor had shown interest. Now it was time to move even further, see how he would react.
The next few days I pushed the plan even more, spending more time with Dr. Lanik any chance I got, either having lunch with him, consulting him on various cases, or even discussing some changes that could be done around the ED. He barely even realized it when I convinced him about getting an additional vending machine for the waiting room. Maggie said it was only a matter of time before I made him my slave.
Connor, on the other hand, was getting angrier every time he saw me with Lanik. He barely spoke to me, and even then it was only for a case. Nat and April were certain that he was about to cave in. I, on the other hand, had a different opinion.
I had seen how Dr. Bekker had noticed our drifting apart, and had wasted no time in slipping in the space that was left. The two of them had been seen leaving together every night, and last night I saw Ava smirking at me when she and Connor left, his arm entwined with hers.
This morning though, when I saw them arrive together, was the final straw. I walked up to Maggie and April, already feeling tired despite sleeping for a full night.
"I'm pulling the plug on the plan," I announced, and they both looked up at me sharply.
"We are about to hit the jackpot and now you're getting cold feet?" April sighed, exasperated.
"Well it's not about my cold feet, it's about how warm Dr. Bekker's feet got last night. I saw her and Connor leave together yesterday, and this morning they arrived together, in Connor's car. I think it's safe to say the whole jealousy plan pushed him in her waiting arms."
"You don't know that," Maggie argued. "Maybe he's doing her a favor, maybe her car broke down."
"Yeah, he's doing her a favor alright," I sighed. "The point is, I was right all along. Connor is not interested in me, at least not in a romantic way."
"Then why is he so upset over you hanging around with Lanik for the past few days?"
"Because he is my friend and is worried over me being around an absolute moron," I shrugged at them.
"Girl you are either too blind to see how he stares at you or too stubborn to admit it," Maggie huffed, her eyes shining.
"I am neither blind nor stubborn, in fact I think it's the first time in a while I've been clear-headed about this. The plan is off, I'm putting an end to it as soon as possible."
"Just one more day, will that hurt you?"
"Probably," I nodded at April. "Lanik is all hot and bothered, and I can only push him away and try to keep him close at the same time for so long. He's going to want more, and I'd rather die than give in to him."
"One day," Maggie insisted. "If nothing happens today, we'll find you some way to dump Lanik without getting you in trouble with him."
"Okay, but just one day, and not a moment more," I looked pointedly at them.
Around midday, I was making my way down the corridors towards a patient's room when I caught sight of Dr. Lanik making his way to me, all smiles and a smugness in his step that made me want to punch him. I braced myself, hoping to end all this quickly and painlessly before things got out of hand.
"Hello Kate, shall we go to lunch, I'm kind of famished."
"I actually have to go check on two more patients, but I'll meet you down there," I smiled at him, then walked away before he could answer.
After I finished with my patients I made my way to the cafeteria, pausing when I saw Connor sitting on a table with Ava, her touching his hand as they ate.
I pretended not to see them and made my way to the line, picked up a salad and walked to where Dr. Lanik was sitting. His face lit up when he saw me, and he pulled his tray to make space for me.
"Thank goodness, I thought you had forgotten about me," he said teasingly.
"If I start forgetting things like that it means I'm in serious trouble," I chuckled as I sat across from him.
"So," he spoke, leaning a bit closer to me, "I was wondering if we could go for drinks tonight after the shift. You get off at 9, right?"
I paused, giving myself some time to swallow my bite before I replied.
"Sure, that sounds great. Shall we meet at Molly's?"
"No, that place is way too casual for my taste," he shook his head, his face scrunching. "I was thinking more of that bar on Arlington, it opened up a few weeks ago and it's said to be great. Upscale, clean, and with a great crowd."
"I've never gone there, but okay, doesn't hurt to go to new places," I shrugged.
"Awesome. Want me to pick you up from your place?"
I panicked, but got a hold of myself quickly enough.
"No need to bother, we can meet there. Say, around 10?"
"Great," he smiled a smug smile, taking a sip of his Coke.
We continued the rest of the meal chatting about various things, mostly the gossip he heard from the nurses, and his obsession about getting the board to agree with his opinions. I got a headache from how self-centered he was. Did he think of anyone else but himself?
I returned to the ED just as we got the call for two car crashes with several victims. That kept us busy for the rest of the afternoon, three of them going into surgery to control the internal bleeding and set broken bones.
By the time I was done with the last surgery, it was 5 in the afternoon. I made my way to the room adjacent to the operating theater to clean up and get out of my sterile clothes. As I pulled off the surgery gown, Connor entered the room, still in his own surgery gown.
"How did it go with the woman?" I asked as he pulled off his gown and set out to wash his hands.
"She made it through. It was kind of tricky controlling the bleed, but we managed to save her spleen."
"Good," I nodded. "Her husband had three broken ribs and an internal bleed in the liver, but we managed to fix it just in time. I expect he'll make a full recovery as well."
"Wonderful," Connor replied, not even glancing at me.
"Okay, what is it with you these past few days?" I huffed, feeling tired with all the silence and the way he had been ignoring me.
"What do you mean?" my friend asked, still very intent on his hands.
"You avoid me, you barely even talk to me let alone look at me. Did I do something to offend you?"
"No, I just thought you were too busy hanging out with Lanik. Word around the hospital is that you two are an item now. And here I thought you hated his guts."
"We just talk Connor, there's nothing going on between us."
"Oh, you just talk, is that why he has that leering smile every time he sees you, or why he stares at your ass every time you walk past him?"
"He's not doing that, and besides, why do you even care? I might as well ask you about Ava," I threw back at him.
"What about Ava?" he turned to look at me.
"Well, word around the hospital is that you are back together again."
"Well, we're not," he shook his head. "Can you say the same thing about you and Lanik?"
"I just told you that there's nothing between us, and what's it to you anyway?"
"Nothing," he shook his head. "Absolutely nothing."
"Good, glad we cleared that up," I huffed, walking out of the room.
My dignity was the only thing that kept me from stomping down the corridor like a spoiled child. I didn't need to give more gossip for the nurses to talk about.
Before I could reach the corner however, I felt a strong arm pulling me into one of the hospital supplies rooms. I was ready to start yelling, but paused when I saw it was only Connor.
"What is it this time Connor?" I sighed, but barely got the words out before Connor pushed me against the closed door, his lips smashing against mine.
It was a hot and demanding kiss, all passion and fire. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me as he licked my lower lip. I gasped at the sensation, and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue in my mouth, deepening the kiss. I moaned into his mouth, so turned on by the feel of his body pressed so closely against mine. I could feel every muscle, every ridge, all the strength that he had in him. My senses were on overload, trying to take in every touch, every sound, everything of him.
We broke the kiss, both out of breath. He didn't waste any time though and latched onto my neck, peppering it with soft kisses. I closed my eyes, letting his touch consume me. His lips burned a fiery trail all the way down to my cleavage before returning to my mouth, this time kissing me with even more passion, if that was even possible. I swear, an earthquake could happen right now, and I wouldn't even notice it. I felt his hands reach down to my legs and I jumped, wrapping them around his waist, feeling him pressing against the door even harder. I had no doubt that if by chance anyone walked by, they would definitely hear us.
Connor broke the kiss and pulled back a bit, staring deep into my eyes with those gorgeous blue orbs of his, his gaze so intense it took my breath away.
"Do you have any idea how long I have wanted to do this?"
"Probably as long as I wanted to do it," I smirked at him, pulling him for another kiss.
He groaned, his hips pressing into me. I could feel him, hard and ready between my legs, and the fire in me burned even righter. I wanted so much to just peel away our clothes and have him right here, not even caring if anyone heard us, but I knew the danger of getting caught would never let me enjoy it as much as I wanted.
The higher powers must have heard my thoughts, because the room filled with the shrilling sound of our pagers.
"I'm going to murder the inventor of these hellish things," Connor growled, putting me down reluctantly.
"And I'll help you, but right now we need to be saving lives, not taking them," I chuckled, fixing my ruffled clothes a bit before I checked my pager. We had multiple victims coming in, GSWs from some gang war.
"You know this isn't over, right?" Connor stopped me before I could turn to open the door.
"Oh, it's far from over, as long as you make sure Ava understands that you are no longer available to her," I pointed out.
"When are you going to learn not to listen to what the nurses always blab about? Ava's car broke down a few days, and I offered to drive her home and to work until it's fixed, nothing more."
"And what are the odds she planned this?"
"Very high, but I think seeing us leaving together tonight will put it in her head that I belong to someone else. What are you going to do about Lanik? You're supposed to go out with him tonight, if my sources are correct."
"I'll make up some excuse," I shrugged. "After all, I never promised anything would happen between us. I'm not worried though, he'll find another victim to drool over."
"He's had his eye on you for a while, he even asked me if we were a thing, and to let him know when you dumped me."
"Ah, so I guess the girls were right about that," I chuckled. One of the few times the gossip mill was truthful about a rumor. "Well, he's going to be waiting a long time, about an eternity I think, perhaps more," I smiled, pulling him for another kiss.
He kissed me deeply, making my head spin for a moment before I returned back to earth.
"Come on, they need us downstairs," I sighed, trying to cool my body and my mind down. "We can continue this later tonight. My place or yours?"
"I don't care, as long as we get there as fast as we can. I don't think I'll be able to keep my hands off of you for long."
"Game face on Dr. Rhodes," I caressed his cheek. "Let's go save some lives, and then we can spend the night doing oh so many things."
"Oh, we will, I'll make sure of that," he smiled back, giving me one last kiss before we left the storage room.
We barely made it to the elevator when we came across Dr. Lanik coming out of his office, one of the nurses right behind him. Normally that would not be cause for an alarm, but they both looked disheveled, and Dr. Lanik's shirt was buttoned all wrong.
"Dr. Lanik, I think I'm gonna have to cancel on those drinks," I smirked at him. "I've made plans with Connor, and from what I see, you won't have trouble finding someone else to entertain you."
It was a sight for sore eyes to see our head of Trauma just standing there speechless, his mouth open as Connor and I slipped into the elevator. Connor pulled me in for a kiss as the doors closed, and I swear I heard the nurse yelling at poor Dr. Lanik, calling him a cheater and a scumbag. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
Connor let go of me, a smile on his face.
"I love you," he whispered, his eyes so full of love.
"I love you too you big buffoon," I beamed at him, kissing him once more.