Neil woke suddenly the next morning after Audrey shifted in her sleep, causing his next breath to mostly be made up of her hair. He instinctively rolled away quickly, coughing as he went, rubbing his hand over his face.
"What are you doing?" she mumbled, not wanting to be awake just yet.
"Choking on your hair" her grimaced. "You're not very good at sticking to 'your' side" he teased referring back to the conversation they had on her first night home from hospital.
"I think you'll find you're on my side Melendez" she grumbled as she stretched out on her back, keeping her eyes scrunched tightly shut.
He propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her while she tried to defy her bodies instincts and force herself back to sleep. She let out a big sigh and eventually opened her eyes to find him looking down at her with a small smile.
"Morning" he smirked.
"Morning" she replied smiling back. "What are you looking so smug about?"
"Can't say" he said shaking his head, keeping the smile.
"Excuse me?" she laughed.
"You told me to lay off the 'lovey dovey crap', and that is a direct quote. But I can still think whatever I like" he teased, raising his eyebrows.
"Tell me" she demanded propping herself up to look at him square on. He just shook his head as his smile got wider. "Please?"
He shook his head again and she smiled back as a plan came to mind.
She leaned forward on her elbow to the point where their noses were almost touching and paused. He held her gaze the whole time, looking more and more smug, the closer she got.
His eyes fluttered closed automatically, he felt the mattress shift and snapped his eyes back open almost immediately as she sprang out of bed announcing that she wanted to shower before breakfast.
Falling onto his back laughing, he watched her as she disappeared into the bathroom leaving the door ajar. 'Should I be following her?' he wondered to himself as he heard the shower start up and the screen door closing a couple of seconds later.
He rolled out of bed and made his way to the door, pausing with his hand resting on the handle still trying to decide what to do. When they got back to San Jose this afternoon it would be back to stolen glances and sneaking around so this was the last few hours of them being as free as birds, being exactly as they wanted to be.
"Are you going to stand out there all morning" he heard her call from inside, snapping his attention back to exactly what was behind that door. Sticking his head around the door, he saw her looking right back at him through a small window she'd wiped in the steam that had settled on the glass. "Or are you waiting for a written invitation?" she said, looking at him expectantly.
He didn't reply, he stepped fully inside, dropped his shorts and got straight into the steam filled cubicle. Moving up behind her as she let the water pour over her, he slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her just below her ear on that exact spot he now knew made her close her eyes and start to drift away.
"I don't want to go home" she said, turning to face him looking serious. "I'm not ready to go back to sneaking around."
"I'm sure we'll figure out a way to keep it exciting" he smiled kissing her lips.
"No doubt about that" she agreed before deepening the kiss and they carried each other off into oblivion.
X
After breakfast downstairs in public, they headed back to the room to grab their bags before checking out. The process was simple and they were ready to hit the road before it was even 10am.
"Need to stop for anything on the way back?" Neil asked as they pulled out of the car park. "How's the food situation in that refrigerator of yours?"
"Sparse" she grinned knowing he would tut at her reply. "Can we stop somewhere?"
"Sure" he smiled. "Closer to home, or out here" he asked.
"Out here" she said putting her hand on his thigh. "Let's go be domestic a little while longer before we head back to reality."
Stopping at a nearby store, Audrey frowned at him when he stopped by the door to drop her off before finding a space. She got a small cart and headed inside to wait.
He jogged in through the door two minutes later to be greeted by her giving him a stern look.
"What?" he asked.
"I'm not a pensioner" she reprimanded. "I don't need dropping by the door."
"Sorry" he shrugged, he didn't have an excuse so he just kissed her on the cheek and that seemed to be enough.
They browsed the aisles together, throwing things into the cart as they went. The differences between their choices were stark with Neil's choices being fresh ingredients for cooking and Audrey's being more for convenience.
Rounding the last corner they stopped as they looked down the aisle lined with bottles.
"Do you want to stay for dinner tonight?" Audrey asked. "We could get a bottle?"
"Can I cook" he asked with a smirk earning himself a nod in response. "I'll pass on the wine though, I should go home tonight. I've got a very early start tomorrow."
"Okay" she replied quietly.
"The patient is high maintenance. He wants his procedure done on a Saturday morning so he could finish work on Friday and be back working from home by Monday" Neil said, shaking his head. "I've seen some workaholics but this guy is something else."
"I get it, it's fine" she said still sounding a bit flat.
Moving to stand behind her, he put his arms out either side, trapping her against the handle of the cart and moving close to whisper in her ear.
"I need to be well rested for tomorrow, I just figured I wouldn't be if I stayed at yours" he said quietly. "If you can promise to keep your hands to yourself..."
"Fair point, I can't promise that" she laughed.
"Now I'm going to get some extra bits for dinner tonight, you get what you want and I'll meet you at the checkout" he said before kissing her quickly and walking away.
After picking up a couple of items from the aisle she made her way through to pay. Just as she loaded the last few bits into the belt, he reappeared with a flourish dropping the extra pieces he'd picked up at the end.
Putting his hands on her hips, he squeezed slowly behind her to get ready to pack as the cashier started to scan. He tried to pack their items separately and smiled as he picked up a bottle of bourbon before looking at her questioning it.
"To replace yours from... you know" she said with a smile. She got a grin from him for that memory.
X
Arriving back at Audrey's over an hour later, he sent her ahead to open up and put the coffee on while he started on the bags. Taking two trips, he dumped the last couple bag groceries on the countertop, leaving her to put things away in their place.
"Want to watch something?" Audrey asked holding aloft a bag popcorn she'd found near the bottom of the last bag. "My choice this time" she said.
"Sure" he replied, checking his watch. "But I'm going to have to get some reading done for tomorrow at some point. Pick something we've already seen so I only have to keep one eye on the screen."
"Deal" she said, pouring the sweet treat into a bowl and pouring them both a cup of the rich, strong coffee she had brewed.
He sat on the couch, kicking off his shoes and stretching out his legs to rest them on the table in front of them crossing his ankles. She took a seat next to him, tucking her feet up underneath her and peering over his shoulder at the screen of the tablet he was holding.
"Ah ah!" he scolded. "No work for you until Monday" he smiled turning the screen a little. He got a mumbled reply that he couldn't quite make out, doubting it was flattering.
She settled in and eventually chose a movie, one they had both seen but she would never very tired of watching... so she thought. Looking over at her around an hour in, he saw that she'd laid her head back and closed her eyes. With the bowl of popcorn still balanced precariously on her lap, he gently moved it to one side and left her nap.
The movie ended and again he turned to the news to catch up on some headlines he might have missed over the last couple of days. Checking his watch again, he got up gently and headed into the kitchen and quietly made a start on dinner.
After chopping and prepping the ingredients he needed, he started searching her cupboards for pans he could use. A little dismayed at the choice he made a mental note to try and get her to stay at his place a few times if he was going to cook again.
He made do with what he found and once the aroma of the herbs and spices reached Audrey, he saw her beginning to stir. With about ten minutes cooking time left, he went to wake her properly to give her time to freshen up before dinner and she dragged herself off to the bathroom.
Emerging feeling refreshed, she sat down and smiled as he put a bowl full of steaming pasta in front of her. The sauce smelt amazing and she eagerly took a piece of bread and dipped it to taste. Closing her eyes as her taste buds exploded with the flavour she opened then again to see him watching her with an amused smile.
"This is gorgeous" she said. "You can definitely make this again... please."
"Sure thing" he replied. "But unless you invest in some new kitchenware, it'll be at my place okay?"
They ate in comfortable silence and once they were finished, Audrey picked up the plates. "I'd best be heading home if you're okay doing those" he said nodding at the sink.
"I am" she nodded, walking towards him and he pulled on his jacket. "Hope all goes well tomorrow, let me know."
"Sure thing" he replied. "Speak to you tomorrow."
"Sure thing" she repeated as she grabbed the collar of his jacket and pulled him in for a kiss.
After closing the door behind him, she leaned against it for a moment thinking how much she would actually miss having him around this evening. She would never tell him that though.
In turn, Neil was sat in his car outside thinking the same. He was more likely to say it out loud but not yet. Too soon.
X
Neil's initial procedure went well but during, they discovered a further ailment that would need treatment if the patient was to make a full recovery. After the patient woke, they discussed it with him at length and he pushed them to get it done as possible for him to get back to work.
They agreed on the Monday which meant that Neil would be spending the rest of his weekend with his nose in a pile of books. Heading back to the privacy of his office, he called Audrey to let her know.
"That sucks" she said after he broke the news. "Good job you caught it early though."
"Definitely" he replied. "Sorry I cancelled our plans though" he said sounding flat.
"Hardly plans" she admonished. "Sitting here watching an old movie was hardly the date of the century" she laughed.
"But still... sorry" he repeated. "Do you need a ride in on Monday for your appointment?"
"I'll get the bus i think" she replied. "Last thing we need is to start the rumour mill when the rumours are actually true this time!"
"Correct" he agreed laughing with her. "Come by and let me know how it goes though?"
"Sure thing" she said before they signed off.
X
They exchanged a few texts over the rest of the weekend but the next time they actually saw each other was Monday morning. He was in his usual dark blue threads heading to scrub in and she was in her long overcoat heading up for her appointment.
"Morning Dr Lim, good to see you back" he said as they approached each other on opposite sides of the corridor.
"Morning Dr Melendez" she replied with a nod, neither of them breaking their strides but smiling to themselves once they'd passed by.
His surgery was finished by 11 and he was sat in his office writing up his notes when he heard a light knock on his door. Looking up, he saw Audrey waiting for him to invite her in.
"Hi" he smiled, putting it his hand to offer a seat. "How did it go" he asked leaning forward on his elbows.
"Passed with flying colours of course. I can get back on it tomorrow, first procedure Wednesday" she said with a big smile.
"Good news" he smiled. "Be great to have you back."
"Be great to be back" she echoed struggling to keep her hands in her lap, wanting to reach out over the desk. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Got a case to be working on, or straight back into the ER?" he asked, stretching the time they had here to the maximum.
"No, just a planned procedure on a young lady with a brain malformation. Embolization is the best option for her, less invasive than the other options. I've got some serious reading to get done..." she said without stopping for breath.
"So I'll see you..."
"Tonight?"
"Great, I'll bring dinner" he smiled as she rose to leave. "Enjoy your last day of freedom" he quipped causing her to look over her shoulder and smile.
"I will."
X
Wednesday came around quickly and as he dropped her down the block from the hospital, she could hardly contain her excitement.
"You know it's a little worrying that you're looking forward to this so much" he smiled as she undid her belt. She just shrugged in reply and got out onto the sidewalk giving him a discreet wave as he pulled away.
Neil had barely finished his morning coffee when he got the page to the ER. Meeting Park and Browne on the way, they arrived just as the EMTs arrived reeling off the patient stats.
Seventy year old Sunny Lee had collapsed in her front yard and her neighbour had called 911. They couldn't find a heartbeat even though she was still breathing causing some confusion for everyone attending the call.
After discovering her mechanical heart, they set about stabilising her and were discussing the next steps when her 'daughter' Teresa arrived. She confirmed the doctors name in Beijing and clutching the business card, Neil called Audrey to meet him in his office to make the call.
"Hello" Neil said in a monotone manner as the elevator doors opened to reveal Audrey already inside leaning casually against the wall.
"Hello" she replied as he walked up to stand next to her. He leaned up against the same wall and slid his hands into his pockets trying to look casual and ultimately failing. He took two sidesteps towards her as the doors closed.
"Don't be stupid" Audrey admonished as she turned to see him looking at her with one of 'those looks'.
"There's no cameras in here" he said leaning over a little more, happy that he had her attention.
She smiled and moved towards him just a little, ready to give in until the elevator pinged and they jumped apart. The doors opened to reveal Dr Andrews who obliviously passed the time with them before telling them not to get their hopes up about the vacant Chief of Surgery position.
"Probably just as well, I'd rather not see the two of you competing again" he said, totally unaware of the looks he was receiving behind his back. "The two of you seem to be getting along better" he announced as the doors opened on his floor and he headed out.
Still stood shoulder to shoulder, they exchanged a look of understanding. That had been a close call, very close. They were going to have to be much more careful.
After listening to her conversing in Mandarin with Dr Weh's receptionist, he found an idea formulating in the back of his mind. There would be time for that later but first they would need to prepare Mrs Lee for transport bank to Beijing.
Mrs Lee unfortunately took a turn for the worse after the arrival of her biological daughter, Grace sending her into theatre at St Bonaventure instead. After Dr Browne diagnosis a medical issue as opposed to a mechanical one, the surgery went well and Dr Park informed both Grace and Teresa that their mother would be fine.
X
Audrey's first case back was a scheduled surgery on Lana, a autistic 34 year old lady who had been accompanied to the hospital by get roommate Javi. After discovering her condition to be worse than they originally thought, they needed to open her skull and remove the malformation as it was liable to rupture at any time.
Before going into theatre, Lana shocked Dr Reznick by asking if doors locked in order for her and Javi to have sex to help get relax. Audrey had to explain that anything that raised Lanas blood pressure was dangerous for her until she had undergone the procedure and was fully healed.
"Its frequently better than masturbation" Lana said flatly.
"High praise" Audrey nodded at Javi, feeling amused but remaining professional.
During the surgery, Audrey mentioned the benefits of a relationship without the emotional baggage piquing Shauns interest. It was very unlike Dr Lim to talk about things of a personal nature with them. He thought maybe her recent near death experience had changed her outlook on things but he hoped she would not continue to reflect in that during surgeries.
"The emotional baggage is the relationship. Everybody has their issues, the point is to sort them out together." Reznick countered.
"Yeah, that's all it takes agreed all the single people in the room" Lim laughed earning herself a curious look from Shaun.
After successfully completing the procedure and writing up her notes, she was more than ready to head home. She pulled on her coat and as she left the lobby, she sighed to herself at the damp January weather she was going to have to wait in for her bus.
Walking along, she heard a car pull up alongside and a voice from inside.
"Nǐ yào qù nǎlǐ" Neil said with a smile.
"Who taught you that" Audrey laughed, walking towards Neil's car and bending to look inside.
"Mrs Villenueve" he replied, his smile getting wider. "It means 'where are you going' in Mandarin."
"Not exactly" she advised. "Bus stop" she confirmed, nodding in that general direction.
"Colleagues can give each other lifts home right" he asked casually.
"They can also stop for a burger and then have sex in someone's apartment too, right?" she said as a matter of fact more than an actual question.
"Yes... Yes they can. Get in" he grinned. "Where too?"
"I know the best place" she said grinning back at him. Getting back into the operating theatre had made for a great day but she was sure it was about to get a whole lot better.
X
Disclaimer : Used dialogue from episode 2x13 where needed.
