Hello, my lovely readers.
It's been awhile since I was able to update. So my computer is a mess and it took me nine hours to write this out and then to type it on my phone. Hope you like it. On with the show…
Chapter 10: The Best Laid Plans
Davina
#2 Pencil. Check. Bottle of water. Check. Bag of snack mix for break. Check. Sweating palms. Increased pulse rate. Rapid breathing. Anxiety. Check. Check. And triple check. Yes, it was, finally, that time all med students came to dread-and not a verbal quiz with Klaus Mikaelson: No, something much, much worse...
A hand clamped down on Davina's shoulder, startling her out of her reverie. "Hey! Ready for your boards?" A cheerful voice cried and Davina turned to look at her older sister.
Hayley peered down at Davina with a wide, innocent smile. Before Davina could reply their mother interrupted. "Of course she's ready." Tiffany scoffed with an edge of scorn as she made her way over to the kitchen counter. "No child of mine wouldn't be."
Silence answered Tiffany's commentary. Finishing the process of pouring out a morning drink, she turned to see Davina and Hayley staring. "What?" she demanded, blowing on the steam, her brows knitting over large eyes when a light seemed to go off, one hand shot up, "Hayley, honey, I didn't mean -"
Now, it was Hayley's turn to interrupt. Throwing her hands up, she waved off their mother's awkward attempt at an explanation. "Not a problem. Davina, you're going to be late." Taking hold of Davina by the shoulders, Hayley marched her younger sister out of the kitchen and down through the hallway.
Stopping at the front door, Hayley shot Davina a warm smile. "You'll be fine."
"Thanks, Hales." Davina inhaled, she wished she had as much confidence in herself as Hayley did. Then the exam would pass by and she could get on with the real world work: saving lives.
A horn beeped in the driveway and Davina shifted her bag on her shoulder. "Got to go!" she cried.
"Good luck." Tiffany had come out of the kitchen, to lean against the couch in the living room.
"Thanks, Mom!" Davina called. Turning away from her family, Davina twisted the knob to the front door and stepped outside.
The sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. With more confidence than she'd felt half an hour ago; Davina crossed the lawn to open the passenger side door of Vincent Griffith's car.
"Hey, Davina!" Oliver crowed from the back seat, pounding a drumbeat on the backseat of the driver's side. "Ready for the test?"
"Stop doing that!" Vincent snarled while Davina buckled up.
"Sure." Davina replied with a light chuckle.
"We're pumped, aren't we?" Oliver called to Lucien at an octave that was far too loud, considering Lucien's position next to Oliver. "Aren't we, Vince?" Oliver called out, banging on the back of Vincent's seat, again.
Vincent's eyes widened while his seat bounced against his back. Davina held back a nervous giggle. "Stop! Doing! That!" Vincent snarled before he began to back the car out of the drive.
If nothing else, Oliver's antics were distracting Davina from the test ahead. And, as if someone heard her thoughts, her phone pinged with a text message:
Mornin,' love. Good luck and celebrations my place.
-K
Kol. He ended the text with a party hat and champagne bottle emojis.
Davina's lips curled into a smile. She slipped her phone back into her pocket and relaxed into the seat.
"How about some mood music?" Lucien cried. He leaned in between Davina and Vincent, thrusting his right arm toward the radio dial.
"No!" Vincent snapped, trying to bat Lucien's hand away.
"Come on! This drive is dull!" Lucien complained.
"If you don't stop, I'll crash and we'll all fail!" Vincent shouted at Lucien
Falling back in his seat, Lucien groaned out, "Spoil sport!"
"Child!" Vincent shot back with a glare in the rearview mirror. Davina had the sense that Vincent's irritation was not solely related to Lucien's being a pain in the ass. However, this was Board's Day and Davina could not take the time to convince Vincent to open up. There would be time, later. Today was about passing this exam and becoming a resident, like Hayley.
With that thought in mind, Davina drowned out the sound all of the testosterone-related squabbling in the car and went to her happy place. Bed, snuggled up to Kol, and on day they both had off. And a carton of ice cream. And...
The feel of a hand gently shaking her awake was what caused Davina to snap out of her happy dream. Vincent leaned just inside the passenger side, his left hand resting on her shoulder, "Hey there, sleepy head. Sorry to wake you. But it's time."
Yawning, Davina nodded and grabbed her bag. "Thanks for waking me." Sliding out of the car, she closed the door and looked around with a slight frown. "Where are Lucien and Oliver?"
Lips tugging up in the corner, Vincent rolled his eyes, "They said they would go in and save seats for us."
"Sure they will," Davina groaned. "Guess we should hurry up before Lucien convinces Oliver they're grading on a curve and getting us locked out would improve their scores."
Vincent chuckled and followed Davina inside the doors of the hospital. There was a large sign, by the staircase that directed them up and to the left. They want down the second floor hallway before stopping at the end of a short line of people.
Sliding her hand into her pocket, Davina withdrew her picture I. D. and waited for her turn. A stern-looking man with a clipboard looked at her I. D. and then at Davina before checking her name off. He waved for her to enter a conference room turned exam room for their special day.
"Davina!" Lucien called, waving. He pointed at the seat in front of him and lifted his bag out of it.
Davina came to sit down and felt a pen tap at the left side of her back. Oliver was leaning forward in his seat. "Don't worry. You'll pass." His serious tone made Davina nod. She would.
Rebekah
Sink. Foot pedal. Water. Soap. All the ingredients for scrubbing in for surgery. Inhaling and exhaling. Rebekah Mikaelson stared at her reflection. She looked a little pale. Morning sickness had snuck up on her. Thankfully her stomach felt calm now. Actually she felt quite calm, even, dare she say, happy...
"Ready to slice and dice?" The quip came from the doorway. Klaus, with his mocking, little smirk.
"I'm pregnant-not disabled-which is more than you'll be able to say if you do not leave. Now, brother!" Rebekah pointed a long, stiff finger in the direction of the exit. She should have known Niklaus would not let her be.
Klaus shrugged. "So sorry," he uttered with the absolute lack of sincerity that Rebekah was accustomed to. Pausing, Klaus added, "Try not to puke in the poor girl, would you?"
"Oh, bugger yourself, Nik!" Rebekah shouted.
Chuckling, Klaus left the scrub room. Clutching the sides of the sink, Rebekah worked to regain her equilibrium.
Seconds later, the door to the OR opened and a scrub nurse named Amy, (or was it Angela?) popped her head out: "Dr. Mikaelson?"
Sighing, Rebekah nodded. "I'm coming." Rebekah strode to the door and entered the OR. She moved toward the waiting patient, a twelve-year-old, who had waited for a heart transplant for two years, three months and six days. Today, her wait was over.
"Ready?" Head turning to her right, Rebekah found her eyes connecting with Hayley's wide-eyed stare.
Huffing, Rebekah shook her head. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Her eyes traveled the room. "Anyone else? Does anyone else want to indicate that pregnancy is some kind of infirmity, or that I can not do my job?" Her eyes continued to burn into everyone, "We'll then?" Rolling her shoulders, Rebekah glanced at Hayley, "What are you doing here?"
Hayley's brows rose. "All the interns are busy with Boards. I thought I'd come in and watch the master at work."
Smirking, Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Flattery," she murmured. Holding out a hand, she felt ready. "Scalpel," she cried, waiting to feel cold steel slap into the palm of her hand.
"Am I late?" A new voice called.
Rebekah growled, low in her throat as a nurse helped Marcel into a pair of sterile gloves. What the bloody hell was he doing here? she thought before spitting out: "What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
Moving to face Rebekah, from the other side of the table, Marcel gave Rebekah that infuriatingly, charming smile. "I'm here to watch you work."
"No! No, you're bloody well not!" Rebekah could feel all of her self-control evaporating. "You're here to spy on me, for Nik. You, too, think me incapable."
"Bekah." Marcel stared Rebekah in the eye. "You've got this. Like, I said: I'm here to watch."
Taking a calming breath, Rebekah sighed. "Music. Please." Violins began to play and a scalpel was placed in her hand. Eyes going to the girl on the table, Rebekah directed her gaze to the girl's chest and she made the first incision.
Overall, for Rebekah, cutting into a human's chest, cracking their clavicle and removing that most vital, but, in this case, faulty organ, must be like how a musician felt with an instrument. You tirelessly coax out something living, and beautiful, hoping that the strains of your work will reach farther and farther, and breathe life into being.
"Right then." Rebekah took a step back, re-entering the here-and-now and waited, holding her breath, watching for new heart take its first beat. Nothing... And the first flex. Letting out a shuddering breath of relief, Rebekah looked around. "Time to close her up then." Glancing to her right, she smiled. "Hayley, would you like to do the honors?"
"Sure." Hayley stepped into the space that Rebekah vacated.
Feeling the pain in her back and feet now, Rebekah headed over to the s rub room, entering it and tossed her used gloves in the bin. She rolled her head back and forth until a pair of hands came down on her shoulders.
"I told you: I was here to watch." A slight pressure in her shoulders and then sweet relief as Marcel coaxed the pain away. "I'm an admirer of your work."
"I'm sure." Rebekah groaned. Marcel's probing fingers stopped in their work and she groaned in louder, "Don't you dare stop now, Marcel Gerard."
Turning Rebekah around, Marcel locked his arms around her waist. " How about I swing by your place-after my shift ends-with some food, and a film, and then we finish this," his fingers slid under the bottom of her scrub top, "later?"
"Sounds quite doable," Rebekah moaned, leaning up to kiss him on the lips.
"Uh-huh." Marcel stepped back. "Get some rest, if you can." He tucked her hair behind her ear before leaving.
Rebekah decided to take Marcel's advice and head home. Her body was all ready for a nice, long three-hour nap when she arrived home. Placing the key in the lock and entering, she became acutely aware of not being alone.
Back tensing, Rebekah moved to the closest closet and opened it before she withdrew an umbrella. Her free hand went into her pocket and she withdrew her cell. She tumbled over the screen and punched in 911. She eased up the stairs and headed down the hall. A light was coming from one of the bedrooms. The door was slightly ajar.
Steeling herself, ready to punch the "call" button and to pummel the intruder, Rebekah pushed the door open with her foot. What she found pissed her off more than a robber.
"Tyler!" Rebekah shouted, causing Tyler to fling socks all over the room. Entering the room, Rebekah cleared her screen and the pocketed her phone. Hefting the umbrella, she pointed it at Tyler. "What in the bloody hell are you do ng here? Come to pick up your things? We could have shipped them. Or made a cozy bonfire."
Hand on his chest, Tyler took long, deep breaths, to calm down and then spoke, "Rebekah, you scared me. "
"What are you doing here, Lockwood?" Rebekah demanded.
Tyler moved to take a seat on the end of his old bed. Tugging a sock out from under him, he tossed it on the floor. "I came to see you and to get my old job back."
"Is this a joke?" Rebekah snapped.
Tyler shook his head. "I went home. To clear my head and I realized why I freaked, about the baby," he waved at her mid-section. "My dad was an ass to me, and to my mom. And I've always been afraid that I would be a terrible dad, too. But I want to try to be better-for my kid-for our kid. I want to try to be a better man." Tyler stopped and held up his hands. "Wait. I got you something." He got up and looked around before finding his bag and opening it. Pulling out a tiny, blue teddy bear, he walked over to Rebekah and held it out to her. "It works for a girl, too, you know, 'cause kids like these."
Rebekah took the bear and eyed it. "It's about more than gifts. Fatherhood."
"I know," Tyler replied. "Whatever you need."
"It need a nap," Rebekah left the room and went into her own, placing the bear on the nightstand, and deciding not to think about it. No doubt Tyler would skip town before the due date.
Hayley
Red wine. Ice bucket. Clean linens. Plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. Minus one man, in her bed. Hayley adjusted her lacy negligee and attempted to look seductive. Hayley and Elijah had scheduled another date which might not happen, again.
With the interns out, celebrating finishing their boards-whether they passed or not-Tiffany spending the evening at dinner with Esther and most of the Mikaelsons elsewhere; they were trying to have some "alone" time.
For Hayley, this meant getting Elijah drunk and having her way with him until their shifts, tomorrow evening. But without the object of her desire present; Hayley was left to eat, drink and be merry by herself.
Finally, the sound of the front door opening and feet coming up the stairs made Hayley cheer up. She plumped the pillow behind her slid one of the straps down and tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth.
When the door opened, Hayley leaned forward on the bed and called, "What took you so long?" The words stopped coming out when she realized she was talking to the wrong Mikaelson brother.
"Kol! What the hell?' Hayley shouted, grabbing a pillow and covering herself with it.
Kol ignored her and came to sit on the end of the bed. "To answer your question: the cab driver took me on the scenic route. Ah, strawberries. May I?" Without waiting for a reply, he took one and bit into it.
"What are you doing...here?" Hayley growled out.
"Came to see Davina. But seems she's out. While gives us an opportunity to chat." Kol popped another strawberry into his mouth.
"Kol, just in case it isn't obvious to you, I am trying to have a romantic night," Hayley waved a hand around the room, "with Elijah, and finding you, in here, might kill the mood. So, do us both a favor. And get out!"
Kol grinned back. "Elijah got stuck in surgery. He should be there for at least another hour, or so. Plenty of time for us to chat."
Frowning, Hayley thought about it. "Fine. Get out. So I can get dressed."
Sliding off the side of the bed, Kol grabbed a handful of strawberries and made his way out of the room. He was lucky he wasn't fully recovered from his accident or Hayley might have helped him out the door, with her foot.
Marching over to the bedroom door, Hayley closed it and locked it. She slid out of the negligee and into a sweater and a pair of jeans. Making her way back over to the door, she unlocked it and went downstairs. Kol had made coffee, and sat, with a steaming cup held between his hands.
"You changed. No need to on account," Kol said with another grin.
Jaw clenched, Hayley shook her head at him. "I'm marrying your brother. And you're involved with my sister. So, yes, I felt the need to change."
Kol waved her off, his eyes scanning the kitchen. "I already think of you as a sister, not a sexual being."
"Thanks," Hayley ground out before taking a seat across from him. "So, what is it that you want to talk about?"
"Davina. Of course." Kol's gaze now bore into Hayley and he had a "Why else would I be bothering with the likes of you" look on his face. This did not make Hayley feel forthcoming.
"What about Davina?" Hayley crossed her arms and placed her chin on her knee.
"Well..." Eyes going around the kitchen, again, Kol paused long enough to annoy Hayley.
"Kol, spit it out! I don't have all night!" Hayley exclaimed.
Kol let out a startled laugh. "Shows what you know." For a moment he and Hayley glared at each other. Then Kol held up a hand. "Sorry. Right. Well, it's my physical therapist, Kaleb."
"I thought this was about Davina." Hayley was already losing track of the conversation as she waited for the sound of Elijah coming in.
"Yes. I was getting to that bit." Kol snapped, testily. "I believe that he's taken an interest in Davina."
"That's nice," Hayley replied, absently. Did she have time to make more strawberries before Elijah showed?
"Are you even listening to me?" Kol demanded.
"Hmm?" Squinting at Kol, Hayley nodded. "Your physical therapist has a crush on Davina. Good for him."
Narrowing his eyes, Kol got to his feet. "I should have known you wouldn't be supportive. Look at your taste."
"What does that mean?" Hayley demanded, shooting to her feet.
"Besties with Bekah. And sleeping with Elijah. Not knowing a thing about him. Treating Davina like an unwanted stray before becoming 'Sister-of-the-Bloody-Year?' Scoffing, Kol made his way out of the kitchen. "You. And Bex. Neither of you have it in you to make anything stick. Soon enough you'll be making drama for yourself."
"You don't know a damned thing about me, Kol Mikaelson!" Hayley shouted, following him to the door. "And you're only deflecting your own problems onto other people. Because you can't get your life together. At least Bonnie Bennett had the brains to run before you screwed up! And if Davina likes this Kaleb guy, good for her!"
"Why don't you plan the wedding?" Kol shot back, jerking the door open and striding out.
"Why don't I?" Hayley shouted after him, slamming the door closed. She fell against it, puffing out air. What in the hell just happened? What was with Kol?
Shaking her head, Hayley pushed off the door and headed for the kitchen when someone knocked. Going back, Hayley opened it, half-expecting Kol to have returned to unload some more fury.
"Elijah?" Behind a bouquet of flowers was her fiancé. Flinging herself forward, Hayley threw her arms around Elijah's neck.
"Hayley, are you alright?" Elijah asked.
"Um-hmm." Hayley muzzled Elijah's neck. "Now that your home." Pulling back, Hayley took the flowers from Elijah. "What's the occasion?"
"You're lovely." Elijah pressed a kiss to her forehead. "That is the occasion."
"Oh?" Hayley chuckled. "You should have seen me half an hour ago." She walked toward the kitchen, in search of a glass to put the flowers in.
"What have I missed?" Elijah inquired, following Hayley into the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder to see Elijah examining Kol's coffee cup.
"Kol came by. To chat." Hayley could hear the irritation in her own tone and tried to calm down.
"About what?" Elijah asked, coming over and pulling out a glass before moving to the sink.
"About Davina." Leaning against the sink, Hayley clutched the edge, pressing her back into it. "And he also seems to have some opinions of me..." Trailing off, Hayley looked away.
"What kinds of opinions?" Elijah coaxed, placing the flowers in the glass.
"Just that I am a drama queen..." She hated to admit that Kol's words got under her skin.
"And about Davina?" Elijah moved to stand in front of Hayley.
"That his P. T. might be into her." Nodding, Elijah placed his hands in her hips and kissed her on the lips. "Dr. Mikaelson, are you trying to distract me?" Hayley whispered, peering at him through her eyelashes.
"No." Elijah shook his head. "This," he pressed his lips to her neck, "is not a distraction." Pausing, Elijah leaned back. "Kol lashes out. He'll calm down and apologize. Eventually. And it would do him good to have to fight for Davina. He's used to girls dropping at his feet. Enough about our siblings." Taking Hayley's hand, Elijah led the way upstairs.
"Wait! I bought something. Just give me a minute." Holding up her hands, Hayley went to her dresser and pulled out her negligee. "Two minutes," she called, going into the bathroom. Flinging her sweater and jeans on the floor, she slid back into the negligee and fluffed her hair. Looking in the mirror, she paused. What if Kol was right and she became restless? Shaking the thought away, she exited the bathroom, but the fear never really disappeared.
Thank you for reading, faving, following and reviewing.
Be safe,
-J