The Right Thing to Do
Summary: To put it simply, Susan realized her feelings for Mark and got off the train in season three's "Union Station". Susan/Mark
Author's Note: Idea came to me while watching the finale of Friends, and I'm trying my best to stay as far away from that as I can, but the situations are very similar! As with anything, feedback is greatly appreciated.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. I don't have the money to hire a lawyer or the time to go to court, so don't sue.
"Ma'am, are you going to sit down?" the conductor asked as the train kept moving. The station was barely visible by this point, but Susan Lewis was still standing at the window almost as if she was in a trance. He sighed heavily before approaching her. "Ma'am, you need to sit down," he informed her.
Susan did not hear him. She was still gazing out the window. The sights went by her, but she did not focus on any of them. She was thinking about what Mark had said right before she got on the train. He said he loved her.
She could not stay in Chicago just because of that, could she? She did not even know if she loved him. Did she? She liked him. She had been working with him for over three years, and she loved every minute of it. Mark was a good teacher, a good doctor, and most importantly, a good friend. He could understand what she was feeling without her having to say anything. Plus, he obviously cared about her…
Yes. She did love him. What the hell was she doing? She loved Mark. Sure, she would always love little Suzie as if she was her own daughter, but why settle for raising her niece when she could be raising her own children? She had a life in Chicago, and she had a reason to stay - Mark Greene.
"Madam, you have to take a seat!" The conductor's voice was agitated, and Susan could have sworn she felt his saliva on her cheek.
"Like hell I do," she responded. Her voice was filled with determination. She had never been more sure of a decision. "You have to turn this train around. I need to get off right now."
"Do you realize that we're half an hour away from the station?" the conductor asked. He rolled his eyes in anger. "Of course you don't. You've been standing there ignoring any attempt at conversation!"
"Look, I'm sorry, sir," Susan began earnestly, "but I really need to get off this train." Her face flushed as she tried to think of a good lie. "I'm, uh, afraid of trains. They can crash and stuff. I'd feel much more comfortable on a plane." As those words crossed her mouth, Susan could feel her stomach lurch. She tried to shrug it off. She would not actually be getting on a plane, of course. All she needed was a good excuse to get off this train.
"Ma'am, I assure you that you are perfectly safe," the conductor began as he tried to keep his patience. "But you need to sit down right now," he told her as he started walking away from her.
Susan groaned with frustration. "You don't understand!" she yelled as she quickly followed him. "Please, try," she begged as she reached and grabbed his arm.
"What part of 'sit' and 'down' do you not understand?" the conductor snapped.
Susan frantically searched her pockets for something that could give her a good reason to stay. Damn. She had left her pager and anything work related back in the lounge at County. On the other hand, there was no reason for the conductor to know that. "I need to get off," she started again. "I just got paged by my work," she lied.
"Really," the conductor said with a raised eyebrow. "Where do you work?"
"Cook County General Hospital in the ER," Susan informed him. "And it's urgent, so I really do need to get off this train right now."
"I didn't hear anything," the conductor told her.
"It's on vibrate," Susan quickly lied. "Please," she begged once again.
The conductor shook his head in disbelief. "Why would they page you if you're on a train to Phoenix?" he asked simply.
"Um, because they didn't know I was going there," Susan lied. "It was a spontaneous and stupid decision I made because I was angry with a co-worker."
"Phoenix?" the conductor questioned.
"Well, my sister and niece live there," Susan said. "Look, it just went off again, so can you please let me off this train?" she asked.
"Show me," the conductor commanded.
Susan blinked. "Beg pardon?"
"Show me this pager," the man commanded once again.
Susan blushed. "I'd rather not," she said as she looked down to the ground. "Look, I just need to get off, ok?"
"You're not going anywhere until we get to Phoenix," the conductor told her. "Now take your seat."
Susan frowned at him, but did as she was told. It was hopeless. They were already almost an hour out of Chicago. As she sat down, she could feel the tears filling up behind her eyes. She fought hard to keep them from coming out. She had put these passengers through enough hell for a little while. She shook her head slightly. She was trying hard not to cry, but it was pointless.
Tears began rolling down her cheeks. She blew it. She had her chance with Mark, and she blew it. He was there at the station saying the three words she had been waiting to hear for the longest time, but she ignored it. She got on the train anyway. Susan sniffled and dabbed at her eyes with her green scarf.
An attendant knelt down in front of Susan and placed a gentle hand on her knee. "Are you really this terrified of trains?" he asked.
Susan took a deep breath and dabbed at her eyes again. The attendant offered her some tissues, which she took. She managed a weak smile as she wiped her eyes with them. "What can you do about it?" she asked. Why bother to tell him it was a lie? He was only doing his job.
"Well, another train had a small accident on the tracks," the attendant explained gently. "I only mention this because as a result, we'll need to go off course. Now, the driver is a good friend of mine, and I can convince her to get to another station if you're this uncomfortable," he explained.
Susan's smile widened. "Y-you can do that?" she asked as she stopped crying.
"Yes, ma'am, for you I can," he assured her. "It will only take about twenty minutes. Can you last that long?"
Susan slowly nodded. She was supposed to be terrified after all. "I think so," she said. "Thank you," she added. "Thank you very much."
The attendant started walking back down the aisle.
"Wait," Susan called as he turned back around.
"Yes?" he asked. "Do you need anything else?"
"Why me?" Susan asked. "You said for me, you could arrange to stop at some station. Why me?"
"You are Dr. Susan Lewis from County, right?" the attendant asked her simply.
Susan nodded. "Guilty as charged," she said. "Did I treat you?" she asked curiously.
The attendant shook his head. "Let's just say you helped someone very close to me, and now I'd like to return the favor," he told her.
Susan smiled. "That'll work," she said as she sat back in her seat.