Chapter 12

Their weekend passed by and soon Audrey and Neil found themselves again sitting inside his car a few blocks away from the hospital. The scene was reminiscent of the days when they were still hiding their relationship from everyone. And it was what both of them were thinking at that moment.

When he suddenly pulled over at the side Audrey turned to him confused so Neil had to explain. Though their relationship is now back on track with promises of making it work this time, he still wants to respect her boundaries when at their workplace.

"Are you sure you want to go in together?" he asked her again after Audrey told him to drive all the way to the parking lot. He was unsure if she was ready for their relationship to be out in the open again.

"Yeah. They're going to find it out eventually so why hide it? Let's do this properly this time,"

With his free hand he laced their fingers together. "You're not going to be bothered by what they say?"

"I'd be lying if I say no...but I'll try not to," she admitted. "How about you?"

"I am," he told her honestly. "But I love you more than I care about others' opinions of us. And if we don't let our relationship affect our work then we won't hear anything from them. Even from the HR and Dr. Glassman."

"Well Glassman is a hypocrite if he objects," Audrey said. "But let's not fight in front of him again okay?"

"Definitely. Let's do all of that behind closed doors, and outside we are a team," he grinned knowing that their bickerings won't be stopped just because they love each other. But they love each other enough to accept these differences.

Audrey rolled her eyes but smiled fondly at him. You bicker like a married couple. That's what the nurses told them when they were interns. Who knew someday it might come true?

Minutes later they walked together casually at the front lobby of the hospital. As usual it was a busy Monday so nobody noticed them coming in until they were inside the elevator.

The doors opened at the second floor for Dr. Shaun Murphy. He looked at his two superiors standing side by side inside the elevator.

"Good morning Dr. Lim, Dr. Melendez," he greeted them in a monotone voice and stood at the front with his back facing them.

"Morning Murphy," Audrey replied while eyeing Neil who just smirked at her.

The silence was a bit awkward but Neil joked about it once they got off the elevator and was walking towards their office.

"You think he noticed something?" he smiled knowing exactly what this reminds them of.

Audrey smiled, shaking her head lightly. "That was silly," she thought about the time when they thought Shaun had caught them making out inside Neil's car. Today they went to work together again and Shaun was around too. Things were a little different this time but still familiar.

"It's nice I don't have to go and convince Shaun that I don't have a girlfriend," Neil chuckled.

Audrey grinned. "You think he'll tell the other residents right away?"

"Nope. We didn't do anything though. We just stood together inside the elevator."

"We looked like we just arrived at work. Together," she pointed out.

"We went in the same entrance," he reasoned. "If that won't start the gossip then something else will. Within this week,"

"Start? What do you mean 'start'? Neil, it never ended," she said. "Especially with our dear nurses. I can't believe Deena told our history to the younger nurses. I bet the residents knew them too,"

"Nurse Farrar had been looking at me funnily days ago,"

"Why?" she inquired as they stopped in front of her office.

"It was something silly," he turned to her smiling guiltily. "I'll confess that story at lunch later okay?"

"Okay,"

He looked at the empty hallway before them and he stole a quick kiss from her before going into his own office.

...

The blissful and stress free days came to an end for Audrey weeks later. It surprised her that the days went swiftly until one day she found herself on the ICU floor talking to one of her attending physicians and a patient's family.

She was listening intently to her colleague explaining the treatment procedure to the family members when something caught her attention.

A number of staff suddenly headed to one of the rooms. It wasn't a code blue though but they looked so busy. Audrey tried to pay attention to her colleague but a sudden thought crossed her mind. She whipped her head fast to the direction of the commotion and realized that it was Larisa's room.

Her heart started beating fast afraid of what the commotion meant. She would admit guiltily that she had slightly forgotten about her in the midst of her newfound happiness.

When her colleague was done with the talk she excused herself to take a peek inside the room. Nurse Petringa cornered her before she got closer to the room.

"What happened to her?" she whispered.

"She passed away an hour ago," Deena said in a low voice. "They are preparing her body to bring down the morgue,"

"The family already knew," she added seeing the worried look on Audrey's face. She gave her a sympathetic pat on the arm before leaving her alone to digest the news.

She found out that Kashal was at the hospital's prayer room so she figured she'd offer her condolences in person. She took a peek inside the room and was about to enter when she noticed that he wasn't alone. Kashal was comforting his sister who was sobbing uncontrollably. It was a solemn moment between siblings that Audrey didn't want to interrupt so she backed away.

Instead she seeked the solace of her own office. Neil saw her beyond the glass walls as she passed by the meeting room. He was in the middle of researching a difficult case with Dr. Reznick, Dr. Park, Dr. Murphy and Dr. Browne. They've been at it for hours with no progress. They can't seem to find the answers to the mystery of their patient's case.

He looked at his watch and decided they all could use a break to refresh themselves.

"Since this is going nowhere we should probably take a break. A thirty minute lunch everyone?" he spoke making the foursome look at him.

"It's not yet my lunch time," Murphy said, continuing to flip the pages of a thick medical book he was currently reading.

Meanwhile Park immediately dropped his book and stretched his arms. "Lunch sounds great,"

"How about I order something?" Browne offered.

"Your treat?" inquired Reznick. Browne rolled her eyes but picked up her phone to order.

Neil took this as his cue to leave. "Have fun with lunch. I'll be back later," He dashed to the door quickly without giving a chance for the residents to stop him.

"He's definitely going to Lim." Reznick commented.

Browne's eyebrow rose. "And why would that be?"

"I saw Lim pass by just minutes ago," she replied. "And he went in that direction."

They ignored what she said but she won't give up talking about her superiors. "You think they got back together?" She asked no one in particular.

"That's none of our business," Park said.

To their surprise Murphy joined their discussion. "I saw them going to work together before,"

Reznick grinned and reached out towards Browne, "Okay pay up,"

Meanwhile, Neil indeed went to follow Audrey. He knocked softly before coming in. She was perched at the edge of her office table and she looked at him as soon as he entered her space.

He could sense something was wrong just by her face so he approached her carefully. He stood infront of her and waited for her to open up. She took one of his hands and played with his fingers.

"She's gone," she was looking down at their hand joined together.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Aud. She was a nice friend to you," his voice low and comforting. She didn't respond but leaned her head on his shoulders. There was silence but Neil wanted to be there for her just like her with him when he was in deep grief.

"It's sad...but somehow I feel better that she wasn't in pain anymore. Seeing a patient in that state was harder when you know them," she told him. "Still it's sad"

"I understand you," he carefully wrapped her in his embrace, his hand stroking her hair gently. "And it's okay to feel that way,"

Audrey was relieved to have Neil by her side at this moment. Being a doctor, she was familiar with the dying but it never really gets easier when it happens to the people you know.

...

The cold breeze blew off the loose strands of hair from Audrey's messy ponytail. They were in the middle of spring as evidenced by the brightly colored nature beyond them. The flowers were all in full bloom and the trees were shining green. The place was full of life in contrast to their situation.

Audrey quietly watched from a distance as Kashal and her sister spread their mother's ashes on the lake. She had joined them today to pay her last respects to the kind lady who had once been like a mother to her.

Kashal lingered for a moment at the spot watching the water flow along with the ashes. His sister gave him a hug before leaving him to his own thoughts. But he wasn't alone. He could sense Audrey's presence as she walked closer to him.

Neither spoke for a while. Only the birds chirping beyond the trees could be heard. His silence lingered as his mind made a quiet conversation to his mother. I hope you're in peace now. No more pain. We will be okay. I will be.

All the thoughts he couldn't say out loud, he hoped it could reach her now in spirit.

He finally turned around meeting Audrey's concerned eyes. He gave her a faint smile. "Thank you for being here,"

Audrey responded with a sad smile. "It's the last thing I could do for her." for you, she added in her mind. She knew that after this there's a high possibility that their paths would never cross again. With no one to hold him back here in San Jose, he has to move on for good. Kashal had told him that. "So this is really a goodbye..."

"Yeah," he looked down at the grass he was stepping on. "It was nice meeting you again, even in this way."

"Kashal," she waited for him to look her in the eye. "I did loved you," she told him sincerely.

"I know," he kindly smiled at her. "I did too."

"Will you be okay on your own?" she asked.

"Eventually. But I'll find ways to be happy again," he looked back wistfully at the water and then at the horizon. Then he turned to Audrey again. "You should too. Don't keep your happiness waiting,"

Seeing her confused face he clarified. "Don't make him wait too long,"

That rendered her speechless. He didn't mention any name but one person was in her mind. She tried to juggle her memory if she had mentioned about Neil in the past months to him.

"He will make you happier than I did, and that is what matters the most to me. You deserve all the best Audrey,"

Her eyes soften at his words. "I hope you find yours too, Kashal,"

Their eye contact lasted long enough for them to bid their farewells. It might be the last time their paths will cross, but it was a good goodbye.

It was Audrey who took the brave step backwards and giving him one last glance she turned around to walk away. He watched her retreating back for a minute before turning towards the lake again to see the calm waters infront of him.

...

She arrived home that afternoon surprised by the smell of food being cooked. She tiptoed towards her small kitchen and found Neil busy cooking for what seems to be their dinner. He was so engrossed in what he did that he didn't hear her coming in. She took the opportunity to watch him be comfortable in her place.

She stared lovingly at him and her heart skipped a beat as she imagined a future with him. She saw him bringing the delicious food he cooked on the table while still wearing her apron that she barely used before. At the corner of the table, a little girl with wavy black hair in a ponytail was watching him prepare the dishes. He tells the kid to call her mom which she obeys. Audrey's hand absentmindedly touched her stomach as she saw herself coming into the view carrying a toddler.

Is this what the future with him looks like?

Audrey saw herself glowing with love and happiness. That was the best version of herself and she wants to become that person.

"Aud," Neil's voice pulled her back to the present. She saw him staring at her with those soft eyes that were only for her. "How long have you been standing there?" he asked as he took off her apron that he borrowed and approached her.

"Not long enough to know what you have put inside that casserole," grinning as she walked to meet him halfway.

With both hands Neil cupped her cheek. He held her gently, his eyes flickering to her lips and eyes. Audrey wrapped her arms tightly to his waist leaving no space between them. And before he knew it, she leaned not to kiss him but to nestle her head at the crook of his neck.

Neil was surprised at the sudden embrace. He knew Audrey can be affectionate, just because she has a strong personality doesn't mean she has emotions of a robot. But still their relationship is relatively new to get used to this side of her, plus being the receiver of the gesture.

His hand lay on her hair, caressing it softly. "Are you okay?" He asked worried.

"Better than okay," she replied. "I didn't know you were coming today," she said, pulling away and staring at his eyes.

"Why would I spend my weekend alone when I have you to bother?"She laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Sorry about barging into your place announced though,"

"You can bother me anytime you want," she paused, her eyes wandering around the room and then at the kitchen counter where some bits of ingredients were messily placed on top. "It makes this gloomy place a bit more like home,"

Neil stared at her face and found himself falling more in love with her. At her mention of home, his hand crept into his inner pocket and felt the small box that he always carried since that night.

His dream aside from becoming a surgeon was to have someone whom he can build a home with. He'd spent years going through relationships and heartbreak only to find out that the person who could potentially build a family with him was right there all along.

When he stayed silent for long Audrey turned back to him with eyebrows raised. She saw his intense gaze directed at her. She noticed his hand inside his pocket so she met his eyes with the same intensity. Eye to eye, they seemed to communicate silently.

And then with a heartbeat, a smile slowly but giddily forms on her face. He smiles in relief, trying to ignore the wetness forming in his eyes.

Love at last.

...

END

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