Another chapter lol. I hope you'll like it.

Trigger warning for heavy subject like mentions of patient's death and coma (nobody dies though, and nothing is explicitly described)

"So, tell me about the patient."

Adora's student looked at her notes. She was sweating. Adora let her take her time. She remembered how stressful it used to make her as well.

"Well, um, it's a 72 year old man. He had convulsions at home. It started a few hours ago, when he was in bed, so his son called the emergencies and then-"

"Hold on," Adora interrupted softly. "You told me why he was here. That's good. Now, you need to tell me his medical history, his treatments, and how he lives, before explaining to me how the event occured."

"Oh, okay. He has severe dementia and hypothyroidism. His only treatments are his thyroïd pills. He lives at his son's with his wife and daughter-in-law."

"Severe dementia at 72?" Adora noted. That was too young.

"Yes. His son told me he's been going worse these last three months. He's not eating well anymore. The son couldn't even get him to eat and drink at all today."

"He must be severely dehydrated, which could explain the convulsions," Adora whispers to herself. "He convulsed in front of his son?"

"And his wife, yes. They described the convulsions as slow myoclonia. It stopped right after the emergencies arrived."

"Okay. He didn't fall?"

"No. He never walks and never talks. He stays in bed all day."

Adora nodded. She checked the vital parameters again. No fever, good blood saturation, slightly low tension. "Let's go check on him together."

Adora followed her student who made a beeline for the box where the patient was. She was motivated. It was nice.

It took one look at the patient for Adora to be reassured. He was awake, no convulsions. He was extremely skinny and his mouth was pretty dry. It matched what the son had told her student. After a few minutes of examination, Adora talked to his son to complete the student's reports, then went to prescribe several blood tests and a intravenous glucose hydration.

She corrected the student's medical observation with her, then sent her to see another patient. Adora checked her previous patients to see if there were new results. She found out with joy that several of her patients had excellent results. She could send them home. Good news for them and for her, since she would have less patients to take care of at the end of the morning. Maybe she can go eat earlier today.

"Adora, I made the quick test for your patient like you asked."

Adora turned around to listen to Steve, the nurse who was assigned with the same unit of the ER as her this morning. "Shoot."

"Hypernatremia, 185."

"185?!" Adora gasped. "Wow, he's insanely dehydrated. It's crazy he's still awake right now. You put the hydration on right?"

"Yeah, I did twenty minutes ago and… I think we should stop it." He scowled. Adora looked up at him anxiously. When a nurse contradicted a doctor's prescription, it meant no good. "He's got hyperglycemia. 35 millimole."

"WHAT?!" Adora snatched the results paper from his hand. She read the number three times. "Shit." The patient wasn't known to have diabetes. That was why he got such severe hypernatremia. And Adora gave him more glucose with her hydration prescription. Shit, shit, shit.

Her student chose this moment to come back into the office completely freaked out. "The patient! He's convulsing again!"

She had just finished her sentence that Steve and Adora were already halfway to the box. Adora felt a wave of calmness clearing her thoughts.

Emergencies first. She'll think of the rest later.

One dial tone, two dial tone, three dial tone-

"Yes?" A blasée voice answered. The unmistakable voice of Dr. Mermista Guha.

"Yes, hi, Dr. Guha. It's Adora, the ER intern? I wanted to talk to you about a patient."

"Uuuuughh, it's only 10 AM… Okay, I'm listening."

"72 year old man, brought in for convulsions at home, caused by hyperglycemia at 35 millimole per liter. No particular medical history except for hypothyroïdism and dementia. He lives at his son's and has been bedridden for months. He's currently in a coma, we're giving him insulin and proper hydration."

"Wait, so he has severe dementia and is bedridden? I can't accept him in ICU."

"That's what I thought you'd say, but if you could still check on his file and make it official-"

"Yeees, of course, I wasn't born yesterday, uuugh…"

Adora chuckled as she scratched her head. She never knew how to talk to this ICU doctor. She was so impressive and smart, and looked so cranky all the time, like she hated being there. But actually, she adored her job and was super nice, according to Adora's seniors. Complaining was just something she did to destress.

"I'll come check on him and talk to his family. But if he's had dementia for a long time, I really can't accept him. Intensive care would be terribly invasive for him. Doesn't mean he's gonna die though, so you'd better find him a room in another ward."

"Yes, of course. Thank you, Dr. Guha."

"Pleaaase, call me Mermista. I'm not 40 yet, jeez."

Adora hung up and sighed. It was fine. The patient would be okay. The situation was under control.

...it would have been even more in control if Adora had waited for the first results of the blood test.

"Okay, new patient," Adora stood up abruptly and walked towards the pile of files waiting for her in the office. 30 year old woman, abdominal pain for three days. Perfect. This would be wrapped up in no time just following the protocol. No problem.

Better take your time actually since you're not even capable of anticipating hidden diabetes.

"Steve, I'll be in box 3 if you need me," Adora said as she left the office.

If they need you to almost kill a patient.

"Ugh, it's fine," Adora muttered under her breath. "It's fine. He's fine. You're fine."

"Keep talking to yourself and people are gonna think you're far from being fine."

Adora stopped dead in her track. She turned around, preparing her most murderous glare for her. Because of course, she had to pop up whenever Adora felt vulnerable. How did she do that?

"Hey, Adora."

"I'm not in the mood, Catra," Adora replied so fast and harshly that Catra's cocky expression dropped, replaced by an air of confusion and maybe a flash of pain? No, Adora must be misinterpreting.

As if you could affect anyone that way.

"Wow, you could really use a chill pill, Princess," Catra attempted with a more bitter voice. "I just wanted to say hi."

"And you could try to say hi in a polite way like everybody else, instead of picking on me all the time. You're not scoring anything like this."

Adora turned around again, ready to leave her like this. She had work to do. She didn't have time for Catra's stupid games, even though they were mutual. Adora was not in the mood to admit that either.

"Hey," Catra grabbed her arm, holding her back. "You're okay?"

Adora looked over her shoulder. Catra's eyes were full of concern. Adora had always found them mesmerizing. One blue eye, and one brown eye. Such a light brown that it almost looked golden, especially under the sunlight.

You're not worthy of being cared for.

Adora pulled away from Catra. "I'm fine. I'm busy."

You're worthless.

When Adora came back to the office, Steve handed her a plastic bag. "From Catra," he just said.

Adora smiled genuinely for the first time since she arrived this morning when she saw what was inside the bag.

Bear-shaped chocolate marshmallows. Her favorite candy.

Catra remembered that?

"SURPRISE!"

Catra didn't have the time to process what was happening to her. She was already crushed in a bear hug, struggling to breathe.

"Scorpia! I got bones! SCORPIA!"

"Oh, sorry Wildcat."

Catra took a second to take a breath, then smiled at her friend. "It's good to see you, Scorp. Come on in!"

Scorpia whistled when she took in the apartment. "Damn, Wildcat. The place is much more… lively since I've left."

"Hey, I barely have the time to sit my ass all day long. Give me a break," Catra groaned. She quickly picked up the clothes lingering on the floor, and threw them in the laundry bag. "I would have cleaned up if you'd told me you were coming."

"But I love to surprise you! And by the way, look," Scorpia grinned as she handed Catra two big bags she was carrying. Catra could already guess it was- "Plants!"

Scorpia pulled the cloth bag down, revealing beautiful green plants that looked almost like small trees.

"Wow, thanks, but um- you know-"

"Yes, I know you're not great with plants, but don't worry, Perfuma chose the best for you. These ones don't require too much care. Just water, once a week, and of course, love."

Catra rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. Scorpia was too cute for her own good.

"You want a drink?"

"Diet coke please."

"Sure." Catra picked beverages from her fridge then joined Scorpia on the couch. "So, how is work?"

"Good, good! I told you I've been replacing that physiotherapist in town, right? Well, this is just great. I love to see patients outside of the hospital. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the hospital. I love the camaraderie, the jokes, the help, the diversity of work-"

Catra zoned out a bit. Scorpia had such a passionate way of speaking of her job. Even though Catra held the same kind of passion for surgery, there was nobody like Scorpia who could make one want to quit their own job to join her in her physiotherapist trip.

"Oh, and guess who I met the other day? Glimmer! This is such a small world!"

Catra blinked out of her thought at the mention of that name. "Ugh, I don't miss her. Thank god, she works in geriatrics now. I'm glad I don't have to endure anymore of the 'I can't read your writing, Catra, it's too sloppy'," she took an exaggerated chirpy voice which made Scorpia laugh. "Or 'you don't prescribe like you're supposed to, Catra.' Bite me..."

"Come on, you should give her a chance. She's super sweet outside of work!" Scorpia exclaimed. "She reminds me a bit of you, when we first met. Remember?"

Scorpia's smile stirred something painful in Catra's heart.

When they first met, Catra was that ball of energy who couldn't learn enough, who couldn't read enough, and who couldn't party enough either. They had met at a med school party. Scorpia had been the only physiotherapist student there, which had caught Catra's attention.

They had made out. Then Catra had gone on with her life. But she had kept crossing Scorpia's path for some reason. And Scorpia had decided that she liked her. So she'd stuck around. She had become Catra's best friend before Catra could even realize it. She had been there for her when Catra doubted herself. When she thought she would never get the grades to become a surgeon. Scorpia had been there when Catra had almost quit. She had stopped her. She had cheered for her. She had believed in her like nobody ever had before.

"Hey, don't give me that face or…" Scorpia grinned mischievously. Uh-oh. "I'm gonna have to tickle you until you smile."

Catra yelped. She couldn't evade Scorpia's fingers on her ribs though. Her laughter resonated in the apartment. It tickled so much she cried. "Stop! Stop it, Scorpia!"

Scorpia's smile was so bright. She stopped torturing Catra, and pulled her in for a hug, smashing Catra's nose right in her neck.

Catra's heart was beating fast. It was aching, too.

It was an old reflex. An instinct.

She wanted to kiss the skin under her lips. She wanted to hug Scorpia back. To feel her curves under her touch.

She wanted to give in to her most basic need for connection.

It wasn't real though.

"Scorpia, personal space…" Catra said softly.

"Right, sorry. You know I'm a hugger."

Catra nodded. Oh, yes, she knew. She had resisted Scorpia's hugs for a long time when they met, until she accepted that she needed them. More than she thought she would.

Scorpia had given her everything she needed. Everything Catra could possibly want.

Then why…

Why couldn't she love her?

Catra looked in Scorpia's shiny black eyes.

Scorpia had given her her love, unconditionally, but Catra had always known that Scorpia had still hoped for reciprocation. Catra had tried. She had tried to picture herself with Scorpia, romantically involved. She could love the hugs, love the kisses, love the sex, love the company… But she couldn't love Scorpia.

Catra had never deserved her.

"How is Perfuma?" Catra asked, exhaling the breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"Great! Her flower shop is doing amazing. She made improvements in the organization of the plants, and even created an area for vegetables! She teaches people how to grow them, and all. She's so talented, and-"

Catra was really glad Scorpia had found Perfuma. She needed someone who would love her the same way. Not an emotional mess like Catra.

Speaking of emotional mess…

Catra wondered what was up with Adora this morning. Catra had thought for a second that she'd finally crossed a line with the ER intern, but it wouldn't make any sense why all of a sudden Adora would reject her.

Catra could ask Bow. He was Adora's roommate after all.

Wouldn't that be crossing a line, in a different way?

It was just concern. Nothing else. Just concern for her fellow co-intern. Her hot fellow co-intern with amazing blue eyes and soft comeback lines that drew Catra more and more to her everyday.

Ugh, fuck it. She could ask Bow. It didn't mean anything.

As always, please leave me your thoughts, they make me thrive!