A few short weeks later, three of them sat together in the corner of the hospital cafeteria eating lunch. They had saved a fourth seat and could see Audrey finishing up at the cashier's desk and turning to look for them. Kevin raised his hand, she smiled and headed towards them.
As she unloaded her tray onto the table, Neil's hand snuck out and snagged the small side bowl of salad that she'd been given. Without missing a beat, she took the untouched bowl of potato chips from in front of him and poured them onto her plate. Kevin and Jo didn't say a word but exchanged a knowing smile.
They didn't get to do this so much anymore so grabbed every opportunity they could. The topic of conversation was usually interesting cases and a smattering of their private lives but this time it had turned to the upcoming annual gala. There were two days to go and by tomorrow, the corner they were currently sat in would have been spruced up ready to entertain the big hospital donors.
Jo was finding it entertaining watching the new first years fret over getting ready while working their shifts. She was a lot more blasé about it this year and considered herself very well prepared.
"So will we be graced with Ms. Prestons company at the gala this year?" Kevin asked earning himself a dig under the table from Jo.
"Not that I know of" Neil replied casually causing Jo to look confused. He caught this fleeting look and continued to speak.
"She's been busy with exams, we've not spoken for a couple of weeks."
"So you guys aren't serious?" Jo asked trying to casually fish for more information. "I thought it was exclusive?"
"As serious as it can be for people living on opposite coasts. We catch up when we can and we're free to see other people."
"But you don't?" Kevin pointed out, which earned him a sigh from Neil.
"Like I have the time" he said. "This place is a vacuum for any kind of social life!"
Just like that, their pagers started going, one after the other. Lunchtime was over.
X
A mass casualty event was incoming and the calls had gone out that whatever you were doing, it was to be dropped like a hot rock. It was going to be all hands on deck.
They were stood away the entrance to the Emergency Room with gloves and gowns on ready. The attending in charge gave a run down of tag identifications and after a few minutes, they could see the blue lights incoming. Their biggest test yet was about to begin.
The patients arrived thick and fast and they were sent off one by one to diagnose and treat. There had been an incident downtown, where an individual had opened fire in a restaurant from which he had recently been terminated. The results were widespread, there were confirmed fatalities at the scene, and those gurneys would be taken directly to the morgue.
First year residents were given walking wounded. People had tried to escape and hide during the panic which resulted in falls and other minor injuries. One of the attendings had taken a police officer who had been shot by the perpetrator. He was in a serious condition on arrival and was taken straight to a cubicle.
Audrey was next in line for a patient and the individual that followed had suffered flesh wounds from an altercation. However, this patient was handcuffed to his gurney. It was the shooter.
She went straight into action, ensuring he was stable and diagnosing his injuries as non urgent. She tagged him as yellow and set about cleaning up some of the more superficial wounds.
She heard an urgent call from the cubicle further along that more hands were needed. She finished up the line of sutures she was working on and told the police officers she'd be back as soon as she could.
The police officer from earlier was in worse condition than they originally thought. Audrey was told to get her hands in and apply pressure on the thigh. The officer was bleeding out and voices were being raised as they tried frantically to save him.
She felt like she was literally up to her elbows when she heard another commotion starting. She could hear people calling for her and as they pulled the curtain back, she could see people running to attend to her yellow tagged patient. Judging by the level of activity around him, he had quickly turned into a red.
She was torn. If she removed her hand, this police officer would bleed out. If she stayed, the perpetrator could die. The attending directing the treatment barked at her forcing her to refocus as they took the patient directly into surgery. She was gone for hours.
X
The entire team was exhausted once the last of the patients were processed and treated. One by one as they finished their paperwork, many of them headed off to the Residents Room to try and catch some sleep before their next shift started. There was no point in going home to return to the hospital so soon afterwards.
Neil opened the door quietly to the dimly lit room to check if there was any space left. One of Kevin's long legs was hanging down from a top bunk with a first year intern fast asleep in the one below. The other top bunk was occupied by one of the attendings and Jo was tucked in under a blanket on the sofa. This left the other bottom bunk free so he kicked off his shoes and lay down. It didn't take long for sleep to take him, they were all exhausted.
An hour or so later, Audrey was looking for somewhere to lie her head. He heard the door handle click and opened his eyes. He saw her step gingerly inside, careful not to wake anyone. She had a quick look around and found all the bunks occupied still. As she passed the bunk by the door to leave she felt a hand grab hers and stifled a scream as she jumped out of her skin.
She looked down with a frown and saw Neil looking up at her. He moved over until his back was against the wall and parted the space he had made next to him. She raised her eyebrows at him and he smirked.
"I'm a grown man, I promise to keep my hands to myself" he whispered, smiling.
"You'd better" she smiled as she kicked off her shoes and lay down. It didn't take long for sleep to take them both.
Jo was woken a short while later by her pager buzzing next to her head. She grabbed it and shut it off before it woke anyone else. She sat up, folded the blanket she had used and slipped on her shoes. All the bunks were still occupied but by different people from when she put her head down.
She glanced around to check who was who but stopped by the bottom bunk nearest the door. She looked and smiled, despite her heart breaking a little inside.
Lying on her side was Audrey, one arm tucked under her head as a pillow and the other tucked in close to her chest. Behind her, on the same bunk was Neil. His position mirrored hers except his free arm had wrapped around her, holding her close.
She took out her cell and quickly snapped a picture before heading out to attend her call. That picture would go along with the other photograph she had stashed away. She was sure they'd be useful some day.
X
Neil woke naturally a short while later, inadvertently pulling Audrey closer to him as he did so, forgetting exactly where he was. This caused her to wake also, stretching slowly and shuffling into her back.
"Sorry" Neil started. "I didn't mean..."
"It's fine" she smiled. "Was pretty comfortable actually."
After a few seconds she spoke again.
"The perp died last night."
"I know" he replied, propping himself up on his elbow. "The officer survived though."
"It was my fault" she said sadly. "It looks like I chose the 'good guy' over the 'bad guy' which isn't ok."
"If that's what actually happened, then no, it wouldn't be ok" Neil countered. "But would you make the same choice again? Would you stay with the officer if we did it all again?" he asked
She nodded.
"You can't regret the decisions you make Aud, they'll often be life and death. You have to make best decision with the info you have. The officer would have died if you had moved your hand, yes?"
"Yes" she replied.
"And the other guy, what was wrong with him?"
"I don't know, I must have missed something."
"I doubt that very much Dr Lim" he smiled. "You didn't know he was going to die. All you knew is that your other patient definitely would. You didn't make the right choice, the was no choice to make."
Neil lay back down and they stayed that way, in silence for a few moments until Jo stuck her head around the door.
"Wakey, wakey sleepy heads!"
They laughed at their friend, and sat up to slip their shoes back on. Jo held the door as Audrey passed by but put her hand out to slow Neil's exit.
"What's up?" Neil asked her, looking confused.
"Jessica is here, she came to surprise you" she replied in a serious tone. "She's overheard a bit of gossip from the nurses station that you and Aud were cuddled up together. You might want to do some damage control."
Neil's shoulders slumped. "Thanks for the heads up" he said as he headed out into the hospital to find her.