Cool your jets

Disclaimer: I do not own pitch perfect.

Sidenote: I'm working at a job where it takes most of my time :/ but I do want to work on this story (and others). I want to just take time and rewrite the whole story and make it feel less rushed. To my friend out there, hipster and playlists :D

A red "x" was marked on the wall calendar where a backpack and suitcase sat waiting below. Looking around to check if anything was amiss, Beca stood awkwardly in the middle of the room for someone to pick her up. Few minutes later, a soft knock hit the door followed by her mother and a nurse.

"Hey Bambi, ready to bust outta here?"

"Yeah" Hugging her mom, she unconsciously peeked pass the nurse expecting to see a shade of wavy red.

"Jesse is at the car, we picked up the boxes you had left earlier when you were in. Bambi, let's go hon."

This is it, I just have to take the first step out the door of this room. The experience of leaving the hospital felt similar to being a mayor at a fair, where people left and right just congratulated her for walking about. Beca felt a tug of conflicting emotions between excitement to be back and anxiety. Masking it back with neutral expression, they rounded the corner where Kommissar and Pieter stood.

"Kleine Maus dachte, dass sie sich von selbst verlassen würde Abschied," Kommissar inclined her head towards Beca while speaking to Pieter. (The little mouse thought she could leave without saying goodbye)

Kommissar had a smile to melt with a hand firmly out to shake Beca's, grasping them she pulled the shorter girl in for a hug. Pieter grinned and offered the same treatment. Emily from the front desk waved frantically.

The last stretch was across the lobby, halfway through the elevator dinged allowing a familiar redhead to hurry out. Spotting Beca, her lips broke into a smile that could break through clouds. Walking slowly at first then building up speed she enveloped Beca in a warm hug. The smile in her eyes didn't leave.

"Be safe, try not to run into anything" she softly whispered.

"Oh please, danger usually crashes into me," winked Beca

The elevator dinged again, this time one of the official suits impatiently walked towards them and coughed. Chloe straighted her spine, transforming back into 'Doctor Beale' as if realizing where they were and how not to behave. Informing my mom and me of the usual spiel of enclosure. Reaching the last step through the automatic doors, Beca had the urge to say thank you again, but managed to look straight and go through it. Taking a deep breathe letting the sun from the outside hit them.

Jesse leaned on the side of the car fidgeting, looking back and forth to the entrance of the hospital. Jumping to his feet, he readily grabbed the bags from Beca and her mom.

"Woah, hey there new bell hopper"

Jesse bellowed out and made his little happy Jesse noises that he does.

"Where to, princess?"

Mom and I shared a glance, while I made a face for his benefit.

"To the best burger joint around!"

As they entered the car, an unknown emotion rippled through Beca, shaking it off - she pushed it to the back of her mind.

The suit that called Chloe's attention gave her updates on the next hospital event being held, half listening she watched the reflection on the black marble of the retreating figures get further away.

As the automatic doors closed, the hospital felt a bit colder to Chloe.

A few months later…

The end of the year Hospital gathering was to boost morality and better to know each department was also known for a place where egos were sometimes left unchecked and for pointing out which staff/intern dropped the ball.

After doing her rounds with her family, Chloe sat down next to a watchful Emily.

"You know Em, you don't have to be so alert at these events." The pair viewed the punchbowl area where a well-known head nurse was spiking the punch with her own concoction of moonshine. "Okay, nevermind…maybe you do."

"No, it's not that. Its Applebaum, they're at it again." Emily stood abruptly up, ready to charge at the small group cornering a lone figure, until she felt a jerk on sleeve. "Are you going to stop me? They've been doing this ever since he's been here, you should have saw him the first time I had lunch and asked if I could sit down next to him." Chloe looked into the fierceness of this young lady and thought nothing of stopping her.

"No, I'm going as back up."

Applebaum hunched over his cup as if he was trying to protect it from their onslaught, the same shit that was served to him subtlety at the corridors, was even more so at the party.

"Did you see him? I didn't know they let the lab rats out. How did he land a spot at this hospital? It's not like they let anyone in." One of the silhouettes staged whispered.

"His family probably bought out his position. He's so incompetent, I asked for blood samples to be performed and he gave a long bumbling reply on how it'll take time. Hello stop talking and go back to the lab and just do it."

"He has this weird habit of talking to the mice…like I know the labbies have some weird habits, but he's beyond awkward."

"Probably pulled off that 'I'm a hard earnest worker' and sucked up to the higher ups."

Their conversation continued within earshot, while Applebaum's head sunk lower and lower, till another voice disrupted them.

"Hey, you guys want to go be gossiping hags somewhere else? Last time I checked this was a professional invite. I don't see anyone with a shred of professionalism in this bunch"

…Okay sweet with a bit of a bite with that Applebaum finally raised his head up to see Emily the receptionist.

"Do you know who we are? What station and position are you?"

"She might not know who you guys are, but I do."

"Ms. Beale! Would like to join us at our table, away from this corner?"

"No, its fine Jonathan. I was actually here with Em to invite Applebaum to join us at our table."

Emily walked over to his side, her smile still had a bit edge to it from dealing with the chumps but nevertheless she took his arm and led him away.

"Hey Benjie, lets go"

"They're going to make it even worse for me on Monday, but thank you Em and Ms Beale." perspired Benjie feeling their lazer pointed eyes on the back of his head, yet felt infinitely better being with people whom understood him.

Finally getting a bit of enjoyment with her company, Chloe noticed her mother tottering towards their table with the Dream Team Duo behind her.

"Hey darling, I'm giving you guys the bust out free card. Please take Kommissar and Pieter with you guys as well. Give them an actual American Tour, these events can be so stifling at times. I'd go too, but I love your father and the wine too much to leave."

Benjie and Em, readily jumped up from their chairs and started putting on their coats. Kommissar and Pieter nodded their affirmation with Mrs. Beale and gazed coolly onto Chloe.

"Fine, lets go. I'm just going to call back up"

Teaser for next chapter: "Don't try anything funny, got that emo alt kid? Take her to North Street Avenue –"Aubree was abruptly interrupted in midsentence when a guy 3 times her size fell on her. Before the imposing thick club door slammed shut, Beca saw was a snapshot blur of each girl taking on bigger adversary at a club-turned-ballroom-blitz.