Hi all! I'm so glad you all seem to be enjoying the story. I've gotten a lot of great feedback, so thank you all. You have no idea how much I love reviews! Two things: 1) I hope there's not too big of a jump between this chap and the last, but I think it's okay. 2) I have to give you guys some short chapters for a while. Sorry it's a continuity thing. Hope you like it!
Most of the summer went by before Thirteen had time to spend with Rachel outside of therapy. After weeks of begging, and a considerable amount of arm-twisting, she had convinced Rachel to let her run outside for a session. She tried to be patient as Rachel drove her to a location she insisted on keeping a secret.
"I'm only doing this because you're my last patient today," Rachel insisted.
"Sure you are," Thirteen said drolly.
"Have you been able to keep to your workouts now that you're in the ER?"
"For the most part. Where are we going?"
"A place I really love," Rachel told her, a wide grin crossing her lips. "So, a stag party, a skinless ballerina, and an alien hand. Did I miss anything?" Rachel asked, recounting their conversation.
"You forgot the part where my boss was carted off to a mental hospital."
"Oh, and you tipped a stripper with your boyfriend's money. What charmed life you lead, Remy Hadley."
"I'm sad to say that was the high point of the month." As Rachel pulled into their destination and parked, Thirteen looked around. "We're at Princeton."
"This is my favorite place to run," Rachel said, pulling a bag from her car and leading Thirteen out to the track.
While she began to stretch, Thirteen watched Rachel look out on the track nostalgically. "You're really fond of this place aren't you?"
"I am. I have a lot of memories here. I ran the high hurdles one year, and over there," Rachel said, pointing to the far end of the track. "Is where I tore a gash in my knee after I failed to clear one of the hurdles."
Thirteen winced as she pictured Rachel's fall, "How bad was it?"
"It was okay, just a really big scrape. But over there," Rachel pointed to a trainer's shed to the side of the field with a smirk. "That's where one of my teammates made me feel much better."
"Lucky you," Thirteen scoffed. She watched as Rachel pulled something from her bag. "What is that?"
"Heart rate monitor," Rachel said, unfolding the elastic band that served as the device's sensor.
"I am not wearing that thing, Rachel. There's nothing wrong with my heart, I'm fine."
"I know you are, and when I go back to the hospital and do your chart, I'll have proof of that." Rachel watched as Thirteen stood defiantly with her hands on her hips. "Don't be so stubborn. I'm breaking protocol here. I don't need to give Cuddy any reason to suspect that you weren't in the therapy suite today. She's already in a snit with House gone. Lift your shirt, please."
Thirteen did as she was asked and allowed Rachel to fasten the device around the top of her ribcage. When Rachel's hand brushed against the sensitive skin over her ribs Thirteen's breath hitched.
"So, what happened with you and the teammate," she asked, trying to focus.
"We dated for a while, but it got messy. She wanted more than I was ready for."
"Have you ever had a real relationship?"
Rachel pulled Thirteen's shirt down before attaching the watch-like receiver to her own arm. "I've had relationships. I'm seeing someone now."
"But you don't expect it to last long." Thirteen frowned as Rachel shook her head, "What is it, a monogamy thing?"
"I'm not unfaithful," Rachel shot. "It's not about sex. It's just me."
"Explain it to me," Thirteen pushed. "From what I can tell, you'd be a great girlfriend."
"I'm a great girlfriend until I think I could fall in love with someone. I don't really know how to deal with letting someone get that close, and I don't like the idea of putting that much trust in one person. I'm only really built for distance on the track," Rachel shrugged uncomfortably. "You should start running."
Thirteen nodded firmly and started her workout. It took her a while to find her stride. She kept glancing back at Rachel, taking in how uncomfortable she looked.
It wasn't long before Thirteen finished her run and moved on to her other exercises. She became concerned as Rachel monitored her progress without any of their usual banter. Thinking hard, Thirteen tried to find a way out of the silence between them. She wondered if she had finally gotten too personal.
"Did I upset you before?"
"What?" Rachel asked, looking up from her clipboard.
"You were awfully quiet. I wanted to make sure I didn't get too close with my questions."
"You didn't. I was just thinking," Rachel started. "Although, one of these days you'll have to answer some questions for me."
"How about tonight? I owe you dinner."
"Sounds good. Oh, damn it," Rachel quickly groaned. "I completely forgot. I have to meet my boyfriend back here. The Track and Field championships are tonight."
"Another time then."
"You and Foreman should come with us," Rachel said eagerly. "I know it's really last minute, but I'd like it if you came."
"Wouldn't that make it a double date?"
Rachel smirked, "Fine, then. You won't get to see me make a fool of myself while I cheer."
"I didn't say I wouldn't go," Thirteen said, smiling back.
"Good. We should get back. "
Thirteen and Rachel slowly walked back to the car, taking their time, enjoying the weather and fresh air. They piled into the car and headed back to the hospital, falling into a comfortable silence as Rachel drove.
When they reached the hospital and made their way to Rachel's office, Thirteen noticed her still-bandaged hand.
"Your stitches should be ready to come out," she said. "I'll wash up and meet you in the ER."
Rachel nodded and watched as Thirteen wheeled off to the locker rooms. She quickly looked over Thirteen's records while she waited, a small smile crossing her lips when she compared the day's results with those from a few weeks ago. The smile spread into a full-on grin as she bounded off to the ER.
As soon as Thirteen eyed Rachel beaming across the ER, she burst into a broad smile of her own.
"I asked you to stop smiling at me like that," Thirteen opened. She guided Rachel over to a bed and drew the privacy curtain around them. "What's with you?"
"I let you out on the track and you start showing off."
"What are you talking about?" Thirteen asked, unwrapping Rachel's bandage.
"You ran five miles today. That's the farthest you've ever run. You're even pacing at almost eight minutes per mile." Rachel watched Thirteen turn a deep shade of red, "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks," Thirteen said. She quickly removed Rachel's sutures and cleaned the area, a frown crossing her face. "Is it weird or tacky that there were thirteen stitches in your hand?"
Rachel snatched her hand back in surprise and counted the red marks left on her hand. "That depends. Did you mean to brand me?" she asked teasingly.
"Yeah," Thirteen deadpanned. "Just a little something to remember me by."
"You're plenty memorable."
Rachel smiled again and Thirteen had to swallow against the fluttering feeling starting in her stomach. "That won't bother your boyfriend?"
Rachel shook her head, "We've only been dating for a month. He gets no say over whose symbols are etched into my skin."
"What's he like, your guy?" Thirteen asked while she placed a small bandage over Rachel's wound.
"He's sweet, funny. I met him at the track, he's a professor at the university."
"Did you take him out to the trainer's shed yet?"
Rachel hopped up from the bed and headed for the door before her cheeks started to flush. "I've got to stop telling you things. I'll see you at the meet," she called back to Thirteen.