Thirteen wrapped her hands around her coffee mug. Her eyes were hurting from the night before and her head was still in a light fog. She had to get up early to walk to the bar and get her car before driving to work so she got even less sleep. Her nap in the crash room during lunch helped a little, but not much.
She turned the page of the ER report she was reading over. She'd moved all the files she was looking at to the Diagnostics office because there was more room and her office reminded her of Cameron because it used to be Cameron's office.
Every time she sat don at the desk she remembered the weight of Cameron's body against hers, pinning her against the cold surface of the desk and Cameron's hands that seemed to be everywhere and her lips that felt like a cool fire caressing her neck. Thirteen didn't think she could handle that right then.
She ran a hand through her hair as she fought to stay awake. The only light in the room was the soft glow of the lamp in the corner and it was tempting her to go to sleep. It was starting to work and Thirteen covered her mouth as a yawn escaped. She glanced at her phone and noticed the red light blinking on the top. She flipped it open and found a text from Cameron.
You should be asleep.
I'm still at the hospital
Patient?
ER Repots
I know how that goes. Can you call me when you're done?
You can call now.
Thirteen's phone rang a few seconds later. She put it on speaker so she could continue working. "Hey baby."
"Hey," Cameron said brightly, "You sound far away."
"You're on speaker," Thirteen stated, "And I happen to be far away."
"I know," Cameron added wistfully, "I'm sorry."
Thirteen thought she heard a tinge of guilt in Cameron's voice. Guilt for moving away. Thirteen didn't want Cameron to feel guilty she just wanted her back, "Don't apologize. It's not your fault."
They'd had this discussion before. Thirteen would tell Cameron it wasn't her fault. Cameron would be quiet for a few moments before changing the subject. They'd gotten good at it, both dancing around the subject that neither wanted to acknowledge, the distance. Both terrified that it would start to seep into their relationship.
"Do you want me to call back so you can finish reading?" Cameron asked politely.
"No," Thirteen leaned back in her chair, "I'm gonna be here a while."
"Oh," Cameron replied. She sounded like she was holding back something she really wanted to say.
"So how was your day?" Thirteen finally asked. She smiled at herself after she said it. It was something she'd ask Cameron when she'd walk in the door from work, that would get a bewildered look from the blonde. Thirteen would raise an eyebrow and Cameron responded by say one had ever asked her that when she got home.
Cameron chuckled remembering the same memory and started talking about her day and some of the nurses she met and her board meetings while Thirteen listened to ever syllable.
A few hours later Thirteen heard Cameron yawn and told her to go to sleep. Cameron begrudgingly got off the phone and Thirteen went back to her work. It was already midnight and she decided to get as much work done before one as possible and then head home.
The next day when she walked in none of the men were in the room. She checked her watch and saw that she was indeed early. Her restless sleep afforded her no more that five and a half hours of broken sleep before forcing her out of bed and in the shower. She knew she was going to have to find a way to deal with Cameron's absence or give in and tell Cameron how she really felt.
She contemplated all this while staring out the window watching the wind easily whip the branches of the trees around. She didn't hear the door opened because she was so deep inside her own head.
"Staring longingly out the window won't bring her back," House stated, hobbling into the diagnostic office.
Thirteen continued to stare out at the impending storm. She ignored his comment and closed her eyes willing the storm to swallow her whole.
Not able to come up with a response to Thirteen's silence, House just stood next to her looking out the window as the sky clouded over.
"You're no fun when you don't talk," House added.
Thirteen just nodded and knew he was right. She hadn't been much fun for a while.
After work Thirteen didn't want to stay at the hospital because there was no work to be done. The ER was slow and she had caught up on all the paperwork. So she hopped in her car and drove to the familiar bar with the familiar neon lights and the same smell of alcohol and the remnants of the smell of a bar that used to allow smoking indoors.
Thirteen sat at the bar and ordered a drink. It arrived just as someone took a seat next to her.
"I never thought I'd see you here again," Spencer smiled in her black halter top and low-cut jeans.
Thirteen just shrugged in response, staring at her triple bourbon.
Spencer pulled a card out of her back pocket and propped it up on Thirteen's drink, "Well call me if you get lonely. Maybe we could hit a nine." Spencer rested her hand on Thirteen's shoulder before walking off and running her hand across Thirteen's shoulders before disappearing into the crowd.
A few hours later, Thirteen was growing restless in her apartment. She kept looking out the window. The clouds looked like they were going to burst at any moment. She move from the couch to the chair, then to the bed, then finally gave up and stood near the window.
She loved the dark clouds above. They seemed to match her mood. They hadn't broken down and started to rain and Thirteen hadn't either. They both had to resolve to keep from letting out with they were keeping inside until they couldn't anymore.
Finally, Thirteen walked over to her jacket and pulled Spencer's card out of the pocket. She grabbed the phone from the counter and dialed.
"Hello?" Spencer answered.
Thirteen swallowed hard, "Hey, it's Remy," Thirteen let out carefully.
"Hey!" Spencer was audibly happy to hear from her.
Thirteen continued to make arrangements to meet Spencer which didn't take that long. After she hung up, she took a quick shower, got dressed and walked out the door.