"Doctor Montgomery!" Chief called Addison when she was walking to her office. She turned on her heels and waited for the man.
"There is an OB resident transferred from Miami. She will be here later today. I'd like you to take good care of her."
Why actually? She got through med school, I'm sure she is capable of looking for herself. Is she special or someone I don't know. Oh great, now I have a child in my arms.
"Yeah, I'll look after her. Tell her to find me when she is here." She nodded and her pager went off. This day is supposed to be quiet. She thought to herself.
—-
She was completing her charts when someone knocked.
"Come in!" Young woman came in.
"Hi, I'm Doctor Luisa Alver, new OB/GYN resident. The Chief told me to find you." Woman said enthusiastically.
"Umm.. yes.. Welcome. I'm Doctor Addison Forbes Montgomery. I'm a double board-certified OB/GYN and a neonatal surgeon and a medical geneticist." She smiled. "I hope we can work well together." There was something about the woman, she couldn't put together. Woman was smiling to her, with the most genuine smile she has ever seen. Her presence made her uncomfortable and comfortable at the same time.
Why do I feel like she is going to be a pain in my ass?
"I am sure we will be well Doctor Montgomery. I have so many things to learn from you."
"I suppose you start your job tomorrow. Let's see your knowledge. See you for rounds tomorrow morning." Woman nodded.
"Okay, see you Doctor Montgomery." She left her office. Addison left out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She didn't know anything about the woman.
Why did she transfer here? Is there something wrong about this woman?
She knew she wasn't dull or something. Chief wouldn't let it. She was probably a great student but something told her; that's not the story. She was sure there was a drama coming towards her.
—-
"Good morning Doctor Alver."
"Morning Doctor Montgomery. Here you go." She handed her a cup. "I didn't know what you like. I got you a black coffee with sugar."
"It is my go-to coffee, how did you know?" She smiled at the gesture.
"I guessed it." She smiled.
"Thank you. You don't have to bring me coffee or anything. I am here to teach you. You are not responsible for my personal errands, like coffee, I guess."
"It's just a coffee Doctor Montgomery; if you are so disturbed about it, you can buy me lunch and we will be even." For a moment Addison thought this woman was flirting with her. Her eyes were sparkling and she had the same genuine smile as yesterday.
"Okay, let's start and see how you are in OB then I'll look into the lunch." She smiled and went to the patient's room.
"Good morning Mrs. Greene. I'm Doctor Montgomery and this is Doctor Alver. How are you feeling?"
"Bored." Mrs. Greene answered.
"I'm so sorry. I hope you will be out of here soon. Doctor Alver please represent." She gestured to the woman who was standing next to her.
"A 29-year-old G2P1 woman at 20 weeks' gestation is being seen for prenatal care. On examination, her BP is 100/ 60, H R 80 bpm, and temperature is normal. H er haemoglobin level is 9.5 g/ dL, with an elevated Hb A2 level."
"Diagnose?"
"Most likely anaemia due to β-thalassemia minor."
"Significance?"
"Although there is a small risk of intrauterine growth restriction, the pregnancy is usually uncomplicated. Because there is risk of the baby developing thalassemia major, genetic testing and evaluation of the father of the baby should be offered."
"Very well Doctor Alver." They smiled at each other. Maybe it can't be that bad to have her.
They continue to the other room. Luisa was perfect. Whatever she asked she answered smoothly. She definitely had a talent for obstetrics. She was good, nice to the patients. She had good bed-side manners. Addison wondered again why she was transferred here.
"Doctor Alver, you can scrub in for foetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion."
"Thank you Doctor Montgomery." Luisa smiled at her and went back to completing charts.
—-
She eyed Luisa when she was eating her lunch with Bailey.
"Who are you watching?" Bailey snapped.
"My new resident. She is… well she transferred in the middle of the year and she is great. She is amazing. She is the best I've seen in years. I don't know why she transferred and I feel like there is a story in there."
"Addison, you realise you are worried about something that isn't happening. Did she say anything or did she do anything to make you worry?"
"No but-"
"No, she did not do anything. You are lucky that you have an amazing student. Just be grateful, Addison. And if there will be a problem, you will think about that later."
"Okay, you are right. There is nothing. I don't have to worry about anything. She is a perfect student and that is what matters." or she thought so.
—-
"Tell me again why I am in a girl bar?" She asked Callie.
"Because I want to meet ladies and you are a good friend who doesn't want your friend to go alone in a bar to meet pretty ladies." She smirked.
"You are gonna get laid and I'm gonna be alone then." She took a sip from her drink.
"You know, you can still get laid. Vajinas are your proffesion put that knowledge into your personal life too." They laughed. "You did it before and tell me if I'm wrong but you were having so much fun." She winked.
"I was too drunk and Mark was involved." He was involved in everything however.
"But we had fun."
"It was years ago Callie, also I like men." Callie rolled her eyes.
It was a lie. She loved women, always has. But that wasn't very Montgomery so she didn't do anything about it. There were only a handful of times with women for her. When she was 16, she met a girl in Italy. She was her first. And then 2 one night-stands from her college years. And then, before Derek, there was a drunken night with Mark and Callie in the first year of med school. It has been years being with a woman and actually she didn't think about that part of herself.
"Okay, I'm gonna go and meet that blonde." Callie pointed at the blonde who was sitting at the bar alone.
"I'll be here, all alone, you know." She said after her friend. She looked at the bar and saw someone else too. It was Luisa. So Luisa is gay. Her eyes met with hers but Luisa turned her head so quickly. Maybe she didn't want to see her teacher after work hours, that's normal, but still kinda disrespectful. She looked around but her eyes always went for the young woman who was sitting alone. She didn't have the smile she wore all day. She looked out of here. Even sad. Definitely she wasn't here. She felt uncomfortable looking for the other woman. She looked at Callie. They were laughing with the blonde. She sighed and started playing with her phone. She checked Luisa a few times. She was sitting or she was taking a sip from her drink but she wasn't talking to anyone or looking at anyone for that matter.
She looked at the place Luisa was sitting. It was empty. Maybe she went home. She thought to herself. There was something about the other woman she wanted to know. She wanted to know why she transferred, she wanted to know if she knew anyone, she wanted to know why she was sad, she wanted to know if she was gay, she wanted know eveything. Or maybe she went to the bathroom.
She went to the bathroom. She didn't know why she did it but there was something. Something in her was pulling towards this woman. Something in her said she needs to take care of this young woman. Actually, the Chief said that.
"Luisa"
She waited for an answer from the closed stool. The answer never came but she heard an almost-silent-sob.
"Doctor Alver" She waited again. There was no sound. Maybe she went home. She turned to the door. Then she heard a small voice.
"Yes, Doctor Montgomery?" She sounded broken. Addison turned to the brunette woman. She looked broken. Her eyes were red.
"Are you okay, Doctor Alver?"
"You can call me Luisa, I think." She smiled. "And no, Doctor Montgomery, no I'm not okay." She took a step closer to the brunette. She wanted to know more. She needed to know more.
"Do you want to tell me? Anything?" She was sincere.
"I need to know something first; If I tell you, you are going to let me keep my job. Because I'm actually looking forward to working with you. I'm here for you." Luisa was about to cry. She sounded scared. Addison was scared but she needed to know after this, if they are going to work together, if she is going to teach her she needed to know. I hope she wasn't a murderer or any crime related for that matter.
"If it's nothing against the law, yes, you can keep your job."
"Not exactly."
"Luisa if you want us to work, you need to tell me what is going on here unless I can't let you near a patient. You are acting suspicious and I am scared." She touched the other woman's shoulder. "So tell me, I'll help you whatever it is."
"I am gay." she blurted out.
"And?" Addison guessed that already.
"And I'm sober. I've just got my 2 years chip." She calmed down a little.
"Congrats. I am glad you are sober but I hope you weren't celebrating your 2 year anniversary with vodka."
"No, I mean I was drinking mocktails. I won't drink."
"Then, why are you crying?"
"Did they tell you anything about my transfer?"
"No." Addison couldn't understand what was going on. Then the bathroom door opened, someone came in. "Do you want to sit with me and tell me? I still owe you lunch but maybe I can get you a mocktail." Luisa nodded.
"Whatever she is drinking, I'll have the same." She smiled at the woman. Luisa smiled too. They had their glasses and sat at the table Addison was sitting. "You are gay and you are sober. Is that why you transfered?"
"I… I.." She was about to cry. "I got through med school drunk." There were tears in her eyes. "I knew I was in a tightrope when I started my internship. I killed someone while I was high." She started crying. "Not like I shot someone, I didn't check everything because I forgot. If I wasn't high I'd have remembered. I killed a mother and her baby." She was sobbing. Addison hugged the younger woman. She didn't know what to say. That wasn't the first time she heard something like this. There were so many stories like this without drugs and alcohol involved. Interns always make mistakes. After a few minutes Luisa continued. "I got into rehab and got clean. I continued my internship after I got out. I was actually pretty good. I started somewhere new. Nobody knew who I was or nobody knew what happened. It was a fresh start." She smiled to herself. "One day, my patient's partner said to my attending that she wasn't comfortable having me in the case. She said that I'm a lesbian and a junkie. I told my attending that I was almost 2 year sober but I was so wrong, that wasn't even the problem."
"The problem was you were a lesbian." Addison finished Luisa's sentence. Luisa nodded.
"He couldn't actually do anything about it. He tried so many things just to fire me but nothing worked. He blackmailed me in the end and I couldn't actually take it. He wasn't even actually teaching me anything. I told my father that I wanted to be transferred here. I told him I wanted to work with Meryl Streep of Maternal-Foetal Medicine. For my chance, the Chief and he are very much close." She smiled at the redhead.
"You thought I was a homophobe."
"Actually I don't know but I wanted us to be on good terms. I didn't think you were a homophobe, we are in a girl bar. But maybe you have standards for your students. I was scared. I didn't want to lose my spot here either. Do you know how many people want to learn from you?" Addison laughed.
"Yeah okay, I understand you. I don't care you are a lesbian. I don't care who you love in your free time. But when it comes to your sobriety, I'm glad that you are determined. I'll help you with whatever you need about that. You can even call me whenever you feel like it. I'll help." She hugged the other woman. After that she wiped her tears with her fingers.
"Can I ask you a personal question, Doctor Montgomery?"
"Call me Addison."
"Are you gay, Addison?"
"No."
"Bi?"
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I have a best friend who likes to leave me alone in girl bars." She looked around the bar. "See, she already went with that perky blonde probably." They laughed. "I'm glad you have told me, Luisa." She held her hands. She relaxed with the touch. Luisa's hands were warm and soft.
"I feel much better. Thank you Addison." Luisa looked at her with sparkling eyes. They looked at each other for a while. Addison's pager went off.
"It's 9-1-1. Do you want to come?" She grabbed her purse.
"Definitely." Luisa followed Addison.
—-
There was a couple who were involved in a car accident. Addison and Luisa were off to surgery right away. It was an emergency C-Section. Baby looked fine until she wasn't. Mother was stable until she wasn't. They did everything they could but couldn't save the mother. Baby went to the NICU.
After they scrubbed out, they went to find out what happened to her partner which they found devastating news. Both parents died.
Addison went to check on the baby's post-op.
"She is so small." Luisa said. "She starts this life all-alone, losing her both parents." Baby catched her finger and held her grip tightly. Luisa looked at Addison who was looking at the baby. She had a sad smile on her face. "She is strong." Luisa chuckled. "She is much stronger than me." Addison looked at her questioning. "I lost my mother when I was 6. She killed herself." We are both screwed up Luisa. She thought. And I think we are too similar.
"Mine too but I was 36 for that matter." Why did she say that? She wasn't a sharing type.
"I'm sorry." Luisa said.
"I'm sorry too." They looked at the baby for a while.
—-
Addison went to her house. She took a shower and went to bed right away. She lied wide awake. She felt a little uncomfortable about Luisa, not about the part about who she was, a part that Addison lied about. Luisa opened up to her tonight but she lied to her about the one thing she asked. She didn't want to tell her. She didn't even know she is bisexual? Lesbian? She never thought about that part. She felt uncomfortable about lying. She definitely did not need a label but she loved women. She didn't want to confess to herself even though she knew, she always knew.
She was thinking this not because she lied to Luisa. She actually liked the younger woman. She wanted to know her, hug her, drink mocktails with her, work with her, maybe even kiss her. She liked the idea. That was the feeling she did not want to name it all day. She liked the younger woman. She liked it since she knew her coffee order. She made her day. She is your resident Addison. She was already hearing the judging voices. Almost every attending was sleeping with their interns or residents but they judge. They do it but they still judge. I still like to try.
She had a screwed up moral compass, maybe she was just fucked up.
—-
"Good morning Doctor Alver." She smiled at the woman.
"Good morning Doctor Montgomery. Here you go." She handed her a cup of coffee. She took a sip.
"I've told you, you don't need to get me a coffee."
"You paid for yesterday's coffee and I thought maybe you can owe me lunch or drink again." Luisa smirked. She is good, I give her that.
"We'll see about that." and she played with it. "Let's go!" They went to their patient's room.
—-
They sat at one of the empty tables.
"How is Seattle working out for you?" Addison asked.
"I'm still living at the hotel and I don't think I have anything to wear for the weather." She laughed. "In Miami, it never rains but that means I need to go shopping and I'm all for it."
"Do you want company?"
"You like to come? I'd love to!" They smiled at each other.
"I love shopping." Addison nodded.
"What are you guys talking about?" Callie said while sitting.
"You must be the new resident. Hi, I am Doctor Miranda Bailey." Bailey joined them.
"Yes, I am Doctor Luisa Alver." She shook her hands with the general attending.
"I am Doctor Callie Torres or Ortho Goddess. I am Addison's best friend and one-time lesbian partner." Luisa shook her hand and looked at Addison with a shocking impression. Miranda had the same impression but not with a smirking look.
"Nice to meet you. I didn't know Doctor Montgomery was into women." Luisa looked at Addison with a smirk.
"She is not. I was drunk and I was overwhelmed with the exams and you were there."
"Yeah honey, what do you want to tell yourself. I was there, you can't fool me."
"Are you still drunk? Or that blonde was bad in bed that made you pissed? Is that why you are messing with me?" Callie was going to pay this definitely but she didn't feel uncomfortable.
"Oh, Arizona, She was great actually. I have a date with her tonight."
"I'm glad. Can you focus on your love life and drop my miserable love life, please?"
"No honey, if we are not happy together, we are not happy at all."
"I am happy, Callie."
"Is she happy, Doctor Alver?" Luisa looked at both of them.
"I don't know her that much." Luisa said while looking at her lunch.
"Well, she can't say but she probably knows that you are frustrated. You need someone, Addie. Miranda, join me in this?" They both looked at the woman.
"Well, Miranda?" Addison said.
"I'm sorry Addison but you need sex. You have been a pain in the ass for all of us. We… I actually thought about calling Mark Sloan. Addison please, for the medicine, do it." Miranda said in a breath.
"Am I actually that bad?" She looked at the woman at the table. Luisa was smirking? She wasn't looking at them but definitely she was listening.
"Oh yes!" Miranda said.
"You are embarrassing me in front of my resident."
"She needs to hear this so she can know that you are not like this normally." Callie looked at Luisa. "If you are uncomfortable you can say, Doctor Alver."
"No problem for me doctors." She said it with a smirk. She was definitely enjoying this conversation.
—-
"You lied to me." Luisa said when they were alone in Addisson's office. Finally.
"I didn't lie to you. I haven't been with a woman since the first year of my med school and there is not so much for me before that. I got married to the guy I started seeing when I was 22."
"So what, just because you haven't been with a woman so long that you lost your feelings about them?" Luisa took a step towards her.
"I don't think of myself like that. My mother was a lesbian and she had miserable life because it wasn't a suitable lifestyle for them."
"You are grown woman Addison. I don't think you need your parents' approval for something like this." Luisa was so close. Addison took a step back.
"Why do you care?"
"Because I think everybody needs to live fully. I want you to be happy. And I want you to kiss me."
"What?" Addison shook her head.
"You heard me, I want you to kiss me."
Addison didn't think. She grabbed her and started kissing. She was tender, soft. After a time Luisa, put her hands to her hair and she deepened the kiss. Addison opened her mouth to welcome Luisa.
They were out of breath. They smiled at each other and held hands.
"What do you think?" Luisa asked finally.
"I think I want to kiss you again." Luisa kissed her this time. She wrapped one of her arms around the smaller woman's waist. They investigated their mouths.
"Hey, Addison do you want to—" Callie was shocked and started laughing immediately. "Wow, you are definitely not into women, Addison." She was still laughing when she closed the door behind them. Addison and Luisa looked at each other with a shocking impression.
"Well, I will listen to this so much." She smiled and kissed Luisa again. It was short. She was definitely into women. Luisa looked at the redhead's swollen lips. She smiled to herself. "I think I owe you more than lunch now."
"I am always open for shopping or dinner or whatever including you." Luisa winked with a smile.
"I'll pay my debt. I always pay my debt." There was definitely something about Luisa. She leaned again.
Their lips met again.