As expected, Pepper couldn't focus on anything after the conversation with Tony. She was already too confused before they kissed, and after the moment shared in the bathroom of their friends' house — acting like teenagers since a party was happening outside — things got even more complicated. She was never the type of person who could handle her own feelings well; she was the type who lived in self-sabotage. Whenever any relationship seemed real, she ran away, having experienced too much pain to accept going through something similar again.
Of course, she regretted leaving Tony alone the moment she did, but she wasn't lying when she said she wasn't ready. She acknowledged the need to have a conversation, wanted to have that conversation, but was too scared. She saw him walking hurriedly toward the hospital exit, his steps hitting the ground harder than necessary. She knew she had hurt him and felt very sorry for it. She even considered going after the neurosurgeon, but was interrupted near the door when a resident appeared asking her to look at an exam. By the time she got rid of the girl, Tony was already gone. Pepper thought about doing the same, but if she did, she would have to face her own shadow, deal with her thoughts. So, she went straight to the library to study some cases; keeping her mind occupied was the best solution.
She didn't sleep that night, spending long hours alert as if she were on duty. Tired, she decided to go home around 6:30 in the morning and wasn't surprised at all when passing by Mia's room, who was still sleeping, to see Alex lying on the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room. It was obvious something was going on there, and she knew they needed to find the best way to get the two teenagers to talk, she just didn't know yet how to gain their trust.
Finally, she followed her colleague's lead and left Metropolis Mercy Hospital, greeted by the cold winter wind in New Jersey. She drove attentively through the streets that were starting to come to life until she reached her house. As soon as she crossed the threshold, she was engulfed by the delicious smell of homemade cookies and cardamom and ginger tea. The redhead went straight to the kitchen, feeling a profound gratitude upon finding her mother there. She was so emotional she could easily cry. It was one of those moments where only mothers could provide the comfort sought.
"Hi, Mom," Virginia smiled at the older woman, hugging her afterward.
"Hi, dear! I missed you so much!" Ava promptly returned her daughter's hug. "It seems like you forgot you have a mother. I haven't seen you in ages."
"That's not true, we saw each other recently."
"11 months, gingerbell. That's too long."
The doctor smiled sheepishly, she had thought about it but couldn't disagree. Between her work routine and the kids' school, there wasn't much time left for them to travel as much as she would like. Instead, the redhead simply apologized and started a lively conversation with her mother.
The kitchen became a refuge, a sanctuary of familiarity, where the cookie aromas evoked comforting memories, as if each bite was a maternal hug. The conversation between mother and daughter flowed like a balm, while the tea warmed not only their hands but also Pepper's heart.
In a metaphorical analogy, that kitchen encounter was like coming home after a long journey. It was as if Penelope, the astute weaver from Greek mythology, finally saw Odysseus return from his odyssey. The cookies, in their simplicity, were like the threads patiently woven by the woman, connecting past and present in a comforting tapestry.
The tea, with its spices, was a magic potion that heals emotional wounds. With each sip, the younger woman felt the weight of the night disappear, while maternal stories and advice filled the air. It was a reminder that, even in the most challenging times, home and motherly love were unwavering anchors.
"Sweetheart, how are you? Really," Ava asked after a few minutes.
"Fine, just dealing with a lot of stress at work," Pepper replied, downplaying the question's weight.
"Dear, you seem too tired for it to be just work stress. What's going on?"
"It's nothing, Mom, just daily fatigue. Nothing to worry about," the redhead assured.
"I know you, Ginny. I know when something's not right. You've always been a terrible liar, you know? You give yourself away every time."
"Really? And what gives me away?" the younger woman laughed, trying to change the subject.
"I'm not telling," her mother replied, and she rolled her eyes. "But then, what's bothering you?" Ava insisted. "You know you can trust me."
And Pepper knew she could. They always had a very close relationship, mother and daughter, best friends above all. There was no reason to pretend nothing was happening after all.
"Okay, there's a guy…" she said with a sigh.
"Oh, I knew it!" Ava exclaimed happily, setting her drink aside. "And his name is Tony?"
"How did you…?" The doctor couldn't even finish, nearly spilling her own cup from the surprise.
"Oh, you know your children. Those two never stop talking. Even when they were sleepy, the topic was 'Uncle Tony'. And since they never talked about anyone other than your friends I already know, it wasn't hard to put the pieces together. You really have a guy in your life."
Still in shock, Pepper managed to gather the strength to respond.
"I don't have a guy in my life. He's Harvey's friend, so the kids met him and fell for him. By coincidence, we work together."
"And he messed you up," Ava completed, because she knew her daughter well enough to foresee the basics.
"And I wasn't ready for that," the redhead sighed.
"Relationships can be challenging, dear. But sometimes that's exactly what we need to know ourselves better."
"I just don't know how to deal with it right now. He's... complicated. Sometimes, it's like there's a barrier between us, something we can't get past."
"Barriers are meant to be overcome, my daughter. If there's something real between you, you'll find a way."
"And that's exactly what scares me."
"Finding the way?"
"He reminds me so much of… Well, you know."
"But he's not Hens," her mother was direct.
"It's hard to believe that when the two seem so alike. Besides, we argued and I think he's not that interested anymore."
Ava pondered for a moment and then said, "You can't know that. You two should talk, gingerbell. Like you always tell your children, 'even if you fight, you can always make up'."
"This isn't a simple argument between two kids, Mom," the redhead retorted.
"Regardless of the reason, it mustn't be something without a solution. You need to talk to Tony, Virginia. It's time to live in the present and leave the past behind," the elder Potts concluded, and Pepper took a deep breath because she was tired of hearing the same thing from everyone around her. Didn't they understand how difficult it was for her to live 24 hours a day in fear?
But she promised to try, and yet two weeks passed, and nothing was done. They argued more and more, and throughout the hospital, everyone talked about their bad moods. Even Ellie and Theo were upset with the sudden cut in contact that the doctor swore wouldn't happen, but she couldn't avoid it. Due to her conflicting emotions, she banned her children's weekend outings with Harvey and Donna, which she now knew always included Tony.
The twins missed him, and she cursed herself for seeing the reaction it caused in them. But when she tried to talk and resolve things with the neurosurgeon, she saw him chatting with a nurse. The scene ignited the flame of anger within her and simultaneously fed her own insecurity. She didn't want to admit she was jealous, but the whirlwind of emotions was about to collapse.
The following weeks were a constant emotional battlefield. Each exchanged look, each bitter word, only deepened the chasm between them. The hospital, which used to be a productive work environment, had now become an arena of tension, where everyone could feel the electricity in the air when Tony and Pepper were around.
And then there was the Mia case, but at least they managed to stay rational when treating the girl together, as had always been the case. They had gotten closer to her and Alex, but still lacked much information that could fully reveal the girl's identity. The more days they spent with them, the more the surgeons were sure something big was happening. But if even the police hadn't gotten anywhere, how could they themselves?
What the two teenagers had went far beyond a bond to cover up a secret; it was love. They might not know it, but their eyes didn't lie, and when the redhead saw the boy crying and falling to the ground that Wednesday night while his friend prepared for emergency surgery, she was sure of her conclusions. It was the look of a person lost, tormented by the possibility of losing the one they loved.
"What do you think happened?" Pepper asked Tony as she watched him analyze the CT scan images.
"A clot we didn't see, which dislodged to the brain. Probably originated in the lung and then ruptured."
"Ischemic stroke?" she presumed, worried.
"She was without oxygen for at least 3 minutes," he completed.
"And do you think…"
"I don't know, it's still too early to predict any sequels," he sighed. He hated when his patients went through such serious situations, but when they were young patients, his frustration increased.
"And what's the surgical plan?"
"I was thinking of mechanical thrombectomy, but see this artery here…" He pointed to the middle cerebral artery. "When the clot ruptured, it caused a blood accumulation that only a craniotomy can resolve."
"She's going to undergo another procedure in less than a month?" she asked, apprehensive. There were all the issues involving infections, anesthetic complications, and brain damage.
"It's not what we hoped for, but it's our best option," the brunet replied, and Pepper felt how worried he was. More than anyone, the neurosurgeon understood the risks of that procedure.
"But if there's anyone who can handle this, it's you. I'm sure neither Mia nor Alex would want anyone else in that room."
"Not even Derek Shepherd?" Tony asked, making the redhead laugh. Because in recent days, they had participated in long enough conversations with the two teenagers trying to get to know them a bit more, and if there was one thing they had discovered, it was the passion of both for the series and for that particular character.
"Not even him. We both know you've always been better," she smiled, because even if she hadn't intended to utter such a compliment, it was the purest truth. They could have all the problems in the world, but Pepper would never question the professional he was.
"I'll ask one of the interns to keep you informed. We'll call you for anything."
"All right, I'll stay here with Alex."
"And about what you said earlier, thank you," he gave a slight smile. "See you in a few hours." With a wink in her direction, he said goodbye.
Pepper remained motionless, watching his figure disappear through the doors blocking access to the hospital's surgical wing. She then turned, her steps echoing in the silent corridor, towards Alex, who waited for her with a lost look and tears threatening to fall. She approached, her hand finding the boy's shoulder in a gesture of comfort.
"Alex," she began, her voice gentle, trying to cut through the dense veil of uncertainty. "I know it's hard, but we need to have hope. Tony is one of the best neurosurgeons in the world, and he's doing everything he can."
The words felt inadequate, but it was all she had. For hours on end, the redhead shared the young boy's anxiety, each update from the interns a mix of relief and tension. When she was called to handle an emergency, her heart weighed heavily at leaving Alex alone, but duty called her.
Upon returning, she found the boy calmer, the storm in his eyes giving way to a sea of relief. "The surgery is over," he said, and the doctor felt the weight of the world lift from her shoulders.
It didn't take long for Tony to appear, the exhaustion on his face unable to hide the gleam of success. "Mia is fine," he announced, and Pepper saw the truth in his eyes. "She's strong, and the surgery was a success. Now, she needs rest and intensive care, so she'll stay in the ICU for the next 72 hours and won't be able to receive visitors during that time."
"But you said she was fine."
"And she is. She left the operating room already awake and, so far, shows no sequelae from the lack of oxygen. But Mia went through an extremely delicate situation; we just want to prevent any complications that might arise."
Tony watched the boy nod, even with a mix of worry and confusion in his eyes. With slow steps, Alex headed to one of the chairs, his body succumbing to the weight of exhaustion. The older man, in turn, kept his gaze fixed on the boy, reflecting on Pepper's words weeks ago. She was right; they needed to earn Alex's trust, show him he could open up without fear, not pressure him before he was ready.
Turning his attention to the woman in front of him, the man pondered the duality of the feelings they shared. He knew the kiss hadn't been an isolated moment, that there was something deeper between them. But he also understood her hesitation, the need for time. And, although every fiber of his being opposed the idea, he spoke with forced calm:
"Pepper, about what happened between us... Don't worry. It didn't mean anything. We don't need to keep acting like we're Greek warriors clashing."
It was a lie, of course. It had meant everything to him, but if minimizing the moment meant giving her the necessary space, he would do it. And, despite the words cutting her inside, he saw a smile form on the redhead's lips.
She had understood, reading him like no one else could — and she was getting very good at it lately — that he was willing to wait. It was one of those moments when he said what he thought she wanted to hear, what he thought would be good for her, not what he actually wanted to say. And maybe her recognizing this was already a big step forward.
"And it's not that I regret it…" he continued.
"Yeah, I know," Pepper interrupted him. "And just so you know, I don't regret it either."
And, at that moment, they both shared a silent promise of a future where time might indeed heal all wounds.
They just hoped the wait wouldn't take too long to pass.