Robin kept a steady grip on the steering wheel as she drove down the winding road toward the La Push clinic. The early morning sun cast long, golden beams across the forested landscape, but its warmth did little to chase away the nervous energy coiled tight in her chest. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to focus on the crisp scent of pine and salt in the air. First day. New job. Fresh start. She needed this to work.
When she finally pulled into the gravel lot outside the clinic, she switched off the engine, letting silence fill the space. A few cars were already parked, and it did nothing to soothe her. There were people inside. People she didn't know. A shudder went down her spine.
Robin sighed as she checked her reflection in the rearview mirror. She brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and took another steadying breath. Professional, competent—those were the impressions she needed to make today. Not nervous, not scared, not like a girl whose life was still in unpacked boxes.
The clinic door creaked open as she stepped inside, and Robin was greeted by the familiar, antiseptic scent —clean, sterile, with a touch of something homey underneath. Pine cleaner? Another door swung open on her right, and Sue appeared with a warm smile. "Morning, Robin. Ready for your first day?"
Robin managed a smile, pushing aside the fluttering nerves. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Perfect." Sue stepped aside, gesturing for Robin to come in.
Robin's eyes adjusted to the light, and the murmur of voices faded as the people inside turned their attention toward her. She hadn't expected a full house on her first day. Her polite smile was automatic, the kind honed through many patient interactions.
Four men filled the common room, each tall, broad-shouldered, and striking in their own way. Was there something in the water in this town? She caught herself cataloging them curiously—one with a nice smile leaning against the wall, another perched casually on the arm of the sofa, a teenager with an easy grin. And then, him.
Her breath caught, the floor tilting under her feet for a second as recognition shot through her. The man from the bar, his dark eyes now sharper under the clinic's fluorescent lights. There was something almost feral about the way his posture shifted when he saw her—alert and taut, like a predator caught off guard. He sat up straighter, his jaw tight, a muscle ticking at his temple. Her grip on the strap of her bag tightened.
Did he remember? The way his gaze sharpened, the way he stiffened—it was answer enough. Robin's cheeks warmed despite her best effort, and she fought to steady her racing pulse. Not now, she told herself, forcing her expression to remain neutral, professional. Sue's voice was a low hum in the background, almost drowned out by the rush of blood in her ears. FOCUS.
She took a small, steadying breath, offering a nod as Sue introduced the team one by one. Embry, Paul, Jared, Brady—she noted each name with a nod. She made brief eye contact with each person, but couldn't help the way her gaze darted back to him, as if drawn by some magnetic force. No, not just him, she reminded herself. Paul. She liked his name. Strong-sounding. Simple. Ni– Why the fuck did she care about his name? Stooop!
She glanced at Paul one more time, catching the slight flare of his nostrils, before turning her attention back to Sue, who gestured with an easy smile. "You'll be mostly working with me and Embry, but Paul and Jared also help us out since they are EMT certified. And Brady," Sue said, nodding at the young man grinning at her, "is still in high school, but he's here as a part-time trainee."
Robin forced another polite smile, acknowledging each with a nod, though Paul's eyes still burned into the side of her vision, drawing her focus. She needed to stay composed. Needed to remember why she was there. The room fell into an uneasy silence that seemed to thrum in time with her heartbeat.
"Alright, everyone, get acquainted, and let's make Robin feel welcome," Sue finished, breaking the tension with a warm, commanding smile.
Robin could feel the shift as Jared muttered something under his breath to Paul, just loud enough for Paul to hear. Paul's jaw tightened in response, and Robin caught the flicker of amusement in Jared's eyes. Whatever he'd said, it was meant to provoke. A flicker of unease sparked in her chest, but she straightened her spine, reminding herself she'd dealt with far worse than awkward introductions. Whatever this was—whatever he was—she wouldn't let it derail her. Not today. Not ever.
"So, Robin," Jared began, leaning against the wall with an easy grace, "what made you want to join this clinic? Did Sue bribe you with cookies?"
Robin's lips curled into a smile. "The cookies, for sure."
Jared raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I knew it! Sue's cookies are legendary." He shot a wink in Paul's direction. "Paul here eats 'em by the dozen…when he's not being all broody, of course."
Paul, who had been sitting quietly, shot Jared a sharp look, his jaw tightening. "Knock it off, will you," he muttered, though his voice sounded more weary than hostile.
Brady, who was still grinning at her like a lunatic, suddenly leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "How come you came here? Is this your first time in the area? Do you like it so far? What do you do when you're not saving lives? Oh! Do you hike? There's this crazy trail just outside of town with some amazing views. I could show you sometime."
Robin blinked, trying to catch up with his rapid-fire questions. "Well, I moved here because my best friend/roommate got a new job in Port Angeles, so we kind of decided to leave Seattle together. Yeah, it's my first time in the area. I'm still getting settled in, but the scenery is gorgeous. I—"
"Wait, you left Seattle for this?" Brady interrupted. "Why?!"
"Uh… Well, Seattle's expensive," she said, feeling her cheeks heat up, unwilling to get into it. "Also, the nature. I've always liked the idea of being this close to the ocean."
"I can't blame you for that," Embry said. "The view here is hard to beat."
"But, still… Seattle," Brady mussed. "This area can't really—-"
"Brady," Sue interrupted. "Give Robin a moment to breathe, yeah?"
Brady blinked, then let out an exaggerated sigh. "Right. Sorry, Robin." He gave her a sheepish grin.
Sue glanced at the group, breaking in before things could escalate into another round of questioning. "Alright, alright. Let's pace ourselves, folks." She turned to Robin. "How about you shadow Embry this morning? He's heading out to check on an elderly resident, just a quick house call. It'll give you a chance to see how we operate and get more familiar with the town."
Robin was grateful for the change of pace and the fact it was Embry she was shadowing. Out of the four young men, he seemed the most pleasant. "Sounds great," she said with a nod.
Embry pushed off the couch with an easy motion. "We'll head out soon. I'll answer any questions you have on the way."
Robin followed Embry out the door, her steps lighter now, away from the probing questions. As they got into the car, the cool morning air settled around them.
"So," Embry said, glancing at her as he started the engine, "how are you finding things so far? Do you like the town?"
"It's… new, but good. I like it. Everyone's been welcoming." Robin said, offering a small smile.
"Good to hear," Embry replied. "And, don't mind Brady," he added with a smile. "He's a great kid–don't tell him I said that–it's just… We don't get a lot of new people around here, so he's…overly enthusiastic?" He was quiet for a moment, the road unwinding in front of them, before he spoke again. "It's a good community here. You'll see. People look out for each other."
"It's definitely different from what I'm used to," she muttered.
Embry nodded. "Yeah, it's a little quieter than most places. But that's kind of the charm of it. You'll find that people here tend to keep to themselves, but they're good folks once you get to know them."
Robin glanced out the window, taking in the scenery. "It's a little slower than I thought it would be."
"Sometimes slow is good," Embry said, with a soft chuckle. "It's nice to have the time to really connect with people, take things one step at a time. The people here—especially the older crowd—really appreciate that. It's what makes this job different."
The rest of the ride to the patient's house was quiet, the drive smooth as they passed through the thick forests, the morning mist still lingering in the trees. Robin let the peacefulness of the drive settle in, giving her a moment to collect her thoughts.
When they arrived at the house, an elderly woman greeted them with a smile. The house was small, worn down by time but kept clean. Embry was immediately at ease, greeting the woman by name, asking after her health like they'd known each other for years. They probably did. Robin could see the affection in Embry's eyes as he helped the woman to a chair and checked her blood pressure. Robin stood back, observing the way he moved with the natural ease of someone who belonged. He didn't rush through his tasks, didn't hover. He simply helped where it was needed, offering comfort in his quiet way.
"Everything looks good, Ms. C," he said, giving the woman's arm a reassuring pat. "We'll check in again next week, but don't hesitate to call if you need anything sooner, OK?"
Ms. C. nodded, her eyes twinkling with gratitude. "Thank you, Embry. Tell your mom I said 'hi'. And thank you, too, dear." She turned her gaze toward Robin, offering her a kind smile. "It's so good to have another woman at the clinic," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "Sue must be thrilled; she can use all the help she can get keeping these boys in line."
Robin laughed softly. "I'll do my best to keep up with them."
As they walked back to the car, Embry glanced at her. "Not bad for a first house call, huh?"
She nodded. "It was nice. She seems sweet."
"She is," Embry agreed. "Most people you'll meet around here are. The thing about working here is you get to know people, not just as patients, but as neighbors. It's different from a big city clinic. It's personal."
Robin glanced back at the house as they drove away, her thoughts drifting. Maybe this place wasn't just a fresh start. Maybe it was exactly what she needed. As the car rolled down the quiet road back toward the clinic, she felt a flicker of something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in a long time.
Hope.