Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 6- Chrysanthemums

"Dr. Rhodes, page from admin" Was the first things Connor heard when he left the OR.
What would Sharron want that she couldn't just page to me?

Knocking Connor let himself into her office. "Mrs. Goodwin, you paged me?"
"Yes Dr. Rhodes" Sharron stood up from her desk, "it's about Dr. Bekker"
"Is she.." Connor voice trailed off, afraid to voice his thoughts.
"She's awake" Sharron smiled.
Connor mouth hung open in shock, "Ava's awake?" He whispered.
"PD's coming in to interview her now, I thought you might want to go see her. No one in the hospital knows of Ava's attempt, we're still keeping private until the interview and everything is dealt with" Sharron told him.
"Thank you Goodwin" Connor turned and left for the psych ward. Getting into the lift Connor paced around, he had so much energy and excitement.
What was he going to say to Ava?
Would she be able to talk, would their be complications?
Would Ava even want to see him?

Getting out of the lift Connor immediately ran into Jay.
"Connor, great to hear the news" he said to him.
"Yeah, it was certainly unexpected"
The men made their way to Ava's room, making light Conversation.
Stopping at Ava's open door, they looked inside. Ava's breathing tube had been taken out, only leaving some light marks on her face. Her eyes were still closed and she looked tired.
"She looks so peaceful when she sleeps" Connor remarked in a mutter.
"Wouldn't have thought she'd be a killer"
"We don't know that Connor, do presume" Jay remind him.
Ava suddenly opened her eyes and rolled her head towards the door way, immediately making eye contact with Connor. Their was nothing behind her eyes, no sadness, anger or madness; just emptiness.
Feeling small under ava's gaze Connor pulled away from the door, "I'll let you conduct your interview" Connor dismissed himself before heading back down to the ED.

*

Shortly after noon Connor finds himself with some free time. Normally he would slip of to visit Ava at times like this, but the knowledge of her now being awake scared him off. Yet their was still a desperate urge inside him to see her, make sure it was true, she was really awake again.
Deciding it would be best to go for lunch and then visit Ava, Connor headed out of the hospital. After getting a quick lunch at a local cafe Connor started to make his way back to Med. He turned the corner absentmindedly, not realising where he was. Connor and Ava had walked home together here after a shift. Studying the stars together on the street corner they had kissed under them, finally voicing their love for each other, the stars above being their only witness.

Turning swiftly on his heal Connor began to walk in the opposite direction to med. Connor had walked down this street countless times, their was a florist near by that Connor often frequented.
"Mr. Rhodes" the florist greeted him.
"Marie, it's good to see you"
"Are you looking for something for a certain Cardiothoracic surgeon" Marie smiled happily, having noticed Rhodes absence in the shop the past four months.
"Yeah" Connor smiled weakly.
"Oh thank god you two made up" Marie threw her hands in the air, "I was asking the flower gods to bring you two back together. The usual?"
"Yeah, thank you Marie" He didn't have the heart to tell Ann what had happened after himself and Ava had broken up. And it was really no one else's business.

Connor forced himself upstairs to Ava's ward. Lingering in the doorway, Connor watched her. He could see the rise and fall of her chest, finally without the support of a ventilator. She seemed only calm, in such a chaotic place.
Ava's room made Connor uncomfortable, the stark bareness of the walls and items inside. This was proof to Connor that Bekker was truly alone in Chicago. Three weeks in hospital in a coma, and no family or friends came to visit, or phoned to check in, or even raised an eyebrow at her disappearance.
Connor pulled himself further into her room, still wanting to make sure she was truly awake. Sitting down in the chair next to her bed, Connor watched her silently. Connor placed the fresh bouquet on Ava's bedside, brushing the petals lightly into place.
Ava's head was tilted away from him, almost as if she'd been looking out the window before drifting off. Her bandaged neck was fully exposed, Connor knew exactly what lay under it, he knew every jolt and slice that blade had made.

Almost in slow motion Ava's eyes fluttered open, and her head rolled to face him. For a fleeting moment Connor even saw happiness in Ava's tried eyes. As if for even just one second she had forgotten the events of the last four months and was just happy to see a friend when she awoke. All that washed away as Ava's eyes settled on Connor and she tried to jolt away from him, pulling at her cuffed wrist in the process. She nursed her strained wrist without returning her gaze to Connor. Without even thinking Connor took Ava's wrist from her, wanting to inspect any potential damage. Studying her wrist Connor put his thumb against her vein, feeling the warmth run through them. Feeling tried and strained from the day, Connor pulled back, resting his fingers on the bridge of his nose.

"Dr. Bekker, is like to continue our interview from this morning" Jay's voice came from the doorway. "Oh, Dr. Rhodes, didn't expect to see you here" Jay added
"I'd like to sit in on the interview" Connor said stiffly, he wasn't sure why he wanted to sit in on it. Maybe he just wanted to stay near Bekker, or hear her speak.

"I've asked Dr. Charles to sit in on this interview in case you have another, episode" Jay told her, nodding to Dr. Charles in the doorway.
"I don't think being pessimistic counts as an episode" Ava said in a raspy tone. Connor felt himself flinch at Ava's words. It was the first time Ava had spoken in his presence, her voice, the pain and strain that was behind it, it broke something in Connor.