Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 11- Break Through

After another eventful morning of eating breakfast alone and than immediately taking a nap, Ava eventually pulled herself out of bed. Not wanting to venture into the hallway Ava went into her not so private bathroom. She placed the chair in front of the main door, so it would clatter and she would hear anyone coming into her room.
The options for the shower temperature were frozen or boiling; Ava opted from frozen, not wanting to have soggy bandages when she came out of the shower. She was due a change today anyway.
Getting out of the shower Ava wrapped a rough hospital towel around herself. Drying quickly she got changed in the bathroom, trying to get some privacy from this very open floor.
After that Ava sat on her bed again, the only seat she had apart from her "guest" chair. Getting comfortable Ava pulled her knees to her chest and leavened her back against the wall behind her. Resting her head on her knees Ava got comfortable, thinking it was about time for another nap.

Ava lifted her eyelids hours later, a beam of afternoon sun was striking her room. She heard a light tap on her door way, turning her stiff neck, she once again found Rhodes.
Straightening out her limbs, Ava rested her head against the back wall. Connor gave her a stiff smile, coming into her room he stared at the strangely place chair.
"I was showering. Didn't want any, intruders" Ava explained softly. It was becoming more and more easy to articulate words but she felt nervous under Connors blue eyes. The same eyes that she once found comfort in.

Connor nodded, taking the chair he brought it to Ava's bedside.
"You came on a good day, Dr. Charles convinced PD to get rid of the handcuffs so I wouldn't think I was a prisoner during my treatment. So instead of being chained to my bed and I get to go anywhere within this rectangular room" Ava said with a sarcastic joy. She was putting it on as a defence and she knew that, but Connor silence was making her uncomfortable. This was only the second time they had been alone together.
Connor just nodded again, his eyes fixed on her now free wrist. Placing his bag on her nightstand his hand roamed around before he pulled out what he wanted. Holding up a roll of gauze, scissors and plasters, Connor gave her a somewhat genuine smile.

Ava knew what he was here for without any words. She gathered her noticeably grown out hair into her hands and held it in a clump at the back of her head.
Connors fingers got to work quickly, cutting away at the old bandage. The only sound in the room was soft breathing, and the odd snip of Connors scissors.
"I don't remember you being a man of such few works" Ava remarked as Connor unwound her bandage. Her voicing getting softer as she caught Connors gaze.
"Nice to see your spirts haven't been affected" he said in a monotone voice.
"Oh I know, how terribly sanguine of me" Ava smiled weakly to him as the last round of bandage fell from her neck.

Ava could feel the cool attack her neck as her hand instantly reached for the wound. Ava had never seen the damage but she could feel it now with her finger tips, the blade had struck just above her artery and was one swift movement down across her throat.
"Don't touch Avey, your hands aren't clean" Connor shooed her hand away, resting his hand on her shoulder he ran his thumb over her delicate collarbone.
Ava stared at him, into his deep blue eyes. "Don't Avey me" she said coldly as Connor cleaned around the cut.

Connor hadn't even realised he'd said it, it just slipped out. "Your necks healings well" he cleared his throat, "better than would have been expected" Connor told her, trying to distract from his word choice.
"You'll have to go for a head CT to check for any brain damage. It's a great sign that you can speak as well as you can, not many people survive and can still speak"
"I know" Ava said softly into her lap as Connor started to dress her neck again.

Connor began to pack away his things again in silence.
"What happened after I cut my throat" Ava asked suddenly.
"Oh" Connor said in shock, "Ava are you sure?"
Ava kept her eyes on his, Connor knew the look in them, she was determined and was not going to back down.
"After you, em" Connor coughed nervously, "I eased you onto the floor, and pinched your artery. I called out for help, Beth came in, who got Lathem, We helped carry you into the OR. We had to crank your chest to try and stop the bleeding and start your heart again. You were losing blood, and fast. You coded, we shocked you four times, it made no difference. I began internal CPR on your heart, but it didn't work. Dr. Lathem called your time of death as 16.22pm, and I couldn't do it Ava, I stormed out. After I did that, they removed the clamps on your heart and it stared beating again. I didn't find out till the morning after, but we were able to save you" Connor explained, looking to the ground, afraid to meet Ava's eye.
Once he was done he lifted his head up to see Ava, she wasn't looking at him, but just staring off into the distance with a blank expression.

"I thought if I said all those awful things to you in the OR it would make leaving you easier" Ava almost whispered to the wall. "It didn't"
"It hurt" Ava's voice broke at those words, her strong outer shell fell away as her face broke from its structure. Ava pursed her lips as brought a hand to her chest as hot tears ran down her face.
"Avey" Connor breathed, sitting up in the chair to pull her to him. Ava raised her arms against Connor, trying to keep him away.
"Ava, don't fight me" he told her maybe a bit to loudly. Ava dropped her defence and threw her arms around Connors shoulders. Connor pulled ava's frail body towards him, holding her tight she buried her face in his neck, sobbing Uncontrollably into his shirt. Connor did the same, leaning his face into her bandaged neck, the fibres tickling his nose. Connor could feel her entire body involuntarily shake with each sob.
"I'm sorry Connor" she croaked, Connor hushed her, running a smooth hand down her back.

Seeing a shadow appear in the doorway Connor looked up to see Dr. Charles in the door. He raised his eyebrows at the seen in front of him. Connor shook his head, telling him now wasn't a good time as Ava tightened her trip on his shoulders.

After a while Ava's sobs softens and her breathing regulated. Untangling herself from Connor she sat back on the bed. "I'm sorry, that was incredibly unprofessional of me" she said wiping her eyes sheepishly with her thumb.
"There's no need to be professional here" he told her.
Ava pauses for a moment to think, "Your not here as a doctor?"
"No, my shift ended about an hour ago"
Ava nodded slowly, taking in the information.
Connor stood up, taking his bag from the table.

"I'll stop by tomorrow" Connor told her, excusing himself.
Ava nodded stiffly at him, it was time for another nap, this was the longest conversion she's had while in hospital.
"Connor" Ava called after him.
Connor held onto the doorway and looked back at her.
"Thank you" she gave him the best smile she could.
"For the bandages" she added.
"Ah yes, the bandages" he nodded, smiling to the ground, "Rest well Dr. Bekker"