16.

101 4 5
                                    

(Santana's POV)

"Mr Cohen, what's the update?" I ask the group of interns surrounding the end of his bed. "Mr Cohen was admitted with abdominal pain, presenting all the classic symptoms of a wandering spleen, his temperature is still high but steady, no change in the stats. Awaiting surgery once insurance papers go through." One preppy intern explains. "Perfect, well Jennings you chase the insurance papers, the rest of you run more bloods, check his stats and hopefully we can have Mr Cohen here in the OR by this afternoon!" I close my clipboard and leave the room, the interns parting a pathway for me to walk through.

"Arizona, wanna scrub in on a wandering spleen?" I say as I bump into her in the hallway. "Wandering spleen? Don't you want one of your interns for that?" she asks, probably confused as to why I am asking for her help on such a simple procedure. "Hmm I could, but this is my last week here at the hospital before I upsticks and move across the pond. Just thought we could have one final run." I give Arizona a nostalgic smile. "Sure, see you in there." She says giving me a quick hug before walking away. 

I cannot believe I am in my final week here, I have spent so many years here, put in so many hours, my blood, sweat and literal tears are laced in this hospital. Am I kind of sad that I am leaving? Sure, but I am also excited to start my new life, not having the stress of peoples lives and livelihood on the line. That whole thing with Jax really cut deep with me, knocked my confidence too much, I know I can't recover from it. I won't be retiring my medical license, I have been looking into locum roles in London for me to step into, to run alongside my teaching, you know..just in case I get a bit bored of the classroom. The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery reached out, offered me a very lucrative deal to become their head of Neurology there. As well as St Thomas' Hospital wanting to poach me to become head of general surgery, so I have options. The OR is the only thing I have known in my career, it won't be an easy transition, but it's good to know that despite the past few months recent events, I am still sought after. 

---

"Dr Lopez!!" I can hear someone calling my name from behind me in the hallway. "What?" I say not looking around to look at who it is. "Dr Lopez, I need to talk to you!" I still do not turn around, I am a busy lady with plenty to do. You have to learn to walk and talk in this place. "Can't stop, walk and talk!" I call back, someone shoves. clipboard in my face for a signature for a patients release, I squiggle on the dotted line and continue walking. "Dr Lopez, please stop! It's about Mr Cohen." I give up, stop and turn around to see a sweaty and out of breath intern in front of me, she looks concerned. "What about him?" I ask furrowing my brows...

---

"So he doesn't have insurance?" I ask, the intern simply shakes her head no. "Okay...well does he have cash?" I ask as a follow up. The intern gulps, she looks nervous, not wanting to make eye contact with neither me or Arizona as we all stand awkwardly in my office. "He's...he's...um he has no cash." she admits. Arizona and I share a look, we think we know where this is going. "Jennings?" Arizona says, she knows that the intern is reluctant in sharing something. "Mr Cohen...umm...he may or not be an illegal immigrant." she finally spits out. "What do you mean, may or may not be? Either he is, or he isn't?" I ask, becoming super impatient and frustrated. "...he is" Jennings almost looks guilty, like she is the one who has been caught smuggling herself in. "Jennings, leave." I dismiss her, not divulging any further. Arizona and I remain silent as we watch Jennings leave my office. "Santana...you can't do the surgery." Arizona warns me, she knows that I know I can't. But she also knows the look on my face right now. A look that suggests I have a plan...which I do. 

"Santana!" she shouts at me. "I'm thinking" I respond. "There is absolutely nothing to think about, he has no insurance!" Arizona's voice has gone up a few octaves. "Without the surgery he will die" I unpleasantly remind her. "He has clearly fled whatever country he is from in desperation, he deserves help just as much as anyone!" I add. "You're not seriously suggesting...?" Arizona's face goes white as a ghost as she is pleading with me to not go down the route she has pre-empted in her mind...

A New LifeWhere stories live. Discover now