Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 15- Tart

It was confirmed in the early hours of the following morning that it was in fact cocaine in those mints. Ava was not directly told, but stood outside Dr. Charles door as they confirmed her suspicions. Ava crept back to bed after that, tucking herself in she turned her back to the door. A few moments later her heated rubbery footsteps come down the hall and stop at her door, Ava could see the Silhouette of Daniel in her doorway. She kept her breathing regular and Pretended to be asleep, Daniel waited for over ten minutes before turning and going back down the hall.

*

Dr. Bekker you haven't eaten anything" a nurse tells her when she spots her still full hospital breakfast.
"I'm not hungry" Ava replies flatly, not breaking her eye contact with the wall.
Ava could hear the nurse sigh at her response and look her up and down before leaving with her tray. Ava didn't move from that position as the hours passed and the sun moved over her to lunch time.
She hadn't slept most the night which evident from the deep bags under her eyes. "Good afternoon Dr. Bekker", a second nurse greats her, entering with her lunch tray. Ava glances at her, giving her a weak smile for her kindness before returning her gaze to the wall.

What only feels like minutes pass before the first nurse is back. "Dr. Bekker you haven't touched your lunch. You need to eat something"
"I'm not hungry" Ava tells her again. Her tray is taken away again and Ava doesn't even flinch. She can hear voices from the hallway and knows what's coming.
"She's refusing all food and water" Ava heard the nurse whispered.
"I'll talk to her" she heard a second voice reply before Dr. Chalres appeared in the doorway.
"Dr. Bekker" Charles greeted her, taking a seat next to her bed.
Ava swivelled her head slightly to look at him, her face still blank from emotion.
"I hear you haven't been particularly hungry today?"
Ava returned her gaze to her lap, refusing to meet Daniels eye.
Daniel sighed, "Ava you know if you keep refusing food we'll have to put a tube in and give you fluids"
Ava looked down at her had where her IV had sat for months, and brought her fingers to just under her nose, "I'll drink some water" she told him softly, finally tuning to him.
Daniel got up without another word and left, Ava let her head fall back against the wall behind her bed with a slight knock.
Dr. Chalres retuned a moment later with a blue hospital cup of water. Ava took it unenthusiastically and took a slug of it.
"Is their anything that cause this sudden depressive episode?" Daniel asks.
"I'd hardly call this an episode" Ava said into her cup.
"Not eating, drinking or leaving your bed?"

Ava stared blankly at him, "Ava what do you think brought this on?"
"It might have something to do with being proven a murder" Ava sighed, closing her eyes.
"Ava you didn't murder Cornelius Rhodes, we know that now" Daniel defended her.
"No but I might as well have, I should be facing criminal charges" she muttered.
"Ava a murder is a premeditated, unlawful killing. Did you plan to kill Cornelius?" Dr. Charles asked rhetorically.
"Manslaughter then. Either way everyone was right about me" she said miserably, closing her eyes.
"Ava you need to finish your water" he told her in a soft tone.
Ava opened her eyes again and glared at him, "don't patronise me" she gulped the remains of the water before handing the cup back to him.
Daniel left without another work and when he was out the door Ava got up and went to the bathroom, spitting the remaining water down to sink before returning to bed.
She pulled the covers up to her chin, willing herself to fall asleep.

Connor's pager buzzed on his hip as he was finishing a constant with a patient. Stepping outside he looked at it to read "Ava" from Dr. Charles.
Seeing that he had a few kit use free he quickly stopped by his office.
"Dr. Charles" he knocked, letting himself in.
"Is everything okey with Ava"
"Ah yes, Dr. Rhodes. She's refusing food and most water since yesterday morning. Now I don't think this is a form of self harm but I think this is the beginning of a depressive episode"
"Do you not have her on anti-depressants?"
"We do, we may need to up her dosage, and she needs to start eating again for that or else we'll have to put in an feeding tube" Dr. Charles explained.
"Yeah okey, things have calmed down in the ED so I'll try get a chance to talk to her" he told him before exiting his office.