sweetheart

seven

Chapter Seven | Gabriel

I sit down on the bench near a window overlooking a currently rainy Seattle and make a quick list of the things I need to do before lunch. I was currently stationed in the Processing Area where Elara was being held and I needed to check the charts, check in on all the patients, and check off discharge papers for those who were either being taken home or transferred.

My watch face reads 5:12 AM when I chug down the rest of my coffee and sigh before pushing off the soft cushion and getting to work.

The charts aren't too bad and the nurses seem to be a bit tamer today, only really talking about the Varese's and how they brought them gift baskets as a thank-you for taking care of Elara. At the mention of her name I want to look towards her room, perhaps see her already looking at me but I just click my pen off and continue down the checklist.

Her eyes were equally as distracting as her smile which was less distracting than her presence.

I force myself not to think of her response to being asked her opinion of me and instead pass off the charts with a small smile and start checking in on patients, mentally deciding to leave Elara for last.

By the time I get to her room, it's 9 and I'm tired enough to not care about keeping things completely professional. I think that boundary had been crossed a while ago.

She's sitting near the window, the nurse on watch reading something on a tablet, and I notice the visitor's chair that has a still-damp raincoat on it.

"Hey, sweetheart," I knock twice and I see her tense up before shifting her head over to me, her eyes wide in surprise and another second emotion I couldn't quite label. Her gaze seems to soften and I see the small smile tugging at her lips. I don't stop the smile that spreads across my face in response, "How are you doing?"

She tucks her legs in when I go take a seat at the window bench with her and she lays her hands across the ledge. "Hello, Gabriel. I am doing better I think. My family came to visit and it was nice to see them."

I smile, "I'm glad to hear it."

"Yeah," she trails off, her eyes slipping over my face before resting on the cushion beneath us. "I'm a bit lonely though, I miss them already." She glances at me and at seeing my slightly confused face she clarifies with a soft smile, "They needed to go back to Asia at least up until my inpatient program is over. I think Mom might come back to watch over me but my siblings have decided I am not to be left alone at any and all costs."

"Ah, I see," I bring my arm up to rest on the ledge and the words escape me before I can guess where they are coming from, "If you're lonely would like to have lunch together?"

The air between us grows quiet and from my peripheral vision, I can see the nurse shuffle around a bit. Elara glances at her before bringing her golden eyes to mine and I see the hesitation in them.

"Is that appropriate?" she finally ponders.

I smile and move a bit, my fingers accidentally brushing hers. We both look at the contact before returning to the conversation and I smile softly, feeling her pinky tap on my own in a gesture of acknowledgment.

"It is since you're my favorite patient," I admit.

She snorts, "Since when?"

"Since you smiled at me," I reply unapologetically. A moment of silence slips between us once more and I flip her hand over, my thumb brushing against her palm.

She opens her mouth only to close it and then she just stays quiet and stares almost like she is trying to pick me apart and learn all of my moving pieces. She glances at our hands before pulling away, only to then flip my hand over so my palm is facing up and slip her fingers across my skin, so softly and so slowly I feel my body warm. Our eyes meet again.

"Dr. Matthias," she begins, and by the teasing smile on her mouth, I can tell she is not gonna offer me any relief, "Are you flirting with me?"

"Are you inclined to accept it if I am?"

"No."

"Then yes, I am flirting with you."

She laughs and I can feel my chest lighten up a bit at the sight of her toothy smile. My shoulders slump a bit and she picks up on the gesture before I can remedy it, her expression one of gentle curiosity.

"I missed it," I confess quietly.

"Missed what?" she inquires, her fingertips pausing and stopping my unraveling.

My gaze falls to her mouth, "Your smile."

The nurse seems to choke and we both remember she is there, our fingers pulling away reluctantly, and as she excuses herself to go to the bathroom I find my attention fixed on the coat.

"Hey, is someone here visiting-" I'm cut off by a soft flutter of warmth as she presses her hand to mine, our fingers interlacing and slipping into one another effortlessly. My brain stutters as I process we are holding hands.

I look back, praying my cheeks aren't a ridiculous shade of pink as she tugs on my hand and tilts her head, "You missed my smile?"

I open my mouth to confirm but when I see the look in her eyes and know she doesn't need any further clarification. I exhale a laugh and shake my head, "You're cruel."

"Let's do lunch," she says softly, slipping her touch away much too soon but I throw caution to the wind when I suck in a gentle breath and tighten my fingers around her own before she can fully leave me.

Her eyes flicker up in surprise and I finish my question, "Is someone here visiting you?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

She's about to reply when we hear the curtain pull back and startled she removes her fingers from mine. I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding, my hand closing and opening to try and shake off the feeling of the loss of contact. A boy with wavy brown hair and a girl with light brown curls similar to Elara's walk in, the girl's raincoat wet.

"And then I was telling them about how the real ID only works in America, which, se supone que ya lo habrian sabido, but bro-" she stops her story mid-sentence when they spot us at the window. (you'd assume that they would already know)

Elara almost winces and shoots me an apologetic glance before greeting her company, "Lola, Arlo, this is Dr. Matthias-"

"-Gabriel," I remind her gently as I flick her arm and get up to greet her siblings with a smile. "It is so nice to meet some of Elara's family." I extend my hand which Arlo shakes but Lola ignores in exchange for a hug, my arms raised in gentle surprise.

"Thank you for being there for my sister," she says as she pulls away, nodding in sincere gratitude.

I accept her thanks. "How could I not? She's my favorite patient," I smile as I turn my head back to a softly smiling Elara.

"And I suppose you're my favorite doctor," she echoes before getting up and coming to stand beside me, "Which reminds me, my Gabriel," the sound of her using my name in such a manner makes my heart tug, "I was promised ice cream for breakfast?"

Her head is tilted up to look at mine, her eyes unwavering and I realize it's the first time we have ever stood next to each other; She reaches my chin and I have to fight the urge to comment on it. Instead, I flip her curls off her shoulder, my thumb gently grazing her earlobe and sliding down the side of her neck in a quick swipe that can be mistaken for an accident. When our eyes meet I know she knows it was completely intentional.

"How about for lunch?"

"Deal."