Normal | Rhekker

Chapter 14- To be So Lonely

Ava woke lightly, opening her eyes she pulled closer to the source of heat. They both jumped away as the remainders of Ava's drink slipped out of the glass on her lap, jumping off the seat.
"I'm so sorry" she said, a wet patch spreading down the front of Connors trousers.
"Here" she handed him a towel, looking between him and the stain before glancing away, crossing her arms.
"Some wake up call there Avey" he chuckled, patting his pants dry.
"I'm sorry" she repeated, not looking to him.

"What time is it?" He question, putting the towel in the laundry hamper.
"Oh my god" Ava saw the light outside the window, covering her face with her hands.
"We have to be in the hospital in like an hour"
"How am I going to get back to my room, everyone's going to be awake and think that we-"
"Ava, breathe. It'll be fine, go have a shower. I'll find you some old clothes to go back to your room in, you can say you went for a run"
"Leave your dress here and pick it up later" he told her.
"Okey" she exhaled, thinking a shower would calm her. She turned her back to Connor, looking to him over her shoulder.
Wordlessly he unzipped her dress. Ava went into the bathroom, leaving her dress hung up outside the door. She stepped under the spray of the water, letting it relive the tension in her neck.

Ava showered, the only shower gel being Connors strongly scented one. The smell filled the room and it was like he was here with her. Ava shut off the water and stepped out. She stood at his counters, everything meticulously placed from his bread trimmer to this tooth brush. Ava looked at herself in the mirror, she knew she shouldn't be here. Smelling like him in his room.

"Your water pressures much nicer then mine" she breathed, stepping out of the bathroom. Connor handed her a pile of clothes.
"Thank you" she took the sweats and hoodie.
They held each others gaze before Connor realised, "oh! Right, I'll go shower while you get changed"
Connor walked away and Ava watched him go, pressing her lips together. When she heard the door lock she dropped her towel, pulling on the matching sweats Connor had lent her. He was still in the shower when she was done. Got in through her purse she took out two twenty dollar bills and wrote him a note.

When Connor came out of the shower she was gone, her dress hung up. Connor spotted a not on the desk, for the dry cleaning.
Connor shook his head and picked up the two twenty's.

*

Ava filled her lunch tray and got a glass for water before making her way to their usual table. Ini, Owen and Connor were already sat.
"Good afternoon guys" she set her tray down.
"Where'd you go last night? I was hoping to crash in your room but you wouldn't open up"
"Oh, I'm a heavy sleeper" she shook her head, "I must've heard you" she picked up her fork.
"Sorry you had to drive back so late"
"Ah it's fine" Ini looked down to the table.
"How was everyone's first hospital event anyway"
"Uneventful" Owen nodded, "as they normally are"
"What? You don't like getting overly dressed up to stand in a crowed room and talk to strangers?"
"When you put it like that it sounds like a club" Connor laughed.

"You meet any good donors?" Ava asked.
"You're proposing a program?" Owen asked.
"Yes, I'm announcing it at the next board meeting"
"What's the program?"
"You'll have to wait and see" Connor told him.
Ava looked down at her yogurt pot.
"Ava knows" Owen said.
"What?"
"C'mon, tell us what he has planned.
She shook her head, her loosing curls moving with her.
Owen rolled his eyes, "you two are so secretive"

*

They were packed in the ED, a combination of cold and flu season and minor accidents.
Connors patient had presented with an arrhythmia, finally getting seen too.
"We'll get you up stairs in just a moment" he assured him, "just as soon as I get your meds"
He excused himself from the room.
"Jessica where are these meds I requested" he caught a nurse as she passed by.
"I'm sorry doctor Rhodes, we're pretty swapped right now"
"It's fine, I'll check them out"

Connor swiped his ID badge and hurried into the supply closet.
"Oh!"
"Sorry" he apologised having knocked into someone in his haste.
Ava turned around to face him, "Connor"
"Ava" he smiled.
"What are you doing down here?"
"Working with a CF patient that just came in, what are you doing knocking into people in a supply closet?"
"It was an honest accident" he assured her in the small space.
In the silence they realised the tightness of the space, how close the two really were.
"I suppose you always make up for it" she said, her gaze softening.
"I do"
"Especially after this morning"
They leaned in,  kissing each other quickly, Avas hands on his neck, his on her waist pulling their hips together. Breaking for a breath he pressed two kisses to the slope of her neck before returning to her parted lips.

"I should go" Ava pulled away first, her hand in his hair, "I have to get back to my patient"
"Of course" he shook his head, his breathing unstable.
"We'll see each other tonight" she said, kissing him quickly.
"We will?"
"Dinner, with the family" she pulled back, her hands on his shoulders.
"Right, dinner" he remembered.
"See you tonight" Ava smiled, letting herself out of the supply closet.

*

She'd spotted him coming off the train that evening, taking out her headphones, he'd slowed his pace.
"Aves" he greeted her.
"Fancy running into you here" she leaned into him, linking his arm.

They escorted each other to Mr. Harris's residence, the walk actually being quite scenic.
She'd dropped his arm as they rounded the corner, coming into his estate they walked up the stone path to the welcoming front door.

Ava took her seat next to Owen and they waited for Mr. Harris to enter.
"Good Evening, everyone" Mr. Harris greeted them and stood at the head of the table. Bringing in a sort of cold with him into the room.
He rested his hands on the back of his chair. "I trust you all had a good week"
"I fear I was not clear enough in our first week when I said we were a family"
"As such I expect all relationships to remain professional"
Ava paused, a lump in her throat. She swallowed, not letting her panic seep out. She looked up to the head of the table, meeting Connors eye as she went.
"Isn't that right, Dr. Barker"
Ava's head snapped to the women beside her.
"And Dr. Tate"
"I expect us to be a team, a strong one. I want no relationships getting in the way"

*

They all left the house together after dinner that evening, Ava walking several paces ahead of Connor along the stone path before returning to the hotel.

Ava💛 22.58pm
Can I come down?

Ava 💛 22.58pm
We need to talk

You 22.59pm
Of course

It was a few moments later when Connor heard quite footsteps tiptoe down the hall to his door, he opened it  before she could knock.
"Hey" he said, as she stepped into the dimly lit room.
"Hey" Ava turned to face him, fixing her hair before crossing her arms firmly stating back against the wall of the hall.
"So; dinner"
"Dinner" she said with a nod, her eyes cast down.
"That was close"
"We can't do -that, again" she shifted.
"Yeah. It was only once" he reasoned.

"I don't think you should call me Avey anymore" Ava met his eye.
He nodded in agreement, "Can we just start over and forget about everything that happened"
"Of course" she nodded a smirk growing on her lips, "Ava" she held out her hand.
"Connor" he replied, shaking her hand. "It's lovely to meet you Dr. Bekker"
"You know what, Actually Dr, Rhodes, I don't think we will enjoy working together" she winced.
Connor chuckled, "very funny, Ava"
"I always wanted to do that" she confessed before opening the door quietly behind her.