Normal | Rhekker

Chapter 30- Nobody's Son, Nobody's Daughter

A knock came over Ava's door in the early hours of the morning.
"Good Morning" Connor smiled.
"Dr. Rhodes, to what do I owe the honour" she leaned into him.
"Do you often answer the door in a towel, Dr. Bekker?"
She turned her back to him, "I saw you threw the peep hole"

"What has you here so early"
"Just thought I'd stop by" he came up to her, kissing her bare shoulder.
"Have you eaten?"
"Yes, I'm just back from a run"
Her fingers found his. "Is that why you came by? My amazing breakfasts?"
"And a few other things" he leaned over to kiss her.
She pulled back, "why are you here Connor?"
He pressed his lips to her shoulder, lingering there.
"I regretted not staying last night"
She chuckled, "you could have come by"
Turning to him, "I wouldn't have minded"
"Mhm" he hummed, his fingers finding the soft skin of her shoulder, still warm from the shower. His lips touched hers, "Coffee?"
She nodded, slipping out of his arms to change.

Connor took her hand, guiding her to the car as they left her building. He opened the passenger side door to let her in. They stopped at a coffee shop half way to the hospital.
"Would you like a pastry?"
"No I'm fine, I've only just eaten" she promised.
Ava watched Connor go as he ordered the coffees, taking out a five dollar bill to slip into his coat when he wasn't looking.

He joined her again, setting down the mugs.
Ava took his hand. "Ava" he warned, pulling his hand back.
"Please" she held her arm out.
Connor placed his palm back in his, looking around the cafe.
He quickly kissed the knuckles before putting her hand back.

They finished their drinks and made their way into the hospital to start their shifts.
Ava changed into her scrubs and tied her hair back.
"Good morning" Ini said as she passed her by.
"Morning"
"Surgery? Ini asked looking at her scrubs"
"Yeah, my first ones in a few hours"
"Same, lunch after?"
"Of course"

Ava finished her second surgery before lunch and freshened up before going down to the canteen to meet Ini.
"All alone?" She asked as she approached the table with Owen.
"Ini hasn't come down yet" he pulled out a chair for her.
"Connors still in surgery I think"
"Okey" she sat next to him, taking out her lunch.

"Do you know how to braid hair?"
"What like cornrows, twists, locks? That kind of thing"
"Yeah, it's been along time though. I did it back home to make some money"
"I was just wondering, I'd never had my hair braided" he touched his hair.
Ava shrugged, "theres nothing wrong with that"
"Yeah, I was just thinking about trying something new"
"I'm sure Ini could put you onto her braider"
Owen hummed and finished his yogurt.

"Hello, hello, hello" Ini set her tray down.
"No Chicago today? What a shame" she pursed her dressing over her salad.
"Be nice" Ava said, leaning back in her seat.
She thought about texting Connor, but she'd see him later. They chatted, making plans for Owens birthday which was coming up. And how they couldn't wait for new years, in that strange limbo between Christmas and the new year.

Ava left walking through a newer area of the hospital to return to her office.
"Dr. Bekker"
Ava turned her head, "Dr. Spencer"
She faced forwards, looking back at her pager.
"Dr. Bekker, I was just looking to have a word with you"
"Maybe another time" she said, keeping up her pace.
"Ava"
"I really have to go" she reasoned.
"Oh, I'll just tell Harris your fucking Dr. Rhodes then"
Ava stopped short of herself, and turned.
"And before you start your little defence I saw you in the lobby after Christmas dinner"
"Obviously Harris's little talk didn't get through to everyone"
"Lost in translation much" he sneered.

He flashed pictures of them in the lobby after the diner party, the view was partly obscured from the angle but the next image was clear. Connor and Ava leaving fron her apartment that morning.
"What do you want"
He had her right where he wanted her. 
"I want funds. My programs more important then his. Discourage him from the program"
"You're doing to do whatever you need to do to get the funds" he stepped closer.
"Or you can say bye-bye to Illinois"
He leaned in and Ava slapped him square across the face.
She hurried away, "fucking bitch" she heard him muttering.