Ava came into the kitchen, the house was cold this morning. She stopped short of herself. The kitchen counter was empty. She supposed he'd caught on, that this wasn't sustainable, the fresh flowers everyday. Ava pulled her arms tighter around herself and move passed the kitchen. The house was quiet and she knew she was alone. The empty counter hung in her mind in the shower. Was it over now? Had he given up?
She pulled her clothes on for the day. Maybe she had played too hard to get. He had lost interest. She finished her breakfast and put her bowl in the dishwasher. Taking her bag she made her way down the stairs quickly, stopping a few steps early.
"Connor?". He was stood at the bottom of the steps.
He turned up to look at her, "hey"
She held onto the banister. "Are you okey?" Fiddling with the strap on her bag.
"My car broke down" he said, looking her up and down, "I didn't think you took the stairs"
I was trying to avoid you.
"Uh, yeah. I do" she tapped her fingers on the rail.
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"Do you want a lift?"They were stuck in traffic. They were stuck in traffic, together. In silence.
He cleared his throat, "there's some imagines circulating of you and Patrick. You should probably know"
"I know" she said, tapping her finger on the wheel. "I approved them"
There was a tense silence but Ava refused to turn to him.
A million thoughts ran through his head, his anger and betrayal rising and dying just as quickly.He exhaled shortly, "I suppose that was your revenge then" given any other scenario he'd be impressed- proud even.
"Well you've had your fun with the papers, why shouldn't I?"
Connor looked out the window.
"Ava why are we still doing this?" He said hopelessly.
Her heart clenched.
"I heard you and Ini, I'll move out-"
"What you do mean" she turned to him, she didn't have the power anymore.
"In the apartment, Ava, I was home"
"I'll stay at a hotel tonight, there's no point putting ourselves through this anymore. You don't love me anymore and that's fine"
"I never said that" she said quickly.
"I never said I didn't love you anymore"They were quiet for a beat. "I need to know what you want, Ava"
"I want to go to work and get on with my day, and I want time Connor!" She hit her hand on the steering wheel. "I just need time"
They were silent for a moment. "Okey" he said softly.
Ava leaned back and closed her eyes.
"I'm here to talk"
"Always" he promised.There was a honk behind them and Ava jumped, driving forward as the traffic moved. They went there separate ways once they got into the hospital.
Ava splashed some water on her face once she got in, changing for the day she put her things away. She made her way up the steps, her pager buzzing in her hip.MASS CASUALLY
A.BEKKERAva spun around, rushing down the steps to the ED.
"Where do you need me" she picked up an iPad.
"Where don't we, red tag, take the one coming in now"
"Major damage" the paramedics nodded.
"Get me an OR, need a complete aorta fix"Ava worked quickly to deal with the damage.
"Suction, more over here to the left" she gestured.
"Where is my residence?" She called.
"Five minutes out"The OR doors opened and Ava watched Connor scrub in.
"Wheres my resident?" She said.
"Bit difficult for a resident no?"
"Thats not what I asked"
"They're occupied" he joined her at the table.
"They are also more capable then you think"
She set her gaze back down to the patient.They worked well together, silently though, Ava working the place the patch.
"We should try a different procedure" Connor said.
"Hang on I can get it"
She moved around to his side, standing between him and the patient.
"Just hold this open" she nodded, and Connor returned his hand.
Effectively trapped Ava in his arms as she worked before him.
This was the closest they had been in weeks, that's wasn't what should have been on his kids but it was. She was right in front of him. He could smell her lotion and perfume from her skin.She turned back to him, "Connor" she said softly. He held her gaze, for a moment too long before moving his arm to free her. They worked in silence until the last stitch was placed and Ava left the room. She pulled off her cap and ran a hand down her face, dumping her scrubs she changed before making her way to a residence room.
She laid on the small camp bed in the back in the dark. Letting her mind still.
The door opened before her, light creeping in, "What are you doing in here?" Owen asked.
"Hiding, you?"
"Can I hide with you?"
She gestured to the side of the bed, "the more the merrier"
Owen joined her.
"I haven't seen you much"
"I've been trying it keep it that way, with everyone. It's not personal"
"But I think we all knew why I'm, here what about you?"
"Jessica's in surgery"
"Oh my god, is she okey?"
"Yeah, it's her fourth I think? Maybe fifth"
"She was a DCC cheerleader in Texas before she moved up here, she did her residency there. The cheerleading did a number on her hips but she says she wouldn't change it for the world"
"I'm not doing it obviously, but I oversaw the procedure and now while it's happening I cant help myself from walking past her OT every five minutes""Am I your solution to not smoking?"
"Maybe, yes" he shrugged and Ava nodded.
"I- I don't know we haven't been dating that long, I just don't know how to support her through this. Do I give her space, do I drive her home?"
"She's taking time off to recover obviously, but she and this booked before we got together, so dose she need me by her side? Does she want me there?""After my accident" Ava began, "Connor was always there, weather I wanted him or not"
"You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to"
She shook her head "it's fine"
"We were in a particularly rough patch, given other factors that were going on" she cleared her throat. "And we'd broken up weeks prior"
She pursed her lips, "but he was there, when I woke up, and when I went for scans and tests and learned to walk again- as I am sure Jessica will also need to do"
Owen nodded. The door opening.
"Hey" he said.
Connor ran a hand through his hair. "Is everything okey?" Owen asked.
"Yeah, I was actually looking for Ava"
She looked to him, "shes recovering well, should be awake soon" he said.
Ava nodded, her head on her knees. "Okey, thanks for finding me"
Connor nodded before closing the door behind him.
Ava nestled her cheek back against her knee. "Also the most we ever spoken in the last few weeks"
"Come here" Owen wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Can I stay with you? Till Jessica gets out of surgery"
He nodded, his head on her shoulder.*
Owen left her side once he got the page that Jessica was out of surgery. She finished her shift, not seeing Connor again. She was the first one home, letting herself into the apartment.
She'd changed before leaving work and sat down on the sofa, turning the tv on low she closed her eyes.Ava shifted, opening her eyes slowly. She spotted Connor at the end of the sofa. Closing her eyes once again she opened them.
"Oh! Sorry" she sat up, "you probably wanted to sleep"
"It's fine" he said blandly.
His duvet was over her. He'd placed it there.
She placed her cheek atop on covers over her knees. Waking slowly."It was nice working together" she rubbed her eye.
The closeted they'd been in a while.
"It was" he said honestly.
She pursed her lips, "I'll get out of your hair"
She stood, leaving his duvet.
Conor watched her go. He laid on his stomach, for only a moment burying his face in the Lilac scented pillows.Ava went to her room, running a hand through her hair she took a deep breath. She had had a lot of Connor time today. More than she was used to in the last few months.
She rubbed her eyes, pulling her shirt off her head she stripped off, pulling on her pyjamas shorts and tank top. She made her way to the kitchen for a glass of water.
Connor stood at the counter, tending to a bouquet of crythesathums. He looked up catching her eye. "They were in the back of the car. I went out this morning, and when I stopped the car it wouldn't start again"
"Is it fixed now?"
"Yeah" he nodded, his eyes on the flowers.
She pass by him, filling a glass of water at the sink. Connor looked at her long golden legs. Turning away he brushed the head of the chrysanthemums.Ava appeared at his side, sipping her water. She looked around at the other older bouquets around the kitchen and living room. "Goodnight, Connor" she touched his arm before leaving for her room.
YOU ARE READING
Normal | Rhekker
FanficSequel to "Getting back to normal" From strangers to friends; friends into lovers, and strangers again Mature Themes I don't own either of these characters, they belong to the One Chicago series!!! Other then that all these ideas are mine unless sta...