Rush

"Greene, to the nurses' desk," comes the announcement over the intercom. Bird sighs and pushes a curl off of her forehead.

"Damn it," she hisses, finally getting the IV needle in. "There ya go, Grace." The doctor stands, snapping her gloves off and tossing them in the trash on her way out of the curtained off room.

Brigid (Bird) Greene is an ER attending at Chicago County General, and she is on her third 12 hour shift of the week. "Dammit, Tanner, what the hell is wrong with the AC?" she growls as she makes her way to the lobby. The clerk, Tanner looks at her and frowns.

"The WIFI is down," he answers simply.

"What the fuck does that have to do with the AC?"

"AC is WIFI controlled." Bird rolls her eyes as she finally rounds the corner to the nurses' desk. "Fuck," she breathes when she sees her sister, Rachel waiting for her. "Rach? What's up?" Rachel Greene Ernshaw looks up from her phone with a scowl. Rachel and Bird had never been close. Rachel was raised by her mother, Jen, while Bird was raised by her own mother, Elizabeth, following the death of their father, Mark.

"Brigid, hi. I left messages..."

"Right, sorry, it's been a hell of a week."

"Mm. I came by to remind you that Markie's 8th birthday is this weekend. We're having a party for him Saturday at 2."

"Saturday?" Bird scratches the back of her neck. "I might be working Saturday."

Rachel sighs and rolls her eyes. "Brigid, you can't isolate us forever. You haven't seen Markie and Jenna since Christmas. They hardly know you." It was all true. Rachel was pretty judgy at times, and she tended to think Bird's life choices were not as good as her own. And Bird honestly couldn't stand those kids. Rachel spoiled them to no end, and they were terribly behaved.

"I uhh... yeah. I'll try and stop by. 2, right?" Rachel snatches up her purse and glares.

"Brigid, you're my sister, but I really don't understand you sometimes." With that, Rachel storms off, heels clicking on the worn linoleum on the way out.

"Uggggh," Bird groans, laying her head down on the admit desk.

"Bird, Honey, will you just tell her she's a bitch already?" Chuny jokes. "Mark is rolling in his grave. Jen raising her was not good for that girl."

...

The tepid water in the women's locker room at County felt delicious against Bird's tired skin. The opening of the door and the blast of sluggish air that fills the room causes Bird to raise her head. A tall, blonde woman is standing in bloody scrubs. Bird recalls that a new trauma surgeon fellow came to County that day, and she assumes that must be her.

"Hey, it's Greene, right?" the woman asks, beginning to strip.

"Uhh, yeah. Look, there's only one shower. I'll be out in 5."

"You mind if I join you? I'm in a bit of a hurry. We're both doctors, right? We know all there is to see."

Bird is a little stunned. "I uhhh... ok." This is awkward but honestly, saying no seems even more awkward, since it means more of the other woman standing half naked staring at her fully nude.

"Fuck yeah. Thank you!" she shucks her clothes, tossing them in the biohazard bin and steps in the water. "Your physique is glorious, by the way."

"Umm...thank you."

"Don't suppose I could borrow some soap?" Bird wordlessly passes her a bottle of body wash, because she was not sharing her bar soap. "I'm Rhea, by the way."

"Bird." Trying to finish as quickly as possible, she vigorously scrubs her skin.

"Want me to wash you back?"

"No. Thanks. I'm done, actually. It's all yours." Bird packs away her things and wraps her towel around her before stepping out into the locker room area. Chuny gives her a wolfish smile.

"She's hot, huh? The new trauma surgeon?"

"Not a word, Chuny," Bird warns, making her way to her locker, just as a bare Rhea steps into the room.

"Whew, I feel better. Hell of a first shift, huh?" the blonde beams.

...

Bird plops down into the booth across from her mother, Dr. Elizabeth Corday. "Hi, Mum," she greets.

"Hello, Darling. Rough day?"

"Just your typical day at County, ya know?" Elizabeth smiles.

"I remember. Are we still on for the gala tomorrow?"

"Shit. I forgot. Yeah. I'll pick up a dress on my way home today."

"Language, Brigid," Elizabeth chides. "You need my card?"

"No, Mum, I have enough for a dress. Thank you."

"I remember how much, or should I say, how little, County pays."

Bird knew from a young age that she wanted to be a doctor. Her father had died when she was young, but she remembered him as a kind man, and she looked up to him. Elizabeth had stayed in Chicago for a few years before moving back to England, but that hadn't lasted long, and she moved them to New York when Bird was 10.

Bird has always been the top of her class. She works the hardest. She proves herself the most. And she gives what ever she is doing everything she has. And she would like to think that her dad would be proud of her.

...

Bird steps out of her flat to wait by the curb for the car that her mother called to pick her up. She smooths her hands down her black dress and tousles her curls a little.

"Bird." Comes the greeting from behind her. The accent is thick, and Bird closes her eyes and lets it wash over her. She knows who it is immediately.

"Luka," she breathes.

∞