Thicker Than Water | The Originals

BLOOD REVEALS

THE MORNING RAYS FILLED THE LOUNGE, she yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She'd had a long night, and would have an even longer day ahead of her. Citlali stood by the cubby, pulling on her coat. She barely slept the night before, her mind still racing with the events from the day before. It was time for her rounds, but her mind was still stuck on Zyanya and trying her hardest to forget the fight with Xóchitl.

Just as she was pinned here her ID badge on, the lounge felt creaked open. Xóchitl stepped inside, her expression tense, eyes scanning the room until she spotted Citlali.

"Citlali, we need to talk," Xóchitl began, her voice hesitant.

Citlali didn't respond. She acted as if she hadn't heard a single word, instead grabbing the tablet in front of her and focusing on the labs from different patients.

"Citi, please," Xóchitl's pleaded. "I just want to talk."

Without sparing her a glance, Citlali gathered her stuff, making her way toward the door, continuing to ignore her cousin.

"Citlali, I—"

"I have work to do," Citlali cut her off, her voice cold. Without another word, she brushed past her cousin and exited the lounge.

Citlali's footsteps echoed down the hall as she tried to shake off the encounter, knowing she had to stay focused on her patients.

Xóchitl inhaled deeply and then exhaled before entering the lab. This was the last thing she wanted to do, but she had to make it up to Citlali.

Brian was hunched over the computer, typing away.

She let out a silent groan before making her approach. "Hey Brian."

Brian froze for a moment before whipping around to see Xóchitl, a smile forming on his lips. "Xóchitl, I knew you'd be back. Couldn't resist me."

Xóchitl held back a gag; she needed to get through this without throwing up. "I guess you were right," she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

"You rethink that offer about me taking you out on a date?"

Xóchitl walked over to him and ran her hand along his arm. "Maybe, if you go get me some coffee."

He shot up from his seat. "Of course, there's a Starbucks in the main lobby—"

Xóchitl cut him off. "I don't want that bland flavorless crap. I want a horchata frappuccino."

Brian's smile faltered a little. "But that's all the way across town."

"Yeah, I know, but I really want some, and I have a surgery in twenty minutes."

He glanced down at his wristwatch. "Uh, I guess I could run over there."

"Thank you." She continued batting her eyelashes.

He took off his lab coat and threw it onto his office chair. "I'll be back. I'll try to make it back before your surgery."

"Great."

Xóchitl watched him run out the lab. Once he was out of sight, she went over to his computer and quickly typed in Zyanya's information. When her file popped up on the screen, Xóchitl pulled out her phone and snapped a picture to show Citlali later. She didn't even bother reading the results yet.

She quickly deleted the lab results and rushed out of the room before she could get caught—or fired.

Xóchitl eventually made it to the NICU floor and greeted each nurse as she passed them, heading to Zyanya's room. When she reached the room, Xóchitl slid the door open and closed it behind her before gently pushing the curtains open.