[ Chicago Med ] Connor and Ava | Hurt by Secrets

Chapter 2

The atmosphere inside the car became incredibly uncomfortable after Connor's unintentional proposal to Ava. Trying to remedy the situation, Connor took a deep breath and initiated a conversation while keeping his focus on the road.

"Hey, Ava, I'm sorry. I wasn't proposing. I apologize if it terrified you," he said sincerely.

"Oh, so you weren't," Ava responded, and Connor could sense her disappointment.

"It's just... I missed you. You were away for a week, and I could barely talk to you. You know, when the time comes, I'll be there on one knee, in the most romantic way possible. I want to give you everything," he explained, hoping to convey his true intentions.

"Damn it, Connor! It doesn't matter how you do it. I'm not here because you're wealthy. I don't want your money. I want you," Ava replied with fervor. A sudden silence fell upon them as the weight of her words sank in. Sensing the tension, Connor accelerated the car, causing Ava to urge him to slow down.

"Connor, slow down! You're acting like a child. You could rear-end the car in front of us," she admonished, staring at him in disbelief. Despite her plea, Connor remained silent.

The journey from Ava's apartment to Med took 15 minutes without traffic. As they arrived, Ava opened her door and swiftly exited the car, not waiting for Connor to catch up.

"Ava, wait..." he called after her, but she turned around with a determined expression on her face.

"I shouldn't have said anything. Please listen to me for a second—"

"Forget about it, Connor. I have to go right now. We can talk later," Ava interjected, placing her hand on his shoulder and giving him a quick kiss. Her face revealed a mixture of emotions that Connor couldn't fully comprehend. He held the door open for her, watching as she walked down the hallway toward the locker room. After a moment, he too entered the building, heading towards the emergency department.

"Connor, where's your plus one? You're all alone," Natalie remarked as she walked out of the doctor's locker room. Ignoring her, Connor simply passed by, casting her a brief glare. Natalie couldn't help but wonder about his peculiar behavior.

"Dr. Rhodes incoming," Maggie announced from the front desk.

"What do we have?" Connor inquired.

"34-year-old male, high-speed motor vehicle collision, GCS 9."

"Any name?"

"Ian Sawyer. Blood pressure 94/70, heart rate 122, oxygen saturation at 93% on a nasal cannula."

"Alright, on my count. One, two, three. Let's get a chest X-ray. The sternum took a significant impact here, guys. There's a large hemothorax on the left. Prepare for a chest tube insertion."Meanwhile, on the other side of the hospital, Ava was summoned to Dr. Latham's office. She knocked on the door, waiting for permission to enter.

"Come in, Dr. Bekker," Dr. Latham invited, gesturing for her to take a seat.

"You called for me, Dr. Latham?" she asked as she settled into a chair.

"Yes, please be seated. Tomorrow, you'll be meeting Dr. Meredith Grey, an exceptional surgeon from Seattle who is also renowned for her Harper Avery award. I want you to maintain a strictly professional relationship with Dr. Rhodes," he instructed.

"Yes, sir. I understand," Ava acknowledged, her mind already contemplating the upcoming encounter. After leaving Dr. Latham's office, she headed to the cafeteria, hoping to have lunch with Connor and discuss their earlier disagreement.

As Ava sat down, her phone buzzed, and she read the message from Connor.

"Hey, babe. I can't make it for our lunch together. I'm stuck in surgery... I'll see you once I'm done. Love you."

A tinge of sadness washed over her upon reading the message. They had planned to talk things through over lunch, but now it seemed they would have to postpone it.

[Okay, maybe next time. I love you too.]