Stitches of Survival

The Sound of Silence

Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Sound of Silence

*~*~*~*

"You know they're saying it's about you," Mark informed April as he, April, Arizona, and I walked through the hospital together. News of the riff between Owen and Nathan had spread through the hospital like wildfire, making everyone gossip about what had happened between the two. 

"What?" April frowned.

"You and Riggs," Mark elaborated. "A torrid affair in Jordan."

"That's-- Oh, no!" April's eyes widened as she started to panic. "That is not at--"

"Don't worry," Arizona laughed. "I shut that down."

"God! Thank you," April shook her head. "No, I think it goes back further than that, because I worked with Riggs, and he never even mentioned knowing Hunt."

"Oh, my gosh. Hunt and Riggs--" Arizona looked around at all of us with wide eyes. "What-- what if they had the torrid affair?"

"Come on," I couldn't help but laugh at the idea.

"No, just think about it," Arizona insisted. "Wartime, no rules, men in uniform, kissing."

"You need to get laid," Mark shook his head.

*~*~*~*

"Four crews of firefighters were trapped battling wildfires east of town," Bailey informed all of us that morning, having gathered us in the third floor lobby. "We have at least forty injuries en route. I said we would take all of them."

"Forty?" Jackson's eyes widened at the news. "We're gonna hit capacity, and--"

"We will take all of them," Bailey cut him off. "We're looking at second-, third-, and fourth-degree burns, smoke inhalation, and some traumas. All non-critical patients, um... are being transferred to Seattle Pres and Tacoma. This entire hospital is now a burn-treatment center. If you are a little rusty plastics will be available for consult, but they will be in high demand and cannot be everywhere. Residents, stay with your assigned attendings unless needed in the burn unit or in the pit. Uh, everyone who is on call has been called in. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation. Triage in the ER. Send the critical patients to the burn unit or the OR. Dr. Avery is your point person on this, okay?"

"Not you?" I raised a brow at where Mark was standing beside me.

"Let the kid shine," Mark shrugged. "Besides, this way I get to help more patients."

"Uh, let's see..." Bailey started to flip through her binder, only to stop as she looked up at us, looking frazzled. "That's it, people. Okay. Get to work."

"Hey, Beth, can I ask you something?" Jackson hurried over to me as everyone started to go their separate ways to prepare for the incoming traumas. 

"Of course," I nodded as Mark headed down the hall himself, leaving us alone to talk. "What's up?"

"You've done therapy before, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, for a while after the plane crash," I nodded, surprised by his question. "Mark thought it would be a good idea when he found out I was having panic attacks. Thought it could help me cope better with everything that happened."

"Did it?" He pressed.

"Well, I haven't had another panic attack in the middle of the OR." I attempted to joke, but it didn't even earn a smile. "What's going on? Are you thinking about starting therapy?"