Didn't we almost have it all?

Chapter 3: Take Me Back

Once Audrey stopped crying, she sat in the waiting room with Dr. Glassman, still wearing Neil's jacket and the ring that was in his pocket. She occasionally felt the tears go down her cheek. 

Glassman spoke up a while later, "Did you know he was going to ask you"

Audrey turned to him, "Once I had a small idea that he would but he didn't"

"He loves you, you know"

Audrey nodded her tears away, "I know, I love him too, but god, we fought tonight like you wouldn't believe, screaming at each other, things were said and I regret them all"

"Couples fight, all the time, it's not so bad"

Audrey put her head in her hands, "It was my fault he left the hospital, it was my fault he went home, it's my fault he got hurt"

Glassman grabbed her hand, "No, none of this was your fault at all"

Audrey rose her head and glared at him, "You don't get it, do you, My fiancee is dying, all because we yelled at each other over a goddamn surgery"

"Audrey, this isn't your fault, he's fine"

Audrey stood and pushed his hands away, "YOU DON'T GET IT, HE'S DYING ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW AND YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE ARE ASSURING ME OF THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT BE TRUE< WHAT IF THIS WAS DEBBIE? HUH?"

Glassman stared at her, he was speechless, Audrey scoffed, "Exactly, you would blame yourself too"

and with that, Audrey walked away, she started walking to the gallery where Neil's surgery was happening, OR 2. Once she reached it, she saw Shaun, Alex and Claire working on him, she heard them saying something about his ribs being shattered and she instantly felt sick. she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to remember good times they had together.

Flashback...

10 years earlier........

(Their first time meeting each other)

Audrey walked into the OR where she would meet her fellow classmates, and some new faces.she smiled as she saw her best friend, Jenny.

"Girl, see any hot guys yet?" Jenny whispered as she looked around the room. 

Audrey giggled, "No, I haven't Jenn,"

That's when Audrey saw him walk in. he had black hair, brown eyes, tan and muscles that she could see through the dress shirt he was wearing. Audrey turned to Jenny, her jaw dropped.

"Jenny, tell me you see that man right there" She whispered as she checked him out.

Jenny turned around and her jaw dropped, "HOLY SHIT HE'S FI-" 

He turned to the girls. both their eyes widened as they turned their backs towards him.

Audrey smacked Jenny's arm, "Jenny, shut up, you probably just scared him off"

That's when Audrey felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see him, 

"Hi, I'm Dr. Neil Melendez," He said holding out his hand

Audrey's face turned tomato red as she shook his hand, "Hi, I'm Dr. Audrey Lim, I'm so sorry for my best friend"

Neil laughed, "It's alright"

He glanced down at her Marvel T-shirt, "Big Marvel fan I see?"

Audrey looked down at her shirt and chuckled, "Yes I am"

 Their conversation was cut short when a middle-aged man walked into the room and cleared his throat, "May I get everyone's attention please"

They all went into a circle and stood there, The man spoke again, "I am Dr.Glassman, I would everyone to go around and say their names, which school you went to and which area you would like to work in"

Jenny volunteered to go first, "Hi everyone, I'm Dr. Jenny Gillam, I went to Preston and I want to go into pediatrics"

Another man spoke, "Hi, I'm Dr. Sam Jones, I went to Harvard and I want to do Plastics"

Then it got to Audrey, She cleared her throat and Stood forward, "Hi everybody, I'm Dr. Audrey Lim, I went to Preston as well and I would love to do Trauma"

Neil smiled at her as she stood back, "HI, I'm Dr. Neil Melendez, I went to Harvard with my friend Sam and I want to become a Neurosurgeon"

Once they finished their introductions, Audrey was about to leave when Neil grabbed her arm,

"How would you like to go out for drinks tonight" Neil whispered.

Audrey smirked at him, "Meet me in the locker rooms at 9". as she walked out, she and Jenny giggled.

"you're totally gonna marry him, sweetie"

End of flashback

Audrey opened her eyes and felt a tear fall and a hand touch her shoulder. She looked up and saw Debbie, "Aaron said you needed a friend" 

Audrey gave her a soft smile, "I don't but thank you, I would rather be here alone"

Suddenly, monitors started beeping drastically, Audrey whipped her head around, Debbie right behind her in case something happened or worse, they would call it.

"HAND ME THE PADDLES SHAUN" Claire screamed. 

"We can't lose him claire, This man has to propose here" Alex said as he charged the paddles.

"charge to 300" Claire said

Audrey's head started spinning, her vision was fogging up, she felt like her world was crashing down, she didn't really listen till she heard the flatline. She saw Alex staring at the monitors and look back at the residents, he eventually landed on Audrey and took his mask off, He shook his head,Audrey turned her back to the OR and slid down the glass and sobbed. Debbie was there to hold her hand and calm her down a little.

Audrey stood up and ran towards the intercom, "Alex, Please...don't"

He looked at Audrey, "There's nothing we can do, he's been down 30 minutes"

Audrey shook her head, "JUST TRY AGAIN, IF THAT WAS ME ON THAT TABLE, NEIL WOULD WANT YOU TO SHOCK ME AGAIN SO I'M SAYING SHOCK HIM AGAIN"

Alex closed his eyes and turned towards claire, "shock him one more time"

Claire turned to Shaun and nodded, "It's charged"

CLaire put the paddles on his best and took a deep breath in, already feeling her tears, "Clear"

She shocked him, everyone held their breath, The solid beep continued. the OR doors open and Audrey enters and grabs Neil's hand, "you're not leaving me like this Neil Melendez I swear to god, this OR is where we first met, and it's not going to be where we end you hear me, you were gonna ask me to marry you, and sir you are gonna ask me you got it"

Audrey waited... she waited for what felt like forever. she felt herself let out a sob, then a rhythmic heartbeat sound. Audrey sobbed even more.

"Okay he's back now you have to leave this room so we can work okay," Claire said, escorting Audrey out.

"yeah, I know,"

Audrey left the OR, Relieved and scared, what if he would crash again? what if this time he never came back. She entered her office and sat in her chair and closed her eyes. An hour later she was woken up by Claire's voice.

"Dr. Lim"

Audrey opened her eyes and saw Claire's eyes, They were red and puffy and her face was damp with tears.

Audrey took a deep breath in, "Tell me Claire, just tell me"

Claire cleared her throat, "There was a complication with the surgery"

TBC...