Believe me (RHEKKER)

Chapter 6

Picking up her gloves, Ava was just about to go over to the patient to examine him after his heart surgery, when Connor arrived at her side. Out of a recent habit, Connor put his arm around her waist, smiling at her immediately.

"I wanted to sit in on your check up so after I could steal you for lunch" Rhodes winked, explaining briefly and clearly his reason for coming so unexpectedly. 

"So be it, you can stand aside, Dr. Rhodes" Ava winked, not holding back a smile as she approached the patient. 

The examination took about five minutes. And the result was quite satisfactory. The man was concerned only with one question, whether he could skate later.   

"After rehabilitation - no doubt, you will be able to skate" Ava assured, not for a second doubting this, and this instilled confidence in him.

"This is the best news. Dr. Bekker, rolling on ice is my greatest joy in life. You don't understand me, do you?" the patient chuckled softly. 

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, but I definitely don't understand this, because I've never skated before" Ava laughed, hanging the stethoscope back around her neck, pleased with the operation.

"Dr. Bekker, you've lost a lot. Be sure to try it" the man said in surprise before Ava left the room, throwing her used gloves in the trash. She liked to listen to happy patients, especially when they talked about specific topics, and not worry about a small percentage of complications in advance. 

"Have you really never skated?" said Connor at last, equally shocked by the new fact. 

"There were so many ice rinks in Africa that I couldn't decide which one to go t" Ava teased matter-of-factly, glancing at him as She picked up a tray of salad and chicken and headed for an empty table.  

With a hopeless shake of his head, Connor quickly put all the dinner dishes on the tray and sat down across from Ava.

"What's your schedule for the afternoon?" Connor asked thoughtfully.

"Now I have an appointment to replace the aortic valve, and it will take a maximum of two hours, and then I am completely free. Any suggestions?" Bekker winked as she carefully chewed on a salad that didn't quite sit well with her. 

"Don't finish it if you don't like it" Connor saw it too, pushing the half-empty plate to the side himself, replacing it with his own salad with crackers and Turkey, which he seemed to have specially picked out for her, having caught her making the same choice a couple of times. 

"You already know me more than I know myself" Ava chuckled, not refusing, immediately picking up the delicious parts of the salad with a fork.

"I've picked up your powers of observation, Dr. Bekker" Connor winked, laughing along with her. How she had tormented him for the first six months of their work together, constantly catching him at inappropriate moments.

"Great job, Dr. Rhodes, you're not hopeless" Bekker grinned, relaxing in such a light and casual environment next to Connor.

"As for your free time after the valve replacement, I would invite you to my hybrid operating room. I have a patient who has some internal problems, and I could use some extra hands" Connor suggested as he finished his lunch, looking at Ava carefully, not doubting her positive response.

"Just extra hands?" she asked, mock-offended, arching an eyebrow.

"No, just you" Rhodes added without further pause, placing his hand on hers.

"I'll see you there then" Ava squeezed his hand for a few seconds and looked into his eyes, wanting to finish her shift as soon as possible.

"Thank you, Avey" Connor said so softly that only she could hear, adding a peculiar atmosphere to the action.