Chapter Text
Blue Diner was relatively empty for a Saturday around noon, just the way Dana liked it. After the chaos of yesterday, Dana had specifically chosen this place for its relaxed, homey atmosphere. That and it wasn’t too far a drive for either her or Heather’s places.
Dana carefully drove her old Volvo over to the even older diner, then sauntered in like she owned the place. Dana might as well too, seeming as she had been going to the restaurant since she moved to Pittsburgh multiple decades ago. She waved to Deborah, the main waitress behind the counter.
“Hey, usual spot dear?” Deborah called over to Dana, already pouring the blonde a cup of coffee.
“Not today Deb,” Dana said, walking over to the counter and giving the older woman a hug.
“On the house,” Deborah said and handed Dana the mug after pouring in a little cream. “You look like shit,” the waitress said, fondly.
“Yeah, well you should see the other guy,” Dana deflected, blowing on her coffee then taking a long sip.
“Mhm,” Deborah hummed. “Where would you like to sit today, if it’s not at your regular stool at the counter?”
Dana looked around the small diner to find Heather sitting in a booth reading a book and drinking a glass of orange juice. She had on reading glasses and a dark green knit sweater. Dana sighed dreamily (she couldn’t help it!) and gestured toward Heather. “Over there,”
“Ha! Sitting with the pretty girl, I see,” Deborah laughed, clapping her friend on the back.
Dana scoffed, hoping the bruising and swelling of her face obscured her fierce blush. “She’s a friend from work,” Dana corrected.
“Ohhh sitting with the pretty doctor,” Deborah grinned. “Lucky!”
Dana rolled her eyes. “Mhm. Well I’ll get the hash if Eric is in the kitchen this morning; eggs fried and wheat toast. Thanks Deb.”
“Gotcha babe. Go have a nice date,” Deborah teased, walking back into the kitchen. Dana straightened her jacket and walked over to Heather’s booth, mug in hand.
As Dana approached Heather set down her book and smiled at the other woman.
“How much of that did you hear?” Dana asked, sitting down in the booth seat across from Heather.
“All of it,” Heather smirked. Dana sighed.
“Don’t worry about Debbie, she’s harmless,” Dana assured.
“Yeah right,” Heather laughed. “When she saw your injuries as you walked in, I thought Deborah was going to storm out here to go get Driscoll herself.”
Dana grimaced at the mention of the man’s name. “Let’s change the subject,” she murmured.
Heather reached across the table to take Dana’s hand. “I’m sorry.”
Dana shrugged and took off her sunglasses but left her baseball cap on.
Heather schooled her face so as to not grimace herself when she saw the purple bruises and red swelling around Dana’s eyes and nose. Heather didn’t have to be a doctor to know that Dana was in pain. Heather reached into her purse and pulled out a bottle of ibuprofen. She silently unscrewed the bottle, poured two pills into the cap, and tapped Dana’s hand.
Dana opened her palm and took the pills, looking at Heather skeptically.
“Doctor’s orders,” Heather said softly.
“Alright alright,” Dana swallowed the pills down with her coffee.
Deborah waited for this moment to pass and then walked up with their meals: potato hash for Dana and a large plate of french toast for Heather. Dana smirked at Heather, about to tease her for her sweet tooth and Heather rolled her eyes. Deborah just laughed and said, “enjoy your meal, lovebirds.”
Dana gently swatted Deborah away, thanking her for the meal. Heather smiled at Deborah and said thank you as well. Deborah went back to eavesdropping from behind the counter.
“So… French toast…” Dana began.
Heather gently kicked at Dana’s ankles from underneath the table. “Haha, very funny.”
“You need more syrup there hon?” Dana teased, pointing at the already smothered breakfast in front of Heather.
“Not all of us can be boring all the time,” Heather taunted, gesturing to Dana’s eggs, toast, and potatoes.
“Boring!” Dana scoffed. “No one has ever accused me of that before!”
“Oh I’m sure,” Heather smirked, taking off her reading glasses and picking up a fork and knife.
They ate in companionable silence for a while, until Heather took a sip of orange juice and cleared her throat.
“So… Oregon…” Heather started.
“I’ll come with,” Dana interjected. “I’m still game. It’ll be good for me. Change of scenery.” Dana then chuckled, “Get the ex-husband out of my hair too.”
Heather smiled at that and released the sigh of relief she didn’t know she was holding. “You can get your own place of course, and I have recommendations for you if you want, but also,” Heather fiddled with the last pieces of cut up toast on her plate. “You can live with me,” Heather continued. “I’ve been dreaming of buying the house I grew up in. And well, it’s got a decent amount of space, too much really for just one person.” Heather trailed off, finally looking up at Dana and making eye contact.
Dana was looking at Heather so fondly, Heather began to blush. Did the charge nurse always look at her like this?
“I’d love to hon. That’s very generous of you.” Dana said, time she reached out to take Heather’s hand.
“Well I don’t want you to be isolated when you move across the country on a whim,” Heather continued. “And I enjoy my time with you,” she added bravely.
“And I with you, of course,” Dana said. “Heather, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” Dana quoted with a grin.
Heather squeezed and released Dana’s hand. “Casablanca? Really?” Heather laughed. “You really are old.”
“Ha!” Dana replied, laughing to herself. “Respect your elders,” she joked.
It was then that Dana’s phone rang. Dana looked at Heather apologetically and answered her cell. “Dana Evans.”
Heather watched her as Dana hummed and nodded even though the person on the other end obviously couldn’t see her.
“Alright I’ll call you back in a sec,” Dana said. “Yeah a second I promise,” then she hung up and set down her phone on the table.
“Everything alright?” Heather asked, worry written on her face.
“Of course! Just late for my therapy zoom with Caleb,” Dana said, starting to get up from the booth. She reached into her pocket and took out a fifty dollar bill and laid it on the table.
“Lunch is on me,” Dana said, cutting off the beginning of Heather's protests. “See you later sweetie,” Dana said, standing and walking a step over to Heather to squeeze her arm fondly. Dana paused for a second as if trying to convince herself not to do something, then relented, and ducked down shyly to plant a soft kiss on Heather’s cheek. Heather blushed and reciprocated with her own kiss on the cheek, careful not to disturb Dana’s bruises.
“Talk to you soon?” Heather whispered.
“Yeah I’ll call you right after my session,” Dana said, walking toward the door of the diner, hands in her coat pockets.
“Thanks for breakfast!” Heather shouted over to Dana. Dana turned around, smiled, and waved.
Heather watched Dana leave then turned to see Deborah looking at her knowingly.
Heather just smiled politely and paid the check with Dana’s money, leaving the leftover cash as a generous tip for Deborah. As Heather got ready to leave herself, she thought that she would like to come back to this diner with Dana again before they took a plane to Oregon, sometime in the future, on their shared new adventure together.