Chapter Text
(Just after season 3 ends)
Shaun arrived at the apartment excited. He still couldn’t believe that Carly had said yes to his proposal for a date. It was the first time that he has ever ask a girl out and surprisingly, despite his doubts, she said yes. At the end Claire´s advices had work out.
When he arrived at the apartment everything was dark, probably Lea was already sleeping, he thought.
He went to his room, put his pajama on and went into bed. This night it was going to be difficult to sleep, thanks to all the emotions that he was feeling.
He starts to think of everything that had happen these last couples of weeks. It had been like been in a roller coaster. He never had to face so much challengers before:
-Glassy being sick, and he was like a father to him. He has taken care of him since his brother died.
-The incorporation of Dc. Hunt, the new chief of surgery and dealing with his efforts of keeping him out of the O.R.
-His feelings for Lea and her new boyfriend
At the end not everything went so wrong, he thought. Glassy is cancer free and healthy, Dc. Hunt had been fired of the hospital and he got his job back thanks to Dc. Andrews that apparently believes in him. “It´s amazing”, he thought.
He was used to people thinking that he wasn’t good for many thing or that he won’t be able to do others, because of his autism. But know he has people that believes in him and that was gratifying. And then there was Lea. He couldn´t help feeling something for her. She was the first girl that ever give him a chance to know him and hadn´t judge him first. She had taught him so many things about life, friendship, love… but she had made very clear that she just wants to be her friend. Shaun didn’t understand that. He understands that she wasn’t interested in having a romantic relationship with him, he was used to that, but what he didn’t get was her attitude. When they first met, she was so nice to him, then she took him on the road trip, sang karaoke with him, drunk him and even kissed him. And then she leaved town just to went back and live with him for a month, sleeping in his floor and then move in with him. But she just wants to be his friend…? “I don´t understand her!” he thought.
Then he began to think of what Glassy had told him one day: "Why does she has not any other friends besides you? She slept in your floor for a month, so unless the people she goes out with are homeless…” that was stoked in his mind, because it was true he had saw her go in and out with a lot of friends, then why she was living with him?
“Stop it" Shaun thought. Your goal is to forget about her, not to think even more of her.
Then he begins to think about Carly, his co-worker from pathology. She was very nice and it looks like she like him, at least she didn´t sees him weird or treat him special like most of the people. Then he thought about what Lea had said to him: "You are in a case you are interested in and a co-worker you like who is nice to you, maybe pathology wont be that bad after all"
It was true, pathology give him the opportunity to get to know Carly better, and he always had like her, she was very nice to him since he first day they´ve met. In a way Lea had encourage him to enjoy his period in pathology and it had end pretty good.
Now all he needed to do was focus on Carly, on getting to know her better outside the hospital and try not to think about Lea anymore. But that was so hard, specially living with her.
Then he remembered what Claire told him: “Shaun you are going to fall in love, and you are going to have your heart broken and you are going to fall in love again ” maybe it was true… Claire has more experience in relationships than him.
It was also true what he had told her, he has no idea how to fall in love with someone and even less idea how to forget someone.
Then he starts thinking of everything he had lived with Lea…. They just spend time together on their free time, talked, do stuff together… Then he thought: that´s what I need to do with Carly, spend more time with her, all the free time that a have which wasn’t too much…
He lied on bed upside, cross his hands fingers and closed his eyes. Then he immediately opened his eyes and start thinking he just ask Carly out on a date and he has no idea where to go or what to do… since it was his first day ever and he usually eats at the hospital or at the apartment. Ok, ok calm down, Claire probably knows somewhere nice and not very noisy and expensive. Claire was a good friend, she always supported him, and encourage him to move on, besides they have some kind of connection in the medical thoughts, like they recently had demonstrated and thanks to it, he got his job back. He was so lucky to have someone like Claire in his life, a true friend, that was always there for him, understand him and help him. With a smile, he relaxed, closed his eyes and fall sleep.
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Lea on the other side, as soon as Shaun exit the apartment was in chock, after what Glassy told her in the hospital while Shaun was unconscious, and that she knows how Shaun feels about her, even if she had try so hard to ignored it and even told him she just wants them to be friends; the first thing that cross her mind when she saw Shaun like that dressed up and with flowers was that he was going to ask her out… not that he would just go around her to where?
When she was able to react she went to her room, it had been an awful day and she just wanted to have a shower and go to sleep. She grabs her pajama and went directly to the shower, thinking about Shaun and who was he going to ask out…
Once in the shower she starts thinking again, the truth was lately she didn’t spend much time with Shaun and when she did she open her mouth and fuck things up in a way that Shaun always ended leaving for hospital or going into his room… Then she thought about one year ago when they met, everything seemed so easy, it was like they naturally connected, but since she had left to Hershey and come back something was different.
“Why did you have to leave, dam it? For chasing an impossible dream? To end up screwing things with your brother?... What would have happened if you have stayed?... Stop! This isn’t going to fix things, what is done is done”
The truth was that Shaun was the only person that really cares about her, that doesn’t pretend, even her own brother didn’t care, he didn’t even call her since Hershey just for knowing how she was, if she was still alive…
That was why she was terrified to lose him, that was why she had auto convinced her that it was better to be just friends, without any complications… It was totally truth what she told him back in his apartment “romantic relationships are unpredictable, so much can go wrong, especially when she was involved” she has a tendency to ruin things up, she was ruined their friendship already…
When she felt her fingers getting sleepily, she saw them, and they were wrinkled, how many time has she been in the shower? She closed the water, went out and put her pajama on. Then she went to bed and try to relax… When she was falling sleep she heard the door. Shaun was home. She kept listening to every sound and she heard how he went to the shower and then to his room.
Who was him going to ask out?... That question kept going around on her mind and kept her awake. She thought in the short period of time she had spent with Shaun the last couple of weeks, thinking about every conversation they had trying to find an answer.
Two names came to her head: Claire and Clary or whatever her name was, the girl from pathology: “I don’t think is Claire, they get along very well from what she had seen but I see them more as friends… Clary, who was that Clary? Does Shaun really liked her? She barely knew her, yes according to Shaun she was nice but he had been in pathology for not to much time…” in that moment her phone rang and scared her out.
She turn around and saw a message from Jake: “What does he wants know? I´m so tired!” she thought. She didn’t want to speak with anybody…
JAKE: Hey baby, I´m alone and bored. Are you coming?
“What am I, a toy?” she thought.
LEA: No, I´m not going. Im tired and going to sleep.
JAKE: Come on! Only for a little time…
LEA: Goodnight Jake!
She waited for an answer but there wasn’t any. “Gosh he only wants me for sex and that’s all, seriously?” she thought. “It´s your fault Lea, you always choose the most idiots to date…” Then she felt sleep.
The next morning, as soon as he heard the alarm Shaun went out of bed, dressed up, had breakfast and went to the hospital. He was so excited for arriving and go back on the O.R.
When she heard some noise, Lea immediately go up but when she opened her door she just saw the street one closing… “Ok I will talk to him tonight” she thought.
When Shaun arrived at the hospital, Claire was waiting for him at the door with a big smile.
CLAIRE: Welcome back! (she said as soon as she saw him) You must be excited and nervous.
SHAUN: I am. For many reasons!
CLAIRE: Many reasons? (smiling)
SHAUN: Yes. Is my first day back on surgery and I have my first date tonight.
When she heard that Claire almost jump for excitement.
CLAIRE: So my tips work out! That´s so good Shaun. I´m so happy for you!
SHAUN: Yes, they do. Thank you. The problem is I don’t know any place to go for dinner…
CLAIRE: That´s ok, don’t worry we will look for places later and pick one. Come on we don’t want to be late.
They both went inside the hospital, smiling; and they went to the surgery office where they find Dc. Lim, Dc. Melendez and the rest of their co-workers. When Claire and Shaun enter the room everyone smiled, they almost hug Shaun but they didn’t do it knowing he doesn’t like hugs.
LIM: Welcome back Shaun (smiling. She was really glad he was back, she missed him, she like to work with him)
SHAUN: Thanks I´m happy to be back.
They all smiled and start working as every day. The rest of the day passed calmly, the case wasn´t too complicated, but the patient needed surgery; so Shaun was exited. The operation was in Dc. Melendez hands and Claire and Shaun will help, as a result of their good work together in previous cases.
At lunch time Shaun and Claire went together to the cafeteria talking about the surgery and that they were happy to work together again.
CLAIRE: I´ve missed you. It´s not the same without you (smiling)
SHAUN: Me too. It´s good to be back.
They grab their food and sat on a table. Claire grab her phone and start looking for restaurants quiets and not too much expensive.
CLAIRE: Anything special for eating? Italian, vegetarian, fast food…?
Shaun kept thinking for a moment…
SHAUN: I don´t know. What would you like?
CLAIRE: I will go for an Italian. Who doesn’t like pasta?
SHAUN: A lot of people
CLAIRE: I´m just saying (laughing)
In that moment they saw Glassy.
GLASSY: What´s so funny?
SHAUN: There´re people who like pasta and other who don´t
Claire laugh again and Glassy put a face like he doesn’t know what was going on.
GLASSY: Ok. So how is going your first day back? It’s there pasta to lunch? (with doubt)
SHAUN: Very good. Claire and me are going to operate the patient later with Dc. Melendez, and no there isn’t pasta to eat, there is soup.
GLASSY: That’s great. You make a great team.
Claire smile.
SHAUN: I think that too.
GLASSY: (after thinking for a moment) So what´s with the pasta?
Claire smiled and look to Shaun not knowing if he wanted to tell Dc. Glassman about his date. Glassy look at both confused.
SHAUN: I have a date and I don’t know where to go for dinner. Claire is helping me. Any suggestions?
When Glassy heard this he was in shock. He didn’t know what to say. Does Shaun really had asked Lea out? And the most surprisingly thing does Lea has said yes?
SHAUN: Suggestions? (when he didn’t get any answer)
GLASSY: Mm I don’t know… What kind of food does Lea like?
When they heard this Claire and Shaun face change immediately.
SHAUN: It’s not Lea, is Carly. I told you Lea and I are just friends.
GLASSY (even more surprised) Carly? From pathology?
SHAUN: Yes, I don’t know any other Carly.
Glassy hadn’t notice Shaun was into Carly, he barely knew her. But this was a good step for him and in opposite direction from Lea what make it even better and he was happy for him.
GLASSY: That’s great Shaun. I´m happy for you. You deserve to be happy.
SHAUN: Thank you. I know.
GLASSY: What food does Carly like?
SHAUN: I don’t know. That’s the problem.
GLASSY: Ok then Italian like Claire said. Almost everybody like pasta. I know one very good, not too expensive and quiet. I will give you the number.
SHAUN: Ok. Thank you.
Then Glassy got up and was ready to leave.
GLASSY: If you need anything else, any advice or something tell me. And if you need anything at work, tell me too. See you later.
SHAUN: Ok.
The rest of the day went normally. In the surgery Dc. Melendez let Shaun operate almost on his own with Claire. He just stood there and watch in case something went wrong. He started remembering the first day he met Shaun, when he did that awesome one-way valve and that he didn’t trust him one bit. But somehow he had managed to proof hi wrong and that he could trust him. He loved to see Claire and Shaun working together, it was like they read each other minds and it was amazing to see.
Upside in the gallery there were Andrews and Aoki watching the surgery.
AOKI: You made the right decision.
ANDREWS: I know.
The surgery was a succeed and the patient went out of surgery. Melendez congrats both of them and told them to go home to rest.
At the outside Claire give some extra advices to Shaun about the date.
CLAIRE: Are you nervous?
SHAUN: A little.
CLAIRE: (trying to calm him down) Don’t be, everything it’s going to be fine. You already did the hard part which was asking her out and it went very good.
SHAUN: That’s not true. I rehearsed a lot with you, I learned every sentence I had to tell her and I forgot to give her the flowers and the chocolate.
CLAIRE: But she said yes. Not everything that happens to you, you will have a chance to practice before Shaun. There are going to be things you have to let yourself go. It’s like surgery, you don’t always know what’s going to happen.
Shaun remembered the analogies Lea told him while driving.
SHAUN: That’s a very bad analogy. In surgery there are rules and the rules are followed and if one goes wrong you follow another one. If the patient dies, it dies that’s all.
CLAIRE: (a little surprised and smiling) Analogy? Where did you get that word?
SHAUN: Lea makes them all the time to teach me how to drive.
CLAIRE: Ok whatever. (trying to change the subject from starting to talk about Lea again. She didn’t know how they always ended talking about Lea and Shaun needed to move on from her. Now) The point is you won´t always control everything so remember the things I said to you: open the door for her, let her talk but talk you too, and staff like that. We like those things. Ad don’t be nervous, it’s just a date if it goes wrong it´s ok.
SHAUN: (starting to go into panic) Why it won’t be fine? You convinced me to do it…
CLAIRE: I said “if” Shaun. Not that it won’t be good. Everything it’s going to be fine. Now breath and relax.
SHAUN: (trying to calm down) Ok. Ok. This wasn’t a good idea.
CLAIRE: Yes it was. You have to move on and try to get to know her better. Remember what a said to you about falling in love again…. You almost in the final race.
SHAUN: (not very convinced) Ok.
CLAIRE: You called the restaurant?
SHAUN: Yes. Table for two un a quiet place.
CLAIRE: Great. Now go home, change your clothes and have fun. Is you need anything call me, I will have my phone with me. And call me when it has finished to know how it goes, ok?
SHAUN: (trying to touch Claire´s shoulder without doing it) Thank you Claire. You are a good friend.
CLAIRE: (smiling) You don’t need to say thanks. That’s what friends are for.
Claire started thinking about how much they would have grown together lately. Since the first day they’ve met, they had got along very well, the truth was that because her situation with her mother she was more patient that most of the people and she had slowly got to know Shaun better. She was happy to have him. He was so sweet and a true friend, he deserved to be happy.
Shaun went home excited. When he arrived, everything was dark, Lea was probably still at work. He got a shower and went into Carly´s house.
---
Lea finished the paper work, grab her things and went out of her office. In her way out her boss stopped her.
TOM: Everything done?
LEA: Yes sir. Everything done.
TOM: What I´ve told you about the sir thing. Don’t call me sir, call me Tom.
LEA: Sorry, Tom.
TOM: Perfect, now go home and rest. See you tomorrow
LEA: Goodnight.
Lea started thinking how lucky she was to has this job. Her boss was very nice and she loved was she was doing. On her way home, Jane called her.
JAKE: Hey baby, are you coming?
LEA: Excuse me?
JAKE: Are you coming?
Crap she had told him that today she was going to his house but she doesn’t want to. It had been a long day and she was tired.
LEA: No I can´t today.
JAKE: What? Why? What are you doing? Yesterday you told me that today you will come and today you won’t come either…
LEA: What are you know a cop? I can’t go today ok. I will call you tomorrow.
Jake ended the call.
LEA: Jerk
It was amazing how much had Jake changed. At first he was super nice and they have a great time together but since their first time he kind of had lost any interest in doing things together besides being in the apartment of the other. Why you always end up with idiots?
She went up to her apartment and went inside. Then she realized no one was inside but the bathroom was tarnished. He probably has left to his date or whatever. She got a shower, put on her pajama and watch tv hoping she heard Shaun arrived.
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Shaun stopped at Carly´s door. He was nervous. He breath deep and remember what Claire told him. He climbed the stairs and range throw the door.
CARLY: (smiling) Goodnight.
SHAUN: (trying to smile too) Goodnight.
Carly was wearing a red shirt with a blue and white plaid skirt, and a blue jacket. Shaun looked at her and smiled.
SHAUN: You look very nice
CARLY: (smiling) Thanks. You look nice too.
SHAUN: Thank you.
Shaun turned around letting Carly go first. I n that moment Carly saw the taxi and Shaun began to say…
SHAUN: I don’t have a driver license so a called a taxi.
CARLY: (smiling) Perfect
They went inside the taxi and to the restaurant.
CARLY: So, where are we going?
SHAUN: To an Italian. I don’t know what food do you like.
CARLY. Great. I love pasta.
When they arrived at the restaurant they went straight to their table, it was a square table at the background of the place. It wasn’t entire
removed from the rest of the tables, but at the same time it gave them some privacy, just as Shaun wanted. Shaun sat with his back to the rest of the tables to feel less overwhelmed.
They sit down and order the food and drink. Carly order spaghetti carbonara with water and Shaun chose to ask for the same. As the waiter left, a somewhat awkward silence was created. Shaun didn’t know what to talk about.
CARLY: How was your first day back at surgery?
SHAUN: Great. Dc. Melendez let me and Claire did a surgery almost on our own.
CARLY: That’s great.
SHAUN: Yes.
Then the food come in and they start eating. In that moment Shaun phone rang, he looked at it and it was a message from Claire:
CLAIRE: How it’s going?
SHAUN: Good. I think.
CLAIRE: Great.
CARLY: Everything ok?
SHAUN: Yes. It was Claire to see how it was going?
CARLY: So she knows about the date?
SHAUN: Yes. She gave me some advice.
Carly smiled and kept eating.
Shaun was a little overwhelmed with the noises but he tries to focus on Carly.
The rest of the night went normally, they ate their food and talk about their time in pathology.
When they finished their food, Shaun paid for it and then they left the place. He opened the door for Carly just like Claire told him.
SHAUN: Do you want me to walk you home?
CARLY: (smiling) Sure.
They walked to Carly´s home while Shaun was thinking it didn’t go so bad after all. When they arrived at her house they climbed the stairs and stood in front of the door. There was when Shaun got very nervous and remembered his “date” with Lea.
CARLY: (pulling him out of his thoughts) "I've had a great time tonight"
SHAUN: Me too. I hope we can do it again soon.
CARLY: That would be great.
Shaun waited for her to go inside the house but she didn’t. Then he remembered what Lea told him: “If I dont walk in, if I just stand there in front of you like I really dont want to go inside then you have to kiss me” the he doubting approached Carly, she just shortened the distance between them and the kiss occurred.
Shaun didn’t felt too much, it was kind of awkward and damp. Then Carly smiled.
CARLY: I see you tomorrow.
SHAUN: Yes.
She went inside and then he went down the stairs and to his apartment. In his way home he called Claire.
CLAIRE: (excited. She didn’t go to sleep, waiting for Shaun to call her) So how it was?
SHAUN: Ok.
CLAIRE: Just ok? I thought it was going good, what happened?
SHAUN: Nothing. I think it was good. At the end we kissed, but...
CLAIRE: (almost screaming) That’s great! But what…?
SHAUN: I don’t know. I didn’t felt too much. With Lea it was very different. It felt so good like I could go on forever…
CLAIRE: Give yourself time Shaun. You are just getting to know each other…
SHAUN: Ok. Goodnight.
CLAIRE: Goodnight.
When he arrived home he saw Lea sleeping on the couch. He thought about waking her up or not. Probably she was very tired. He went on her side and called her but there was no answer, then he grabbed a blanket and put it on top of her, it was better to let her rest.
Then he went to his room, put his pajama on and went into bed. He wanted to sleep but he had so much to think about that he couldn’t. He kept thinking about the kiss with Carly, he hoped to feel a lot more… Then he remembered what Claire said to him: “Be patient”. Maybe he just needed to spend more time with Carly and kissed her more.
Then he felt sleep.