Chapter Text
Chapter 1
This trip to Guatemala has been an emotional rollercoaster. Claire could not sleep at night ever since they landed, as she had to take all those hard decisions each day.
It wasn't like they didn't have to make tough calls everyday back home, but here it was so much different. She felt almost powerless, like anything she did wasn't enough.
12 people they have said. 12 people for the week they would stay. Such a small number she kept thinking. Would it even make a difference?
In her left hand she was holding her drink and with her right index finger she kept scratching the surface of the wooden bar counter.
She lifted her head and took a good look around the place. It wasn't great but she needed a night out with the others, and a little alcohol in her veins. Maybe that would make her sleep tonight. Fingers crossed.
“Could you just stop sulking already? We are here to have fun and relax. At least that's why normal people go to bars after a hard day at work.” The sound of a familiar voice with a teasing tone.
“Well, I don't think we are normal people, so your entire argument makes no sense.” Claire answered playfully.
“Maybe that's true. Still no reason for you to mope. Drinking alone in a bar is quite miserable. I think you need some company.” Audrey said and pulled a stool to sit next to her.
“This could be the lamest excuse I've ever heard in order to avoid an awkward situation.”
“What awkward situation? What are you even talking about?”
“Come on Audrey. Do you really think that I didn't notice that the exotic dr Rendon keeps following you around the bar and you trying to avoid him? I mean, you were even willing to play darts with Marcus so you must be in a desperate need to get away from him. I can't see why though. I find him really cute.”
“You had nothing better to do than watch what I was doing all night?”
“No, I hadn't if I'm being honest.” Claire said while laughing “You didn't comment though. Don't you think he is cute?”
Audrey exhaled with disdain. “He is a handsome man, yes. And he seems like a nice guy too. But we are here for just a week. I just want to help these people as much as I can and then leave. I don't want a fling.” she paused for a few seconds and the continued “And more importantly, with my PTSD I need to feel comfortable with someone before I proceed with anything else. I am sure that 7 days are not enough and I don't want to stress myself unnecessarily.”
“Of course. You're right. We haven't talked about it for a while so I didn't think about it at all. I now realise that we hadn't one of our girls nights in the last months. Hmmm, I guess I kinda miss them. Us together, talking for hours.”
“Sorry, but I didn't think that these nights would make any good to our friendship anymore neither to our working relationship. So, I admit that I kept avoiding it.”
“Sounds like it's your new strategy in life. To avoid things. Me, having fun, the exotic doctor.”
“Can you please stop calling him that? It's ridiculous and completely unprofessional.” Audrey said. She tried to sound strict but the smirk at the corner of her lips gave her away.
“Well, sure I can. But I don't want to.” Claire replied smiling.
“I have forgotten how annoying you can be sometimes. And then you wondered why I was avoiding you.”
“Come on. Now you are just being mean. I simply know that you adore my insightful yet considerate comments about everything.”
“Insightful yet considerate? Stop drinking right now, Claire. I can only assume that you are drunk if you are saying stuff like that.”
They both chuckled. Audrey had forgotten how much she loved these moments with Claire. Casually talking,teasing, laughing. How easy it was to be around her.
“I think I am gonna call it a night. I am tired from work and all the running away from dr Rendon. Do not comment anything about it, I am warning you. Well, goodnight Claire. See you in the morning.” Dr Lim said and got up.
“Goodnight Audrey. I think I'll stay a little longer. I am not exhausted yet, so I don't think I would be able to sleep.”
“What do you mean? You have trouble sleeping?”
“Uh, it's nothing really. I just haven't been able to sleep the last few days that we are here. I haven't adapt to the new environment yet I guess. Anyway, goodnight. See you in the morning.”
For some reason, Audrey thought that there was something more there. She couldn't just leave now, she needed to know if Claire was okay. If there was something more to it. Maybe she should stay longer and talked about it?
With her peripheral vision she could see the exotic doctor (damn Claire for making this nickname stick in her head) trying to come closer. Why the hell he keeps following her? No, she can't stay longer. What if then...?
“Claire, would you like to come back to my room and talk about it? I mean, talk in general. I think that you were right and we didn't really have the chance for quite a long time. We could just hang out. Watching tv, even though I have no idea what we could watch here. I mean.. You get what I am saying. So? What do you say?”
“Is this another attempt to avoid doctor exotic?”
“For God's sake shut up already about him. I am leaving, you can come with me if you want. Do whatever you like.” Audrey said more aggressively than she would like and turned her back to leave. She doesn't know why, but she felt disappointed that Claire's first reaction wasn't extreme enthusiasm.
“Audrey! Could you please stop running towards the exit and wait for me. I need to get my things. Or maybe you just like having people following you around.”
“Don't make me regret this Browne.” Her eyes were narrow but her lips were smiling smugly.