Work Text:
Delicate
(Timing) The Beginning of it All: Post Season 1: Episode 18
“Do you have a girl, Rhodes?” Dr. Downey wheezed. Connor hesitated slightly. Technically he did, but…“It’s complicated. Technically I’m married, but we...we got married because we wanted someone who could both honor our wishes while making medical decisions. We didn’t want those choices to lie with certain people, so we gave it to each other.”
The surgeon hummed. There was a slight pause, where only the beeping of the heart monitor could be heard.
“It’s the brunette, right? The mousey-looking one with the curls? Makes sense. She’s been bringing you clothes and food and she tries to stay to keep you company when you think I’m asleep, but you always make her go home...Isn’t she a med-student though?”
“She used to be. She graduated a few days ago. We went to the courthouse the day after.” Connor answered. Doctor Downey hummed once more as his eyes drooped shut. Connor sighed, leaning back against the hard seat. At least that conversation was over. Or so the trauma fellow thought.
“Word of advice Rhodes: Uncomplicate it. Take it from someone who was always married to his work. Treat her well and appreciate her. ”
“We’re friends.” Connor insisted. A weak smirk crossed David Downey’s lips. He inhaled deeply and his exhale was just as heavy, “Friends...who are married.”
“To make decisions for each other when the other can’t.” Connor clarified. The surgeon’s smirk just grew. Another inhale and exhale, “And that’s how it all starts isn’t it?”
“Is this really what you want to discuss? My marriage?”
His mentor gave a horse chuckle. He brought the leigh back up to his nose and sniffed it, “Just trying to convince you to do things differently than I did.”
The trauma fellow rolled his eyes though his mentor couldn’t see it because his eyes had closed once more. He sighed, rubbing at his damp eyes before he sat on the edge of his mentor’s bed, “You’ll be glad to know I start my cardiothoracic fellowship next month.”
“So I haven’t been wasting my time,” Downey wheezed. He blinked owlishly. Connor just smirked. Even when Downey was down, he was still David Downey.
“Not entirely no,” Connor said softly. He paused and then, “I never asked. Do you have any family?”
David Downey was not married. He had no children and his sister had passed a few years back. The older man wheezed out a breath again, “If you’re curious...I’ve left instructions. Cremation.”
He passed two hours later. Connor was coming back from the bathroom when he heard the heart monitor flatline and then he watched a few nurses rush into the room.“He’s coding!”
“He has a DNR. Let him.” Connor sighed, heavily, turning and leaning against the nurses’ station. He stayed there for a moment. With his eyes closed and tears slipping down his cheeks, he said goodbye to his mentor. Then there was nothing else he could do, so he turned and headed down to the ED to let Ms. Goodwin know. She said she wanted to know when it happened. He found her talking with Dr. Charles.
“Dr. Rhodes I am so sorry to hear about Dr. Downey.” The woman said kindly when she saw him. Because Mrs. Goodwin always knew. She was one step ahead of everyone. Connor ducked his head down, “Thank you...Um, Ms. Goodwin, I’m gonna need a few personal days, if that’s alright.”
“Of course,”
“Thank you.” Connor turned around intending to leave when he realized he hadn’t seen his wife since she brought him (without him asking) breakfast and a change of scrubs this morning. He glanced back over his shoulder, “Have either of you seen Reese?”
“I think she went down to talk to Doctor Shore.” Dr. Charles said, “Thinking about you pal.”
“Appreciate that.” He said quietly, before he turned and headed for the elevator, paging Sarah to meet him on the roof.
“I ran into Dr. Charles before I got your page,” Sarah said by way of greeting him. She came up beside him. “He told me about Dr. Downey. I’m sorry, Connor.”
“Thank you.” He glanced at her and saw her coat. A smile ghosted his lips, “So you got your jacket huh? Congratulations, Dr. Reese. ”
She chuckled self-deprecatingly. “No. Technically I don’t even know if it’s Reese anymore considering we got married and technically to be a doctor, I need to have a residency…which I don’t as of ten minutes ago. I uh-figured out pathology wasn’t for me a bit too late. I just quit.”
“So now I have to wait till the next rotation, hope my test scores are good enough to get me another residency and on top of that, I don’t have a job and my lease is almost up and I have to tell my mom.” She told him quietly, after a pause. Then she shook her head, “I’m sorry. You just lost Dr. Downey and here I am wallowing about my problems.”
Uncomplicate it. Downey had said, and he couldn’t do anything for Downey now, but Connor could help Sarah.
“I’m sure you’re going to be fine but you know, you could move in with me. After all, most husbands and wives do live together.” He offered, looking at her. Sarah’s eyes widened, “Connor that’s very nice, but I couldn’t ask you to do that and besides, we both know we’re not even together like that.”
“You’re not asking me to do anything. I’m offering. I have a spare bedroom and it’ll help you save money until you get another job. We can move you in when I get back. ”
“Get back? Where are you going?”
“Hawaii. I’m going to spread Dr. Downey’s ashes.” He explained. Then he paused as he heard Downey’s voice in his head once more saying those damned words before he felt his mouth forming words: “You know, I could use some company.”
“Connor,” she started.
“Sarah,” he deadpanned, tilting his head to look at her with a smirk, “Come on. Take a few days to relax and regroup. It’s not like you have a residency and we never actually got to have a honeymoon after we got married. Instead, we got three shifts down in the ED.”
Sarah opened her mouth once more. Probably to say how they weren’t together like that but Connor shook his head, “And then when we get back, we’ll move you in and I’ll help you come up with a way to tell your mom about everything.”
“When we get back, I’m getting a job until the next match day,” Sarah told him and he nodded. All the while biting back the words that she didn’t need to. He had money. Because that’s not what Sarah needed at the moment. She needed a plan. Something to hold on to until the next match day.
“You’re getting a job until the next match day.” He echoed with a nod.
“Uncomplicate it. Take it from someone who was always married to his work. Treat her well and appreciate her.” Downey had told him and as Connor watched Sarah walk back towards the building, Connor knew his mentor was right. Sarah Reese was someone special.