Chapter Text
San Jose St Bonaventure was changing, there was no doubt about that. The staff had been gathered, told to stand loosely by their respective department…
Which meant that Abott, Lim and Sorel stood next to each other, whispering the whole time to each other.
“Miss Morrison,” Andrews said, gesturing to his staff, “I’d like to introduce to you the San Jose St Bonaventure Trauma team, Dr Audrey Lim, Dr William Abott, and Dr Joseph Sorel.”
The three looked between each other before Audrey spoke,
“Wow, really grouped us together there… Hi, I’m Dr Lim, chief of surgery.”
“Oh, hello Dr Kim.”
“Lim.”
“Right, sorry. I’m not great with names.” Salen replied, shaking her hand before walking away…
“Can Sarah talk your pastor into getting me some holy water… I’m not even religious but I feel like I need to wash my hands with holy water.”
Joseph nearly snorted, “Audrey!”
“What? She gives off bad vibes. And I always trust my gut about people.”
“You said your gut feeling about me was ‘a little bitch’.”
“I stand by that.” she said before noticing that her husband, Neil Melendez, was walking up to them,
“Did you meet her?”
“The new owner? Yeah.”
“She's… something, isn’t she?”
“Definitely something.”
“Okay, so can I please talk shit about the blonde she-devil?” Joanna blurted out as she and Jessica were driving home.
“Joanna, we literally just met her.”
“Trust me, no one who smiles like fucking Pennywise is trustworthy! And did you see how she looked at you when you introduced me as your wife?!”
“Darling, I love you, but no. She is not out for anyone.”
“Yet!”
“Joanna, I will leave you on the side of the road.”
“Jokes on you, I will jump out of a moving car.”
“…I can’t believe I fell in love with you.”
“I’m yours forever babe.”
“Of course you are…”
“You’re the one who asked me to marry you!”
“I did, didn’t I?”
“I’m yours forever!”
Joseph and Dalisay Sorel got home from work, smiling at each other as they opened the door. Their nine-year old son was asleep already…
On the other hand, Lily was covered in… well… they weren’t exactly sure, they just knew that their cats, Luna and Ash, were following her around.
“Lily…” Dalisay groaned before the little girl smile,
“Ezra fell asleep! So I made dinner!”
“You’re home early.” Noelle commented as she watched her parents walk in the door.
“Interesting day, St Bon’s had a new owner. Your aunts and uncles are already talking shit about her.” Audrey replied, looking at her oldest daughter, who shrugged,
“Well… that sounds… accurate. Akio already made dinner, Sam took care of Alexa already and I have to leave for practice. I love you both!”
“Be safe Noel!” Neil called as their daughter walked past them,
“I will dad! I promise!”
Their children, now no longer small… it made Neil smile to see them as they had grown…
Of course their personalities hadn’t changed too much.
“Mom, dad.” Akio said, smiling slightly at his parents as he set the table…
For a boy that at 15 stood around five foot six inches and had developed into a broad-shouldered body type, much like his father… Akio had stayed his gentle self.
Neil had been admittedly disappointed when his son showed almost no interest in the sports that he had hoped… but he could tell that Akio was happy with his own choices…
And Audrey sure as hell wasn’t going to let Neil pressure their son into playing football. Neil knew that.
“How was school, Akio?” Neil said, smiling slightly at his son.
“It was good, Mrs Garcia wanted me to sign up for the ensemble auditions next week. I figured I’d talk to you abou—“
“Mijo, do that first. Why did you want to talk about it?”
“Because dad… it’s a time commitment if I get in, and I know you two are busy with work and Noelle’s got softball and soccer season is starting up soon for Alexa and Sam… I just thought that…”
“Mijo, look at me. Your mom and I might suck at everything you’re good at, but you deserve the same opportunities and support as your sibling. Audition. I know you’ll do great!”
The teenager’s eyes lit up, “Oh… thanks dad!”
Noelle Melendez rode her motorcycle through the streets of San Jose. As soon as she had turned sixteen, she had begged her parents for a motorcycle…
It was freeing. It got her mind off everything…
Off home. Off school. Off the pressure to be good enough for her parents…
“So Trauma’s quite the solid team, aren't they?”
“What do you mean, ma’am?” Salen Morrison’s secretary said, looking at the CEO of Ethicure.
“They’re solid. They’ve got a good record… but I’m worried they might be a bit too stubborn. They’ve all got long files of insubordination.”
“They do?”
“Jackie, I want you to get them started on opposition research. It might come in handy later…”
“Right away ma’am.”