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Babysitting.
On the way home from the aquarium, that such a thing wasn't even the last thing on Anne's mind. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel to the kpop song playing on the radio (Blue Clue by VIVIZ) and hoped to get out of the terrible traffic as soon as possible. She still had to cook when she got home, and having two more mouths to feed was a reason not to be late.
She and her childhood friends Sasha and Marcy were living in the same apartment, barely covering the rent in LA. Marcy had been taking a break from her part-time job and commissions for the last weeks to get her comic AmphibiAnne (Anne's eyes filled with tears every time she heard the name) ready for publication, so Anne and Sasha had to work overtime. She was even willing to sleep in the aquarium if it'd prevent Sasha from taking more shifts in the hospital because she was the most tired of them all. But when Marcy explained the situation, she didn't say a word of protest and said that they were always there if she needed help.
Anne didn't know when they switched places in terms of the level of tolerance. Empathizing and adapting without complaining were my specialties, weren't they? Since when did we switch roles?
When the view became usual, she let out the breath she thought she'd been holding all the way through the traffic and signaled to enter the parking lot.
"Anne!"
The herpetologist was locking her car when she heard the familiar voice and turned around. A woman pushing a stroller, her light reddish brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and her hazel eyes look happy. When Anne realized who she was looking at, she waved excitedly.
"Molly! It's been so long, what are you doing here?"
Molly used to work part-time in the canteen of the aquarium where Anne still works, but 3 months ago she left due to childbirth and started working from home. Even if she wasn't Anne's colleague, she was one of Anne's best friends during her time at work and she hadn't heard from her for a long time.
She repeated the question as they made their way to the parking lot exit.
"I'm so sorry! I wanted to get in touch with you as soon as possible, but a lot of things came up. Really, I'm thankful we made it out of the hospital without any accidents."
Anne giggled. If there was one thing she knew about Molly, it was that she never got out of trouble.
"Honestly I... need to ask you a favor today."
"Oh, a favor?"
She could see that Molly was uncomfortable. She smiled and put her hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, if you think I'm not gonna accept because it's been a while, you get that thought out of your head right now, Molly Chen. You helped me a lot in the aquarium and I haven't even had time to pay them back yet."
It was enough to see the sparkle and gratitude in her eyes. Anne had already learned to read her friend's silent gazes.
"Tomorrow is a close friend's birthday and I want to go with Ollie, since I haven't been able to visit her since the birth. I guess she's worried about us after the recent earthquake and tsunami news. She lost her girlfriend a month ago so it could be some kind of motivation for her too."
"Frog, my condolences."
"Thank you. Darrell is traveling on business so there's no one to drop Teddy off. Do you mind if she stays with you three until tomorrow night?"
Anne stopped for a moment and tried to understand what her friend was saying. She was tired as she had just finished her shift and it took her a few seconds to glance at the baby.
"Wait, with us???"
When the number of patients passed the daily limit again, Sasha had decided that her limit for the day was up.
After the recent 7.6 earthquake and tsunami disaster, hospital and clinic staff had no time to catch their breath. And unfortunately, this meant that the hospital where she worked, which was close to the site of the incident (but somehow not destroyed), was also in turmoil and had no time to rest. The state was facing a higher number of casualties and injuries than it had ever suffered before, and all branches, including psychiatry, were very busy at the time.
The head of the psychiatric unit had increased the daily limit because of the emergency. But that day, when Sasha realized that the number had been exceeded again (even more tragicomic that she realized it long after it'd been exceeded), she handed the list to her assistant and decided that she deserved a break.
The hospital garden no longer looked as attractive and lively as it first did. It gave her as much peace as her phone, almost none.
"Dr. Waybright?"
Of course it was Nicole, she was as tired as she was.
"Sorry to interrupt your break. We have a female patient, 14 years old. They referred her here from neurology. There's damage in the frontal and limbic region as a result of head trauma. Treatment has begun, but Dr. Freiden would like your opinion. He also wants her parents to learn about the therapy process, as there's no permanent cure."
"Did he specifically mention my name?"
"No?"
"Okay, Dr. Foster will be on night shift. Explain the situation to her and hand the patient over to her and her assistant if you didn't enter to me. My shift is over for today."
"Understood."
She exhaled deeply as she lowered the earphone around her neck and took off the white coat she was still wearing. She tried to smile while walking to her car but gave up when her chapped lips hurt. She didn't seem to be able to make a convincing impression on the girls today.
"Wow, don't you think it's too late?"
When she reached the parking lot, it wasn't hard for her to guess who was calling her. Instead, the suitcase she was holding caught her attention.
"Where are you going? I thought we couldn't get time off because of the rush, Drea."
Her voice cracked, even someone who didn't know her could tell she was completely exhausted.
"I told you about my friend who lost her girlfriend last month."
She just nodded. She had no idea how to deal with such a situation if it happened to her. Cobbler's children have no shoes, unfortunately.
"It's her birthday tomorrow and it's obvious that I can't change states and go back in 24 hours. Molly's birth time's been very troubled, so she hasn't been able to visit her for a long time. This trip will be good for all three of us."
"Oh, Ollie come too?"
"Trust me, it was easier for him to take time off work than it was for me."
"I'm sure." She giggled quietly. Her friend examined her with concern.
"You're trying too hard, Sasha. There wasn't another doctor in the psychiatric unit who was on call as much as you during this disaster."
"Look who's talking, they always refer you when asked in the pediatric unit."
"At least I'm taking little breaks. You, on the other hand..."
Fair point.
"I'm a tough cookie though, don't worry."
Of course, Andrea wasn't satisfied when she said this with exhaustion and sleep running down her face, but she knew the friends the girl was staying with and she was sure they wouldn't let her continue like this. Especially Anne.
She put her hand on her friend's forehead and pulled it back with a startle.
"I don't think you're that strong or lucky right now."
When Marcy came out of her room, the first thing she noticed was the sound of the turning key. And unexpectedly followed by the sound of a baby crying.
"Mar-Mar? I'm home."
And of course, from that moment on it was impossible for her to focus on her draft.
Her close friend Anne was in the living room rocking a stroller back and forth, which she'd never taken with her when she left the house, and singing a lullaby that was surprisingly soothing to the baby's cries. Marcy pointed to the baby with her mouth open.
"Sorry." As Anne continued to rock the stroller, she sat on the seat and whispered sheepishly to her friend.
"It happened so fast, I couldn't tell either of you. Molly dropped Theodora off before catching the plane. She's going to visit her friend Libby and she wants Teddy to get some rest after everything. She's already got all the stuff organized, so I don't think we'll have any trouble. She's in pain, though. Where's Sasha? She's usually better at this sort of thing."
Marcy glanced into the kitchen, where the light was still off.
"It looks like she's not here yet. I just left the room, I'm coming to the end of the draft. It looks like I might start commissioning again."
"Mar-Mar, that's great! I'm so proud of— wait, back, Sasha's not here yet!?"
At the sound of a new key, they both turned to the door. The blonde doctor came in with the food bags and leaned on the table just by the coat rack to keep her balance. After taking a few breaths, she felt she was being watched, noticed her two friends watching her from the hall and tried to smile.
"Hey, you two. I brought food for the three of us, I guessed we'd be too tired to cook."
It was impossible for her voice not to give her away, and it didn't. Anne's eyebrows instantly furrowed, and she handed over the stroller to Marcy and approached her friend.
"You're not okay."
Damn it. Sasha was expecting this. They knew each other so well that it was impossible to hide anything.
"I'll be okay, don't worry." Trying not to stagger, she went inside and lay down on the couch. "I just need to lie down, that's— wait, Teddy?"
Marcy's face was sour too. They both knew that Sasha wouldn't act like this unless it was something very serious. Seeing Anne's even more panicked look, she softened his voice to lighten the mood.
"Yeah. Molly left her daughter with us because she's out of town."
"Oh, I know. Andrea and I talked. This vacation will do her good, the hospital is very busy these days."
Her voice was cracking too much, her lips were discolored, she was sweating too much and her face was white. Marcy hadn't studied medicine like her friend, but she knew enough to recognize a sick person when she saw one. She stopped rocking the stroller of the now sleeping baby and felt the forehead of her friend who, still with her eyes closed, was talking about the situation in the hospital and the tragedy of the disaster a few days ago.
Yep, definitely higher than 100.
When Sasha felt his hand, she was instantly startled and got up from the couch. "Let's wash our hands and sit down to eat, aren't you hungry?"
"Sash."
"Let's eat while Teddy's asleep—"
"Sasha."
"I'm sure we can—"
"Sasha Elizabeth Waybright."
Silence.
Sasha was always alarmed when Anne said her middle name. For her it meant that the line had been crossed and that was the last thing Sasha wanted. Slowly stepping back and sitting on the couch seemed like a good option.
Her body decided for her.
"Sasha!"
"Hey, easy, easy..."
Marcy decided to take control. With Anne's help, she laid the unconscious girl back on the sofa and covered her with a blanket from the cupboard next door.
"She needs to sweat, she'll recover faster. I'm guessing Molly gave Teddy's grooming kit too? Where—"
She'd just realized that Anne wasn't listening to her. With worried eyes, she checked the sick girl's temperature, muttering about the soup she was gonna make and the medicine she was gonna bring. She smiled sincerely. It was really unbelievable that they both cared so deeply for each other and still didn't realize it. But Marcy had no intention of being the one to make them realize it.
She picked up the baby in the stroller and closed the door, muttering that she would take care of the baby in her room. She had a teasing look on her face as she picked up the sleeping baby and put her to bed.
"I hope you don't grow up to be as bad at romance as these two."
It happened when they were in the cafe.
They were sitting in the café in the back alley of the apartment building, where Anne loved the view and the drinks, talking about Marcy's draft that was taking shape. Comic book writer excitedly describing the development of one of the side characters (Sasha suspected she was inspired by herself) while trying not to shake the table. But because she failed, Sasha thought it was the table at first.
The screams outside said something else.
Sasha hadn't experienced such turmoil since the war in Amphibia. Everyone was running around in panic, trying to escape from the collapsed buildings. The three of them came to an exposed area and waited anxiously. The clouds of dust and screams from the collapsed buildings brought back painful memories and made it difficult to stay still. A child's cry for help was the last straw.
"Sasha!"
The earthquake was still going on, but it was a distant second priority for a child who had collapsed and was trying to lift his injured mother.
"She needs help, please!"
Out of the corner of her eye, Sasha followed a stoic Marcy and a worried Anne running towards her until they were safely beside her, pressing her index and middle fingers to the woman's neck. No pulse. She pressed her thumb to her wrist. No pulse. She brought her hand close to her nose and mouth. No breath.
Not good.
"Marcy, call ambulance!"
"I don't think the lines are working right now, Sasha!"
"Just keep trying!"
Quickly and habitually, she interlaced the fingers of her right hand between the fingers of her left and lined them up on the woman's chest.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
As the boy cried silently with Anne hugging him, her heart felt like it would burst, but not losing the patient had to be her focus at that moment.
16, 17, 18, 19, 20...
"Marcy, the ambulance?"
"I got through, they're coming. Or at least I guess they're trying to come. Vehicles abandoned in a panic make it very difficult."
"Can you take over the heart message?"
Marcy immediately folded her arms and got into position.
"You have to set it for 100 beats per minute. Proceed in 30/2 mode."
She nodded nervously and went to work. Sasha had no doubts about Marcy, she was already trained in first aid. She took a deep breath and forced her facial muscles to relax as she knelt beside the still crying child.
"The ambulance will be here soon, what's your name?"
Unable to stop shaking, the child wiped his cheeks with his tiny hands.
"D-daniel. I-is mommy okay?"
"We're doing our best, don't worry. How old are you?"
"S-seven. Or eight. T-tomorrow is my birthday."
"Oh, really?" Holding the child in her arms, Anne noticed that from the beginning of the conversation Sasha had been slowly pulling him towards her. She loosened her grip on the child and let her friend do her work. Looking around, she saw people (following the voice of reason) trying to move away from the ruins. They had to go away too because...
Marcy's warning shout cut through her thoughts like a sword. The building next to the boy and Sasha had started to crumble and—
"SASHA!"
Anne jumped up in fright and, with eyes still dazed from sleep, searched the room for the collapsed building. The only thing she found was Marcy sitting in the chair next to her, smiling sadly.
"Bad dream?"
"Nightmare actually." She sighed. "Earthquake."
"Oh."
Neither Marcy nor Anne liked to talk much about that day. Even remembering it made them flinch. But when Marcy noticed Anne's glassy eyes and sniffling, she decided to take Sasha's advice.
"It took her a week to heal, right? Daniel's mother was discharged faster than she was."
Anne just shook her head. Her fingers were locked tightly in the blonde's.
"I hate it when she just puts herself in danger like that. Those two days when she was in IC were one of the worst times of my life."
"I know."
For a while they were silent, accompanied by the blonde woman's heavy breathing. Even if interrupted by the faint honking of horns outside.
"I don't know what I'd do without her, Marcy."
"Aren't you overreacting a bit, Anna-Banana? Her fever has already started to drop. She'll be better by tomorrow."
"No, I— wait, overreacting? She's the one who keeps coming back from the dead, not me." Seeing her pink despite the darkness, Marcy giggled.
"She's not dying now though."
"I hate you, Mar-Mar."
This time she couldn't contain herself and laughed. They continued to bicker until they saw Sasha, who stirred at the sound and opened her eyes. When Anne noticed the blonde sitting up, she hugged her.
"You're okay!"
Marcy bit her lip to keep from saying something when her cheeks, white from being sick, instantly turned red.
"O-of course I'm okay! I wasn't in a bad situation. Where's Teddy?"
"Sleeping." Marcy, on the other side, smiled warmly and turned to the brunette. "I think she was sleepy, that's why she was crying. Not because of the pain."
"Makes sense. Wait, don't change the subject! We're talking about you."
"Why? I said I'm okay, I must've just been cold. Why did you..."
When Anne rested her forehead against hers, her voice caught in her throat and she drew in a sharp breath.
Sasha thought that after her residency training she was able to understand almost all things about herself and people's behavior. It wasn't easy but she knew she could do it. Almost.
This was something else.
It was strange, because this never happened when Marcy was in the same proximity. It was dizzying because the coconut perfume she always wore made her dizzy. It was appealing because Anne was already an attractive woman in general. So Sasha made a spur-of-the-moment decision, no matter how much she regretted not being able to think with her sick head at that moment.
When their lips met, there was no option for Marcy not to scream for joy and wake Teddy.