Chapter Text
Audrey Lim walked quickly into the office of St. Bonaventure Hospital’s president, Marcus Andrews. She was headed out after her long shift when he called her to his office. All Audrey had wanted to do was go for a long ride on her Ducati.
The last nine weeks had been rough for her. First, she and Neil Melendez had officially broken up. Though the hospital grapevine had it down as months prior. They broke up for real when after their weekend getaway Neil had again accused her of supporting him without question because of their relationship. When the patient had a massive heart attack and died, Neil again blamed her. Audrey couldn’t take it. She broke up with him. Melendez lashed out at her repeatedly. He and Claire Browne had spent an insane amount of time together again. Audrey tried to again warn him, but Neil called her jealous among other things. She just stopped talking to him.
Two weeks later Melendez nearly died from injuries sustained in an earthquake. Lim had gotten him through the first surgery. The former couple talked a little bit before his condition started to deteriorate. Lim felt like they were making a connection again. That changed when she heard Neil tell resident, Claire Browne that he loved her. The trauma surgeon was crushed, but she didn’t have time to process her feelings. Neil’s condition started to rapidly decline again. They called in a specialist for the second surgery.
While he was in his second surgery Audrey had called his parents. They always hated her, despite Neil telling her that they didn’t. She told them that she had booked them a flight and a nearby hotel. Lim also told them that she would be at the airport to pick them up. Despite how much chaos was going on at the hospital, Lim kept her word. She brought Neil’s parents to the hospital just as the second surgery had finished.
Audrey Lim had done everything to make sure that Victor and Rosa Melendez had everything they needed while they were at their son’s bedside. She also made sure that everything was taken care of for Neil’s patients while still running the surgical teams and emergency department.
Audrey had done everything to make sure that Neil Melendez had nothing to worry about while he recovered. After eight days of being in the hospital, Melendez was released. Last Audrey had heard Neil had gone back to San Antonio. They expected him back to work soon.
“Alright Marcus, I’m here. What could you possibly want now? I was sitting on my bike when you called. I’m exhausted and I want to go home.” Audrey Lim grumbled as she sat in a chair in front of the plastic surgeon’s desk.
Marcus Andrews rolled his eyes. Though he knew that Lim hadn’t had much time off since Neil Melendez had been hurt, it was her attitude that he was annoyed with. He leaned back in his chair and said, “As you are aware the hospital was to send you and Shaun Murphy to the new emergency clinic opening near Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon. You will be filling in until their full time trauma surgeon starts a week later.”
Lim nodded her head, “We have been over this. Shaun and I fly up to Portland. We grab the rental and drive out to the clinic. Get them established. When their trauma surgeon comes, I train with them for a few days. Then Shaun and I drive back to Portland, hop a plane and fly home.” She raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean was?”
“You are still going. Except it will not be you and Shaun. It will be you and Claire Browne.” Marcus informed the tired surgeon, “Shaun is accompanying Lea to a funeral for a cousin who passed away. They left an hour ago.”
Marcus Andrews knew some of what had happened between Lim and Melendez. He had heard rumors about how Claire had fit into everything. He knew that telling Audrey that she would be traveling with the younger woman would be risky for him. Marcus was prepared for a fight. He was not prepared for the non reaction. There was no flash of anger. There was no yelling either.
Instead Lim just told him okay. She thanked him, stood up and left his office. After sitting in his office stunned by what had happened, Marcus stood up and stepped out to the waiting area of his office. He saw Claire sitting in a chair waiting. She looked expectantly at him and Andrews waved her in.
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Eight days later Morgan Reznick stood beside Alex Park as the rode the elevator at work.
“I talked with Claire again this morning.” The blonde resident told her colleague.
Park nodded his head, “I talked to her a few days ago. How are they doing?”
Morgan sighed, “Claire said that after a week of not seeing much of Dr. Lim, they actually worked a surgery together. She also said that they should be back here around eleven thirty tomorrow morning.”
As the elevator stopped Park added, “At least they will get in tomorrow. There’s two separate storms hitting the west coast starting tomorrow night.”
The two got off the elevator and headed for their meeting with Gladsman and Andrews. When they arrived in the meeting room they saw Shaun Murphy, Dalisay Villanueva and Deana Petringa all sitting at the conference table. The two residents joined their colleagues.
After later Aaron Glassman and Marcus Andrews entered the room. Everyone else was surprised when the two men were followed in by Neil Melendez.
The group took a few minutes to welcome the doctor back, and then they got started on their long meeting.
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The next morning Audrey Lim was standing in line at a rental car company. While Claire Browne had decided to go to the airline counter.
They both had been receiving text messages all night from the airline about their flight back to San Jose. Due to a computer security breach all flights had either been severely delayed or cancelled.
Not wanting to take the risk of being stranded in Portland, Audrey Lim had booked another rental car. She wished that they had a Ducati, but unfortunately for her they did not. Instead she was able to secure a small suv.
Not wanting to have any issues or risk them giving away the rental, Audrey had insisted on arriving to the airport early. She was grateful that she had as when they arrived the rental company had long lines. Since she had a reservation, she was able to check in at the kiosk. Now, Audrey was in line to get the keys to the car.
Claire Browne wanted to check again on their flight. She waited in a crazy line too. The longer she stood in the line the more she understood that she would not be able to fly home.
With a frustrated sigh she called the last person that she wanted to road trip with, “Dr. Lim,” the resident said politely when the other woman picked up, “The flight is not happening. I’m not even anywhere near the front of the line, and they have delayed our flight until seven this evening. I am betting it’s not taking off tonight at all. People are screaming and threatening the staff, security and local police are here.”
Claire listened to what Lim had to say and she agreed. As she got out of line she saw a frazzled airline staff member approaching with an iPad, “Ladies and Gentlemen, for anyone on flight 2392 to San Jose willing to take a later flight or change their flight for another day please see me. We are giving limited number of cash and vouchers.”
Claire told Lim what was going on. The trauma surgeon told her that she was almost to her and they would take the airline’s offer.
Claire approached the agent and said that she and her boss would take the deal. The agent looked relieved. They took Claire’s ticket and were finishing processing when Audrey approached them. She quickly told the agent that she too would take the deal. Again the agent looked relieved.
Forty five minutes later the two St. Bonaventure doctors were in the renal car heading for San Jose. They would have been on their way sooner, but they added Browne to the rental agreement as an extra driver and needed to pay the difference.
The two women agreed to each drive half of the trip. Lim was driving first. Not too long into the trip they stopped at a grocery store to get snacks and drinks. Before getting on the highway again they stopped at a mom and pop shop to grab lunch and coffees for road.
Finally at a little after noon the two women were on the five headed home. Neither woman spoke much. Although Claire had tried to engage Lim in conversation, but the older woman was not very talkative. Browne noted that her attending wasn’t being rude or anything. To the young resident it seemed like her boss was lost in thought.
Nearly two hours later Claire needed to use the restroom. She mentioned it to Lim who agreed to stop at the next available exit with restrooms available. Fifteen minutes later they stopped at a gas station. While Lim topped off the suv, Claire had used the restroom.
Audrey Lim used the alone time to call Glassman and update him on their drive home. He wished them safe travels and Lim promised to send updates.
“Dr. Lim, did you need to use the restroom before we get started?” Browne asked as she approached the car with a bag.
Lim waved her off, “I went while you were shopping. Let’s hit the road. I checked the weather reports and that double storm system is going to hit earlier than they forecasted. I’d like to make it to at least an hour or two into California before we stop for the night.”
Claire agreed as they got back into the car. Lim was still driving and Claire who had been bored with the silence again tried to engage the trauma surgeon in conversation.
“You have been really quiet. Are you okay? They say talking can help.” The resident said with a bright smile on her face.
Audrey Lim let out a short breath but still didn’t say anything. Browne tried again, “Dr. Lim, I know that you’re mad at me for being with Neil. I know that it was sudden. He is happy though.”
Claire was disappointed when again the trauma surgeon did not reply to her. Claire sighed as she settled back into her seat. Everything was quiet for a bit. Claire with her eyes closed was surprised when she heard Lim’s quiet voice.
“Not everything that goes on in my life revolves around you and Neil Melendez. I honestly have not thought about you, Claire or who you are seeing. I just don’t care.
What happened with Dr. Melendez and I is between us. That has nothing to do with you. I will not talk to you about it with you or anyone for that matter. I also do not talk about the two of you to anyone because again I don’t think of you. What you and he discuss that’s between the two of you. I hope that you would show me the same courtesy.”
Claire was not surprised by Lim’s words, but she was surprised by the other woman’s tone. Well, more for the she showed no emotion. It actually scared her. From that moment Claire decided to not talk to the trauma surgeon unless necessary.