Work Text:
That 2 times Abbot and Mohan shared an unexpected moment.
Mohan never struck anyone as someone who loved all the songs from the ’80s or ’90s. But that one time, when she accidentally tapped her current playlist, she quickly triple-checked to make sure it wouldn’t play again on the home screen. It had rung out loud across the table while she was keying in her reports at the computer. She definitely didn’t expect Dr. Abbot to be the one letting out a small laugh, pausing, and then walking toward her.
Mohan feels that laugh jolt something in her, which she didnt feels it for a long time. She’s smiling back at him, concealing whatever feeling she have for now and hoping no one noticed it as well.
Every interaction they have is strictly about work since then. But she’s aware of short glance he gave when he is in her perimeter.
“When I'm feelin' blue, all I have to do is take a look at you. Then I'm not so blue…“
A Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins floated through the air briefly.
For all Dr. Abbot knows, he stopped listening to the song after a year of his wife died. And this year would be the six year as widower, Joan left a big void for him as they both concert goers during their time together.
The way he keeps going is by working, his therapy and cooking. Therapy keeps him sane and grounded. Meanwhile, he didn’t even think about cooking when he’s married, always giving his wife to decide what to do, cooking or not cooking and whatever decisions she wants to make especially after her health is deterioting. But for now, the thought in the process of making food is something he appreciated for now.
Both of them aware that after that PittFest last week, she saw a different side of him now which makes her heart beats fast whenever he’s around. She hates it, not in a bad way but she feels she need to resolve this unsettling feeling she have towards him sooner or later because she is someone who plan her day, plan her patient, plan for everything because she understand life as a doctor is not that simple anymore.
“Yes Dr. Abbot, I do apologize for that. I forgot to put in work mode right after i walked in the door earlier.” Mohan gives an awkward smile.
She also hoping their interaction didnt last longer so it will not linger on her for a long time. Although every conversation they had, it’s forever etched in her mind.
“No need to say sorry Mohan, good selection you had there. I didn’t know you are into these types of songs.” His gaze soften and smiling again while Dana is looking from her glass and smiling nodding to the situation and Dr. Abbot checks the file at the counter and abruptly went outside gone.
She felt that was intentional, but she didnt want to pry but his face is totally pale than before but his eyes was glassy.
“Kid, just don’t think about it much will ya? He will bounce back, don’t worry.” Dana gave her a wink and went to check on Ahmed who said there are few police cars outside bringing some news.
“Alright, sure Dana. Thanks.” Dr. Mohan replied with her puzzled face there.
Since starting work at The Pitt, she had only focused on her job. She hadn’t thought about relationships. Her sister lived in New York, working at a tech company, and had a 4-year-old daughter named Tina. On her days off or during breaks which if she got the time, Mohan would FaceTime her sister to chat with her niece, which always boosted her mood after that.
There are about 2 hours left before they finish their day shift, and Mohan rarely use the rooftop because she knows that place is sacred to some of the staff for them to relax, but outside of the ER is still full with ambulance and a bit noisy to catch up with her niece which had her pinkie promise to call her back in the morning to say how excited she is to know she knows how calculate until 100, and singing some Nursery Songs together.
Mohan find a rail at the middle to lean on while waiting for her sister, Sanjana to pick up the FaceTime. And right after 5 seconds of ringing, her niece happily answered it.
“Auntie Mira! Hello!!”
“Hello Tina! How are you? How is school today?” Dr. Mohan gives her best happy face whenever she’s on the phone with her.
“I have a cultural performance night next week my mommy said! Will you come to my school for that?” Tina said happily.
“Wow, is there any dance step you should practice? Wanna do together tonight?” Dr. Mohan replied eagerly knowing it excites her niece too.
What she didn’t know, Dr. Abbot is watching her from a rail corner on right side of the rooftop. He just didn’t want anybody there finds him at the moment but Dr. Mohan did give him a reason to smile lately although he tried his best to hinder it.
His gaze soften and smile to himself as she made few face expressions that he never saw before.
Since PittFest, he don’t know why Dr. Mohan caught his eyes now. He is aware of their age difference, with him approaching 50 soon and Dr. Mohan is her mid 30’s he guess. And he just don’t want to wrestle it anymore, it’s making him just pathetic man who already had everything in life, and see Dr. Mohan as a force that catch his eyes, always.
He didnt want to pry on her, but he always try to caught that details about her such as she likes to stand at her locker before starting her work with looking at her niece photo, she likes to frown when she did not find a solution to her case before presenting to the attending near her. She is also a coffee drinker which makes him believed that what are the good beans around the town as he can tell from aromas from her coffees she had from home.
Dr. Mohan let a big sigh after finished her FaceTime with her energetic niece. Toddlers really have their ways to your heart, even for a short time. She puts her phone back in the pocket and walk towards the stair while scanning the area and yes, Dr. Abbot is nodding at her.
She remembered her unsettling feeling from earlier and the way he left her after her song accidentally played. As she walks towards him,
“Dr. Abbot, I didn’t see you just now. I guess you saw everything earlier?” Dr. Mohan is not shy but she just wanna reassure that moment is between them.
“Don’t worry Dr. Mohan, I won’t say a word.” He didn’t look at her but she can see that he is still smiling. For that, Dr. Mohan try to be brave and ask him that question.
“You seems different earlier when you talked about the song. I was about to chat with you on more songs from him actually, Phil Collins.” Dr. Mohan always on high energy when talks about her favourite songs.
Dr. Abbot looked at her directly and said,”That song meant everything to me back then, you just brought me back to my happy years did you know that?”
His expressions is unreadable and Dr. Mohan bravely ask back with concerned face, “Are you not happy now?”
Suddenly, Dr. Abbot laughing so hard and Dr. Mohan trying to keep up with her smile.
“I am now, Dr. Mohan. I am, whenever I am with you even tiniest moment. You make me feel content.”
Dr. Mohan did not expect that confession, she just make a move towards him, reaching for his wrist.
“Me too, Dr. Abbot. I just want to clear that unsettling feeling in me, about us. You know, your gaze although a short one is torturing me?”
Dr. Abbot look at her with a glassy eyes again, take her into his arm and hug her tight. She froze for a moment before hugging him back tightly and savouring his scent, don’t want to let go.
“Samira, do you want to have dinner soon? At my place?” He said slowly while releasing the hug and look at her.
Dr. Mohan froze for a second and smile, “Yes Jack, let’s have dinner together.”