Work Text:
Watching Elf for the millionth time was the last thing Mel wanted to do. She didnt even want to eat the pizza they had ordered for takeout. Exhaustion and overstimulation were her only genuine feelings.
She felt guilty and selfish for not being ecstatic about spending time with her sister. She loved Becca and wanted to give her the world but today was hard.
She thinks back on all the moments she almost couldn’t bear. The moments that prompted her to question if she belonged in the pitt.
The woman whose daughter she thought dumped her at the ER.
The little girl who died saving her sister’s life.
Watching 112 people get wheeled in from Pitt Fest. Seeing the 6 that they couldn’t save in the “morgue”.
Then she thinks of her triumphs.
The woman came back for her ailing mother.
She utilized some coping skills by way of a lava lamp app and Megan Thee Stallion.
She used what she knew from taking care of Becca (and herself) to help an autistic patient. Langdon reminded Mel that people like her are needed in the ER.
She got assigned the therapeutic activity of picking gravel out of a wound.
Extracting spinal fluid from the boy with “Dr Google” for a mom. (She had overheard Robby’s outburst.)
Dr. Robby had asked her to lead one of the teams during an MCI. That was an overwhelming situation rewarded by genuine encouragement from Robby even though be was extremely on edge himself.
She had worked her ass off for 15 whole hours!
She didn’t realize she was smiling to herself. “Buddy is so funny isn’t he!” chimes Becca. Suddenly, Mel is snapped back into the reality of Buddy the elf making his breakfast spaghetti.
“Yeah he is!”, Mel says with a genuine laugh. She reaches across the couch to hug her sister. Her exhaustion is replaced with purpose and appreciation.
Her head is resting against her sister’s shoulder and she finds herself drifting off. The assurance that the pitt will be kinder to her tomorrow lets her find rest for the first time that day.