Work Text:
You take a deep breath as you walk into the ER, you had taken time off from being a doctor in the ER because you reached a point where you just couldn’t take it, although you missed everyone. The updates from Princess via text were funny but nothing compared to seeing everyone every day, your life for the past month was you confined to a couch and watching TV while your parents made sure you were eating and sleeping, especially with the broken leg you had managed to acquire but that was fine now. The noise immediately flooded your thoughts as you watched chaos unfold in front of you, patients waiting to be seen and others who had some catastrophic injuries, sometimes you wonder why you decided to choose ER as a career and then you see her.
“Y/N, welcome back, sweetheart.” Dana said as she pulled you into a hug and you hugged back just as quick, you’d missed her the most. “Come on, let’s get you to your locker and you can tell me all about your leg and your unbearable parents according to Princess.”
Dana kept an arm around your shoulders as the two of you went to the locker room, your heart beat racing a little from how close Dana was to you, yes she was older but god did you want her if only she wasn’t married and was probably not into you. A smile crossed your face as you finally typed in your code again to open your locker, immediately putting all of your stuff inside.
“So, how was the month off?” Dana asked as she leaned against the lockers.
“It was fine, too much tv, I ended up begging my mom to let me do chores because I was tired of doing nothing. You hear that, Dana? I got bored…of being bored.” You said and Dana’s laugh filled your heart happily, yes she was much older than you as you were a senior resident and Dana had been working at the ER much longer than you. “I did miss everyone though, including you.”
“I should hope so, missy, I wanted to call but you know how it is with this place.” Dana replied and gestured to the doors that led back to the chaos of the ER.
You hummed and looked at Dana softly, “I heard about the nose, Princess sent me the notes, I’m sorry that happened.” You said as you closed your locker.
“It comes with the job, besides we’re both in better stages now so let’s get to work huh? Can’t wait to introduce you to the new medical students, I think you’ll like Joy.” Dana said as she brought you closer once again, your heart racing when she held you close and led you back to the ER, you knew it was friendly and probably to help you feel more welcomed back to your job but any touch Dana gave you drove you crazy inside.
As soon as you stepped back in as a senior resident you were welcomed immediately, Robby gave you a tight hug before letting everyone else get their hugs in, you saw Langdon standing and watching. He just gave you a pat on the shoulder before walking off which made you look at Dana confused.
“He also got back today, don’t worry, he just needs a minute.” Dana said and you nodded.
“Dr. Y/N, I’m so glad you’re back, how was the month off?” Trinity Santos asked as she joined your side, standing opposite of Dana.
“It was very boring, Santos, now do you need me? I heard we have some new medical students.” You said, you gave a nod to Dana before walking off with Trinity who was probably your favourite resident, but you wouldn’t tell anyone else that.
Hours passed of you getting settled into the most chaotic Fourth of July weekend you had ever experienced, especially with the systems being shut down and having to go back to the paper trail. Not to mention that med student who kept making comments about Louie and his death, as well as interrupting other people that was driving you insane, at least Joy was quite good. You finally managed to escape to the ambulance bay and sit on a wall for a moment, a breath of relief leaving your lips as the pain in your leg finally subsided. You heard footsteps and eventually felt someone sitting next you, you didn’t say anything until you felt a bottle of water being placed into your hand, finally opening your eyes again you see Dana there with a worried look on her face.
“Please don’t tell me you came back too early.” Dana said a bit more sternly.
You chuckled and shook your head, “no I uh, I’m still getting used to no crutches, I got taken off of them weeks ago but my parents wouldn’t let me move much so my poor leg hasn’t had much physio.” You replied and sipped the water she handed you.
Dana hummed and leaned back against the wall with you, “if you need anything, I’m here to help Y/N.” She said as the two of you stared at the ambulance bay.
“I’m fine, I’m a doctor, I’ll be fine.” You said making Dana chuckle and shake her head slightly, “what? Don’t believe me?” You asked.
“No, no, I believe you, but just because you’re a doctor doesn’t mean you’ll be fine.” Dana said.
You sit there for a moment before you look at Dana, you notice her expression and you also notice the missing ring on her finger. You knew she had been worried about one of her daughters beforehand, but you didn’t know anything about her life with her, you assumed, now ex-husband.
“Happened when I considered retiring, we argued and I’m still concerned about my daughter, both of them now that the divorce has happened…besides I kinda have someone else on my mind.” Dana said as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at you.
“I’m sorry about the divorce…but if you’re happier then I’m glad, I’m sure whoever this person is great, they must be if they caught the attention of Dana Evans, head of the Pitt.” You said and smiled softly at her.
Dana smiled back and just watched you mess with your uniform, “Listen, it’s almost the night shift and I know Robby has gone easy on you for your first day, how about we head out together and get a drink?” She suggested.
You look at her for a moment and she is serious about it, so you just nod and she squeezes your hand softly before going back inside. Dana just invited you for a drink, perhaps she wants a friend to talk to and you’re the only one that she trusts? Or maybe it's something else? Only a small fraction of you hoped that she was feeling the same feelings that you felt for her. Your heart beat sped up a little and the pain in your leg was suddenly gone as your mind focussed on drinks with Dana, it followed you all the way to the locker room and all the way to the exit of the ER at the end of your shift where Dana joined your side.
The two of you walked to a local bar and sat at a booth together, you both got comfortable and you ordered yourself a non-alcoholic drink as you were still on pain relief. You watch Dana get herself a drink and the two of you just sit there silently until Dana decides to speak up.
“I’m really hoping you got the hint when I asked you here.” Dana said as she looked at you.
“The hint?” You asked and the blood in your cheeks immediately started to rise and make you blush right in front of your crush, “I uh…I thought you were asking me here as a friend.”
“Oh really?” Dana asked as she moved closer and looked into your eyes, “because I was asking you here to talk about us…more specifically, if you wanted to start planning some dates around our work schedule…you’re the person on my mind, sweetheart.” She admitted.
You felt yourself blushing even more, “you…you like me back? I…I didn’t think you did.” You replied.
“Why? Because I’m older? Because I was married and had kids?” Dana asked, making you nod in response as you didn't know what to say, but Dana just smiled. “I was having some family troubles long before I started noticing you, and when I did I very easily saw how much you liked me…and perhaps Robby blabbed.” She added.
You didn’t know what to say. You just sat there blushing and holding your drink like it was a stress ball, Dana placed her hand on your hands and made you let go of the glass so that she could hold your hand. She tilted her head a little to try as she held your hand to see if you would finally say something.
“You gonna say something, sweetheart? Or am I going to have to check your temperature?” Dana asked.
“I..” You hesitated for a moment before you squeezed Dana’s hand slightly, “I would…really like to take this somewhere more private if that’s okay.” You finally said.
Dana smiled and nodded as the two of you finished your drinks before leaving the bar, you both walked through the streets of Pittsburgh until you finally ended up at Dana’s place. The two of you went inside with you nodding along to Dana explaining that her daughters were at their dad’s house and so there was nothing to worry about, but you weren’t worried, you just didn’t want your first kiss with Dana to be in a bar full of random Pittsburgh locals getting drunk on Fourth of July.
She turned to you once the both of you were settled in the living room and could finally have a moment alone. You looked at her for a moment and waited for a sign that it was okay to make a move, although Dana must’ve read your mind as she moved closer and carefully pulled you into a kiss. It was gentle and caring, but also desperate like she had been waiting for this, you had also been waiting for this so it was no surprise when you immediately kissed back and let Dana pull you closer. It quickly developed into something more as the two of you found yourselves tangled in the bed sheets, cuddling at the end of it with Dana placing soft kisses to your head as you both lay there in the silence and taking in each other.
“I hope you have a turtleneck I can wear under my scrubs.” You mumbled, the soft chuckle that Dana let out made you smile tiredly as you looked at her, “so uh does this mean I can call you my girlfriend?”
“If you don’t call me your girlfriend, I might go insane at work.” Dana replied.
You hummed, “well, we can’t have the favourite charge nurse going insane now, can we?” You replied and laughed softly with Dana.
The two of you heard fireworks go off in the distance and you hummed softly as you looked at Dana again, the silence was filled with the loud explosions of the fireworks so you just moved closer and kissed her again softly. She kissed back and held you close as the two of you filled the rest of the night with kisses and cuddles and eventually some sleep.