Chapter Text
“Dr. Abbot!” Samira practically yelled as soon as he entered for his night shift, 2 hours early like clockwork.
He looked back at her, with a cocked eyebrow and a twinkle in his eyes that usually meant he was about to flirt. “Dr. Mo-han. Did you need me?”
Samira, despite everyone implying otherwise, was not stupid. She knew Dr. Abbot was flirting with her, and she had, on occasion, flirted back. However, because she was also not a fool, she knew it did not mean anything. She had seen Dr. Abbot flirt with Trinity, of all people.
So, she did as she had been doing lately. Brushed it off. “I wanted to ask you something.” She looked around. “Could I talk to you in the break room? It’ll just be a minute.”
He nodded in assent, and she felt him following her when she turned and walked over.
Once they were in the room, blissfully empty, she immediately launched into her speech. Samira didn’t want to keep the man any longer than she had to. “I was wondering if you would write me a recommendation letter for a fellowship. I know it’s really late in the game, and it’s really competitive right now, and I had a fellowship lined up in New Jersey, but with everything going on in my personal life, I think I’m realizing I just want to stay in Pittsburgh if possible. I’m—” she pulled out her notebook and flipped to the page where she had listed some of the fellowship programs she was considering, with geriatrics written lightly at the bottom. “These are the fellowships I’m considering.”
There was a slight smile on Dr. Abbot’s face when he took the notebook from her. “I knew everyone was wrong about you. Nothing slow about how you got through that speech of yours, Mo-han.”
Samira winced at the reference to her hated nickname. She winced even more when he pointed at the bottom of the page and asked, “Geriatrics? I didn’t know you were interested.”
“Uh. Dr. Al suggested it. She said it’d be my best shot,” Samira reluctantly admitted. In all honesty, she still wasn’t willing to truly consider geriatrics. There was nothing wrong with the field, but nothing about it made her excited to do it for a year.
Dr. Abbot snorted. “Well, she’s wrong. Any of these programs would be lucky to have you. But as long as you’re taking suggestions, have you considered EMS?”
EMS was somehow more jarring than geriatrics had been.
She blinked before answering, “I…I don’t think I’d be the best fit for EMS.”
“And why is that?” he asked as he handed back her notebook.
Samira sent him a flat look and then gestured at herself. “I’m Slo-Mo. I don’t think I’m exactly what they’re looking for.”
“You’re not that slow, Mo-han.” When she just kept looking at him in disbelief, he elaborated, “Really. Robby just gets on your ass because Gloria’s on his. Well, and he’s just a dick. You could be faster, sure, but you are when you need to be. Remember Pitt Fest?”
“How could I not?”
“Yeah, well, there you go. You did that pigtail—”
Samira had to cut him off. “That was all your idea.”
He ignored her. “You did that pigtail. And don’t think I didn’t hear about that crazy EZIO save. Pretty sure Ellis is still a little in love with you for it. The moment our fellowship director knows, she’ll be begging you to apply.”
She blinked. Honestly she still wasn’t sure where she got the courage to do it. It had just seemed like the natural conclusion at the time, but afterwards she realized she must’ve been insane, case study or otherwise.
He seemed to take her silence as an invitation to backtrack. “But of course, I’d be willing to write you a recommendation for any of these programs. I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“No.” She was already shaking her head. “No, it was a good suggestion. Thank you. For this and for doing this so last minute. I’ll take it into consideration, and let you know at my next shift?”
Dr. Abbot whistled. “See, what’d I tell you, Mo-han? Nothing slow about you.” Samira had the distinct impression that if he was a more obvious flirt, he would have winked at her. “Take your time. Let me know at the end of the week.”
And then, he brushed past her and back out into the ER.
Samira didn’t need a week to think. She had decided by the time she started her double on Wednesday. Dr. Robby being gone had been an unexpected opportunity to clear her mind.
Uncharacteristically, John Shen showed up two hours early, and Dr. Abbot showed up right on time. “Hey, Samira. Working a double?” Dr. Shen asked.
Samira nodded in assent, glancing at him from her charting. “You’re here early.”
“Yeah.” He pointed at her screen. “Got some of that to catch up on. Apparently 20 patients behind is the limit.”
She hummed as Dr. Shen sipped from his iced coffee and headed over to another computer.
After about an hour of flitting around and checking on patients, she realized Dr. Abbot still hadn’t arrived and wandered over to where Dr. Shen was still working.
He looked up as she approached and smiled wryly. “Ten patients down, ten to go.”
“Good progress. Hey—” She leaned over his desk. “Is Dr. Abbot here yet? I need to talk to him about something.”
“Hmm, no, I don’t think so. Think he mentioned last night he wouldn’t be around early so not to expect him.” Shen shrugged. “What do you need to talk to him about?”
She hesitated. While she had made the decision, there was one small part of her that wondered if this was the right decision. Her mom had been unsupportive, telling Samira it was risky. And despite how upset Samira was with her mom, she valued her mother’s opinion.
So, she responded, “I wanted to let him know I decided to pursue an EMS fellowship.”
Shen turned his attention fully towards her. “EMS?”
She shrunk, worried he thought it was ridiculous. “Dr. Abbot suggested it.”
At that, Shen smiled and nodded firmly. “Good eye. You’ll be a good fit. And, you didn’t hear it from me —” he leaned in conspiratorially and lowered his voice. “— but I heard they’re looking to hire a full-time attending to be the lead of emergency preparedness from the fellowship program.” He straightened and winked at her. “You’ll be a great fit, Dr. Mohan.”
Samira wanted to ask him more questions, but he had already turned all his attention back to his charting. Now this was intriguing. It settled her nerves in a way. It was a plan. Something concrete to reach towards at the end of her fellowship — if she got it.
“Dr. Mohan, your patient in South 15 is asking for you!” Perlah pushed some papers into her hand. “Here are the results of their tests.”
She suddenly focused back on the ED around her. “Right. Thanks, Perlah!” Samira yelled futilely behind the fast-moving woman.
Samira shook her head. It was time to focus on the job in front of her.
Jack Abbot considered that he perhaps needed a break. Then, he shook that notion off, along with the tendrils of sleep encroaching on his mind. It didn’t take long for him to focus on the job. There never were enough hands at the Pitt, and tonight was no exception.
As soon as he walked in, Dana was there, handing him a tablet with the patient files that would be transitioning to night shift. “And Dr. Al is just finishing up talking with the family of the patient in Trauma 2, and then she’ll finish up hand-off.”
“How’s the waiting room looking?” he asked her, glancing through the files.
“Oh, better than usual. Averaging three and a half hours instead of four. I’m headin’ out since Lena and I finished hand-off already.” She smiled at him, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “Have fun with the family in pedes.”
Dana rushed off before he could ask questions. Jack flipped through the files and found the patient in pedes, a twelve-year-old, five-foot-nine football player with a concussion and steroids in his bloodstream. He glanced down at the notes. Violent. Dad’s a marine.
He groaned. What a way to start the night. A marine, a giant kid, and CPS.
“Dr. Abbot,” John Shen called for him. Jack never went a day without being needed. “Caught up on my charting. Oh, and Samira was looking for you.”
Jack’s eyebrows stitched together. “Hmm, did she head out yet?”
“Nah, she’s working a double today. And thank god for that. Some kids are out ‘practicing’ for the Vintage Grand Prix in their dads’ cars.” He nodded at the screen, where a police chase was playing out. “I have my money on a seven car pile-up, one cop, our territory. All of them are white.”
“Uh-uh, Shen. Four cars, two cops, Westbridge’s territory.” Ellis smiled in greeting as she handed a twenty-five to Ahmad. “They’re all definitely white, though.”
“Who even bet on anything else?” Shen asked her.
“Javadi. Said one of them was gonna be Indian.” They both snorted.
Abbot rolled his eyes. “Okay, kids. I didn’t hear any of this.” He handed Ahmad a five. “No cars, no cops. For good luck.” He walked towards the locker room before anyone could ask him any questions about race.
Thankfully, that was where he found Dr. Mohan. She turned around flustered when he opened the door, but it quickly melted into a warm smile. “Dr. Abbot!”
“Dr. Mo-han. You needed me?” He couldn’t help himself, sometimes. It was fun flirting with Samira, fun watching her flirt back or tactfully sidestep him. He always watched for discomfort. There never was any.
“I wanted to let you know that I considered the EMS fellowship, and I think I want to apply. Would you still be open to writing me a recommendation?”
Pride ballooned in his chest. “Yes, of course. I’ll get it to you as soon as I can.” He clapped her on the shoulder. “You’ll be a shoe-in.”
Before she could respond, the door opened and Ellis stuck her head through, face annoyed. “Seven cars, one cop. Ten minutes out.”
Samira sighed. “Thank you. I’ll see you out there.” He watched her walk out behind Ellis.
Shaking his head to himself, he opened up his phone and sent the email he had drafted to Dr. Heiland before quickly changing and facing his shift.
Dr. Heiland,
Hope you've been well. I wanted to let you know one of our R4s will be applying for the EMS fellowship. I know you haven't gotten the chance to speak to her, but remember the resident I told you about? That's her. Think she'll be a great fit for our program, even better for our emergency lead. Her name is Dr. Samira Mohan. Keep an eye out for her application.
Best,
Dr. Jack Abbot