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I'll go with you — he said seriously. She couldn't believe what she was hearing and as if he could read his mind he said — Pick the place and I'll be there with you.
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Samira didn't have to leave Pittsburgh, it was more if she wanted to. And she wasn't sure she wanted to stay. She didn't have much here or really anywhere. Only one thing could make her stay. Someone. Him. Jack.
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After the 4th of July, when all her plans were gone, she was staring at a blank page of her life, but not in the comforting sense, more in an impending doom kind of way. That's how they found each other. He found her sobbing on a park bench and she explained everything in between sobs and shaky breaths. He offered to write her a letter of recommendation and find her fellowships and attending positions. He texted her endless links to applications, she appreciated it. Then they would meet to continue the applications and to update the spreadsheet Jack had made. One night, when most of her applications moved to interviews, they kissed. She felt on fire, it was messy and intense and right. They surrendered to each other that night too, Jack telling her between kisses he wasn't expecting anything in return. She didn't do it because she felt like he owed him anything, but because she wanted to. After that they went to each other every night and every morning.
She met his family, all his sisters and all the husbands and all the children. He met her mother, when they dropped her at the airport, after Jack helped Samira to move out her stuff from her childhood home.
They acted like colleagues at work, this was theirs and the eyes at PTMC didn't have a right to it.
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Robby didn't end up leaving. So she did her best to ignore his judging stares and passive aggressive comments the months she had left to finish residency. She could tell he was doing worse. At first people tried to understand. Dana would tell him to take it easy. McKay would casually share insights of her past in hopes he would see things get better. Al-Hashimi tried to ease his workload. Jack would check on him, give pep talks and remind him therapy is an option. But none of this worked, and people stopped trying. Students would be scared of him. Dana would do the most basic small talk. Al-Hashimi gave up on trying to improve the ED after all her proposals would have him explode in anger and she went back to the VA. Jack stopped checking up on him after he realized it wasn't good for him to be around Robby anymore.
People started to leave. Whitaker found a rural clinic where to finish his residency. Some nurses moved to other departments. Santos and McKay moved to the night shift. Even Langdon was leaving, after understanding he was never getting Robby's trust back, he accepted a teaching fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.
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She was surprised by the offer. An attending position at PTMC. Gloria called her one morning to her office and extended her a contract. Samira asked for time to think about it. Gloria was a little shocked by this, and offered to discuss if she wanted better benefits. Samira smiled kindly and said she just wanted to make sure it was the right choice.
She was staring at the pro and cons list she made with the 4 choices she narrowed down to: New York, Maine, Boston and Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh didn't have much against the other options, the benefits were pretty much the same as the others and the pay wasn't bad but not enough to make her choose it immediately. But it did have a benefit the others didn't have. Jack was here. And she couldn't ignore that.
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It wasn't the first time he thought about it. He had thought about it even before Samira. When he felt like he didn't have much in this city. Jen, his late wife, wasn't even buried here, he and her family sprayed her ashes at the sea, like she wanted. He had a couple friends, Robby being his closest. But lately he didn't enjoy being around him. He could see him destroying himself and refusing any help. And at some point he realized he was getting more anxious about the idea of being around him. It wasn't only Jack who felt like this, the night shift became a safe place for the personnel that couldn't stand Robby anymore. He was aware the day shift was even more understaffed than before. He felt bad about it, but there wasn't a lot he could do. He discussed with his therapist if it was selfish that he didn't want to be around Robby anymore, but he explained it is natural to drift away from people who refuse help, something about a self preservation instinct.
So he started to entertain the idea of leaving. He knew Samira would most likely leave, she didn't have offers in Pittsburgh. He was more disheartened by the idea of her leaving without him than by the idea of leaving the city. He wanted to be with her, anywhere in the world, he never thought he would love again so he was not going to give that up to be a doctor at the pitt when he could be a doctor anywhere.
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Samira told him Gloria had made her offer and she had asked for time to consider it. He wasn't surprised by this but he couldn't shake the feeling that PTMC wasn't the best choice.
They were having Chinese on his couch, the pros and cons list was on the coffee table when he saw his name as a pro on the Pittsburgh side. She couldn't decide where to take her career, having to consider where he was.
— How is that going? — he said pointing at the list while he took a bite.
— Not very well — she said while playing with her food. — I don't think that list is helping.
— You don't have to factor me in — he said looking at her.
— Oh — she looked down— I just thought… — she set the take out box on the coffee table and got up from the couch — but I understand — she said with a sad smile.
— No, Mira… — he reached for her hand, grabbed it, pulling her down to sit her on his lap. — what I mean is…
— Really, Jack, I understand — she interrupted. — you have a life here and… — she tried to get up again.
— I'll go with you— he said, looking at her deep in the eye. She looked back at him as if he was speaking a language she didn't understand. — Pick the place and I'll be there with you.
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“ maybe I just don't belong here”. And she didn't. She didn't belong to PTMC. Or Pittsburgh. Or Jersey. So she left. They both left.
Samira met with Gloria the next morning to let her know her decision. She thanked her for considering her, but she would not be an attending at PTMC. Gloria offered to top the salary of any other offer she had, but still she didn't accept.
Word that she was moving to New York after residency spread through the ED department.
— Good Job, kid — said Dana — NYU Langone is no small accomplishment.
—Thank you — she responded warmly.
— Congratulations, Samira — said McKay as she hugged her.— You are gonna do great.
She received warm hugs from Mel, Santos and Javadi. From the nurses too, Princess, Perla, Jesse, Emma, Mateo, Donnie and everyone, along with their good wishes.
Everyone except one. Not that she was hoping he would.
Jack delivered his resignation letter with a six week notice. Enough time to train a new attending if it was necessary.
Finding a job in New York wasn't difficult. Getting an offer from NYU Langone wasn't so surprising either with all his years of experience in the army and his reputation at PTMC. They even asked him if he would give an eight week course on campus. He never saw himself as a teacher in a classroom but he was honored and accepted immediately.
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He found Robby at the ambulance bay the night after putting in his six week notice.
— Heard you quit — said Robby without even looking at him.
— I did — he was standing next to him but Robby didn't turn to face him. — got a good offer at… —
— NYU— Robby now turned his head to look at him— Same as Samira — he knew, of course he knew, it wasn't difficult to put two and two together.
— Yes. — he said calmly.
— How long? — there was a slight anger on his voice.
— Some months.
— And now you are leaving? With her? — he said, raising his voice and a mocking tone. This infuriated Jack, but he didn't let his anger show.
— I am— he said firmly, wishing this conversation would go better. Wishing his friend would be happy for him— It's for the better.
— I can't believe this — he said bitterly. — You leave everything just for her. — Jack only got more angry.
— Take care, Robby. — was the last thing he said before walking into the ED.
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The weeks flew by and Samira and Jack found an apartment. They walked the city and drove the roads that will be leading them to work. They found coffeeshops and bars and parks near their soon to be new home. The air in New York was different, more smog of course, but also lighter.
And suddenly it was their last day at PTMC. Samira threw the couple of things she had left on her locker into her backpack and closed it for the last time. She shared a hug and her best wishes with Langdon. Mel teared up a little bit and thanked her for what she had taught her. Santos hugged her as well and reminded her to keep being badass. The whole floor signed a card for her. She said her thanks and waved her goodbyes. Jack did the same, asking everyone to reach out if they ever needed anything.
And they walked out of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’ Emergency Department one last time.
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They had a week to settle down before they started their respective positions at NYU Langone. They packed their stuff and shoved on the boxes on the cargo trailer they rented. At some point, during their six hour drive from Pittsburgh to New York they left like some weight was lifted from their shoulders. Both of them ready to start a new chapter.
They moved into their new home that they soon filled with furniture and pictures on the walls. Their first day went good for both of them, they fell into place like they were always supposed to be there. Samira quickly grew a distinguished reputation at the ED, even as a fellow she was already respected. Jack's eight week course drew the attention of the students and the dean’s office asked him to repeat it for the next semester.
He proposed five months into their New York life, told her he loved her and wanted to share the rest of his days with her. The wedding was small, a courthouse wedding with a reception at a restaurant with their family and close friends.
They exchanged private vows as they walked home for their first night as husband and wife.
— Samira Mohan, from the second I saw you under the fluorescent lights of the emergency department I knew you were an extraordinary person and time has only proved me right — he took a shaky breath — Being a witness to your caring, dedicated and fierce nature and the biggest privilege of my life, I would follow you to the ends of the universe, I love you is not enough to hold my devotion for you but are the closest words. I love you.
— Jack Abbot, you walked into my life to offer unconditional support, never asked for anything in return, showed me that my empty life only meant an infinite of possibilities — she took a deep breath a gave him a teary smile — and my favorites will always be the ones where I have you by my side. The greatest honor of my life is having you walk the unknown paths of life by my side. I would spend every second of my life telling you that I love you and it wouldn't be enough. I love you.
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Two years later they bought a beautiful house, three bedrooms and a big oak tree in the backyard, perfect for their growing family. They had adopted Toby four months before and their apartment was small for the three year old toddler. Their twin daughters, Avani and Ila, arrived nineteen months later.
They had built a life. One they never even imagine they could live. Full of laughter and challenges and love. They would only look back at Pittsburgh to remember how their story started. They both left there the emptiness and the sadness that city put on their souls. They both left and never returned.