Chapter Text
Kayla sat in the back room, her books spread across the small table. Sitting there staring at the words that no longer made sense. She should have known hauling her books here would be pointless. She twirled her pen in her hand as she tried to absorb the anatomy textbook in front of her. Her brown eyes were tired, and the small print was giving her a headache.
She only worked at this stupid place for the extra cash. Once she was a resident, she could make some decent money. Better than this place that was for damn sure. The stupid Dunkin' black apron wrapped around her uncomfortably.
As she tried to will herself to memorize the anatomy that covered the page, she felt her cellphone ring in her back pocket, dragging her away from her books as she pulled it up. Mom flashing across the screen, taunting her. She always knew when she was on break.
She sighed, swiping accept and putting the phone to her ear as she began to clean up the books. "Mom?" Kayla answered in Vietnamese. "I'm on break just now, but not for long."
"Your sister called me today," her mother replied. Kayla nodded to herself as she managed to get the books back into the bag, listening to her mother discuss the latest news of Julie and her family. At this point, she knew her mother was just worried about her working at night. But she had to get used to it; when she got her PTMC information, she was assigned to the night shift. She had to accept it, so she took the night shifts to help her prepare. Even if it bothered her parents. So she let her mother talk, let her give her gossip, even if it meant she would be home in the next five hours anyway.
As her mother was finishing describing Julie's new house and how the kids were loving it, she heard the door to the staff room open, making her jump.
"Oh shit, sorry," Sammy stopped herself, her hand going to her mouth as soon as the words left her mouth. Sammy moved closer to her, whispering as Kayla's mother continued on the other end. "Quick, your lover boy is here."
"Mom, I have to go, love you," she said to her mother, then quickly shoved the chair back, ran to the mirror, and made herself look presentable. She should have known she had taken her break at the wrong time, but it had been slow.
Rushing out, she moved to the counter. Looking out into the line. There he was. John. Standing there in his black scrubs. The ones she recognized were similar to the ones she had. Looking easy-going as he waited in line, he had nowhere else to go or be.
"Jessie, do you wanna switch on cash? Probably a good break time for you, too," Kayla asked as she moved beside the younger girl.
"Sure, let me just finish this customer, and we can." Jessie looked thankful, and once she was done, she gave a nod of thanks before heading out to the staff room.
So Kayla took her time, getting through every customer, watching and waiting as John moved closer. Finally, he was at the cash, an easy-going smile on his face.
"Hi John," she said with a smile, ignoring the butterflies that were fluttering in her stomach. He was too handsome, too easy-going. The air about him, she knew, would make anyone feel calm, her even if she wasn't so damn nervous to talk to him. "Your usual?"
"Yeah, thanks," he shot her a smile that made her stomach flip more. "I didn't see you when I came in, thought maybe you had tonight off." He raised his card, ready to tap. But Kayla felt her fingers shaking now. He noticed? What did that mean?
"I was just on break. Do you ever work days?" Kayla asked as she gestured for him to tap; he did quickly.
"I prefer nights anyway,"
"Me too," Kayla cursed herself. It wasn't a total lie. She liked nights when John worked nights; when John didn't work, it sucked. She didn't have the heart to tell him this was her last consistent day. This was it. The last time she would likely see him was before her schedule got messed up again. She tried not to look creepy as she memorized him. Maybe she would see him in the halls of PTMC. But that felt unlikely; who knows what floor he worked on? Maybe she should ask? Getting jogged away from her thoughts as Sammy was handing him his large iced coffee.
"Thanks," he said to Sammy, giving her a polite smile. "Night, Kayla,"
She felt her face grow heated, smiling back, "Night, John." With a nod and a raise of the drink, he moved out the door. "He knows my name."
"You've only been working here for two years, and-" Sammy rolled her eyes, reaching over and tapping Kayla's uniform, where the name tag sat. "It's on your apron."
But Kayla wasn't listening. He had said her name. On her last steady day at Dunkin', he did know her name. She felt like she was floating through the rest of the shift, managing to get through all the customers, cleaning, shutting down, and closing the cash. Kayla almost sighed in relief, taking the apron and visor off and folding them before stuffing them into her backpack.
Getting home, she unlocked the door and quietly entered the dark household. Everyone else was likely asleep. Trying as best she could, slipping her shoes off and placing them in her designated spot in the shoe rack, switching to her slippers. Slipping them on before heading further inside, her backpack slung over one shoulder. She could see a light coming from the kitchen.
Riley stood inside, using a ladle to spoon out a portion of pho into each dish. Kayla smiled at her younger sister as she slid in. "Hey, I figured everyone would be asleep by now."
"Ava made pho, but she misjudged the timing. Mom and Dad ate already, so they went to bed. We figured we could wait a little bit longer for you."
"Ava made it?" Kayla couldn't help the excitement she felt. She dropped her backpack in the corner. Ava had always been the one more interested in cooking. Sous chef in her own right.
"Yeah, mom was upset about your night shift."
"Don't worry, she called me," Kayla said with a reassuring smile, beginning to grab chipsticks for each of them and soup spoons.
"Did you want to study together?" Riley asked as she finished dividing the rest of the dish from the pot, then placed the rest in a container and stored it. Kayla moved the pot to the sink, soaking it with dish soap and warm water. She'd do that dish later when she needed a break.
The girls moved, bringing the dishes to the table and setting up. Finding a spot, Ava came down herself. Spending the late night dinner whispering and laughing together before cleaning up. Getting dishes done before all three of them were spreading across the dining room table. They worked on their own tasks quietly into the early morning before separating and heading to bed.
Kayla had managed to spend the day in bed or relaxing. She showered and then pulled on her black scrubs. She couldn't help but think about John. Would they run into each other? Was it standard for the entire hospital? She ate quickly, kissing her mother on the cheek before she rushed to catch the bus. Heading for PTMC.
The nerves were eating at her as she arrived at the front of the hospital. making her way through the double doors, getting through the metal detectors, and heading into the busy waiting room. She waited in line, slowly making her way to the reception desk. Introducing herself, receiving her badge, and being let inside. Winding through the hall, following the directions.
Everyone felt everywhere, bodies constantly rushing past her as she moved towards the central desk. Looking up to find the list of what looked to be patients above them. Spotting a blonde and red-haired woman talking quietly.
"Hi," Kayla pushed her black hair behind her ear that had already managed to escape her ponytail on the commute. "I'm Kayla, MS3?"
The redhead looked up, giving her a warm smile, "Hi hun, I'm Lena, the charge nurse for night shift. Just wait here," She went back to looking at the computer in front of her. "Dr. Shen is your attending today."
"Oh. ok," So Kayla stood at the hub, watching as everyone was moving fast, people leaving, people entering. Kayla couldn't help but feel like this was what Dunkin' felt like during the rush. Something strangely comforting about that.
She froze as she saw a tall figure walking along with a familiar individual with his regular Dunkin' in his hand. They had a casual discussion as they approached. John's eyes scanned over the ED, passing over her before finally settling on eye contact as he approached, confusion on his face as the taller man moved away from him and headed out the way Kayla had come.
John moved closer, "Kayla?"
Shit, she felt as her mouth hung open before she could find her voice. Her throat felt dry. "John?"
This had caught Lena's attention. "Do you two know each other?"
John didn't look like he knew what to say, lost for words, just as she felt. "Hi," he tried to return to the usual ease. "I'm Doctor Shen, I'll be your attending."
Kayla nodded, her voice wavering. "Kayla Tran, MS3."
So what if she had a crush on her new boss? It was fine. This was fine. Only twelve hours to go. She could make it.
Maybe.
It was fine, this was all fine. So what if she felt like anytime John was near her, she might be having a heart attack? So what if he smiled at her when she got a question right, like he was proud of her.
Working on a trauma that had rolled in, of course, John was there, his guidance calm and steady. Even when she couldn't tell where the nerves were coming from. He guided her gently through the trauma confidently, even as her own heart beat continued to get faster. Their hands had brushed as they worked, and Kayla shoved that spark down. It wasn't the time.
Focus.
Managing to stabilize the patient. Everyone in the room seemed to give a sigh of relief as things began to calm down. Kayla moved, ripping off the gloves, with her own sigh of relief, even if the adrenaline still ran through her.
"Hey," John had said, as the patient was being rolled out for the OR. He was looking at her now with the same charming smile on his face. "You did great."
She felt like she might vomit, but she nodded, because the way he made sure to tell her was intoxicating. "Thanks," she managed to get out.
He nodded, moving closer like he wanted to say something, but seemed to think better of it, spotting something behind her through the door, giving her a nod as he was heading out the door.
Kayla stood in the trauma room trying to get her breathing to regulate. She needed fresh air badly.
Moving out of the trauma room, sneaking out through the ambulance doors, the fresh night air washed over her. Easing her, already feeling as though her body was regulating.
She wasn't sure how long she stood there, letting her eyes close as she absorbed the fresh night air, focusing on her body regulating.
"Hey," she heard John's voice behind her, her eyes snapping open as he came up beside her. His eyes closed, as he took a deep sigh before he opened them again to look at her. "You ok?"
"Yeah," she couldn't help the smile on her face. "I was just thinking about how an emergency department doesn't feel all that different than a Dunkin' rush."
John laughed, "I've been there during that rush, I believe it," he seemingly moved closer, enough that it allowed him to talk a little lower. "About earlier, I mean, I was just shocked to see you,"
"Oh, no. I get it, it's ok."
"Ok," he nodded, "It wasn't because I didn't want people to know we know each other."
"Ok." Kayla nodded, looking at the ground. "Good. Had to admit, I did get kind of worried. Dunkin' girl showing up at your job would be a shock."
"Yeah," but his eyes widened, "No-" quickly, "Just was shocked like I didn't know you were in med school."
"Oh, yeah. I could see that being a shock."
"If-" he was looking away now, seemingly looking up and down as if searching for any random ambulances. "If you have any questions, I'm always here to help."
"Thank you, Dr. Shen."
He looked back like he was shocked to hear his name, shaking his head. "Shen's fine, or you know if we are alone, John is fine still."
"Ok," she could feel her cheeks heating as he turned back to her, "John."
"Right." He was looking into her eyes now, as if he couldn't look away. He looked like he was about to say something else, but the sound of sirens burst through the night air as an ambulance sped through the bay, causing both of them to jump. When had they gotten close? Touching distance had somehow happened.
Both of them turned to focus on the ambulance and the patient being brought in.
The rest of the night seemed to go on the same way, Kayla finding herself close to John through the traumas, or he would ask Henderson or Ellis to show her a case. But somehow, he was always calling her back later on for another trauma.
By the end of the night, her feet were sore, and she was exhausted. Waving goodbye to everyone as she finished her charting and went to grab her things. Checking her phone, which she had left on silent, she found three calls from mom. She'd get to those later when she was on the bus, already on the way home.
"Kayla?" she heard behind her as she was already moving through the hall towards chairs. She paused, looking up to find John there.
"Hi?"
"How are you getting home?"
"Bus,"
"Could I-" he swallowed, like he was unsure if he should continue, looking awkwardly. "Could I drive you home?"
"Oh," she couldn't help the smile she hoped covered the butterflies in her stomach. "I wouldn't want to impose."
"You wouldn't be," he shook his head, clearing his throat. "It's safer, and it'll be faster. I just have to hand off to Robby. If you wait for me."
Kayla nodded her head. "I would like that," She paused, "but I absolutely don't want to stop at Dunkin'."
"Don't worry, I uh-" he looked around quickly, a small nervous laugh escaped him, "I was going to see you anyway."
Kayla couldn't help but smile, "I'll wait for you."
"Cool," he nodded, backing up down the hall backward as if watching to see if she would disappear before he turned around to walk quickly back to the hub, where Dr. Robby was already standing.
She could do this. This was better than any shift at Dunkin'.