Chapter Text
It was Emma Nolan who noticed first. Because of course it was. Dana could be accused of many things, but being a bad teacher was not one of them.
"You okay, Dana?" Emma tilted her head. Dana was reminded starkly of a confused puppy. She'd never understood why they did that, but she had to admit it was cute. Even though she was a little annoyed. "You look pale."
"Fine, hon," Dana waved a hand, adjusting her glasses as she checked her tablet. Maybe she was avoiding eye contact. What of it. "How's that patient in South 20?"
"He's fine." Emma leaned forward, her eyes narrowed in concern when Dana finally glanced up again. "Have you been drinking enough?"
Dana snorted. "Don't be motherin' me now, kid. Run along and bother someone else." She liked Emma. The kid was smart, good at her job, and yes, very sweet. But sometimes she was determined. Stubborn, one might say. It reminded Dana of herself, and at times she didn't quite care for it.
Luckily, though, Emma looked distinctly chastened by her words. "Okay. Make sure you eat something, though. We need you."
"Yeah, like I need a fuckin' cigarette." Dana muttered, rolling her eyes as Emma finally headed off. She returned to her tablet. Maybe the kid wasn't so wrong, though. Dana was feeling rather fuzzy. A cup of coffee and a protein bar couldn't hurt. There was a sort of lull to the chaos now, so stepping away for a moment surely wouldn't hurt.
However, on her way to the staff lounge, Dana was intercepted first by Javadi, then Ogilvie, then Robby himself.
"You mind helping me out with this one?" The latter asked, jerking his head toward the incoming trauma. "Think you'll like it."
"As if I've ever liked any of 'em." Dana scoffed, but she followed the attending into the trauma bay.
The trauma was interesting, though Dana would rather die than admit that to anyone. Especially Robby. He'd tease her about it endlessly, and then everyone would find out she had interests beyond watching Cassie lift patients from one gurney to another. That discovery had been embarrassing enough. Once they finally got the patient stable and headed up to the OR, she ducked out, intent on that protein bar, when Princess roped her into a different case.
And on and on it went, Dana pulled every which way. She forgot about the protein bar eventually, instead ending back up at the Hub with her tablet in hand. She was really lightheaded now, but there were only a few hours left, so she figured she could push through it. Famous last words.
"D, you look like shit."
Dana looked up and scowled at her girlfriend.
Cassie was leaning over the counter, frowning at her. Her bangs were in disarray, a telltale sign of how busy she'd been in triage. "When's the last time you ate? Or drank some water?"
"I'll grab something in a sec," Dana muttered, already annoyed. Thankfully, she was quickly distracted as Perlah rushed over to ask her some question or another.
Cassie's expression remained unconvinced when Dana looked back over at her. Christ, was everyone she worked with this relentless? "Do I need to get Baran to bully you into eating something?" she asked lowly once Perlah had hurried off again.
"No." Dana snapped at her. She bit back a wince, knowing the speed of her answer was as unconvincing as the answer itself. If Cassie was persistent, Baran was far worse. Besides, Dana found it really difficult to say no to her. "I told you, I'll go in a sec. You don't need to worry her."
"Worry who?"
Fuck. Dana turned in her chair. Her other girlfriend stood behind her, phone in one hand and water bottle in the other. Confusion was written across her face, which would've been cute under other circumstances. "Nothing. No one." Dana cut a glare at Cassie, who shrugged innocently. Damn her lovely concerned girlfriends who never knew how to leave her alone.
Baran's brows furrowed marginally. Dana wanted to kick herself. "Are you sure? You—"
"Dana!" Thank God for Robby in that moment, giving her an out.
"Hold that thought." Dana held up one hand in Baran's direction, spinning her chair to meet the attending. She peered at him over the rim of her reading glasses. "What?"
"Oh, sorry, is this a bad time?" Robby arched a brow, looking annoyed. He clearly knew he was interrupting.
"Never." Dana could feel Cassie and Baran's gazes boring into her. She tried to shrug the feeling off. "What can I do for ya?"
Robby beckoned with a quick jerk of his head. "You mind?"
"Not in the slightest." Dana pushed her glasses to her forehead and stood. Which, in hindsight, bad move. The room spun around her and she barely managed to stay upright. Her heart jolted into her throat and then her knees gave.
"Shit, Dana." A pair of strong arms caught her before she could really go down, easing her to the floor. Someone cradled her head carefully, resting it against something solid behind her.
Dana blinked. Worried faces swam into focus. Baran, Cassie. Robby. She was sitting against the desk now, Baran's grip on her shoulder unwavering and Cassie's troubled blue eyes filling most of her vision. "Ffffuck," she mumbled.
"What just happened?" Robby pulled out a penlight and flicked it between her eyes.
"Stop that," Dana pushed his hand away. "'M fine. I just… need an snack."
"D, you almost passed out." Cassie snapped, her expression turning from anxious to irritated. "You're not fine. Do not move," she added exasperatedly as Dana shifted to try and get her feet back under her.
More faces, all wearing expressions of curiosity and worry, joined the crowd. Emma. Princess. Whitaker. Well, double fuck. What Dana really wanted was to get up, send them all away, and act like none of this had happened. Both Cassie's steady gaze and Baran's tight grip on her kept her from doing so. So Dana simply averted her eyes, fixing them on Baran's face so she could pretend not to notice Cassie's concern was boring into her.
Baran glanced up. Dana saw the way the muscle in her jaw jumped, saw the way her expression flickered the briefest panic, saw her take the edge of her lip in her teeth. "Michael—" the attending hissed.
"On it." He stood, shooing the gathering crowd away. "Dana's fine. She just needs fluids. Princess, grab a chair. We'll put her in— what's free?" he turned his gaze toward the patient board, squinting without his glasses.
"North 5." Dana answered automatically. She may forget to eat but she practically had the board memorized. Could probably recite it in her sleep. "Don't waste a room on me, Robby."
He ignored her. Because of course he did.
Princess reappeared with a wheelchair. Cassie and Baran carefully helped Dana to her feet, depositing her in the chair. It was only slightly more humiliating than passing out in front of everyone, Dana reflected.
"I'll take her from here." Cassie told the nurse, who nodded, her eyes wide.
Baran hesitated before leading Cassie and Dana to the room.
"I can get on the bed myself," Dana snapped once the door was firmly shut behind them. She crossed her arms defensively across her chest as Cassie and Baran traded an irked look.
"You just fainted in front of us." Cassie said sharply, "Baran caught you. We're gonna help your ass into bed whether you like it or not."
Mutinous but deciding it was better not to argue, Dana allowed her girlfriends to get her settled into the bed. Baran carefully inserted a needle into the crook of her elbow while Cassie prepped a bag of fluids. Once that was going, they perched on either side of the bed, wearing expressions of worry and exasperation respectively.
"You need to be more careful." Cassie scolded, though the way she ran her thumb of Dana's knuckles betrayed her anxiety. "The last thing we need is you cracking your head open."
Dana huffed, unwittingly finding herself softening now that they were alone. "I got distracted. It won't happen again."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." Baran broke in, her voice gentle but knowing. "You scared me, Dana."
Dana withdrew her hand from Cassie's to rub her face. "I'm sorry." She wasn't even that surprised to find she meant it. She knew her habits weren't the best. She'd gotten away with it for so long, mostly because there hadn't been anyone to truly care for her. Not that she was complaining, of course. It was just… something she was still adjusting to.
"That's better." Cassie softened. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Dana's forehead. "Never do that again." She murmured, but all the fight seemed drained out of her.
Dana laughed half-heartedly. "I'll do my best."
"I'm gonna go let Robby know you're alright." Cassie cradled her cheek for a moment, then left the room, touching Baran's shoulder as she passed.
Dana could feel Baran's gaze burning into her. She stared at her hands, too ashamed— or maybe too afraid— to meet her girlfriend's eye.
"What do I need to bribe you to stay here until end of shift?" Baran asked finally. There was a tiny hint of humor in her voice. Dana's chest loosened by a fraction.
"Bribe?" Dana barked a surprised laugh. "You should know me better than that by now." She could not be paid a million dollars to sit around in a hospital bed when there were so many out there who needed her help. Call it a saviour's complex, or whatever. She didn't care.
"Until the bag is empty?" Baran tried.
Dana snorted.
"Twenty minutes. Final offer." Baran stated, "if you don't accept, I'll station Ahmad outside so you can't leave."
Dana fussed with the edge of the blanket. Baran had gotten unfortunately good at backing her into corners recently. "…fine." She conceded. "Twenty minutes. No Ahmad."
"Deal."
Dana finally looked up. Baran's dark eyes lit up when they found hers. "I really am sorry," Dana found herself saying. "The day got away from me."
"As it tends to do." Baran hummed. She reached out and put one hand over Dana's. "Make sure you eat something. Please."
"I will." Dana nodded. She wished, rather childishly, that Baran would kiss her. But she wouldn't, not here, not now. Instead, the attending squeezed her hand and stood, disappearing back into the chaos of the Pitt.