Page 27 of Her Braun
"I think the boy's going to require surgery."
Thuy nodded. "I called up to the OR and they've got a room waiting. Are you scrubbing in?"
Kay shook her head. "Doctor Webb has already called in a second to meet him in the OR. I'm staying here in the ER."
Thuy stood up and gave her a smile that almost lifted her spirits.
"While we have things under control down here, why don't you go and take a minute. Splash some water on your face, or," Thuy looked up at the white board and their current situation with patients, "go take a shower and grab something to eat."
Kay shook her head. "I've seen the menu in the lunchroom today, and-"
"Here." Thuy held out her hand and Kay saw a protein bar sitting on her palm, the shiny wrapper almost glowing in the fluorescent lights. "Seriously, Kay. Take a moment for yourself."
A smile wasn't so hard to rustle up anymore.
Kay picked up the protein bar and read the label. "Mint Chocolate?"
Thuy nodded. "I know that's a favorite flavor of yours."
Kay wrapped her hand around the bar and nodded. "Thanks. I think I will take that shower, but you know where-"
"We've been working together since you came to Cole Medical, Kay. I'll come and find you if we need to."
Her shoulders sagged in relief.
"Thanks, Thuy." She took a few steps down the hall and called back over her shoulder. "For everything!"
The locker room was blissfully empty when she got there, and she made quick work of showering and washing off as much of her stress as she could manage. It didn't help that what she needed to get rid of wasn't on her skin, but in her head.
When she sat down on one of the benches to pull her hair back into submission, she looked over at her phone which had remained dark and silent for most of the day.
As she pulled on her shoes and fiddled with the laces, she wondered if there was a reason for her to message Gibson. It seemed ridiculous to just send him a 'Hi!' or a 'How are you?' when they hadn't really said much to each other in the last couple of weeks.
It wasn't a surprise to her when the text messages and the calls that they'd managed to squeeze in had ground to a halt.
She couldn't even say that it was Gibson who'd dropped the ball.
It took two people to have a relationship.
And whatever relationship they'd had before, had floundered and fizzled out.
Sitting up she smacked her palms on her thighs as she got up on her feet. "Better now than... later, right?"
Because they'd had a few moments with each other. A couple of talks. Some food.
She'd even slobbered a little on his arm when she'd fallen asleep on him.
Sure, Gibson hadn't said anything, but she was sure she had.
And all in all it was almost a relief that she could think about the 'what ifs.'
If they'd gone out on a date, which is what she'd hoped they might, then letting things go would be worse.
She might feel a gaping hole in her middle instead of the nagging irritation that came with what she knew was a missed chance.
"Damn it."
She hit the side of her hand against the nearest locker and winced. She wasn't someone who hit things or kicked things.
