RP Log with learninghearts | BFF Catch Up

[cutandlearn]

[Follows THIS, THIS and THIS]

Aimee paused in the hallway outside of Chris' hospital room in the ICU. She kept the file tucked under her arm and put a hand on her chest over her scrubs to try and brace herself. She let out a long, shaky breath and kept telling herself over and over that she could do it. She had to do it. Sable had interrogated her about holding up through a conflict of interest, but at the end of the day, it would be a good learning curve. The whole situation could only make her stronger, right? She made her way quietly into the room, finding Serena sitting there by herself next to Chris. She was sat forward with her elbows on the edge of his mattress and her hands cupped around one of his as she just watched his face. First glimpse at this sight and Aimee wanted to burst into tears.

She had heard all about it, of course. She hadn't spoken directly to Serena but she had Dave when she was able. She had been on a training day in Orlando when the transplant surgery was given the go-ahead and she wasn't back in time for the start of it. She only made it back to the hospital when news of the complications came and Sable paged her into work, which is where she had been ever since. Sable had been by later, but for now, Aimee had to assess Chris and report what she believed the best course of action would be. That was easier said than done when your comatose patient was your best friend's lover. She cleared her throat softly and came over to stand beside Serena. When her friend looked up Aimee pressed her lips together to try and keep a hold of her emotions. She splayed her hand over the top of the file in her arms. "I-- he-- the abdominal aorta... part of the cardiovascular system," she tried to explain, even if it sounded a little stupid explaining that to another fully qualified doctor. Nothing about this was easy.

Serena gave Aimee a tired smile and looked back at Chris' face as she rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand. She so badly just wanted him to wake up so she knew he was okay. Right now she had no idea. She just wanted to see his blue eyes and that smile of his that told her he was okay. She kissed his hand and reluctantly let go of his hand to push back and give Aimee some room to move if she wanted it. "It's okay... I get it. Hi, by the way. I've really missed you. You just have no idea. I wish you'd been here before... Their mom's here. Mrs Deleo and I totally screamed at her." Serena reached out to touch Aimee's arm and gave it a squeeze.


Aimee's eyes widened at the news and she carefully placed Chris' file on the bed beside him so she could lean over and give Serena a secure hug, rubbing her back. "Their mom? Are you serious? Hell, that even takes the cake over my nerves. Dave's sister is here, and I've been shitting myself all day about running into her. I mean, he told me so it wouldn't get sprung on me, but... their mom, seriously? Fucking hell. Why did you yell at her? What's she like? Is she gorgeous? I always imagined she would be gorgeous, even before I saw Rick. But look at those two guys. That's some top notch genes right there," she decided and then sat down in the spare seat beside Serena. She reached over and gave Chris' leg a soft rub through the covers. "It's okay. It can wait a little bit before I start poking and prodding him. He's on a pretty heavy dose of Propofol. He won't be waking up yet. Shit, S. He looks so... so... broken."

"I know," Serena replied quietly before she took Chris' hand again. She just wanted him to know he wasn't alone. That he would never be alone. "I just want him to be okay... I want to know his heart won't stop again and scare the shit out of me. Their mom. Me and Drew called her, but we didn't expect her to just show up. We had no idea if she would because she just hung up on us. I guess the maternal thing just kicked in and she knew she was needed here. She didn't even wait for the why. She's so beautiful... I couldn't help the yelling! I just snapped when she walked right into me. I didn't even realise it was her, you know? She was just suddenly there and I was yelling at her and then it clicked and it clicked for her... People have been telling her about me, and now I'm just wondering what the hell she must think. She probably thinks I'm a giant bitch. Yeah, I met Dave's sister. She was there when Chris decided on the transplant. She's very pretty, definitely Dave's sister. I don't think you need to be scared about her. She's nice."

Aimee was looking over Chris's face with a small frown on her features. It was him, of course it was him. He was just so pale and still. His chest was rising and falling with the ventilator, but other than that, it was just Chris hidden under medical equipment, tubes, and wires. "It's so wrong. He's... this is not the side of medicine he should be on. I can't even..." She shook her head. "How is Rick doing? Does he know his mom is here? How could a woman ever deal with knowing both her children are seriously ill? I can't even fathom it. Even some days, I can't even easily cope with the fact I know Dave was seriously ill. I catch myself watching him like a hawk, or getting teary when I think of what he went through. How does someone even cope with this? The last time you spoke to Chris, he was perfectly healthy, and now... I'm glad she's here. She should be here, no matter what the story with their family is. The past is the past, right? Hey, people can be amazing and adorable, but still turn into a viper when their beloved brother or sister is involved. How would you feel if you didn't like someone Drew dated?"

Serena just nodded, the tears welling up as she still struggled to come to grips with the fact that he had been talking, joking, and cuddling with her the night before the transplant. They'd even been making out and joking about sex with Rick in the room. It had been perfect, it had been optimistic even if they'd both had their fears. Now it just seemed so cruel to have those fears warranted. She had no idea what Chris was even going to think of it all once he was awake. "Rick's actually doing well. He seems to be thriving with the new kidney. And I'm glad. I'm so glad. It makes this... It makes it worth it, I guess. Right? He did the right thing..." Serena took Aimee's hand with her free one and gave it a squeeze. "The past is past until it comes to their dad. Yeah, but she has to know that you're not hurting Dave, right? I don't usually like who Drew dates," she admitted with a quiet laugh.

Aimee's forehead creased in thought. "I have heard you mention Chris had a bad relationship with his father before. I take it that it's worse than you realised? Dave spoke a little about it. He said that Chris' dad used to beat his mom. I mean, I'm only talking secondhand here. But that was how Chris ended up convincing her to get a divorce. Dave was there at college when Chris came back from his hometown one night after his dad put his mom in hospital. Chris was... really, really angry. It makes you wonder how it all factors in, really. It would explain why they didn't tell her anything, though. Maybe they just feel she's been hurt too much. It's not like anyone can profess to think straight when everything goes bad, is it? I don't know what his sister knows. He talks about his family a lot, he's been missing them badly, but now one of them is here in the flesh and blood, I just figure they're going to be protective of him. They still have reason to. Looks can be deceiving. He's not doing as well as he always makes out."

Serena gave a small gasp of shock as she listened to Aimee, her eyes snapping back to Chris' face. "He never told me... That must have been what Mrs Deleo was referring to when she said that something happened that ensured Chris would never forgive their dad. Jesus... That's intense. I think she's just genuinely shocked with how much has been going on since she last heard from them." She turned to look at Aimee. "What do you mean? Is Dave okay?"

"It must be. It was something to do with their father drinking them into so much debt, they nearly lost the family home. She must still be up in their home town on her own. I mean, if Rick and Chris don't see her much, and she's divorced, it must get really lonely for her. Then to hear out of the blue her kids are both in hospital? Both of them technically fighting for their lives?" Aimee brushed her hands up and down her arms as she got a shiver just from thinking about the intensity of it all. "It makes you wonder, though. How could anyone not love a son like Chris? He's a doctor, and he's smart, and kind. What parent wouldn't be proud of that? Yet the father doesn't seem to be." She shrugged her shoulder a little and cleared her throat. "He's okay, he's just not one hundred percent. The teething problems in MT1 aside, it's easy to forget he's a cancer survivor himself. He's still fighting the aftermath. He... he has some troubles sometimes. In bed. It's a chemo thing. I know it frustrates him. I think he's been wanting to talk to Chris about it but with Chris' world basically falling apart, he hasn't been able to."

"Their father's a prick," Serena decided as she pressed her lips together in anger. She didn't know the man, but she'd heard enough. There was no forgiving something like putting the mother in hospital, and using Chris as a scapegoat. If she ever came face to face with him, Serena was going to wind up tearing his balls off. Assuming he even had any. "He's done too much damage. Apparently he had a problem with Chris being more like Carla. What a jerk. Kids aren't going to be just like the father. They'll resemble the mother, too." Serena sighed softly before biting her lip as she considered Aimee for a moment. "How do you feel about the bed thing?"

Aimee scrunched her nose up. "Sure, but the guy was a drunk. A mental case, from the sounds of it. He could hardly have had rational thoughts. It must mean Rick was a little more like their father if he didn't cop the same flack that Chris did. I feel sorry for her. She must have felt so helpless all the time. But then, Battered Women's Syndrome... they tend to always blame themselves for everything. They start to believe all the horrible things the bastards tell them about being useless and stupid. It would have taken a lot of strength for her to come back from that. No wonder Chris just wants to protect her. But he did go to Wimico, right? I wonder why he didn't go and see her." She sighed and tucked her hair back behind her ears. "I'm okay with it. It's not like it's a completely lost cause. Far from it. When he's on form, he's... really, really on form. We have fun. It's nice. But I don't need sex all the time to be happy. He's like that because he's been ill. I don't blame him for it. He's okay about it, too. We give it a shot and if it doesn't work, we just cuddle, or he helps me out. I think there is just a lot we still need to talk about. Like the fact he probably can't have kids. He hasn't outright said that because it's not come up, but how sick he was and how much chemo he had, I would be surprised if he is still fertile."

Serena nodded as she listened, replaying the conversation she'd had with Carla over and over in her mind. "She's angry they never gave her a chance to be the one to save Rick. She keeps saying it should have been her, and not Chris. I didn't even really know what to say to that except that I doubted they would have wanted her to go through this. I think Chris just didn't want to face his mom. He probably realised all the thing he'd have to tell her. There would be no just stopping by for a coffee. If you wanted to protect your mom that badly, would you have the heart to not tell her everything when you were face to face?" Serena smiled a little. "Well, hey that's something. You two having a rhythm together even if his mojo's not quite at the party. It's silly, but I didn't even think about that when it came to Dave. Now I just wish it was different for him because he'd make a really great dad. You'd make a great mom. Does the fact he probably won't be sterile change the way you feel about him?"

"Yeah, I would. But to be totally honest, was this really Chris' thing to be telling her? It sounds to me more like something Rick should have grabbed his balls for. He's the one with the cancer. Why should Chris had been laden with telling her when he has already done so much? It doesn't seem fair that he has to pick up the pieces all the time. A drunk dad, seeing his mom getting beaten, all the crap with Rick... it's fucking amazing Chris still manages to laugh about life. Then there is this. Rick didn't even tell Chris he had cancer. He had to find out off Eva, then Rick landed him with a large medical bill and pissed off again, only to come back with his life on the line. Why should Chris have been the one to tell their mother? Maybe that is why he couldn't go see her. Maybe he just finally had enough." Aimee had to pause and let out a rough breath. She was channelling Dave. Dave got quite emotional when he spoke about what Chris had been through with his family, and Aimee listened while he offloaded, but the pieces were coming together a little more clearly now. "And as much as I hate to say it, and I mean this in the most metaphorical way possible, but maybe it's about time they all saw how vulnerable Chris was... that he needs them for once." She fell quiet for a moment as her mind switched back to Dave's struggles. "I can't deny that it was a bit of a blow to my ego when it first happened. I thought it was me, I didn't even consider it was the chemo until we discussed it. But I'm his first since he was sick, so he didn't know really either. I was well into it, all in the mood, but there was nothing getting that baby up. He just kept apologising over and over, and then we sat down and spoke about it. He said he had, um, tried on his own, but even then it wasn't always successful. I'm just glad it didn't happen on our first time, or I really would have taken it as a knock to my ego. The thing is, I don't even know if I want kids. I've never had much of an urge for them. We could always get a sperm donor if it came to it."

Serena fell quiet. She hadn't meant to imply that it was Chris' job to tell his mother about Rick's cancer. Only that he would have hardly been able to avoid the topic if he did see his mom. She could still hear his voice during the phone call when he'd called her on the way. Chris had been breaking, and she hadn't been there to help him. Not until he'd come home. He'd even said that Miami was home for him now. Not Lake Wimico. Chris had been thrust into working out how he'd felt about a lot of things lately, and Serena could only watch. "He didn't have to go and let his heart stop just because he'd had enough," Serena murmured. "But I know what you mean, and I think you're right. Chris had had enough and he wasn't even going to give up his kidney originally. Not until something had changed his mind. He wanted to not put me through something like... this. He wanted to still have a chance to be happy, to maybe settle down. To just be Chris for a while." Serena nodded a little. "It's hard not to take it as a knock to the ego when you don't know anything. But at least you could talk about it. That's pretty big. Not a lot of couples would have even gotten through a chat about it. I think it's bigger than a puke test."

"I can't blame him. I really can't. He has you now... I know you probably don't feel that's very much, but you have to trust me on that. I don't think he wanted to risk... to risk this, getting seriously hurt from the surgery and subsequently hurting you. I know, because I would feel the same way if it was Dave. We haven't been together long, but we're getting closer, and it really feels like he might be my One. I haven't felt like that about a guy before. I know I've had boyfriends, I've had assholes. This feels different. I think it's the same for Chris. He would have known how much this would have hurt you if something went wrong. You've never hurt him, but Rick has hurt him repeatedly. It would have been one huge, confusing and horrible decision. Maybe he just felt like it was his turn now, even if there was probably a shit load of guilt that came with that because he's a selfless person. I can see why he and Dave are so close." She laughed a little and gave her friend a nudge. "No puke test from my end, but poor Dave drew the short straw. Even when he was standing there feeling sick, he said something like, I know it's early days, but we're about to visit the puke test. I just laughed. I knew he had been speaking to you two then."

"He's my One. I know he is. Chris is... I can't imagine not being Us. Not anymore. It feels to strange to even consider not having him around. He has to pull through this, he has to be okay. I can take the pain if I know he's going to wake up. I'm hardly going to hold it against him. I know why he went through with it, I know this is who he is. He'd do anything for someone if he knew it really would help. This is going to give Rick an awesome chance at life. He's just got to take it by the horns and run with it, and not run away. I could never hurt Chris. I'd rather hurt myself. I just want to protect him." She cupped his hand with both of hers again as she smiled fondly as she looked at him. "Hey, we're not talking crap! The puke test is real. But sometimes you have your own tests."

Aimee smirked a little. "I think if he runs away again, he'll have an army of us hunting him down to tear his balls off and shove them under a passing truck. I know Dave will be waiting in the wings to get his bitch on. Chris will need a lot of help when he wakes up, he'll need taking care of while he heals. Hopefully Rick realises he has no choice but to step up to the plate now. Even if he doesn't have the big brother mojo, he'll have to Google it or something. Chris is going to need him." She laughed again and nodded. "He was just so cute when he said it, even if it was scary when he was ill. He had to have blood tests and everything. Everything needs to be checked. I guess the lack of a, uh, rise out of him was a test for us. It's the first time I've ever been a guy who couldn't get it up."

"Not to mention the motherly wrath. I don't think Mrs Deleo's going to let Rick get away with leaving her baby in the lurch. She says she'll just go back home because of her work and everything. And because she doesn't want to interfere with the support network Chris and Rick have here, but I still think she should be a part of it... Don't you?" Serena nodded as she grinned a little. "I can see him saying it, it really would be cute. It goes to show just how special Dave is. He gets to be a first, and it's not even something that dampens how you feel."

"Oh hell, of course I do. What is her job? Can't she get one down here? I mean, she can be around and the boys can have their mom without her interferring. Maybe out of all of us, she's the one who needs a fresh start. I wonder if Dave knows she's here. She would have to know him, right? Maybe I should be nervous about meeting her too. It just shows much of a support network we have. You can leave home and get your own life, but family... family is priceless. Drew came to town for you, and now he's all protective big brother. Even Dave's doctor... Bella, her brother has gotten a job as a flight medic here. How weird that he could end up working with Rick some day, huh? I like it, though. I don't have brothers or sisters, so I am living vicariously through you lot," Aimee decided in amusement.

Serena gave her head a brief shake as she tried to remember if Carla had said what she did. "Um, teacher, I think? She mentioned kids missing her. She might not even be thinking about a transfer if she just assumes that Lake Wimico should stay her home, or her kids don't need her. I don't think it should come from us. It needs to come from Rick, or Chris. Maybe Dave. I'm pretty sure she spoke to Dave. She'd have known him since Chris was at college." Serena sighed. "I really would be lost without my brother here. You're welcome to him anytime, you know that. I kinda love that everyone's starting to get drawn here."

"Yeah, but her boys are here. It shouldn't come from us, but at the same time, have the guys ever been in the same place at once before? It might not be something that would cross their mind to bring their family together again. I mean, my folks are around here in Miami. Always have been, and I never once felt like they were interferring on my life. In fact, I'm glad they're around. But we hardly live in each others pockets. It's just nice to know they're here if we need each other, to catch up for dinner regularly. Things like that." Aimee laughed and gave her head a shake. "As much as I love Drew, he can be a butt pain when he wants to be. He already told me he is going to give Dave an honourary big brother talk for me. I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Oh jeez, I really feel for Dave now. The talk he gave Chris was bad enough and I was right there when it happened," Serena commented with a smile as her depression slowly lifted the more she talked to Aimee. It was nice to just have her best friend there even if she knew she was really here for a check-up on Chris. "Maybe Bella needs to mention it to Rick so he can tell their mom?"

Aimee was confused at this suggestion. "Bella? His doctor? About his mom? Does she even know the mom is here? You think he would listen to his doctor about personal things?" In saying that, Dave had mentioned Bella was amazing when it came to the whole package. She wasn't just there to remove tumours and write scripts for chemo. She was a top oncology fellow, even Aimee knew that. "I noticed Chris had Rick as his next of kin. That's a huge step right there."

Serena bit her lip when she realised Aimee might not have been in on the sort-of relationship thing and not just the pregnancy. "Um, yeah. Well, he's taken a bit of a shining to her. I think he'd listen. I would assume someone would have let her know the mom was around." Serena kissed the back of Chris' hand before she just went back to holding it and nodded. "I know... It was a huge leap of faith for him. I really do hope Rick gets his balls in hand whether they're functioning or not."

Aimee's eyebrows shot up. "Rick likes Bella? You mean, likes likes? Seriously? Oh man... that's... man." She blinked, trying to wrap her head around it. "Well, I guess I can see how it would happen. She's gorgeous and if she's been helping him and all. Does she know? Oh hell... yeah. Rick might end up in the same boat as Dave. I didn't even think about that. That's gotta be hard for a guy to deal with... pardon the pun."

Serena snorted with amusement at the unintentional pun. "I think it would be very difficult for a guy to deal with, definitely. Rick was really concerned about losing that ability. And yeah, Rick likes Bella... But you can't say anything to Sable! I think everyone is more than aware it's not advisable but it's still happening. She knows."

"I wouldn't! Hell, S, give me some credit. You're family, which makes Chris and Rick my family too by default. I'm not just going to go around spreading everyone's secrets around. Sable could hardly judge, anyway. She had the hots for Proctor." Aimee was still listening, intrigued, though. "She knows? Really? What does she think of that?"

Serena held her hand up as she gave Aimee an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry! I'm just trying to keep my head straight. I just think she's been very conscious about keeping thing professional. She nearly stepped down as his doctor. Only she was there for him when he needed her... Needed more than a doctor."

Aimee's mouth dropped open and then dropped her voice to a hushed whisper. "Are you saying they had sex?" she asked in shock. "It's not just a crush? They slept together? Oh my god. Does Chris know? Does Dave?"

Serena bit her lip as she gave a nod and her blue eyes became wide. "Yes... yes... yes... yes and yes."

Aimee squeaked in surprise and put her hand over her mouth. For a moment, she gaped at Serena and then turned to look at Chris. "Holy shit. How did he take it? Do you know how Dave took it? It's not like he would have just spilled secrets to me either. He's good like that, but my god. Are they dating? What's going on with it all?"

"Dave knows for a different reason," Serena murmured as she looked down. "Chris didn't take it well at all. He came here to tear into Bella. That's why he was here when he made the decision to say yes. He, ah... found out about something else. Which I don't even begin to know how to talk about, so please don't ask. I've already effed it up. They're not dating. I don't know what's going to happen."

Aimee gave a laugh. "What, are you going to tell me she's pregnant next?" She shook her head in amusement and then shrugged. "Sometimes we can't help who we fall for. I mean, fuck. Look at me. I just had to see Dave and I was practically wetting my pants over him. If she's as sweet as everyone says she is, who can blame him for liking her? Maybe they just got along. Sure, it's tricky with him being her patient, but it's cancer. She can't be the only oncologist in the whole world who has been in a position like this, right?"

Serena just sat their quietly as she started to chew her fingernail and avoid Aimee's gaze. "Yeah, sure. Ha, ha. Rick's adamant it's not projection and I think the fact that it's true is why Bella's careful about what she does. She doesn't want to lose her licence over it. Just like Chris and me had to be careful because he's in a position of responsibility when it comes to me."

Aimee watched Serena's reactions closely and gave a slight shake of her head. "She's not pregnant, right...?" she asked uncertainly.

Serena cleared her throat and met Aimee's gaze again. "It's why Chris couldn't not give Rick his kidney. Rick has a chance to be a father... Chris wants him to know his kid."

"Jesus fucking Christ," Aimee swore in shock, gaping at Serena with wide eyes. "And let me guess. Mom Deleo has no clue? Shit. Shit, what a mess. I mean, not entirely. It's still a baby, right? If it went the same way as Dave's experience, then Rick might have been left infertile, sure. But bloody hell... Bella must be absolutely beside herself. Is she keeping it?"

Serena gave a small nod. "Yeah, she is. At least as far as I know... I can't believe how complicated it got either. It's just... insane. I feel horrible knowing when she doesn't, but that's another thing that's Rick's place to talk to her about. Not ours."

Aimee pressed her fingers to her lips, trying to wrap her head around the whole thing. She looked at Chris with a tiny shake of her head. "Wow, she must have felt terrible when Chris bitched her out. Didn't they use protection? It just seems so random. In saying that, situations like this usually are. Chris gave Rick the kidney so he could live to know his baby. That's..." She shook her head again. She didn't even have enough words. "Oh my god. I wonder how Dave is handling all this. It has to be niggling at him."

"Yeah, they did. But it wasn't exactly foolproof. I can't really judge. Me and Chris slipped up one time, he had to write me a prescription for the morning after pill. I don't think Bella would have been thinking about it considering she'd been told she was infertile. She had cancer when she was a kid, this wasn't supposed to be possible." Serena gave Chris' hand a squeeze, wondering if he even realised how much he was being talked about. "Maybe it's Fate giving them both what they wanted without knowing they needed it. You should talk to him, spend some time with him."

"Me and Dave haven't slipped up... for obvious reasons," Aimee murmured, pulling her lips to the side a little. Considering everything, maybe the whole kid issue was going to need to come up. She didn't want Dave upset and feeling like he couldn't talk to her about it. "This is all a mess. I can hardly even wrap my head around it. So many emotions and worries. It shouldn't be like this. No one here deserves it."

Serena shook her head. "No, they don't. I don't even know what to do other than just stay by Chris' side because he's my main concern. And take Proctor up on a couple weeks leave once Chris is awake and I can just take care of him for a little while. Then maybe I'll hand him over to his brother. It's what's Rick always wanted - to play the big brother. Would you consider dropping condoms completely if Dave's... infertile? Me and Chris... we're going without. Just me on the pill. I didn't even get to ask if he wanted kids, but I think he wants to be an uncle."

Aimee scratched the back of her head. "I'm on the pill anyway. I was still on it from the last fucker. I've been on it since I was seventeen anyway. I'd go without if he wanted it. I know it sounds cliche, but I like it better without. It's not like you can feel it, but I like the feeling of a guy coming inside me. Plus, you don't have to stop to put a condom on. But it would be his choice. I'm only assuming he's infertile. We haven't had that talk yet, we only spoke about the impotence. He actually said it was like flogging a dead horse," she laughed, and shook her head fondly. "He's good with the vivid imagery. It must be hanging out with the genius cowboy so much. What are you going to do if Chris doesn't wake up in two weeks?"

Serena smiled in amusement. "Yeah, he really is, isn't he?" Her smile faltered though and before she even realised, it had disappeared completely. "Fall apart. I'm not ready to lose him now, and I won't be ready to lose him in two weeks."

Aimee was watching Chris again. "I just feel bad because I guess that's all boy talk, you know? It would be something you talk to your best mate about, but since Dave got to Miami, he hasn't really had much chance to connect with Chris. I'm not pointing fingers at all, I just feel bad for him. He might be in remission, but he was still thinking he was dying this time last year. He's still in the aftermath. I wasn't talking about losing him, I was talking about work. Two weeks isn't very much."

"Oh, sorry. I guess it's just... I'm still scared his heart's going to stop on me again. I might have to talk to Proctor. I should talk to Proctor..." Serena dragged her gaze away from Chris' face again and looked over at Aimee. "I guess we all need to make changes once we get through this. Dave should have his best friend."

Aimee cleared her throat. She wasn't sure Proctor had the resources to grant Serena extended leave when Chris was already out of action and Eva talking about leaving. It seemed the Alpha Team was in crisis, and she couldn't deny it... she was worried about the pressure on her own boyfriend, about his health. Really worried. "Yeah... I guess we will..." She stood up and picked up Chris' file. "I should start to look him over. Not that we can do anything more than has already been put in place, but we've been called in to take his case if something takes a turn for the worst. Sable wants to just be on stand-by in case the repairs to the AA don't hold. It's unlikely, though."

Serena let go of Chris' hand and brought her knees up under her chin as she just watched Aimee. She wasn't sure extended leave was going to be the answer either, but it was hard to keep her head on work when Chris was in the hospital. If he wasn't awake in two weeks she would just have to soldier on somehow. Maybe it was argument enough to try and get Mrs Deleo to transfer down here. She said it herself that she wouldn't leave until Chris was awake. "At least I know he's in good hands."

Aimee leaned over Chris after pulling on some gloves and eased her arm under his to lift him up a little to be able to get his gown pulled down around his chest so she could examine the op site. "I'm sorry if this hurts, sweetheart," she murmured to him quietly, already feeling bad about moving him. She started peeling the dressings away and wet her lips. "I don't know if I can claim genius cowboy hands, but I'll try my best," she promised her best friend, even if her tone was sombre.