Chapter Text
"It's nice to meet you Dr. Garcia." Baran said softly.
Yolanda immediately looked away, not even acknowledging her.
"Bout time they replaced you, Robby.” Yolanda said. “Hopefully this isn't a downgrade."
Robby scoffed. “You’ll survive.”
Yolanda leaned into Robby's ear, her voice low “Debatable. Is she planning to run a trauma or teaching a pilates class?”
Baran pretended not to hear the pilates comment, which she assumed was because of the Lululemon jacket she was wearing. She had been in enough rooms like this to know when engaging would only make things worst. Still there was something about her.
Not the attitude. Baran had worked with plenty of cocky surgeons. This felt sharper, intentional.
As Baran continued to observe Yolanda, she quickly realized Garcia was very good at her job, but strongly disliked Baran. She didn't just ignore her, she excluded her.
Baran and Robby stepped out of the room. “Is she always this.. Charming?"
”Robby shrugged. “That’s just Dr. Garcia, and she’s like that with everyone. Try not to take it personally.” Baran nodded.
Yolanda could feel Baran watching her. She knew exactly who Baran was. She tried to focused on her patient. Having this woman show up was a complication she hadn't planned for.
“Dr. Garcia?”
“Dr. Santos, rough night?” Garcia smirked, finally looking up from the patient.
The casual “situationship” between them was actually a well-kept secret, though the signs were there for anyone looking closely enough. “I’ve had worse,” Trinity replied.
Across the gurney, Whitaker was the only one in the room who knew exactly why Trinity looked so exhausted. He had been the one to let Yolanda in late last night, and he was the one who had to endure the thin walls of their apartment.
Yolanda leaned down, her shoulder brushing against Trinity’s as they both looked over the patient’s chart. “Drinks tonight?” she whispered, ensuring no one in the room could hear her.
Trinity felt the heat of Yolanda’s breath against her ear. She didn't trust her voice enough to answer, so she just gave a small, barely perceptible nod.
Across the hall, Baran watched the exchange through the window. She couldn’t hear the words, but she saw the way the surgeons attitude shifted around Trinity, softening into something much more intimate. It was a level of care Yolanda hadn’t shown to anyone else in the room, and for Baran, it only added another layer of suspicion to Dr. Garcia.
Baran's gaze turned to Trinity. She had not noticed her much earlier, too focused on everything else.
—--------------------------------------
Baran had looked up the closest bar to the hospital,and lucky for her, it was only a two-minute walk. Baran sat at the corner of the counter, her Lululemon jacket replaced by a blazer. She was practically chugging her drink, trying to scrub the memory of her first day, when a confident voice cut behind her.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re the one who’s supposed to be saving our souls in the ED,” the voice teased
Baran looked up. It was the resident from earlier, Dr. Santos, the one Dr. Garcia had been hovering over. Up close, she's… striking to say the least.
“Dr Baran Al-hashimi,” Baran stated, extending her hand.
Trinity took it, her grip firm and lingering a second too long. “Dr. Trinity Santos, we didn't get a chance to meet today. I just wanted to fix that.” Trinity slightly slurred.
“Robby mentioned you’re an R2 looking to double board in surgery and EM? Ambitious,” Baran noted.
Trinity smiled."That's one word for it."
Baran's watched as Trinitys eyes flicked briefly to Barans hands just before returning to her face. Just as Baran was about to ask what Trinity was drinking, Trinity's phone buzzed. She checked the screen, her expression shifting instantly.
“I have to meet someone, but I look forward to working with you, Dr. Al-Hashimi,” Trinity said before giving a final lingering look before heading for the exit.
A few minutes later, the door opened again. Trinity walked back in and was with Yolanda.
Baran's grip tightened on her empty glass at the thought of the surgeon. She didn't need to watch. And yet her eyes kept drifting back. They moved through the crowd toward the dance floor, bodies close enough to confirm was Baran had suspected.
Then, Yolanda’s eyes flicked upward and locked onto Baran’s across the room. Baran immediately looked away and took the empty glass to her lips, quickly realizing there was nothing left. She looked back, and Yolanda was still looking. A evil smirk spread across Yolanda's face as she maintained eye contact with Baran, while her fingers deliberately traced the line of Trinity’s waist.
What is her problem? Baran thought, her heart skipping a beat.
Yolanda's hand slid up along Trinity's side and she dipped her head, brushing her lip just below Trinity's ear before trailing them slowly along the side of her neck.
Usually, that was enough
Across the room, Baran felt her stomach tighten and her heart start to race. They were obviously both attractive and Baran was drunk. That was all this was.
"You're distracted," Yolanda whispered, her hand tightening on Trinity's hip.
Trinity let out a breath. "Long shift."
Yolanda hummed, pulling Trinity closer to her. "That's not it"
Trinity didn't answer. Just looked over back to Baran at the bar, who hadn't moved. Still at the corner, posture straight, and fingers wrapped around an empty glass.
Yolanda followed her line of sight this time. "Her?" Yolanda asked, amused.
Trinity pulled back slightly. "What, You're imagining things?"
"Am I?" Yolanda glanced past her, briefly toward the bar, then back. "You've been looking over there all night."
Trinity crossed her arms,"She's nice"
"That usually doesn't do it for you"
Trinity's lip twitched. "You don't know what does it for me."
"I think I know enough." Yolanda smiled, not offended in the slightest. " She's hot, kinda boring though don't you think?"
Trinity laughed, "You have known her for a day"
Yolanda scoffed, hand settling at Trinity's waist again, "Go talk to her, I'm gonna run to the bathroom, then we can go" she said casually.
Baran noticed Trinity before she reached the stool.
"It looked like you were about to leave," Trinity lied before slipping into the seat beside Baran.
Baran turned towards Trinity. "I was thinking about it."
Trinity rested her elbow on the bar, "Rough day?"
"Long one," Baran corrected. A few minutes of silence went by.
"Do you always sit next to strangers like this, Trinity?"
Trinity. Hearing Baran say her name made her stomach turn.
"Not always, I'm just afraid our introduction was cut short."
Baran glared behind Trinity "and cut short again." Trinity turned to see Yolanda returning from the bathroom. As Yolanda approached the bar, the air in the room seemed to vanish. The two older women didn't say a word, they just locked eyes. It was a full lethal glare from the both of them. Baran’s jaw was tight, her eyes cold and accusing, while Yolanda’s expression was arrogant.
Trinity looked back and forth between them, her brow furrowing. The tension was so thick it was nauseating. She waited for one of them to speak to one another but they never did.
Finally, Trinity broke the silence, though she didn't take her eyes off Baran. "Ready, Yolanda?"
Yolanda put her hand on Trinity's shoulder sliding her off the stool. Trinity looked back at Baran "See you tomorrow, Dr. Al-Hashimi."
Baran didn't respond. She just kept her eyes pinned on Yolanda until the door swung shut.
It wasn't until they were both in the car, that Trinity finally turned to Yolanda.
"Okay, what the hell was that?" Trinity asked, her voice finally finding its edge. "The way you two were looking at each other, you looked like you wanted to kill each other. Do you know her?
"I slept with her wife, well ex-wife." Yolanda giggled.
Trinity felt her stomach drop. She stared at Yolanda, who had a smirk on her face.
----------------------------------------
The three hour drive home was a blur. Baran barely remembered leaving the airport, just the ache behind her eyes that 8 hours sleeping on a plane did not fix. She had been oversees for weeks with Doctors Without Borders, and wanted to surprise her wife coming back a week early.
By the time she pulled into their complex, it was late. The building was quiet, most of the windows dark.
Baran quietly unlocked the door, stepping inside and flicking on the light. "Alex?"
Nothing
"I'm home early, wanted to surprise you."
Still no answer, she checked the living room, the kitchen, then the bedroom. No sign of her.
Baran stood there for a moment, confusion settling. Maybe she was working late or maybe she was out with her friends.
Exhaling, Baran dropped her bag and reached for her phone. She turned toward the kitchen, intending to pour a glass of wine to take the edge off of the pulse still in her head, when she caught the light on the counter.
Two sliver rings.
Baran frowned. It wasn't unusual for Alex to leave jewelry around the house. After all she wasn't the best at picking up behind herself. But Baran could immediately tell that these were not her wives rings. Alex wore simple gold rings, minimal. Never anything like this.
Baran stepped closer, picking one of the rings up between her fingers. Heavier. Definitely not Alex's. Barans stomach tightened slightly, but she still tried to reason it away. Maybe a friend left them, maybe a patient dropped them, maybe.
Baran set the jewelry back down with a dull clink that felt too loud in the silence. Something was wrong, she could feel it.
She looked away from the rings and headed back into their bedroom. Now noticing their bed made, pillows fluffed and stacked neatly, and duvet pulled tightly.
Baran felt a chill across her neck. Alex never made the bed. Alex never made the bed. Not once in their entire marriage had Alex ever made the bed.
She walked closer, her eyes landing on her own nightstand. A half-empty glass of water sat there, mocking her. Then she saw it, the picture frame that held their wedding photo turned face down.
Baran reached out, her hand trembling as she grabbed the frame. She turned it over, taking a long look at their wedding photo. Black and white, Baran and Alex dancing in their white dresses with the biggest smiles on their face.
A single tear running down Baran's face. She didn't scream, She didn't throw it. She simply set the frame back down, face down, how she found it.
Just then, the front door clicked.
Baran stepped into the hallway as Alex walked in, her smile instantly dying when she saw Baran.
"Baran?" Alex voice jumped. "You're a week early."
Alex dropped her stuff and ran towards Baran. She threw her arms around her and buried her face into Baran's neck. "I missed you baby," she whispered, her voice muffled against Baran's skin.
Baran stood there frozen, her arms handing at her side. Usually this was the moment she lived for. But now, all she could smell was the unusual floral perfume. It was everywhere. It was on the duvet, it was in the bathroom, and now it was radiating off her wife's hair.
Baran slowly pushed Alex's shoulders back to Crete distance. She looked Alex in the eye, searching for the woman she had married and only finding a stranger.
"Baran?" Alex voice softer now. "What's wrong, Is everything okay" She reached out, her fingers grazing Baran's sleeve.
Baran didn't move, her eyes instead fixed on a small, darker smudge on the collar of Alex's shirt.
"Stop" Baran sighed, pulling away from Alex and walking towards the kitchen purposefully. Alex followed close behind, her breath hitching as Baran reached for the silver rings on the counter.
Baran slid her wedding ring off setting it down. While Alex stood there, face turning pale. Baran attempted to slide one of the rings on to her ring finger, it stopped at the first knuckle, then tried the second one, this one fitting on her pinky.
"They're too small," Baran chuckled, though the sound was dry and held no humor. "She has tiny fingers. Mine are... much more substantial."
It was a strange thing for Baran to say, very different from her usual direct way of speaking.
Alex stood by the fridge, her eyes darting between the ring stuck on Baran's finger and the wedding band Baran had just taken off. "Baran, please. You're making this into something it isn't"
"Am I?" Baran pulled the ring off with a sharp tug and set it back on the counter. "Because the bed is made, our photos are hidden, and I am standing in my kitchen trying on a strangers jewelry."
"It's not a stranger." Alex pleaded. "Her name is Yolanda, I met her at that surgical conference last month, I know I mentioned her on the phone to you."
Baran searched her memory through her exhaustion. "You have never mentioned a Yolanda, Alex"
"I did! She is a brilliant surgeon," Alex stammered. "She was in town for a few days to look at a position at the hospital. We went out for drinks with some other colleges and got a little too drunk, and she ended ubering back here because her hotel was all the way in Perkins and I didn't want her in a car alone. I was just being a good person, Baran!"
"And the bed, the photo?" Baran asked.
"She... she got sick," Alex lied desperately. "I put her in the guest room, but she was drunk and must have wandered into our room and knocked the photo over. I made the bed this morning because I had just washed the sheets. And the rings, I'm sure she just took them off and forgotten them. I know this looks bad but that is all this was, baby"
Alex reached in, palms cupping Baran's face.
"How could you do this to me?" Baran's voice cracked. She gasped for air, only smelling the floral perfume on Alex's skin. "How could you do this to me."