Chapter 3 #2
“I did, yes, worked with some amazing doctors,” Ava answered. Her eyes narrowed on Elizabeth; she had an inclination that she knew where this line of questioning was leading.
Elizabeth gave her a sidelong glance. “I have to ask, Ava, why?”
Ava blinked in surprise. “Why what?”
“Why are you here, there are so many places that wanted you, so many hospitals and research teams, why did you want to stay here in Phoenix Ridge?”
Ava opened and closed her mouth a few times behind the mask. She wasn’t sure how to take the inquiry. On the one hand, she was flattered that Elizabeth knew so much about her and her career; on the other, she felt almost as though she was being judged. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“I mean no offense,” Elizabeth said as she noticed Ava’s discomfort. “I’m just curious.”
“I would love to say none taken, but I’m not sure that’s true,” Ava answered and narrowed her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said quickly. “I shouldn’t have asked, it’s none of my business.” She turned and walked quickly away leaving Ava confused and flustered.
Ava stood there for a minute trying to process what had just happened.
Did this woman really think less of her because she wasn’t at some fancy metropolitan hospital or research lab?
She knew that she didn’t need to defend herself to anyone, but this was something that she’d dealt with before, and fo r some reason it stung that Elizabeth would slight her like that.
She thought they had made a connection, but maybe she had misread the situation.
With a huff, Ava stalked off. She took some of the equipment from one of the bags that the tech had brought to the site and started to collect some soil and plant samples to bring back to the lab.
Elizabeth watched her for a minute, her lips pressed together in contemplation.
She looked like she had something more to say, but Ava didn’t want to hear it.
Her life choices were none of Elizabeth’s business, and if she thought she had a right to judge her on them, well, that was Elizabeth’s problem, not Ava’s.
She threw herself into the work, refusing to acknowledge it any further.
Ava couldn’t help but watch as Elizabeth set up a grid for the site.
Each sample they collected was logged and labeled with its location and information.
Watching Elizabeth work was like a class on research methodology and, much to Ava’s annoyance, she found it inspiring.
She started to wonder if maybe Elizabeth was on to something when she asked why Ava was still in this city.
She immedi ately shut down the line of thought.
She had been given many opportunities and had been questioned by many different people why she would choose to stay in Phoenix Ridge, even told that it was irresponsible, that she could contribute so much to medicine if she would just find a bigger, better, hospital.
Ava didn’t believe that, though. She had done so much for her community, and for the medical community at large, from the comfort of her home.
She loved everything Phoenix Ridge stood for.
Its feminism, its women in power, its super positive environment for sapphic women like her.
Ava loved everything about Phoenix Ridge. She actually thought the rest of the world could learn a lot from the way they did things in Phoenix Ridge.
She was happy here, so why did she feel so defensive about it?
She couldn’t quite figure out why Elizabeth’s comments had bothered her so much.
Ava was comfortable with the choices she had made in her life.
She knew better than anyone how many hospitals and research facilities had recruited her after graduating; she ha d done her internships and residencies at some very prestigious organizations.
Elizabeth had no right to judge her on her choices.
Phoenix Ridge had one of the best hospitals in the nation, and that wasn’t just because Ava was biased.
Some of the research and patient care that happened at that hospital was known worldwide.
Ava herself had found many neurological treatments alongside the doctors and staff at that hospital that were revolutionary.
Elizabeth had to have known that. She seemed to know everything else.
Ava huffed at herself, she was being petulant and she knew it.
Eventually, she couldn’t take it anymore. She marched over to where Elizabeth was taking a soil sample near the spring. “I think you may have misjudged our hospital and our city, Doctor Grant.” Ava could feel the techs turn their attention toward them.
“Phoenix Ridge, both the hospital and the city, is run by powerful incredible women. Phoenix Ridge is feminist and badass. Phoenix Ridge has a thriving lesbian community where I feel absolutely at home. Phoeni x Ridge has everything that is good in this world.”
“I’m sorry, Doctor Jackson,” Elizabeth said, stressing the professional use of her title. “I didn’t mean to offend, I was just curious.”
“What does it matter where I choose to live and work?” Ava asked.
“It doesn’t,” Elizabeth said and turned her back to Ava.
“Then why bring it up?” Ava demanded.
Elizabeth sealed the sample bag she was holding and stood up to look Ava in the eyes. Her gaze darted back and forth to the techs who where openly watching the exchange. “Can we talk about this later?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
Ava pressed her lips together behind her mask. She knew that was the smart thing, the professional thing, but she had the irrational desire to prove to Elizabeth that she was just as good a doctor as anyone. She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth pulled in a breath and Ava could see the tightness around her eyes. “I can explain later, but I admire you, Ava. ”
Ava’s heart lurched in her chest. What was that supposed to mean?
“I admire you, and I am curious about your motivations, that’s all,” Elizabeth continued, her voice low.
Ava’s mind spun. She felt almost as though she had whiplash, but none of that made sense.
Was Elizabeth judging her? It seemed like every other out-of-town doctor who was called in had the same judgement, and they would eventually be forced to reconcile that Phoenix Ridge was on the same level as so many other hospitals, despite their smaller size.
With the amount of research Elizabeth seemed to have done about the place and Ava herself, she would have to have known that.
And what is this about her motivations? What kind of nonsense is that?
Ava stalked away from Elizabeth, trying to get her mind together.
It had been a long time since someone had managed to get her so flustered.
The team finished gathering what they thought was needed and started to pack away everything.
They remained in their protective gear until they were well away from the site and began the short climb back to the trail.
Ava did her best to avoid Elizabeth, but she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off the woman.
She was striking. Her sharp features made Ava feel as though she were looking at the face of a warrior, and the description probably wasn’t far from accurate.
She moved with grace and dexterity, especially through the rough terrain, which was impressive given that she was unfamiliar with the scene.
Ava would almost be willing to believe that Elizabeth had grown up around the same wilderness she had.
In Ava’s disgruntled state, she allowed the team to gain some ground ahead of her and she stayed back to nurse her wounded pride.
She didn’t know if she should apologize to Elizabeth or ignore her completely, but she did know that she still needed Elizabeth’s help if they were going to find a way to help the patients, and they were running out of time.
Ava couldn’t even be sure how the patients were doing, since the cell service was spotty out here at best.
With an exasperated groan, Ava quickened her pace to catch up to the team, but her fo ot slipped on some flakey shale and she lost her balance on the steep incline.
With a shout, she tumbled backwards down the incline to the floor.
Pain shot through her leg as she landed on the hard ground.
She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw against the pain as the others rushed to her side.
“How bad is it?” Ava groaned as Elizabeth looked her over.
“You’re going to need stitches,” Elizabeth said.
There was a slight sparkle in her bright blue eyes and Ava felt her heart sink.
Here she was trying to prove herself to this woman and instead falling all over herself, literally.
Ava finally glanced down at her leg and saw there was a deep laceration along her shin that Elizabeth was putting gauze over.
“Can you walk?” Elizabeth gripped Ava’s calf and bent her knee, then her ankle checking over her joints.
Ava felt electricity buzz through her body from Elizabeth’s touch on her leg and it unsettled her.
“Yes,” Ava grumbled as Elizabeth taped over the gauze to staunch the bleeding for now.
Elizabeth put Ava’s arm over her shoulder and looked over at Ava.
She couldn ’t see Elizabeth’s face behind the mask, but she could see the smile in her blue eyes.
She wanted to just pass out from embarrassment alone, much less the pain.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?” Elizabeth asked as she lifted Ava to her feet.
“A couple of bruises, probably, and I hit my head when I landed, but nothing serious,” Ava answered. She couldn’t meet Elizabeth’s eyes.
“Laugh,” Elizabeth said, it sounded like a command.
“Excuse me?”
“Laugh, trust me, it helps,” Elizabeth said.
“I suppose you’ve made an ass of yourself in front of people you were trying to impress before?” Ava regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth.
“Does earlier this morning count?” Elizabeth asked.
Ava couldn’t help it, she laughed, and Elizabeth laughed with her.
“Did it help?” Elizabeth asked with a chuckle.
“Yes,” Ava deadpanned. The woman was right, again .
This was getting unbearable. She le aned against Elizabeth’s shoulder, and they locked eyes over their masks.
Ava’s breath caught, Elizabeth’s eyes were so light blue in this light that they were almost gray, she had never seen such a light color before, they reminded her of a summer sky.
Elizabeth’s hand snaked around her waist, and Ava felt a surge of electricity as she made contact, but she tried to force it from her mind.
As Ava limped back up to the trail, the two techs took the rest of the bags so that Elizabeth could help Ava back down the trail, and though the walk was quiet, it was difficult to traverse for the two of them.
Finally, after what felt like an excruciating amount of time, they made it back to the van.
Ava was so glad they had chosen to take the enormous vehicle.
Elizabeth set her up across the back bench seat, outstretching her leg and elevating it slightly.
They made the trip back to the hospital in relative silence, though Elizabeth kept her hand on Ava for the entire journey and when she mo ved to help Ava from the van, she found herself longing for Elizabeth’s touch to return. Once outside the van however, everything started moving very quickly.
Ava was immediately quarantined, though she didn’t think it was necessary, and a battery of tests were run on her. She tried to tamp down the anxiety that surrounded her, but the worried faces and constant reassurances were grating her nerves. All she needed was a few stitches.
Taking a deep breath, Ava tried to slow her heartrate.
This was all just precaution, and she knew it.
Still, she knew that the samples were already being taken to the lab, and she was likely missing out on important updates while being stuck in this room.
The most frustrating part was that no one would tell her anything, they all just gave her reassurances and told her everything was fine.
She knew that it was not fine, though. She knew that she needed to be out there figuring out what this was and how to treat it.
By keeping her in the dark she was becoming more agitated, not less.
They all meant well, but she was having a difficult time not snapping at the nurses and staff who ca me into the room with her when they refused to answer her questions.
Ava settled herself into the bed, but she couldn’t get comfortable. She wanted out of there, but she still needed the stitches. She couldn’t believe how much of a mess she’d made of things at this point.