Convo: Rhys - Blog Posts
Pressure wasn’t something Julia nor Rhys were unfamiliar with but that was part of the reason why they needed these moments to kind of let go. Not in any kind of wild way, just step away from the hospital and responsibilities that came with their roles to be…well…people. Not doctors for a couple of hours. Not with the weight of the world on their shoulders. Letting out a weighted sigh she shrugged, a half smile on her face. “Living the dream, right?” Was Julia’s response as she zipped her hoodie up, not that it was cold but she’d only just woken up from a nap which meant there was a slight chill running through her.
“Rhys, I’ve spent all day having to be confidant in my decisions, you think I’m going to stop now with something this crucial?” She joked, shoving her hands in her pocket as they headed down the sidewalk, pursing her lips as the new question was posed, considering. “Just drinking I think. If there is too much music involved I might end up with a headache, and not an alcohol related one. I don’t mean like no music playing, I just don’t really fancy live music.” She answered candidly, used to being required to make decisions quickly so at least this wasn’t alien to her. @tctteredwings
Once Julia had agreed and headed off to get changed, Rhys slowly made his way outside the front of the hospital, finding an empty bench and taking a moment to check his phone. It had been a long day, one with very little time to sit down and relax, several intense surgeries had taken up the majority of his time, along with talking to families and organising his team. There were days when he wondered how he actually dealt with it, but thankfully on those where all things went right, it made it easier to keep on going. He did love his job, after all. Hearing his colleague's voice as she made her way outside to join him, he flashed a smile and got back to his feet again. "All good?" he queried, face brightening at seeing her. He had to laugh a little at her words, though, shaking his head in response at first but already beginning to walk. "You sure you're confident in that decision?" More laughter although he was already working through the options in his head. "In the mood for some music as well or are we just drinking?" An important decision that needed to be addressed before he settled on somewhere.
If anyone else had told her that everything was okay, the child was in a good place, the parents were happy, she probably would have double checked herself but hearing that from Rhys allowed Julia to believe it. To let out the tension she’d been holding in her chest even during sleep to give him a smile, nodding her head. “Okay, alright great, thank you. I guess that means we need to have a drink to celebrate your handiwork and I can set it to one side until I check on her in the morning.” Knowing full well she’d be in at least an hour before her shift started in order to check in on patients before she was pulled to all directions by emergencies. “That works, give me five.” Holding up five fingers before heading off towards the locker room to collect her stuff.
Throwing on her civvies in record time Julia looked at her hairbrush in the locker considering pulling through her hair really quickly, but then deciding against it. Instead just making her way to the front of the hospital where Rhys was waiting for her, feeling a little more relaxed than before. Which for her was saying something since Julia was never truly relaxed at all. “Where do you fancy tonight? My drinking future is in your hands.” @tctteredwings
Shit indeed, Rhys thought, but he didn't voice it, instead he merely nodded his head and offered her an encouraging smile. They'd all done it every once in a while, it came with the territory, especially so if you adored your job, if it meant absolutely everything to you. It did to him, it did to Julia, he'd known that the moment he met her. "Well her parents are bouncing off the walls with happiness right now, so you're off the hook," he answered her kindly. "You can relax. For tonight, at least." At her words, he shook his head, shrugging it off —- all in a day's work. He'd never really accepted compliments all that well. As she gathered herself once again, agreeing to join him for a drink, he nodded his head. "Okay, you go change, grab your stuff and I'll meet you outside in ten? That work?" he queried with a smile.
“Shit…” She looked down at her watch, fully aware her shift had finished a whole three hours ago. Luckily she wasn’t on shift again until tomorrow evening so she would have a little time to rest but this was Julia we were talking about so it was likely she wouldn’t do that anyway. “I was going home hours ago, but then I changed my mind. I wanted to be here when she came out of surgery incase something happened, so I could speak with her parents, I think they deserve that.” She rubbed her eyes mid yawn, letting it pass before speaking again.
“She’s a fighter, and you’re an artist, she’s lucky to have you on her team.” The compliment entirely genuine as she let out a sigh of relief to hear the little girl was back in her room at least stable. That’s the least they could hope for right now. A drink. God that sounded so good right now - a chance to just take a breath, and the positive side of doing it with Rhys was that he would understand what she needed to detach from after the day they’d had. “Yes, absolutely, wherever you want to go.” Standing up from the bed as she tried to straighten herself a bit, still wearing her rumpled scrubs. @tctteredwings
Rhys did almost laugh at Julia's immediate reaction to being woken, but her words weren't exactly a laughing matter. That was and would always be the worst thing to get woken up over. At her second question, however, he shook his head and cast a glance toward his watch. "A little after eight-thirty now," he answered her. "I thought you were going home hours ago." His following words travelled with him as he moved around the room to pick up what he'd left there earlier. As Julia continued, he sobered, giving her his full attention. It was a serious matter, even if there was nothing bad to report. "She's doing fine," he answered. "We had a moment in there, but she's strong, she's a fighter. Knew that from the second I met her." A flicker of a smile then. "Everything went as planned." He grabbed the pen ( a favourite of his ) from the side, and then looked back to Julia again. "So you coming for a drink or what?"
Julia hadn’t meant to fall asleep in the on-call room, really she hadn’t, but what she had intended to do was wait until the little girl she’d been tending to for over a week now got out of surgery. Knowing Rhys was going to be in the operating room was certainly a comfort but that didn’t stop the doctor from wanting to hear the word stable come out of someones mouth before she finally left for the night. However three back to back shifts had caught up with her and as soon as her head hit the regulation polyester pillow she had drifted off.
Sitting up with a jolt she blinked, looking around in a haze. “Hmm? What? I’m awake. Has someone coded?” Immediately ready to leap into an emergency situation if that’s what was needed, but then her eyes fell on Rhys and she let out a soft breath. “Shit, I didn’t know I’d fallen asleep. What time is it?” Wait, if he was here it meant he was out of surgery - finally she could get the answer she wanted. “How did it go? How is she?” It wasn’t that she was getting too invested, no she just wanted to make sure her job was done properly before checking out because Julia knew when she walked out those hospital doors she would have to detach from what went on inside to further fend of all the stress and emotion that she’d squished down for the last sixteen years for her own good. @tctteredwings
for: @doctorjuliasato location: the hospital
Time was getting on ( which really wasn't anything new ), but Rhys finally found himself at a point where he felt he could actually leave and head back home. He was probably one of the worst people for that, hanging on and on until he finally felt it was okay to leave everyone to their own devices. Of course, hanging around forever wasn't a good thing either, it would leave you worn out and unable to do the job properly. It was a case of trying to find a happy medium.
On his way out, after going through his stuff, he realised he must have left something in the on-call room earlier when checking in on someone, so that would be his last stop today. As he made his way into the room, knocking gently as he did, he found a laugh escaping as he found Julia curled up there. "Hey... Jules," he started softly. "Jules!" He let his voice rise a little on the last. "You ever going home tonight or do I have to drag you there?"