No Strings Attached

Day 45

            Shaking off the memory, Dean continued about his day, settling into his normal routine. It was snowing today, the soft white flakes swirling through the air until they found their mark. They stuck to the road, melting into a slosh that forced everyone to drive slower. Even at work they slowed things down, the metal beams he was meant to climb on slick with the onslaught of snow.

            He wasn't paying attention. His mind was elsewhere, thinking of Elena and Lisa. Of Elena's bright smile and Lisa's dark scowl. Of picture frames and hidden flaws. He could've prevented it, if only he had been paying attention.

            He fell much faster than the snow did.

. . .

            "Jo, this is supposed to be my last shift," Elena points out, looking sadly at the chart just placed in her hands.

            "I know, and I'm sorry. I really am. But this guy just came in and I'm up to my ears in patients," Jo explains, not looking up from her work. Jo was Elena's superior, and as nice as she was, she was making Elena's life a living hell. She had Jo to blame for her late nights and irregular shifts. "Look, I know I've asked a lot in the past, but I don't know what to tell you. If I get to pick, I'm going to pick you. So suck it up and do your job."

            "I'll take that as a compliment," Elena mutters as she turns away from Jo.

            "You're the best!"

            Elena scans the chart quickly, trying to get a feel of what she was about to walk into.

            "Construction accident, broken leg, dislocated shoulder..." Elena mumbles along as she reads, the door to the patient's room getting closer. "Temper issues. Awesome."

            Finally reaching the door, Elena tucks the clipboard under her arm and takes a deep breath. Just one more patient and she could go home and take a much-needed shower. With her sights set on hot water and shampoo, Elena bursts through the door.

            "Hello sir, I'm going to be your resident doctor this afternoon. You're chart here says you were in a—" Elena glances up from her papers, her breath hitching in her throat.

            "Oh yes, please come in. They said they were going to send someone," the woman sitting beside the bed says quickly, wiping at her eyes even though there were no tears. Elena would recognize her anywhere. The two had never met, but Elena had seen plenty of photographs. Elena stands stark still as she crosses the room, her hand outstretched for Elena to shake. "I'm Lisa, Dean's girlfriend."

            "Hi, I'm—Umm... I'm..." Elena is dumbfounded, staring wide-eyed at the beautiful woman in front of her. Lisa chuckles at the awkward silence, glancing over her shoulder at her boyfriend.

            "Like a deer in head lights," she teases, turning back to Elena. "You're here to take him for X-Rays, yes?" Elena doesn't respond. She doesn't do anything except stand there staring at Lisa. She was so much prettier in person. And although Elena knew the rules of their relationship, she still didn't like the idea of Dean spending any time with this astoundingly, gorgeous, devilish—

            "Lena?" Dean's voice snaps Elena out of her daze and she focuses her eyes on him. He looks so broken lying there on the crisp white hospital sheets. His left arm was wrapped tightly, the bandages hiding the bruises that were surly there. The damaged leg was in a makeshift cast. Dean would of course get a real one in the near future, but they needed to know the extent of the damage before proceeding any further. That's what Elena was here for, but her duties had slipped her mind the second she walked through the door.