Unconditional

Chapter Two

"Oh this totally makes up for the inappropriately timed sexual jokes when I was stitching up your friend." I snatched the pizza box from Raven's hand happily. While I was taking out the bullet from Marc's leg with Corey's help, Raven had sat on his ass and watched like a hawk, only speaking to make some sort of sexual comment that make Corey crack up. I had tried not to smile but was certain I failed miserably. 

"They made you laugh." Corey pointed out in Raven's defense, snatching a piece of the nearly full pizza from my box and proceeding to eat half of it in one bite. I made a face but chose eating my own piece over replying to Corey. 

"At least my flirting is appropriately timed." Dr. Green chimed in, grabbing his own slice of pizza and settling into a chair. Even the mostly quiet Axel snatched a piece and took a seat. 

It was silent for a few minutes as we all chewed and let the last hour sink in.

"So are you allowed to tell me why you couldn't take Marc to a hospital or is it a secret mission?" I broke the silence immediately after devouring a second piece of pepperoni pizza. I didn't miss the looks exchanged between the four men over my head. 

"All I can tell you is that we didn't have that option for a good reason." Axel told me with a serious look on his face. "We were lucky that you happened to be here."

"Well it made for a not forgotten first day in America." I offered a grin to Axel, much happier now that I'd eaten something.

"Unforgettable." Corey corrected me.

"Same." I rolled my eyes. So my English wasn't perfect but they got the point.

When Corey burst into laughter at my comment I glanced between Raven and Axel, confused. Raven was grinning with a satisfied look in his eyes and Axel himself even cracked a smile. I was blown away but how it transformed his face. 

"That's the exact same thing Raven says when I correct him." Corey's laugther died down as he explained. "You two are strangely alike." 

I glanced at Raven's cropped brown hair and hulking form. How alike could we be when he looked like a tattooed bear? 

"You're Russian." I said to Raven, fairly certain I was right. "Are you still learning English too?" I had been learning English since primary school but my writing was sometimes questionable and my speech wasn't always perfect. It was part of the reason the Academy requested I do my residency in America.

"Corey just likes correcting people, your English is fine." Not an answer to my question but close enough. 

"My Russian is better than my English." Now that Raven hadn't denied my suspicion I didn't think I would make a fool out of myself if I spoke Russian. "My father was from Moscow, we spoke it growing up."

Raven's responding grin sent shivers up my spine. "A Greek bird who knows Russian ways, you and I could have much fun."

My cheeks heated up at his suggestive remark and I didn't miss the way Corey's smile dimmed. I couldn't even think of an appropriate response before Axel cut in.

"Seeing as how you both speak English, those of us who don't speak Russian would prefer if you conversed in English." I glanced at Raven and we shared a grin. 

"Well thank you for the pizza." I concluded, smiling at Axel respectfully. The exhaustion was finally catching up with me. "Now that Dr. Green is here, he can monitor Marc so you don't need me anymore. I'll return to my apartment." 

"Actually, I have to leave soon to check on my own family but you're right, a doctor should stay and monitor Marc. Do you mind staying here for the day?" Dr. Green looked at Axel for confirmation and Axel nodded. 

I groaned internally, it was only maybe midday and Marc would need someone to stay with him overnight at least. My flight had arrived around midnight and I hadn't slept in about thirty five hours, unable to sleep on the plane. It was like my first forty eight hour hospital shift all over again.

"I'm not sure if I can stay awake much longer." I admitted to Dr. Green reluctantly. I didn't want to tell them I was burnt out but I wouldn't let my pride come before a patient. "I haven't slept since leaving Greece."

"What were you planning on doing, sleeping on the floor? You don't have any sort of furniture or blankets in your apartment unless it's all somehow hiding in your two duffel bags." Corey remarked and my face heated up. So maybe I was planning on sleeping on the floor for the night.

"You can sleep here and I'll watch Marc. If anything seems off I'll wake you up." Axel's voice left no room for argument and I nodded. It was better than sleeping on my floor.

"Wake me up every two hours or if he has a fever or starts sweating." I fixed my gaze on Axel. This was important, Marc was alive but I essentially did minor surgery on their kitchen table and he was susceptible to infection.

"I have first aid training, I know what to look for." Axel confirmed.

"Well now that that's settled I better go." Dr. Green waved cheekily. "I'll see you next week at the hospital Sang, and don't be surprised when our attendings start praising you for today." 

I blushed yet again, waving goodbye as Dr. Green left.

"You can sleep in my room." Raven suggestively grinned, not even making an effort to be subtle.

"Raven, leave her alone." Axel commanded with an eye roll. "Dr. Sorensen, if you're not too uncomfortable, Raven actually does have the biggest bed or you can sleep in my room."

"Uh, I don't mind sleeping on the couch so I'm close to Marc if anything happens." I eyed their small living room, the couch looked more comfortable than my bed back in Greece. 

"I'm going to move Marc to his bed anyways so there's no need to sleep on the couch." Axel said as I glanced at Corey who lit up when Axel had mentioned I just sleep here. He really was adorable. 

"I'd offer you my bed but my apartment is next door." Corey grinned at me. "Raven's bed is pretty comfortable though." I raised my eyebrows slightly. How would Corey know how comfortable Raven's bed was. Not that it was any of my business. 

"Okay, I sleep in Raven's bed then." I was too tired to argue anymore and stood up from the chair, lifting my arm to steady my tired body. All I wanted right now was to lay down.

"Raven, show Dr. Sorensen to your room while Corey helps me move Marc." Axel's chocolate eyes met my own and I almost shuddered at the intensity of them. 

"Come on, Kotyonok." I tried not to blush as Raven called me kitten in Russian, letting him take my arm and lead me down a hallway. His grip was surprisingly gentle and I found myself leaning towards him. When he opened his door I peered into the room. It was tiny, a medium sized bed shoved into the corner and a fold out table in the center. I wasn't very surprised at the disassembled gun on the table either, it seemed very Raven. 

"I can get you new sheets if you want." Raven moved the table aside so I could move the bed and I shook my head in response. His bed was unmade with two pillows and a single quilt that called my name.

"It's good." When my knees hit the bed I almost moaned in relief, crawling towards the side of the bed by the wall and  curling up immediately with the blue blanket. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.