Chapter Text
Trinity was sitting at a computer, spacing out but trying hard to concentrate. It didn’t help that every ten minutes, a new med student or intern or doctor or nurse came up to her.
“Dr Santos, incoming trauma.”
“Santos, we have a patient with a..difficult personality. Could use your sparkling personality to get on his level.”
“Santos, look alive. We need you in trauma two.”
“Hey Santos, Can you take a look at this with me?” Victoria appeared behind Trinity, tablet in hand, ready to go. Her eagerness snapped Trinity’s last strand of patience.
“Oh come fucking on. Can I have one minute here? Can’t you ask..” Trinity looked around and saw Dennis standing to the side, picking at a loose thread on his scrub. “Huckleberry! Stop fuckleberrying around and help Crash.”
“Doctor Santos”
Baran came up beside her.
“Can we talk?” She pointed her head towards the break room. Trinity worried she was in trouble. All day she had been trying to chart, but kept failing. All she wanted to do was prove that she belonged here, but as each chart piled up, she was less and less convinced of that herself. But when her eyes looked into Baran's, the worry diluted. It was a look of concern and care rather than annoyance.
They walked into the break room and the door gently closed behind them.
“Sit.”
Something in Santos’s stomach fluttered and she hated how that demand affected her at all. Sure, Al-hashimi is attractive. That’s almost just a fact. But she’s also her boss and Santos decided to file away that attraction as soon as she realized it was there. Things with Garcia ended with more headache than heartache. This wasn’t that. Just a stupid work crush. Everyone has one.
“You okay Dr Santos?”
“Define okay. I’m twenty charts behind and you’re threatening to make me repeat a year if I can’t catch up.”
“I know you’re very capable. I can see how your peers respect you and value your expertise, but I have also noticed it has affected your ability to stay on top of charting. Timely documentation is essential. Let’s find a way to fix this.”
“I know, I know. Look..I’m really trying. Overseeing the med students, the interns, it leaves me no time to do my own charts.”
“While I don’t usually condone bringing work home with you, I suggest you do this time. Take a hospital laptop if you need to and chart at home after your shift where there’s no distractions.”
“Okay. That I can do.”
“Good. Just temporarily. You’ll learn how to balance it all, I promise. It gets easier.”
Trinity can’t imagine it, but she still believes it when Baran says her encouragement so softly. Like she’s been there before. She gets it. Doesn’t nag or belittle Trinity, but finds ways to help her. She wants to see her succeed, which is something Santos hadn't felt from everyone. She’s used to orders without any compromise, any ways of meeting her half way.
“If a nun can get gonorrhea in the eye, I can one day finish my charts on time.” The joke didn’t quite land and Trinity awkwardly chuckled to herself.
A small smile appeared on Baran's face, so subtle you could almost miss it. She nodded as they both stood up.
At the doorway, they paused for a moment. Baran gently and briefly touched Trinity’s elbow. “You’re a great doctor, don’t let this get to you.”
There’s something about Baran that makes Trinity want to make her proud, not let her down. And that’s the drive in her that leads her to emailing the doctor at 10:32 pm that night.
[email protected] 10:32 pm
Hey,
Sorry for bothering you so late. Just checking, when are all of my charts that have backed up due?
Thanks,
Trinity Santos
[email protected] 10:40 pm
Hi.
Trinity. I hope our talk was a help. As soon as you can, but don’t exhaust yourself.
Baran
[email protected] 10:41 pm
Haha I’m already exhausted… And it did help. Thanks again.
I’ll get these to you asap boss
Trinity
[email protected] 10:43 pm
You’re welcome.
Keep communicating when you need help. See you tomorrow.
A week later:
Tuesday
[email protected] 8:41 pm
Hey,
Sorry again for bothering you, but I’m losing my mind and really trying to submit a chart, but I keep getting this error. Have you run into this before?
Attached: one image
[email protected] 8:43 pm
Okay.
Can you copy everything to a google doc and then paste it back in? It sounds silly, but that’s fixed this for me.
[email protected] 8:45 pm
It worked!
This almost drove me insane, like Robby level take a sabbatical insane. Maybe not that far, but you know what I mean.
[email protected] 9:02 pm
Got it.
Have a good night Dr. Santos. Feel free to send a message if anything else comes up.
Friday
[email protected] 10:41 pm
Mel told me all of this week's charts need to be in by midnight. I don’t know if I can get it done by then… is that okay?
[email protected] 11:30 pm
Mel’s need to be in tonight, but I told you you have until the end of the weekend. Were you not listening?
[email protected] 11:31 pm
Shit. Sorry. It’s been such a long week.
[email protected] 11:35 pm
That’s okay. For me too. Be thorough and don’t let it affect your reporting, please.
How are you feeling about the quality of your charts?
[email protected] 11:37 pm
I’ve been staring at the computer too long so my eyes are burning and my hands are cramping, but I’m putting in an effort so I can feel good about that.
[email protected] 11:38 pm
Effort and honesty.
Great. You decide when enough is enough. Thanks.
[email protected] 11:38 pm
Will do. Thanks. Have a great day off tomorrow :)
[email protected] 11:39 pm
You too.