The morning after the storm meant the hospital would be hustling and bustling with crowds of patrons needing assistance ─ whether big or small, extra hands are always needed. It’s why after she said her goodbyes to Jeremiah, once again thanking him for taking her in before the storm’s havoc left her stranded on the road, she made her way to the hospital. A few of the nurse’s demeanor was tense but the moment they saw Teagan, the illumination of relief flickered upon their overlays. At that moment, it instantly dawns upon her the staff had been wearing thin with no sleep, over-indulgence of coffee whilst people further grew insufferable waiting around for results or assistance for that matter. So, she went to the attending lounge to get into her scrubs, as her lab coat before bee-ling toward the Emergency Room pit. Let the action begin.
For the past three hours, she was constantly on the move, maneuvering in and out of patient rooms and even soothing a few of their worries ─ knowing quite a few people saw doctors as a free therapist as whilst curing for their wounds. Which she doesn’t blame them. If she was in the opposite position, she’d be doing the same. Everyone is stunned over last night. Teagan is as well but buries those emotions deep within to remain professional and gripped with laser-focus. All of the years she has lived in Olympus, which happened to be her entire life but minus four years when she lived in Los Angeles, a storm like such never reached such magnitude in this town. Then again, there’s always a first time for everything, a quote that her grandmother informed to her regularly. Oh how right she is.
Finally having a moment to catch her breath, seeing as the pit of the emergency room slow in pace, she stood by the nurse’s station signing off on another patient’s chart before a body in her peripheral vision greets her. Turning to the other, the brunette sees Maya and sends her a soft smile before hazel optics glance down to the tubs of food. “Oh wow,” she gently begins. A glaze of appreciation glides upon her demeanor toward the other. The neurosurgeon briefly knows about the other through the Community Center, but other than that, Maya is someone Teagan did not have a chance in knowing yet. “All of this is really kind of you. You save me from having to cook tonight. Plus, desserts are a way to my heart,” she speaks through a laugh. For a moment, a beam is sent to the other, knowing everything had been safe with her because she was inside but a pit of worry sat in her stomach ─ making her believe it has something to do with her grandmother’s antique shop. It’s a mental reminder for her to check up on the shop before finally heading home. “I’m okay. No injuries. I managed to find safety right before the downpour left me stranded me on the side of the road.” A soft sigh slips from her lips. “Did you get a chance to stop by the Community Center?”
The longer she stands within the hospital, the nerves settled inside of Maya begin to slowly increase. She’s not sure why, perhaps it’s the concept of being so social during these times, her anxiety for social situations kicking into high gear. She often found herself picturing the way certain scenarios will pan out before they even happen. This time, she pictures Teagan swatting her away upon arrival, too exhausted and too overwhelmed to give someone like Maya the time of day currently. Not that she’d blame her, there was so much going on right now. Maya was only the receptionist at the Community Center and even she knew how jam-packed she was going to be for the next couple of days. So, in hindsight, she couldn’t imagine being in the medical field. What Teagan did was admirable, courageous.
But, with that, Maya is instantly relieved when she’s met with a smile and grace. It calms the nerves inside her that begin to helplessly fester. It was nice to see a familiar face too, especially considering Maya spent her evening with someone she didn’t quite know. Sure, she didn’t know Teagan that much either, but the man she was with last night was barely an acquaintance, the town’s newest detective. That alone was a surefire way to jumpstart her nerves, despite his kindness in allowing her to stay with him instead of her abusive, anger-fueled boyfriend.
“Don’t even mention it,” Maya says kindly, “You deserve it. I can’t imagine how intense all of this has been for you right now. It’s the least I could do.” As Teagan speaks, relief pools through Maya. It was nice to know she found shelter during the storm. Without even realizing, Maya had been worried about everything and everyone. Perhaps she as always fixating on her most attractive problems, the one that stems from a more hopelessly cynical part of her, that when things like this happen they snap her back to reality. It was daunting, a sudden reminder. “Good, I was worried. It was all so wild. I’ve never seen a storm like that in my entire life, especially in this town. I’ve also never seen people scramble for toilet paper like that in my whole life.” Maya says now, quiet laughter weaving through her hopes. She does what she can to keep the conversation as light as she can, despite the topic at hand being a rather serious one. For now, she does it for Teagan’s sake, not wanting to exhaust her more. “I’m about to head over there soon. My shift starts a little later today since they’re cleaning up the roads still. I’m expecting a busy day, though.” Though, a part of Maya was happy to get back to work. She wanted to give back as much as she could, hence the food and a helping hand. “Have you ever seen a storm like that? It was not how I expected it at all. I’ve seen pretty tame snow storms back in New York, but never a tornado at that magnitude. Certainly not as romantic as Twister with Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, that’s for sure.”
