Dennis’s phone starts ringing but he’s arms deep in a patient’s chest cavity so he asks Trinity who’s calling. The other doctors and nurses are confused as to how she would know, but they watch as she just casually reaches into his scrubs pocket and grabs his phone. She grunts and says it’s his mom and that she’ll decline it for him, for which Dennis nods appreciatively. She puts his phone back in his pocket and announces that she’s going to swap gloves and rescrub in since hers are contaminated. she chuckles as she says that and gently bumps Dennis’s shoulder as she walks out. Dennis just smiles softly and continues working on the patient.
Another time, Perlah and Princess watch as Dennis walks by Trinity as she’s holding a pile of charts. He stops by her and quickly asks if he can borrow a pen; he doesn’t know where he put his. She rolls her eyes and angles her torso toward him, puffing out her chest. Dennis deftly grabs a pen out of her scrub top pocket with a “Thanks I owe you” and walks away.
They’re sitting next to each other trying to catch up on their charts for the day so they can go home and watch the newest episode of Love Island. In between them is a single Monster can and a bag of chips. Every now and then, Trinity will say “chip me” and Dennis will grab a chip and hold it up to her mouth for her to bite. She reasons that she doesn’t want her fingers to get dirty.
Dennis is sitting at Robby’s workstation (of course) and is staring at the screen. He mumbles something about a patients lab results not making sense and looks up at Trinity, who is standing nearby at the Hub talking to Victoria. He calls her over to read the chart and, instead of rolling his chair over to make room, he stays where he is as Trinity leans over him and rests her chin on his head while she shoves her hands in her pockets. “Huh, yeah..that does look a little weird”
Trinity is standing at one of the computer stations typing up a patient’s chart when Dennis walks up to her. He says that he needs her wallet to grab a doordash gift card he put in there the other day; he wants to order lunch while the caseloads are light (he didn’t use the Q word, don’t worry). She simply nods and mumbles, “Okay, yeah sure. You know where it’s at.” while she continues to type. He gives a small smile before reaching into her scrub pants pocket to grab it. He opens her wallet and pulls out the gift card, folds the wallet, and puts it back into her pocket. Trinity hums without looking away from the computer screen, and Dennis walks away.
A grateful patient orders several boxes of pizza for the day shift and gets them delivered to the ED. Staff rush into the break room to grab a slice. Dennis manages to grab a plate and begins to pile up slices. Donnie looks over and teases, “Dang Whitaker, you hungry or what?” Before Dennis can respond, Trinity walks in and exhales, “Ugh, God bless you, Huckleberry” as she grabs a slice from the plate and takes a huge bite. She glances outside the door and scans the hallway before grabbing Dennis by the shirt collar to lead him to an empty work station. He doesn’t put up a fight at she drags him out of the break room. Once they stop at the work station, he puts the plate between them and they begin eating the pizza and talking quietly to each other.
*Trinity and Victoria hanging out together, both on their phones*
Trinity: Huh. Ellen DeGeneres is a brunette now.
Victoria: Let me see. Huh, she kind of looks like if Peter Pan decided to grow up and transition into a butch lesbian. In a non-transphobic way, of course.
Trinity: Portia Pan.
Victoria: Good one.
Could you speak more about Little!cassies urges when a in a teen headsoace and how caregivers or even littles help her through it?
yesyes! I definitely can!! Thank you for the request! This contains both headcannons and a drabble/fic. Obviously TW for talk of drugs & drug addiction! Sorry if the ending feels rushed. I struggled to write the comfort scenes in this one, wanting to get them right. But I'm not exactly someone who gets bucketfulls of comfort so I have to rewrite stuff a few times for it to not seem awkward. I hope it was worth the wait though, and i hope you like it!
( Just for clarification: I use "Cass" and "they/them" to refer to Cassie during the drabble. This is because I HC Cassie to have some gender stuff going on that she doesn't really admit to herself unless they're regressed. So when regressed, they refer to themself in a neutral way, mentally. Therefore, there's a hint of non-malicous misgendering when people are referring to Cass. It's just because they don't know. )
Cassie regresses to a teen headspace both involuntary and voluntarily to cope with her less than ideal youth & 20s / early 30s. Mainly her teenage years, as she's worked through a lot of her older aged stuff but has never really picked apart her childhood. Just stuffed it into a box at the back of her mind and avoids thinking about it.
One of those big issues is her addiction. Cassie first started taking drugs during her teen years, starting far younger than she should have, even if she didn't get into the harder stuff until 15 or so.
She was in a bad place, surrounded by bad people. And drugs were Cassie's way of dealing with the feelings she couldn't safely express. So, when Cassie is regressed back in that mindset, the urges come back alongside the feelings.
Teen!Cassie doesn't like asking people for help with anything. And her addiction is no different. For a long time, she refuses to tell anyone about the urges she gets when regressed. Part out of stubbornness, and part out of fear that if she wasn't a “perfect enough” little, people wouldn't want to be around her. So Cassie doesn't tell anyone.
Frank finds out anyways. In a less than ideal way. He catches Teen!Cassie trying to use her work badge to open the Pyxis.
“Cassie. Do you wanna put back what you just took and talk to me or do I gotta tell Dana?” Frank murmurs, voice not harsh or angry, just concerned. Caring, too. Cass’ shoulders tense. They hadn't expected to be caught. They really were just going to be quick. But of-fucking-course someone had to catch them.
Reluctantly, they put down the vial they'd been in the process of grabbing, and take one of the vials out of their pocket. Of course, Frank doesn't believe them, of course. As he lightly moves them away just enough to check the history on the Pyxis. 4 vials taken out, one being the one they'd been in the middle of taking, and one being the one they'd just handed back.
“Nope, I still need two more vials from you, kid. I want to do this on your terms but if you're not going to be honest with me, I can't.” Frank warns, his voice softening towards the end as he notices how exhausted Cass looked. Cass swallows the lump in their throat, fishing into their pockets again and handing over the last two vials with trembling hands.
“Thank you for making the smart choice. Now, I'm going to put these back, and then we're gonna find somewhere quiet to talk, okay?” Frank praises, and Cass just nods, watching him put the vials back unsused. Their heart thumped in their chest, feeling like it was skipping a beat at every soft clink of a vial being returned to it’s place. It felt like a countdown to execution. It may as well have been, Frank was gonna tell Dana, and then Dana wouldn't want to be around them anymore, big or little. Probably would report them to Al-Hashimi and the hospital board, too, for trying to steal from work. They were so fucked.
“Hey, hey. Cassie, kiddo, can you take a deep breath for me? I'm not angry with you. I just can't let you do unsafe things.” Frank murmurs, resting a hand on their shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze. Cass tries a few times, with shaking, unsuccessful results before they manage to get a few good deep breaths. Only then does Frank start to lead her towards the family room, mouthing to Mel to cover for him.
Cass immediately sits on the seat furthest from the door, bringing their knees up to their chest and tucking their head against their knees. Their shoulders were tense and they were picking at the skin around their nails without fully realising they were doing it. The pain was like second nature.
“Okay. I'm gonna tell you what I think I saw out there, and when I'm done you can correct me on anything I got wrong, and explain anything you want to, okay?” Frank explains, and they just shrug, wanting to get this over and done with already. It was only going to go badly. Might as well have it happen quickly. Rip off the bandaid and all that. “... I saw you taking medication from the Pyxis and putting it into your pockets. I don't think it was for a patient, both because you aren't supposed to be working right now, and due to how you reacted when I caught you. I think you were planning to take the drugs yourself, to get high. Am I right about that?”
Cass felt too exposed. They'd known Frank knew, of course. He wasn't blind nor stupid, but having it said so simply like that made them feel too seen. Nauseatingly so. God they were so stupid. Why had they tried doing it during shift? They could've waited till they and Dana were gonna go home, get to the car and then say they forgot their sweater. Go inside and take the drugs. Then come back out like nothing had happened. They're so stupid. So, so stupid.
“Fine. Yeah. I was gonna take the stupid drugs! I was gonna get high with them ‘cause God knows I wouldn't be able to get the privacy to get stuff off the street.” Cass huffs, scratching at the back of their hand. Frank reaches over to hand them one of the decorative pillows to scratch and pick at instead. “I was gonna get high. I wanted to get high. I still fucking do and it isn't gonna fucking stop.”
They brace for impact. Yelling, anger, disappointment, maybe a strike if Frank was that kind of guy. But it never comes. Instead, Frank takes a deep breath, and then speaks again,
“Okay. Thank you for being honest, Kid. You’re doing really well. Are urges a reoccurring thing when you're regressed or was this triggered by something?” Cass was confused. Really confused. Not only was Frank not yelling, but he was being praising them. And being gentle. That wasn't how this stuff works. They'd done something bad! Like! Illegal bad! Even if they hadn't technically followed through with stealing the drugs. They'd been put back.
“Why are you being so nice? Yeah, I get the urges all the fucking time. I don't— I'm messed up, okay! I know that! I'm messed up and I shouldn't be trusted around patients or the other littles or anyone!” Cass snaps, their voice breaking. It sounds so completely and utterly pathetic that they want to curl up into a ball and disappear. Well done, Cass. Can't even be nice to the one person who has seen you try to take drugs and not yelled. What was worse was that Frank still didn't even look angry, or even pitying. Just... Sad.
“Cassie, kiddo, I'm being nice because you deserve kindness. Substance Use Disorder isn't your fault, nor are the urges that come with that. I wish you'd told someone about the urges before it got bad enough to act on, but I'm not mad. Or disappointed. I'm just worried about you.” Frank murmurs, moving to kneel down in front of their chair, holding both of their hands in his own. And Cass does possibly the most embarrassing, horrible thing they could do in this moment; they start crying.
“Pl-please don't te-tell Dee. She- she's so nice a-and I don't wanna be all al-alone again! ‘ll do anything— i-i don't wa-wanna have t-to li-live all alone.” Cass sobs, breathing speeding up again from the panic. Frank is quick to pull them into a tight hug, knowing deep pressure tended to help alot of the littles he'd dealt with, and thus taking an educated guess. Cass clings tightly to him, their body shaking with each sob.
“It's okay. You’re okay... Need you to take lots of deep breaths for me, kiddo. Can you do that? Just in through your nose and out through your mouth. Dana isn't gonna leave you over this. She'd never do that, I promise. You're not going to be alone. I’d never let that happen.” Frank holds them tighter, letting them get all their tears out, just so long as they kept breathing.
Cass cries until they can't anymore, only pulling away to wipe their tear-stained face with the sleeve of their jacket. Their head hurt from a mix of the urges and all the crying, and they still felt unsteady. But crying really had helped. Even if it was really, really embarrassing.
“I... I'm sorry,” they sniffle, “for uh— for breaking down like that. And makin’ you deal with all this.” To which Frank just just shakes his head.
“Nope, none of that. No apologizing for crying or needing support. You didn't 'make' me deal with anything, kid. I chose to help because I care about you.” Frank corrects, handing them the box of tissues from the table. Cass mumbles out a thank you and blows their nose.
“So... You really have to tell Dee? Even though I didn’ take any of what I stole?” Cass asks, hesitantly, averting their gaze down to the ground. They knew logically that Dana wasn't going to be mad, but trauma messes you up, therefore their body didn't know that the same way their brain did.
“Yeah, kid. I gotta. It's for your own safety, not to punish you. You know that, right?” Cass nods, they knew Frank was only looking out for them, but it still really sucked. They didn't want to have to start going to meetings regularly again... And probably start seeing their therapist again too. Which, they're now realising they never told Dana they stopped seeing. Yikes. Cass sighs, swallowing the lump in their throat and taking a deep breath before nodding again.
“.... Okay. Um... Can I... Not be there when you tell her? I don't wanna— I don't think I can do it.” Cass asks, hesitantly, unsure of is this was gonna be like when they were actually a teenager and their dad made them sit and tell their mother everything they'd taken straight to her face. She'd always cry and Cass would feel bad and would hide the relapse better next time. They really didn't want a repeat of that.
“Yeah, I can do that. How about we go find Trinity and you sit with her while I go talk to Dana, yeah?” Frank offers, and Cass mulls over the idea in their head for a moment before nodding. Trinity wasn't too bad. Cass liked hanging out with her when they we're regressed. She treated them not like a little kid but also not like an adult.
With that, Frank leads them out of the family room, scanning the emergency department to see if he could spot Trinity. After a few minutes, and eventually asking Princess, Frank locates Trinity.
“Hey, Trin! Can you watch Cassie for a bit. I need to talk to Dana but I can't leave her alone.” Cass cringes at the unintentional misgendering. Yeah, they didn't want to tell people ‘hey, I kinda am a freak and don't like the whole gender thing. neutral stuff would be cool’, but it still sucked hearing themself be referred to in such a feminine way.
“Hm? Yeah, no worries. I can watch the kid. Go do what you need to.” Trinity hums, gaze more focused on Cass than Frank. She waits until Frank leaves to speak up. “So... What’d you do?”
Cass sighs. Of course Trinity was going to ask. Sure, Cass wasn't allowed to work on patients when regressed, but they didn't typically need a whole ass babysitter. The truth was going to come out eventually, so might as well rip off the bandaid.
“... Tried to steal some drugs. ER Ken over there caught me. And now he's telling my mommy on me.” Cass drawls sarcastically, grimacing slightly at their own shitty joke. Trinity pauses for a few seconds, nods once, and adjusts. Processing in her own way.
“Shit. Right. Okay. Well, I'm glad he caught you. But I'm certain the last thing you want to talk about is the whole situation. So how about we steal some food from the breakroom and not try to lipread what Dana and Frank are saying.” Trinity says, physically turning Cass by the shoulders away from the direction of the family room. Honestly, Cass had been planning to try lipread, but they also knew it would stress them out out, and they were pretty hungry. So shitty breakroom food it is.
“... ‘Kay. Lead the way.”
Trinity, thankfully, doesn't make it awkward. She just chats. About anything she can think of. Annoying patients, Dennis’ newest gay crisis, the fact a college student had tried flirting with Victoria and she'd frozen like a deer in headlights. That one, admittedly, did get a laugh out of Cass, despite their best efforts to keep moping.
Trinity was half way through a story about whatever Princess and Perlah’s latest conspiracy theory was (something about one of the nurses and someone on night shift), when there's a gentle knock on the breakroom door. Rhythmic and steady. Cass knows who it is without even looking up. Trinity does too.
“I'll finish the story later, yeah? Good luck, Kid.” Trinity murmurs, giving Cass’ hand a reassuring squeeze before getting up and leaning the breakroom. There’s the soft click of the door closing. And suddenly they're alone.
Cass doesn't look up. Doesn't look over. Just listens to the steady footsteps of Dana approaching, and then the scrach of the chair that was next to Cass against the floor when Dana pulls it out to sit down on. They don't look up even when Dana is close enough they can almost feel her body heat.
“Cass, baby, can you look at me please?” Their shoulders instinctively lock up. Answer her. Their mind feels fuzzy. Maybe abit smaller than before. Cmon Cass just answer. It's not fair. They don't wanna lose Dana. Their breath is catching in their throat before they can even realise. Words tumble out like a box off a shelf,
“Dee ‘m sorry. ‘m so fuckin’ sorry. Didn’.. I wasn't thinking. ‘ll be better I promise. Won' fuck up again. Please don’t leave me. I-I’ll stop bein’ small! I can do it! Won't get the urges this bad then! ‘n-nd ‘ll stop bein Cass. Will be normal. Pl-please. Please Dee!” Cass rambles, chest tight, heart pounding and with tears welling up in their eyes again.
Dana immediately opens her arms, and Cass all but throws themself into them, crying and babbling broken, tearful promises against her neck. Dana rubs slowly up and down their back, shushing them gently.
“Cass... Cass, I ain't mad at you. Not for the urges, not for tryna take stuff. I ain't mad at any of it. I'm worried about you, yes, but I’m not mad. I promise.” Dana murmurs, gentle and sweet, pulling Cass actually into her lap so she could rock them.
“B-bu’ I-I’m bad, Ma! I got u-urges. I get them lots when I'm little. I didn’ mean to. Bu-bu still bad. Not a good little. Not li-like Emma o-or th’ others!” Cass sobs, the title slipping out like second nature. Dana holds them tighter, giving them a secure, safe place to feel everything they were trying to put into words.
“No, no. You aren't bad. None of what you described is bad. Substance Use Disorder doesn't make you bad. And you certainly aren't a bad little; you’re perfect just the way you are. You know why?” Dana prompts, and Cass shakes their head, sniffling quietly. “Because you're you. Emma's perfect ‘cause she's herself. You're perfect because you're yourself. Different and unique and beautiful in your own special, personal way. Whatever that looks like for you.”
Cass doesn't speak for a few minutes after that. Dana doesn't force them. Just holds them while they cry and cling to her. It's gentle. Bursting at the seams with love. It feels so entirely foreign to Cass, to be loved in such an open, limitless way. Without condition or expectations. Just for being... Them.
“S..so you're not gonn’ leave, even though I get urges a-and I swear, and a stop going to therapy without tellin’ people and I drink energy drinks even though ‘m not supposed to when small. A-and I get rude when ‘m upset? Y’still wanna be my Ma?” Cass asks in a small, hushed voice that betrayed just how vulnerable they were in this moment. And Dana smiles at them, that loving, soft, gentle smile of hers.
“Of course I still want to be your Ma, baby. I'm not going to leave, I promise. I love you so, so much, even when you make unsmart choices. And that's what I’m here for, to help you when you make those unsmart, unsafe choices, and help you get back on your feet.” Cass believes her. Oddly, strangely, no part of their brain rushes to doubt it. Maybe because they're exhausted from their multiple breakdowns, maybe they're getting sick. (Or maybe, just maybe, Cass is learning to trust the way big them has slowly learnt to. And maybe, in doing so, they’re healing both versions of themself, too).
“... Love you too, Ma... ‘nd I'm sorry for not tellin’ you I stopped seein’ my therapist. Know that wasn’ smart ‘nd safe.” Cass mumbles, tucking their face back into it's favorite safe place — the crook of Dana's neck.
“It's okay, hon. I know you didn't mean it in a bad way. You just get in your own head sometimes. Later, we’ll sit down and call her, explain everything and book another session. And, maybe, if it helps, Ma can come with you to the first session. I know you get anxious sometimes.” It's slightly unnerving sometimes, how effortlessly Dana seems to know exactly what Cass needs, often moreso than they do.
“Yea, please Ma. Thank you.” Cass whispers, letting their eyes slip shut for a little while. Later would have to come eventually, and with it there would be more long, tough conversations, and weekly NA meetings at a minimum. But right now, for a few moments, they aren't ‘Cassie’ McKay, addict, 9 years sober. They’re Cass Evans, Ma’s perfect baby, no matter how many mistakes they make.
this is so self indulgent and heavily relies on my head cannons / ships etc. I'm a multi-shipper but I stuck to just a few ships here. Bc of the sheer amount of characters, my usual bolding isn't going to work so names that are connected (little & CGs etc) will be bolded in the same colour!
It's first organized by Dana and Cass (who'd started going by Cass more often than Cassie now when not at work). Dana hadn't been to pride before, growing up very Christian and then being married to a man. She'd always supported queer people, but never had the chance to go. Now, 50-something and divorced, she'd wanted to go. Cass had been overjoyed at the idea.
They'd asked Victoria, Emma and James if they wanted to come too, and Victoria and Emma had been really excited. James had said no at first, then quietly asked that following night while small if he was allowed to go even though he wasn't sure what his labels were. Dana had been quick to remind him that she hadn't figured out her label until her 50s. And that there was nothing wrong with that. So James quickly becomes excited to go, making a countdown to stick up on the fridge.
Victoria ends up telling Dennis, who sheepishly asks if he can come too, tells her that he'd never been to pride before and wanted to be around accepting people. Growing up in the middle of nowhere Nebraska meant that acceptance of queer people was few and VERY far between, so pride was never a thing for Dennis. So Victoria fills Dana and Cass in on the situation and they adopt him into it.
Of course, from there, Trinity ends up finding out. And she immediately asks Baran if they can go too, since Dennis is going. Baran had already been planning to bring it up to Trinity, so she quietly arranged things with Dana and they're added to the list.
Emma asks Joy to come, they'd been seeing eachother for a few months and Emma really, really wanted to be able to tell her caregivers and their little found family. Joy, of course, is more than willing to go, saying she's gone to pride almost every year since we was old enough not to cry at the first loud noise.
By half way through the week, theres a list up in the break room, a group chat and Dana running all communications.
Frank asks Mel if she wants to go, and maybe bring Becca if she wouldn't be too overwhelmed by the parade. Mel says yes, but also says she's nervous she'll get overstimulated and ruin things. So they have a long conversation reminding Mel that getting overstimulated doesn't ruin everything, that sue can bring anything she things she needs, and it's okay to go home once she stops having fun. And by the end of it, Mel is excited to go! Her and the other pittlings start planning outfits, bodypaint, flags etcetera. (Mel and James make a spreadsheet to communicate exactly what everyone needs).
They all meet up at Dana and Cass’ place on the day of the parade, everyone is buzzing with energy in their own way; Mel tapping her fingers to her thumb rhythmically, James rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet, Dennis trying to take over the playlist he hadn't been allowed to help create (“Huckleberry we don't need your farm music. It's pride. Let us show you real music for once” ), Trinity and Victoria talking loudly in the corner of the room. Emma is sitting next to Joy, who's trying her hardest to hold through a conversation with Dana without dying from anxiety. Cass, Frank and Baran and just observing everyone, packing bags and checking things off lists.
Dana and Frank were wearing "Free Mom/Dad hugs” shirts, Victoria had brought them, plus ones for Baran and Cass that said “I'm your pride Mom/Parent.” Cass definitely, totally hadn't teared up when Victoria gave it to them (but Trinity has video proof).
The parade is so much fun. At least two of the littles end up dropping at least for part of it from excitement. They find a very nice drag queen giving out free pride and pronoun pins and everyone ends up getting at least one. Cass reluctantly grabs the nonbinary flag and they/them pronoun pin, not having actually said either thing outloud to anyone yet. And when they shyly clip them to their shirt, the drag queen smiles knowingly. “You’re doing good, babydoll.” (Cass is pretty sure it healed something in them).
Thankfully, Cass isn't the only one rocking something new people didn't know about. Mel detaches herself from Franks side and grabs a they/she pin and gives Cass a shy little smile of recognition when she notices Cass’ pins.
Dana, Cass, Frank and Baran get approached by countless people during the parade. Many of whom are teenagers, shyly asking for hugs or some water. Each gets asked their preferred name and pronouns, and whatever answers they give are used without question.
They end up with a little group of teenagers following them around like little ducklings by the end of it. (Trinity recruited the older teens into helping her and the other pittlings explain gay culture to Dennis. His confused expressions and nonsensical replies make them all laugh harder than any of them have in awhile.)
When they do finally depart from the teenagers, probably at the end of the event, they make sure each of them knows to to to PTMC if they ever need help. That it's a safe place no matter what. And something inside Dennis heals, seeing teenagers get support he knows he needed at that age.
After the event, everyone is exhausted and covered in at least 3 different kinds of body paint and glitter, theres a video of Trinity getting spun by a drag queen, and everyone couldn't be more happy. They end up all crashing at Cass and Dana's place, too exhausted to make their seperate ways home. So they end up making a massive fort in the living room (courtesy of Victoria, Dennis and Mel who had regressed almost as soon as they got to the house), and all crash there together.
( extra little snippet, a post credit scene if you’re feeling whimsical: )
Today had been absolutely perfect. Emma got to go to pride with her friends and family, and introduce her girlfriend to the people who matter most to her. (Yes, they already knew Joy from work, but it was different meeting her when there wasn't HR in the way to stop Emma from gluing herself to Joy’s side).
Emma had, admittedly been really nervous to tell Dana and Cass about her and Joy. Their approval meant the world to her, and she worried that they, for some reason, might not like her and Joy being together. But she hoped that maybe today had shown them how happy Joy made her.
Cass had already pulled Emma aside not long after they'd arrived home, telling her how nice it was to see her so happy, and that she thinks Joy's a lovely girl. Emma may have cried. Like. A lot. She’d been really nervous okay!! It wasn't her fault!!
But Emma had yet to hear what Dana thought. She hadn't commented on it at all today. Dana always made her thoughts known. And the fact she wasn't was kind of starting to worry Emma. But she didn't want to ruin a perfectly good day, so she decides she'll bring it up tomorrow. For now, she just heads over to the fort the little ones had made, sitting down next to Dana, who wraps an arm around her shoulder.
Joy was on the opposite side of the living room, playing with James and Victoria. James had ended up regressing like he always tended to the closer it got to bed time, and he and Vic were quick to rope Joy into their games. Joy, despite usually not being high energy at all, was keeping up well with the two littles, fully immersing herself in the game. Emma smiles at the sight, happy to see some of her favorite people getting along.
“You picked a good one, hon.” Dana murmurs from beside her, pulling Emma from her thoughts. Emma's smile widens and she laughs softly,
“Yeah, Momma, I did. She makes me happy.” Emma tucks herself against Dana's side, finally able to relax with the burden of uncertainty lifted off of her shoulders.
“Well, then, that’s all that matters to me. I love you, kiddo.”
So Trinity canonically has experience with recreational drug use. Maybe just her friend/s, maybe also herself. That part doesn’t really matter for this post.
Most of us HC that her best friend died when they were teenagers.
But… I was thinking.
Med student Trinity watching her best friend sink further and further. Med student Trinity not being able to save her best friend from the outcome of their shared trauma.
Med student Trinity having a patient with a similar case to what she experienced with her best friend and then being screamed at by a man with authority over her for saving that patient. A man with authority over her who is struggling with addiction. Then she has a child who is being abused by her patient. And she watches everyone report the parent trying to protect her instead of the parent abusing her.
Then the MCI and the new trauma of that.
Med student Trinity questioning once again if she’s good enough to save people. Finally finishing her intern year.
Then on the fourth day of her second year of being a doctor, that same man comes back. Has authority over her again. Is acting like he did nothing wrong — and the rest of the department is following suit, including the woman she’s started to develop feelings for. The new attending threatens her with repeating her year on her FOURTH DAY.
Trinity Santos is genuinely going through hell and that’s not even really considering what’s happening with Yolanda.
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