the uk is desperately dive-bombing towards fascism because they have targeted the disillusioned working classes and rotted their brains with stories of evil immigrants taking their jobs and hurting their families. my hometown is one of the most multicultural parts of manchester and the populus voted almost unanimously for the reform party. my wonderfully eloquent friend tianna says it better than i could:
contains: established relationship. secret relationship. female!reader. attending!reader. reader uses she/her pronouns. bisexual!dana. jealous!dana. fluff. flirting. teasing. suggestive themes. language. medical inaccuracies. MEN & MINORS DNI.
description: on your first day as the new ed attending at ptmc, you and your wife dance around the reveal of your relationship.
a/n: another fic from my 'cherry red kisses' event! the original ask can be found here, thank you to that anon for this request, i loved the idea ❤️ also for this sake of this fic, dana isn't super close to any of her coworkers bc otherwise they'd know who her wife is lol happy reading everyone, and let me know what you think! 🩺
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Dana strolls through the sliding doors of the emergency department as she's done countless times and enters the hustle and bustle of the day shift. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a harsh brightness on the sterile linoleum floor, the faint scent of cleaning products lingering in the air.
The sound of beeping monitors and busy chatter of physicians and patients fill the space as the charge nurse scans the room, her gaze falling on the familiar faces of her colleagues busy with their own tasks and responsibilities.
She heads straight to the nurses' station, greeting her fellow nurses with a warm smile and a quick "Mornin'." Her sharp eyes flit to the schedule board, scanning the list of patients already checked in and waiting, planning out the day in her head.
Reaching for the closest tablet, she plucks her reading glasses from her shirt pocket and settles them low on her nose as she begins reading patient notes.
"...And coming back to our nurse's station—Oh, she's arrived!"
Dana looks up to find Dr. Al-Hashimi walking in her direction with a polite smile on her face as she's talking to someone beside her. Gaze shifting over, she sees it's the new doctor—you.
Her wife.
"Dana, I'd like you to meet our newest attending," Al-Hashimi starts.
Looking back towards you, she continues, "Since you've already met Lena, this is Dana Evans," she gestures to the older woman, "our day shift charge nurse."
Dana's gaze flicks from Al-Hashimi to you, a faint hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She adjusts her glasses slightly, shifting her weight as she looks at you and back to Baran.
"So they say," Dana greets you in her usual no-nonsense tone, her hand gesturing to the room around you three. "I hope you're ready for the chaos of our ED."
You nod at the other woman and cock your head just slightly, eyes dipping down to her lips before locking with hers.
"I'm sure I'll manage."
Al-Hashimi chuckles in confusion, not expecting the slight tension between you and the nurse.
"Right...Well, I have to go check on a patient now. Doctor, would you like to come with?"
"Sure, right behind you," you answer, but your gaze lingers on Dana for another second before trailing after the other attending, leaving the blonde to observe from the nurses' station as you walk away.
Dana can't help but let out a quiet hum of approval, eyes following the confident stride of your figure until you disappear into a patient's room. She adjusts her stance, leaning slightly against the counter while absentmindedly toying with her wedding ring.
The sounds of the ED seem to fade into the background as Dana's thoughts drift to you and the secret the two of you are keeping from your colleagues.
You did start to have a conversation about whether you would tell people once you officially started since your different last names would hide the connection—but that night, you had been in the mood for something that involved less talking and successfully distracted Dana before you could come to an agreement.
She lets out a deep sigh, shaking her head slightly as a small smile tugs at the corner of her lips. The last thing she needs to thinking about right now is sex, even if you do look especially good in your scrubs…
The blonde's mind quickly snaps back to work when she overhears a couple of hushed voices talking nearby.
"I wasn't expecting her to be a hottie though," Princess giggles.
Perlah only tsks, waving off her friend.
"You say that about everyone."
At that same moment, you stroll past and wave at the duo with a genuine smile, causing them to both return it. When you walk into another room and slide the curtain behind you, they look at each other as Princess raises her eyebrows.
"Okay, she is," Perlah chuckles before whispering something in Tagalog that Dana doesn't understand.
She turns around then, catching the duo's attention and ending their gossip session.
"Alright, you two, don't you have somethin' else to do?"
The hijabi woman laughs at being caught before walking over and nudging the charge nurse with her elbow.
"Come on D, even you gotta admit the new doc is good looking."
Dana shoots a dry look at Perlah, lips barely twitching under the weight of professionalism.
"I'm here to work, not ogle my coworkers," she deadpans, tapping away on the tablet without looking up. "Now go check Mr. Callahan’s vitals before he stages another jailbreak to the vendin' machine."
Princess leans in with a grin and giggles away.
"You’re avoiding the question!"
Dana finally lifts her gaze—slow, unimpressed, eyes glinting like she's one more comment away from assigning them both bedpan duty. She raises her left hand and waves her ring finger, gold wedding band catching the lights above.
"One is plenty for me," she says flatly. Then, after the tiniest pause: "...And I have excellent taste."
She turns back to her screen with finality—leaving just enough silence for Perlah and Princess to exchange knowing looks.
Dana forces her eyes firmly to her tablet, pretending to focus on the patient notes instead of the flush creeping up her neck.
Shit, she thinks, I shouldn't have said that last part.
The duo just smile, clearly unbothered by her stern stare. Princess bumps Perlah as they walk away, more Tagalog filtering out between them.
"So, Nurse Evans."
Dana looks up slowly, the sound of her name on your voice slithering into her ears and sending a spark down her spine. You're standing right in front of her now—close; too close for what's appropriate at work, but just right for you.
She lifts a brow, cool and composed despite the way her pulse jumps.
"Yes, doctor," she drawls, tapping the tablet with feigned disinterest. "Need somethin'? Or are you just here to disrupt my workflow on your very first day?"
You cross your arms and shoot her an amused, almost cocky smile.
Always so professional.
"Just thought I'd stop in," you say, shrugging. "Say hi."
Dana gives a noncommittal hum, fingers continuing to move across the device with practiced ease as she avoids eye contact.
"Mm-hm."
You shift your weight, and her eyes then finally raise and flick over you, casually taking in your figure and the way your scrubs hug all the right spots. It's a bit distracting, but she has no intention of letting on.
Her gaze lingers a beat too long before sliding back down to her screen as she clears her throat.
"Well, now you've said hi. Congratulations."
She cracks her neck, nonchalant expression belying the subtle flutter in her chest.
"Anythin' else, or can I get back to work now?"
Your smile morphs into a smirk, clearly aware of the effect you have on her.
"Yes, actually. I wanted to ask—"
The telltale sound of the phone's ringtone interrupts, and Dana's head whips in its direction. She walks over and picks it up, looking at you as she nods at the information being told to her.
Hanging up the device, she sees Baran walking up behind you and calls out, "Incoming trauma! Pedestrian versus car, three minutes."
"Alright, let's get ready."
Dana's demeanor shifts back to full business mode, any hint of playfulness disappearing as she goes into charge nurse mode, relaying instructions to the nearest nurses and doctors in a clear, concise tone.
Al-Hashimi walks up to you then, placing a gentle hand on your back and guiding you towards the ambulance bay.
"Come with me, this will be a good case for you to learn our workflow."
You nod, falling into step beside her as the two of you briskly walk in the direction of the ambulance bay. Despite your best efforts to appear focused and composed, you can't help but steal glances at Dana, who's still barking orders with practiced ease as she prepares for the incoming trauma.
The next few minutes pass in a flurry of activity as the team gears up, with Dana directing everyone to their assigned roles and ensuring everything is set for the patient's arrival.
In between organizing the chaos, her eyes keep drifting over to you, watching you with an intensity that's difficult to miss.
Finally, the whir of the approaching ambulance announces the arrival of the incoming patient. You turn your focus to the situation at hand, working seamlessly with the other doctors and nurses to assess and stabilize them.
As the patient is rushed into the trauma bay, Dana moves with precision and authority, calling out orders and ensuring everyone is on task. Her eyes flick to you occasionally, pride flickering in her gaze as she watches you in your element.
The next several minutes are a whirlwind, and through it all, you fit right in with the rest of the team, calling out orders with Baran's lead and showing off your knowledge to the greener doctors.
As the patient's condition stabilizes and they're rushed off to the ICU, you finally let out a deep breath, shoulders slumping slightly with the weight of the adrenaline dump.
Tossing your gown and gloves into the designated bin, you and your fellow attending walk out onto the main floor as you're discussing how the trauma went and how she prefers to approach cases like that.
You're still riding the adrenaline high, your words spilling out animatedly as you approach the nurses' station.
"I never get tired of that," you admit, running a hand over your neck.
Baran smiles, nodding in agreement.
"You were fantastic," she compliments, then adds, "You work very well under pressure."
"Thank you, that means a lot to hear," you smile.
She pats you on the shoulder before heading off to check on another patient, leaving you to gaze after the blonde checking on the patient board a few feet away.
You stand there for a moment, eyes locked on Dana as she goes over the patient board, her slender fingers tracing the air in front of her.
Despite the hectic pace around you, your gaze remains on her, drawn to the way she effortlessly commands the space with her presence and the stern expression that makes your heart flutter.
"Perlah, hold down the fort, will ya? I'm goin' for a smoke," Dana calls out.
The woman in question gives an acknowledging wave, barely looking up from her paperwork.
"Sure thing, D. Don't take too long."
Dana offers a quick nod in response before striding through the glass doors and stepping into the cool morning air.
It hits her skin in a refreshing manner, washing away the stress from the trauma, and she sighs deeply, eyes closing as she savors the momentary peace. Her hand slips into the pocket of her scrubs, retrieving a small pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
She slips one between her lips and leans back against the wall, lighting it in a practiced motion.
"Smoking's bad for you, y'know?"
Dana immediately looks up to find you standing across the walkway. She doesn't even seem surprised, just raising an eyebrow and giving you a small eye roll.
"So you've said."
Inhaling deeply, the rush of the nicotine settles into her bloodstream before she pushes the smoke out through her nose.
"What would you suggest instead," she drawls, "meditation?"
You shrug your shoulders and walk closer until you're standing directly in front of her, hands slipping into your scrub pockets.
"I can think of a few healthier ways to unwind."
Her lips curl upwards just slightly but she doesn’t take the bait. Instead, she takes another slow drag, eyes hooded as she watches you over the ember’s glow.
"Such as?" she challenges softly.
Before you can answer, the glass door slides open beside you two.
"Dana, we need you back inside for—"
Perlah pauses, glancing between the two of you with sudden realization dawning on her face.
"Oh."
The blonde hangs her head in annoyance at her break being cut short, sighing deeply as she puts out her cigarette in the designated ashtray before flicking it into the trash bin with practiced precision.
“Be right there.”
Perlah gives her a tight lipped smile and a quick nod before disappearing back inside, leaving you two alone once again.
Dana lets out a frustrated huff, eyes darting over to you with thinly veiled annoyance.
"Thanks for that," she sighs, fingers ghosting over her pocket where the pack rests.
You flash her a sheepish grin, knowing full well a rare break of hers was just cut short, but you can't help but find her reaction somewhat endearing.
"I was only trying to look out for your health," you tease, raising your hands in mock surrender.
Dana can't help but let out a snort, shaking her head.
"Oh yeah, I'm sure that's all you were doin'," she responds dryly, rolling her eyes at your obvious attempt to get under her skin.
Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, betraying her amusement despite her best efforts to remain irritated.
You can't help but find her stubbornness adorable. Stepping closer, you lean in just enough to be in her personal space, catching the faint scent of her perfume.
"Maybe I just enjoy seeing you frustrated," you say with a smirk, watching as her eyes narrow.
"Watch yourself," she huffs. "I'm the boss around here, remember that."
She pushes off the wall and heads towards the entrance, straightening her posture as you stare after her.
"We both know who's really in charge," you call after her in a teasing voice.
Dana doesn’t turn around but you could swear you see her shoulders shake with a suppressed laugh as she disappears back into the ED. You follow shortly after, still grinning like a fool as you stroll up to the big board and figure out which patient to check on next.
The shift continues, the morning growing more hectic as more patients stream through the ED doors. Dana is all business now, her demeanor back to strictly serious and professional. She rarely even glances in your direction, though you catch her eyes flicking over to you every once in a while when she thinks you're not looking.
As the hours wear on, you continue with your teasing, never missing an opportunity to slip in a subtle innuendo or playful remark whenever Dana is nearby. You know you're pushing her buttons and honestly, you're having way too much fun to stop. Every quick glance from her, quirk of her eyebrow, and tight-lipped response only fuels you more.
Dana, to her credit, does her best to remain impassive, pretending not to be affected by your relentless flirting. But you can see the slightest twitch in her jaw, the way she'll bite her tongue when she thinks of a snarky reply, the quick dart of her gaze towards you before she catches herself.
Her resolve is admirable, and you're determined to break it.
During a short lull in the chaos, you manage to catch her in a quiet corner of the ED. She's checking something on her tablet and you seize the opportunity to step in closer, leaning your hip against the wall next to her.
With a smirk, you tease, "You know, I think I could use a coffee right about now."
She doesn't look up, eyes locked on the task at hand.
"Then make one. Didn't Baran tell you where the break room is?"
Quirking an eyebrow, you lips turn downwards before you huff out a laugh.
"Wait a minute...are you, are you jealous?" you question.
Dana finally looks up then, narrowing her eyes and scoffing at your statement.
"Jealous? Please."
She turns back to her tablet, fingers tapping away, but you don't miss the slight pink tinge that dusts her cheeks.
"Babe..." you whisper with a slight pout. "That's so cute of you."
She lets out a huff of annoyance, shooting you a glare over the top of her glasses. It's as ineffective as it is endearing.
"Don't 'babe' me," she says with a roll of her eyes before turning around and giving you her back.
"It's just annoyin' hearin' everyone talk about you when we have more important things to worry about!" she whispers.
You can't help but chuckle, taking in the way her shoulders tense with frustration.
"Aw, were the nurses gushing over me all morning?" you tease, tilting your head to get a better look at her side profile.
She grumbles something under her breath in response, hand waving in the air.
"It's all I've been hearin'," she retorts. "Every little thing you d—"
She stops abruptly, realizing she's only giving you more ammo to mess with her.
"Ugh, I'm done talkin' about this," she groans instead, shifting to lean her hip against the wall.
You raise an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of your lips.
"Oh, no, keep going," you tease. "I wanna hear how annoyed you got when all the nurses were talking about how smart and good looking the new doctor is."
She scoffs, turning around to shoo you backwards until you're a few feet away. "Go find somethin' to do and quit botherin' me, how 'bout that?"
Laughing, you give her a half-hearted salute and a quick wink before turning around to go find Baran.
You weave through the busy ED, still grinning from your little exchange with Dana, and the curly haired doctor quickly spots you and waves you over to a patient’s room.
“Ready for another?” she asks, already stepping inside.
Nodding with a smile, you push thoughts of a certain charge nurse aside and fall back into the rhythm of medicine.
One patient turns into another, and then another after that. The shift is busy and your mind is a whirlwind of information and assessments, leaving little room for thoughts that didn't involve saving lives.
As it often happens when the ED is at its busiest, lunch is skipped, and before you know it, the evening sun has begun to dip in the sky.
Finally, you manage to finish up with a particularly difficult case. Exhaling sharply, you lean back against the counter of the nurses' station and rub a hand over your face, exhaustion weighing heavily on you.
Dana takes note of your tired state and approaches, crossing her arms across her chest.
"When's the last time you ate?" she asks, a hint of genuine concern masked beneath her usual stern expression.
"Been a while," you admit, cracking your neck. "Lost track of time."
Dana huffs under her breath, eyeing you with that familiar mix of annoyance and care.
"Unbelievable," she mutters, then reaches into her snack drawer and pulls out two granola bars, slapping them into your hand. "Here. Don't pass out on my shift."
Peeling back the wrapper with a grin, you lean in to catch her eye.
"You always take care of me."
She turns away quickly, but not before you see the soft smile on her lips.
"Just eat it," she grumbles, like she isn't already planning a good meal for when you two get home.
You take a bite, the sweet and crunchy treat immediately lifting your spirits. As you chew, you steal a sidelong glance at Dana who's now engrossed in paperwork again.
"Thanks," you say sincerely, crumpling the wrapper and tossing it into the trash.
She simply nods, not looking up from her work.
"Just don't make a habit of runnin' on empty."
Despite her stern words, there's an undertone of affection that only you can hear. It's these little moments, the subtle ways she shows she cares, that make everything worthwhile.
Dana may play the tough charge nurse in the ED, but behind the scenes, she's all about making sure you're taken care of.
As the end of the day approaches, you stretch your arms overhead, feeling the satisfying pop in your shoulders after a long, busy shift. Scanning the room one more time, you can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The adrenaline rush of a busy day gives way to a satisfied fatigue; the kind that comes with knowing you made a difference and navigated through every challenge thrown at you.
You glance over at Dana, who's now busy with Lena, finalizing a few things as they work on the handoff for the night shift.
Her demeanor has relaxed slightly since earlier, a sign that she's also feeling the exhaustion settling in. You observe her fully in this moment: the way her forehead creases in concentration, how her fingers move deftly across the keyboard, the way her lower lip catches between her teeth as she double checks every detail is correct.
She looks up then, catching you staring.
"What?" she asks, eyebrow raised.
"Just admiring the view," you reply with a lopsided grin.
Dana glares at you, and you see the way Lena glances between the two of you in surprise.
"Stop," the blonde chides, returning her focus to her work.
You raise your hands in mock surrender, knowing better than to tease her too much in front of other people.
Lena clears her throat then, awkwardly breaking the tension.
"I'll, uh, I'll just go start on those discharges."
Dana gives her a nod, eyes focused on her paperwork until the redhead is out of earshot. She then looks at you with a tired expression and tilts her head.
"You're exhaustin', y'know that?"
She receives a beaming smile in return as you laugh.
"And you still married me, so whose fault is it, really?" you whisper.
The other woman lets out a long, exaggerated sigh before letting out a chuckle of her own.
"Touché."
Looking around her desk, she begins tidying up before looking at you.
"Go grab your stuff so we can get outta here, I'm starvin' and I know you are too."
"Yes, ma’am," you say in a playful tone before turning to head to the lockers with a renewed pep in your step.
When you get back, it's Dana's turn to go get her things so you sit in her designated chair and start spinning in it to pass the time.
"Ready to get home?" a soft voice behind you asks.
Stopping your movement, you see Baran leaning against the counter, hands in her pockets with her usual amused expression.
"You have no idea," you reply, exhaustion weighing down your voice.
"You should be proud of yourself, though. There's not a lot of doctors that out there that could slide into our system that seamlessly."
She chuckles before looking down at your bag and seeing you've changed back into regular clothes.
"Are you waiting for someone?"
"Oh, um..."
You're not sure what to say. Dana has been purposely keeping you at arm's length the entire shift so no one would catch on, and you're unsure if she'd be okay with you revealing it now.
The woman across from you catches your hesitation and raises an eyebrow. There's curiosity in her gaze, and she folds her arms across her chest as she waits for you to elaborate.
"I was actually—"
"Ready to go?"
Like a guardian angel swooping in to save you from this awkward conversation, Dana shows up at that exact moment. Relief floods through you, a small smile tugging at your lips as you turn to find the blonde standing a few feet away.
Baran then glances between you both, a quizzical expression settling on her face.
"Oh, do you two know each other?"
You stiffen for a moment but recover quickly with the tiniest tilt of your head and a subtle, practiced smile.
"We just, um…" you trail off, casting the blonde a quick look.
She catches on right away, but instead of giving a vague answer like you expect, she looks at with the softest eyes you've ever seen. Then, she reaches out and gently hooks a finger around the chain dangling under your shirt and pulls it out for everyone to see.
A wedding band hangs from it, the same one Dana has been wearing for a couple of years now.
"If you consider marriage 'knowin' each other', then yeah. We do," the nurse chuckles.
Baran's eyes widen in surprise, looking between the pair of you as the realization dawns on her.
"I—oh!" she stammers, clearly not expecting this. "Well...that explains a lot," she adds with a soft laugh.
Dana gives you another look after that—warm, proud, and just a little mischievous.
"Yeah, we weren't sure if we'd tell people, but..."
Her hand wraps around the back of your neck and caresses the area there. Goosebumps break out on your skin at the sensation and the public display of affection, not having expected this at all.
"Cat's out of the bag, I guess," she hums.
You lean into her touch, feeling a flutter in your chest at her words and the way she's suddenly so openly affectionate.
Baran gives you both a warm grin before glancing at the time on the clock nearby.
"Well, I should get home to my son," she says, turning back at the two of you. "And...congratulations. You make a very good couple."
Dana lets out a laugh, letting go of your neck and dropping her hand down to her side. She then looks over at you and shrugs, a coy glimmer in her eyes.
"Yeah, we did alright."
When the other doctor leaves, you stand up from your chair and stretch your back, releasing the bit of nerves that built up during that conversation.
Hearing something hit the ground, you turn around and find Princess, Perlah, Santos, Javadi, and Ellis all standing there with shocked expressions.
"I knew there was something up with you guys!" Trinity exclaims.
Princess just points at you both, eyes wide.
"Wait—and neither of you said anything when half the floor was flirting?"
Dana sighs deeply and gives them a dry look.
"Took a lot not to say anythin', trust me."
With that, Dana grabs her bag with one hand and slips her free one into yours, pulling you towards the sliding doors to the ambulance bay.
"Anyways, good night ladies, see you in the mornin'!"
Both of you receive a chorus of shouts in return but wave them off, exhaling deeply when the cool night air hits your skin.
"How much you wanna bet everyone else will know by next shift?" You chuckle.
Dana matches your laugh, shaking her head at the scene you just left behind.
"With that group, I say in the next hour, at most."
"Well, shit," you reply, swinging your free arm lazily as you walk with her through the parking lot.
With the tension from the workday lifted off your shoulders, a sense of contentment settles in, and you can't help but look over at the woman beside you. In the glow of the lamplight, she looks so serene, and a wave of affection washes over you.
Sensing your gaze, she turns to look at you, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" she asks, a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Just admiring the view," you respond, flashing her a cheesy grin.
She only scoffs.
"You already used that line today, cornball."
"Maybe," you say, tugging her hand gently to slow your walk. "But it's still true."
Dana rolls her eyes, but she doesn't pull away—doesn't hide the small, fond smile that finally breaks through.
"God help me," she mutters, voice thick with affection as she shakes her head. Then, quieter: "Love you anyway."
You stop walking entirely, turning to face her fully under the dim glow of the parking lot light.
"Love you more," you reply, stepping closer.
She sighs again, but it's only it’s half-hearted—her eyes are soft, and her body is drawn to yours.
“Impossible.”
Closing the gap, you brush your lips against hers in a tender kiss, brief but full of affection.
Dana hums into it, one hand coming up to cup your jaw for just a second before pulling back.
"Alright, alright," she murmurs, voice warm and low. "That's enough romance for one day. Let’s get home so I can cook you a good meal."
You grin at the thought, feeling your stomach grumble at the mention of food.
"Sounds perfect to me," you say, starting to walk again.
Dana matches your stride, slipping her hand back into yours as you continue through the parking lot. As you walk, the silence that settles over the two of you is comfortable, and you think about how you can't wait to see what future shifts with your wife will be like.
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