"Thinking about mid 20’s child life specialist!-reader joining the pitt and infatuating the pitt women with the way she cares for her patients and their families. most specifically McKay, Santos, Mel, and Ellis <3" ᴄᴀꜱꜱɪᴇ ᴍᴄᴋᴀʏ | ᴅʀᴀʙʙʟᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴏᴜʀ
— request status: open | masterlist <3
𝜗𝜚 Mckay, while not usually having you help out with her cases, admired you mainly from afar. You were the embodiment of beauty in her eyes, a woman still full of the youthful spark and sincerity that made patients and families trust your care. You were compassionate, sweet, and dedicated to your job.
She could tell you genuinely cared for each and every kid you sat by at their bedside, and that awed her.
It awed her, especially when she watched you interact with Harrison.
The first time you met the boy was when he was seven. He had been brought in by his grandfather to visit Cassie. As expected, she didn't have enough downtime to sit and chat with him for more than a couple of minutes, so she had asked him to stay put in the break room while he waited for her to come back. But being seven, and curious to learn more about his mother's world, he tiptoed his way out of the room and roamed around carefully around the floor until he bumped into you.
You were sitting beside a young boy, one much younger than him, explaining how a heart monitor works by mimicking what it would look like with a stuffed bear. Having worn one a couple of years prior due to a cardiac scare, Harrison sympathized with the little boy beside you as he continued to look down at the wires hanging from the teddy bear's chest with unease. So, without much thought, he came out from behind the curtain he was peeking through and interrupted you by tapping your shoulder.
"They're not as scary as they look!" He had said, startling you as he caught the other boys' attention. "When they put one on me, it felt a little strange, but you just carry the little box in your pocket and Voila! The next day, they take it off, and you're okay again!"
You were confused, to say the least. Where had this kid even come from, and where were his parents?
You turn to look around, trying to find anyone who looked like they were looking for him, but to no avail found nothing. Turning back to look back at the two boys, however, you began to notice a shift in your patient's face. The uncertainty had shifted to wonder as Harrison reassured the little boy that he wouldn't feel anything, so you ultimately decided to simply work with this.
You would find this boy's parents as soon as the nurse came back.
"See, Alex? There's nothing to worry about, lovey. This is simply a one-day thing that is just going to make sure your heart is beating at the pace it should be. How about you help me demonstrate...?"
"Harrison."
"How about you help me demonstrate, Harrison?"
-
To say Cassie was stressed was an understatement.
While the ER, in theory, was one of the safest places he could get lost in, Cassie trusted no one with her son. And, if word got out that she had left him alone and let him get lost under her care, she would lose total custody of his son. Shit was already rough as it was; she didn’t need her ex-husband's lawyer to have even more leverage to use against her than she already had.
"Harrison where the hell are you..." She mumbled under her breath, checking every room and crevice where her son could be in.
He couldn't have wandered off too far, she had left him 10 minutes... 15 perhaps? It couldn't have been too long.
Consumed in her thoughts of everything that could go wrong, she almost walks past the bed you three were in, but at hearing the familiar lilt of her son’s laughter, she’s pulled back into reality.
You were already done with your demonstration when Cassie walked into the examination bay bed you were stationed in. Instead, you were a part of the hearty laughter that laced in with Harrison’s.
Alex’s mother had yet to come back, and the nurses appeared to not come check up on you seeing as you were already there to make sure things stayed in control. So, as you weren’t necessarily needed elsewhere, you simply sat there entertaining the two children with whatever you had at hand. That being the aforementioned teddy bear and a small bubble wand you kept tucked into your pocket just in case.
Halfway through blowing another few more bubbles, you’re startled yet again by the sudden cry of Cassie running to pull her son into her arms.
Can’t a girl catch a break? You thought, but quickly shook the thought away as you watched Cassie, in all her relief, scold him worriedly in a volume you could barely hear.
“Harrison this is not some place you can just run around and treat as a playground,” she started. “Ms [ ] is at work. You can’t barge in just like that, you know how much trouble you could get us both I-“
“Dr McKay, it’s alright,” you say putting your hand on the older woman’s shoulder, momentarily stunning her as she tenses. “Harrison actually helped me out. Alex here has to wear a heart monitor for a day, Harrison has experience with one so he helped me show him that it’s not as scary as it looks.”
“I’m sorry what?” Cassie asks, brows knitted as she lets go of Harrison and turn to face you. Your hand was still on her shoulder, touch warm, grounding even. She made no effort to brush you off, and you didn’t retract your hand until you realized you left it there a little longer than intended.
“Want to step out for a second?”
Cassie only nods, and watches as your hand retracts back to your side as she follows behind you.
Before you can say anything, she apologizes, embarrassment etching into her gaze along with the mixture of earlier emotions. “He doesn’t run away like that often, I promise. I.. I had patients to attend too. I didn’t think my father would leave him here alone, much less that Harrison would run off like that. I’m sorry if he caused you any trouble. It won’t happen again.”
At her ramble, you shake your head and yet again put your hands on her shoulders. “No one is saying it’s your fault, love,” the pet name leaves your lips instinctually. There wasn’t a double meaning to it and Cassie knew it, and yet, seeing the reassuring look in your gaze followed with the soothing tone of your voice, she couldn’t help the flutter in her chest.
“As I said, he actually served as an assistant of sorts for a moment. He’s sweet, really did wonders in the way he helped Alex calm down. You’re raising a great kid, doctor. So please don’t beat yourself up, this could happen to anyone,” you add, giving the older woman a small squeeze before letting go with a gentle smile.
Cassie shakes her head. “I’m glad you think so, truly, but.. fuck, I’m just out of it. I didn’t see him anywhere so I panicked. Thought about all the shit that could have happened had he hadn’t found you. Thank you for taking care of him. Really. I know it’s not much but, if there’s anything I can do to pay you back just let me know.”
You chuckle, not in judgement, but in amusement. You didn’t work with this woman often, probably haven’t converesed with her more than once or twice, but you’ve watched her from afar and always saw a woman that kept her composure despite what the Pitt threw at her.
This was different, endearing almost.
“You don’t need to repay me, mckay-“
“Cassie. Call me Cassie,” she interrupts, and you only seem to smile a bit more.
“You don’t have to repay me, Cassie. It’s my job to look after any child that comes my way, so don’t sweat it, okay?”
You had emphasized her name that time. It takes everything in her to not fall to her knees then and there, but she schools her expression into a more composed one with a slow exhale and nods.
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
You were about to turn back to leave, but she catches your wrist, firm despite the gentle tremble. “Hey.. I know this is out of character from me, and you have every right to turn me down but.. would you want to grab a drink sometime? On me of course.”
You fluster, cut off guard for a moment. There wasn’t anyone paying attention to you two, so you allow yourself to meet her hopeful gaze. She’d be hurt if you turned her down, but she wouldn’t take it personal if you said no. You didn’t know her, so it would make sense if you said no, but that didn’t stop her from hoping.
“I’d like that.”
“You would?” Cassie’s voice comes out more relieved than intended, but it elicits a small giggle from you so she lets it slide this once.
“I would. I’ll find you before I leave, okay? We can schedule it a day we’re both off.”
“That sounds perfect. I’ll… I’ll take Harrison off your hands now. Thank you so much again. I’ll see you in a bit?”
You nod, and she smiles. Her hand unclasps yours, and she gestures her son to come with her. She’s still scolding him as they walk away, aware of your gaze on her back, but at least something good came out of this.
She finally got to ask you out, no longer having to settle for admiring from afar.
“Mommmm, quit cheesing!”
“I don’t want to hear it mister, you’re still in big trouble.”
note ✎ᝰ I’ll be honest, I haven’t written in a good minute so it’s not great great but hopefully enjoyable enough <3 I recently got really into the Pitt and am considering writing for the Pitt women so this mini series is my attempt of easing into writing for this fandom !!
