The Return (Pt 1)
Brendon "The Shark" Park x Foc (Sammy) [Ao3], Masterlist, Series Masterlist, Next
Series summary: After a long term relationship that ended up in a painful breakup, Sammy left Pittsburgh for years. But she misses home so she returns as an ED attending at PTMC. Exes to lovers. HEA. Fluff and Angst. Additional warnings added as needed
Chapter Summary: Sammy arrives to her hotel, She needs a job a place to stay that isn't a hotel, and to absolutely not think about her Ex. Word Count: 1,098
Sammy dropped her luggage inside the door, the hotel key held tightly in her hand. She let out a sigh as she spotted the queen bed before her. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into it. The seventeen hour flight was too much. She hadn't remembered it being so horrible the way there, but she had felt restless the entire way back to Pittsburgh. She locked the door behind her she moved into the bathroom to shower.
When she was done, she pulled on her oversized Pittsburgh Penguins t-shirt and pj shorts. She flopped onto the bed like a starfish with a groan. She lay there for a few minutes, enjoying the comfort. After a few minutes, she threw her brown hair into a bun, then pulled out her phone to send a quick text to her mom. Arrived and Safe. She was sure she would receive a stupid message about how she should have just stayed at her parents' house. No way in hell was she going to do that.
She lay on the bed, staring at her contacts.
It was funny how life had turned out. She hadn't expected to be restarting her life again. She had been with Henry for three fucking years. She really had thought maybe they'd get married; she didn't think that was beyond expectations after so long.
Not after Brendon.
Her chest tightened thinking about it. She had hoped Egypt would provide her with the clarity moving forward. But turns out she just felt as confused. A state she felt like she was constantly in, no matter what choice she made. She hadn't even told anyone but her family that she was returning. Just in case she chickened out and changed her mind.
Back in Pittsburgh, a place she had missed with all of her heart, but it didn't dull the confusion. Should she even be here? She had fled here all those years ago, barely been back in the nine years she had been away. Hell, her stuff was still in Vermont in storage.
She had moved on once before she could do it again.
Maybe.
Her brown eyes scanned the contacts. People she hadn't talked to for the year she was away. Maybe she should have made a game plan on the plane. She had slept most of the ride and had felt like she wanted to vomit the minute she realized she was returning.
Ok. She needed a place to stay. She needed a job. Those two things were necessary. She couldn't afford to live in a hotel, and there was no way she was going to live with her sister or her parents.
She scrolled through her contacts, finally landing on the Rs. Hovering her thumb over Robby.
Just do it.
She hit the number and placed the phone to her ear, listening to the rings. With every passing ring, she debated if she should just hang up. Looking over at the clock on the bedside table, 9pm.
"Sam?" Robby's familiar voice emanated through the phone.
"Hey,"
"Haven't heard from you for a while,"
"I know," Sammy couldn't help but roll her eyes. She had to admit, she had missed Robby. Hell, she had even missed Jack, not that she'd ever tell him that. "Don't try to guilt trip me, Robinavitch. I've been in Egypt."
"No guilt trip, kid, just didn't expect you to randomly call."
Sammy got off the bed, pacing the room before she finally settled, looking out the window. High on the thirteenth floor, looking out towards the city. "Are you busy?"
"For you," he made a sound, "Never."
"I'm thinking of coming back to Pittsburgh," She paused. Why was she even bothering? Why was she lying? "I mean, I'm already here."
"Already? Why didn't you say anything?"
"Honestly? I thought I might chicken out," She moved back to the bed and flopped down. "Anyway, I gotta get a job and an apartment."
"And you wanna know if anywhere has any openings?"
"ppplleeeaasssee,"
"Well," he paused. She knew he was thinking, and she wasn't sure if that was a good sign. "I don't know if you would be interested."
Sammy sat up quickly, her heart pounding. "Tell me," she demanded.
"Well. We are looking for a day attending."
"at PTMC?"
"Yeah," she didn't miss the way it was huffed out.
"Finally admitting you need help, old man?"
"Hey now," he warned lightly, making her laugh.
But her stomach twisted. What if Brendon was still there? What if he were still working? Last time she had seen him before she had transferred to Vermont, a blonde woman with the shortest dress one could manage while still being called decent had been wrapped around him in the elevator to his condo. He hadn't even noticed her when she had watched the doors close. Knowing forever that what they had was over. Had he moved on?
"W-who's still there?"
"Jack,"
Sammy rolled her eyes. Of course, Jack was still there; that was a given, as if that man would ever leave. Much like Robby, he'd have to be dead first. "That's it?"
"Kid, I don't remember who you know or don't know."
She couldn't ask about Brendon; Robby would want to know why. He'd dig deeper, and that was the last thing she needed. She had managed to keep Robby in the dark the first time, but she wasn't about to expose her previous relationship ten years later. He should be gone, right? There was no way he was still at PTMC. He was probably in some private practice where all the sportspeople go.
"Oh," she cleared her throat. "I miss Jack too," She said, picking at imaginary lint on her shirt.
"Well, don't tell him that, it'll go to his head. I'll send you the information, just don't mention we know each other well."
Sammy frowned, "Wouldn't that help me?"
"Way less than you think."
After getting a few more details from him, they hung up, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She moved, pulling out her laptop from her carry on bag. Opening it up and connecting to the wifi.
She hovered over the keyboard before typing in his name. Brendon Park. She was about to hit enter. But she couldn't bring herself to push the key. Staring at the name. Shaking her head, she finally clicked exit, closing it quickly. She didn't need to look him up; she didn't need to know who he was anymore.
Putting it away and crawling into bed, hoping to fall asleep. She wouldn't think about him.
