One of the Boys (or Sarah Reese in the Off Campus Universe) Years Later...
TW: Cancer Mention
Joanna was talking to an older woman. Sarah saw when she finally broke away from the chaos that was the ED. (Where they were dealing with the aftermath of someone running through a pop-up street market with their car.) Because of course she was. That's just who Joanna Maxwell was. She was easily the coolest person in the room, but she was also incredibly kind and friendly. She would talk to anyone and everyone. Sarah blinked away the tears trying to form in her eyes because not only was it was unfair for someone like Joanna Maxwell to be sick, but because it was unfair for everyone in that room to be sick.
Shaking her head, Sarah pushed through the door to the clinical trial waiting room. Then she stopped short. The brunette blinked, as if the image in front of her would disappear but no. She tensed and froze because there stood her boyfriend still stood in front of her, hugging his ex-girlfriend very tightly.
"And there she is now! Reese's Pieces," Joanna called out softly as she stood up and moved across the room. Connor and Robin Charles broke apart and turned to stare at her. Robin looked surprised, yet delighted to see her while Connor looked guilty. Even muscle in her body seized up. Because in her head this was conformation enough. She was only ever Connor Rhodes' consolation prize. (Across the room Dean clocked the shift in Sarah's body language immediately.) But Sarah had only glanced at him for a moment before she adverted her eyes from his to look at her friend.
"You know I wish I could say that it's been a while since someone called me that, but it was only this morning." Sarah laughed as Beau's older sister wrapped her in a tight hug. Sarah returned it just as tightly. It wasn't a Beau Maxwell hug. Sarah hadn't had one of those since she was nineteen. But it was a very close second and it brought tears to her eyes. Joanna hummed, "When was the last time we saw each other?" "Two years ago? I was on my yearly trip with the boys and it was Dean's turn to host so we were in New York. You had just landed Janis in Mean Girls on Broadway so you insisted we come to the opening night."
"It can't be that long ago." Watery laughter bubbled out of Sarah's mouth before she squeezed the other woman tighter. Then Joanna pulled away and grabbed her hand, "Come meet my new friend! I was telling her all about you and how you told me about this new clinical trial. This is Caroline Charles. Caroline, this is Sarah Reese. "
"Dr. Reese was also my psychiatrist Mom, before we knew I had the tumor in my head. She was the one who made me feel normal even when I was going crazy. She's also one of Dad's residents." Robin Charles called softly, before she made her way back over to where her mother was with Connor in tow. Sarah's heart clenched. Especially with Connor now hovering over her shoulder.
Because this was the problem with her jealousy of Robin Charles. Sarah felt as if she didn't have any kind of justification for it, because the woman had been nothing but kind to her. Even when Sarah hadn't been able to diagnose her properly. It would be easier if Robin was a bitch. But she wasn't. But she Connor's last serious girlfriend before Sarah. And Sarah wasn't dumb okay? She knew she was Connor's rebound after Robin left. Her and over half of the greater female population. But she was the one that stuck. But it didn't change what she was. Connor's consolation prize because he couldn't have the one he really wanted.
"Then I must shake your hand. For not only helping my daughter when she needed it. But also putting up with my ex-husband. I know that isn't easy all the time." Sarah smiled tightly as the older woman grabbed her hand. But it didn't meet her eyes. (Another thing Dean cataloged in his best friend. Also how she seemed to shuffle a little so she wasn't touching even shoulders with the dark haired man behind her.)
"And this is Connor Rhodes, Connor this is my mom. Caroline Charles." Robin introduced and Connor reached around Sarah to offer her his hand.
"Connor, I have wanted to meet you for a very long time. Thank you so much for taking such good care of my girl when she needed you."
Sarah inhaled tightly because this was starting to feel more and more like a boyfriend meeting the girlfriend's parents. She ignored the look Connor threw her when no one was looking. ( Or when he thought no one was looking. Except Dean was. He might not know what was going on with his best friend and the other man, but he had had enough of it. He stood up.)
"Okay Jo, quit hogging my best friend. After she was mine first." Dean said easily, opening his arms for Sarah. Sarah took the out for what it was and darted into Dean's waiting arms. His arms locked around her waist, lifted her off her feet and, just like that she was home.
Even as Joanna laughed, "Actually, I think she was Tucker's first."
She almost sobbed. Her other friends and Connor were lovely and she loved Chicago, but they weren't her boys or even their better halves and Boston...Boston was the first place she felt at home anywhere.
If you want to ask me about this universe or look at the playlist
