this is sillyy so tw for silly but the concept of victoria being cassie's "work wife."
it started as a passing joke between trinity and victoria, a mutual dig at how cassie seems to favour victoria over everyone, and so blatantly too, but then it caught on. victoria starts being called 'mrs. mckay' in their circle, but they all make sure that it doesn't actually reach cassie or any of their attendings because victoria doesn't want to explain her one-sided crush and longstanding pining for cassie, no thank you.
then, mateo slips up.
in his defence, there was an accident. not a big one but big enough to rattle the mundanity of their day.
victoria and cassie are on one of the cases, supporting robby as they work on the worst of the two patients wheeled in. the patient's losing too much blood from a through-and-through puncture from their stomach, but the adrenaline has rendered them awake, angry, swatting away at everyone and yelling when they come close. somehow, victoria got too close and the patient's fist made contact with her ribs.
robby's barking out orders, cassie has stepped back to check on victoria, and mateo, he—
"aw shit, you okay, mrs. mckay?"
cassie stops, furrowing her brows because mateo should know that she's divorced; in fact, he's known longer than anyone so cassie wonders what's going on. only, mateo isn't looking at her. hell, it isn't even her reply that he is waiting for because the person he's looking at—the person who replied to his question—is victoria.
"what?" cassie asks because, seriously, what?
victoria jumps, but so does mateo and the two of them look at cassie with terror. or, well, victoria's looking at her like her whole life just came apart while mateo's shooting her a sheepish grin.
cassie parts her mouth to ask again, but the smell of antiseptic wafts to her nose and she remembers where she is. she turns, meeting robby who is just as confused, before they both fall back to the rhythm of their work.
victoria steps up beside her, wound up so tight that everyone can see she is distracted.
"later," cassie rumbles softly, keeping it private just for the two of them. "for now, we need you focused, mrs. mckay."
victoria gulps, looking at her with so much emotions that cassie feels her gums ache with the need to bite.
"okay," victoria whispers. "i- okay."
