#viomel

Mel gives herself a mental shake – she has a job to do, and she is nothing if not professional. She pulls up a new chart on the computer and starts reviewing the file for her next patient. 

She quickly loses track of time, as she often does when she’s deep in work, but some time later there’s a rolling of wheels on the linoleum and a chair pulled up next to hers in the computer bay. 

“Fancy seeing you here,” says a familiar voice, and Mel turns to see Dr. Lanes – or Vi, as she insists Mel call her – draped over a chair, sitting backwards on it with sculpted forearms resting on the backrest. 

Mel snorts softly. “Because you don’t usually see me up here at least twice a week?” 

“Well, I enjoy it every time,” Vi says, a flirtatious gleam in her icy blue eyes. 

Mel rolls her eyes, ignoring the sudden flush of heat to her cheeks. 

Ever since they met, Vi has been flirting with her shamelessly. Mel has always assumed it’s just part of her personality, an offshoot of her confident – bordering on cocky – energy. It charms Mel more than she would like to admit, but she blames it on being bisexual – Vi blends the masculine and the feminine in an infuriatingly sexy combination that only drives Mel a little crazy. 

However, she certainly knows better than to get involved with her coworkers, let alone a friend and fellow doctor who she sees regularly. It isn’t meant to be, but Mel enjoys their banter nonetheless. 

Well, most days she does. Today she’s not feeling quite up to it, so she just shoots Vi a wry smile, returning to the computer screen. 

Vi scoots closer. “No witty comeback? What’s up with you, Medarda?” she frowns, studying her intently. 

Mel briefly glances at her. “Nothing, just busy today is all. I need to get through these chart reviews.” 

“Something’s up,” Vi says disbelievingly. Mel can feel herself blushing as the other woman examines her. “You’re pale.” 

“Not as pale as you,” Mel smirks, and Vi laughs heartily. 

“Hey, we can’t all be blessed with your gorgeous amounts of melanin, sweetheart,” Vi winks. 

Mel chuckles, shaking her head, and ignoring the way her stomach flutters at the pet name. “I’m busy, Dr. Lanes,” she says pointedly, with a lightly raised eyebrow. “Don’t you have patients?” 

“I’m lookin’ at her,” Vi grins, and Mel sighs long-sufferingly. 

“I’m fine, really.” 

“You know, I would believe it if you didn’t look like a stiff wind would knock you over,” Vi says, but then her tone gentles. “Seriously, Mel. What’s wrong? I can tell you don’t feel well. We’re friends aren’t we? You can tell me.” 

Her eyes are unusually soft as they search Mel’s, and something in Mel suddenly yearns to let Vi envelop her in one of her signature warm hugs, and lay her head on her shoulder until her uterus no longer feels like it’s trying to rip itself apart. 

But, those are silly, self-indulgent thoughts, of course. 

“It’s nothing,” Mel waves a hand, resisting the urge to bend over when another wave of cramping pain tightens in her lower back and stomach. “Just some cramps, is all.” 

“Ah – those are the worst, but I can definitely help,” Vi says, pushing to her feet immediately. “When was the last time you took anything?” 

Mel glances at her phone. “Um…about six hours ago?” 

“I’ll be right back,” Vi nods, then pauses. “Allergies? Nausea?” 

“Only to shrimp, and a little, but it’s nothing.” 

“It’s not nothing if you’re feeling this miserable, sweetness,” Vi disagrees, and there’s a flutter in Mel’s stomach again that has nothing to do with cramps. 

Vi disappears down the hall, and Mel does her best to refocus on her charts, shaking her head a little. She has no idea what the other doctor is up to, but she has work to do. 

Mel jumps a little when a plastic medication cup is placed on the desk next to her, rattling with a few pills. She looks up to see Vi drop back into the chair next to her. 

“Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and an antiemetic,” Vi explains, pushing Mel’s black Stanley cup of water closer to her. “My favorite period cocktail.” 

“Oh, thanks,” Mel says, a little flustered, and she swallows the pills quickly. 

Vi watches her, then snaps her fingers and digs something out of the pocket of her white coat. 

“Portable heat pack. The nurses hide ‘em in the back of the supply closet, so you gotta know where to look – you’re not the first person to have cramps on shift. It should help, a little.” 

Mel looks at the pack, feeling her heart warm with fondness. “You didn’t have to do all this.” 

“It’s nothing, for my favorite doctor,” Vi grins. “Gotta get you back in fighting shape, Medarda.” 

“I thought Dr. Talis was your favorite,” Mel says with a smirk, taking a small sip of water. 

“I just tell him that so he’ll take the patients I don’t want,” Vi winks, and Mel chuckles softly. 

Then she has to bite down on a groan when her stomach clenches painfully again, and this time it’s bad enough that she hunches over slightly in her chair with an arm wrapped around her stomach. 

“Hey,” Vi’s hand is suddenly on her back, rubbing softly between her shoulder blades. “They’re pretty bad, huh?” she says, her tone surprisingly gentle again. 

“I’ve had worse,” Mel says through gritted teeth, although she can’t quite remember the last time her cramps were this bad, distracted as she is by the pain. 

Vi frowns at her, then grabs the portable heat pack and cracks it to activate it, shaking it a few times. She hands it over, nodding to Mel’s stomach. “Here. Try this, Mel.” 

Mel takes the pack and lays it on her lap, and the warmth does feel soothing against her aching muscles, although she’s a little embarrassed to be using it in public like this. 

“Why don’t you come lay down in my office for a bit?” Vi suggests, resuming rubbing her back. “Give the meds a chance to work. I have a pretty comfy couch in there, if I do say so myself.” 

“I have an office downstairs,” Mel shakes her head, although the prospect of traveling the long hallways and five floors of the hospital back downstairs to her office isn’t entirely appealing at the moment. Not to mention she still has work to do on this floor. “And I’ve got patients to see.” 

“You’re not going to be seeing any patients like this,” Vi says skeptically, as Mel hunches forward a little more at another wave of pain. “I’ll let you borrow my laptop, you can work on the couch until you feel better. C’mon, I insist, Mel – you’re practically keeling over.” 

Vi stands and offers a hand to help her up, and Mel sighs, but signs out of the computer. As much as she hates to admit it, Vi is right that she’s not getting anything done, and a chance to lie down does sound heavenly. 

Vi leads her down the short hallway to her office in the corner of the unit, opening the glass door to her office for her and ushering her over to the couch. She closes the blinds for privacy, and Mel sinks gratefully onto the cushions with a small groan, stretching her long legs out. 

Vi pulls up a small table so that it’s next to the couch within her reach, and places Mel’s water bottle, an extra heating pack, and a granola bar there. Mel raises a questioning eyebrow, and Vi’s cheeks turn a little pink. 

“In case you get hungry,” she shrugs, moving away to collect her laptop from the desk and handing it over. “Here. You need anything else?” 

“No, this is great, thanks, Vi – really,” Mel says gratefully, adjusting herself to a more comfortable position on the couch. She already feels better being off her feet, and also that she’ll be able to use the heat pack without any of the nurses or patients walking by and noticing it. 

“‘s nothing,” Vi shrugs again, giving her a critical once-over. “I have to go do some rounds, but text me if you need anything. I’ll come check on you in a bit.” 

Mel smiles softly, a little surprised at how attentive Vi is being. “I’ll be fine Vi, it’s just cramps.” 

“Hey, I take my patient care very seriously, thank you very much,” Vi grins cheekily. “Rest up.” 

“Thanks,” Mel says, and her stomach does another tumble when she and Vi lock eyes, staring at each other for a long moment. For a second, she can almost imagine that Vi feels more for her than simply as colleague and friend, but then the moment is gone when Vi shakes her head with another fond smile, and slips out the door.