She's Always A Woman

“Aaron?” She asked looking over him as if she could fix what was happening. “Aaron. Please breathe.” She said letting tears well in her eyes as she was pushed back by other nurses. Was this goodbye? Did he see that she was safe and now he could give up? She couldn’t let him go like this.

“No. Derek.” She said turning on her heel and preparing to fight her way back to his beside. “Aaron.” She called as the tears came flooding down her cheeks. “Please.” She said but she couldn’t get her feet to carry her any further.

She felt herself being pulled out of the room but kept her eyes on Aaron as long as she could. Then once she was forced back into the waiting room she fully broke down letting sobs rack her body.

Watching the scene unfold in front of her almost paralyzed her with fear. Nurses and doctors whizzing around her..she was frozen. She wanted nothing more than to run to him. To chain herself to his bedside so that she could protect him. She snapped back to reality as she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist and her body being lifted.

Derek having realized that she was only going to be in the way and needed to let the doctors work, grabbed her and carried her back to the waiting room.

Bailey felt her body hit the hard chair she hadn’t left for more than five minutes at a time in the last three days and she cried again. She let the tears fall onto the cotton black sweatshirt and she didn’t stop for hours. Silent sobs wracked her body until she had heard that Aaron was awake and asking for her.

She picked herself up again just as scared to enter his room as before but this time only because she was afraid of repeating the cycle. Afraid of going in there and causing him stress and forcing another episode.

When she finally managed to walk in she forced a smile onto her cheeks trying to manifest the warmth that usually came through when she was looking at Aaron.

“Hey.” She stammered. “The doctor was telling me some ways to help reduce your stress. And I’ll be right beside you when we take you home. Someone has to make sure Jack is taken care of and it won’t be you. You’re going straight home to bed rest.” She said trying to push the ache in her heart down.

“Y’a know. I think he might have been one of the best I’ve ever had.”

“One of the best? I’ll have to step up my game and get to the best then.”

“I am sure it won’t take long.” He joked.

“Any kinks you’ve been dying to try?” Ferre asked.

“Maybe a few. My desk being one of them. But I won’t do anything at work until we’re for sure going to be together.”

“That’s good, the hospital’s lawyer would probably agree it’s a good idea,” Ferre winked.

He smirked and pat the spot on his desk. “ we should probably keep this quiet for now. We both know how this place loves to gossip.”

“I agree,” Ferre nodded, “Besides…keeping it a secret is also kinda hot.”

“Right. Only we know who you’re coming home with.” He said.

“Only us, and some cleaning supplies if we’re feeling daring,” Ferre teased.

“Oh dear. I fear what they will say.” He smirked.

“Y’a know. I think he might have been one of the best I’ve ever had.”

“One of the best? I’ll have to step up my game and get to the best then.”

“I am sure it won’t take long.” He joked.

“Any kinks you’ve been dying to try?” Ferre asked.

“Maybe a few. My desk being one of them. But I won’t do anything at work until we’re for sure going to be together.”

“That’s good, the hospital’s lawyer would probably agree it’s a good idea,” Ferre winked.

He smirked and pat the spot on his desk. “ we should probably keep this quiet for now. We both know how this place loves to gossip.”

“I agree,” Ferre nodded, “Besides…keeping it a secret is also kinda hot.”

“Right. Only we know who you’re coming home with.” He said.

He nodded and pulled him close for a brief moment. Almost as if he let Nico out of the hug he would slip away. When he finally let go he wiped a stray tear on Nico’s cheek and nodded. “Go on. Get comfortable. And if you don’t mind when you come down can you go to the wine cellar. I don’t think a little alcohol would hurt either of us.” He said and unlocked the door for his husband for what could be the last time.

"I can do that, Ror," he replied softly, heading to the bedroom and letting out a deep breath he didn't know he needed to release, taking in more air to even himself out, soon changing into more casual clothes and heading straight down to the wine cellar. He looked over their selection before taking a bottle off the rack, a bottle of the same wine they had on their wedding day. With a sort of sad smile, he settled on that one and went back up to his husband. "Look what I found, Rory," he said, setting the bottle on the counter. "I thought, since we had this with dinner for our new beginning years ago, we can have it with dinner for our new beginning now."

Rory had incidentally began making Korean BBQ. something he had been working on for their entire marriage. “That’s fitting. I’m making our first date food. Tonight will be full of beginnings. And full of ends.” He sighed. It was obvious he had been crying. But had stopped the tears once he heard Nico approaching. “Ya know. Given the chance. I would marry you all over again. But I would do somethings differently. A smaller proposal. More private life. I was so focused on what I wanted and making you fit my idea of our life. Instead of building it with you.” He said quietly beginning to prepare dinner.

Nico nodded, smiling softly, gently putting a hand on his husband’s cheek before getting the corkscrew to open the wine. “I’d do it again too. I love you too much to not say yes,” he agreed, enjoying knowing how much his husband had grown, knowing if he was able to do it all over again, his husband would have paid more mind to Nico’s pan wants rather than his own. “If we do decide to stay together after we’ve spent enough time apart to know ourselves, maybe we can renew our vows,” he suggested, pouring the two of them cups of wine. While it hurt to think of not being with Rory, it hurt more to think about them continuing on like this.

Rory nodded as he continued to quietly prepare dinner thinking everything through. “ I think we should. I know I’ve definitely got some things to add.” He said with a soft smile thinking of all the things he wished he could put into words for his husband right now. “ I want us to continue to be open if you find somebody you loved in this time and it’s not me…..” he said letting more tears than he would like to come out. “ I understand I want you to be happy that’s the end of it. I just want you to be happy.”

“Y’a know. I think he might have been one of the best I’ve ever had.”

“One of the best? I’ll have to step up my game and get to the best then.”

“I am sure it won’t take long.” He joked.

“Any kinks you’ve been dying to try?” Ferre asked.

“Maybe a few. My desk being one of them. But I won’t do anything at work until we’re for sure going to be together.”

“That’s good, the hospital’s lawyer would probably agree it’s a good idea,” Ferre winked.

He smirked and pat the spot on his desk. “ we should probably keep this quiet for now. We both know how this place loves to gossip.”

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He nodded and pulled him close for a brief moment. Almost as if he let Nico out of the hug he would slip away. When he finally let go he wiped a stray tear on Nico’s cheek and nodded. “Go on. Get comfortable. And if you don’t mind when you come down can you go to the wine cellar. I don’t think a little alcohol would hurt either of us.” He said and unlocked the door for his husband for what could be the last time.

"I can do that, Ror," he replied softly, heading to the bedroom and letting out a deep breath he didn't know he needed to release, taking in more air to even himself out, soon changing into more casual clothes and heading straight down to the wine cellar. He looked over their selection before taking a bottle off the rack, a bottle of the same wine they had on their wedding day. With a sort of sad smile, he settled on that one and went back up to his husband. "Look what I found, Rory," he said, setting the bottle on the counter. "I thought, since we had this with dinner for our new beginning years ago, we can have it with dinner for our new beginning now."

Rory had incidentally began making Korean BBQ. something he had been working on for their entire marriage. “That’s fitting. I’m making our first date food. Tonight will be full of beginnings. And full of ends.” He sighed. It was obvious he had been crying. But had stopped the tears once he heard Nico approaching. “Ya know. Given the chance. I would marry you all over again. But I would do somethings differently. A smaller proposal. More private life. I was so focused on what I wanted and making you fit my idea of our life. Instead of building it with you.” He said quietly beginning to prepare dinner.

“Y’a know. I think he might have been one of the best I’ve ever had.”

“One of the best? I’ll have to step up my game and get to the best then.”

“I am sure it won’t take long.” He joked.

“Any kinks you’ve been dying to try?” Ferre asked.

“Maybe a few. My desk being one of them. But I won’t do anything at work until we’re for sure going to be together.”

“I love you.” He said handing the phone back to Connor. “Clear my afternoon I don’t care what it is. And you. I need you to personally go get my husband. I’m going to get the police here.” He said and went back to finish the meeting waiting for his husband to arrive.

He nodded and pulled him close for a brief moment. Almost as if he let Nico out of the hug he would slip away. When he finally let go he wiped a stray tear on Nico’s cheek and nodded. “Go on. Get comfortable. And if you don’t mind when you come down can you go to the wine cellar. I don’t think a little alcohol would hurt either of us.” He said and unlocked the door for his husband for what could be the last time.

“Again. Im glad you’re making friends. I really am. It’s just I want to know I am welcome in a room that you are in.” He said. “And I am trying to get used to the culture I am. I’m just struggling I guess.” He explained leaning over to kiss Nico gently.”thank you.”

Nico nodded, kissing his husband gently, patting his cheek as he pulled away. “You take as much time you need getting back out there, I’ll talk to them,” he said, looking him in the eyes. “Take care of yourself,” he added before heading back to talk to his friends again. He’d been trying to be less argumentative, therapy was helping with that for sure, but there was a gnawing feeling inside of him that had the roles been reversed, Rory would have just told him that was the culture and to get used to it. He would try not to let that get to him though.

Rory sighed. It felt like Nico was trying but this..whatever it was had fizzled. He no longer gave Nico what he needed and instead of pretending the two needed to quit. I amount of couples therapy and biting your tongue can fix what this was. So he sighed and shot a text off to his partner to have him begin filing the divorce papers and preparing to transfer the houses title to Nico before heading back out to mingle. He put on a smile long enough for them to go home and once they were in the car alone he sighed. “I’m leaving. I haven’t decided if I’m going back to the states or not. But you can have the house.”

Nico couldn’t say he was shocked by the news his husband hit him with when they were back in the car. He was still in love with Rory, but you needed more than love to make a relationship last and theirs had always been rocky, even at its best. “If you’re sure that’s what you want, I’m not gonna stop you. We’ll have to decide who gets the dogs,” he replied, just looking straight ahead as they drove home. He knew if this had happened years ago, he would have fought tooth and nail to get Rory to stay with him, but it seemed they were both tired of the fighting. “If you do go back to the states, stay in touch, yeah? And if you’re ever back in Paris and need a place to crash, there will always be a bed for you.” No matter how his heart was aching, he felt like this was a long time coming. “I do love you, you don’t have to say it back. I just need you to know I do.”

Rory frowned. “Nico. I love you too. More than anything else in the world.” He said looking up at him briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “I figured I would take them. Just because I..I know you allowed me to get them for my own sake. I know you were doing it for me.” He explained “but I want to know. Complete honesty please. I want to go to therapy. On my own…because I know I could’ve been a better man and a better husband. And I know I never fully got over you sleeping with Connor. I was wondering if you would allow me some time to go to therapy to work through what I have to and then you and I, Maybe we can come back.” He sighed. “Not a divorce yet. A separation. And if at the end we still don’t work I’ll sign the papers.”

Nico nodded, taking a moment to look over at the man next to him, nothing but respect and adoration in his eyes. “I think that’s a good idea. We need to get better individually to get better together,” he agreed. He looked over at him again, knowing he’d fucked up many times in their relationship but still knowing he loved him deeply. He loved him so deeply, and the idea of not having him around hurt him deeply, but he knew it was what was best for everyone there. “I’ll go to individual therapy too, work on getting better at accepting love, and after some time apart, we can try again.”

Rory smiled as a few tears dripped down his face and he leaned over resting a hand in Nico’s knee. “I love you.” He whispered as he pulled into their house. “Cmon. One last normal night.” He whispered. “I’ll cook dinner and we can watch a movie. Then tomorrow I’ll move my things to the guest room and we can talk about the conditions of our separation.” He sighed as he pulled into their driveway. “And I’ll be out by the end of the week.”

“Again. Im glad you’re making friends. I really am. It’s just I want to know I am welcome in a room that you are in.” He said. “And I am trying to get used to the culture I am. I’m just struggling I guess.” He explained leaning over to kiss Nico gently.”thank you.”

Nico nodded, kissing his husband gently, patting his cheek as he pulled away. “You take as much time you need getting back out there, I’ll talk to them,” he said, looking him in the eyes. “Take care of yourself,” he added before heading back to talk to his friends again. He’d been trying to be less argumentative, therapy was helping with that for sure, but there was a gnawing feeling inside of him that had the roles been reversed, Rory would have just told him that was the culture and to get used to it. He would try not to let that get to him though.

Rory sighed. It felt like Nico was trying but this..whatever it was had fizzled. He no longer gave Nico what he needed and instead of pretending the two needed to quit. I amount of couples therapy and biting your tongue can fix what this was. So he sighed and shot a text off to his partner to have him begin filing the divorce papers and preparing to transfer the houses title to Nico before heading back out to mingle. He put on a smile long enough for them to go home and once they were in the car alone he sighed. “I’m leaving. I haven’t decided if I’m going back to the states or not. But you can have the house.”

Nico couldn’t say he was shocked by the news his husband hit him with when they were back in the car. He was still in love with Rory, but you needed more than love to make a relationship last and theirs had always been rocky, even at its best. “If you’re sure that’s what you want, I’m not gonna stop you. We’ll have to decide who gets the dogs,” he replied, just looking straight ahead as they drove home. He knew if this had happened years ago, he would have fought tooth and nail to get Rory to stay with him, but it seemed they were both tired of the fighting. “If you do go back to the states, stay in touch, yeah? And if you’re ever back in Paris and need a place to crash, there will always be a bed for you.” No matter how his heart was aching, he felt like this was a long time coming. “I do love you, you don’t have to say it back. I just need you to know I do.”

Rory frowned. “Nico. I love you too. More than anything else in the world.” He said looking up at him briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “I figured I would take them. Just because I..I know you allowed me to get them for my own sake. I know you were doing it for me.” He explained “but I want to know. Complete honesty please. I want to go to therapy. On my own…because I know I could’ve been a better man and a better husband. And I know I never fully got over you sleeping with Connor. I was wondering if you would allow me some time to go to therapy to work through what I have to and then you and I, Maybe we can come back.” He sighed. “Not a divorce yet. A separation. And if at the end we still don’t work I’ll sign the papers.”

“Again. Im glad you’re making friends. I really am. It’s just I want to know I am welcome in a room that you are in.” He said. “And I am trying to get used to the culture I am. I’m just struggling I guess.” He explained leaning over to kiss Nico gently.”thank you.”

Nico nodded, kissing his husband gently, patting his cheek as he pulled away. “You take as much time you need getting back out there, I’ll talk to them,” he said, looking him in the eyes. “Take care of yourself,” he added before heading back to talk to his friends again. He’d been trying to be less argumentative, therapy was helping with that for sure, but there was a gnawing feeling inside of him that had the roles been reversed, Rory would have just told him that was the culture and to get used to it. He would try not to let that get to him though.

Rory sighed. It felt like Nico was trying but this..whatever it was had fizzled. He no longer gave Nico what he needed and instead of pretending the two needed to quit. I amount of couples therapy and biting your tongue can fix what this was. So he sighed and shot a text off to his partner to have him begin filing the divorce papers and preparing to transfer the houses title to Nico before heading back out to mingle. He put on a smile long enough for them to go home and once they were in the car alone he sighed. “I’m leaving. I haven’t decided if I’m going back to the states or not. But you can have the house.”

Bailey frowned as he put the distance between them as she nodded trying to hide the pain she felt looking at him. She wanted nothing more than to sit right beside him and make sure that he accepted treatment.

“I…I’m fine. I have a…a small burn on my arm that they wrapped and my lungs are gunky but I’m safe. Thanks to you actually. ” She said, “The nurse told me you were fighting to get out of bed. To get back to work.” She said though she secretly hoped it was actually to check on her. “Please relax. Please stay here and let the doctors treat you.”

"I had to make sure you were safe," He said immediately, almost as if it was obvious. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he sucked in a sharp breath and the monitor next to his bed began to beep loudly. His face contorted in pain, and the oxygen saturation level indicator began to flash on the monitor as the numbers began to fall. The middle aged man raised a hand to his chest as an alarm began to ring out in the hallway. A nurse burst through the curtain at the door, calling out for additional staffing. "You need to leave," She said sharply, pushing Bailey toward the door. Additional nurses and a doctor rushed in, and Morgan appeared in the doorway, his eyes showing his concern. Morgan held out a hand, offering her help in leaving.

“Aaron?” She asked looking over him as if she could fix what was happening. “Aaron. Please breathe.” She said letting tears well in her eyes as she was pushed back by other nurses. Was this goodbye? Did he see that she was safe and now he could give up? She couldn’t let him go like this.

“No. Derek.” She said turning on her heel and preparing to fight her way back to his beside. “Aaron.” She called as the tears came flooding down her cheeks. “Please.” She said but she couldn’t get her feet to carry her any further.

She felt herself being pulled out of the room but kept her eyes on Aaron as long as she could. Then once she was forced back into the waiting room she fully broke down letting sobs rack her body.

“You have an hour. I want it wired to this offshore account in untraceable currency. And if not he dies.” The man said before hanging up.

Just then Connor reached out to Ferre. “Your husband would like to have lunch with you. Would you like me to send the car?”

“I’ll do it, just please don’t hurt him,” Ferre was trembling when Connor called and confused when he heard the question, “Can I talk to him? It’s an emergency, please Connor, I need to talk to him right now, someone just called me and told me they had him and demanded I wire fifty grand to an offshore account or they would kill him.” He was in tears and damn near ready to pull his hair out.

Connor looked up at courf in his meeting and sighed. “Hang on.” He said and pulled courf out.

“Darling?” He asked concerned. “What’s wrong? Connor said this was an emergency?”

“Where are you? Are you ok? Are you hurt?” Ferre asked him rapid fire, “S-Someone called and said they had you and they’d kill you if I didn’t wire them 50 grand in an hour,” he told him tears just running down his face at this point.

“Oh darling. I’m at work. I’m fine. And I am safe.” He said. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that but I promise I am okay.” He said. “I’m sending Connor in a car and he will bring you to me.”

“O-Okay,” Ferre nodded, “Okay…I was about to go and wire the money I didn’t even think to ask to talk to you or for a picture or anything…I-I’m sorry I was being a little stupid about it.”

“No darling. You love me dearly. And no one will fault you for that. But I am gonna have someone track the number. So don’t worry.” He said. “I’ll see you soon darling.”

“Y’a know. I think he might have been one of the best I’ve ever had.”

“One of the best? I’ll have to step up my game and get to the best then.”

“I am sure it won’t take long.” He joked.

“You have an hour. I want it wired to this offshore account in untraceable currency. And if not he dies.” The man said before hanging up.

Just then Connor reached out to Ferre. “Your husband would like to have lunch with you. Would you like me to send the car?”

“I’ll do it, just please don’t hurt him,” Ferre was trembling when Connor called and confused when he heard the question, “Can I talk to him? It’s an emergency, please Connor, I need to talk to him right now, someone just called me and told me they had him and demanded I wire fifty grand to an offshore account or they would kill him.” He was in tears and damn near ready to pull his hair out.

Connor looked up at courf in his meeting and sighed. “Hang on.” He said and pulled courf out.

“Darling?” He asked concerned. “What’s wrong? Connor said this was an emergency?”

“Where are you? Are you ok? Are you hurt?” Ferre asked him rapid fire, “S-Someone called and said they had you and they’d kill you if I didn’t wire them 50 grand in an hour,” he told him tears just running down his face at this point.

“Oh darling. I’m at work. I’m fine. And I am safe.” He said. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that but I promise I am okay.” He said. “I’m sending Connor in a car and he will bring you to me.”