by shel
© september 2003
disclaimer:
the charmed ones, cole, and leo, and the rest of the cast of characters we've come to know and love, belong to spelling television, inc. and possible other copyright holders. christian troy and the mcnamara clan belongs to ryan murphy production, shephard/robin company, and possible other copyright holders. All characters belong to their original creators. The story is meant for entertainment purposes only and no copyright infringement was intended. i intended no true infringement on their copyrights; i only wanted to borrow these marvelous characters for a short time in my own scenarios and hopefully return them no worse for wear; the only things i've gained from this story are the satisfaction and pleasure of having written it and in knowing that others may have enjoyed it too…
rating:
pg-13
summary:
forced to attend a medical convention for research, phoebe has a fateful encounter with a plastic surgeon…
timeline:
six weeks after season 5's finale, 'oh my goddess'…
archive:
please don't without expressed permission…
notes:
just a little something that came to me the night after 'nip/tuck's 5th episode, 'kurt dempsey,' aired…please let me know if you enjoyed my tale and why and, if not, why not…and, please, don't bother wasting your time or mine by sending any flames…
Part One
"Dammit, Jason," Phoebe practically shouted into her cell phone, "this wasn't part of my job description!" She immediately felt the eyes of those milling around the entrance to the ballroom turn to her. She immediately turned away and sought out the nearby, emptier, corridor that lead to the payphones and restrooms. "Sorry," she muttered into the phone, "I didn't mean to shout."
"Just give me a minute," Jason's sleepy voice replied. "Where are you again?"
"Sorry," she apologized again as she let out a deep cleansing breath, "I forgot about the time difference…again." She glanced at her watch and calculated sixteen hours ahead. "Oh, Jason, it's two-thirty in the morning…I am so sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"'Sokay," he replied in the midst of an obvious yawn. "Isn't the convention over? I thought yesterday was the last day."
"Time difference. Yesterday for you, today for me," she sighed. "I've gotta go in and mingle one last time for breakfast and then hear one last address. But this convention killed my whole weekend and every one of these guys I've met thinks he's God. Please…This whole weekend's been a waste of time."
"Why do you say that?" he asked while the line crackled. "You've needed to expand your base of professional contacts and this medical convention taking place in San Francisco was the perfect opportunity. I told Elise it would be a great idea for you to attend and make new connections."
"Wait a minute, you told Elise?" She grit her teeth and accused, "You're the reason I've been stuck here? Do you realize this was the first weekend since Leo left that Piper hasn't asked for my help with Wyatt and the first weekend that she's ventured out of the house on her own with him? Or that this's the first weekend Paige hasn't needed my help with some sort of household organization project or job hunt? Did you ever think that, for once, I might've had plans of my own?"
"Sorry, honey," was his patient reply, "but I'm only thinking of you. Some of your recent columns could've used some references to actual medical treatments. It's not that your advice was bad, but professional examples would've made your advice more credible."
"Didn't realize my column made the papers in Japan," she grumbled. She turned slightly and realized most people had already entered the ballroom for the breakfast. "I have to go," she curtly told him.
"Great," he muttered, "now you're mad. I only have your best interests at heart, Phoebe. I care about you. Both personally and professionally."
"I'm not mad," she replied through clenched teeth. "Breakfast is about to begin."
"To hell with your bagel," he growled in a more alert tone. "Tell me why you're mad."
"Fine," she snapped, "next time you want me to go somewhere or do something for my column, you talk to me about it. Don't ever make decisions for me through Elise. I lived through that once, I won't lose control of my life again."
"Whoa," his voice crackled over the line, "how'd we get back to your ex again?"
"Leave Cole out of this!" she demanded.
"I didn't bring him into this," he informed her, "and I'm beginning to wonder if he isn't the real reason you're still there instead of being here with me."
"I told you why I needed to stay here for now," she told him in a suddenly quiet tone, "and I thought you understood. My mistake. Sorry for waking you, Mr. Dean. It won't happen again." She disconnected the call even though she heard the beginning of his outburst. She shoved the phone back in her bag, spun around, promptly collided with a solid figure, and dropped her bag to the floor.
"Sleeping with the boss is never a good idea," a deep voice chuckled as she bent down to pick up her bag.
"Same goes for eavesdropping, buddy," Phoebe retorted as she got to her feet. She glanced up at the tall handsome man standing before her, gasped in shock, and took a step back. "Cole!"
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