Notes: This is part one of a 3 part series of connected stories. I am a little hesitant to load this one until the rest are ready but we've got a hiatus to fill, so here you go. This one is General audiences, but be aware the next two will probably be Mature. As always reviews are appreciated.

"Take a picture, sweetheart, it will last longer," a brusque voice interrupted her line of thought.

"Excuse me?" Mindy felt a blush creeping and hoped that he wouldn't notice.

"I know I'm a pretty good looking guy, but I've got work to do."

"What on earth makes you think I was looking at you? For your information I was just staring off into space thinking and your weird body just got in the way." Deflection seemed like a good first move.

"My BODY? You were looking at my body? I guess that makes sense," Danny said, a cocky half smile plastered across his face.

So she might have been staring just a little. He was objectively attractive, but when you looked at any individual feature it was just a little imperfect. Like his lips that were just a little too full. And his eyelashes too long and dark. He was just interesting to look at. That's all.

"I wasn't looking at your body. I was looking at your tiny ears. You should probably grow your hair out."

"I thought you weren't looking at me."

She blushed darker, feeling a bit foolish, but not for looking, foolish for getting caught. "Why are you even talking to me? You have pointedly ignored me since I started working here. It's rude."

He at least had the decency to look a bit abashed himself. "I'm not going out of my way to ignore you. I'm just busy is all."

"No, you're rude."

"Hey, I'm a partner here. Maybe you oughta... "

"Leave her alone, Danny. She's right anyway, you have been ignoring her," Jeremy interrupted as he strolled into the lounge fresh from an unplanned C-section but still looking impeccably put together and cool.

"Thank you, Jeremy. Thank you for defending my honor." She lit up with a genuine smile.

"I'm not ignoring her." Danny replied with an irritated look. "Just because I don't turn on the charm and try to get her out of her clothes every time you two think no one's watching..."

"How dare you?" her cheeks reddening with anger as much as embarrassment now.

"What? I'm not blind. Dr Schulman isn't either. You two should be more discreet." Danny pointed back and forth between the two other doctors.

"Danny, we're all adults here. If Mindy and I enjoy spending a little private time together I think we can all be mature enough to pretend it's not happening."

"Okay, that's enough," Danny waved at Jeremy to stop.

"That's enough from both of you. Stop talking about me like I'm not here. My personal life isn't up for discussion and you're both being gross." She crossed her arms angrily.

"Your personal life isn't up for discussion?" Danny's tone incredulous. "Every single day you come in and tell the entire office inappropriate stories from the night before."

"So you haven't been ignoring me." A little frown formed between her eyebrows.

"I just said that. I'm not ignoring you. But I guess I'll start now since whatever is happening with the two of you..."

"Which is nothing," Jeremy interjected.

"Screw you, Jeremy." She started packing her bag to go. "You know what? I have a C-section scheduled shortly so I'm just gonna go work out in the meantime."

"You work out?"

"That's very rude, Danny," she gasped.

"I've seen you eat jellybeans with a spoon."

"He's right, Mindy. You have a cupboard in your apartment dedicated to sour straws and Nutella. Which you eat together," Jeremy chimed in.

"Jeremy!"

"You dip them in the Nutella. It's disturbing. And a little erotic."

"JEREMY!"

"Sorry."

"Well. I have had just about enough of being told how crappy and IGNORABLE I am, so I'll catch you on the flippyflip." She scooped up her bag and disappeared through the lounge door.

"She'll get over it," Jeremy said as he stretched out on the lounge sofa. "Believe me, we do this all the time and she's back for more by the next day."

"You criticise her eating habits all the time? That's not cool, man"

"No, we just bicker. It's basically foreplay."

"Enough of that." He paused and a thoughtful look crossed his face. "Why don't you date her for real?"

"I don't want a girlfriend, Danny. She's cute, she's fun, and we're having a good time. Just leave it."

"It doesn't sound like she's having a good time, Reed."

"Well, if you want a girlfriend be my guest. Plenty more fish, as they say."

Danny looked at the door. "Damnit."

He didn't say anything as he caught up with her in front of the elevator. They stood there in silence for a moment before she turned and quietly headed for the stairwell, popping through the door so quickly he almost didn't catch her this time.

"How are you here right now? Can't a girl just feel sorry for herself in peace?" She said in a wavering voice.

"I'm sorry."

She looked a little surprised. "Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry I have been ignoring you. I just, I don't think we have much in common and I find it easier to just focus on my work."

"Well, you don't know me well enough to know if we have anything in common. You haven't even tried to get to know me."

"I'm sorry for that too then. And I'm sorry for the thing about the jellybeans. And Reed piling on. That was pretty shitty. I'd have thought he'd jump in to 'defend your honor' again."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too." The first tear spilled down her cheek and she looked down.

"Why are you dating that jerk, anyway?"

"We're not dating, as he has just made so abundantly clear."

"Well, he's an ass for talking about you like that. Don't waste tears on him."

"Why do you even care? You've said more words to me today than you've said literally the whole time I've worked at the practice."

"I said I'm sorry!"

"And I thank you for that beautiful apology," she said sarcastically. "Just go. Let me feel cry in a stairwell on my own please."

"No, enough of the pity party. Come back to the lounge. I'll buy you a snack, and keep my opinion to myself. We'll ignore Reed. See how he likes it."

She chuckled and wiped her eyes. "Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?"

"Hey, I'm a nice guy. And I'm a partner and I should have tried harder to get to know you before today. I'm sorry if you thought I was ignoring you. I don't think anyone could ignore you for long."

She smiled. "And I'm sorry I was staring at you earlier. That was rude."

"I knew it! You were staring."

"Maybe just a little. But don't read anything into it."

"I won't."

"You do have really small ears though."

"Hey! Do you want me to buy you a snack or not?"

"Do you think there are Twizzlers?"

"I think there might be Twizzlers."

"Let's go."