Disclaimer: I most certainly do not own any of the characters or basically anything affiliated with "Scrubs", whatsoever.

"Well, Elliot, I just think I need something new, something different." I tried to not sound so guilty for wanting to leave.

"Oh, I may see, JD, but I sure as hell don't understand." She paused hastily before jumping the gun too much and with an frustrated sigh, continued slowly, "Just why do you have to leave? Have I done something? Has someone done anything? Just give me a legitimate reason, please?"

I knew I was breaking her heart, but I wasn't lying. I wanted something new. I wasn't tired of Dr. Cox's tirades and rants, the Janitor's tricks, Carla's nagging, Turk's lack of time for me, Elliot's ability to make me sabotage every single relationship that I have ever been in - I wasn't tired of any of it. But I still wanted something else.

Either that, or the increasing inability to concentrate. I wasn't in my own reality anymore; I was pulled away by any wayward phrase. It made me realize that I was bored, that my current life just wasn't cutting it. Finally, a few months back, I just stopped. I couldn't escape anymore. All drifting off ceased to be. That's when it finally sunk in: my daydreams were the escape I always had, and once they were gone, I couldn't function.

I stared at that blonde doctor for a moment as a reassuring smile fell on my face, "Elliot, it's not you. It's not here. If it's anything, it's myself." I could tell that Elliot wanted to say something to my lame cliche, but I cut her off, "Do you see where we are? Right now, I see two doctors clad in navy blue scrubs in some random hospital. Do you get it, Elliot? That's why I have to leave. I've got to grow, and it's not happening here. I've plateaued."

Elliot stared at her shuffling feet, "JD, I know why you want to leave; I just don't want to admit it to myself that you're actually going through with it."

I nodded and prepared the truth as plainly as I could, "Well, I've actually picked up an attending job over in somewhere-else-land. It's a magical place of new beginnings and new bills. I'm starting in two days."

Her jaw dropped, "How long have you been planning to leave!? We're you just going to let me know at the last minute?"

I knew I had it coming, and so I let it begin, "Well, I'd been thinking about it the past few months. Ya know, mulling it over and over in my head. Finally, last week I realized that I was nothing here. Somewhere between Cox's raving and my lack of daydreaming, it was final. I sent in my letter, and it was done. I told Dr. Kelso to not tell anyone, but what a confidante he turned out to be. I mean, who else has he told?"

She intently said, "No one."

I rolled my eyes, "No, really?"

Elliot her breath, "I'm not lying, JD."

All awkward silences aside, I began with a backup plan B, "Elliot, I need you to do something for me. You can't tell anyone. Not a soul.."

She shot me an accusing glare, and with a sharp yell, she just let it all out, "You aren't going to tell anyone still!? You're just going to pick up an leave just like that? What about Carla? Jordan? Dr. Cox? Yeah, he might act like he doesn't care, JD, but he does. You know that!? Or how about Turk!? God, you sure haven't whispered any hints Turk's way, right? Yup, don't care about that whole best friend thing you have going on there. How can you be so stupid!?"

My eyes darted to the closest thing in my line of sight - the floor. I wasn't regretful of my decision. I was an adult. I was finally able to make rational decisions and live life for myself. I couldn't do it for Elliot anymore.

A tear silently appeared from her, and she spoke softly, "JD, what about me? What about me?"

Stop it, JD. You will not, I repeat, will not be ashamed. She may be your best friend, but she's not the reason you are leaving. You are leaving because life isn't part of the scenery here.

I couldn't have made this harder, "Elliot, I'm sorry, but you have got to recognize that tomorrow, I will be gone. I will not be here having this conversation. I just won't be here."

She smiled that fake angry smile that people always give when they cannot believe that was has just happened had, in fact, just actually happened in reality. Finally, after taking it all there in silence for five minutes, she looked up into my eyes, and hugged me.

We stood there in the supply room, our crossroad, for fifteen minutes, Elliot holding on to every last moment she could. Pulling away slowly, she quietly hushed me with a soft, "No matter what, JD, I will always love you. Maybe not in a relationship, but as a friend - always."

She shuffled with serenity right out the supply room door, pausing only to turn around for a passing moment with a fleeting - almost reassuring - smile. I didn't care then what my future plans were, I knew I was going to miss her no matter what

So there I was: supply closet of my almost-but-not-quite-yet old life, my soon-to-be past. All alone. No, I didn't care that I was going to have to meet new people, re-secure my position in a completely different hospital, or possibly, nay, probably encounter some oddly strange situations.

Dammit, I was John Dorian, MD. Hell, the only thing that scares me is myself. And, in all seriousness, what could possibly be scarier than that?

I nodded my head encouragingly. Things were going to be good.

And with that, head held high and smile on my face, I walked out of that room knowing no one else would even perceive that in two days, the only thing left in this hospital would just be just the faint memory of "Newbie."

I passed by the front desk, saluting Carla, taking everything in. Even catching the peripheral sly, "God, Newbie, I just have no idea what you think about sometimes."

Nope, Dr. Cox, you really have no idea whatsoever, and that was definitely a positive. All the while, I hadn't realized that I'd bumped into the Janitor in the hallway. I think he must've known something was up, but let me pass by safely.

That was until he stuck out his mop, subsequently leading me to face plant none other than the floor. I shot up quickly, "Just what the hell was that for!?"

I'm pretty sure that my imagination kicked back in because I could have sworn that I saw a wink. He gave me a slight tap on the shoulder and said happily, "Ahh, for old time's sake."

Well, he definitely knew. But rather than the expected clever quip, he extended his hand. I dropped my jaw and cautiously held out mine.

"You probably wouldn't think so, but I am gonna miss you."

I shook his hand vigorously and couldn't believe that I was saying, "Yeah, me too. It's been fun."

I turned around and beheld the exit. The finishing point in sliding glass door form. I closed my eyes and walked through recognizing that in five hours, I'd be on a fast trip to another destination. This was it.

Hopping on my scooter for the short ride home, I was hoping that Turk wouldn't be there. Saying goodbye to Chocolate Bear was going to be hard, but I lucked out because the apartment was empty. I threw my things in a pile, packing as much as I could. When I was finished, I had five suitcases and a ticket that said "One Way".

I gave Rowdy the quick pat, and a short so-long, "Stay tough, boy. Oh, and if Carla tries to get rid of you, put up a good fight. You can totally take her."

All of a sudden a voice spoke up, "Hello? JD? You home? I didn't see your scooter."

Dammit.

"Oh, yah, it's me. Hey, Turk".

He rubbed his eyes, and said "Well, I'm done for the day. I just got off of a huge shift, and no bad 80's movies can change my mind about it."

I hid my guilt and turned to face Turk, "Well, goodnight, Chocolate Bear. I'll see ya later, ok?"

Turk yawned and gave me a thumbs up. He scuffled off to his room, leaving me all alone in my official old apartment.

I looked around, and then to the door. Well, the scooter's in storage and the taxi's waiting, so, disregarding nostalgia, I did what I'd decided - I left.

I fell in the taxi, and was off. Of course, the crazy foreign driver just had to pass Sacred Heart on the way to the airport. Walking out the door was Carla, Dr. Cox, and Elliot. I furiously rolled down the window, and stuck half of my body out of the side of a speeding taxi, and waved and screamed and smiled, "GOODBYE, SACRED HEART!!!"

I was sure I heard a happy, "GOODBYE TO YOU, JD!" off in the distance in Elliot's voice just as the taxi rolled past the bumpy road in front of the hospital.

Like I've said, things were going to be good. Tough, but still good.

At the airport, I boarded relatively fast; no questions, no complaints. I finally relaxed in my seat, splurging for first class because, come on, it's only one way!

"Sir, would you care for some champagne now that we've taken off?"

To which I cheerfully replied in a fake British accent, "Why, Miss, I don't mind if I do."

"Well, sir, we're not in England quite, yet. Or should I say the Midwest?"

I chuckled and looked out the window over the vast suburbia, and had a thought, almost an epiphany, if you will.

Maybe I've grown up or maybe I'm still secretly a kid in disguise doing the whole "running-away" scenario all over again. But the difference is, running away here doesn't mean the neighbor's house, college, med school, Sacred Heart - No, here, "running away" is eventually defined by one word: Chicago.

Author's Note: Well, as a senior, I won't have much time to write due to school and finally deciding where I'm going to college, but I will try to update as soon as possible. I appreciate all comments and critiques as this is my first fic. Thank you!