HELLO OUT THERE!!! JD here, finally recovering from my fanfic withdrawl. I know it's been forever and a half since I updated anything, so firstly, I apologize. But I received some wise critique from a fellow author, Smudge the Rat, not long ago, and I've been editing this story. It's going to be a multiple-chapter deal now, and I changed the OOC parts as best I could. So please read and review!
Humming a long-forgotten wedding song under his breath, Dr. Cox stumbled into the near-empty bar. Apparently not many people came out at eleven o'clock on a Tuesday night. But that was alright with him. Perry's only concern was avoiding anyone with shoulder-length copper hair. Anyone with a near-emotionless face, distorted by a Botox addiction. Anyone who would remind Perry of the woman who he had just broken up with.
So here he was, at the local bar, sitting on a red leather stool, and drinking scotch like it was apple juice. Five shot glasses were aligned before him on the mahogany counter, four of them empty. Make that five. Perry held up all the fingers on one hand to Henry, the goateed barman who had become a friendly aquaintance over the years, indicating his sad desire for another round.
But Henry was currently preoccupied with another customer.
"One appletini, easy on the 'tini" grumbled JD. He scrambled onto the barstool before him and set his scooter keys down on the counter, running his right hand through his coconut-scented hair.
"Oh, good god. I thought I was done dealing with irritating women for the night."
JD looked over to his left with a look of elation spread across his face. "Dr. Cox? What are you doing here?"
Perry grumbled and pulled his upper lip over his teeth as the barman set five more shot glasses on the counter. "Well, I need eggs, bread, and some cupcake frosting. What's on your shopping list?" He leaned in closer and put his lips to JD's ear. "You might want to pull that magenta gel pen out from behind your ear and scribble down a reminder to buy a new bra, though. Did you get them done? I heard the plastic surgeon over at County is suh-hoo-perb."
Blushing slightly, JD sat up straight and began to twiddle his thumbs, avoiding eye contact with the Irish doctor perched beside him. "My pen is aqua," he mumbled.
Perry chortled and ran a hand through his curls. "God bless 'ya, newbie."
Meanwhile, Henry placed a glass before JD, smiling to himself as the young doctor took a tentative sip of the green liquid.
"Yummy," JD purred, licking his pink lips. He set the glass down and turned back towards his mentor, tilting his head to the left. "So what's up, Perry?"
The older doctor growled at the use of his first name and took a deep breath. Part of him wanted to make another snarky comment and keep his emotions crumpled inside. But the other part was deeply intrigued by the idea of opening up to Dr. John Dorian. The other part had been admiring JD for months, watching him intently as he pushed his bangs out of his eyes or licked off a red plastic coffee stir stick. Another part had stormed out of Jordan's apartment because he knew what he truly desired.
"Jordan and I are done," he stated. His tone of voice was similar to that of a weatherman predicting rain on a Saturday afternoon in August.
JD opened his mouth, and for a moment, no words emerged. He had to concentrate intensely to prevent any hint of glee that might poison his response. He cautiously placed a sympathetic hand on the older doctor's broad shoulder and squeezed gently. "Dr. Cox, I'm so sorry," he whispered.
Perry glanced over at his protegee with half-closed eyes. "Thanks, Newbie." He sighed and stood up, digging through his pockets. "See 'ya," he mumbled, dropping a twenty dollar bill on the counter and pulling his coat closed. Dr. Cox slunk out of the bar.
The young brunette trailed Perry with his eyes until the last patch of brown courderoy dissolved into the darkness. He turned around and stared deep into the lime-green liquid in his glass. JD's fingers twitched and tapped against the mahogany countertop, inching closer to his scooter keys, controlled by an unknown force.
He doesn't want you, his brain taunted.
But he wasn't being completely hostile, his heart insisted.
Oh, okay. "Not completely hostile". You win, his brain retorted.
But maybe you shouldn't. Jordan just left, his heart admitted.
Do you really want him? his brain inquired.
JD pondered this for a moment. And jaw clenched, he purposefully grabbed his keys and marched out of the bar.
Or began to march out of the bar. Upset that his dramatic exit was ruined, he stomped back to the counter. "Keep the change," he grumbled at the Henry as he dropped a ten beside his half-empty glass. And then he really did march out of the bar. His eyes, squinted in determination, scanned the parking lot for the Porsche. A scuffling noise sounded to his right, and JD spotted the side of a curly head through a rain-stained window. He took a deep breath and scampered forward, watching Perry's muscles twitch when he rapped on the glass.
Dr. Cox turned the key in the ignition and lowered the window. He plastered on an irritated facade. "Newbie, what are you doing? Don't you want to finish your Cosmo?"
Brushing off Perry's remark, JD bent down to eye-level. "I just... I was just..."
"Yeah, way to go, Captain Courage. Spit it out."
"I was worried about you." JD curled his fingers around the window frame, watching vapor from his breath float into the crisp night air.
Perry sighed. "Move your hand, Mary. Wouldn't want to ruin your manicure." He pushed the door open and stood up. "Nice night." Nudging the door closed, he looked up at the glittering sky, leaning back against his sleek black car.
"Yeah, it's nice." JD shrugged his shoulders and watched the flashing red lights of a helicopter weave through the stars. "But Dr. Cox, I just wanted to make sure... that you're okay."
Avoiding eye contact, Dr. Cox remained silent for a moment. His lips flapped open and closed as his mind scrambled for something to say. "I can take care of myself, Marissa," is what he finally came up with.
Put your hand on his shoulder! JD's heart screamed.
And what are you going to do when he hits you? his brain responded.
Okay, fine. Tell him... tell him he'll find someone else, his heart suggested.
So what happens if he figures out you want that "someone else" to be YOU? his brain inquired.
JD looked over at the older doctor, who was continually buttoning and unbuttoning his cuff. Perry's ivory skin shone in the glow of the streetlight, and his sandy freckles contrasted with his ocean blue eyes perfectly.
JUST KISS HIM, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! JD's heart screeched.
I'm sorry, did we not go over the inevitable result of physical contact? his brain asked.
In the end, JD settled for a sincere goodbye. "If you need anything, you have my pager number," he told Perry, pulling his collar up around his neck.
"Don't worry, Wanda. The conveinience store nearby has a full supply of blush and toe seperators. I'll be fine." Dr. Cox around and yanked the driver's door open.
JD's jaw clenched, blocking out all advice from his internal organs. "Why do you always have to do that?" He gave Perry no opportunity to answer. "Why... do you always have to insult and mock and push people away? I mean, why is it that you never say... what you want to say?"
Dr. Cox turned to face the young brunette, breathing heavily. He examined every inch of JD's face, from his nearly nonexistant chin to his full pink lips to his prominent nose to his bushy eyebrows. But he had to concentrate to skip over JD's eyes. "I just..." For once in his life, he couldn't come up with a snarky response. Perry searched through his mental files for something to say, but JD beat him to the punch.
"Why do you always have to dance around your emotions?" A crisp breeze whistled around them, making JD's ebony hair tingle even though it was coated in thick mousse. He shoved his angular hands into his pockets and glared at Perry, anticipating a sarcastic retort. The glittering stars were reflected in his cerulean eyes.
"Because if I didn't..." Dr. Cox took a deep breath. His liquor really had gotten the best of him. "I'd be afraid I was going to do this." And with that, he grabbed hold of JD's jacket and pulled him in close, planting a vicious kiss on his lips. He felt JD's hand creep up the back of his neck, hooking into his curls. Dr. Cox rested his hands on his companion's hips. He pulled away for a moment, enjoying the sensation of JD's warm breath on his neck.
"You shouldn't be afraid," JD whispered.
"I'm not anymore," Perry responded. And he was about to open the car door and yank the quivering brunette into the backseat when he felt JD slip out of his grasp. He heard a gasp and a maniacal chuckle as JD collapsed to the ground.
A swift sneaker to the back of the knees had proved successful for the giant, hairy, repulsive man standing before Dr. Cox. A double-XL Rangers jersey was draped over his pumpkin-shaped frame, and he grinned a crooked, malevolent smile at JD, who was crumpled at his feet.
JD attempted to stand up, but his attacker was ready. Just as the young doctor had gotten to his feet, the man threw a vicious punch that connected solidly with JD's cheek. He collapsed once again to the pavement, and his attacker stepped over his body.
Dr. Cox stood frozen. Some part of him was desperate to crouch down, take JD into his arms, and run far, far away. But there was no way that a hot-head like Perry was going to walk away with his tail between his legs. "What's your damage, asshole?" he yelled.
The man spread his lips to reveal a yellowing, chipped smile. "What's yours, faggot?" he responded, putrid breath leaking from between his teeth.
Digging his fingernails into his palms, Perry took a deep breath. "Listen up," he growled. "If you don't get your sorry ass out of here right now, I'm gonna knock you into next week." He raised a freckled, muscular fist.
Chuckling softly, the man lumbered closer to Dr. Cox. "I've got some unfinished buisness. You kissed another man, you gay-ass freak. And I'm gonna make 'ya pay." He advanced further, clenching his left hand into a ball. But he never got the chance to use his meaty fist.
JD watched in awe and fear as the heel of Perry's right hand was thrust upward towards the attacker's nose. Blood gushed freely, and the giant fell to the ground with a thud and a bounce.
Mouth hanging open, JD crawled over cautiously and examined the man splayed on the ground. Deep maroon fluid dripped down his face. His eyes were closed, his breathing steady. "He's out," the young doctor reported, slowly standing up to face Dr. Cox. "What should we do?"
Arms crossed, Perry had a response ready. "I say we leave the bastard here," he growled. Even as a doctor, he saw no ethical dilema in leaving this man to drown in his own blood.
"Dr. Cox." JD had some magical way of weaving emotion into the shortest of words.
Perry sighed audibly and uncrossed his arms, walking over to his companion. He tipped JD's face into the light to examine the reddening mark on his cheek. "That hurt?" he inquired, running a finger over the wound.
"I'm okay," JD insisted, but he winced as Dr. Cox's fingertips brushed his skin.
Glancing down at the fleshy lump at his feet, Perry started towards the bar entrance. "I'll go inside, tell someone 'bout Mr. Asshole. You get in the car."
JD gladly obliged, grinning from ear to ear as he eased into the passenger seat. He was just slamming the door shut when the other opened, and Perry's curly head appeared. "That was fast," he commented.
Dr. Cox climbed wordlessly into the Porsche and thrust the key into the ignition.
"Oh, what about Sasha?"
"What about who?" Perry inquired, a look of confusion dancing across his face.
"My scooter."
"Oh, right. I suppose I forgot that men name their vehicles," he taunted.
JD ignored his remark. In one ear and out the other. "Can I put her- I mean, it- in the trunk?"
"Fine." He twisted the key as the young brunette hopped out of the car. The engine revved, but refused to roar into life. "Come on, Joanna."
Minutes later, JD was perched on an angular, charcoal-gray sofa. The apartment was empty of red wine, three quarters of the former contents of the bathroom, and a certain tow-headed boy named Jack; they had been snatched away to Mrs. Sullivan's house along with Jordan. Perry may have driven over to re-claim his son if it weren't for the restraining order.
Dr. Cox was quickly discovering that no ice-packs were present either. He grumbled to himself as he shoveled ice cubes into a plastic zip bag. Aiming carefully, he tossed the bag to JD. It landed on the carpet with a clunk. "I'm a righty," JD explained, grabbing the bag off the ground and pressing it to his cheek.
Chuckling softly, Perry shut the freezer and walked into the living room. "Whatever you say, Newbie," he assured him, lowering himself onto the couch a foot away from the younger man.
The two men sat in silence for a while until JD decided to break it. "Thank you, Dr. Cox," he whispered, scooching slightly closer.
Perry glanced over at his companion. A small smile twitched on JD's lips. Erasing the space between them, Dr. Cox grabbed JD's wrist and lowered the ice bag. "Don't sweat it." And he surprised the younger doctor with a passionate kiss. JD unfroze after a moment and responded whole-heartedly, digging his fingers into those strawberry-blond curls.
But it was unfortunate that Perry waited seven more minutes before hoisting JD into his arms and scampering off to the bedroom.
It was unfortunate that he had left the flap on the peephole in an upright position after its last use.
And it was unfortunate that Jordan had forgotten her favorite pair of red pumps in a box in the back of the closet.
Because she heard the grunts and moans just before she knocked on the apartment door, and she peered through the tiny cylinder of glass.
It was especially unfortunate that the peephole provided an all-too-perfect view of the living room sofa.
So... tell me what you think. Is it worth continuing? Was it worth revising? Hope you enjoyed.
Peace, love, and cyberhugs,
JD