A/N Hey guys, I need to get this story out of my system before I go onto to writing something else. I hope you like it, plz review if you do, so that I might write more.And Also, I don't own scrubs or its characters

My Big Vacation

Dr Cox's POV

I can't believe my two weeks vacation is already over. I mean my God did I love my peace and quiet. Of course, I didn't actually go anywhere and was working in this dump the whole time. But it felt like a vacation because, thank you God, Newbie was away for all that blissfully amazing amount of time. I didn't have to worry about anyone violating my no touchie policy, I wasn't paged every five seconds and I wasn't constantly looking over anyone's shoulder to make sure that patients stayed alive. Okay sure, I don't always need to look over Newbie's shoulder, he isn't a completely hopeless Doctor, but there is always room for improvement in his case. So, the long and short of it is that I didn't need to baby sit Newbie for two whole weeks, and now that my so called vacation is almost over, I feel like the time went by so gosh darn quickly that it makes me want to crush someone's self esteem to make myself feel better. I guess its not so bad that he's coming back then.

Actually, there are a few things that will get better once he's back. Don't get me wrong, I don't want him back. In fact, if the fairy prince wants to marry her and keep Thumbelina for all eternity, its all fine and dandy by me. Only problem is, that this hell hole tends to work on an emotional chain of reaction which effects everyone, and recently it's gone haywire. For example, since Newbie's gone, Gandhi has been moping around being moody and irritable, which has made Carla angry and frustrated, which she has taken out on all the nurses, who have taken it out on doctors like me. Of course, my frustration over the sloppy jobs the nurses are doing is being directed towards Bobbo who has sent the flow of crap right back down our little chain all over again. So basically, we need Newbie to pick up the slack, and boy am I looking forward to making him pay for the stream of nonsense that I've had to go through in his absence. Not to mention the fact that I've had to deal with Barbie constantly trying to be my new 'wing man' for the past 14 long days. If I have to hear that shrill voice any longer than absolutely necessary, my white rage is going to kick in and I'm not going to be responsible for what I do to her then. So yea, as glad as I was to be rid of the giant bag of annoying that is John Dorian, I'm not entirely devastated that he's coming back.

Which is why I'm standing close to the door, so that when he makes his grand entrance by yelling "lookie me I'm back!", with a goofy grin on his chinless face and a an equally girly queen wave, I'll be there to piss all over his "go get em" attitude by my well thought out rant. Seriously, I sat up all night thinking about how I'm going to make him feel like crap after spending a, no doubt, relaxing vacation, while the rest of us slaved our asses off.

I'm not the only one pretending to work around the nurse's station. Gandhi has been sitting on the counter and staring at the door as though by looking at it hard enough, he'll make Newbie materialize out of nowhere. Jumpsuit has been working hard on waxing every inch of space that Newbie might potentially be stepping on when he comes, so he's pretty excited about getting his victim back too. That guy seriously has some issues but I'm sure as hell not complaining. Come to think of it, everyone barring Bobbo and Ted are hovering near the doorway, no doubt, all waiting for their favorite labradoodle to skip into the hospital and spread sunshine and daisies everywhere. Just thinking about it makes me want to gag. At least I'm standing here for a legitimate reason, I actually need to rant at someone or I'll go into withdrawal. I haven't had a really good one for the past two weeks, this is my chance to let go of all that pent up frustration.

Any minute now…you can almost hear Carla twiddling her thumbs in anticipation, Barbie blowing the bangs out of her face while she's pretending to look over charts, when she's actually staring at the door from the corner of her eyes, or Todd shuffling his feet, waiting to give Newbie a five for something he will eventually find erotic.

And then it happens, Newbie slowly pushes the door open and takes a tentative step into the main lobby. Gandhi jumps off the counter and yells on the top of his lungs "JD". For his part, Newbie just stands there, staring at his bald boyfriend. Its as though, for that one second, the whole hospital falls silent waiting for a response. JD just stares back, with this strange expression on his face. For the life of me I can't figure out what that expression is. It's like confusion, only more towards panic. Then suddenly, that, whatever that was, is gone and JD yells back. "Turk!", holding his arms out for a hug. Sometimes I can swear that isn't a whiter girl in this hospital then him, but then I turn around and see Barbie blowing her bangs out of her face and I have to correct myself. Meanwhile, the piss poor excuse for doctors have their reunion moment. It's a perfect TV moment until Gandhi runs towards his girlfriend and slips on the waxed floor and falls flat on his face. I think I actually clapped automatically; I just couldn't control the joy that bubbled up inside me right at that moment. Of course, I expect Newbie to laugh, yell something insane or declare his undying love for him but he doesn't. He just silently walks up to his friend, carefully pulls him up and mutters a barely audible "You OK?", before giving him a hug that, to me lasts just a little too long. I think he was trying to save Gandhi's integrity, but that ship sailed the moment his bald head hit the floor after shooting out of his mother's womb. I like to believe that's why he is the way he is: a lost cause. Gandhi didn't care all that much it seemed, because he immediately began to jump and up and down, holding onto Newbie. "What's up Dowg? You're back!". Newbie too put a goofy grin on his face and bobbed up and down. I know the two of them get on my nerve on a good day and that most, nay all of what they do seems unbelievably strange to me, but somehow something seemed off today. I can't tell you what it is, because the whole yelling and screaming and acting like high school girls thing was bang on as usual, but something about Newbie was just off. No one else noticed it though because as soon as the two were done, JD was immediately surrounded by the rest of his fan fair.

"Hey guys." He says, giving Carla and Elliot a hug each.

"Dude, how was your big vacation? Did you get a little something, something, if you know what I'm saying?"

Oh here it comes, either its going to be one of those long and boring sob stories about how no one loves him, or he's going to go on and on and on about how he landed the jackpot. If he so much as looks at me while talking about his nerdy sex life, I'm…no wait, let him, I still haven't delivered my rant. Get ready Newbie, your about to get some royal Cox treatment!

The weird thing is though; he doesn't say anything at first. He just stands there, staring at his feet, like he's thinking about what he's going to say next. "Urm, it was okay. How were things around here?"

"Much better now that you're here."

"Awe Babroo, Did you do your medschool at Hallmark because all you seem to be good at anymore is the sappy load of crap that shoots out of your mouth every time it opens." I'm starting to feel better already; yes Newbie's presence does bring out my most colorful rants.

"Did you do your pmedschool in assface school because that's the only thing you're good at being!"

"Touche Barbie, but you will pay for that one. Oh, you will so pay. Be-hig mistake, messing with the big dog."

"Anyways, I'm really glad you're back JD. It just wasn't the same without you." With that, Barbie gives JD yet another hug before skipping away.

"So Bambi, did you miss us?"

"If only you knew Carla." Strange, the way he said that was a little too genuine.

"Good, because I don't think I can handle Turk's moping anymore"

"Its true man, I hate being away from my Vanilla Bear."

"Same here Brown bear." He reaches to Turk and gives him a yet another hug. What is with this kid and hugs? He finally pulls back after an eternity and for a moment just stands there, staring. He is spacing out so much more than usual. How does no one notice this? I look over at the Janitor who is watching the exchange to see if he's noticed, but the man is trying to make eye contact with Newbie to give him the death stare. It doesn't seem to be working. I've had enough of this love fest.

"Oh for God's sake, will you two girls just get a room." I mean come on, who does the long emotional hug thing? I can barely manage 3 seconds a year.

He turns to me, and I'm sure he's about to say something he thinks is going to be touching. I'm preparing myself for releasing my rant dragon on him but the look in his eyes knocks the wind right out of me. For the split second when he's staring directly at me, I see what I can only describe as…I don't even know how to describe it. Its like sadness, or disappointment or…something. But just as quickly as it came, it is gone, replaced by determination. He just nods at me, just barely acknowledging my presence, before turning back to his friends. "Is Dr Kelso in today? I have to talk to him."

"Yea, he's in his office." Newbie is just about to leave when Carla tugs at his sleeve. "Bambi, glad you're back!"

"I'm glad I'm back too." He says this so quietly, I barely hear it.

"You ok dude?"

"Yea why?"

"You seem, I donno…" Both Gandhi and Carla say simultaneously. "low"

"Nah, I'm just tired from all the traveling. I'm all gooood, I'm so good I'm actually fine!" Yup, he's back, doing his annoying, talking from his mouth thing.

"You know what else is fine, my…"

"Todd, if you finish that sentence, I'm going to come after you, and when I'm done you'll be eating out of a straw. Are we understood?"

"Yes nurse Turkelton." He nods, before putting up his hand for an "understood five?", getting yet another dirty look from the scariest Latina nurse in all of sacred heart.

"I'll see you guys later." With that, Newbie brushes past me, making his way to Bobbo's office, completely unaffected by the unnecessary but highly amusing exchange that took place just now. What the hell got his panties in a stitch?

I didn't even get to rant on him. Now I have this raging undelivered rant bubbling up inside me that is itching to go free. It makes me want to….go pee actually.

………………………..

It's weird, I know I don't really care about Newbie, but for some god awful reason, it bothered me that he wanted to talk to Kelso. I mean why in God's name would he want to put himself through such a thing? I can't help but think that the man has decided to switch camps all of a sudden. I mean he didn't even acknowledge my presense earlier. Ever since he finished talking to dear old Bobbo, he's been on top of his game. As if talking to the old coot did wonders for him, but that's just the thing. Bobbo NEVER has that effect on people, not unless he's promoted them, and that usually means they've sold their soul to him. So watching Newbie is a little disturbing to me right now. He surrounded by interns and I have to admit, he's an excellent teacher. He's attentive (which for him is a tall order), he's patient, helps them just enough to give them confidence and keep enough information to make them work. The ease with which he's working the room right now is, well, its something I never noticed before. He's keeping the atmosphere light, but professional and its not hard to see that every one of those knuckleheads who call themselves Interns, respects the man.

"OK Lisa, this patient is complaining severe abdominal pain and vomiting. She most likely has what?"

"Ur Appendicitus? "

"That's correct. Good Job Lisa! Incidentally, I was addmited here once for appendicitis and I can tell you this, its not fun for a patient to be watched my ten strangers, while they scrutinize his body, so when you're doing rounds, be mindful of the patient's dignity. They're people, not lab rats. Also, like we did right now, if you're going to discuss the patient's condition, do it away from their beds, especially if they aren't aware of their condition yet. Its unprofessional. Got that everyone? Now lets move on so one of you can sweep me off my feet with your wealth of knowledge. Move it!"

The little duckings shuffled behind the…slightly older but not much bigger duckling. How does the man do it? Everything looks so easy and non-complicated when he's with these kids. No yelling, no screaming, no abuse and they still want to listen to him? They still want to be like him? How is that even possible? If I had a teacher like him, I'd probably walk all over him, wouldn't I? Nah, maybe not. The kid commands respect sometimes, you have to give him that. How he does it while he's skipping around in his ballet slippers and a tiara, I'll never know. Sometimes though, not always, deffinately not a lot of times, but sometimes I feel proud of being his teacher.

He's come a long way from being the lost puppy. Of course now he's just a puppy that's found his way but still refuses to cling to people as they walk by. Hell its fun steping on his tail, mostly because he makes those sad eyes but doesn't do any of the drama. More likely because no matter what I do to him, he always comes right back. Its like he's my very own punching bag. I need that, of all the people here, I need someone who takes my tantrums, because the way things spiral out of control in this hell hole, I need to have someone I have power over. Maybe it's a little sadistic to appreciate Linda's Hero worship only because I enjoy crushing him, but hey, I never asked him to stick around, he chose to do it.

Right now though, I'm not looking at Dr-walk all over me. I'm looking at Dr Dorian, the man who seems to have everything under control for the moment. He's multi tasking like and insane person right now, and I'm tempted to intervene out of habbit, because I'm afraid he might kill someone in the process. I don't though because he's doing everything right. He's checking on his patients, prescribing dosages, talking to his interns, talking to his patients and hell just talking a hell of a lot, and miraculously doing it all right.

Either I've never noticed this before or Newbie has come back from one hell of a relaxing holiday because I've never seen him so confident, so 'in-control' and just so nonchalant about the his work before. I'm a bit jealous, because after spending this much time in this dump, its hard for me to be quite so energetic. I'm a great doctor, hell I know I'm the best around here, but sometimes, I feel like the zing that I once had, while doing my job isn't there anymore. I must have lost it three years into it, how does Briana still have it? How is he still optimistic? It can't be right, I bet its that Kelso's promotion, what else could it possibly be. Oh I'm going to kill him if that's the case. He will pay and pay good. He thinks I only live to make Bobbo's life hell, oh he has another thing coming.

Oh good, he's finally done playing Dr know-it-all. "Say Newbie, just what do you think you're doing?"

"Getting my charts from the nurse's station." He says without looking up. What's wrong with him? He's definitely up to something.

"I know you're up to something Newbie, I've got my eyes on you!"

"Yea I've got my eyes on you to. Who's you kill Dorian. I know you did something. What'd you do?" OK, count on the Janitor to go there.

"Excuse me guys, I have to go and do my job, I'll let the two of you continue this on your own." He's being Fiesty? With me? You have got to be kidding me.

"Newbie! Did you go see a doctor on your vacation?"

"What? I don't know what you're talking about." OK not the shifty reponse I was looking for.

"How could you rob us the chance of watching you get testicles. I mean really, our littly Moesha getting a sex change and no one bothers to tell us?"

"I'm going to go now."

"Wait, I still have my eyes on you!"

"Let it go Jumpsuit, he's gone." Poor Jumpsuit, I don't think he's figured out a proper torture plan yet. He's fumbling for material right now. As for Teena, she's become gutsy, more confident with her job and is acting just a little bit strange. I'm not going to bother too much over it though, she comes clean sooner or later. Carla will probably be the first to spread the news one Gandhi gets the big scoop. Around here, you don't have to wait to long to get the good gossip, even when you really don't want to hear it.

TBC

A/NThanks for reading, Please review