Title: Treat
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Warnings: None.
A/N: Written for impromptu50.
Summary: Dr. Cox bribes JD with a lollypop. Or two. Dozen.
Perry watched a nurse struggle with her four-year-old patient. The girl thrashed against the woman, refusing to sit still for a throat culture. The nurse pleaded her case. The girl replied with a scream.
The doctor watched as the nurse slipped a hand into her pocket. He knew what was coming. She was reaching for the tool of her trade, the one item that no young child could resist. The nurse's hand emerged, holding aloft a purple lollypop.
The grape-flavored candy was presented to the girl. A few whispered words were exchanged and then a bargain was reached. Five minutes of silence in exchange for five minutes of sugar-induced happiness.
Perry watched. An idea was forming.
"Hey, Dr. Cox!"
The voice was annoyingly perky today.
"Look, I know you're busy, but I was wondering if you could take a look at - "
Perry produced a red lollypop from his coat pocket. The movement was met with silence. Perry didn't look up from his chart as he waved the sweet at JD. He could almost imagine the way JD's eyes were tracking the sweet as it moved back and froth before his face.
"Promise you'll be quiet and it's yours," Dr. Cox mumbled, flipping the page on Mrs. Anderson's chart and tossing the candy in JD's general direction.
The only sound to meet his ears was the soft thud of retreating footsteps.
The system worked. For a while.
He paid dearly on the days he neglected to fill his pockets with the sugary sweets. These occasions were rare, but they were disturbing enough to keep Perry on his guard. Seeing JD chase after him like a bloodhound was a memory he was already working hard to repress.
It was also becoming expensive, now that the pediatrics staff was on to his game. All candy in the area was to be kept under lock and key, so saith the nurse overlords who ran the ward.
Something would have to be done, Perry concluded. There had to be another way.
"Dr. Cox!" a voice cried behind him. Perry hunched his shoulders against the smile he heard in that voice. "I come in search of my morning fix." Perry paused in the middle of the hall and turned to look at the kid over his shoulder. "If you know what I mean," JD finished, waggling his eyebrows.
Perry rolled his eyes and turned away, resuming his brisk pace. "Not today, Meredith."
"What?" came the startled reply. Perry listened as JD chased after him, but didn't slow down. JD came around front of Perry and placed himself between the older doctor and his destination. "But I'm feeling especially talkative today," he sputtered.
"Then talk," Perry said, his voice resigned as he side-stepped JD and continued on his way.
"What?" JD cried again, confusion replacing his earlier confidence. "You hate when I talk."
Perry slowed to a stop and turned to face the younger man. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and felt the lollypop that brushed roughly against his fingers. Don't give in.
He sighed. "I don't . . . hate it when you talk," Perry said. JD watched him cautiously. "In fact," Perry added, dropping his gaze for good measure, "I've sort of missed it."
He chanced a glance at the kid. JD's eyes were wide. His mouth hung open. Hands twitched at his sides. Perry watched as JD attempted to find the words to describe the emotions Perry's comments had evoked, but there was nothing. No sound.
He was speechless.
Perry turned on his heel and continued down the hall, allowing himself to smile at the silence he was greeted with. I could get used to being nice, Perry mused as he stuck the last lollypop into his mouth. Especially if this is how I'll be thanked.
A/N2: Reviews are appreciated!