"I don't think I've seen you before," a man said as Arika was pouring herself a cup of coffee in the ER Doctor's Lounge, "I'm Dr. Daniel Charles, Head of Psychiatry."

Arika laughed at his introduction, "I'm not surprised. I don't think I've ever been down here. I'm an ophthalmologist, Dr. Arika Cuddy. It's nice to meet you," she offered her hand.

Daniel took her hand in his own, "It's nice to meet you too. What's your specialty?"

Arika withdrew her hand to finish her coffee, "I'm a retina surgeon and I have a case about to roll so I need to drink this and get up there. Hopefully I'll see you again," she smiled as she raced out of the lounge to the elevator.

Arika stepped out of her OR and took a breath as her pager went off on her hip. She pulled it up and saw that she was needed in the ER for a patient of Dr. Halstead. She took off her hat and walked downstairs to evaluate the patient.

"I got your page," Arika began as she entered the room and saw Dr. Halstead and Dr. Charles, she felt her cheeks blush, "What's going on?" she asked, getting back to business.

"Our patient got punched in the face and we wanted you to look at the eye," Dr. Halstead began, "WIll you take a look?"

Arika nodded as she walked up to the patient, "What does his injury have to do with Psychiatry?" she asked as she began her examination.

Dr. Charles smiled, "It's nice to see you again so soon," he began, "This patient was attacked for spying on some girls in the locker room and he believes he needs to be chemically castrated to avoid sexual urges. I'm here to see how serious his thoughts are."

Arika raised her eyebrows as she continued her evaluation, "His eye is salvageable but I'm going to need someone from Oculoplastics to help on this case so it may be a few hours before we take him to surgery. Don't let him eat," she added.

"Will do," Dr. Halsted replied, "Just call us when you're ready to preop him."

Arika nodded, "Dr. Charles, may I see you outside for a moment?"

Daniel nodded as she stood and followed her outside of the exam room, "What can I do for you?" he asked.

Arika smiled at him, "It's getting kinda late and I won't be able to start this case for awhile, would you like to grab dinner with me?"

Dr. Charles looked at her, his face filled with surprise, "Are you asking me out on a date? I'm flattered but I'm quite a bit older then you and there are so many other doctors for you to go after in this hospital," he replied, trying to hide his shock.

Arika grinned back, not deterred by his reply, "I am asking you on a date, Dr. Charles and I've seen everyone in this hospital many times but you are the first one I've wanted to go out with. I didn't see a ring," she gestured to his left hand, "So, I figured I'd give it a shot. Dinner?" she asked again.

Daniel looked at her again, more curiously this time. In his mind, he was trying to figure out what she saw in him after just two brief meetings. Finally, he stopped thinking and replied, "I don't see why not. I have to meet with the boy's parents and then I'll be ready. Meet in my office in thirty minutes?" he added at the end.

"I have some dictating to do," she answered, "I'll see you soon," she smiled as she turned and walked away to her own office.

Arika sat down and dictated her surgeries for the day while signing off on all her charts. Before she walked to Dr. Charles's office, she called the Oculoplastics surgeon on call and let him know she'd need him in a case later that night.

She hung up the phone and stood from her desk before grabbing her purse and walking to the elevator to head to Dr. Charles's office. She arrived and knocked on the door.

"Come in," she heard his calming voice from the other side.

Arika opened the door and walked in, "Did you become a psychiatrist just because you have such a calming voice for it?" she asked with a smile as she sat down in a seat across the desk.

He looked at her with a small smile on his own lips, "No, but it certainly has helped in some situations. Do you have a place in mind for dinner?"

"I was thinking sushi since there's a place right down the road," she suggested, "I thought we should stay close by since I don't know when I'll be taking your patient to surgery. How'd the talk with his parents go? Did you tell them about his request?" she asked.

Daniel nodded as a sigh escaped his lips, "They weren't open to a chemical castration. They don't see his behavior as threatening but they wouldn't since they made him that way," he paused and saw the questioning look on her face and continued, "His parents taught him that sex was only for procreation and that is what's made him act out. He repressed his urges and now I fear, he's a threat to girls," he explained.

"I do not envy your world," she revealed, "I only see patients to fix their eyes and I stayed away from babies so it's pretty cut and dry in my world. I like it that way," she commented, "Emotions make things too messy. Are you ready to go?"

Daniel nodded as he stood, "You'd be surprised how rewarding my work is. You are in charge of healing the body but I have their souls in my hands and that is a big responsibility."

Arika nodded as they left his office and began walking out of the Med to the restaurant. Daniel started conversation, "So, I am very curious, what made you ask me out when there are men like Dr. Rhodes, Dr. Choi and Dr. Halstead working in the same area as myself? I'm certainly not complaining but it does leave me a little confused," he confessed.

Arika grabbed onto his elbow gently as they walked, "I can see why you would be shocked with my choice from your perspective but you are the first person I've met in the ED that isn't consumed with the drama going on all around. Not to mention, you're very handsome and I thought we might see if there's anything between us. Does that help?" she asked as they got closer to the restaurant.

Daniel nodded, though he was admittedly still slightly confused, "It makes more sense then it did when you first asked me," he replied as he opened the door for her.

"How many?" the hostess asked once they were both inside.

"Two," Daniel replied as the hostess nodded and grabbed two menus before guiding them to a small booth in the back of the restaurant where they had more privacy then most, "Your waiter will be right with you," the hostess said as they took their seats.

"Thank you," Arika said before the hostess left and she looked at Daniel, "So, Robin is you daughter?"

Daniel laughed lightly, "That's not small talk," he began before nodding, "Why do you ask?"

"She's my friend and I just wanted to tell you that she's amazing," Arika replied, "She has worked closely with me on a group of endophthalmitis cases that came from another hospital. I haven't seen her this week though."

"She is a daughter to be proud of, that's for sure," Daniel replied, "So, are you from Chicago? How long have you worked here?" he asked as the waiter appeared.

They quickly ordered waters and sushi before Arika responded to his question, "I'm from Upstate New York and I went to Med School in Virginia before I came here for the rest. I wanted to get back up North and this city had the best option. What about you? Have you lived in Chicago your whole life?" she asked.

"I was born and raised in this city," he answered, "I've traveled some but I always come back here."

They continued making small talk until they finished their food. As Arika took her last bite, her pager went off. She pulled it off her pants and read it, "Looks like it's time for us to head back, well I do anyway. The kid is ready for his surgery," she announced as she waved at the waiter for the check, "I hope we can do this again sometime," she began as she let the idea trail off.

Daniel smiled at her as he took the check from her hands and paid the bill, "I would be open to a second date if you really want to."

The waiter brought back the receipt and the pair began their walk to the hospital, "I would love to but I have to tell you that I'm not one to take things slow," she began as the cold chill of the Chicago wind hit her face causing her to shiver.

Daniel put his arm around her, his body warmth immediately making her feel better as he replied, "I don't have a preference either way but I don't want to make you uncomfortable in any way. Can you help me out by explaining your expectations?"

Arika laughed as they walked, "This has got to be some of the strangest date conversation I've ever had but to be honest, I love that we're laying it all out there. It will let us figure each other out before either of us are in too deep," she began before sneaking a glance at him, "My level of speed would include going to either one of our places for a night cap after my surgery to finish off the date. I've never been a 'wait till the third date' kinda girl," she explained.

Daniel was only slightly surprised by her response as they neared the ED doors and he looked down at her as he removed his arm, "Is this a trick where you are going to judge my character by the way I respond?" he asked.

Arika shook her head, "No, not even a little bit. I'll be ok if you want to hold off a little longer but I won't think you're a pig if you want to agree to my proposal, in fact it would be my preferred answer."

"I'll wait for you to finish your surgery in my office," he replied, "We can go to either place, that doesn't matter to me so you decide and let me know."

Arika smiled wickedly as she walked the opposite direction to prep for the OR.