So this is totally inspired by a song I heard on Youtube! This is the first fic I am posting on here and I am super nervous about it. It's not complete, but I felt I'd preview what I have so far since the rest of it has glitches I am working out. I really hope you people enjoy it though
How JD had come to looking for this Mario Go-Karts game was as simple as one conversation. JD had been rounding a corner heading for the nurses' station about to ask Carla what she thought he should get for Dr. Cox when he overheard Carla, and Jordan talking.
"Are you kidding!? Perry is far from being a good father. He's more a kid than Jack is" she said, shaking her head. "Oh, I'm sure that's not true. Not many kids sit around watching hockey and drinking scotch all day" She defended, though this didn't up hold the argument of him being a good father in the first place. "He only watches sports all day because I threw that Mario driving game out when we first got married" she pointedly said as if that was something Carla should have known. "I'm sorry, Mario driving Game?" Carla asked, clearly not following. "When Per, was a new starting out doctor he had this geeky obsession with the game Mario Karts, and it would drive me nuts because he would spend countless nights not sleeping and just playing. So when we got married I tossed it and told him it got lost when we moved." she explained.
JD didn't choose to stay around any longer because he knew exactly what he was going to get his mentor for his birthday and hopefully earn himself the hug he had been wanting for years now. He found Elliot on the second floor and begged her to watch his patients as he left early for his 'lunch' to find that game. After sliding into his 'streets' he hurried out the door and off into the world.
JD hadn't realized how hard it would be to come by a single game. It seemed that the super Nintendo and its games were fading into extinction. It was to his luck that a pawn shop not only had the game, but the machine. Of course, that's where his luck was cut short.
"I'm sorry you said it was how much?" JD asked his eyes the size of saucers. He only had forty bucks after paying his share of the rent. " $180" The big burly man said leaning his tattooed covered arm on the counter. "Originally I was going to sell it at two forty bones, but just thirty minutes ago some ditzy broad came in and bought most of the games for the machine that I had together in a set" he said as if this would convince JD that somehow this was an incredible deal. "Look, I only have forty dollars. Maybe you could put this aside so-"
"Sorry pal, we sell to whoever can afford it first. Nothing gets put aside, but, uh, I could give it to you for that watch.." He trailed off, his eyes lingering over JD's wrist wantingly. JD cupped the watch in his other hand as if it would disappear if he let it go. It wasn't just any watch. This watch was the gift his mother passed on to him when he graduated med school. It had belonged to his grand-father before he passed away when JD was only nine. It was one of the only gifts from his family JD truly cherished and took care of. "I..." he paused, his fingers traced over the bronze trim that had little stars along it. He sighed as he unlatched the accessory from his wrist and handed it to the man. "You've got a deal" he murmured a resigned pain in his voice. He went to pull out the forty, but the man shook his head, "No the watch is enough". The man reached around the counter grabbing the game. He got a bag and placed the machine, paddles, and game in it before handing it over to JD. JD stared at the bag blankly, feeling as if he took it there was no turning back. He couldn't help, but question 'was Dr. Cox really worth it?' After a long moment he grabbed the bag and the man behind the counter nodded to him as if he understood his struggle and he hurried out the door towards Sasha. He wasn't sure how long he had taken or how much time he had left before his break was over so he brought his wrist up and groaned as he remembered, 'You don't have the watch anymore idiot'.
Dr. Cox dreaded coming into the hospital on his birthday. As much as he liked saving lives and having the feeling of making a difference, he didn't like people making a fuss over him getting older. These people mainly consisted of Carla, newbie, and the occasional insult from Bob Kelso. Perry walked in a scowl on his face. Nothing so far, newbie must not be in yet. He hopefully thought he might get some peace, this birthday.
It turned out work was quiet on his birthday and the surprising part was that he did not like this one bit. "Carla, will you tell me whaaat pa-athetic excuse newbie chose to give, instead of coming in today and giving his patients a chance at life because his interns haven't seemed to have learned how in those years at medical school"
She rolled her eyes and turned her back to him as she handed a file over to another nurse saying some instructions before turning back to him, "He just took a personal day. Although, when you were dealing with Mr. Brown coding he came and dropped this..." she paused reaching under the counter "...off for you" she finished as she set a square shaped present on the counter. Her eyes moved from the box to Dr. Cox, then back to the gift.
Dr. Cox picked it up and considered its weight. He stared at it for a long time and secretly admired just how neatly the package was wrapped. "Well?" Carla interrupted, and Cox looked up at her raising a brow. "Open it!" she said, excitedly. Cox could imagine Newbie getting him a friend bracelet, or something else as stupid and unnecessary.
He slowly peeled the sides open smiling to himself since he could see Carla leaning over the counter nosily from the corner of his eye. He popped the lid of the box off and froze as he saw the Super Nintendo, Mario Karts, and two neatly wrapped up paddles. His fingers ghosted over the machine. Many good memories were with this machine.
He felt somebody besides him and he turned to see Carla next to him looking into the box. "Looks like there is a note" she said reaching for it. Cox slapped her hand and shut the box lid. "It's probably something sappy that I will find time to read later since. I am. Just fresh out of tears and hugs right now." he said condescendingly making Carla shake her head. He couldn't fool her, because she had seen that look on his face when he saw his present. He turned down the hall and she laughed a bit to herself at how proud men could be and she got back to work.
Cox had gotten a few more gifts, not many, but they weren't nearly as appreciated as the gift JD had gotten for him. The question that was bugging him though, was 'Why did he get him that?', or even more pressing 'How would JD know about Mario Karts?'
"It was probably a lucky guess." It looks used, he may have just gave him what was lying around in his room, he added to his thoughts. He sat at his locker getting ready to go home. He pulled out his duffel bag and placed most of his gifts into the bag. he looked at JD's gift again and he remembered the note he neglected to read. After contemplating it for a moment he sighed and opened the box pulling out the neatly folded piece of paper.
"Dear Coxxy,
Okay okay! Dear Dr. Cox,
I know you constantly tell me I'm annoying and that you want me to leave you alone, so I decided that just for today I would. I switched shifts with Doug. Now you can have all that quiet time, you tell me I don't give you. Although I think you like me bugging you.
Look, I just want to thank you for being such a good teacher to me, ever since I came to work here at Sacred Heart. I admit I would not have been as good a doctor as I am now if it wasn't for all your help and I hope today is me repaying you, if even just a little. I really hope you like my gift.
-JD"
Perry couldn't wipe the genuine smile that wormed its way onto his face. "He didn't show up for me?" he said softly. He would admit that he wasn't expecting that.
As Cox walked out of the hospital to head for his car he heard a clacking of something falling and he turned to see JD further down the parking lot picking up his 'hair met' and continuing to lock up his scooter.
"You know it would have been a better gift if you had showed up for work today." JD turned around and smiled "Oh yeah?" he piped up the excitement of his mentor actually wanting to see him, was obviously etched onto his face.
"Granted I get you can't keep your girly thoughts and giggles from coming out and reeheely it's touching, that you thawt NAWT to come in. Since, you, couldn't. But by god Newbie! Nervous guy? Why not give a blind man a razor and have him go butcher your patients instead? So, without an even HALF-COMPETENT Doc-Toor, I was stuck with twice the work. Way to go there Newbie"
JD's smile dropped and he sighed, his hands shaking, "Yeah, okay" he simply said as if he was trying not to cry. 'Could he not be any more of a girl?' Cox thought as he looked him over. "Jack will like the game though. Maybe next time you can get me a diaper and a bottle too" he added. Why did he say it? He loved the gift. Probably pride. JD didn't say anything; he just nodded and walked past him up the ramp and into the hospital. Cox couldn't help, but feel guilty.
He shrugged it off and headed home. That night after he got Jack to sleep he stayed up playing his new game skipping the scotch all together.
The next morning, besides the lack of sleep, Perry came into work in a better mood than he had been in months. Many interns gave him strange looks as they heard him humming a Mario Karts theme under his breath.
He rounded the Nurses station and a moment after Carla had come down the hall and moved to behind the counter looking through her purse. "Goooood Morning" he chirped. Carla turned and glared at him. "Don't you dare 'Good morning' me!" she snapped. "Okay, Bad Morning" he said shaking his head. She huffed and slammed her purse down "You get a gift that makes your eyes light up like never before and then YOU turn around and gave Bambi all that Crap! Do you know what that did to him?" she looked as if there wasn't a counter there she would have tackled him. 'Must she always cry to her mommy?' he wondered as he wandered off to find her.
When he finally found her she was sitting with his back to him in the Doctors lounge idly encircling his wrist. Dr. Cox frowned; something was off about him besides the mopey attitude. That's when he remembered a year back when he once had lunch with the whiny brat because his wife and her wife had gone off to Chicago. Newbie had gone on about how he thought he misplaced his watch.
Now that he remembered he said something about it being a relative's from when they fought in the marines and there were as many stars as they wore on their coat. Now it wasn't on his wrist. After a second of piecing it together, that nagging feeling came to his stomach. He sold it for his gift, didn't he? Cox shut his eyes feeling like the biggest asshole ever. The worst part was that he couldn't even go in there and just admit he loved his game.
It took a moment before he had a plan, but not any extra second to spare he pushed into the lounge humming the theme song he had been earlier as loud as he could and sat down on a couch as if he hadn't noticed the other Doctor sitting there. Perry merely picked up a magazine and continued humming. He looked over the edge of the pages and saw how JD perked up at the sound of 's voice.
Dr. Cox looked up and raised a brow, "You know Shirley, you're looking pretty smug there. Why don't you be a good house wife and go get me a cup of coffee. Go Go Go" he yelled and JD got up in a hurry and was out the door.
Perry leaned against a wall massaging his temples, trying hard to smooth out the headache he had forming when to his misfortune Satan herself and her best pal Beelzebub walked up wearing matching scowls on their faces. "Perry!" Kelso's voice rang out as he handed him a packet of papers. "What's this?" he asked. "Well per-per, the hospital has to send four people to this convention to represent Sacred heart and Bobbo hear has a date with his mistress and I want the house to myself so you are going." she said with a devilish smirk. "Oh, give this to DJ" she said handing him an identical pamphlet. Cox growled, of all people he had to be stuck with, it was Susan. "Now Perry remember you are representing this hospital, so if you do anything that may bring bad word to these halls, you will be fired before you could say 'Enid' " Kelso snarled and walked off after Jordan.
"Baby I'm Gonna miss you" Carla whispered leaning into the driver's window kissing Turk. JD sat next to him with an excited dopey smile, planted on his face. They wore matching rainbow suspenders over Neil Diamond t-shirts. "Baby I know, but me and Vanilla bear will be back real quick like" he murmured. As soon as she stole a last kiss and went inside, both looked at each other and shouted "ROAD TRIP!" JD turned to the back seat revealing Rowdy with a set of orange star framed glasses.
"Let's do this chocolate bear" he said, excitedly. They turned on a mix tape they had made the night before and began singing NSYNC together as Turk stepped on the gas.
When JD and Turk arrived they parked and JD went ahead inside while Turk grabbed their stuff. JD signed them both in and waited for their keys. Turk came up next to him with their duffle bags and Rowdy. "Man after a drive like that I need to break in whatever bathroom they give us as soon as possible." He said and JD grinned. He knew how long drives could do you in especially when you stop in the middle of the drive to have a slurpee chugging contest. The woman at the front desk turned and gave them each a card key "Okay ? You're in room 326, and as for you, doctor Dorian, you are in room 310" Both of the men frowned at this bit of information and then leaned on the counter with their 'stern' faces. "I think there must be a mistake, if I am not rooming with Turk then who am I rooming with?" he asked.
She turned to her computer and began pounding down on the keys with her extremely long fake nails as she looked up his information. JD couldn't help when he drifted off into a day dream of him and Turk having those same long nails and using them to tap Morse code messages through the walls of the hospital to each other. "Sir?" JD snapped out of his thoughts and back to reality looking at the woman with big doe eyes. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" he asked in a sheepish tone. She smiled sympathetically figuring the doctor was tired, "I said you're rooming with a 'Perry Cox' and he has already checked in" he thanked her and turned to Turk. He was pretty okay with being with his mentor, but Turk's expression screamed 'I may throw a fit'. "Aw, come on brown bear, I'm sure your roomie will be alright. " Turk kicked the ground a little and shook his head like a four year old. "Okay fine, but I am taking Rowdy with me because Dr. Cox looks like the type who would abuse poor, innocent, stuffed dogs" he grabbed Rowdy and headed off towards the elevator.
When JD opened the door to his suite he noticed a rather beat looking Dr. Cox lounging on a shitty cream sofa drinking a bear his attention on the TV. He didn't turn to acknowledge the younger doctor's presence, "Newbie, as long as we are sharing a room, know it's best if you keep all that hormonal teenage angst bottled right up, because as we both know it's your first time sharing a room with somebody with a Y chromosome, this does not now or ever rank an appropriate place for you to jump on the bed and giggle over whether or not you can get me to snuggle. Which I will say now that No, no way, Nada, Negatory and Nope to all hand-holding, cuddling, or talking. Mmkay princess?" he turned his head to give him the crazy eyes to add how serious he was about this rant when he caught sight of JD's outfit. "Jesus Darla, could you scream 'I'm single and still have my precious flower any louder. Go change, or I will punish you" he commanded.
JD didn't bother argue and just went into the bedroom. He set his bag on his twin and then undid his suspenders pulling his shirt off after. He tugged out a Pat Benatar tee and pulled it on before heading out of the room. "So, any clue where this convention is being held? The pamphlet and letter both said to dress casual which is weird-"Perry cut him off with a groan. "Do me a favor and try NOT talking when I'm around. I find I can tolerate you somewhat then" JD didn't much feel up to playing 'see how long I can take Cox's insults before my soul dies completely' and decided to head towards Turks room to pass the time.
Turk had been stuck rooming with Dr. Wen. When JD got to the room it was only Turk so they decided to hang out there, where they could have some privacy. "So do you know where this convention is being held because it's not being held in the hotel which is normally where you have them" JD asked as he threw himself on the couch. "Actually man, check this" he tossed a paper at JD. "A carnival?"
"Yeah buddy! This is more of a social event for Doctors. I mean yeah there will be some speeches, but there is actually supposed to be competitions, games, a good meal, and free beer" some God must have liked them at that moment because this was not only seeming like one of the best nights ever, but they were going to get paid to have it. "Ahh, No way! This is going to be the best! We have to go on the Tilta world if they have it" he declared. "Only if we can play 'puke' while we do" Turk said, his competitive side showing. "But, Chocolate bear, you know I already get sick on fast rides without eating all that food." He pouted, "Come on JD! Maybe this time I'll puke first" he added reassuringly. JD didn't fight him over the matter after that. Instead they headed outside to a park down the block to play some basketball before they had to get ready to go. JD couldn't help, but wonder if Dr. Cox knew about the carnival. He had been to one once with him, when he was dating Jordan's sister Danni, but he assumed the only reasons Cox had a bad time was because he had been forced to go.
The carnival as it turned out wasn't completely as he thought it was going to be. For the first few hours, everyone sat under tented areas and listened to lectures. JD wished he had had more coffee before he left because the hot air and the droning voices were putting him to sleep. When the last speaker finally finished he felt relief wash over him. "Now, I know everyone is eager to go have some fun, but first we have set up some challenges to get some friendly competitions going between these hospitals. There are charts at the end of each table that will let you see what it is you are competing in."
JD could practically see the excitement in Turks eyes when he heard that. When he finally got a chance to peak at the chart he searched for his name and saw that he was in a Go-Kart race with, Dr. Cox? He bit his lip at the odd feeling his stomach got when he read the other man's name chalking it up to nerves.
As JD walked around searching for the racing pit he heard some yelling and a whole bunch of Doctors were gathered around. He squeezed through to see what was going on and heard Dr. Cox and some other big blonde headed doctor throwing the smack down at each other. Each looked intense, and ready to kill. "Okay you two save it for the track. Racers get to your karts" a chipper woman said over enthusiastically.
JD really didn't want to do this. He wasn't very good at racing though he always did like to pretend to be like speed racer when he was little. "Oh could they have stuck me with any more of a disadvantage?" Cox wasn't pleased to see his co-driver as he walked up to their kart. "Listen newbie. You are going to suck up every fiber in that confused prepubescent body of yours and you are going to grow a pair so we can win this. Is that clear Tinkerbelle?"
All he could do was nod as he pulled on a helmet and both men got into their kart side by side.
Never had JD felt anything more liberating and heart rushing than the way he and skidded and turned with speed on that course. The part that hit him the most was the fact they had gotten first place. In the mood to celebrate Cox demanded he, John Dorian, have drinks with him.
When the same over cheerful woman walked out and announced that there would be a firework display JD and Cox looked for some deserted ground where the two of them could watch the show.
They sat quietly up on a hill, a case of beer sitting between them. It was a magical evening JD would admit. The sky was dark and it was a deserted enough place for the stars to sparkle in the sky littered around like glitter on a three year old girls art project. The breeze was gentle and teased the skin on the back of JD's neck. They both were drunk. Maybe that's what made the moment what it was. Both men were too inebriated to put up their shields. The look in Perry's eyes were a raw, genuine content which made JD smile dopily at him. It was late and the younger of the two men had felt ready to pass out. He had begun to nod off when the older doctor placed a hand on his knee and shook it. "Newbie it's about to start" he said in a low rasp.
JD opened his eyes and heard a loud whistle as a pack of fireworks trailed through the air and exploded in a burst of color crackling as it sunk down the midnight sky. "Mm, Pretty" he slurred, with a grin. Perry nodded. "You know this will sound lame and you will call me a girl, but I always would wonder what it is you did on occasions like the fourth of July. I mean it's not like I think about you ALL the time or anything coxy, but you're this mystery outside work and I guess I always wanted to solve you, if it was only just a little bit" he had laid back so he was flat against the earth. His breathes came out evenly with the breeze. Cox shrugged not really sure what to say to that. They weren't really friends. If anything he was this warped father-figure that JD, in his opinion, did not need.
"Paige used to ask me to tell her stories, about anything. Maybe because my words could take her somewhere far from our father's grasp if only for a moment. I remember telling her that on the fourth of July, fireworks were actually stars that got bottled up and if you sent them back into the sky, you would be granted one wish." He didn't looks at JD. The young man stared out dejectedly though the words gave a pang to JD's stomach. He drifted off imagining a little Dr. Cox in a doctor costume with curly tresses telling his little sister that he would take care of her. He could believe that Cox was as much a hero to her as he was to him.
The older doctor turned and grinned "Just click those heels Dorothy, I wasn't done with you", JD looked at him sheepishly. "Sorry, and uh, thanks, for sharing" he murmured awkwardly. "Thanks for not talking my ear off" that sarcastic 'I couldn't be happier because there is silence' type of comment coming out reminding the two of them of their roles in each other's lives. JD shut his eyes and just listened to fireworks snap. Perry stayed quiet too. It had been a good twenty minutes before Perry spoke up. "I used to believe some of the stories I told" JD perked up in interest "like that firework story" he said his tone cautious almost afraid if JD listened hard enough. "Yeah? What'd you wish for?" he asked.
There was a grunt and then "To be a somebody I suppose. For my dad to get lost, to meet a girl, money, you name it." He said now laying back as well, with another beer in his hand. "Looks like you got everything you wanted, except the great deals of money and well, I don't know about your dad" Cox smiled to himself "Well he didn't get lost, but I definitely got something better" he paused to take a long chug of his beer, "He died" he laughed at this. He finished off his beer letting the amber liquid wash down his throat leaving a bitter taste.
JD hummed a little feeling himself grow more tired by the second. "Hey Dr. Cox?", "Yeah newbie?" there was a pause of silence, "Tell me a story?" JD wanted Perry to keep talking. Something about the sound of the older man's voice filled him with warm soothing satisfaction. He wanted to hold onto this moment and make it last because God knew how things would be when they returned to the hospital. Dr. Cox cracked his eyes open and looked JD over. He looked so innocent laying there in the grass with his eyes shut lightly. He liked to believe that was what made him open up. He started with stories from his childhood and random, off the wall, memories, most of them good, some not so much. It felt like they had been there for hours. After draining another can of beer of its contents he felt a small dizzy spell come over him and he needed to shut his eyes and calm his body down. The last thing he heard before he slipped off to sleep was the soft sound of JD's breathes.
Cox stirred as he felt the many kisses of water cascade down upon his face. He squinted his eyes open. It was still dark outside. He tried to sit up, but felt weighed down. He craned his neck to look at what was on him and found a sleeping Newbie nestled into his chest. He groaned as the night came back to him. "Charlotte," he shook the sleeping boy. "Hey Cynthia wake up".
JD blinked sleepily at him in a big daze of confusion. "Come on, let's get to my car before we get too drenched and catch something" he turned to head down the hill and toward the parking lot when he realized JD wasn't following, but stood still, looking out of it. Cox sighed, grabbing JD's wrist and pulled him along to the Porsche. The minute he got JD into the passenger seat, he was sound asleep. The green numbers on the clock of his car read 4 am. Cox could only imagine that the little girl's bald wife was pacing the hotel worried about him so he didn't hesitate long before he put the car in drive and headed back towards the hotel.
JD dreamt of his mentor. His words from earlier that evening echoed through him, his mind acted out some of the stories Cox had shared about his past. In a way JD felt like his mentor had given him a present by giving himself a part of him that not many knew about. When he next stirred awake he was moving, but his feet weren't on the ground. He opened his eyes and what he saw was a soaked Perry Cox carrying him.
"By God Hermia, you sleep through everything" he said as a bell hop opened the door, and Cox stepped inside with JD. He hadn't set the young man down even though he knew very well that JD was awake. Right now he looked more like a super hero than ever before. Even though this supported the idea that JD was the damsel in distress and in fact like always said, a girl. When they got to their room, it was only then that he let JD down. "Well then Nancy, now that I got your wet butt out of my car, you are no longer my problem" he said in a grunt and JD nodded. He knew that just because had been nice to him the night before, didn't mean that their relationship would ever change, even if he wished constantly that it would.
"Thanks Dr. Cox. Tonight was..." he debated whether he should say it and give the other man more room to mock him, but in the end he just decided to be honest "Tonight was magical". With that he tugged off his shirt plopped down on his twin bed and was fast asleep. What he hadn't known was that ten minutes later Cox threw an extra blanket over him and whispered softly "Dido kid, dido."