Sacred Heart was pretty normal as far as hospitals go. Large building, lots of windows, sliding doors. But, that's as pretty normal as the place got. Just the outside. A shameful façade was what it was. The insides of the building were much more interesting than the outsides.
"No, Anna. I will absolutely not have lunch with you." JD pouted. He hated it when Cox told him no. It made his stomach flip and tears well in his eyes almost every time. It seemed so effortless for the older man to break his heart. JD didn't understand. Cox brushed by him, another effortless effort for him, and left JD wallowing in misery at the nurse's station. Carla watched the snarky doctor breeze away and sighed.
Sometimes, she honestly believed that she had the best insight of anyone ever in the history of the world. Everyone was so very sure that the cute, bashful, young doctor was in love with Elliot Reid. It was a nice thought. They made an adorable couple, but things never lasted. Carla knew, deep in her bones, that JD was madly, completely, devastatingly in love with Dr. Percival Cox and it had been that way from the very beginning. But the nurse wasn't sure that even JD understood what he was feeling.
"Bambie," she murmured lowly, causing JD to turn and face her. She gave him the look: hand on the hip, eyebrow raised, saying 'I need to tell yousomething and you are so gonna listen to me.' JD whimpered internally. These little discussions would be the death of him one day.
Carla all-but dragged the reluctant doctor into the break room and shut the door. Luckily, the room was empty. It would be so much easier this way. "Is there any possible way for me to get out of this?" JD questioned, throwing himself down on the well-worn couch. Carla smiled and shook her head vehemently.
"Not on your life." She moved to the couch and gingerly lifted his legs up, sat down, and placed his legs in her lap. There was a moment of preparatory silence; JD for the unknown, and Carla for retaliation. "You ready?" she asked finally, her voice soft. JD took a deep breath and nodded. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"
JD sat up straight and eyed her, unbelieving of what she'd just asked. Carla said nothing and waited for him to reply, which was something new for her. Somehow, her instincts knew the delicality of the situation, and she wanted nothing less than for him to bolt. She knew JD's soft state, and knew how strong his will was to have not broken after all he'd put up with over the years.
"W-w-what?" he stuttered softly. Carla patted his knee gently.
"It's okay," she said. JD's lips pressed into a thin line momentarily as he organized his thoughts.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I don't know what it is."
Carla almost sighed from relief. "I think I know."
***
Dr. Cox opened the car door, anticipating the peaceful ride until he reached home, and along with it, his swamp moose of a wife, Jordan. He relished the thought of the silence within the car, not being able to wait for the chance to think, to take a break from his hectic life. He was just about to get into the vehicle when he felt a sharp tug on his shoulder. He spun, ready and willing to hand out some sharp words to the person that was interrupting his only moment of tranquility in his day. He was met with JD's large, doe eyes and his emotions immediately quelled. "What do you want?" he asked, exasperated.
JD smiled slightly, and took a step forward and pressed his lips firmly against Cox's. The older man went stiff, for only a moment. Suddenly, the ride didn't matter. Suddenly, Jordan didn't matter. Suddenly, the load of dying patients, the load of emotions from the interns, the load of stress resting in his shoulders and chest didn't matter. The only thing, the only feeling that mattered, was the soft sensation of his protégé's lips on his. The feeling was soft, feathery, almost non-existent. It wasn't enough for him.
Perry pulled JD against him and slammed himself against the car. A small, quiet whimper came from somewhere in JD's chest and it was the most glorious sound Perry had ever heard. Is this what he had needed all this time? Was it really that simple?
Before the kiss deepened, JD pulled away, immediately leaving Cox feeling desperately empty. JD grinned broadly. "So, um, would you like to join me for dinner?" Perry felt a deepened sense of relief.
"Absolutely." JD took the older man's hand and laid a gentle kiss on his cheek. Perry pushed him back slightly and JD looked concerned. "I am not riding that damn scooter though."
JD laughed and they embraced lovingly. They got into the car and pulled away, leaving an eerie sense of joy behind. Carla smiled as well, watching the scene from above on the roof.
All in a day's work.