Hey All! Thanks for the reviews; getting an e-mail with a review is one of my favorite things. I hope you like this chapter; it is setting up for something I think will be funny/cute. Also, I structured my character Michael Banner after the actor Richard Armitage (Just for looks). Look him up if you've never heard of him, he's gorgeous. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks & Enjoy!
It was late afternoon on Friday and Joan was surrounded by boxes of back files. She let out a long sigh, but couldn't completely suppress a smile as she listened to the receptionist and one of the nurses talk about the most pleasing physical attributes of Dr. Banner. It was true; he was tall with wavy, almost black hair and piercing blue eyes. He had a sharp nose and a strong jaw that was always covered with stubble. There was no woman who could ever deny that he was a total hunk.
As if he knew she was thinking about him, Michael Banner leaned into the room. "Joan," he said, startling her. "I have a Mrs. Ethel Jacobs in room 3. She's complaining chest and abdominal pain. I was wondering if I could get your opinion." Joan dropped the files onto a large stack and followed him through the hall. Before they entered the room, the doctor stopped to look down at her. "She's 72 and has a history of heart problems, including a bypass surgery five years ago. She's convinced she's having a heart attack, but all the blood tests we've done show her white blood cells to be fine." Joan nodded. "Has she had a urine test?" Instead of answering her, Banner just handed her a file and disappeared back down the hall. Joan was confused. Was she supposed to go in there by herself?
She was looking through the file, trying to get a sense of what he might think the problem was when he returned holding out a white lab coat and a stethoscope. Joan looked at him with shock on her face. "I can't…." "Of course you can." Dr. Banner interrupted. "She's an old woman who doesn't want to hear that she isn't having a heart attack. She doesn't believe me. I want you to figure out what's wrong with her and then convince her of it. If she thinks you're a doctor that would be helpful." Joan was trying to question this plan, but he was helping her with the coat, draping the stethoscope over her shoulders, and bundling her through the door. "Uhh…Good afternoon Mrs. Jacobs."
An hour later, Joan had ushered Ethel Jacobs into a cab headed for the hospital. Joan had also called to make an appointment for her with a surgeon friend. They had decided that it was probably the woman's appendix and she was to have a cat scan immediately. Dr. Banner smiled mischievously at her as they reentered the clinic. "What?" She asked nervously. "You enjoyed that. I could tell." He held open the door for her. "I'm just glad I could help." Joan smiled. "She was a very nice woman."
As they were all getting ready to leave, Joan went to his office to give him a quick update she had received regarding Mrs. Jacobs. "Dr. Banner," she said as she knocked and poked her head in the door. "Please, Joan, call me Michael. Everyone does, including some of the patients." He looked up from his paper work and smiled at her. "Is it time to go already?" Joan smiled, remembering how easy it was to get caught up in the details of some medical query or another. "I just wanted to tell you that my friend, Dr. Hall, said that Mrs. Jacobs is scheduled for surgery tonight. It was definitely her appendix." Michael nodded as he gathered his coat and bag. "I'm glad to hear it. She'll be fine after it's out."
They walked about a block together when he turned to her and asked. "Do you have plans you need to get to?" She looked puzzled, but answered truthfully. "I work with my housemate who is a consulting detective for the NYPD, but he hasn't called to say we've got a case, so I guess not." It was his turn to look surprised. "Wow! You are such an intriguing woman, Ms. Watson. Have coffee with me." He pointed across the street to a small café. Joan felt a little awkward. Was this a date or just colleagues getting to know one another? "Sure." She said.
It was nearly 9 when Joan finally got back to the brownstone. It had been a delightful evening. They had talked about medical school and residency; about the clinic and even a little about Sherlock and her time as a sober companion. Michael seemed to understand that she didn't want to talk about her career as a surgeon, how it had ended, or whether she would ever return to it. Joan was smiling and she knew she had to pull herself together if she wanted to avoid alerting Sherlock. Too late for that. As soon as she walked in the door, she heard him let out a loud huff. He was sitting in his armchair, looking extremely put out. "Where have you been? You get out of work at 6 and it takes only fifteen minutes to walk home." He was up, looking at her closely. Here it comes. She thought, but before she could say anything he started in. "Coffee and dinner…with someone no doubt….a man…handsome…hmmm…" Joan used his brief pause to jump in. "Yes, I went out with a coworker from the clinic. Did you need something? You didn't text me about a case." Sherlock looked annoyed. "No, I did not NEED you. I simply noted that you had broken routine and I was starting to wonder where you might be." She couldn't help but smile at him now. "You were worried about me."
"No." He started firmly, but she insisted. "That's very sweet of you Sherlock. I'll try to remember to let you know if I'm going out. I didn't realize you kept such a close eye on my comings and goings." She smiled wider, trying not to laugh at his obvious discomfort at being called out. He didn't like to admit that he had emotions or that he cared about anyone. It was nice to know that he did in fact care about her.
He looked ready to explode in a fit of discomfort, so she went over, laying a hand on his arm, she said. "Really. I do appreciate it." He tensed, then relaxed under her touch. They looked at each other for a moment before he nodded. "Yes, well…I'd better go sort out something for dinner. I was waiting for you." Sherlock disappeared into the kitchen and Joan couldn't help but let a small laugh escape.