JD's POV
Can I just stay here forever? It's so comfortable and dark. It's not exactly warm… but there's something warm. Something…what is it? Hmm…my hand. Something warm on my hand...in my hand. Oh, it moved. It squeezed and moved. I think it's another hand. No, no, don't go! That felt nice. Oh, it's gone. I wonder whose hand it was. I'm so tired. Maybe I should just go back to sleep.
"Is he waking up? I think he's waking up."
Who's waking up? Me? But I don't want to wake up.
"Calm down. And don't crowd him."
"Oh, God. Ok…no crowding. I knew I should have gotten here earlier. I should have known that you would take something like this and throw it in his face. I heard what you said."
Wait – what? That's Dan…who is he talking to? What is he talking about?
"Excuse me?"
Dr. Cox. Oh no. No no no no. Why does he insist on pissing off my mentor?
"No, I will not excuse you, you heartless bastard."
Shit, no – abort!
"I knew you were a total ass, but this. This is BEYOND-"
Ok, definitely my cue to wake up. This is not going to end well. What the hell are they fighting about? Ok, you can do this, just open you eyes and say something. Anything.
"Who was holding my hand?"
Hm, ok…that could possibly work. At least they're not yelling at each other. Ah, woah – attention on me. A lot of attention on me. That's a little creepy. Oh, ok, guys. Remember what Dr. Cox said about space? Oh, good God.
The janitor is in here too, but he's sort of standing off to the side. Man he has a funny look on his face. Doesn't he have an intern to torture or a floor that needs to be mopped or something?
"Hey, little brother. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, um. Ok. So, I uh – I don't really remember….w-what's happening? I mean, did I pass out or something?"
I'm laughing nervously. I wish I could stop doing that. Ok, I feel a little funny just lying here when everyone else is standing around, so I think I should sit up.
"Oh, whoa there cowboy."
Dr. Cox just pushed me back down – gently. Weird. Why is he acting so…nice?
"Eep!"
Oh, Lordy. I just "eeped" at Dr. Cox because he reached out to check my pulse. I think I'm blushing now, and he's arching an eyebrow at me. Stupid embarrassment.
"Sorry."
"Shhh."
He keeps checking my vitals. This is so weird. I mean, I've had my vital signs checked before. You always practice that stuff on each other when you're learning how to do them. And then when I had my appendix removed, obviously people had to check my vitals. But for some reason I'm having a really hard time with it right now. Which means, my pulse is probably racing and it's going to throw it all off, but so far Dr. Cox hasn't said anything. In fact - it's waaayyy too quiet in here.
"Ok, Martha. Your vitals are normal. So, wanna tell me why you think you passed out, there?"
"How long was I out?"
"A minute tops."
Oh. Well, that doesn't seem terribly earth shattering. But, hm…ok, what do I tell him?
"Why do you think, Coxer?"
Oh, Dan. Don't do that. Why is he sounding so hostile?
"For your information, you beer guzzling waste of space, I-"
"Guys, stop!"
Hey, that worked. I have the power!
"I…I guess it's just from….well, I haven't had much to eat today, and I didn't get very much sleep, so….uh….stress maybe? Nothing out of the ordinary. I'll just go grab a muffin or something. I'll be fine."
I sit up, this time Dr. Cox lets me. Ok, a little dizzy there, but not bad. Nothing I can't push past.
"Tell me what you've eaten today."
I stop and look Dr. Cox in the eye - mistake. Man he looks serious. Is this is his doctor/patient face? I really want to make something up, but he looks like he can see right through me and I'm afraid that a lie would anger him and bring out the beast.
"Nothing."
"Tell me what you ate yesterday."
"Nothing."
Holy cow, his eyes are like a freakin' truth serum. He looks mad. I made him mad.
"Oookkk. Why don't you tell me when the last time was you did have anything to eat?"
Oh, ok…um….hm. Must have been…
"Uh…Monday at lunch?"
I said it as sheepishly as possibly as to not inflict the wrath of Dr. Cox onto myself.
"Newbie, that was 3 days ago. You're telling me you haven't had a bite of food in 3 days?"
I nod and stare down at my hands.
"In Gods' name – WHY NOT!"
He's yelling at me. I flinch like a little girl and sink back into the couch. Dan comes over to sit next to me. He's putting his arm around me. It's so stupid, I know it's him, but I can't stop flinching!
"Johnny. I'm so sorry. I should never have… I mean, I should have come right away. I should never have told you over the phone. That was...dumb. I've never been good at these things, ya know! I don't know why I told you to look-"
Ok, he is saying waaaay too much!
"Dan!" I shake my head at him slowly and subtly. I don't know what else to do! I don't want to make Dr. Cox or the janitor suspicious…although the janitor is probably already suspicious. Damn it…of all people…
Dan blinks at me for a moment before realization floods his face.
"Oh my God. No one?"
I know what he's asking, and I shake my head "no".
"Turk?"
No
"Elliot?"
No.
He sits back with a stunned look on his face. The shock slowly changes into awe and wonder, and then into sadness. I've made my brother sad. I didn't want to make him sad.
Finally he just nods.
"Johnny-"
He's struggling with what to say. I can't blame him. I'm struggling with how to be.
"Johnny…you…I" sigh "We'll talk later."
"Well, I'm glad that impressive display of verbal intercourse is over. You need to get something into your stomach, Sherry. Dan – go down to the cafeteria and bring back something for your idiot brother."
Well, that was uncalled for.
Dan looked pissed at Dr. Cox for ordering him around, but got up just the same and left the room. And now it's just me and Dr. Cox….wait. Where did the janitor go? Huh, I didn't see him leave. Oh, well. Dr. Cox is still crouched down in front of me. He looks stressed and irritated. Of course that's pretty much how he always looks, so I guess everything is pretty much normal.
"JD-"
Oh here we go. Lecture time.
"What on God's green earth possessed you to not eat for 3 days?"
I don't know what to say, yet. So instead I look at my hands and say nothing.
"Ok. You're a doctor, right?"
I'm pretty sure that's a rhetorical question.
"Did it ever occur to you that working 40 hours within a 3 day period, I'm guessing barely sleeping judging by those oh so attractive bags under your eyes, and only having coffee and scotch to eat or drink isn't the best way to stay healthy?"
Pause.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why haven't you been taking care of yourself? And please don't mistake this for genuine interest or God forbid caring. I'm simply asking because it's kind of my responsibility to make sure that my staff is alert and able to work. So, if you have some kind of girl problem that I wouldn't know anything about, like – your period, or your middle-aged internet boyfriend hasn't shown up for a chat since you sent him that full body nudie shot – you have to either: a) get the hell over it and re-join the land of the living or b) do us all a favor and go home and don't come back until you can get through a full work day without fainting."
Wow.
"JD fainted?"
Oh great. Elliot. That's all I need. Here comes the whole gang and now everyone is going to know that I fainted. I feel like such a weakling. But, at least it provided a nice diversion and I don't have to think of a response to Dr. Cox's tirade.
"What? You fainted?"
I smile sheepishly and stand up to greet Turk, Carla, and Elliot. My legs feel weak. I feel really unsteady on my feet right now. But, I've committed to standing so I think I'm stuck. Maybe if everyone else sits down, I can too. Ok, brace yourself. Here they come.
"Oh, honey. It's because you haven't been eating well, isn't it? We were just saying that we didn't think you had been eating enough lately."
"Hi, Carla. Yeah, I know. I already got the lecture from Dr. Cox." Who by the way stood up when they came in and is looking non-too-pleased at their presence.
Carla is feeling my forehead. I, of course, in my new/old "twitchy JD" fashion, flinched. I really wish I could cut that out. These are my friends! I trust them. I know them. And everyone is moving in - a little too close. I'm starting to panic, but I'm trying desperately to keep it under control. Smile for your adoring audience, JD.
Oh even Turk is doing it. He just hugged me. And right about now I really wish I were still sitting down because my knees are dangerously close to buckling. Ok, slow, steady breathes. Minimal eye contact, they might recognize panic. They can probably smell fear. Should I play dead?
"JD, honey, can I get you anything? Are you sick? What's wrong?"
Wow – ok. Too much worry, too close, too touchy. Elliot is currently pawing at me. I'm not a damned puppy! Ok, breathe…breathe. Carla is having her turn. Why do they keep touching me! My hair, my arms, my forehead, my hands…everything! Ok. I am really not feeling good. Not feeling good. Breathe breathe breathe.
"He looks pale."
"Yeah, he does."
"He doesn't feel like he has a fever, but he looks feverish don't you think?"
"JD, do you have a fever?"
I can't really answer that. I'm too busy trying not to scream at them to stop touching me and to get away from me. I keep slowly shuffling my feet away, but they keep following me. Oops, I've started brushing their hands away, and now that I'm actually doing something about it, it's making the panic worse.
It's like when something spooks you while you're walking down a dark hallway, the minute you actually start to act like something is really there – the minute you start walking fast or running – the fear gets bigger and bigger until you think your heart's going to explode. Yeah, that's what's happening here. The panic is building and building the more I try to get away.
"Oook, people! Give the girl some space!"
Dr. Cox to the rescue! Thank you thank you thank you.
I still don't feel very good. There are far too many things floating around in my head, and I am waay too overly stimulated. Case in point:
Turk: "Oh, sorry man. I can't believe you fainted. What was it like?"
Elliot: "Are you sick? I heard there was a nasty bug going around? Oh, frig – don't breathe on me."
Carla: "Bambi, can I get you anything? Soup or crackers or anything?"
Todd: "Hey! Whatz happenin' up in this mug! High five my man!"
Todd? When did he get here? And no I don't want to high five you. He just grabbed my hand and made me high five him. That was…strange. I feel ill. I think I should sit back down. Where's the couch? My head is swimming. Far too many questions have been asked, and somewhere in the back of my mind I think I still have yet to respond and react to Dr. Cox's little speech earlier.
Dr. Cox appears next to me and quickly leads me to the couch and plunks me down. Again, I silently thank him for knowing enough to find the couch for me. I'm realizing that I am exhausted and all I want to do is sleep. But before that can happen, Dan is back with a tray of food for me. He looks frazzled.
"Ok, little brother. I didn't know what you'd feel up to eating, so I brought kind of a variety. There's orange juice and ginger ale. Chicken soup…um…I don't know what that is, but it smelled good…soo…uh, a fruit cup, jelllloo…mmm…a muffin-"
"Oh! Is that almond poppy seed?"
Oh, Elliot, must you bring that up now?
"Hey, Elliot! Na, it's lemon. Love the hair today by the way – and those nails are killer."
"Dan-o! Slap a brother some skin."
Turk and Dan high five.
"Carla, lookin' smoking'. You guys still going strong?"
Dan points from Turk to Carla.
"You know it!" Turk puts one arm around Carla and gives Dan another high five with the other.
"Aww…that's a shame… Just kidding bro'! Work it!"
I am surrounded by idiots.
"Oh lemon poppy seed? JD, don't eat it. I will bring you an almond poppy seed muffin from that market I was telling you about. Oh my God, those things are to die for!"
And there it is. Just the trigger I needed to completely lose my appetite. I am currently staring at the food like it's going to hurt me. I look at my brother who is looking at me so hopefully and expectantly that I feel guilty for not wanting to eat what he brought.
"Thanks, Dan." I whisper and decide to have some ginger ale. Maybe it'll settle my stomach.
Dr. Cox cleared his throat and started for the door. Before he left the room, he turned around and pointed to me.
"You're off for the rest of the day. When's your next shift?"
"Day after tomorrow."
"Ok. I'll see you the day after tomorrow. Don't starve yourself, Princess. That God awful prom dress is really not worth it. Besides, I think Barbie bought one just like it."
It was silent for a minute until Dr. Cox poked his head in the doorway again and barked:
"Ok, kids. She's not going to get any prettier the longer you stare at her, so how's about you all get back to work, hm?"
No one moved for a second.
"NOW!"
There was a brief flurry of activity as Elliot, Carla, and Turk all bustled around, all saying or mouthing their goodbyes and fleeing the room.
Which now left Dan and I in an oddly quiet room.
"You're not going to eat that are you?"
I smiled weakly and shook my head.
"Didn't think so. Sorry, they didn't have much of a selection. Do you want the muffin?"
"No, thanks."
Dan shrugged, snatched it up and devoured it.
"Done and done. Let's get out of here. We need to talk, but first….I think you need to sleep. You look like shit."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
So, I feel I must apologize right here and now. This chapter didn't turn out as I had hoped...so...sorry for any disappointment
Thank you once again to all the reviewers - you are all...insane...in a good way
And to the reviewer who said they were inspired to write a Scrubs fanfic...please do! I would love to see more Srubs fanfic!
