"So what kinds of things does Claire like?" asked Lea.
"She likes to sing and she plays the guitar," answered Shaun.
"Well, maybe you can take her someplace that has an open mike night," Lea suggested.
"I don't like crowds," said Shaun.
"Okay, well, what else does she like?"
"She likes walks on the beach," said Shaun happily.
"Well, how about a picnic on the beach?" Lea suggested.
"No," Shaun adamantly shook his head, "It's too windy and I don't like the feeling of sand between my toes."
"How about the typical dinner date?" Lea finally answered.
"That would be nice," Shaun agreed.
Shaun arrived at work the next day, his first time back since he had been fired, and the first place he was to report was the Chief of Surgery's office. He had heard from Claire and Morgan that Dr. Lim had been offered and accepted the position and Shaun was happy about that fact. He liked Dr. Lim, she was very patient with him, she had always accepted him, and she was always willing to help him. He knew she would do a good job as Chief.
Shaun was one of the last to arrive as he took his place towards the front with Morgan, Park, and Claire. Claire smiled softly at him. Shaun had no idea whether she had told other people about their upcoming date, but right now, he had work to do. He listened to Lim go through some of the changes she would be implementing at the hospital, Dr. Melendez gazing at his girlfriend with pride, "Also, this next bit of information concerns primarily our third year residents, but will eventually affect everyone. Traditionally, you begin solo surgeries during your fourth year. That will be changing. The sooner you get in there, take the lead, the better off you are. So when the right surgery comes along, something simple, basic, it's yours."
Shaun noticed Morgan stand up straighter when Lim mentioned that, figuring she would be doing everything in her power to try to get the first lead surgery. Lim dismissed everyone and Claire and Shaun were assigned to Melendez for their next case, so they all first met with the patient in the emergency room before beginning tests to determine her diagnosis.
At lunchtime, Melendez excused himself to go meet with Lim somewhere, so Shaun took the opportunity to discuss the details of their date with Claire, "I will dress up and take you to a nice restaurant for dinner."
"What?" asked Claire, not understanding the context of Shaun's thought process at all.
"Our date," Shaun clarified, "It is proper social protocol to let your date know what you'll be doing with them. I will pick you up at your apartment at exactly 6:00 PM this Friday, I will take you to a nice restaurant, I will pay, we will talk about socially approved topics, and I will take you home."
"Oh," said Claire, "I'm sure whatever you plan will be nice."
"Lea has been helping me plan our date," Shaun stated.
"Well, then I'm sure whatever date you and Lea plan will be nice," Claire placated.
"One more thing Claire," Claire turned to face Shaun, "If we ever kiss, I don't want to kiss in the middle of the emergency room like Dr. Lim and Dr. Melendez."
Claire snickered a little, "Well, that is not an appropriate place to make out anyways."
"Make out?" asked Shaun in confusion.
"Kiss a really long time," said Claire.
"Oh," said Shaun, "Well, now I know I can ask Dr. Lim and Dr. Melendez if I ever need kissing advice. I will see you on Friday at 6 PM."
"Shaun," Claire tried to stop him, but he had already walked out of the cafeteria.
Shaun knocked on Lim's office door later that day and he heard her call him into the room. Shaun entered the room and Lim smiled at him, "Dr. Murphy."
"Dr. Lim," he greeted, "Congratulations on becoming Chief of Surgery. You will do a very good job."
"Thank you Shaun, that means a lot," said Lim gratefully, "Is there something I can help you with today?"
"What do you and Dr. Melendez talk about when you go on a date together?" asked Shaun bluntly.
"Um," Lim stuttered, trying to figure out appropriate topics to discuss with one of her residents, "Work, sports, the weather, future date ideas, Dr. Melendez will tell a really bad joke every once in a while," Shaun took an index card and a pen out of his lab coat pocket and began to write down Lim's suggestions, "Whoa, what are you doing Murphy?"
"Claire and I are going to go on a date on Friday. I don't know what to talk to her about," Shaun admitted.
Lim stood and closed the door that Shaun had left wide open. She went over to the couch in her office and gestured for Shaun to sit down next to her. Shaun did so and Lim said, "Murphy, you consider Dr. Browne a good friend, right?"
"Yes," Shaun nodded enthusiastically.
"And you feel comfortable talking to her every other time, right?" asked Lim.
"Usually," said Shaun.
"Then just pretend like it's one of your lunch breaks in the cafeteria. She likes you for you. Just be yourself and you'll be fine," said Lim.
"Were you nervous on your first official date with Dr. Melendez?" asked Shaun.
Lim stayed silent for a few moments before she sighed and said, "A little, but he made it easier for me by making it feel no different than when we would go out as friends. And I'm sure Claire will do the same for you."
Shaun stood and went to leave the room, but soon, he turned back and said, "Claire will do the same for me."