Ego Tripping
Ben Warren grabbed two lattes from the cart, tipped the barista and headed toward the elevator. He couldn't believe what he was about to do. Stepping out onto the second floor, he walked down the hall reading the numbers on the wall. He was looking for 203. At the end of the hallway, he knocked on the door. "Come in," a voice said.
Smiling, Ben stepped inside of the small room. "Uh, are you Pierre?"
"That's me," the man said swiveling in his chair to face him, rubbing his head over his waves. "What can I do for you?"
"Uh, I brought you a latte," Ben told him putting the drink on the desk. "Someone told me what you like. Hazelnut with whipped cream."
Pierre eyed him. "You need something." He picked up the drink and sipped it. "It's good.
Ben chuckled a little. "I do. I need a huge favor and they tell me that you can help."
Gesturing to an empty chair, Pierre said: "Go on."
Ben thanked him and sat down. "I'll keep it brief. Uh, I'm an anesthesiologist and there is a surgeon that I really don't want to work with any longer. And I hear you can make that happen."
"I can." Ben nodded. "Whose service?"
"Miranda Bailey's."
"Dr. Bailey?" Pierre said pulling off his glasses. "Why don't you want to work with Dr. Bailey?"
Clearing his throat, he asked: "You know Bailey?"
"Everyone knows her," Pierre told him turning back to his computer. "She's great."
Damn it if he didn't know that. Miranda Bailey was downright amazing. And the love of his life. It didn't matter that they were broken up at the moment. He was still in love with her and prayed that one day they would be able to be together again. But for now, Ben had to give her the space she'd asked for. It hadn't made sense to him at first but seeing the brokenness of the victims of the hospital shooting, he'd finally gotten it. "Yeah, she is."
"So, why? If I can ask."
Ben gritted his teeth trying not to get annoyed. "We… dated."
"You broke it off or did she?"
"My dude, can you do it or not?"
"Of course, I can." Pierre turned to his computer. "What's your name?"
"Ben Warren."
The man clicked around. "Are you sure?"
A wave of hesitancy flowed over Ben. Being in the OR with Miranda was something he loved to do, but they'd had one surgery together since the shooting and it had been terrible. He had been unable to focus and tried, stupidly, to make small talk. She had mostly ignored him, giving her attention to her residents. Afterward, he tried to catch her, but she'd disappeared. That was the closest he'd been to her in weeks and it had been complete torture. Being the proactive person he was, he knew something had to be done or the awkwardness would always float above them when they worked together. "I guess. Yeah."
Pierre picked up a Post-It pad, wrote on it, peeled it off and slapped it on the wall in front of him. "So, why don't you want to be in her surgeries?"
"Do you have to know?"
"I don't have to, but if you want me to do it, you'll tell me." Ben started to get up. "Okay. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. That usually works."
Ben relaxed a little. This whole thing was embarrassing. He was literally bribing a man to keep him away from his ex-girlfriend. The opposite of what he really wanted to do. He wanted to be next to Miranda, in the hospital and out of it, but she didn't want anything to do with him. This was his only option. "Look, Pierre, I really appreciate this. I know I seem tense, but it's for good reason."
"I understand," Pierre reassured him. "You are not the first person to come down here hoping to stay away from a colleague or former lover." Ben's heart skipped. He hated that word: former. The idea that their relationship was gone or in the past. If he were being honest, he hoped that he and Miranda would fall in love again and, fingers crossed, pick up right where they left off. He hadn't told anyone, but he'd bought a ring a month ago, hoping to propose on what would be their 10-month anniversary. That ring was in the back of his drawer now, waiting. He'd had it made for her. Just for her. Miranda Bailey was the only woman he'd ever thought of marrying and actually sharing his life with. His heart warmed thinking of their short love story. "Warren? Dr. Warren!"
"Uh, yeah? Sorry. What'd you say?"
"My payment."
"Right." Ben pulled out his wallet and Pierre waved his hand.
"You bring me lattes and occasionally breakfast sandwiches and you got yourself a deal."
"That's it?"
Pierre put on his glasses and sipped some more of his drink. "Do you want me to charge you my regular rate?" Ben couldn't do anything but laugh. "I'm doing this because I like Dr. Bailey and you like Dr. Bailey," he said winking. "And you owe me a latte for tomorrow. You two had a surgery scheduled." Pierre tapped on his keyboard. "And now you don't."
"Thank you, Pierre," Ben said wondering if he'd be able to fix this arrangement later. Because, for some reason, he was sure that he and Miranda had a future. They couldn't be apart for too long. Instead of asking, he just stuck his hand out.
Pierre took it. "You're welcome, Dr. Warren. Now, kindly leave me alone and close the door behind you."
