"The Cruise"
A Chicago Hope/Friends story
by CitizenNancy
Friday
It was early in the afternoon on Friday as Dr. Aaron Shutt went around the hospital on
his daily rounds.Well they used to be his daily rounds, now they were Dr Lisa Cateras
rounds, he was really just following her. She needed a lot of consults lately. For a while
after his aneurysm the chief of staff of Chicago Hope changed his position. He was now a
psychiatrist while Dr. Catera took over Aarons old job as neurosurgeon. It'll be a long
time before he will be in surgical scrubs again. Aaron walked into a room for a consult
with Dr. Catera and leaned on the wall as she explained the patients situation and what
she needed help on. "This is gonna be a looonnnnng day." Aaron intoned in his head,
mostly blocking out what Dr. Catera was telling him. "I think your best bet is laproscopic
on the lateral nerve. You patch that up and Miss Tonya Harding will be back to skating
and whatever as soon as possible." Aaron said and left the room. Exiting the room he
nearly ran into Chief of Staff Phillip Watters.
"How are you feeling today Aaron." Phillip said poking him. "You look a little more
sleepy eyed than usual today. I hope this isn't affecting your consults with Lisa."
"This job makes a load of sense." Aaron said yawning. "I am now in the mental business
and yet I'm still making most of the decisions in the neurosurgery ward. Phillip, what is
the problem with this picture?"
"I think I know." Phillip said grabbing Aarons hand and pulled him to a stop. "Come with
me, I have something to show you."
"You know after Camille I decided to stop dating my colleagues." Aaron noted with that
famous dry wit of his.
"Just come on." Phillip chuckled. "Thats an order Shutt."
"Yes sir." Aaron said as he reluctantly followed.
Meanwhile in a city on the east coast....
Monica Geller gasped as she dropped another plate of food on the ground. She was
carrying a load of crayfish to be fried for the days daily special, Jumbalaya. And one of
the citys most respected restaurant critics was waiting for her outside, and he had
ordered the daily special.
"What am I gonna do?" Monica said as she hurriedly picked the stray fish up and
washed it up. She looked around. No one was watching so she pushed the freshly
cleaned crayfish into the fryer. She was satisfied with her job when one of her coworkers
walked behind her. She wasn't very popular as head chef with her new coworkers, she
replaced a well loved colleague a while ago.
"You dropped one." He said and walked by. She looked down and found she was
standing on one forgotten crayfish. She picked it up and threw it in the trash.
"I need a vacation." Monica sighed as she got ready to leave work for her late lunch
break.
Chicago
"Mandatory vacation?" Aaron almost yelled as Phillip brought him into his office.
"Take it easy Aaron." Phillips said calmly from his chair.
"Calm down?" Aaron said sitting down himself. "I'm just getting use to being a head
doctor and now I have to go on vacation. You know vacation is an alien word to me,
Phillip."
"Look at me!" Phillip pointed at himself. "When was the last time you saw me take a
break? I don't remember taking a break ever since I became Chief of Staff. And to tell
you the truth I was gonna make a try this weekend."
"Really?" Aaron asked leaning forward."What?"
"I won a ticket on a radio show this morning." Phillip said taking a envelope from his
upper desk drawer. "I was calling for information on traffic, little did I know I would be
the 97th caller on 97.3s Choose to Cruise contest." Phillip sat up. "I have a medical
convention this weekend so I cant take this trip. Seeing you on your consult rounds this
morning with Lisa made me think you needed a break."
"I'm not sure." Aaron said. "Last time I went anywhere remotely romantic was with
Camille and that was to the cheese chili dog wagon on 34th street."
"Aaron you have to take this trip. Your skills as a decision maker will be effected. You
don't go, it will be a matter of when something will go wrong." Phillip said his serious
tone returning.
"Can I think this over?" Aaron asked. "I left someone waiting for me in my office when I
went with Lisa."
"Sure. Try and let me know before the day is over. Otherwise I may offer this to Dr.
Wilkes, who is the second person most in need of a break."
"Okay, thanks."
"And Aaron." Phillip said as Aaron stopped at the door. "Be careful."
"You know if Dr, Nyland was here, he'd take the ticket in less than a New York
minute."
"Thats why I asked you." Phillip said with a grin as Aaron left the office.
New York
Monica yawned as she threw her coat on the coat rack near the door to the apartment
she shared with good friend Rachel Green. Rachel was sitting on the couch watching the
tv when she came in. She looked up from her tv watching and smiled.
"I'm so glad you're home Monica!" Rachel practically jumped out of her chair. "I have a
huge favor to ask you."
"Rachel I told you already that I'm not interested in Dave from accounting." Monica said
as she got a juice from the fridge.
"No no, its not about this." Rachel got her purse and grabbed an envelope from it and
plopped it on the table. "Get a look at that!"
Monica picked it up and looked on the outside."What is it."
"Its a ticket to a cruise!" Rachel said happily. "Alison in lingerie won it and found she
couldn't take the trip this weekend. Its been through a nice round of "pass the buck" till
Sophie gave it to me."
"Why doesn't she take the cruise?" Monica asked opening the envelope. She looked at
the ticket, turning it around in her hand. It was an all expense paid trip around Manhattan
island other smaller islands. It was a three day cruise.
"She's afraid of water, sun, boats, sea gulls. So shes basically out of the running. And I
thought of you." Rachel said smiling.
"So?"
"I'm not sure." Monica said.
"Not sure???" Rachel practically yelled. "Are you nuts? Its a free trip out in the fresh air,
fun and freedom too! And you need a vacation, cause if you don't take a break now you
may lose your job."
Monica put the ticket in the envelope and thought for a minute. "Okay." She said finally.
"Great!" Rachel said. "Come on, lets go to Bloomingdales before it closes!"
"Why?" Monica said a she let herself be pulled along by Rachel. "We need to get you a
new bathing suit. The less material the better!!!"
Chicago
Aaron sat his desk and drummed his fingers, a common thing he did when he was
thinking something over. He stopped as he realized the psychiatrist in him was about to
tell him why he drummed his fingers. Some Freudian thing. Finally he did the only thing
he could do, picked up the phone and hit the speed dial. There was only one person
who could help him make the decision of going on the cruise or not. He only hoped he
was home.
In a home very far away a dutiful foster father was helping his daughter get ready for a
afternoon nap. As the precocious child refused to wiggle into her nap gear the phone
rang. Dr. Jeffrey Geiger, world renowned heart surgeon stopped what he was doing and
hit the speaker phone next to his bed.
"It's your quarter."
"Hi Jeffrey." Aaron said twirling a pencil.
"Well hello there. You have got impeccable timing you know that?"
"I know, we gotta talk."
"I had a feeling you'd say that. Stop twirling that pencil, you'll poke an eye out." Jeffrey
picked up the phone. "Don't ask how I how I know that, I just do."
"Good." Aaron said abruptly putting down the pencil. "I have a proposal for you."
"I thought you decided not to date anymore of your coworkers after Camille."
"Very funny." Aaron said sitting up. "Say Phillip gave me a cruise ticket. It's in New
York. Why a Chicago radio station is giving away a cruise in New York I'll figure out
later."
"And what you want to do is figure out whether out if you want to go on this cruise or
give the ticket to a young buck like Dr. Billy Kronk."
"That's it." Aaron said. "On a totally separate note Kronk is now married and an
expectant father."
"I missed a lot. I have to come back and get on your nerves a lot more often." Geiger
said patting Alicia on the head. Jeffrey took over the care of Alicia after her foster father
Alan Birch, a beloved friend, was shot and killed in a failed robbery attempt. "You
should go Aaron, the only girl in my life is a three year old who wont take her nappy right
now. Do it. Get laid for the both of us."
"You really think so?" Aaron said smiling.
"Definitely. This is not just for you, its for me and any other man not getting any this
weekend. Go for it Aaron! You have the Jeffrey Geiger seal of semi-sane approval. And
thats worth more than you think." Jeffrey said.
"Okay, thanks buddy." Aaron said as he hung up. It was a slow day at Chicago Hope.
Kate Austin had gone gung-ho and taken two other peoples procedures that afternoon
so it wasn't your usual day. Since no one else needed mental help for that day Aaron
closed up shop. He stopped by Phillips office on the way out.
"Hey Phillip." Aaron stuck his head in the door. "I'll take them cruise tickets after all."
New York
Having a friend with a 50% percent discount at Bloomingdales was a mixed blessing
thought Monica as Rachel took her through the new bathing suit selections. Rachel
worked as a personal shopper at the famed store and was now happier than a pig in
mud to be shopping for her roommate, and for free too.
"Try this on." Became the mantra for the afternoon. Monica tried on suit after suit. One
was so thin it could have been fashionable dental floss. Monica also got a little bent out
of shape as the afternoon went on.
"Rachel, why do I need a suit, I don't even know if the boat has a pool yet." Monica
protested.
"You gotta be prepared." Rachel said. "Remember Girl Scouts?"
"We weren't in girl scouts." Monica said.
"Whatever. You have to expect the unexpected on this trip."
"Remember the last time someone went on a three hour tour?" Monica asked. "They got
stranded on an island."
"Well, unless your crew includes the skipper and Gilligan, I think you're pretty safe."
"Joy."
"Monica, you have to be open to lifes experiences. You could meet a guy, fall in love,
get married." Rachel said dreamily.
"All in three days?"
"Its been known to happen."
"Yea. On Days of Our Lives!" Monica said. She picked up a black two piece swimsuit.
"I'll take this." She went up to the counter to pay.
"She'll also take this." Rachel said grabbing a shear nightgown. Monica gave her a look
that would fry an egg. "Its for me and Joshua."
"Ok. Will you still have that when Joshua notices you?" Monica said as the skimpy piece
was stowed in a Bloomingdales bag.
"He'll notice me." Rachel said. "Well he will!"
Monica shook her head as she followed her friend out of the store.
Chicago
Aaron and Phillip stood on the top of the grand hospital and waited as the helicopter
they used to deliver organs descended on them. Aaron and Phillip backed up as the
helicopter landed.
"Isn't this a slight abuse of power?" Aaron yelled over the whirling helicopter blades.
"Yes, it is. But I'm doing it because I can and I don't want you to be late to you cruise
with destiny."
"Great." Aaron said as the copilot put his bags on board the helicopter. "What else is
gonna happen."
"You could meet the girl of your dreams." Phillip suggested as Aaron boarded the
helicopter.
"Gee, the chances of that are one in a billion."
"Don't cut yourself short Aaron. You'll never know whats gonna happen, anything is
possible." Phillip said as Aaron closed the door. Aaron strapped in to the back seat.
"Are you ready?" The pilot asked through the headphones Aaron now wore.
"Ready as I'll ever be." He said as the helicopter begun its ascent up into the sky and into
the great unknown.
New York "Cruise Day"
Monica slowly got out of her friend Phoebe Buffays Taxi cab-car as they arrived at the
harbor. She insisted on going down alone to meet the boat but all of her other friends
Chandler Bing, Joey Tribiani and her brother Ross and of course Rachel wanted to
come see her off.
The day was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky and it was reasonably warm outside. As
Monica got closer she saw the boat. Rachel had been knowledgeable on their shopping
excursion the day before, for there was in fact a small pool on board the ship. Not really
big but just noticeable to get a "I told you so" look from her friend.
"Oh Monica, we are like so jealous of you right now." Phoebe said holding a small
camera.
"You mean she gets to go on a ship and get sea sick?" Chandler said looking over the
ship. "Not my cup of tea."
"You know what I mean." Phoebe said. "Monica let me take a picture of you waving to
us from the ship."
"I'm not on the ship yet!" Monica said taking the camera. "I'm gonna need that Pheebs."
"Oh yeah."
Down the road a little....
Aaron was contending with a rude cabby. After trying everyway possible to give him
directions to dock forty nine Aaron got flustered and hopped out of the cab. He took his
bag with him.
"By the time that jerk learns English, the boat will be gone." Aaron said now rushing to
the harbor. The refueling stop for the helicopter took longer than Aaron was hoping for.
The pilot went on the town and managed to get himself drunk, so he couldn't fly. He had
to wait for both the pilot and the co-pilot to sober themselves up before they could go
anywhere. Finally Aaron reached the dock and almost ran into an attractive dark haired
lady who was taking a group picture in front of the ship.
Monica looked up as a taller older man nearly knocked her on the ground. Monica
slumped into Chandler to get out of the way.
"Where's your fire?" Rachel hollered. "Jerk."
"Ignore him." Joey said.
The steam whistle went off announcing that anyone who wanted to get on the boat had
better get there now or miss the cruise completely went off. Monica grabbed her bag.
"Well bye!" She said hugging everyone. Ross hugging her tightest of all.
"Hurry back Mon!" Ross said as Monica hurried up the gang plank of the boat. She
handed her ticket to the ticket taker and got on board the ship. The gang gathered at the
rail of the docks end as Monica stood near the rail on the ship. She waved.
"Bye!" Monica said as the ship started to leave. She kept on waving till her friends on the
dock were out of sight.
Later
Monica picked up her luggage and began to look for the little cabin she would have
during her trip. The ticket stun she held said it was room 12. There were 15 little cabins
on the ship. She thought for a minute she would have to share one with a complete
stranger. Then she remembered that she read in the pamphlet that came with the ticket
there were only 15 passengers so if anyone roomed together, it was totally at their own
discretion. Monica found her room next to someone who was now very familiar to her.
She threw her bag inside and turned to look at the man standing next to her. It was the
man who nearly knocked her down on the dock.
Aaron struggled with the lock to his cabin. He inserted the key and turned the knob over
and over again to no affect.
"Just like me to get a defective room." He thought as he jiggled the lock. "What next?"
He said as he leaned his head on the door and moaned. As he was enjoying his brooding
he got a sharp poke in the back. "Hey!" He heard. He turned around and looked. It was
the woman who he had almost knocked down on the way to the ship. The frenzied
panic, oh yeah, he remembered that most of all. Who was he to be late to the cruise
from hell?
"I know you." Aaron said as the dark haired lady glared at him with ice picks in her eyes.
"We dated once didn't we?" He said at a failed attempt to lighten the mood. It always
worked for Jeffrey.
"No, we didnt." She extended her hand. "I'm Monica Geller, you almost plowed into me
on the dock!"
"I'm sorry. I thought I was gonna be late for the boat." Aaron took her hand. "Dr. Aaron
Shutt. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too Aaron." Monica said smiling slightly. He WAS good looking.
What am I thinking? I'm mad at him! "Wait a minute. I'm mad at you so its not nice to
meet you."
"Well suit yourself." Aaron said. "Be angry all you want but remember I apologized. I am
on the floor begging for mercy at your feet." Aaron said dryly.
"Are you trying to be funny?"
"No." Aaron said. "I'm a shrink, we're not supposed to be funny or even remotely
interesting."
Monica again caught herself from laughing. He was funny. Is this what Chandler would
turn out to be in a few years? "Well, I gotta go." Monica said. "I would say it was
interesting, but it wasn't." She went in her room and shut the door loudly. It opened crack
and she shut it again.
"That went well." Aaron said as he went into his own room.
An hour later
Monica stood outside near the rail on the boat. She watched the Statue of Liberty float
by. She took a sip of the soda she had brought aboard with her. She discovered the six
pack of soda had been snack into her bag after her argument with Aaron Shutt. What a
jerk! She had thought when she had found the secret stash. It was accompanied by a
note from Rachel.
"Just in case you need something to drink besides water and more water." Monica had
chuckled at the note, she was always there for her. Monica finished the can and stood at
the rail staring off into the distance. She thought she was thought she was alone when she
heard foot steps behind her. She turned and looked.
"You!" Monica said as Aaron came closer to her. "What do you want."
"I suppose another apology is out of the question." Aaron said as he leaned on the rail.
"Nice night."
"I guess." Monica thought for a minute. "Can we start over?"
"Hmm?" Aaron muttered.
"We should start over. Pretend the dock incident didn't happen." Monica extending her
hand. "I'm Monica."
Aaron smiled as he took her hand. It was small and very soft. Not like Camilles who
was constantly rough from scrubbing and rescrubbing for surgery every day. "I'm
Aaron." He let go of her hand. "So tell me about yourself."
"Me?" Monica said blushing.
"Well if we are gonna start with a clean slate I might as well know a little bit about you.
It's only fair."
"Right. Okay." Monica said walking around. Aaron followed."I'm a chef. I work in a
restaurant downtown. I needed the break, if I make an mistakes I may lose another job."
"I know how you feel." Aaron said.
"Have you ever been there?"
"I'm not from around here." Aaron and Monica walked around the corner on the boat.
"I'm actually from Chicago. I was a neurosurgeon until I had an aneurysm recently."
"Oh my." Monica said with sudden concern.
"Yeah."
"But you're all right now."
"Yeah, but until I can be allowed into another persons brain I am a shrink, so I'm
messing with peoples minds either way. This ways less messy and less call for scrubbing
up before I talk to someone about their mother."
"I live with my best friend Rachel." Monica said "She's the one who gave me the ticket
for this cruise."
"I was married for a long time, but not anymore." Aaron noted. Monicas eyebrows rose
as he mentioned the divorce. "My boss gave me the ticket. I guess I also need a break
from my work. When you're a doctor breaks don't happen very often."
"Ah." Monica said. A horn went off signaling that dinner would be soon.
"So, you gonna go eat?" Aaron said as most people went back to their cabins to freshen
up."
"Maybe." Monica said. "I am kinda hungry."
"Since we are on such good terms with our nice clean slate I was hoping...well maybe if
think its too forward...I mean."
Monica had to laugh at his stuttering. "You want me to me eat dinner with you?"
"Yes." Aaron said, making sure to note the stuttering as either a side affect of the
aneurysm or maybe it happened because of her.
"I would love to." Monica said as she went to her cabin. "I'll see you in five minutes. You
do know where my cabin is right?"
"Sure." Aaron smiled.
"Okay. I'll see you then."
Aaron watched Monica walk away. He soon followed her himself. "Aaron do you know
what you're getting into?" He asked himself as he went into his own cabin. He didn't
know what to tell himself.
A few minutes later
Monica emerged from her room in a nice dress. She had no idea what the dinner on
board the boat would be like so she picked a nice neutral dress. Not too formal but
nothing she would be caught dead in McDonalds wearing. As she exited her room
Aaron waited for her with a nice gray suit and tie on.
"You look very nice." She said to Aaron. She meant it. The suit seemed very expensive
but she remembered he was a doctor. It could be Armani for all she known.
"Thank you, this is a old suit that a friend borrowed to me once and he never got it back.
I like it too much." Aaron said as he paused to drink in Monica. "You look beautiful." He
exhaled.
"Oh, this old thing?" Monica shrugged the compliment off.
"Yeah, I think you look very nice." Aaron said as he extended his arm.
"Lets go to dinner." Monica said as he took his arm.
The dinner was as formal as could be expected on a small cruise like they were on.
Aaron and Monica ended up on dining on hot dogs and fries near one of the rails. After
they finished they walked around a bit as they took in the sights. Monica stood at the rail
and leaned on it.
"This is such a wonderful night." Monica said as she looked at the sky above. "Its so
perfect."
"It is." Aaron replied. Ever since dinner Aaron could not keep his eyes off the dark
haired creature in front of him. This was the same woman who not less than 24 hours
earlier hated the very sight of him. Now they were sharing a sunset together.
Someone had turned on a radio and it was playing a slow song. The music had caught
Monicas attention and now she looked at the person who had started the music. She
then turned to Aaron. It wasn't till then she realized he had been staring. He didn't know it
either till the moment their eyes met.
"Would you like to dance?" Aaron said nervously, tensing up a little inside to prepare
himself in case she said no.
"Sure." Monica said smiling.
"You don't have to if you don't want to..."
"Aaron, I said yes."
"Oh." Aaron said. He hesitantly took her hand. They walked out a bit from the rail and
they started to slow dance. They slowly moved together not taking each others eyes off
one another. Monica eventually grew comfortable with the movement, the ship was still
moving when they had decided to dance. She leaned her head up against Aarons chest
and sighed. She stayed that way till the music stopped. Aaron reached down and lifted
her chin up with his forefinger. She looked into his eyes. He leaned down and kissed her
on the lips. Monica was surprised by the sudden action and found she liked it. They
were in that position for a minute before she abruptly broke it off.
"I..I...I can't do this!" Monica said as she tore herself from Aaron.
"Whats wrong?" Aaron asked very concerned.
"I wouldn't be good for you Aaron." Monica said. "The last guy I dated became a
wrestler, and the man before that was older than me and was a doctor too. Just like
you." Monica said tearing up."I don't know if I can take that much heartbreak in such a
small period of time!" Monica said as she turned to go to her cabin.
"Monica!" Aaron said loudly.
"I can't do this Aaron!" Monica said sobbing. "I don't want to hurt you but I don't want
to go through this again. I'm sorry!" Monica said and started to run the last couple of feet
to her room. She went in and locked it.
"Monica!" Aaron yelled again. He was left all alone on the deck, not knowing what had
just gone on.
After leaving Aaron on the deck Monica stayed in her room for a while. She lied down on
her bed for a while and stared at the ceiling. She felt really bad for leaving him out there
like that.
"I shouldn't let my past love life ruin something nice that Aaron and I might have." She said
to herself as fell asleep that night. The next morning was a very rainy and very foggy so
most of the ships passengers and crew stayed in their cabins for most of the day.
Monica woke up and looked out the window. As the gray sky greeted her she couldn't
help but feel a little hungry. She hadnt eaten anything since she went to bed last night.
Monica got dressed and got ready to go to the cafeteria to see if they had anything left
over from the dinner last night. She threw on a turtle neck sweater and jeans, then
headed out to meet the dreary but new day.
It was kismet. Monica and Aaron left their rooms at the same time. This little quirk didn't
go unnoticed. Aaron swung his head over in Monicas direction at the same time she
looked his way. Their eyes met. Monica flushed and lowered her eyes. He rubbed his
neck with the palm of his hand. After the way she had treated him last night, he still had
that same affect on her. She smiled.
"Nice day." She said.
"Well, its okay." Aaron said looking around. "In Chicago this weather is almost normal.
At the hospital the newborns are given umbrellas not pacifiers."
Monica laughed. "I have to get you to meet my friend Chandler sometime. He has the
same view on life, hes very funny." Monica stopped laughing. Why did she bring up
Chandler?
"Monica we have to talk." Aaron said walking her way. Monica stood and waited till
they were face to face before she started to speak.
"What's there to talk about. The weathers cruddy, I don't watch sports a lot and I know
nada about medical stuff." Monica said strolling. She hadn't been watching where she
was going. Monica soon realized she had stolled right into the downpour. She wiped
some of wet hair out of her eyes. Aaron took off his overcoat and came over to her
spot. He held it over their heads,which was easy since he was taller than her.
"We have to talk about us, about what you said last night." Aaron said once Monica was
sufficiently covered.
"I don't know what that was about." Monica said. "I guess I must have freaked out."
"Maybe you've been through so many cruddy relationships you're afraid to get into a new
one?"
"Maybe..." Monica cocked her eyebrow at him. "Are you analyzing me?"
"No, no." Aaron shook his head. "Well yes, but I'm a psychiatrist now."
"Well you certainly fit the role." Monica agreed. "But you're right. I didn't expect to meet
a guy like you here." Monica looked around. "Can we get out of this rain? I'm starting to
feel a little ridiculous. And people are gonna start looking."
"Ok." Aaron said guiding her under the roof of the hallway to the cabins. "Is that better?
No one would have looked but we would have put on a good show for the seagulls."
"Aaron. Do you think we have a chance? After all you live in Chicago and I live here."
"I dunno." Aaron said hugging Monica. "It's worth a try."
"I gotta go get something dry on." Monica said. She started toward her room. Aaron
stood there and watched her go. He sighed and looked at his watch. Monica stood
outside the door. "Are you coming? I'm only gonna wait so long." Monica said with a
smile. Aaron did a mild jog toward the room. He stopped by the door and looked at
her. They continued to gaze at each other as the door closed.
The rain eventually stopped. Aaron and Monica stayed the next day with each other
looking at sights and other things. The day they returned was the hardest day of all.
Monica and Aaron walked down the gangplank together. Monica stopped and looked
at him.
"So what happens now?"
"I think my boss won't mind if I stay an extra week in New York." Aaron said as they
started walking again. "He's been trying to get my to take a vacation for so long, I don't
think he'll complain."
"Thats good." Monica said. "It's a nice day to start an extended vacation."
They walked off the boat holding hands, off into a day with new possibilities.
A Chicago Hope/Friends story
by CitizenNancy
Friday
It was early in the afternoon on Friday as Dr. Aaron Shutt went around the hospital on
his daily rounds.Well they used to be his daily rounds, now they were Dr Lisa Cateras
rounds, he was really just following her. She needed a lot of consults lately. For a while
after his aneurysm the chief of staff of Chicago Hope changed his position. He was now a
psychiatrist while Dr. Catera took over Aarons old job as neurosurgeon. It'll be a long
time before he will be in surgical scrubs again. Aaron walked into a room for a consult
with Dr. Catera and leaned on the wall as she explained the patients situation and what
she needed help on. "This is gonna be a looonnnnng day." Aaron intoned in his head,
mostly blocking out what Dr. Catera was telling him. "I think your best bet is laproscopic
on the lateral nerve. You patch that up and Miss Tonya Harding will be back to skating
and whatever as soon as possible." Aaron said and left the room. Exiting the room he
nearly ran into Chief of Staff Phillip Watters.
"How are you feeling today Aaron." Phillip said poking him. "You look a little more
sleepy eyed than usual today. I hope this isn't affecting your consults with Lisa."
"This job makes a load of sense." Aaron said yawning. "I am now in the mental business
and yet I'm still making most of the decisions in the neurosurgery ward. Phillip, what is
the problem with this picture?"
"I think I know." Phillip said grabbing Aarons hand and pulled him to a stop. "Come with
me, I have something to show you."
"You know after Camille I decided to stop dating my colleagues." Aaron noted with that
famous dry wit of his.
"Just come on." Phillip chuckled. "Thats an order Shutt."
"Yes sir." Aaron said as he reluctantly followed.
Meanwhile in a city on the east coast....
Monica Geller gasped as she dropped another plate of food on the ground. She was
carrying a load of crayfish to be fried for the days daily special, Jumbalaya. And one of
the citys most respected restaurant critics was waiting for her outside, and he had
ordered the daily special.
"What am I gonna do?" Monica said as she hurriedly picked the stray fish up and
washed it up. She looked around. No one was watching so she pushed the freshly
cleaned crayfish into the fryer. She was satisfied with her job when one of her coworkers
walked behind her. She wasn't very popular as head chef with her new coworkers, she
replaced a well loved colleague a while ago.
"You dropped one." He said and walked by. She looked down and found she was
standing on one forgotten crayfish. She picked it up and threw it in the trash.
"I need a vacation." Monica sighed as she got ready to leave work for her late lunch
break.
Chicago
"Mandatory vacation?" Aaron almost yelled as Phillip brought him into his office.
"Take it easy Aaron." Phillips said calmly from his chair.
"Calm down?" Aaron said sitting down himself. "I'm just getting use to being a head
doctor and now I have to go on vacation. You know vacation is an alien word to me,
Phillip."
"Look at me!" Phillip pointed at himself. "When was the last time you saw me take a
break? I don't remember taking a break ever since I became Chief of Staff. And to tell
you the truth I was gonna make a try this weekend."
"Really?" Aaron asked leaning forward."What?"
"I won a ticket on a radio show this morning." Phillip said taking a envelope from his
upper desk drawer. "I was calling for information on traffic, little did I know I would be
the 97th caller on 97.3s Choose to Cruise contest." Phillip sat up. "I have a medical
convention this weekend so I cant take this trip. Seeing you on your consult rounds this
morning with Lisa made me think you needed a break."
"I'm not sure." Aaron said. "Last time I went anywhere remotely romantic was with
Camille and that was to the cheese chili dog wagon on 34th street."
"Aaron you have to take this trip. Your skills as a decision maker will be effected. You
don't go, it will be a matter of when something will go wrong." Phillip said his serious
tone returning.
"Can I think this over?" Aaron asked. "I left someone waiting for me in my office when I
went with Lisa."
"Sure. Try and let me know before the day is over. Otherwise I may offer this to Dr.
Wilkes, who is the second person most in need of a break."
"Okay, thanks."
"And Aaron." Phillip said as Aaron stopped at the door. "Be careful."
"You know if Dr, Nyland was here, he'd take the ticket in less than a New York
minute."
"Thats why I asked you." Phillip said with a grin as Aaron left the office.
New York
Monica yawned as she threw her coat on the coat rack near the door to the apartment
she shared with good friend Rachel Green. Rachel was sitting on the couch watching the
tv when she came in. She looked up from her tv watching and smiled.
"I'm so glad you're home Monica!" Rachel practically jumped out of her chair. "I have a
huge favor to ask you."
"Rachel I told you already that I'm not interested in Dave from accounting." Monica said
as she got a juice from the fridge.
"No no, its not about this." Rachel got her purse and grabbed an envelope from it and
plopped it on the table. "Get a look at that!"
Monica picked it up and looked on the outside."What is it."
"Its a ticket to a cruise!" Rachel said happily. "Alison in lingerie won it and found she
couldn't take the trip this weekend. Its been through a nice round of "pass the buck" till
Sophie gave it to me."
"Why doesn't she take the cruise?" Monica asked opening the envelope. She looked at
the ticket, turning it around in her hand. It was an all expense paid trip around Manhattan
island other smaller islands. It was a three day cruise.
"She's afraid of water, sun, boats, sea gulls. So shes basically out of the running. And I
thought of you." Rachel said smiling.
"So?"
"I'm not sure." Monica said.
"Not sure???" Rachel practically yelled. "Are you nuts? Its a free trip out in the fresh air,
fun and freedom too! And you need a vacation, cause if you don't take a break now you
may lose your job."
Monica put the ticket in the envelope and thought for a minute. "Okay." She said finally.
"Great!" Rachel said. "Come on, lets go to Bloomingdales before it closes!"
"Why?" Monica said a she let herself be pulled along by Rachel. "We need to get you a
new bathing suit. The less material the better!!!"
Chicago
Aaron sat his desk and drummed his fingers, a common thing he did when he was
thinking something over. He stopped as he realized the psychiatrist in him was about to
tell him why he drummed his fingers. Some Freudian thing. Finally he did the only thing
he could do, picked up the phone and hit the speed dial. There was only one person
who could help him make the decision of going on the cruise or not. He only hoped he
was home.
In a home very far away a dutiful foster father was helping his daughter get ready for a
afternoon nap. As the precocious child refused to wiggle into her nap gear the phone
rang. Dr. Jeffrey Geiger, world renowned heart surgeon stopped what he was doing and
hit the speaker phone next to his bed.
"It's your quarter."
"Hi Jeffrey." Aaron said twirling a pencil.
"Well hello there. You have got impeccable timing you know that?"
"I know, we gotta talk."
"I had a feeling you'd say that. Stop twirling that pencil, you'll poke an eye out." Jeffrey
picked up the phone. "Don't ask how I how I know that, I just do."
"Good." Aaron said abruptly putting down the pencil. "I have a proposal for you."
"I thought you decided not to date anymore of your coworkers after Camille."
"Very funny." Aaron said sitting up. "Say Phillip gave me a cruise ticket. It's in New
York. Why a Chicago radio station is giving away a cruise in New York I'll figure out
later."
"And what you want to do is figure out whether out if you want to go on this cruise or
give the ticket to a young buck like Dr. Billy Kronk."
"That's it." Aaron said. "On a totally separate note Kronk is now married and an
expectant father."
"I missed a lot. I have to come back and get on your nerves a lot more often." Geiger
said patting Alicia on the head. Jeffrey took over the care of Alicia after her foster father
Alan Birch, a beloved friend, was shot and killed in a failed robbery attempt. "You
should go Aaron, the only girl in my life is a three year old who wont take her nappy right
now. Do it. Get laid for the both of us."
"You really think so?" Aaron said smiling.
"Definitely. This is not just for you, its for me and any other man not getting any this
weekend. Go for it Aaron! You have the Jeffrey Geiger seal of semi-sane approval. And
thats worth more than you think." Jeffrey said.
"Okay, thanks buddy." Aaron said as he hung up. It was a slow day at Chicago Hope.
Kate Austin had gone gung-ho and taken two other peoples procedures that afternoon
so it wasn't your usual day. Since no one else needed mental help for that day Aaron
closed up shop. He stopped by Phillips office on the way out.
"Hey Phillip." Aaron stuck his head in the door. "I'll take them cruise tickets after all."
New York
Having a friend with a 50% percent discount at Bloomingdales was a mixed blessing
thought Monica as Rachel took her through the new bathing suit selections. Rachel
worked as a personal shopper at the famed store and was now happier than a pig in
mud to be shopping for her roommate, and for free too.
"Try this on." Became the mantra for the afternoon. Monica tried on suit after suit. One
was so thin it could have been fashionable dental floss. Monica also got a little bent out
of shape as the afternoon went on.
"Rachel, why do I need a suit, I don't even know if the boat has a pool yet." Monica
protested.
"You gotta be prepared." Rachel said. "Remember Girl Scouts?"
"We weren't in girl scouts." Monica said.
"Whatever. You have to expect the unexpected on this trip."
"Remember the last time someone went on a three hour tour?" Monica asked. "They got
stranded on an island."
"Well, unless your crew includes the skipper and Gilligan, I think you're pretty safe."
"Joy."
"Monica, you have to be open to lifes experiences. You could meet a guy, fall in love,
get married." Rachel said dreamily.
"All in three days?"
"Its been known to happen."
"Yea. On Days of Our Lives!" Monica said. She picked up a black two piece swimsuit.
"I'll take this." She went up to the counter to pay.
"She'll also take this." Rachel said grabbing a shear nightgown. Monica gave her a look
that would fry an egg. "Its for me and Joshua."
"Ok. Will you still have that when Joshua notices you?" Monica said as the skimpy piece
was stowed in a Bloomingdales bag.
"He'll notice me." Rachel said. "Well he will!"
Monica shook her head as she followed her friend out of the store.
Chicago
Aaron and Phillip stood on the top of the grand hospital and waited as the helicopter
they used to deliver organs descended on them. Aaron and Phillip backed up as the
helicopter landed.
"Isn't this a slight abuse of power?" Aaron yelled over the whirling helicopter blades.
"Yes, it is. But I'm doing it because I can and I don't want you to be late to you cruise
with destiny."
"Great." Aaron said as the copilot put his bags on board the helicopter. "What else is
gonna happen."
"You could meet the girl of your dreams." Phillip suggested as Aaron boarded the
helicopter.
"Gee, the chances of that are one in a billion."
"Don't cut yourself short Aaron. You'll never know whats gonna happen, anything is
possible." Phillip said as Aaron closed the door. Aaron strapped in to the back seat.
"Are you ready?" The pilot asked through the headphones Aaron now wore.
"Ready as I'll ever be." He said as the helicopter begun its ascent up into the sky and into
the great unknown.
New York "Cruise Day"
Monica slowly got out of her friend Phoebe Buffays Taxi cab-car as they arrived at the
harbor. She insisted on going down alone to meet the boat but all of her other friends
Chandler Bing, Joey Tribiani and her brother Ross and of course Rachel wanted to
come see her off.
The day was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky and it was reasonably warm outside. As
Monica got closer she saw the boat. Rachel had been knowledgeable on their shopping
excursion the day before, for there was in fact a small pool on board the ship. Not really
big but just noticeable to get a "I told you so" look from her friend.
"Oh Monica, we are like so jealous of you right now." Phoebe said holding a small
camera.
"You mean she gets to go on a ship and get sea sick?" Chandler said looking over the
ship. "Not my cup of tea."
"You know what I mean." Phoebe said. "Monica let me take a picture of you waving to
us from the ship."
"I'm not on the ship yet!" Monica said taking the camera. "I'm gonna need that Pheebs."
"Oh yeah."
Down the road a little....
Aaron was contending with a rude cabby. After trying everyway possible to give him
directions to dock forty nine Aaron got flustered and hopped out of the cab. He took his
bag with him.
"By the time that jerk learns English, the boat will be gone." Aaron said now rushing to
the harbor. The refueling stop for the helicopter took longer than Aaron was hoping for.
The pilot went on the town and managed to get himself drunk, so he couldn't fly. He had
to wait for both the pilot and the co-pilot to sober themselves up before they could go
anywhere. Finally Aaron reached the dock and almost ran into an attractive dark haired
lady who was taking a group picture in front of the ship.
Monica looked up as a taller older man nearly knocked her on the ground. Monica
slumped into Chandler to get out of the way.
"Where's your fire?" Rachel hollered. "Jerk."
"Ignore him." Joey said.
The steam whistle went off announcing that anyone who wanted to get on the boat had
better get there now or miss the cruise completely went off. Monica grabbed her bag.
"Well bye!" She said hugging everyone. Ross hugging her tightest of all.
"Hurry back Mon!" Ross said as Monica hurried up the gang plank of the boat. She
handed her ticket to the ticket taker and got on board the ship. The gang gathered at the
rail of the docks end as Monica stood near the rail on the ship. She waved.
"Bye!" Monica said as the ship started to leave. She kept on waving till her friends on the
dock were out of sight.
Later
Monica picked up her luggage and began to look for the little cabin she would have
during her trip. The ticket stun she held said it was room 12. There were 15 little cabins
on the ship. She thought for a minute she would have to share one with a complete
stranger. Then she remembered that she read in the pamphlet that came with the ticket
there were only 15 passengers so if anyone roomed together, it was totally at their own
discretion. Monica found her room next to someone who was now very familiar to her.
She threw her bag inside and turned to look at the man standing next to her. It was the
man who nearly knocked her down on the dock.
Aaron struggled with the lock to his cabin. He inserted the key and turned the knob over
and over again to no affect.
"Just like me to get a defective room." He thought as he jiggled the lock. "What next?"
He said as he leaned his head on the door and moaned. As he was enjoying his brooding
he got a sharp poke in the back. "Hey!" He heard. He turned around and looked. It was
the woman who he had almost knocked down on the way to the ship. The frenzied
panic, oh yeah, he remembered that most of all. Who was he to be late to the cruise
from hell?
"I know you." Aaron said as the dark haired lady glared at him with ice picks in her eyes.
"We dated once didn't we?" He said at a failed attempt to lighten the mood. It always
worked for Jeffrey.
"No, we didnt." She extended her hand. "I'm Monica Geller, you almost plowed into me
on the dock!"
"I'm sorry. I thought I was gonna be late for the boat." Aaron took her hand. "Dr. Aaron
Shutt. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too Aaron." Monica said smiling slightly. He WAS good looking.
What am I thinking? I'm mad at him! "Wait a minute. I'm mad at you so its not nice to
meet you."
"Well suit yourself." Aaron said. "Be angry all you want but remember I apologized. I am
on the floor begging for mercy at your feet." Aaron said dryly.
"Are you trying to be funny?"
"No." Aaron said. "I'm a shrink, we're not supposed to be funny or even remotely
interesting."
Monica again caught herself from laughing. He was funny. Is this what Chandler would
turn out to be in a few years? "Well, I gotta go." Monica said. "I would say it was
interesting, but it wasn't." She went in her room and shut the door loudly. It opened crack
and she shut it again.
"That went well." Aaron said as he went into his own room.
An hour later
Monica stood outside near the rail on the boat. She watched the Statue of Liberty float
by. She took a sip of the soda she had brought aboard with her. She discovered the six
pack of soda had been snack into her bag after her argument with Aaron Shutt. What a
jerk! She had thought when she had found the secret stash. It was accompanied by a
note from Rachel.
"Just in case you need something to drink besides water and more water." Monica had
chuckled at the note, she was always there for her. Monica finished the can and stood at
the rail staring off into the distance. She thought she was thought she was alone when she
heard foot steps behind her. She turned and looked.
"You!" Monica said as Aaron came closer to her. "What do you want."
"I suppose another apology is out of the question." Aaron said as he leaned on the rail.
"Nice night."
"I guess." Monica thought for a minute. "Can we start over?"
"Hmm?" Aaron muttered.
"We should start over. Pretend the dock incident didn't happen." Monica extending her
hand. "I'm Monica."
Aaron smiled as he took her hand. It was small and very soft. Not like Camilles who
was constantly rough from scrubbing and rescrubbing for surgery every day. "I'm
Aaron." He let go of her hand. "So tell me about yourself."
"Me?" Monica said blushing.
"Well if we are gonna start with a clean slate I might as well know a little bit about you.
It's only fair."
"Right. Okay." Monica said walking around. Aaron followed."I'm a chef. I work in a
restaurant downtown. I needed the break, if I make an mistakes I may lose another job."
"I know how you feel." Aaron said.
"Have you ever been there?"
"I'm not from around here." Aaron and Monica walked around the corner on the boat.
"I'm actually from Chicago. I was a neurosurgeon until I had an aneurysm recently."
"Oh my." Monica said with sudden concern.
"Yeah."
"But you're all right now."
"Yeah, but until I can be allowed into another persons brain I am a shrink, so I'm
messing with peoples minds either way. This ways less messy and less call for scrubbing
up before I talk to someone about their mother."
"I live with my best friend Rachel." Monica said "She's the one who gave me the ticket
for this cruise."
"I was married for a long time, but not anymore." Aaron noted. Monicas eyebrows rose
as he mentioned the divorce. "My boss gave me the ticket. I guess I also need a break
from my work. When you're a doctor breaks don't happen very often."
"Ah." Monica said. A horn went off signaling that dinner would be soon.
"So, you gonna go eat?" Aaron said as most people went back to their cabins to freshen
up."
"Maybe." Monica said. "I am kinda hungry."
"Since we are on such good terms with our nice clean slate I was hoping...well maybe if
think its too forward...I mean."
Monica had to laugh at his stuttering. "You want me to me eat dinner with you?"
"Yes." Aaron said, making sure to note the stuttering as either a side affect of the
aneurysm or maybe it happened because of her.
"I would love to." Monica said as she went to her cabin. "I'll see you in five minutes. You
do know where my cabin is right?"
"Sure." Aaron smiled.
"Okay. I'll see you then."
Aaron watched Monica walk away. He soon followed her himself. "Aaron do you know
what you're getting into?" He asked himself as he went into his own cabin. He didn't
know what to tell himself.
A few minutes later
Monica emerged from her room in a nice dress. She had no idea what the dinner on
board the boat would be like so she picked a nice neutral dress. Not too formal but
nothing she would be caught dead in McDonalds wearing. As she exited her room
Aaron waited for her with a nice gray suit and tie on.
"You look very nice." She said to Aaron. She meant it. The suit seemed very expensive
but she remembered he was a doctor. It could be Armani for all she known.
"Thank you, this is a old suit that a friend borrowed to me once and he never got it back.
I like it too much." Aaron said as he paused to drink in Monica. "You look beautiful." He
exhaled.
"Oh, this old thing?" Monica shrugged the compliment off.
"Yeah, I think you look very nice." Aaron said as he extended his arm.
"Lets go to dinner." Monica said as he took his arm.
The dinner was as formal as could be expected on a small cruise like they were on.
Aaron and Monica ended up on dining on hot dogs and fries near one of the rails. After
they finished they walked around a bit as they took in the sights. Monica stood at the rail
and leaned on it.
"This is such a wonderful night." Monica said as she looked at the sky above. "Its so
perfect."
"It is." Aaron replied. Ever since dinner Aaron could not keep his eyes off the dark
haired creature in front of him. This was the same woman who not less than 24 hours
earlier hated the very sight of him. Now they were sharing a sunset together.
Someone had turned on a radio and it was playing a slow song. The music had caught
Monicas attention and now she looked at the person who had started the music. She
then turned to Aaron. It wasn't till then she realized he had been staring. He didn't know it
either till the moment their eyes met.
"Would you like to dance?" Aaron said nervously, tensing up a little inside to prepare
himself in case she said no.
"Sure." Monica said smiling.
"You don't have to if you don't want to..."
"Aaron, I said yes."
"Oh." Aaron said. He hesitantly took her hand. They walked out a bit from the rail and
they started to slow dance. They slowly moved together not taking each others eyes off
one another. Monica eventually grew comfortable with the movement, the ship was still
moving when they had decided to dance. She leaned her head up against Aarons chest
and sighed. She stayed that way till the music stopped. Aaron reached down and lifted
her chin up with his forefinger. She looked into his eyes. He leaned down and kissed her
on the lips. Monica was surprised by the sudden action and found she liked it. They
were in that position for a minute before she abruptly broke it off.
"I..I...I can't do this!" Monica said as she tore herself from Aaron.
"Whats wrong?" Aaron asked very concerned.
"I wouldn't be good for you Aaron." Monica said. "The last guy I dated became a
wrestler, and the man before that was older than me and was a doctor too. Just like
you." Monica said tearing up."I don't know if I can take that much heartbreak in such a
small period of time!" Monica said as she turned to go to her cabin.
"Monica!" Aaron said loudly.
"I can't do this Aaron!" Monica said sobbing. "I don't want to hurt you but I don't want
to go through this again. I'm sorry!" Monica said and started to run the last couple of feet
to her room. She went in and locked it.
"Monica!" Aaron yelled again. He was left all alone on the deck, not knowing what had
just gone on.
After leaving Aaron on the deck Monica stayed in her room for a while. She lied down on
her bed for a while and stared at the ceiling. She felt really bad for leaving him out there
like that.
"I shouldn't let my past love life ruin something nice that Aaron and I might have." She said
to herself as fell asleep that night. The next morning was a very rainy and very foggy so
most of the ships passengers and crew stayed in their cabins for most of the day.
Monica woke up and looked out the window. As the gray sky greeted her she couldn't
help but feel a little hungry. She hadnt eaten anything since she went to bed last night.
Monica got dressed and got ready to go to the cafeteria to see if they had anything left
over from the dinner last night. She threw on a turtle neck sweater and jeans, then
headed out to meet the dreary but new day.
It was kismet. Monica and Aaron left their rooms at the same time. This little quirk didn't
go unnoticed. Aaron swung his head over in Monicas direction at the same time she
looked his way. Their eyes met. Monica flushed and lowered her eyes. He rubbed his
neck with the palm of his hand. After the way she had treated him last night, he still had
that same affect on her. She smiled.
"Nice day." She said.
"Well, its okay." Aaron said looking around. "In Chicago this weather is almost normal.
At the hospital the newborns are given umbrellas not pacifiers."
Monica laughed. "I have to get you to meet my friend Chandler sometime. He has the
same view on life, hes very funny." Monica stopped laughing. Why did she bring up
Chandler?
"Monica we have to talk." Aaron said walking her way. Monica stood and waited till
they were face to face before she started to speak.
"What's there to talk about. The weathers cruddy, I don't watch sports a lot and I know
nada about medical stuff." Monica said strolling. She hadn't been watching where she
was going. Monica soon realized she had stolled right into the downpour. She wiped
some of wet hair out of her eyes. Aaron took off his overcoat and came over to her
spot. He held it over their heads,which was easy since he was taller than her.
"We have to talk about us, about what you said last night." Aaron said once Monica was
sufficiently covered.
"I don't know what that was about." Monica said. "I guess I must have freaked out."
"Maybe you've been through so many cruddy relationships you're afraid to get into a new
one?"
"Maybe..." Monica cocked her eyebrow at him. "Are you analyzing me?"
"No, no." Aaron shook his head. "Well yes, but I'm a psychiatrist now."
"Well you certainly fit the role." Monica agreed. "But you're right. I didn't expect to meet
a guy like you here." Monica looked around. "Can we get out of this rain? I'm starting to
feel a little ridiculous. And people are gonna start looking."
"Ok." Aaron said guiding her under the roof of the hallway to the cabins. "Is that better?
No one would have looked but we would have put on a good show for the seagulls."
"Aaron. Do you think we have a chance? After all you live in Chicago and I live here."
"I dunno." Aaron said hugging Monica. "It's worth a try."
"I gotta go get something dry on." Monica said. She started toward her room. Aaron
stood there and watched her go. He sighed and looked at his watch. Monica stood
outside the door. "Are you coming? I'm only gonna wait so long." Monica said with a
smile. Aaron did a mild jog toward the room. He stopped by the door and looked at
her. They continued to gaze at each other as the door closed.
The rain eventually stopped. Aaron and Monica stayed the next day with each other
looking at sights and other things. The day they returned was the hardest day of all.
Monica and Aaron walked down the gangplank together. Monica stopped and looked
at him.
"So what happens now?"
"I think my boss won't mind if I stay an extra week in New York." Aaron said as they
started walking again. "He's been trying to get my to take a vacation for so long, I don't
think he'll complain."
"Thats good." Monica said. "It's a nice day to start an extended vacation."
They walked off the boat holding hands, off into a day with new possibilities.