"Monica In Chicago"
Friends/Chicago Hope Crossover
Monica had wanted to go back home to the apartment and grab some clothes but she changed her mind. In the spirit of impulsiveness Monica had decided to go to Chicago with no more than the clothes on her back, as wet as they were. She knew that she would have made a big deal about what to pack, when she would wear it. All of Monicas friends knew what an organized fiend she was. Aaron noticed this even on the cruise. Aaron drove up to the front door of the hotel he was staying at. They were gonna dry off before flying to Chicago on account of the rainstorm they were caught in.
"Monica, I see you brought no clothes. Course not since we never stopped at your place." Aaron said as they went into the room. "I have this for you." Aaron took out a
wrapped box.
"For me?" Monica asked taking it. She opened and found an elegant negligee. She oohed at it and felt the silky fabric with her hand. "No ones given anything this nice to me before."
"And its all yours." Aaron said. "Go try it on." Aaron said while Monica scurried into the bathroom. "And if I'm right, you may not have to wear it long."
Monica poked her head around the corner. "Aaron, you are a animal in disguise, you know that."
"Let's keep that between us." Aaron said shyly. Aaron laid back on the bed and rested his head on the pillow. He had never given intimate apparel before, not even to Camille, he hoped he wasn't being too forward but Monica seemed to love it. Aaron as deep in his thoughts when he heard her melodious voice calling him.
"Aaron, what do you think?" Monica said as he emerged from the bathroom. Aaron sat up and looked. He was speechless. She looked very beautiful in the light blue fabric. Some light bounced off the hem of it and it lightly swayed with her movement. It managed to look very tasteful but somehow irresistible at the same time. "I don't know what to say." Aaron said after a long silence.
"I knew it!" Monica said moping. "I look fat don't I?"
"No, no." Aaron said getting off the bed. "Far from it."
"Got you." Monica looking up. "You are so easy."
"And only you know that." Aaron said taking her hand. "Gee after getting this outfit and giving it to you, suddenly there's only one thing I want to do."
"Really?" Monica asked, expecting everything yet not knowing what to expect.
"I suddenly want to watch TV." Aaron said flatly.
"Aaron!"
"Just kidding." Aaron said. "Come here you, we got an early flight in the morning and we should get our sleep."
"True." Monica said. She started to turn off the light and turned toward the bed.
"I never said we were actually sleeping." Aaron said coming up behind her.
"Oh." Monica said then she thought for a little bit. "Oh!" She finally knew what he really meant and turned to him.
Morning
Monica was blissfully sleeping away when she suddenly got a rude awakening. Aaron hopped onto the bed fully clothed and started shaking her.
"Monica!" Aaron said into her ear. Monica mumbled something about "onions" and rolled over. "Monica you gotta get up! We're gonna be late for the plane!"
Monicas eyes flew open. She sat up and looked Aaron in the face. "Please tell me your kidding!"
"Nope." Aaron said. He handed her another bag. "The clothes you were wearing last night somehow became very smelly overnight. I got you some new clothes to wear. I had an idea that you wouldn't want to wear funky smelling clothes all the way to Chicago."
"Chicago." Monica smiled. She got up and dressed quickly in the dress Aaron picked for her. It fit perfectly like the negligee Aaron had gave her last night. "I was ready to convince myself that it was all a dream."
"I'm still here, so it must have been real." Aaron assured her while kissing her on the cheek. "We gotta go. I have the car round front and everything."
"Okay." Monica said after her fastest make-up session every. "I'm ready, but I must look horrible."
"You look like a dream come true." Aaron said taking her hand. "Let's go."
"Lets go." Monica said as Aaron led her out of the room and toward the elevator. "Wait! My job!"
"Already taken care of." Aaron said as they got on the elevator. "While you were sleeping I called and told them you were visiting a sick aunt. They didn't seem to believe me until I told them I was a doctor and they ate everything I said like pate'."
"Thats a relief." Monica said. "Now nothing can stand in our way of getting to Chicago."
"Nothing except...." Aaron said as they reached the lobby. Monica cut off his sentence with a kiss. As she pulled back she looked at him with a half serious look on her face.
"Don't jinx this for us." She said trying not to laugh.
"OK." Aaron said. "But I could use some more reassuring we'll get there."
"Let's take it five minutes at a time." Monica said. "After all, is Chicago gonna leave while we are flying there?"
"Guess not."
"You guessed right." Monica said. "Now come on, you said we were late, and I don't want to be late for this."
Aaron and Monica got in his rental car and headed for the airport and what else may come their way.
Monica and Aaron made it ot the plane miraculously in time for it, and spent some extra time browsing in the gift shop before they left. As they got on the plane, Monica turned at looked back on New York. Shes never really been out of the city before. Aaron sensed her hesistation and softly took her hand. She turned to him and smiled.
"I'm all right. I can't help thinking I forgot something."
Halfway across town Rachel went into Monicas room. She smelled something burned and looked over at the bureau. Aparently Monica left her curling iron on and it was no
turning into a smoldering mess on the bureau. Rachel wasted no time in running over to pull the plug.
At the same time the plug was pulled the plane took off. Monica sat back and sighed.
"Feeling better?" Aaron asked while looking over his magazine.
"Oh, yes definately." Monica smiled. "I'm with you, thats enough to make the whole world sing to me." Monica thought for a minute. "Joey once said when he was on an
airplane he tried to enter the mile high club."
"Mile high club?" Aaron asked. "Pardon my ignorance but whats that?"
"Its when a couple go into a bathroom and ..." She whispered into his ear. "No way, we'd never fit." Aaron said.
"Don't you want to try?" Monica cozied up to Aaron."This weekend we are different people. No way ordinarily would Aaron Shutt and Monica Geller get into a bathroom
stall on a airplane and make out."
"That is so true." Aaron said thinking of several people who would do that in a heartbeat.
"Let's go." Monica said. "You go first, go in and wait a minute then I will follow you."
"Ok." Aaron got up and tried to look like your ordinary 40 year old man going to the bathroom. He almost ran into an old lady on the way. Aaron finally reached the
bathroom and went into the nearest unoccupied stall. Monica waited for a minute, then as if on some hidden cue followed the same route to the bathroom but nixing the part about tripping over the old lady.
Aaron was sitting on the seat when she entered. She smiled and immediately went to him. She perched herself painfully on his lap. Painfully for she bonked her head on the ceiling.
"Oh!" Monica said.
"Are you all right?" Aaron said running his hands through her hair over the spot she hit.
"I'm fine." Monica said wincing.
"I am a head doctor after all." Aaron continued.
"I'm fine." Monica said resting her hands on his shoulders. "I'm wonderful, it doesnt hurt...a lot...of the time." She leaned in to kiss him. As they were about to connect the airplane went through an airpocket and Aaron was pitched forward towards the wall.
"Oh my!" Monica said. "Are you all right?" She said losing a battle at suppressing a laugh.
"Is this what they mean when they say love hurts?" Aaron asked while rubbing his forehead. "We both hurt ourselves in this flight, we are about even."
"Maybe someone is trying to tell us something." Monica said as she kissed Aaron full on the lips.
"Me too. Airplanes are to fly in." Aaron said as he returned the kiss. "So much for the mile high club, I've run out of ideas."
"Let's flush the toliet." Monica said getting a strange look from Aaron. "I always wanted to see where the water went."
"Okay." Aaron flushed the airplane toliet. It went down and around then out the side.
"That was fascinating." Monica said. "I wanna go back to my seat."
"Me too." Aaron said. "You first."
"We'll both go." Monica said opening the door.
The instant they emerged people started clapping.
"But we didn't.." Aaron said.
"Let them think what they want." Monica said waving. "Thanks!" Monica and Aaron bowed and went back to their seat.
Landing
As Aaron and Monica grabbed their bags Aarons beeper went off.
"Huh, this is Phillips number at the hospital. I wonder how he knew I was back?" Aaron wondered aloud.
"Maybe Jeffrey had something to do with it." Monica said checking the contents of her bag.
"Thats a good possibility." Aaron said. "I'll go talk to him. Monica do you want to come to Chicago Hope with me?"
"Sure." Monica said. "I'd love to see where you work."
"Thats great." Aaron said. "Taxi!" Aaron turned to the road to hail a taxi. "I wonder how Phillip knew I was back, I mean we didnt even tell him we were leaving."
"Ask him when you get there." Monica said as a cab slowed down for them.
"Thats a good idea." Aaron said.
"Jeffrey certainly gets around though."
"Aint that the truth." Aaron said as the cab pulled away from the curb.
Chicago Hope
Aaron and Monica came in through the front door of the hospital. It was an unusually slow day for one of the biggest hospitals in the region. Monica looked around. She would love to work here. The place was kept impeccably clean.
"This is beautiful." Monica breathed.
"Phillips gonna wanna see us pronto, before he pops a blood vessel." Aaron said catching an elevator. "I gotta stop by my office first."
Aaron gave Monica the modified tour. As they got to his office Aaron strained his ears.
"Do you hear something?" Aaron asked.
"A lot of groaning." Monica observed.
"Jeez." Aaron went through the door. Sure enough there was none other than Dr Jack McNeil and Lisa Catera on Aarons couch doing something that could not be mistaken
for anything else but sex. "Excuse me guys?"
Lisa and Jack turned to him. Lisa covered up.
"Please remember this is still MY office? I'd like you to hose down that couch before you leave." Aaron said rolling his eyes and looking at Monica.
"I'm sorry Aaron." Lisa said blushing. "Phillip told us you were on vacation."
"Thats no excuse. You both have offices you can soil and not worry about someone walking in." Aaron said. "I'll be back later."
"Oh my." Monica said. She tried to hide a smile. "Something tells me we interuppted something."
"We sure did." Aaron said. "Uh, lets go, as quickly as possible."
Monica smiled and took Aarons hand. They walked down the hall a short distance.
Aaron abuptly stopped at an OR.
"Have you ever seen an operation before." Aaron asked.
"No." Monica said. "Well only on televsion and I saw my brothers child be born."
"Would you like to see one?" Aaron asked. "Dr Kathryn Austin is in surgery right now."
He said glancing at a clipboard. "Do you want to see a real live heart beating?"
"What about Phillip and him bursting a blood vessel." Monica reminded him.
"Phillip will be allright." Aaron said. "We can go into the observation room here."
"Sure." Monica said as Aaron took her hand. He opened the door and they went into the observation part of the operating room.
"Okay, I need the small clamp put about here." Kate Austin said reaching out her hand. The right size clamp was handed to her and she placed it in a spot which made the rib cage open like a steel trap. Monica watched intently as Kate did her work. Kate looked up.
"Well I'll be." Kate said eyeing Aaron. "The vacationing Aaron Shutt has returned and he has brought his girlfriend along for the ride."
"This is Monica." Aaron said through a speaker. "Monica this is mostly world famous cardiologist Kate Austin."
"And don't you forget it." Kate said pointing her scapel at Aaron. "Monica, you ever seen a REAL surgery before? Can you keep your stomach in line if I did this?" Kate took her scapel and cut a section of the heart she was repairing.
"Kate!" Aaron said as Monica looked a little woosy.
Monica crashed into a chair in a sitting position.
"I guess she wasnt ready for that." Kate said almost apologetically.
Aaron gave her a look.
Aaron had carefully laid Monica out on a chair in the hallway after she fainted in the OR observation room. Kate had cut a piece of a live heart and Monica fainted. She wasnt as ready for real live surgery as she had thought. Monica quietly sipped her water. Kate emerged from her OR.
"Eeeh." Kate said chuckling. "Don't worry about that, it happens to first year medical students all the time." Kate said. "I like to compare my first surgery to the first time I had sex, a little messy but necessary and in the end you feel oh so good." Kate smirked as she looked at Monicas still ashen face. "But you look horrible."
"You should talk. You look like you stole Carmen Mirandas bathing cap." Monica managed to spout out. Her remark about Kates signature fruit patterned OR cap failed
to make a dent. But she smiled, impressed with the effort Monica had made.
"She'll be fine." Kate turned and left.
"I dated her once." Aaron shook his head at her. Monica kissed him on the cheek.
"I suddenly feel so sorry for you." Monica cracked.
"You oughta meet Camille. Then you would feel downright pity compared to Austin."
Aaron said. "Shall we go to Phillips office?"
"Ok, sure." Monica said. "Anything had to be better than this."
Phillips Office.
Monica and Aaron walked into Phillips office. He was turned away from them. To Aarons surprise Phillip was chugging along on an accordian doing the most revolting
version of Lady of Spain in the songs history. Phillip hit a few off key notes and turned.
"Ah, Ciao Aaron." Phillip said gleefully. "How do you like my accordian?" Phillip turned a mock serious look on his face. "Tell the truth, but remember I'm still your boss."
Aaron thought. "It's lovely."
"I thought someone was killing a small cat in here to tell the truth." Monica said getting a Shut up look from Aaron.
Phillip looked stonefaced at her, the started to laugh his ass off."I knew I was bad, but not horrible. I got this little beauty at a yard sale." He held up his hand. "Before you ask me, what is a chief of staff doing at a run of the mill yard sale when he can go to the best
stores in Chicago. I'll tell you why. Sometimes the best things are found in the unexpected places."
"You wanted to see me." Aaron asked.
"Who is this lovely creature?" Phillip said interupting. "The much ballyhooed Monica I believe."
"Yes." Monica said. "But my friends just call me Monica."
"I like this one. She has a sane face." Phillip said. He put on his poker face. "Aaron I asked you to come here becuase I have an offer to make you."
"What would that be?" Aaron asked.
"Aaron, how would you like your position as Chief Neurosurgeon of Chicago hope back?" Phillip asked.
"Oh my god!" Monica said. "Aaron this is what you've been hoping for." She hugged his neck.
"It certainly is." Aaron agreed. "But what about Lisa Catera."
"You didn't hear?" Phillip raised an eyebrow. "They are now engaged. She realized that she and Jack working at the hospital would be a bad thing so she sent in her resignation this morning. We need you as a replacement ASAP." Phillip sat up. "What do you think?"
"I don't know." Aaron replied still in a state of shock. "Will you let me think about it?"
"Sure. Aaron." Phillip said. "But we need an answer by the end of the day."
"Ok." Aaron said taking Monicas hand. He led her outside.
"Youre gonna get your job back!" Monica said excitingly.
"Yeah." Aaron said flaty.
"Why arent you more excited abou this?" Monica asked.
"Well if I get my job back, where does this leave us?" Aaron said. "I would have to stay
in Chicago and you would have to go back to New York."
"Oh." Monica said, looking a little down.
"I gotta go think." Aaron said.
"You don't have to think Aaron." Monica said seriously. "I'll go back to New york."
"Monica..."
"No, this is the best. After all you been here all your life and it would be a major uprooting to take all this and go to New York." Monica said. "But if I stay it means
leaving my friends my family my life behind." Monica kissed Aaron on the cheek. "This is for the best Aaron, a nice clean break. Then it wont be any harder for us." Monica turned and went to the elevator.
"Monica!" Aaron called to her.
"Goodbye Aaron." Monica said. "I want to remember you this way, the way you are."
Monica finished as the elevator closed.
Aaron sat on a waiting room chair and mumbled.
"Hey sport, you look like you lost your best friend."
Aaron looked up and saw Kate. "What do you want?"
"I just have one thing to say to you." Kate took her surgical cap and smacked Aarons head with it. "Whats the matter with you?"
Aaron winced as he looked up.
Monica got off the elevator and headed for the front door.
"I'm doing the right thing." Monica said in her head. She told her self over and over again as if was her mantra for the day. "I'm doing the right thing."
"You are letting the best thing in that came along in a long time get away from you just because you got neurosurgery back?" Kate asked him. "Cause if you are, you are even dumber than I thought."
"What I do I do Kate?" Aaron asked. "You're experienced in dumping things and taking off, you must have some advice."
"Beats me." Kate said. "But you better hurry. The next flight out is in an hour."
Aaron sat there for a minute then realized what he must do. He rose and ran for Phillips office.
"Phillip?" Aaron said coming in the door. "I'm not taking the job."
"What do you want to do? Transfer to New york so you can be with a certain Ms Monica Geller?" Phillip asked while oiling a gauge on his new accordian."
"How did you know?"
"Filled out a transfer paper while you were in the hallway." Phillip looked at Aaron. "This is love Aaron. you must follow it where-ever it leads. But just remember, you always have a home in Chicago Hope waiting for you."
"Thanks!" Aaron grabbed the transfer paper and headed for the elevator.
Monica stepped out onto the curve. She waved her hands for a taxi. One drove by and promptly splashed her while going through a mud puddle.
"This is great." Monica said shaking some mud off. Someone touched her shoulder and she turned. "Aaron!"
"I'm coming with you." Aaron said showing her the papers he had gathered from Phillip.
"I will be Chief of Neurosurgery at whatever New York hospital I get deposited."
"But Aaron, Chicago is your home.." Monica said before Aaron stopped her with a kiss.
"You are my home Monica." Aaron said while hailing a cab. "And I'm going with you to New York. You can't change my mind."
"Who says I'm gonna attempt to?" Monica said before kissing him full on the lips.
"Shall we go?" Aaron asked as a cab slowed down. "Our yellow chariot awaits."
"We shall go." Monica said as Aaron opened the door for her. "Are we doing something crazy?"
"Well, the best things that are done these days are considered crazy." Aaron said. "Then we are the craziest of them all."
Monica smiled at him as the cab pulled away from the curb.
The end
Friends/Chicago Hope Crossover
Monica had wanted to go back home to the apartment and grab some clothes but she changed her mind. In the spirit of impulsiveness Monica had decided to go to Chicago with no more than the clothes on her back, as wet as they were. She knew that she would have made a big deal about what to pack, when she would wear it. All of Monicas friends knew what an organized fiend she was. Aaron noticed this even on the cruise. Aaron drove up to the front door of the hotel he was staying at. They were gonna dry off before flying to Chicago on account of the rainstorm they were caught in.
"Monica, I see you brought no clothes. Course not since we never stopped at your place." Aaron said as they went into the room. "I have this for you." Aaron took out a
wrapped box.
"For me?" Monica asked taking it. She opened and found an elegant negligee. She oohed at it and felt the silky fabric with her hand. "No ones given anything this nice to me before."
"And its all yours." Aaron said. "Go try it on." Aaron said while Monica scurried into the bathroom. "And if I'm right, you may not have to wear it long."
Monica poked her head around the corner. "Aaron, you are a animal in disguise, you know that."
"Let's keep that between us." Aaron said shyly. Aaron laid back on the bed and rested his head on the pillow. He had never given intimate apparel before, not even to Camille, he hoped he wasn't being too forward but Monica seemed to love it. Aaron as deep in his thoughts when he heard her melodious voice calling him.
"Aaron, what do you think?" Monica said as he emerged from the bathroom. Aaron sat up and looked. He was speechless. She looked very beautiful in the light blue fabric. Some light bounced off the hem of it and it lightly swayed with her movement. It managed to look very tasteful but somehow irresistible at the same time. "I don't know what to say." Aaron said after a long silence.
"I knew it!" Monica said moping. "I look fat don't I?"
"No, no." Aaron said getting off the bed. "Far from it."
"Got you." Monica looking up. "You are so easy."
"And only you know that." Aaron said taking her hand. "Gee after getting this outfit and giving it to you, suddenly there's only one thing I want to do."
"Really?" Monica asked, expecting everything yet not knowing what to expect.
"I suddenly want to watch TV." Aaron said flatly.
"Aaron!"
"Just kidding." Aaron said. "Come here you, we got an early flight in the morning and we should get our sleep."
"True." Monica said. She started to turn off the light and turned toward the bed.
"I never said we were actually sleeping." Aaron said coming up behind her.
"Oh." Monica said then she thought for a little bit. "Oh!" She finally knew what he really meant and turned to him.
Morning
Monica was blissfully sleeping away when she suddenly got a rude awakening. Aaron hopped onto the bed fully clothed and started shaking her.
"Monica!" Aaron said into her ear. Monica mumbled something about "onions" and rolled over. "Monica you gotta get up! We're gonna be late for the plane!"
Monicas eyes flew open. She sat up and looked Aaron in the face. "Please tell me your kidding!"
"Nope." Aaron said. He handed her another bag. "The clothes you were wearing last night somehow became very smelly overnight. I got you some new clothes to wear. I had an idea that you wouldn't want to wear funky smelling clothes all the way to Chicago."
"Chicago." Monica smiled. She got up and dressed quickly in the dress Aaron picked for her. It fit perfectly like the negligee Aaron had gave her last night. "I was ready to convince myself that it was all a dream."
"I'm still here, so it must have been real." Aaron assured her while kissing her on the cheek. "We gotta go. I have the car round front and everything."
"Okay." Monica said after her fastest make-up session every. "I'm ready, but I must look horrible."
"You look like a dream come true." Aaron said taking her hand. "Let's go."
"Lets go." Monica said as Aaron led her out of the room and toward the elevator. "Wait! My job!"
"Already taken care of." Aaron said as they got on the elevator. "While you were sleeping I called and told them you were visiting a sick aunt. They didn't seem to believe me until I told them I was a doctor and they ate everything I said like pate'."
"Thats a relief." Monica said. "Now nothing can stand in our way of getting to Chicago."
"Nothing except...." Aaron said as they reached the lobby. Monica cut off his sentence with a kiss. As she pulled back she looked at him with a half serious look on her face.
"Don't jinx this for us." She said trying not to laugh.
"OK." Aaron said. "But I could use some more reassuring we'll get there."
"Let's take it five minutes at a time." Monica said. "After all, is Chicago gonna leave while we are flying there?"
"Guess not."
"You guessed right." Monica said. "Now come on, you said we were late, and I don't want to be late for this."
Aaron and Monica got in his rental car and headed for the airport and what else may come their way.
Monica and Aaron made it ot the plane miraculously in time for it, and spent some extra time browsing in the gift shop before they left. As they got on the plane, Monica turned at looked back on New York. Shes never really been out of the city before. Aaron sensed her hesistation and softly took her hand. She turned to him and smiled.
"I'm all right. I can't help thinking I forgot something."
Halfway across town Rachel went into Monicas room. She smelled something burned and looked over at the bureau. Aparently Monica left her curling iron on and it was no
turning into a smoldering mess on the bureau. Rachel wasted no time in running over to pull the plug.
At the same time the plug was pulled the plane took off. Monica sat back and sighed.
"Feeling better?" Aaron asked while looking over his magazine.
"Oh, yes definately." Monica smiled. "I'm with you, thats enough to make the whole world sing to me." Monica thought for a minute. "Joey once said when he was on an
airplane he tried to enter the mile high club."
"Mile high club?" Aaron asked. "Pardon my ignorance but whats that?"
"Its when a couple go into a bathroom and ..." She whispered into his ear. "No way, we'd never fit." Aaron said.
"Don't you want to try?" Monica cozied up to Aaron."This weekend we are different people. No way ordinarily would Aaron Shutt and Monica Geller get into a bathroom
stall on a airplane and make out."
"That is so true." Aaron said thinking of several people who would do that in a heartbeat.
"Let's go." Monica said. "You go first, go in and wait a minute then I will follow you."
"Ok." Aaron got up and tried to look like your ordinary 40 year old man going to the bathroom. He almost ran into an old lady on the way. Aaron finally reached the
bathroom and went into the nearest unoccupied stall. Monica waited for a minute, then as if on some hidden cue followed the same route to the bathroom but nixing the part about tripping over the old lady.
Aaron was sitting on the seat when she entered. She smiled and immediately went to him. She perched herself painfully on his lap. Painfully for she bonked her head on the ceiling.
"Oh!" Monica said.
"Are you all right?" Aaron said running his hands through her hair over the spot she hit.
"I'm fine." Monica said wincing.
"I am a head doctor after all." Aaron continued.
"I'm fine." Monica said resting her hands on his shoulders. "I'm wonderful, it doesnt hurt...a lot...of the time." She leaned in to kiss him. As they were about to connect the airplane went through an airpocket and Aaron was pitched forward towards the wall.
"Oh my!" Monica said. "Are you all right?" She said losing a battle at suppressing a laugh.
"Is this what they mean when they say love hurts?" Aaron asked while rubbing his forehead. "We both hurt ourselves in this flight, we are about even."
"Maybe someone is trying to tell us something." Monica said as she kissed Aaron full on the lips.
"Me too. Airplanes are to fly in." Aaron said as he returned the kiss. "So much for the mile high club, I've run out of ideas."
"Let's flush the toliet." Monica said getting a strange look from Aaron. "I always wanted to see where the water went."
"Okay." Aaron flushed the airplane toliet. It went down and around then out the side.
"That was fascinating." Monica said. "I wanna go back to my seat."
"Me too." Aaron said. "You first."
"We'll both go." Monica said opening the door.
The instant they emerged people started clapping.
"But we didn't.." Aaron said.
"Let them think what they want." Monica said waving. "Thanks!" Monica and Aaron bowed and went back to their seat.
Landing
As Aaron and Monica grabbed their bags Aarons beeper went off.
"Huh, this is Phillips number at the hospital. I wonder how he knew I was back?" Aaron wondered aloud.
"Maybe Jeffrey had something to do with it." Monica said checking the contents of her bag.
"Thats a good possibility." Aaron said. "I'll go talk to him. Monica do you want to come to Chicago Hope with me?"
"Sure." Monica said. "I'd love to see where you work."
"Thats great." Aaron said. "Taxi!" Aaron turned to the road to hail a taxi. "I wonder how Phillip knew I was back, I mean we didnt even tell him we were leaving."
"Ask him when you get there." Monica said as a cab slowed down for them.
"Thats a good idea." Aaron said.
"Jeffrey certainly gets around though."
"Aint that the truth." Aaron said as the cab pulled away from the curb.
Chicago Hope
Aaron and Monica came in through the front door of the hospital. It was an unusually slow day for one of the biggest hospitals in the region. Monica looked around. She would love to work here. The place was kept impeccably clean.
"This is beautiful." Monica breathed.
"Phillips gonna wanna see us pronto, before he pops a blood vessel." Aaron said catching an elevator. "I gotta stop by my office first."
Aaron gave Monica the modified tour. As they got to his office Aaron strained his ears.
"Do you hear something?" Aaron asked.
"A lot of groaning." Monica observed.
"Jeez." Aaron went through the door. Sure enough there was none other than Dr Jack McNeil and Lisa Catera on Aarons couch doing something that could not be mistaken
for anything else but sex. "Excuse me guys?"
Lisa and Jack turned to him. Lisa covered up.
"Please remember this is still MY office? I'd like you to hose down that couch before you leave." Aaron said rolling his eyes and looking at Monica.
"I'm sorry Aaron." Lisa said blushing. "Phillip told us you were on vacation."
"Thats no excuse. You both have offices you can soil and not worry about someone walking in." Aaron said. "I'll be back later."
"Oh my." Monica said. She tried to hide a smile. "Something tells me we interuppted something."
"We sure did." Aaron said. "Uh, lets go, as quickly as possible."
Monica smiled and took Aarons hand. They walked down the hall a short distance.
Aaron abuptly stopped at an OR.
"Have you ever seen an operation before." Aaron asked.
"No." Monica said. "Well only on televsion and I saw my brothers child be born."
"Would you like to see one?" Aaron asked. "Dr Kathryn Austin is in surgery right now."
He said glancing at a clipboard. "Do you want to see a real live heart beating?"
"What about Phillip and him bursting a blood vessel." Monica reminded him.
"Phillip will be allright." Aaron said. "We can go into the observation room here."
"Sure." Monica said as Aaron took her hand. He opened the door and they went into the observation part of the operating room.
"Okay, I need the small clamp put about here." Kate Austin said reaching out her hand. The right size clamp was handed to her and she placed it in a spot which made the rib cage open like a steel trap. Monica watched intently as Kate did her work. Kate looked up.
"Well I'll be." Kate said eyeing Aaron. "The vacationing Aaron Shutt has returned and he has brought his girlfriend along for the ride."
"This is Monica." Aaron said through a speaker. "Monica this is mostly world famous cardiologist Kate Austin."
"And don't you forget it." Kate said pointing her scapel at Aaron. "Monica, you ever seen a REAL surgery before? Can you keep your stomach in line if I did this?" Kate took her scapel and cut a section of the heart she was repairing.
"Kate!" Aaron said as Monica looked a little woosy.
Monica crashed into a chair in a sitting position.
"I guess she wasnt ready for that." Kate said almost apologetically.
Aaron gave her a look.
Aaron had carefully laid Monica out on a chair in the hallway after she fainted in the OR observation room. Kate had cut a piece of a live heart and Monica fainted. She wasnt as ready for real live surgery as she had thought. Monica quietly sipped her water. Kate emerged from her OR.
"Eeeh." Kate said chuckling. "Don't worry about that, it happens to first year medical students all the time." Kate said. "I like to compare my first surgery to the first time I had sex, a little messy but necessary and in the end you feel oh so good." Kate smirked as she looked at Monicas still ashen face. "But you look horrible."
"You should talk. You look like you stole Carmen Mirandas bathing cap." Monica managed to spout out. Her remark about Kates signature fruit patterned OR cap failed
to make a dent. But she smiled, impressed with the effort Monica had made.
"She'll be fine." Kate turned and left.
"I dated her once." Aaron shook his head at her. Monica kissed him on the cheek.
"I suddenly feel so sorry for you." Monica cracked.
"You oughta meet Camille. Then you would feel downright pity compared to Austin."
Aaron said. "Shall we go to Phillips office?"
"Ok, sure." Monica said. "Anything had to be better than this."
Phillips Office.
Monica and Aaron walked into Phillips office. He was turned away from them. To Aarons surprise Phillip was chugging along on an accordian doing the most revolting
version of Lady of Spain in the songs history. Phillip hit a few off key notes and turned.
"Ah, Ciao Aaron." Phillip said gleefully. "How do you like my accordian?" Phillip turned a mock serious look on his face. "Tell the truth, but remember I'm still your boss."
Aaron thought. "It's lovely."
"I thought someone was killing a small cat in here to tell the truth." Monica said getting a Shut up look from Aaron.
Phillip looked stonefaced at her, the started to laugh his ass off."I knew I was bad, but not horrible. I got this little beauty at a yard sale." He held up his hand. "Before you ask me, what is a chief of staff doing at a run of the mill yard sale when he can go to the best
stores in Chicago. I'll tell you why. Sometimes the best things are found in the unexpected places."
"You wanted to see me." Aaron asked.
"Who is this lovely creature?" Phillip said interupting. "The much ballyhooed Monica I believe."
"Yes." Monica said. "But my friends just call me Monica."
"I like this one. She has a sane face." Phillip said. He put on his poker face. "Aaron I asked you to come here becuase I have an offer to make you."
"What would that be?" Aaron asked.
"Aaron, how would you like your position as Chief Neurosurgeon of Chicago hope back?" Phillip asked.
"Oh my god!" Monica said. "Aaron this is what you've been hoping for." She hugged his neck.
"It certainly is." Aaron agreed. "But what about Lisa Catera."
"You didn't hear?" Phillip raised an eyebrow. "They are now engaged. She realized that she and Jack working at the hospital would be a bad thing so she sent in her resignation this morning. We need you as a replacement ASAP." Phillip sat up. "What do you think?"
"I don't know." Aaron replied still in a state of shock. "Will you let me think about it?"
"Sure. Aaron." Phillip said. "But we need an answer by the end of the day."
"Ok." Aaron said taking Monicas hand. He led her outside.
"Youre gonna get your job back!" Monica said excitingly.
"Yeah." Aaron said flaty.
"Why arent you more excited abou this?" Monica asked.
"Well if I get my job back, where does this leave us?" Aaron said. "I would have to stay
in Chicago and you would have to go back to New York."
"Oh." Monica said, looking a little down.
"I gotta go think." Aaron said.
"You don't have to think Aaron." Monica said seriously. "I'll go back to New york."
"Monica..."
"No, this is the best. After all you been here all your life and it would be a major uprooting to take all this and go to New York." Monica said. "But if I stay it means
leaving my friends my family my life behind." Monica kissed Aaron on the cheek. "This is for the best Aaron, a nice clean break. Then it wont be any harder for us." Monica turned and went to the elevator.
"Monica!" Aaron called to her.
"Goodbye Aaron." Monica said. "I want to remember you this way, the way you are."
Monica finished as the elevator closed.
Aaron sat on a waiting room chair and mumbled.
"Hey sport, you look like you lost your best friend."
Aaron looked up and saw Kate. "What do you want?"
"I just have one thing to say to you." Kate took her surgical cap and smacked Aarons head with it. "Whats the matter with you?"
Aaron winced as he looked up.
Monica got off the elevator and headed for the front door.
"I'm doing the right thing." Monica said in her head. She told her self over and over again as if was her mantra for the day. "I'm doing the right thing."
"You are letting the best thing in that came along in a long time get away from you just because you got neurosurgery back?" Kate asked him. "Cause if you are, you are even dumber than I thought."
"What I do I do Kate?" Aaron asked. "You're experienced in dumping things and taking off, you must have some advice."
"Beats me." Kate said. "But you better hurry. The next flight out is in an hour."
Aaron sat there for a minute then realized what he must do. He rose and ran for Phillips office.
"Phillip?" Aaron said coming in the door. "I'm not taking the job."
"What do you want to do? Transfer to New york so you can be with a certain Ms Monica Geller?" Phillip asked while oiling a gauge on his new accordian."
"How did you know?"
"Filled out a transfer paper while you were in the hallway." Phillip looked at Aaron. "This is love Aaron. you must follow it where-ever it leads. But just remember, you always have a home in Chicago Hope waiting for you."
"Thanks!" Aaron grabbed the transfer paper and headed for the elevator.
Monica stepped out onto the curve. She waved her hands for a taxi. One drove by and promptly splashed her while going through a mud puddle.
"This is great." Monica said shaking some mud off. Someone touched her shoulder and she turned. "Aaron!"
"I'm coming with you." Aaron said showing her the papers he had gathered from Phillip.
"I will be Chief of Neurosurgery at whatever New York hospital I get deposited."
"But Aaron, Chicago is your home.." Monica said before Aaron stopped her with a kiss.
"You are my home Monica." Aaron said while hailing a cab. "And I'm going with you to New York. You can't change my mind."
"Who says I'm gonna attempt to?" Monica said before kissing him full on the lips.
"Shall we go?" Aaron asked as a cab slowed down. "Our yellow chariot awaits."
"We shall go." Monica said as Aaron opened the door for her. "Are we doing something crazy?"
"Well, the best things that are done these days are considered crazy." Aaron said. "Then we are the craziest of them all."
Monica smiled at him as the cab pulled away from the curb.
The end