April 20, 2001
John slowly awoke as the early morning sun spilled onto his face. He opened his eyes gradually. He didn't remember where he was. He was somewhere foreign. Somewhere he had never been before. He was...In Deb's bedroom. A smile spread across his face as he remembered what happened last night. He turned over and found the bed next to him was cold.
"Deb?" John called out as he slid out of bed. He wrapped a sheet around his waist and walked out into the he living room. "Deb?" There was no sign of her. He walked into the kitchen. On the counter, a pot of fresh coffee was sitting there right next to a note. John picked it and read.
Dear John,
Never thought I'd be writing a Dear John letter. Get it? Anyway, Sorry for leaving but I had an early morning shift. Dr. Finch called in sick so I have to cover. I don't know when your schedule is so maybe I'll see you around.
Jing-Mei "Deb"
John heaved a sigh as he put the letter down. Even in her writing she sounded weirder out by this whole thing. He glanced at the clock. He had work in an hour. Maybe he could solve this later, but first. He had to take a shower.
* * *
"Chuny, get me a phsyc consult for the kid in three please." Jing-Mei said walking up to the admit desk.
"Sure thing, Dr. Chen." She said going to the phone. Randi looked sideways at Jing-Mei sucking on a lollipop. Jing-Mei glanced at her.
"May I help you Randi?" She asked.
"Nope." Randi laughed. Jing-Mei shrugged and went back to filing out a chart. She could still feel Randi's eyes digging into her back. She turned around to see Randi still staring at her. She put the chart down.
"Okay, Randi, do tell me why you're staring at me." Jing-Mei said crossing her arms. Randi snickered slightly.
"You had sex last night." Randi blurted out. Jing-Mei blushed deeply.
"How would you know? Not that I did..."
"Trust me. When you've been around you tend to pick up on who has and hasn't." Randi said, "Like Dr. Kovac didn't have any."
"I didn't have what?" Luka asked walking up to the desk. Randi giggled softly and looked at Jing-Mei.
"So? Did you?" Randi asked. Jing-Mei said.
"It's none of you business, Randi." She said walking to the lounge. She stopped in her tracks seeing John standing at his locker. "Oh." John turned and looked at her. A smile spread across his face.
"Hey Deb." He said. She shifted uncomfortably.
"H-Hey John...I just came to get some coffee." Jing-Mei quickly went to the coffee maker. "Damn nurse's not making fresh coffee." John frowned.
"Are you okay?"
"Yup. Just peachy." She said filling up the machine with water.
"It's me isn't it?" He asked, "I pushed you too far last night. God, I'm so sorry, Deb. I never meant to hurt you." Jing-Mei stood there listening to the hurt in his voice. She sighed heavily.
"No, John. It's not you." She sighed and turned to him.
"Then what's wrong?" He asked. She closed her eyes.
"I don't want what happened last night to change what we have." Jing-Mei said, "I value our friendship."
"So do I!" John cried, "but I want more. I adore you, Deb." She sighed closing her eyes. "I thought you felt the same for me."
"I do, John." She said. "It's just I don't want anyone to know...if we start a relationship."
"Why?" John asked. "Because.... It's stupid really."
"No. Tell me." He said.
"It's my mom." She said quietly. John raised his eyebrow.
"I'm not interested in your mother. Just you." Jing-Mei couldn't help but to smile.
"You know what I mean though John. She's a big beneficiary of this hospital and-"
"You don't want anyone to find out about us so they can't tell your mother all because I'm not Asian." John said.
"Well...Yeah." Jing-Mei said lowering her head, "Are you mad at me?"
"Of course not, Deb." John said taking a step towards her, "I love you. I'll do anything you want. I'll keep quiet as long as you want. If it makes you more comfortable, I'll do it." Jing-Mei smiled slightly.
"It's not like I want to keep this quiet forever." She said, "Just for now...Until I can tell my mother." John nodded.
"How do you think she'll react?" She laughed slightly.
"She basically disowned me when she found out about Michael and Frank." She said.
"Right...so waiting is good." John said.
"Very good." John wrapped his arms around her waist.
"So, does this mean you want to be my secret girlfriend?" Jing-Mei chuckled softly.
"Of course. I would be honored to be your secret girlfriend." She leaned up and kissed him briefly. "I love you, John."
"I love you too."
