A Friendly Hand
By Didi
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters. John Wells and his friends do. Let's not get into the debate as to who owns the ideas and all that; cause let's fact it, you'll lose. Enjoy the story anyways.
Summary: The hospital rumor mill get hold of a hush-hush situation.
Note: I really am trying to make this one interesting. And just so you know, Julianna Nickolson was one of my favorites starting from when she starred in "The Other," then later on "Ally McBeal."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Chapter 2
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Dr. Slingerland caught put up to Dr. Keating just as she was about to make a convenient escape from the pediatrics ward. "A word with you doctor?"
Jules nearly jumped out of her skin as she twirled around to greet the grinning Matt with a startled smile. The ten extra minutes with Suzy Rainer was going to cost her nearly now. "Sure."
Matt glanced about, noting the number of curious faces. The amount of attention he was getting as of late was starting to become rather ... disconcerting. "In your office?"
Seeing that the nursing staff for the night shift was not even trying to pretend they weren't interested in hearing the conversation, Jules nodded her head and lead the way. Shutting the door on several startled but fascinated face, she turned and shook her head at Dr. Slingerland. "Is it me or are the staff acting kind of funny?"
"Same where I am too," Matt replied calmly as he crossed his arm and leaned his hips against her desk. While the topic of the staff's behavior is one mystery he would dearly love to solve, he had another pressing matter to attend to first. "So?"
Putting her purse down, she dropped onto the giant snake that resides on the floor of her office and second as a chair for all the little children that trooped in and out of the room daily. "It's just a friendly dinner to lend you a friendly hand with your little... girl problem."
"First of all," he pointed out with a dry smile. "She's neither little nor a girl. Secondly, of course it'll be a friendly dinner. We've had meal together without wanting to strangle each other, haven't we?"
"Yes," Jules replied slowly. "But I want to make it clear that this will just be a friendly dinner between two friends and there will not be any...extra requirements to... help along the illusion."
Dr. Slingerland frowned, having lost the rhythm of the conversation. "Are we talking about the same thing here?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "Look, the dinner will not involve anything other than dinner. Granted I understand that you want to convince her that... that you're with a woman of your..." she shrugged. "Your level of intelligence?"
"Yes," he nodded slowly.
"But I don't plan on playing the role of the possessive, doting girlfriend."
He grinned suddenly catching her drift. She was adorably sweet when her face was right with embarrassment, as this topic appeared to be. "You mean there won't be any unnecessary touching or hugging or kissing or..."
"Exactly," she pronounced with a smile, glad that they were on the same plane now. "We clear?"
Nodding, he stuck out a hand in mock sobriety. "Absolutely."
"Good," taking the hand, sure that this wasn't the most horrible plan she's put herself in.
"Excellent," bring the hand clasped in his to his lip, unable to resist teasing her just a little bit.
"MATT!"
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"Make sure Mrs. McMurrey does not get the meds before 8:00 AM. We want her nice and calm by the time surgery rolls around nine. If she starts sobering up before than and we have to medicate her once more, I'm taking it out on your heads," Dr. Letty Jordan warned with a sharp look. Nurse Gina Lealock had the grace to blush, remembering an incident not too long ago.
"Letty," Rae Brennan called as she slide one chart back into the filing area and came up to her friend. "Sean is in Seattle tonight on some conference about a Senator and I'm home alone." She nudged the cardiologist with her elbow. "Want to ditch the husband and kids and go out on the town with me?"
"Ladies night?" Dr. Jordan asked, making some final notes in her patient's chart.
"Harriet says that she's up for it if the rest of us are."
Letty nodded her head slowly and made a mental note to check with her husband about the frequency of his boy's poker nights. They often have light bantering over her lady's night yet she cannot recall a time when she's ever complained about his poker buddies stinking up her living room with cigars and beers. Yes, that should be a fun argument to get into. "The new plastic surgeon coming again?"
"Jackie?" Rae looked over at the door that separated the spunky surgeon from the rest of the staff. The young doctor had been ranting and raving earlier in the day about a neurotic patient that obsessed over the length and curve of her nose, as well as other people's noses. She probably would need a little relaxation right about now. "I was thinking about inviting her. You want her to come?"
"Sure, she has some interesting things to put in," closing the chart, she rolled her arms back and felt the tension from a full day's work scream. "Jules coming too?"
"Took off before I got a chance to ask her," Rae replied, disgruntled. She had to hope to grill her friend over the whole sperm donor stuff since she hadn't heard anything more of it since their initial talk over three weeks ago.
"No she hasn't," Clair interjected quickly from behind the receptionist area where she had been unambiguously listening in. "She and Dr. Slingerland went into her office and hasn't come out since."
Rae and Letty both turned and looked at the receptionist with equally blank looks. "Patient?"
"Not that anyone has heard of," Clair replied sweetly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation for the next question to come. But patience was never one of her many virtues and it was the one thing physicians have plenty of. Instead of waiting for the two women to ask, she blurted out, "The nurses lounge is holding a pool."
Rae slanted Letty a quick glance of uncertainty. "A pool on what?"
"Whether it going to be a boy or a girl."
Letty choked on the cold coffee she's been sipping on all day. "What?"
Clair leaned close and whispered conspiratorially. "Jamel in the tech room told Jenny from the second floor, who told Billy on the third floor, who told Janice on the fifth floor, who told Amy from the fourth floor, who got it Emily on the second floor, that they got that the report on Dr. Keating's pregnancy was positive." She glanced over her shoulder as another nurse came up from behind her to hand Dr. Jordan a partially completed patient order. "Charlotte, tell them about the rumor."
Charlotte looked blankly at Clair for a moment.
"*The* rumor," Clair emphasized with the widening of her eyes.
"Oh," the hassled nurse finally got it. "You mean Dr. Keating."
"And..." Clair encouraged. "The paternity?"
Glancing hesitantly at the two waiting doctors who were rapidly becoming fascinated by the story, "Jamel said that report named Dr. Slingerland as the father," she made a face and left them to talk.
Rae stared at Clair's mischievous face. "Matt and Jules?"
Letty shook her head in disbelief. "You people are insane."
"I'm just telling you what we've been hearing," Clair replied with a smile as she picked up some of the paper on the desk. "The two of them have been seen in each other's company more frequently than before and now with them closeted away..." she let the thought hang as she left with a smug smile. There was nothing like hospital gossip to make her day.
Rea and Letty stood there for a moment, neither one sure what to say. "No way."
"Can't be."
"It's just idle gossip."
"Jules isn't some silly fool hearted girl to fall for a pretty face."
Letty looked at Rae funny. "Pretty face."
"Well, the boy does have the cute British thing going for him," Rae replied with a shrug. "And I definitely agree with you, it's just idle gossip and nothing to it."
Nodding her head, Dr. Jordan paged her husband on the page. "I'm going to tell that husband of mine that I'm going out tonight. Why don't you round up Jules and Dr. Colette?"
"Okay," Rae replied, still chuckling over the ridiculous rumor over two of the most opposite people she's ever known in life. Slingerland was all playboy and goofiness while Keating was all innocence and sweetness. She should tell Jules about the rumors, she'd probably get a real kick out of it. "I'll go see about rescuing Jules from Matt's evil clutches and then go get Jackie."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Knocking, Rae waited patiently until a smiling, overly happy Slingerland pulled the door open. "Good evening, Dr. Brennan."
The cheerful greeting, said in that low sexy British accent, had Rae raising her brows and rethinking her earlier assessment of the situation. "Evening, Slingerland. Problem with a patient?"
"Nothing Jules didn't handle," Matt replied with a wide smile. He turned and looked at the pediatrician currently reclining on her over size snake on the floor. Inclining in his head, "Thanks again," before stepping aside and allowing Dr. Brennan and himself to trade places juxtapose the office door.
Dr. Keating said nothing, wiggled her fingers at him before collapsing onto the stuff animal.
Rae watched as Slingerland fairly skipped down the hall before turning her friend. Jules looked tired, resigned and just a little uncertain. "Hi there." When the only reply she got was a quick wiggle of the fingers, Rae propped herself down next to her friend. "What's going on?"
"Oh nothing much," Jules replied with a sigh as she reached to her left and grabbed a big blue bear. Resting her chin on the bear, she looked over at Rae and smiled for her friend. "Ever done something that was... less that brilliant?"
Rae smiled and tilted her head, her expression ironic and slightly regretful. "My affair with a certain Greek doc that we work with now."
Jules turned and smiled at her. "At least you had fun doing it, right?"
Thinking about the nights and days in the sand-blown tent. The excitement of working side by side to save lives. The way her heart just melted when he looked at her with those dark, exotic eyes.... "Yeah, it was plenty fun."
Laughing at the smile that graced the oncologist's face, Dr. Keating threw the bear at her. "I'll bet you did."
Rae couldn't help herself, she laughed. "Okay, enough about my sordid life." She leaned on her side and looked at the pixie face was currently scrunched up in concentration. "What going on in your life? Anything new? Any plans for the near future."
Shrugging her thin shoulders, Jules sighed and got to her feet slowly, not really wanting to share her plans for the evening. "Nothing much. Thinking about getting one of those cute little scooters to ride around in."
"Good, about the scooter I mean." Rae got up too, getting the feeling that her friend wasn't up to her usual perky self. "How about coming out with the ladies tonight. Letty, Harriet and maybe even Jackie are going to keep me company while Sean is away. We're doing a bonding experience."
Jules smiled. "Sounds like fun."
"Great, then I'll put you down and go get..."
"But I can't tonight," she interrupted, picking up her coat and purse again. While functional, her slacks and blouse was not the most attractive items in her closet. And if she's going to pull this off for Matt, then she's going to have to make the effort to get gussied up. "I have plans tonight."
"Oh," surprise clearly written on her face. She's known Jules for years now and while the girl wasn't lacking in companionship, her social life has been... well, it's been nothing she'd write home about. "Hot romantic date?"
Keating laughed, the thought of her and Matt's plan to fool a patient into thinking they were an item when they couldn't be more different wasn't what she'd describe as hot or romantic. Though if Slingerland makes the effort, she's sure that he'd be one hell of a slick gentleman. Given his reputation, he probably has charmed the pants, or skirt, off more than one lady with his delicious accent and devilish smile. The amusing imagine of James Bond popped into her head, sending her into another peal of laughter.
"Was what I said really that funny?" Rae asked, a little bemused.
"No, no," Jules giggled and took a deep breath to calm herself. "Just a private joke that... never mined. No, there's no hot date waiting for me. God, it's been so long since I've had a date I'm not even sure what one is suppose to be like."
Rae nodded slowly, suspicious. "So what's tonight?"
"I... I promised to do a favor for a friend."
"Oh," accepting the answer. Jules was a notoriously bad liar. Like so many of the good, honest ones, her face turns an unbecoming red when she fibs. "Okay, then. Guess you're going to miss out."
"Yeah," she sighed and grabbed the door handle. "Talk to you later?"
"Yeah," Rae smiled and waved. "Later."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"Are we ready?" Harriet Lanning asked in that soft mother's voice of hers as she slipped the soft lambskin gloves onto her hand. The day had been long, she delivered two babies almost simultaneously and she was hungry. "Where are the others?"
Dr. Brennan and Dr. Jordan exchanged quick glances. Both grinned like silly schoolgirls. Rae was having a hell of a time keeping her laughter. "Harriet, you wouldn't believe what Letty here and I just learned today."
"Really?" Harriet asked, one brow rose in gentle curiosity. "Anything to do with the new administrative reassignments?"
"Nope," Letty answered, throwing the brown scarf over her shoulders. "Not even close."
"What is it then?" Harriet asked.
"Hey guys," Dr. Colette greeted as she came up in her flaming red shirt and black slacks. "What's up?"
"The nurse's rumor mill is working double overtime," Letty informed her with a grin. She was not swallowing that stuff unless Keating walks up to her with a sonogram picture. And even then she better have a five-month stomach to prove it.
"I've notice that, everyone's all whispering and giggling all day. Driving me nuts. Where's Keating?" Jackie asked as she picked up her short leather jacket.
"Prior engagement," Rae answered.
Jackie wiggled her brows. "Male or female?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Rae replied. "But she says she's doing a favor for a friend, so I guess that's what she's doing tonight instead of going out with us."
Nodding her head, she pulled on wool gloves. "Well, for her sakes, I hope its male and he's hot for her. Anyways, does anyone know what's going on around the vines cause there's been plenty of whispers but I've got...." Tilting her head, she looked around Dr. Jordan. "Well, well... you look like the cat the swallowed the tweedy bird."
"Hello, Ladies," Dr. Slingerland stopped abruptly before the gathered doctors. "Another ladies' gathering this evening?"
Harriet glanced up and down slowly, noting that the young doctor was all spruced up and ready for an evening on the town. "You clean up nicely."
"Thank you, Dr. Lenning," pulling on leather gloves and searched his pockets for car keys. "I strive to always keep the image of the smart, sophisticated physician. It gives the patients more confidence in our ability to dole out miracles."
"Someone is in a good mood tonight," Jackie commented slyly. "Hot date?"
Dr. Slingerland grinned at her before bowing at the waist and turning on his heels toward the basement parking. "Have a good evening ladies."
Chuckling lightly, Jackie finished bundling herself up. "Now there goes a man that knows he's going to get lucky tonight." She glanced around cheerfully. "So where are we off to?"
Rae and Letty stood there for a moment, both recalling the rumors that was currently flying around then promptly dismissed it once more. Causal dating was something they knew about from their own single days. Causal sex partners were also something they knew about. And while they can easily believe Matt Slingerland to below to both sets, Jules Keating was not a casual anything. "Any suggestions?"
Jackie grinned as they headed toward the main entrance way. "There's this great jazz club that one of my patient was telling me about over on 27th Street. It's call the Blue Note and it's suppose to have some great food and fine men. I know the three of you are all married and everything. But being married doesn't make you blind to male physique. You can still appreciate some fine eye candy. And as for us single women; well... we can look for potential partners with a fine body. We should go and..." and she continued until they reached the trolley.
TBC....
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
By Didi
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters. John Wells and his friends do. Let's not get into the debate as to who owns the ideas and all that; cause let's fact it, you'll lose. Enjoy the story anyways.
Summary: The hospital rumor mill get hold of a hush-hush situation.
Note: I really am trying to make this one interesting. And just so you know, Julianna Nickolson was one of my favorites starting from when she starred in "The Other," then later on "Ally McBeal."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Chapter 2
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Dr. Slingerland caught put up to Dr. Keating just as she was about to make a convenient escape from the pediatrics ward. "A word with you doctor?"
Jules nearly jumped out of her skin as she twirled around to greet the grinning Matt with a startled smile. The ten extra minutes with Suzy Rainer was going to cost her nearly now. "Sure."
Matt glanced about, noting the number of curious faces. The amount of attention he was getting as of late was starting to become rather ... disconcerting. "In your office?"
Seeing that the nursing staff for the night shift was not even trying to pretend they weren't interested in hearing the conversation, Jules nodded her head and lead the way. Shutting the door on several startled but fascinated face, she turned and shook her head at Dr. Slingerland. "Is it me or are the staff acting kind of funny?"
"Same where I am too," Matt replied calmly as he crossed his arm and leaned his hips against her desk. While the topic of the staff's behavior is one mystery he would dearly love to solve, he had another pressing matter to attend to first. "So?"
Putting her purse down, she dropped onto the giant snake that resides on the floor of her office and second as a chair for all the little children that trooped in and out of the room daily. "It's just a friendly dinner to lend you a friendly hand with your little... girl problem."
"First of all," he pointed out with a dry smile. "She's neither little nor a girl. Secondly, of course it'll be a friendly dinner. We've had meal together without wanting to strangle each other, haven't we?"
"Yes," Jules replied slowly. "But I want to make it clear that this will just be a friendly dinner between two friends and there will not be any...extra requirements to... help along the illusion."
Dr. Slingerland frowned, having lost the rhythm of the conversation. "Are we talking about the same thing here?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "Look, the dinner will not involve anything other than dinner. Granted I understand that you want to convince her that... that you're with a woman of your..." she shrugged. "Your level of intelligence?"
"Yes," he nodded slowly.
"But I don't plan on playing the role of the possessive, doting girlfriend."
He grinned suddenly catching her drift. She was adorably sweet when her face was right with embarrassment, as this topic appeared to be. "You mean there won't be any unnecessary touching or hugging or kissing or..."
"Exactly," she pronounced with a smile, glad that they were on the same plane now. "We clear?"
Nodding, he stuck out a hand in mock sobriety. "Absolutely."
"Good," taking the hand, sure that this wasn't the most horrible plan she's put herself in.
"Excellent," bring the hand clasped in his to his lip, unable to resist teasing her just a little bit.
"MATT!"
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"Make sure Mrs. McMurrey does not get the meds before 8:00 AM. We want her nice and calm by the time surgery rolls around nine. If she starts sobering up before than and we have to medicate her once more, I'm taking it out on your heads," Dr. Letty Jordan warned with a sharp look. Nurse Gina Lealock had the grace to blush, remembering an incident not too long ago.
"Letty," Rae Brennan called as she slide one chart back into the filing area and came up to her friend. "Sean is in Seattle tonight on some conference about a Senator and I'm home alone." She nudged the cardiologist with her elbow. "Want to ditch the husband and kids and go out on the town with me?"
"Ladies night?" Dr. Jordan asked, making some final notes in her patient's chart.
"Harriet says that she's up for it if the rest of us are."
Letty nodded her head slowly and made a mental note to check with her husband about the frequency of his boy's poker nights. They often have light bantering over her lady's night yet she cannot recall a time when she's ever complained about his poker buddies stinking up her living room with cigars and beers. Yes, that should be a fun argument to get into. "The new plastic surgeon coming again?"
"Jackie?" Rae looked over at the door that separated the spunky surgeon from the rest of the staff. The young doctor had been ranting and raving earlier in the day about a neurotic patient that obsessed over the length and curve of her nose, as well as other people's noses. She probably would need a little relaxation right about now. "I was thinking about inviting her. You want her to come?"
"Sure, she has some interesting things to put in," closing the chart, she rolled her arms back and felt the tension from a full day's work scream. "Jules coming too?"
"Took off before I got a chance to ask her," Rae replied, disgruntled. She had to hope to grill her friend over the whole sperm donor stuff since she hadn't heard anything more of it since their initial talk over three weeks ago.
"No she hasn't," Clair interjected quickly from behind the receptionist area where she had been unambiguously listening in. "She and Dr. Slingerland went into her office and hasn't come out since."
Rae and Letty both turned and looked at the receptionist with equally blank looks. "Patient?"
"Not that anyone has heard of," Clair replied sweetly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation for the next question to come. But patience was never one of her many virtues and it was the one thing physicians have plenty of. Instead of waiting for the two women to ask, she blurted out, "The nurses lounge is holding a pool."
Rae slanted Letty a quick glance of uncertainty. "A pool on what?"
"Whether it going to be a boy or a girl."
Letty choked on the cold coffee she's been sipping on all day. "What?"
Clair leaned close and whispered conspiratorially. "Jamel in the tech room told Jenny from the second floor, who told Billy on the third floor, who told Janice on the fifth floor, who told Amy from the fourth floor, who got it Emily on the second floor, that they got that the report on Dr. Keating's pregnancy was positive." She glanced over her shoulder as another nurse came up from behind her to hand Dr. Jordan a partially completed patient order. "Charlotte, tell them about the rumor."
Charlotte looked blankly at Clair for a moment.
"*The* rumor," Clair emphasized with the widening of her eyes.
"Oh," the hassled nurse finally got it. "You mean Dr. Keating."
"And..." Clair encouraged. "The paternity?"
Glancing hesitantly at the two waiting doctors who were rapidly becoming fascinated by the story, "Jamel said that report named Dr. Slingerland as the father," she made a face and left them to talk.
Rae stared at Clair's mischievous face. "Matt and Jules?"
Letty shook her head in disbelief. "You people are insane."
"I'm just telling you what we've been hearing," Clair replied with a smile as she picked up some of the paper on the desk. "The two of them have been seen in each other's company more frequently than before and now with them closeted away..." she let the thought hang as she left with a smug smile. There was nothing like hospital gossip to make her day.
Rea and Letty stood there for a moment, neither one sure what to say. "No way."
"Can't be."
"It's just idle gossip."
"Jules isn't some silly fool hearted girl to fall for a pretty face."
Letty looked at Rae funny. "Pretty face."
"Well, the boy does have the cute British thing going for him," Rae replied with a shrug. "And I definitely agree with you, it's just idle gossip and nothing to it."
Nodding her head, Dr. Jordan paged her husband on the page. "I'm going to tell that husband of mine that I'm going out tonight. Why don't you round up Jules and Dr. Colette?"
"Okay," Rae replied, still chuckling over the ridiculous rumor over two of the most opposite people she's ever known in life. Slingerland was all playboy and goofiness while Keating was all innocence and sweetness. She should tell Jules about the rumors, she'd probably get a real kick out of it. "I'll go see about rescuing Jules from Matt's evil clutches and then go get Jackie."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Knocking, Rae waited patiently until a smiling, overly happy Slingerland pulled the door open. "Good evening, Dr. Brennan."
The cheerful greeting, said in that low sexy British accent, had Rae raising her brows and rethinking her earlier assessment of the situation. "Evening, Slingerland. Problem with a patient?"
"Nothing Jules didn't handle," Matt replied with a wide smile. He turned and looked at the pediatrician currently reclining on her over size snake on the floor. Inclining in his head, "Thanks again," before stepping aside and allowing Dr. Brennan and himself to trade places juxtapose the office door.
Dr. Keating said nothing, wiggled her fingers at him before collapsing onto the stuff animal.
Rae watched as Slingerland fairly skipped down the hall before turning her friend. Jules looked tired, resigned and just a little uncertain. "Hi there." When the only reply she got was a quick wiggle of the fingers, Rae propped herself down next to her friend. "What's going on?"
"Oh nothing much," Jules replied with a sigh as she reached to her left and grabbed a big blue bear. Resting her chin on the bear, she looked over at Rae and smiled for her friend. "Ever done something that was... less that brilliant?"
Rae smiled and tilted her head, her expression ironic and slightly regretful. "My affair with a certain Greek doc that we work with now."
Jules turned and smiled at her. "At least you had fun doing it, right?"
Thinking about the nights and days in the sand-blown tent. The excitement of working side by side to save lives. The way her heart just melted when he looked at her with those dark, exotic eyes.... "Yeah, it was plenty fun."
Laughing at the smile that graced the oncologist's face, Dr. Keating threw the bear at her. "I'll bet you did."
Rae couldn't help herself, she laughed. "Okay, enough about my sordid life." She leaned on her side and looked at the pixie face was currently scrunched up in concentration. "What going on in your life? Anything new? Any plans for the near future."
Shrugging her thin shoulders, Jules sighed and got to her feet slowly, not really wanting to share her plans for the evening. "Nothing much. Thinking about getting one of those cute little scooters to ride around in."
"Good, about the scooter I mean." Rae got up too, getting the feeling that her friend wasn't up to her usual perky self. "How about coming out with the ladies tonight. Letty, Harriet and maybe even Jackie are going to keep me company while Sean is away. We're doing a bonding experience."
Jules smiled. "Sounds like fun."
"Great, then I'll put you down and go get..."
"But I can't tonight," she interrupted, picking up her coat and purse again. While functional, her slacks and blouse was not the most attractive items in her closet. And if she's going to pull this off for Matt, then she's going to have to make the effort to get gussied up. "I have plans tonight."
"Oh," surprise clearly written on her face. She's known Jules for years now and while the girl wasn't lacking in companionship, her social life has been... well, it's been nothing she'd write home about. "Hot romantic date?"
Keating laughed, the thought of her and Matt's plan to fool a patient into thinking they were an item when they couldn't be more different wasn't what she'd describe as hot or romantic. Though if Slingerland makes the effort, she's sure that he'd be one hell of a slick gentleman. Given his reputation, he probably has charmed the pants, or skirt, off more than one lady with his delicious accent and devilish smile. The amusing imagine of James Bond popped into her head, sending her into another peal of laughter.
"Was what I said really that funny?" Rae asked, a little bemused.
"No, no," Jules giggled and took a deep breath to calm herself. "Just a private joke that... never mined. No, there's no hot date waiting for me. God, it's been so long since I've had a date I'm not even sure what one is suppose to be like."
Rae nodded slowly, suspicious. "So what's tonight?"
"I... I promised to do a favor for a friend."
"Oh," accepting the answer. Jules was a notoriously bad liar. Like so many of the good, honest ones, her face turns an unbecoming red when she fibs. "Okay, then. Guess you're going to miss out."
"Yeah," she sighed and grabbed the door handle. "Talk to you later?"
"Yeah," Rae smiled and waved. "Later."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"Are we ready?" Harriet Lanning asked in that soft mother's voice of hers as she slipped the soft lambskin gloves onto her hand. The day had been long, she delivered two babies almost simultaneously and she was hungry. "Where are the others?"
Dr. Brennan and Dr. Jordan exchanged quick glances. Both grinned like silly schoolgirls. Rae was having a hell of a time keeping her laughter. "Harriet, you wouldn't believe what Letty here and I just learned today."
"Really?" Harriet asked, one brow rose in gentle curiosity. "Anything to do with the new administrative reassignments?"
"Nope," Letty answered, throwing the brown scarf over her shoulders. "Not even close."
"What is it then?" Harriet asked.
"Hey guys," Dr. Colette greeted as she came up in her flaming red shirt and black slacks. "What's up?"
"The nurse's rumor mill is working double overtime," Letty informed her with a grin. She was not swallowing that stuff unless Keating walks up to her with a sonogram picture. And even then she better have a five-month stomach to prove it.
"I've notice that, everyone's all whispering and giggling all day. Driving me nuts. Where's Keating?" Jackie asked as she picked up her short leather jacket.
"Prior engagement," Rae answered.
Jackie wiggled her brows. "Male or female?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Rae replied. "But she says she's doing a favor for a friend, so I guess that's what she's doing tonight instead of going out with us."
Nodding her head, she pulled on wool gloves. "Well, for her sakes, I hope its male and he's hot for her. Anyways, does anyone know what's going on around the vines cause there's been plenty of whispers but I've got...." Tilting her head, she looked around Dr. Jordan. "Well, well... you look like the cat the swallowed the tweedy bird."
"Hello, Ladies," Dr. Slingerland stopped abruptly before the gathered doctors. "Another ladies' gathering this evening?"
Harriet glanced up and down slowly, noting that the young doctor was all spruced up and ready for an evening on the town. "You clean up nicely."
"Thank you, Dr. Lenning," pulling on leather gloves and searched his pockets for car keys. "I strive to always keep the image of the smart, sophisticated physician. It gives the patients more confidence in our ability to dole out miracles."
"Someone is in a good mood tonight," Jackie commented slyly. "Hot date?"
Dr. Slingerland grinned at her before bowing at the waist and turning on his heels toward the basement parking. "Have a good evening ladies."
Chuckling lightly, Jackie finished bundling herself up. "Now there goes a man that knows he's going to get lucky tonight." She glanced around cheerfully. "So where are we off to?"
Rae and Letty stood there for a moment, both recalling the rumors that was currently flying around then promptly dismissed it once more. Causal dating was something they knew about from their own single days. Causal sex partners were also something they knew about. And while they can easily believe Matt Slingerland to below to both sets, Jules Keating was not a casual anything. "Any suggestions?"
Jackie grinned as they headed toward the main entrance way. "There's this great jazz club that one of my patient was telling me about over on 27th Street. It's call the Blue Note and it's suppose to have some great food and fine men. I know the three of you are all married and everything. But being married doesn't make you blind to male physique. You can still appreciate some fine eye candy. And as for us single women; well... we can look for potential partners with a fine body. We should go and..." and she continued until they reached the trolley.
TBC....
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*