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 face it, you'll lose. Enjoy the story anyways.
Summary: There's nothing like the past rearing it's ugly head to throw a wrench into a perfectly good relationship.
Rating: PG-13 on this chapter.
Timeline: Dutifully noted is how the holiday has already passed and everyone had a very lovely time. But since this story is written about a chapter every two weeks, we're still at early December, just after Thanksgiving. So let's just assume that Christmas is about three weeks away.
Author's Suggestion: Read the last chapter to get this one going.
Note: We're fast coming up to when Presidio Med is going to start airing once more. Here's to hoping I can finish this up quickly and not confuse myself.
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Chapter 14
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"Who is Mitzi?"
Fighting the urge to squirm, Matt wondered which god he angered today. "Where is that delivery person. I'm positively starved. Are you hungry? I can make us something first if..."
"Don't change the subject or ignore the question," grabbing him by the loosely knotted tie around his neck; she always knew those silly things were useful. "Who...is...Mitzi?"
He cleared his throat, knowing without having to consider it that whatever answer he gave now was going to thoroughly upset Jules. "Well... She's.... um..."
Mildly annoyed and a little amused by the amount of discomfort she was currently subjecting him to, "You have thirty seconds before I get up and walk out that door."
Closing his eyes, he let out a breath. "She's someone I occasionally see."
"Occasionally see?" she asked, all curious now.
This was the part that was going to get him in trouble. "And share a bed with."
She blinked, not quite understanding it yet but definitely getting there. His browed furrowed together as she thought it through. "You guys have sex."
"Occasionally," he added with a wince.
"Causal sex?" she asked, not quite feeling it ye.
He held his breath, waiting for it, "Yes."
The exasperation came first, sharp and almost resigned. Then the anger, which had her clutching the tie round his neck a little harder, leaving her knuckles white and eyes blazing with fury. And then the sharp stab of betrayal that forced her to let go and pull away.
"Jules," reaching out for her as she scooted along the couch, away from him.
She held a hand out to stop him. "Don't touch me."
He forced himself not to put his hands on her. The anger he could deal with, it was something he could deal with. But the hurt in her eyes... it hurt him to see it in those soft eyes. And it killed him to know that he had caused it. "Please, let me explain."
She shook her head, fighting the tear that threatened to show her weakness. She turned to look at him, with every intention to get up and leave. But didn't follow through. Instead, she sat there for a full minute, just looking at him. Maybe it was the way he held his hands out, asking for understanding. Maybe it was because his eyes were pleading with her to give him a chance. Maybe it was cause his brows were knitted together with concern for her. There were a lot of maybes that went through her mind. But the bottom lines was, she stopped. "You have two minutes."
"Two minutes," he promised before taking a deep breath. He could do this. He had to do this. "Mitzi is a flight attendant with United Airline. She is based out of Chicago. We met at a bar and..." searching his memory for a good word here. "We hit off. We had an understanding. No commits, no strings attached. It was just..." he was going to catch hell for his but there was no other way to put it. "It was just fun, nothing more. When she flies into San Francisco, we'd meet, have a drink and..." he made a helpless gesture, hoping she wouldn't force him to say it.
She shut her eyes and nodded her head.
"I swear, I haven't seen hide nor hair of her in months now. And most assuredly not since we've been involved," he insisted urgently, praying that she believed him. "I swear on my dear mother's grave that I have no intentions of seeing her much less bedding her."
She frowned at him. "You're mother's still alive, you idiot. You just got a phone message from her."
He blinked at her. "It is just a saying, Jules."
Glaring at him, "You really want to be arguing with me right now?"
Acknowledging that piece of wisdom, he shook his head quickly. "I will swear on whatever it is you want me to swear by that I didn't even know Mitzi is coming to town. Hell, I've not been here since Thursday morning to collect my clothes."
She eyed him suspiciously, not sure if she wanted to trust those appealing eyes. But the man looked down right desperate. Besides which, Slingerland was too smart to leave such an ridiculous message on the machine for her to hear if he had wanted to cheap on her. Logically, she could really only conclude that he was telling the truth. Plus... she really did want to believe him. "And you don't plan on ever seeing her again?"
He lit up like the Christmas lights that lined the streets already. "As you Americans say it, scout's honor," holding up two fingers in much the same manner as a soldier would salute his commanding officer.
Rolling her eyes, she fell into his open arms again. "Oh Lord, I must be insane to trust a rogue like you." Matt counted his blessings and said nothing as they cuddled for a moment. "I thought you were going to make me coffee?"
Chuckling light, he got up to get the coffee. "Hungry?"
"More tired than anything," she said with a yawn.
Pouring cream from a small carton he had picked up exclusively for her, he came around with the two steaming cups. "How about I draw you a bath? I've got a nice big tub upstairs in the master bedroom, one of the reasons I brought this place. Man can't soak in one of those little things they have now a days."
Amused, "They have clawed lion's feet or something?"
"No, but it does have a swan-head faucet."
Surprised and delighted, "Really?"
He looked at her, enjoying the sight of the smile on her face. Leaning forward, he couldn't resist kissing her solidly in mouth. "Shall I run a bath for you?"
A little bemused by the sudden kiss, she nodded her head. "And if there's Italian when I'm done, I'll let you see what I bought at Victor's Secret last week."
Getting up in a hurry, "I'll run and water and call the restaurant. Wallet's on the counter if they show up while up the stairs." Jules's laughter followed him as he fairly raced up the steps to his bedroom.
Still grinning with amusement, she flopped back onto the coach and took a quick sip of the dark bitter blew. She couldn't explain why she trusted him to have told the truth, only that she felt it. And the glow of happiness and relief that came... it was well worth making him squirm like a worm on a hook. Now, what was she going to do about making sure there weren't anymore bimbos like Mitzi coming to knocking on his door....
The knocking on her front door both startled and amused her. Chuckling at her own silliness, she scrambled to her feet. Dinner! Looks like Slingerland was going to get to see the lace teddy she bought after all. Grabbing his wallet and digging out two twenties before she pulled the door open without bothering with the peephole, she came to abrupt halt.
She was exactly what Jules had expected a woman that Slingerland would date. Five-nine, blonde manes that looked like it never needed taming, blue eyes framed by long curling lashes, not a freckle in sight to blemish that perfect complexion; she was a live size Barbie-doll, every man's fantasy.
"Oh, hello," lavender shaded eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't realize the doc had a housekeeper. Is he in?"
For some unexplained reason, Jules had to fight the urge to laugh. Holding the door at an angle, she leaned against it, not admitting entrance. "Is he expecting you?"
"No, no," she smiled, curling those perfectly painted lips. "I dropped by to surprise him."
Nodding her head with perfect understanding, "Oh, he'll definitely be surprised all right. Want to come in?" holding the door out wider for her.
"Thank you," dragging a travel bag with her on wheels. "Isn't it a bit late for you to be still working?"
"I wouldn't know," Jules answered with a friendly smile as she shut the door and watched as the woman easily slung her coat across the back of the coach and set her bag down. "I work odd hours."
"I know the feeling," she replied with a laugh, discreetly looking about. "Could you get the doc for me?"
"Sure," she answered cheerfully before skipping to the foot of the stairs. Smiling widely at the pretty stewardess, she turned her head and hollered, "SLINGERLAND!!!"
As the human Barbie-doll stared wide-eyed at the crazed housekeeper, pounding footsteps announced the presence of the good doctor. "Jules? Jules? What's wrong?" he asked as he took the last three steps of the stairs at a leap and came to a stumbling stop three feet from the amazed flight attendant. "Mitzi?" he asked, horrified.
"Surprise!" streaking a pose despite the strangeness of the situation. She was always glad to see the cute British doctor.
"You have no idea," he replied, not quite knowing what to do next. Turning, he was arrested by the sight of a coolly collected Dr. Keating leaning against the wall, arms crossed and lips curled in dry amusement. "I can explain."
"I'm positive you can," she replied, pushing off from the wall and going over to the coach. Picking up her discarded jacket, she turned just as Matt snatched the garment away from her.
"Jules, Jules, just hold on a minute," he pled, wondering what god in heaven did he piss off tonight to be doing this to him, TWICE!!!
"Matt," she explained in her most reasonable tone. She was enjoying this a lot more than she expected to. "I'm going to take myself, my jacket," trying to grab it back from him and not succeeding, damn his long arms, "And this nice cup of coffee you made me and go upstairs for my bath. You and Mitzi need to talk." She smiled sweetly at him as his surprise had him lowering the arm that still held her jacket. Taking that and her cup of coffee, she leaned close and whispered, "If she's still here when I'm done, I'm going home in a cab." With a nod to Mitzi, she headed upstairs satisfied that she's made her position clear to him.
Silence descended as Matt stood there a little stunned. Who would have believed him? Apparently only sweet Jules Keating.
"I'm going to guess that you're not delightfully happy to see me," Mitzi hazard dryly. She may not have made the top twenty in her high school graduating class, but she wasn't blind.
"No," he answered truthfully. If nothing else, he and Mitzi always had an honest relationship. "You should have called."
"I did," she reminded him.
"Then you should have waited until I called back," he pointed out to her. "We had agreed upon that."
"Yes," she smiled guiltily. "I'm sorry. I guess I just didn't think that you'd settle down so soon."
Matt shook his head at her. "We're just dating. But this is a monogamous relationship."
"I got it," she said, picking up her jacket with a smile. "Tell her that..."
"I don't need to," he replied, walking her to the door. "Jules and I don't have secrets. She knows the deal with us and what you are to me. Not happy about it, mind you, but she understands that it was what it was." Emphasizing the past tense in the sentence so that there was no misunderstanding. "I'll make it up to her."
She nodded her head, "She seems nice. I thought she was the housekeeper," she laughed softly, shaking her blonde locks. "She must have thought it was funny not to have kick up a fuss the way she did. Definite keeper. What is she anyways? Schoolteacher? She's got that I-love-kids look."
"Doctor, actually. Pediatrics," he replied, opening the door for her. "Need help hailing a cab?"
"With these legs?" she scoffed. She paused at the door, studying him for a moment. "She the real thing or just a phase? I'm asking cause I want to know whether to call you up the next time I hit town."
For a moment, it was on the tip of his tongue to say that Jules was the real thing. But habit and caution had him shaking his head. "She's important to me."
More observant than most would give her credit for, Mitzi mentally crossed the doc's name off her list. "Take care of yourself, doc."
"You too," he replied as she hit the concrete sidewalk then the street, bringing one hand up and one leg out. Two seconds flat, a cab pulled up beside her. Waving, he watched until the taillights disappeared around the corner.
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"Do you even know her last name?" Jules asked, after his carefully maneuvering of the conversation through most of dinner. They've talked about everything else except for Mitzi's sudden appearance. For a while, she was content to allow him to stir, but she was just mischievous enough to want to tease.
Choking on some pasta, he glared at her for having timed her question at the exact moment he was inhaling. "Dunning," he replied. "Mitzi Dunning."
Nodding with approval, she pushed a large meatball around her plate. "So how old is she, anyways? I mean, she doesn't look that old at all. Twenty? Twenty-one? Or maybe it the long hair that threw me off. Most professional women generally cut their hair cause it takes less effort tot style."
He looked at her soberly, contemplating on what must be going through her mind. "She's twenty-six."
"Hum... really?" picking up her coffee, she sipped it silently and peeked at him from over the top of the rim. "And did she tell you that? Or did she show you her driver's license?"
Answering that line of question was going to make him look ten times the fool he was already beginning to feel like. But suffer he must. "Dessert?" getting up to clear the table even as she smiled widely at his lack of response.
Watching him as he puttered around in his spacious kitchen, a far cry better stocked than her own was, looking ridiculous good in his dress shirt and slacks with a white apron tied over it. Few men could retain their masculine appeal while wearing something that would put the women's movement back fifty years. "Would you have slept with her if I hadn't been spending the night here today?"
"No," without hesitation.
She linked her fingers together in front of her and rested her chin on them. "Does it bother you that I know about her? Or if I knew any of the women you were sleeping with?"
He filled the skin with water and added dishwashing detergent. He supposed that he could have used the dishwasher, like any civilized normal man would, but he found that scrubbing dishes helped to relax him. And God knows that he needed to relax if Jules persisted on these questions. "Yes, it does."
Coming up behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist under the scratchy apron. "Why?"
His hands paused in the soapy water. "Because I do not want you thinking that I... I don't want you to doubt me when I..." he didn't know how to complete the sentence. And try as he may, he couldn't quite find the right words to express himself. "I don't want you thinking of past relationship, they have nothing to do with the present. Just as I don't want to be thinking of your past lovers."
"Why not?" pressing her lips against the base of his neck.
The jolt of heat made its way from neck head to loins in three point three seconds. "I don't want to imagine you in another man's arms."
Surprised and touched, she smiled behind his back, "Why Dr. Slingerland.... I do believe you care." Giving him a quick squeeze of affection, she made her way to the frig. "You said something about dessert?"
A little at sea, he blinked for a moment before resuming his washing of the dishes. "Tiramisu, top shelf."
"Want to eat it in bed?" she asked, taking the little cardboard box out and going in search of a plate to place the delicate treat on.
"And get crumbs in it?" he asked, beginning to rinse the now clean dishes.
"Your very judicious about cleanliness, aren't you?" leaning against the kitchen counter, setting the two forks she had found next to the plate. "Won't have thought that of you."
"Mother always had a housekeeper when we were going up," he explained with a grin. "The house was spotless even if it smelled of cleansing products every damn day. Habits are hard to break."
"You have a housekeeper?" she asked, wondering if he was going to answer the question about eating dessert in bed.
"Lucille, come every two weeks to make sure I live as a man of my age and profession should." He grinned and dried his hands on a towel from a rack by the sink.
"Tell you what," she offered, picking put the plate with delight. She loved tiramisu, especially if she got to share it with a guy that had an accent that made her knees go weak. "You let me eat this in bed with you," standing on tip toe to drop a kiss on his nose, "And I'll let you see me in my new teddy."
It was a no brainer. "Deal." She was so adorable. "And Jules," thinking back to an earlier question. "There isn't anyone now but you."
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"The park? You sure?"
"Clear as day. Feeding ducks of all things."
"And you sure they were together? I mean, they didn't just accidentally meet there or something?"
"Nope, people that accidentally meet in the park don't come prepared with a bag of crumbs and holding hands the entire time."
"So it really is true."
"Did you doubt it?"
"Well... yeah, I guess I did kind of. I mean... Keating is such a goody-goody. And Slingerland is... he's bad news to anything in a skirt."
"Opposites, my dear."
"That's just plain myth."
"Then how would you explain those two?"
There was a silence. "For the sake of the baby?" came the hesitant theory.
"I would have sooner guessed really good sex."
Rae shook her head. "Ladies, this is a hospital, not the local gossip club. Let's get back to work here."
Scrambling away, the two nurses couldn't help but to continue their whispered conversation on the newest piece of news on the Keating/Slingerland front. It was the juiciest piece of gossip since Dr. Cromdall decked Dr. Underbrink.
"Don't be too hard on them," Letty advised with a grin, having enjoyed the better part of that exchange. "It's not like they're the only ones curious about what's going on with those two. Heck, I'd pay a pretty penny to know what they did all weekend."
"Besides feed the ducks at the park?" Rae asked tiredly but with a smile. From the looks of things, Jules had nothing to worry about in the relationship department. "Oh, I'm sure Slingerland found ways to distract Jules." Signing a chart, she looked up just as Anita handed her another chart. "Thank you."
"Anita!" Slingerland called as he came jogging into the station. "Where's Keating?"
"In with a patient," she answered a little startled. "Did you need her for something?"
"Yes," he replied a little breathless from having taken four flights of stairs upward. "I need about fifteen minutes of her time after she's done with this patient. Can you squeeze me in?"
"Fifteen?" she asked dubiously as she glanced down at the appointment book.
"It's very important," he emphasized. "I'll wait in her office," then took off toward that said room before Anita could reply.
"What was that all about?" Rae asked, more than mildly curious now.
"May have something to do with the lab results he just got," Norman offered smugly.
Letty and Rae turned as one. "What lab results?"
Normal continued to sort through the stack of papers. "Dr. Slingerland had Dr. Keating's blood drawn on Friday. Full work up. Labs just came back with the results."
"And?" Letty wanted to know.
"And what?" he shrugged. He's offered all he was going to for the day as he picked up papers and came around the counter. "How would I know? I'm not a doctor."
Rae, having done the biopsy, was instantly filled with dread. "Anita, call the labs. I want a copy of that result, ASAP."
Letty paused for a moment, professional and personal loyalties conflicting. "Are you sure that's a wise idea. What if it's doctor/patient confidential material?"
"I'm her oncologist," Rae replied with all seriousness. "If she's had a relapse, I want to know about it now rather than later."
The personal side won. "Anita, give me the phone. The boys in the labs are afraid of me."
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Okay, I had hoped to have this story done before the next episode of Presidio Med was shown so I don't clash with cannon. But as you can see, that's not going to happen. (Shrugs) Oh well, maybe I can incorporate the show into my story.
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 face it, you'll lose. Enjoy the story anyways.
Summary: There's nothing like the past rearing it's ugly head to throw a wrench into a perfectly good relationship.
Rating: PG-13 on this chapter.
Timeline: Dutifully noted is how the holiday has already passed and everyone had a very lovely time. But since this story is written about a chapter every two weeks, we're still at early December, just after Thanksgiving. So let's just assume that Christmas is about three weeks away.
Author's Suggestion: Read the last chapter to get this one going.
Note: We're fast coming up to when Presidio Med is going to start airing once more. Here's to hoping I can finish this up quickly and not confuse myself.
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Chapter 14
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"Who is Mitzi?"
Fighting the urge to squirm, Matt wondered which god he angered today. "Where is that delivery person. I'm positively starved. Are you hungry? I can make us something first if..."
"Don't change the subject or ignore the question," grabbing him by the loosely knotted tie around his neck; she always knew those silly things were useful. "Who...is...Mitzi?"
He cleared his throat, knowing without having to consider it that whatever answer he gave now was going to thoroughly upset Jules. "Well... She's.... um..."
Mildly annoyed and a little amused by the amount of discomfort she was currently subjecting him to, "You have thirty seconds before I get up and walk out that door."
Closing his eyes, he let out a breath. "She's someone I occasionally see."
"Occasionally see?" she asked, all curious now.
This was the part that was going to get him in trouble. "And share a bed with."
She blinked, not quite understanding it yet but definitely getting there. His browed furrowed together as she thought it through. "You guys have sex."
"Occasionally," he added with a wince.
"Causal sex?" she asked, not quite feeling it ye.
He held his breath, waiting for it, "Yes."
The exasperation came first, sharp and almost resigned. Then the anger, which had her clutching the tie round his neck a little harder, leaving her knuckles white and eyes blazing with fury. And then the sharp stab of betrayal that forced her to let go and pull away.
"Jules," reaching out for her as she scooted along the couch, away from him.
She held a hand out to stop him. "Don't touch me."
He forced himself not to put his hands on her. The anger he could deal with, it was something he could deal with. But the hurt in her eyes... it hurt him to see it in those soft eyes. And it killed him to know that he had caused it. "Please, let me explain."
She shook her head, fighting the tear that threatened to show her weakness. She turned to look at him, with every intention to get up and leave. But didn't follow through. Instead, she sat there for a full minute, just looking at him. Maybe it was the way he held his hands out, asking for understanding. Maybe it was because his eyes were pleading with her to give him a chance. Maybe it was cause his brows were knitted together with concern for her. There were a lot of maybes that went through her mind. But the bottom lines was, she stopped. "You have two minutes."
"Two minutes," he promised before taking a deep breath. He could do this. He had to do this. "Mitzi is a flight attendant with United Airline. She is based out of Chicago. We met at a bar and..." searching his memory for a good word here. "We hit off. We had an understanding. No commits, no strings attached. It was just..." he was going to catch hell for his but there was no other way to put it. "It was just fun, nothing more. When she flies into San Francisco, we'd meet, have a drink and..." he made a helpless gesture, hoping she wouldn't force him to say it.
She shut her eyes and nodded her head.
"I swear, I haven't seen hide nor hair of her in months now. And most assuredly not since we've been involved," he insisted urgently, praying that she believed him. "I swear on my dear mother's grave that I have no intentions of seeing her much less bedding her."
She frowned at him. "You're mother's still alive, you idiot. You just got a phone message from her."
He blinked at her. "It is just a saying, Jules."
Glaring at him, "You really want to be arguing with me right now?"
Acknowledging that piece of wisdom, he shook his head quickly. "I will swear on whatever it is you want me to swear by that I didn't even know Mitzi is coming to town. Hell, I've not been here since Thursday morning to collect my clothes."
She eyed him suspiciously, not sure if she wanted to trust those appealing eyes. But the man looked down right desperate. Besides which, Slingerland was too smart to leave such an ridiculous message on the machine for her to hear if he had wanted to cheap on her. Logically, she could really only conclude that he was telling the truth. Plus... she really did want to believe him. "And you don't plan on ever seeing her again?"
He lit up like the Christmas lights that lined the streets already. "As you Americans say it, scout's honor," holding up two fingers in much the same manner as a soldier would salute his commanding officer.
Rolling her eyes, she fell into his open arms again. "Oh Lord, I must be insane to trust a rogue like you." Matt counted his blessings and said nothing as they cuddled for a moment. "I thought you were going to make me coffee?"
Chuckling light, he got up to get the coffee. "Hungry?"
"More tired than anything," she said with a yawn.
Pouring cream from a small carton he had picked up exclusively for her, he came around with the two steaming cups. "How about I draw you a bath? I've got a nice big tub upstairs in the master bedroom, one of the reasons I brought this place. Man can't soak in one of those little things they have now a days."
Amused, "They have clawed lion's feet or something?"
"No, but it does have a swan-head faucet."
Surprised and delighted, "Really?"
He looked at her, enjoying the sight of the smile on her face. Leaning forward, he couldn't resist kissing her solidly in mouth. "Shall I run a bath for you?"
A little bemused by the sudden kiss, she nodded her head. "And if there's Italian when I'm done, I'll let you see what I bought at Victor's Secret last week."
Getting up in a hurry, "I'll run and water and call the restaurant. Wallet's on the counter if they show up while up the stairs." Jules's laughter followed him as he fairly raced up the steps to his bedroom.
Still grinning with amusement, she flopped back onto the coach and took a quick sip of the dark bitter blew. She couldn't explain why she trusted him to have told the truth, only that she felt it. And the glow of happiness and relief that came... it was well worth making him squirm like a worm on a hook. Now, what was she going to do about making sure there weren't anymore bimbos like Mitzi coming to knocking on his door....
The knocking on her front door both startled and amused her. Chuckling at her own silliness, she scrambled to her feet. Dinner! Looks like Slingerland was going to get to see the lace teddy she bought after all. Grabbing his wallet and digging out two twenties before she pulled the door open without bothering with the peephole, she came to abrupt halt.
She was exactly what Jules had expected a woman that Slingerland would date. Five-nine, blonde manes that looked like it never needed taming, blue eyes framed by long curling lashes, not a freckle in sight to blemish that perfect complexion; she was a live size Barbie-doll, every man's fantasy.
"Oh, hello," lavender shaded eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't realize the doc had a housekeeper. Is he in?"
For some unexplained reason, Jules had to fight the urge to laugh. Holding the door at an angle, she leaned against it, not admitting entrance. "Is he expecting you?"
"No, no," she smiled, curling those perfectly painted lips. "I dropped by to surprise him."
Nodding her head with perfect understanding, "Oh, he'll definitely be surprised all right. Want to come in?" holding the door out wider for her.
"Thank you," dragging a travel bag with her on wheels. "Isn't it a bit late for you to be still working?"
"I wouldn't know," Jules answered with a friendly smile as she shut the door and watched as the woman easily slung her coat across the back of the coach and set her bag down. "I work odd hours."
"I know the feeling," she replied with a laugh, discreetly looking about. "Could you get the doc for me?"
"Sure," she answered cheerfully before skipping to the foot of the stairs. Smiling widely at the pretty stewardess, she turned her head and hollered, "SLINGERLAND!!!"
As the human Barbie-doll stared wide-eyed at the crazed housekeeper, pounding footsteps announced the presence of the good doctor. "Jules? Jules? What's wrong?" he asked as he took the last three steps of the stairs at a leap and came to a stumbling stop three feet from the amazed flight attendant. "Mitzi?" he asked, horrified.
"Surprise!" streaking a pose despite the strangeness of the situation. She was always glad to see the cute British doctor.
"You have no idea," he replied, not quite knowing what to do next. Turning, he was arrested by the sight of a coolly collected Dr. Keating leaning against the wall, arms crossed and lips curled in dry amusement. "I can explain."
"I'm positive you can," she replied, pushing off from the wall and going over to the coach. Picking up her discarded jacket, she turned just as Matt snatched the garment away from her.
"Jules, Jules, just hold on a minute," he pled, wondering what god in heaven did he piss off tonight to be doing this to him, TWICE!!!
"Matt," she explained in her most reasonable tone. She was enjoying this a lot more than she expected to. "I'm going to take myself, my jacket," trying to grab it back from him and not succeeding, damn his long arms, "And this nice cup of coffee you made me and go upstairs for my bath. You and Mitzi need to talk." She smiled sweetly at him as his surprise had him lowering the arm that still held her jacket. Taking that and her cup of coffee, she leaned close and whispered, "If she's still here when I'm done, I'm going home in a cab." With a nod to Mitzi, she headed upstairs satisfied that she's made her position clear to him.
Silence descended as Matt stood there a little stunned. Who would have believed him? Apparently only sweet Jules Keating.
"I'm going to guess that you're not delightfully happy to see me," Mitzi hazard dryly. She may not have made the top twenty in her high school graduating class, but she wasn't blind.
"No," he answered truthfully. If nothing else, he and Mitzi always had an honest relationship. "You should have called."
"I did," she reminded him.
"Then you should have waited until I called back," he pointed out to her. "We had agreed upon that."
"Yes," she smiled guiltily. "I'm sorry. I guess I just didn't think that you'd settle down so soon."
Matt shook his head at her. "We're just dating. But this is a monogamous relationship."
"I got it," she said, picking up her jacket with a smile. "Tell her that..."
"I don't need to," he replied, walking her to the door. "Jules and I don't have secrets. She knows the deal with us and what you are to me. Not happy about it, mind you, but she understands that it was what it was." Emphasizing the past tense in the sentence so that there was no misunderstanding. "I'll make it up to her."
She nodded her head, "She seems nice. I thought she was the housekeeper," she laughed softly, shaking her blonde locks. "She must have thought it was funny not to have kick up a fuss the way she did. Definite keeper. What is she anyways? Schoolteacher? She's got that I-love-kids look."
"Doctor, actually. Pediatrics," he replied, opening the door for her. "Need help hailing a cab?"
"With these legs?" she scoffed. She paused at the door, studying him for a moment. "She the real thing or just a phase? I'm asking cause I want to know whether to call you up the next time I hit town."
For a moment, it was on the tip of his tongue to say that Jules was the real thing. But habit and caution had him shaking his head. "She's important to me."
More observant than most would give her credit for, Mitzi mentally crossed the doc's name off her list. "Take care of yourself, doc."
"You too," he replied as she hit the concrete sidewalk then the street, bringing one hand up and one leg out. Two seconds flat, a cab pulled up beside her. Waving, he watched until the taillights disappeared around the corner.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"Do you even know her last name?" Jules asked, after his carefully maneuvering of the conversation through most of dinner. They've talked about everything else except for Mitzi's sudden appearance. For a while, she was content to allow him to stir, but she was just mischievous enough to want to tease.
Choking on some pasta, he glared at her for having timed her question at the exact moment he was inhaling. "Dunning," he replied. "Mitzi Dunning."
Nodding with approval, she pushed a large meatball around her plate. "So how old is she, anyways? I mean, she doesn't look that old at all. Twenty? Twenty-one? Or maybe it the long hair that threw me off. Most professional women generally cut their hair cause it takes less effort tot style."
He looked at her soberly, contemplating on what must be going through her mind. "She's twenty-six."
"Hum... really?" picking up her coffee, she sipped it silently and peeked at him from over the top of the rim. "And did she tell you that? Or did she show you her driver's license?"
Answering that line of question was going to make him look ten times the fool he was already beginning to feel like. But suffer he must. "Dessert?" getting up to clear the table even as she smiled widely at his lack of response.
Watching him as he puttered around in his spacious kitchen, a far cry better stocked than her own was, looking ridiculous good in his dress shirt and slacks with a white apron tied over it. Few men could retain their masculine appeal while wearing something that would put the women's movement back fifty years. "Would you have slept with her if I hadn't been spending the night here today?"
"No," without hesitation.
She linked her fingers together in front of her and rested her chin on them. "Does it bother you that I know about her? Or if I knew any of the women you were sleeping with?"
He filled the skin with water and added dishwashing detergent. He supposed that he could have used the dishwasher, like any civilized normal man would, but he found that scrubbing dishes helped to relax him. And God knows that he needed to relax if Jules persisted on these questions. "Yes, it does."
Coming up behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist under the scratchy apron. "Why?"
His hands paused in the soapy water. "Because I do not want you thinking that I... I don't want you to doubt me when I..." he didn't know how to complete the sentence. And try as he may, he couldn't quite find the right words to express himself. "I don't want you thinking of past relationship, they have nothing to do with the present. Just as I don't want to be thinking of your past lovers."
"Why not?" pressing her lips against the base of his neck.
The jolt of heat made its way from neck head to loins in three point three seconds. "I don't want to imagine you in another man's arms."
Surprised and touched, she smiled behind his back, "Why Dr. Slingerland.... I do believe you care." Giving him a quick squeeze of affection, she made her way to the frig. "You said something about dessert?"
A little at sea, he blinked for a moment before resuming his washing of the dishes. "Tiramisu, top shelf."
"Want to eat it in bed?" she asked, taking the little cardboard box out and going in search of a plate to place the delicate treat on.
"And get crumbs in it?" he asked, beginning to rinse the now clean dishes.
"Your very judicious about cleanliness, aren't you?" leaning against the kitchen counter, setting the two forks she had found next to the plate. "Won't have thought that of you."
"Mother always had a housekeeper when we were going up," he explained with a grin. "The house was spotless even if it smelled of cleansing products every damn day. Habits are hard to break."
"You have a housekeeper?" she asked, wondering if he was going to answer the question about eating dessert in bed.
"Lucille, come every two weeks to make sure I live as a man of my age and profession should." He grinned and dried his hands on a towel from a rack by the sink.
"Tell you what," she offered, picking put the plate with delight. She loved tiramisu, especially if she got to share it with a guy that had an accent that made her knees go weak. "You let me eat this in bed with you," standing on tip toe to drop a kiss on his nose, "And I'll let you see me in my new teddy."
It was a no brainer. "Deal." She was so adorable. "And Jules," thinking back to an earlier question. "There isn't anyone now but you."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"The park? You sure?"
"Clear as day. Feeding ducks of all things."
"And you sure they were together? I mean, they didn't just accidentally meet there or something?"
"Nope, people that accidentally meet in the park don't come prepared with a bag of crumbs and holding hands the entire time."
"So it really is true."
"Did you doubt it?"
"Well... yeah, I guess I did kind of. I mean... Keating is such a goody-goody. And Slingerland is... he's bad news to anything in a skirt."
"Opposites, my dear."
"That's just plain myth."
"Then how would you explain those two?"
There was a silence. "For the sake of the baby?" came the hesitant theory.
"I would have sooner guessed really good sex."
Rae shook her head. "Ladies, this is a hospital, not the local gossip club. Let's get back to work here."
Scrambling away, the two nurses couldn't help but to continue their whispered conversation on the newest piece of news on the Keating/Slingerland front. It was the juiciest piece of gossip since Dr. Cromdall decked Dr. Underbrink.
"Don't be too hard on them," Letty advised with a grin, having enjoyed the better part of that exchange. "It's not like they're the only ones curious about what's going on with those two. Heck, I'd pay a pretty penny to know what they did all weekend."
"Besides feed the ducks at the park?" Rae asked tiredly but with a smile. From the looks of things, Jules had nothing to worry about in the relationship department. "Oh, I'm sure Slingerland found ways to distract Jules." Signing a chart, she looked up just as Anita handed her another chart. "Thank you."
"Anita!" Slingerland called as he came jogging into the station. "Where's Keating?"
"In with a patient," she answered a little startled. "Did you need her for something?"
"Yes," he replied a little breathless from having taken four flights of stairs upward. "I need about fifteen minutes of her time after she's done with this patient. Can you squeeze me in?"
"Fifteen?" she asked dubiously as she glanced down at the appointment book.
"It's very important," he emphasized. "I'll wait in her office," then took off toward that said room before Anita could reply.
"What was that all about?" Rae asked, more than mildly curious now.
"May have something to do with the lab results he just got," Norman offered smugly.
Letty and Rae turned as one. "What lab results?"
Normal continued to sort through the stack of papers. "Dr. Slingerland had Dr. Keating's blood drawn on Friday. Full work up. Labs just came back with the results."
"And?" Letty wanted to know.
"And what?" he shrugged. He's offered all he was going to for the day as he picked up papers and came around the counter. "How would I know? I'm not a doctor."
Rae, having done the biopsy, was instantly filled with dread. "Anita, call the labs. I want a copy of that result, ASAP."
Letty paused for a moment, professional and personal loyalties conflicting. "Are you sure that's a wise idea. What if it's doctor/patient confidential material?"
"I'm her oncologist," Rae replied with all seriousness. "If she's had a relapse, I want to know about it now rather than later."
The personal side won. "Anita, give me the phone. The boys in the labs are afraid of me."
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Okay, I had hoped to have this story done before the next episode of Presidio Med was shown so I don't clash with cannon. But as you can see, that's not going to happen. (Shrugs) Oh well, maybe I can incorporate the show into my story.