First chapter = disclaimers.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Ellen forced herself to smile in the mirror. What she was doing in a hotel room in California getting ready to go out with a man other than Steve Sloan was beyond her. She had taken Carol's advice and very carefully explained the situation to Steve. She thought he had taken the news fairly well. Of course, it was hard to tell. She had heard stony silence for a few minutes. Then he muttered something under his breath. Then he finally sighed and thanked her for helping out his dad.
Then he swore he'd shoot off the guy's nether regions if he so much as looked at her wrong.
Ellen shook her head. One nice conversation with Steve and he puts you back on his protection list. She had to admit, Steve was in the right field. It must be a familial compunction to help others at your own risk, Ellen mused.
If she ever had children, they'd probably spend their spare time helping old ladies across the street. Then when they became teenagers, they would mess up every relationship they got into.
Ellen frowned. Maybe the relationship gene skipped generations. Mark did not seem to have any problems with women.
That was, of course, assuming things with Steve went smoothly, and she could move back, and that she could find a job to move back.
Ellen stuck her tongue out at her mirror. Her life sucked. No doubt about it. Get one thing the way you want it and the rest of your life gets pushed into limbo.
A knock at her hotel room door jarred her from her musings. She strode over to open it, and Dr. Tremble was on the other side. He showed his best smile and offered her his arm.
"I'm so glad you agreed to come with me tonight. I really wanted to impress the staff at Community General, and I have the feeling that you're just the ticket," he said as he led her towards the elevator.
Ellen suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. What made this guy think she liked being treated as a nice bobble to compliment his outfit?
"You're too kind." Ellen managed to say in a pleasant voice.
"Ellen, when we get there, try to be especially nice to Dr. Sloan. People at the hospital tend to look to him for guidance. I want to make a good impression."
Inwardly, Ellen broiled. The guy was a total jerk. He was lecturing her to be nice at a party. What gave him the right? At least Steve lectured her about ethical issues. He at least had a valid reason to lecture her. This guy was simply using her to advance his career. The only thing stopping Ellen from snapping at him was that she was basically using him in return. Granted, it was because of Mark's personal request, but she was still deceiving him nonetheless.
With a polite smile plastered onto her face, Ellen grimly escorted Alvin into the party. Mark greeted them jovially and began to introduce himself. Ellen let her eyes gaze over Mark's shoulder as he made small talk with Dr. Tremble. In no time, she found her gaze met with Steve's. He wasn't happy. She could tell that by the look in his eyes.
What, exactly, he was unhappy about was another matter. He could be angry with his dad for putting him into this position. He could be angry at having to pretend not to know Ellen. He could be unhappy because of the possessive way that Dr. Tremble was hovering around Ellen, or his shoes could be too tight.
She smiled a genuine smile when Jesse went over and started talking to Steve to distract him. She Steve smirk a little then glance up to meet her own again. He deliberately rolled his eyes. She choked down a laugh. Obviously, Steve knew exactly what Jesse was attempting to do.
After a few minutes, Mark left to talk to some other guests and Alvin got himself into a very important conversation with an important investor. As the conversation progressed, Ellen saw that she was neither needed nor particularly wanted at that moment, so she quietly slipped away.
Her movements did not go unnoticed, and she was quickly met in the corner of the room by Steve.
"Enjoying the party?" he asked as he handed her a glass of punch.
"Oh, it is great. If that guy was actually my date I'd have killed him by now."
"Why don't you? That would give me something to do other than stand around looking useless."
"I'm adverse to the bright orange they make you wear in prison. What are you doing here anyway? I thought this was a big mucky-muck gathering."
"Ah, it is, but Dad didn't have an escort, so…"
"So, he tricked you into coming."
"Yes."
"You know, the two of you are more alike…"
"Hey, I do not trick people," he paused a moment, "Often."
Ellen smiled and changed the subject, "I don't see many people I know here."
"I don't think you ever met many people at Community General besides the ones Dad knew. And those have been strictly warned not to notice you."
"Mark's an amazing person, I'll give him that."
"Yeah, you know, speaking of my father, what exactly does he have you doing here anyway? I mean I know that you're with Mr. Charming over there, but what is it that Dad wants?"
"I'm looking in on the estimable Dr. Alvin Tremble because Mark thinks there isn't something quite right about him. The only thing I've come up with proof on is that he's egotistical."
"Its funny Dad didn't mention anything to me about it."
"Not really. I don't think that his main goal was getting information on Dr. Tremble."
"Well, I know that, but I don't think that Dad is too thrilled about him getting hired. Are you sure you haven't found anything on him yet?"
"Well, the only thing I've found is that he had an unlisted phone number in his wallet. I finally found out that it belonged to a married woman and that it was an extension at a private cabin somewhere. Like I said, it only proves that he's a jerk, and only proves that circumstantially. She could have just given him the number to call for her test results or something."
"Do you really believe that?"
"No, but it doesn't prove anything."
"It does if he was fraternizing with a patient."
"Yes, but it doesn't prove he was fraternizing. Besides, what ever happened to your lectures about my gossipy stories?"
"I've revised my opinions based upon my belief in woman's intuition?"
"Nice try. Not good, but nice."
"Ellen, there you are," Alvin said as he sidled up next to her, "I see you've met Dr. Sloan's son."
"Yes, the detective is quite a fascinating man. Did you know that he lives with his father?"
Alvin's face lit up at that comment, "You two must be very close then. Say, Ellen, I'm going to talk with those gentlemen over there. I was going to take you with, but if you're in a conversation…"
"I'll be fine without you. I'll see you later," Ellen replied with a smile.
"Great!" Alvin sauntered off.
Steve watched him go, "What was that about?"
"He wants me to get on Mark's good side for him."
"And he thinks that I'm the ticket?"
"Well, you are, aren't you?"
Steve grinned, "Well, if you really want to get on my good side, I know this fabulous little restaurant…"
"You're so cheap, Sloan. You're asking me to the restaurant you own?"
"Hey, I'm a police officer. I don't have spare cash just floating around. Besides, do you really want to be here when Dr. Perfect returns?"
"If I'm not, I'll lose my ground with him."
"So? I don't think Dad would mind. Jesse says that he's already got half of the hiring committee dedicated against hiring him."
"He what? And you didn't see fit to tell me this earlier?"
Steve grinned, "That would be against our normal pattern of exchanging information."
"You're exasperating. And you're father is worse."
"But you love us anyway."
"You… Oh, you know I can't say anything nasty after that. You're playing dirty."
"No, playing dirty would be reminding you about how much my dad adores you… How much I adore you."
"Steve, don't you think that declarations of love should be made somewhere private?"
"Who's declaring love? I'm talking adoration here. If I wanted to declare love, I'd do this," Steve bent down and quickly kissed her on the lips, "Only I'd do it in a longer fashion, and somewhere private."
Ellen looked dazedly back at him, "I'll get my coat."