"I've worked at County for years, first as a nurse up in OB and then down in the ER, I was the charge nurse for quite some time. I guess I just wanted to stay at a place where I was familiar." Abby gave the other physician a noncommittal smile. Not to mention the fact that you couldn't pay me to work in the hospital as Richard and I really didn't want the hassle of relocating, especially since I have the condo. There were just some things she was not willing to discuss with anyone, let alone a man she barely knew.
"You, you were a nurse before deciding to become a doctor? What changed your mind about career paths?" Dubenko was fidgeting with the salt and pepper shakers as he spoke to her.
"Nothing changed my mind, I always intended to become a doctor…life just sort of got in the way of those plans for a while." Can we please change the subject here? Ask me about that bizarre book you gave me at Christmas, ask me about free radicals…just stop with the 'Pick Apart Abby' routine. Abby didn't want to explain about her ex husband or the ways that he repeatedly screwed her over in regards to medical school.
She noticed that when she began to speak, Dubenko stopped with his fidgeting and focused completely on everything she said. It was both flattering and unnerving at the same time. I had no idea I was so fascinating. Is he actually hanging on every word I say? That's a first. Deciding to turn the tables a bit she threw out the first question that came to mind. "What made you want the position at County, yourself?"
Dubenko tossed his head to the side, flipping his tumbled curls back off his forehead, something Abby noticed he did fairly often. Why doesn't he just cut that mop if it bothers him so much? Then he looked off to the side, some point behind her and Abby wondered what he was looking at before it dawned on her that he was thinking. Am I going to get a dissertation on the pros and cons of his decision? Is he going to draw a diagram out of sugar granules?
"I ah, wanted to get back into the teaching side of medicine. County is a great facility as far as that's concerned. I enjoy sharing knowledge and experience that I've gained over the years. Beyond that, I was also given the opportunity to focus on my desire to conduct research projects. Really, that's a win/win scenario for both myself and the hospital, they see the dollar signs and grants, I see a chance to gain new insights and further develop the craft we practice. And I do get a kick out of seeing my name in print." He smiled sheepishly at that admission.
"Oh." Abby wasn't quite sure how to respond to the older doctor, she knew that he tried his best to connect to the interns and med students at County and often times failed miserably. How do I tell him that his teaching style sucks?
As if reading her train of thought, Dubenko gave her another one of his patented lop-sided smirks. "Of course I don't always succeed with my goals as far as teaching is concerned, as you well know. While I may be eager to impart the knowledge often times I meet resistance from those I'm trying to reach." He winked at her before continuing, "I suppose scribbling on the wall like a mad scientist didn't win me any popularity points, did it?"
I guess he isn't as clueless as I like to think he is, and it's not like we make it easy for the guy. Abby couldn't help but smile, "I think Neela called you 'Willy Wonka' after that."
Dubenko chuckled at that himself. "I'm not that off the wall, Lockhart."
You're a puzzle, Lockhart, one that I want very much to figure out. You are, in turns, aggressive and submissive…confident and then insecure. I want to know why that is, and just what it is about you that gets to me. And you do get to me, Lockhart. Dubenko couldn't help but wonder about his dinner companion. It seemed as if she couldn't quite make up her mind whether she liked him or loathed him.
Their food came and Dubenko reached automatically for the ketchup, pausing with the bottle over the basket of French fries they were going to share. "Uh, you don't mind if I…?" he motioned with the bottle, signaling that he intended to pour the substance directly on the fries.
"No, go ahead." Abby gave him a weird look as if to ask what else one would do with a basket of fries.
"Former girlfriend of mine used to do this thing with mayonnaise and mustard. It was totally revolting, and I'm not exactly someone with a weak stomach, all things considered." He made a face as he recalled just what the pale yellow mess looked like.
"Gross. Is that why she's a former girlfriend instead of a current?" Abby asked with a note of vague interest.
"You'd think that wouldn't you, Lockhart? But no, unsettling condiment choices aside, we simply couldn't make our schedules gel well enough to make a go of it." He looked at her then, all kidding gone from his expression, "Honestly, it was my schedule that was inflexible. As is usually the case. Being tied to a pager can sometimes be the kiss of death as far as relationships go."
Why in the world am I telling her this? She doesn't care about my relationship woes. Dubenko busied himself with dressing his burger and then mashing the bun with his fingertips while he tried to find a way to salvage the awkward turn in the conversation.
"So it's not just a myth that surgeons have a terrible lifestyle?" She was smiling at him sympathetically.
"I wouldn't say terrible exactly." He popped a fry into his mouth and then said, "Well, no, actually I would. I think if he had opposable thumbs even my cat would leave me."
"You have a cat?"
"Schrodinger."
"You named your cat…"
"Yeah. Yeah, after a quantum mechanics theory. It was that or Fluffy."
Abby laughed then and Dubenko couldn't help but grin at her. "Is he fluffy?"
"Actually no. He's a hairless cat. I'm allergic to most other breeds. And before you ask, yes he's pretty odd looking." He couldn't help but be amused by the expression on the intern's face. He knew that his cat creeped a lot of people out owing to the fact that Schrodinger looked more like a large rat than a feline.
"That's ah…"
"More than you ever wanted to know about my choice in animal companions." He finished for her.
"Yes."
"What about you, Lockhart? Pets? Children?" He wanted to know about the little details in her life, if she'd share, even though he had earlier decided to shy away from asking her anything personal.
"Half dead house plants." She volunteered before taking a large bite of her burger.
Okay. I guess the show and tell portion of this date is over. Date? Can I really call this a date? I doubt Lockhart would consider it as such. Dubenko merely arched his eyebrow at Lockhart and concentrated on finishing his own dinner.