Looking Back, Looking Forward...

Working in a hospital you get used to having a dozen people talking at you all at once, so when nobody is talking at all you know that something is going down.

"Hey Carla," J.D mused sidling over to the nurses' station. "How was dinner last night?"

Flashback

As Todd sat poking the food on his plate he gave a wry smile. "I love breast...chicken breast that is."

Sophie squealed with laughter and held up her hand. "High five!"

Carla and Turk sat there stunned, the food dropping off their forks

"It was interesting," Carla replied looking slightly uncomfortable. "Did you manage to entertain yourself Bambi?"

Flashback

J.D stood at the edge of a luxurious looking swimming pool and admired a purple inflatable horse. "This is awesome."

"I know," Sandy enthused as she started to strip off her clothes. J.D took a few extra seconds to admire the horse, before he looked up and realised Sandy was butt naked.

"Oh my god!" he gasped as he covered his eyes.

"Gonna join me?" Sandy asked before she took a flying leap into the pool.

"Oh," J.D burbled. "Ok," he hesitated a moment before hurriedly attempting to remove his clothes. In his rush, J.D got twisted in his shirt and fell into the pool. He quickly regrouped and removed the rest of his clothes, then headed towards the purple horse. As his fingers touched the plastic the pool was illuminated and a man stormed out of the house.

"GET THE HELL OUTTA MY POOL!"

"Y...Your pool?" J.D swallowed and looked around for Sandy. He discovered she has disappeared and so he clambered out of the pool, bundled his wet clothes into his arms and was chased naked through the garden. Just as he thought he was safe J.D tripped and fell into a mound of freshly cut grass.

"It tickled my giblets."

"What?"

"I watched a cooking show," J.D said weakly. "They cooked chicken," he added and then walked off quickly.

"Oh," Carla said blankly before averting her attention back to some paperwork. She was starting to make progress when Dr Cox appeared with a mug of coffee and looking more annoyed than usual. "My, someone is looking cheerful today."

"I'm so happy I might actually insert my stethoscope into the colon of the next person who crosses my path and check their heart beat from the inside." As the words left his lips the maintenance man came past with a mop, leaving Dr Cox's sneakers doused in a pool of dirty water. Dr Cox growled and cracked his knuckles. "Hey soap jockey I thought the aim in mopping was to cleanse the floor not infuse my footwear with deadly bacteria."

"You shouldn't be in the way then," the maintenance man shrugged. "I work in a straight line. Anything in my way gets mopped by ol' Tom here."

"You call your mop Tom?" Dr Cox said in disbelief.

"We spend so much time together it seems only right," the maintenance man sighed as he absent mindedly swiped ol' Tom over the crotch of Dr Cox's scrubs.

"Hey!" Dr Cox yelped, snarled and then childishly tipped his coffee onto the floor. Carla shook her head as he whistled loudly. "Better clean that up pleb." He grinned and then stalked off toward the elevator.

As the doors closed Dr Cox looked down at his sneakers and frowned deeply - not only were they dirty but he was likely to end up with a nasty crotch infection as well. The doors hissed open at the next floor and he stepped out into the corridor and noticed a familiar figure walking in his direction. "Gina!"

Gina ignored him as she strode past him and into the elevator, the doors closing without her even looking up to acknowledge him.

Carla was still hunched over her paperwork when she heard heavy footsteps approach from behind her.

"Nurse Espinosa."

She turned around, looked up and was surprised to see the head nurse, Nurse Collins. She was an older woman, with thick arms and a tight bun.

"Yes."

"I don't know what you're rules are at home but while you're at my hospital I would appreciate it if you removed those earrings and tied back your hair."

"But Nurse Collins, this is..."

"I will not repeat myself Nurse Espinosa," Nurse Collins said sternly as she crossed her arms. Carla reluctantly took out her earrings and hunted out a scrunchie to tie her long hair back. "Much better."

Carla gave a small nod and waited until Nurse Collins has left before she tucked her earrings safely away in her bag.

"Oh my god Carla what happened?" Elliot gasped as she slapped a clipboard onto the counter. "Did someone die? Because if someone died and you didn't tell me I'm gonna feel so bad."

"Nobody died Elliot."

"Then why is your gorgeous Latina hair tied back and your oversized earrings removed?"

"Nurse Collins has individuality issues."

"Oh," Elliot said blankly. "Well at least you can see your ears now...some people like ears."

"Right," Carla frowned half-wishing Elliot would go away. "So are you gonna tell me what happened with Doctor Noll last night?"

"Dr Noll?" Elliot swallowed and began fumbling with a patient file.

Flashback

"Is that a plastic paddling pool?" Elliot asked looking at the jungle decorated, inflatable, and water filled children's pool on the roof of Dr Noll's block of flats.

"Wasn't really the room for a proper above ground number," Dr Noll shrugged and bent down to fiddle with something in the dark. Suddenly the rooftop was illuminated in a soft purple glow.

"Oh how pretty," Elliot smiled before a loud 'zap' rang out causing her to jump. "Did the light just kill something?"

"It's a bug zapper," Dr Noll winced. "We get a lot of mosquitos."

"Oh."

"So you want go for a swim."

"In that?"

"Yes."

"Is it clean?"

"Of course it's clean," Dr Noll frowned and then smiled. "Trust me, I'm a doctor."

Elliot gave a small laugh and watched as Dr Noll removed his shirt. She fought every facial muscle not to let her mouth fall open as she observed his chiselled body and deeply tanned torso.

"You're wearing your cozzie right?"

"My what?"

"Swimming costume?"

"Oh, yes," Elliot peeped and slowly started taking off her skirt. Dr Noll took the opportunity to glance over in Elliot's direction and let a hiss of breath escape through his teeth as he watched her remove her shirt.

"Oh almost forgot," he enthused and pulled a bottle of wine and two glasses from an esky.

"You've thought of everything," Elliot beamed as she was handed a glass of cool red wine.

"After you," Dr Noll smiled and motioned to the pool. Elliot giggled as she stepped into the surprisingly warm water and sat down. "You approve?"

"It's certainly a new experience," Elliot shrugged. "And you do this after every late shift?"

"In summer," Dr Noll nodded and sat himself next to her. "I come up here, have a couple of glasses of wine and just watch the stars dance."

"That's so romantic," Elliot sighed looking up at the stars.

"I don't know," Dr Noll chided. "You're the first girl I've brought up here."

"I'm honoured," Elliot smiled and took a mouthful of wine.

"So Dr Reid have you ever had sex in a paddling pool, on a rooftop in the middle of the city before?"

As the words hit Elliot she spat out her mouthful of wine at looked stunned at Dr Noll who smiled back coolly and swished the wine in his glass.

"Well?" Carla prompted.

"It was very nice," Elliot mumbled, closed the file and fled into the elevator.

"Just say it," Dr Cox groused as he shot J.D daggers.

"Fine," J.D breathed. "You look like you've peed yourself."

"Better now?"

"Much."

"I don't know what that rat-bastard did but it just won't dry."

"Stand on a chair at the hand dryers in the bathroom and put your crotch under the dryer bit."

"Why would I do that?" Dr Cox frowned. "And why, Naomi, do you know that?"

"Well..."

Before J.D had a chance to reply the elevator doors in front of them opened and Gina, who looked none to happy to see either of them, was surprisingly already inside. J.D and Dr Cox stepped into the elevator just before the doors closed. As they rode, J.D noticed he was stuck in the middle.

"Are you still ignoring me?" Dr Cox asked, looking over at Gina who didn't reply.

"No I'm talking to you," J.D declared trying to lighten the mood.

"I wasn't talking to you Nicole," Dr Cox groused. "You can't ignore me forever you know."

Oh god this is uncomfortable. They were getting along so well yesterday. What could possibly have happened? Maybe nothing happened, maybe they just need something to break the tension.

"So what happened yesterday?" J.D piped up and for the first time Dr Cox and Gina looked over at each other.

Flashback

"You don't have to," Gina pouted grabbing Dr Cox's hand.

"I know," Dr Cox agreed getting to his feet. "That's the problem."

"Why is it a problem?"

"Because," Dr Cox breathed as he pulled his hand away. "Because I like you."

"Ok, and this is a problem why?"

Dr Cox let out a hiss of breath and got to his feet. "I can't stay ok. In fact if I stay another five minutes I'll never leave and instead we'll end up having sex and I'll lie there watching you sleep until dawn and I can't do that."

"Why?" Gina demanded getting to her feet. "Ow."

"Stay off that ankle."

"You're not making any sense Perry," Gina continued ignoring him. "I don't see what the problem is? You like me, I like you and we clearly have a connection..."

"I know, I do."

"I thought it was what you wanted."

"Oh believe me, I do want it."

"So stay," Gina frowned and moved closer to him, ignoring the pain in her ankle.

"Gina," Dr Cox said softly. "We can't do this."

"You're not a virgin are you?"

Dr Cox gave a quiet laugh. "No."

"At least give me some semblance of a reason Perry," Gina breathed gently moving her arms around his waist.

Dr Cox opened and closed his mouth a couple of times and found himself wrapping her in his arms. Gina rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes, for some reason something felt very right about being there. "The only reason I can give you is that I like you too much for this to happen," Dr Cox said gently and kissed the top of her head. He pulled away and headed for the door. "I have to go, I really have to go."

"Is none of your business Jessica," Dr Cox groused as he tried to ignore the rather hurt look in Gina's eyes.

"Ok," J.D sighed and looked over at Gina. "How's your ankle."

"Fantastic," Gina spat as the doors opened and she limped out.

"What did you do?" J.D gasped, looking at Dr Cox who shook his head and didn't even bother answering. "Must've been bad."

J.D, Dr Cox and Gina all ended up at the Nurses Station where Carla was still doing paperwork. J.D flashed her a smile as he snatched up a file and she smiled and then glanced at Dr Cox and Gina who were doing their best to ignore each other.

"What's going on with those two?" she asked curiously.

"Well from what I can tell she's not talking to him because he's done something really bad," J.D replied amused.

"What did he do?" Carla asked, moving closer to Gina.

"What do you care?" Gina hissed. "I'm not talking to him any more so you should be pleased."

"Hey don't give me attitude," Carla groused as Dr Cox closed his eyes in preparation for an impending headache.

"Shouldn't you lot be working?" Dr Anderson declared as he appeared beside Gina.

"My, someone scrubs up well," Carla chided, noticing the impressive suit Dr Anderson was sporting.

"Thanks," he grinned somewhat nervously. "I thought I should at least look impressive when they destroy my career."

"That won't happen," J.D declared. "You're too good a doctor, man."

"Yeah well, try telling that to the kid's parents huh?" Dr Anderson sighed and then focussed his attention on Gina. "I thought you quit in protest."

"I figured I could do more to help you here than on the dole queue," Gina shrugged.

"Thanks," he smiled coyly at her and then checked his watch. "Crap, I better get going."

"Good luck," Carla enthused.

"I'll need it," Dr Anderson breathed as he headed for the elevator.

"You think he's got a chance?" J.D asked Gina who was looking even more troubled than before.

"Not if Bruce has his way," she said sadly.

"Excuse me," a voice said hesitantly. The entire group turned to see a young couple standing arm in arm. "Um, we're Mr and Mrs Parker," said the man. "We're here to give evidence about a doctor, Dr Anderson, could you tell us where we have to go?"

Dr Cox stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Dr Perry Cox. I was working the night your daughter died."

The woman's face began to twitch and despite the outpouring of emotion she was about to illicit he continued.

"The truth is, sometimes we doctor's make mistakes, we do," he took a sharp intake of breath. "They come in all forms, wrong dosage, misdiagnosis, an error in surgery and yes, sometimes we pass on the wrong information to families. On the night your daughter died Dr Anderson did all he could under the circumstances. I mean, from our point of view we had a busload of kids all needing medical attention and to try and keep track of absolutely everything that's going on around you is impossible."

"That doesn't make up for giving us false hope," the woman hissed.

"You're absolutely right but then it also doesn't make it right that the anger, grief and guilt that you're feeling should destroy the career of an excellent doctor does it?"

Dr Cox, Carla, Gina, J.D and the Parkers were all silent for a moment before Mr Parker spoke. "Dr Cox do you have children?"

Dr Cox swallowed. "I have a son."

"So you understand that losing a child is the hardest thing I parent can ever go through?"

"I do."

"And you can see that this might impair someone's judgement."

"Of course, it's perfectly understandable."

Mr Parker nodded slowly. "We'll talk things over but thankyou for sharing your point of view, it helps."

"Anytime," Dr Cox breathed and watched as the Parker's headed for the elevator.

"You are amazing," J.D beamed.

"Yeah," Dr Cox said quietly and looked over at Gina whose thoughts were written all over her face. "I'm sorry."

She tried to form a few words but nothing came out and instead she hurried off down a corridor.

"Oh look there's Turk," J.D announced feebly and fled down another corridor.

"I knew this would happen," Carla scorned. "I warned you didn't I?"

Dr Cox narrowed his eyes, grunted and stalked off toward the elevator. Carla shook her head and then went back to her paperwork.

"Always ends in tears," she breathed.