The Talk

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights or the characters associated with Strong Medicine.

Across the street at Mike's Diner, Kayla and Andy had just finished lunch and were talking. "So how are things between you and Peter?" Andy asked.

"Things are good," Kayla said. She smiled to herself. "Really good."

"The two of you have been spending an awful lot of time together," Andy said sounding like a mother. She couldn't help it. Kayla was like one of her children.

"I know. I know. I can't help it," Kayla said. "He makes me feel so happy."

"Do you love him?"

"I think I do?"

"I mean are you in love with him?"

"I am," Kayla said without even having to think about it. "That's the first time that I've ever said that a loud….to someone other than Peter I mean."

"So do you think that you're going to marry him?"

"It's too early to tell. I'd like to, but you know Peter, he's not exactly the marrying kind."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Andy, this is the longest relationship that he's ever been in. He's never even lived with a woman. It's like he's been completely avoided any sort of commitment all his life. He's had plenty of chances. What makes you think that he's suddenly going to decide that he wants to get married?"

"Has he told you that he loves you?"

"Yes he has," Kayla smiled. A lot.

"Then, what's the problem?"

"I'm afraid that he's going to get scared and run away or worse he's going to decide that he doesn't love me anymore and leave."

"He wouldn't do that."

"I know. It's just that that thought is always in the back of my mind."

"Has it ever occurred to you that you are the first woman that Peter has ever been in love with?"

"Come on Andy, he's dated half of the women in the hospital. With all of the women that he's been with, how is it possible that he's never been in love? Or better yet, how is it possible that he picks me, the small town farm girl who's only been as far as Philadelphia when he's so worldly?"

Andy smiled, "The heart works in mysterious ways." What Kayla was saying was true, That the odds were against them, but from the moment that she stepped foot in the hospital, Andy could tell that they had a special connection. It was also very obvious early on how they felt about each other.

"Come on, Andy. I'm being serious."

"Alright, let me ask you a question. Have you ever been in love?"

"Before Peter?"

"Yes. Before Peter?"

"Well, I thought I was in love with Jamar, my ex-boyfriend, but I really wasn't."

"How do you know?"

"Because what I feel for Peter is so much stronger. It's almost like we're the same person. He just looks at me and I melt. And I imagine what our lives are going to be like five, ten, twenty years from now. With Jamar, I think I got up to about two years and then I blanked. " Kayla smiled, "What I feel for Peter is nothing like what I felt for Jamar."

"Well, that's good," Andy said.

Kayla smiled, "Yeah, it is. It's great actually. I've never been happier."

"Then, what's the problem?"

"I'm just not sure he's ready to commit."

"Have you spoken to him about it?"

"Not really. No."

"Well, I suggest you do so and soon. For all you know, he may be ready to propose and is just waiting for a sign that you are ready to accept."

"You're right, Andy," Kayla said." I will talk to him. I promise. I just wish I knew what was going through his mind."

"I know you do," Andy said. "But that's not what love is about. Love is about unpredictability and surprises. It's supposed to be exciting. If you knew what was going to happen in advance what would be the fun it that? Besides, that's exactly what you have with Peter."

"Yeah, he is great, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is. I swear to you if I were ten years younger….." Andy stopped. She decided that it was probably best not to finish that sentence.

"If you were ten years younger, you'd what?"

"Honestly? I'd probably kill him. I'm way to conservative. I'm a military brat remember. Our personalities wouldn't click and we'd be at each others throats. Kind of like me and my ex-husband. I am way too conservative for Peter. Plus, I think that I scare him."

Kayla laughed, "I wouldn't say that you scare him. It's more like you keep him on hos feet."

"You mean I scare the crap out of him."

"Yeah that's pretty much it," Kayla laughed.

"God, he still calls me Dr. Campbell. Even when we're all of duty, it's still Dr. Campbell. Am I really that bad?"

"No, Peter is just respectful, that's all. And so is Lana and so are the other doctors." Kayla realized that she wasn't helping.

"I'll tell you one thing though. I have definitely calmed down. I am nothing compared to what I was ten years ago. I was very strict and very disciplined. I'm a lot calmer now."

"Sure you are," Kayla said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"I have."

"Okay, Dr. Campbell, whatever you say."

"Cut it with the Dr. Campbell crap. We're at lunch. Now, getting back to our original conversation, Peter is definitely out of the question. Now, Biancavilla on the other hand, I would consider."

"What about Dr. Morton?"

Andy looked down at her plate her cheeks turning pink. "You know, I think that it's time for us to be getting back to the hospital. What do you think?"

Kayla looked at the clock. "I think that we have a little time left."

"Well, I have some work to do before I have to go back on duty." She began totaling up what they owed.

"So wait, you had me talking about Peter for like an hour and you're not going to even give me a little tidbit of information about Milo?"

"That's pretty much the plan," Andy said. "Okay, you owe 7.25 plus one dollar for a tip."

"Alright," Kayla said. They gathered their things and headed over to the register. "Not even a little, tiny, baby tidbit?"

"Not even a baby one," Andy said. "Remember to talk to Peter."

Kayla couldn't believe it. Andy was refusing to even give her a tiny bit of information about Milo, but she was still giving her advice about Peter. "You are unbelievable."

"Kayla," Andy said sternly sounding like a mother again.

"Yes, Mom," Kayla said. "I'll talk to him tonight."

Andy laughed, "Good, let me know how it goes tonight."

"Well, if it goes really well tonight, I might have to let you know tomorrow."

"Haven't you heard of a phone?" Kayla gave her a look. "Okay. Okay. I can wait until tomorrow. I still have some discipline in me."

Kayla laughed. Andy paid her bill. While Kayla was paying hers, Andy was checking her change. She noticed that one of the dollar bills that she had gotten had all scribbling all over it. "I hate it when people do this. They should arrest people who deface money."

"Yeah, you have defiantly lightened up," Kayla laughed.

Andy walked towards the register. "Where are you going?" Kayla asked.

"I'm going to exchange this and tell the cashier that he'd better do a better jo of watching his money."

"I thought you had work to do," Kayla said.

"It's just going to take a minute."

"Andy, you want to be able to eat here again right?" Andy nodded. "Give me the bill." Kayla pulled out her wallet and took out a nice, clean, crisp dollar bill and handed it to Andy. She then took the bill that Andy had received from the cashier. "Feel better now?"

Kayla wondered what could be so bad about the dollar. She looked at the front of the bill. "Oh, my God."

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