He opened his eyes, looked right through me, then fell back onto the pillow. Apparently Greg wasn't in any hurry to get up either.

The truth was out now. Foreman and Chase wouldn't be able to resist blabbing away to someone, anyone, and I couldn't stop them. It doesn't make me any less of a doctor than I was yesterday or the day before. I know what I am and I'm perfectly content with that. How many people-gay, straight, black, white or purple can say that? The whispers and the stares would die down eventually. I didn't really care. I could take it. Another juicy piece of gossip would come around sooner or later and our little affair would be a distant memory.

The alarm clock screeched, and Greg nearly jumped out of his skin. I half-expected the clock to be smashed to bits, but he simply reached over and turned it off without resorting to violence. Tomorrow the clock might not be so lucky. My old alarm clock was in the spare bedroom for back-up.

"Hey," I greeted him with a final brush of his hair.

"Hey yourself," he sighed, rubbing his eyes. "There should be a law."

I had to ask. "A law for what? Waking up in the morning?"

"Alarm clocks going off at all hours, going to work before noon, stuff like that."

"People get sick before and after noon, Greg, therefore we have to be there to help when they do."

"There should be a law against getting sick before noon and on weekends," he said, sitting up. "Everything would be so much easier. We could sleep in. We could have Saturdays off. Wouldn't that be great?"

"Sure, but life doesn't work that way. "

"I know, but a guy can dream." He limped to the bathroom without turning around.


The hospital was strangely quiet. Only a few people milling about, not the zoo it usually was. It was impossible to tell whether it was just a rare lull or the calm before the storm. Maybe everyone just decided to wait until after lunch to see a doctor about their ailments. Maybe they would jam the place on Monday at 12:01pm.

"Catch up day?" Greg asked with complete sincerity as we walked down the corridor.

"Pretty much," I answered. "Probably tomorrow too."

"Hmph. Paperwork can wait."

"I missed four days," I reminded him, pushing the elevator button. "I hate paperwork and filing as much as the next guy, but if I don't get caught up now, I never will."

"That never bothered me."

"It bothers me. If you have some free time, you're more than welcome to come by and help. I'll save you a nice big stack. We can keep each other company."

"The day Carmen Electra invites me to go skinny dipping in her Jacuzzi is the day I'll think about helping you with your paperwork," he grinned. "Wait...what the hell am I saying? Maybe if you're nice, Carmen will let you tag along and watch."

"You're too kind."

"No, I'm too much. But you already know that," he said as we stepped on the elevator. The grin stayed put.

"My patients would probably feel better knowing that I'm up-to-date on their files," I said pointedly.

"Imagine that. Does that apply only to the Oncology department? You might want to let the brain surgeons in on that fascinating concept."

"Greg, I'm just saying–"

Jimmy, I'm just saying that I'm the last person to tell you how to do your job. Do what needs to be done. I can't, and won't, stop you."

The elevator opened and we made our way to our respective offices.

"Believe me," I said with a trace of anger that wasn't aimed at him, "I didn't ask for shingles."

"Somehow I have the feeling everyone who has had shingles says that," he responded.

He paused in front his office and looked down the corridor. Cameron and Chase were marching toward us, their white coats fluttering like capes.

"My crew, coming for my brilliant guidance," Greg smirked. I had no idea if that was a serious statement or not.

"Okay, I'll see you later." I stepped away, then felt a tug at my sleeve.

"Not so fast, Dr. Wilson," he said, and pulled me into a long, deep kiss right there in the middle of the corridor.

That self-satisfied grin was there when he broke away. His gaze shifted to his underlings and I followed it. Cameron and Chase were frozen in their tracks, jaws slack and open. Their eyes were so big I almost expected their eyeballs to fall out and roll every which way.

"I'd like to remind you of something," Greg said before I could get a word in. "Remember who chased after who to begin with. Don't take too long in playing catch up because you know exactly what you're missing."