a/n - I added chapter 13 and 14 within about 12 hours so it may not show up correctly in the cue - please check to see if you've read the last chapter! LJ
Chapter 14
Plot Summary - AU - Dick Grayson, MD falls hard for Kori Anders, RN when she comes to work temporarily at the ER where he is an attending physician. Has the notorious playboy finally met someone he could be happy with? Will Kori want to have anything to do with him? Their attraction to each other was obvious but would circumstances allow them to be together?
Richard Grayson - ER doc/playboy
Kori Anders - Nurse practitioner/working temporarily as an ER nurse
Victor Stone - ER doctor
Karen Beecher - ER Nurse/Victor's Fiancé
Tara Markov - ER Nurse
Rachael Roth - ER doctor
Gar Logan - ER Nurse
Wally West – Paramedic/ER Nurse
Roy Harper - ER Nurse
Katrina "Kitten" Moth - Registration Clerk
Babs Gordon – socialites, former flame of Dick
Galfore – Kori's uncle and the Ambassador to the US from Tamaranian
Bruce Wayne – Dick Grayson's adopted father, diplomat and former US Ambassador to Tamaran
Alfred – Bruce's and Dick's butler, friend and confident
Xavier Red, MD – plastic and reconstructive surgeon
Dick awakened in his room at Wayne Manor. It took only a few moments to realize how awful he felt. He really messed up this time. And not just with Kori, but with his friends and colleagues.
He went to the hospital to meet with Xavier Red, to discuss with him what had happened the previous Friday night when the plastic surgeon made himself unavailable when he had been on call.
Dick was surprised with himself. He should have hung Red out to dry for blowing off call. The final say would be with Vic as chief in the emergency department and with the medical staff committee, but Dick was willing to hear Red out. Well, and he knew that doctors tend to protect there own, and as angry as he was, the outcome was fine. Jody's wound was taken care of and the ER didn't fall apart for the 75 minutes it took to stitch her wound properly.
There was a lull in the cafeteria. It was just after 2 PM that Monday afternoon. Kori had spent the last two hours in the medical library going through some of the medical and nursing journals. She copied a couple articles and was grabbing a cup of coffee.
Her hair was up in a long French braid tucked into a bun. She was in jeans and a sweater having not yet bothered to change into her scrubs for the 3 o'clock shift. She was deep in thought, intent on finding something palatable to eat in the cafeteria's fridge. She had already decided to get a very large coffee, not that she was too much of a caffeine fiend, but today she needed the boost.
Dick was pouring coffee when he noticed a woman walking up. He gave a quick glance, and had a feeling of being drawn to the woman. It took him a couple beats of his heart and a second look to realize that the woman was Kori. He gave her a small smile and a wave.
Kori smiled back in spite of the fact that Dick was not her favorite person at the moment. She had been very upset to see him with Kitten at the party, but they really hadn't made plans, had they? He had never even called her, maybe he really wasn't interested.
"Kori, I'm sorry," Dick managed quietly.
"Its fine," she lied, grabbing a Styrofoam cup and filling it with coffee. She wasn't the violent type but she the idea of throwing coffee on Dick Grayson flashed in her mind.
Before he could say anything, Kori was already turning away. But feeling his eyes on her, she stopped and turned, simply saying, "Guess, I'll see you on Wednesday."
"Yes, I'm working, I'll see you Wednesday." He cursed his fate. He hadn't expected to run into her. He had really hoped to apologize properly. He even had checked for her number on his cell but hadn't made the call yet.
Kori was all the way to the cashier when he heard from behind him, "So Grayson, whose the cutie?"
It was Red. Cutie, he thought, that's my Kori! Oh wait, no, she's not mine cause I'm an idiot...
"Know her, Dick?" Red continued, "she looks kinda familiar..."
"Grab your coffee Red, lets get this over with." Dick wasn't going to say a word about Kori to him.
Dick and Xavier went back up to Xavier's plush office to talk. Xavier had given him a story about mixing up call dates that was probably bullshit. He added that he had been very busy working with the surgery residents. Dick worked hard to remain civil. He knew Red would get away with his little stunt, it was a huge breach of ethics but not big enough for disciplinary action.
Red suggested they meet at the country club later that week. Dick just scoffed at him, "Remember, I'm not your friend."
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Traffic was already starting when Dick was on his way back to Wayne Manor. Dick ran in and changed, heading over to the stable.
It was a Monday, the day off in the horse world. The only one around was the barn manager Manny.
Seeing Dick in breeches, he greeted him, "Dr. Grayson, riding Buster today?"
"Yeah, where is he? And please Manny, like I keep telling you, call me Dick."
"I'll grab him, he's still turned out. He's still a little full of himself though since the wind picked up." A small cold front had come through earlier and the young colt had been up on his toes dancing a bit as the wind got under his tail.
"I'll grab him Manny, this really should be your day off anyway."
"I got stuff to do out back," Manny replied, "call me if you need me. Oh, I forgot to tell you, the big guy is coming in later tonight."
"In the middle of the campaign?"
"Yeah, the road's killing him." Dick frowned, Bruce was not going to be happy.
Dick approached the paddock to see the colt cross the field in a beautiful suspended trot, glistening with sweat, his black coat looking almost blue.
Dick let himself through the gate and placed the chain shank over Buster's nose just in case he needed the control. Walking past some of the mares, Buster knickered at them. Buster planted his feet in front of one of the paddocks and looked over at one of the mares who hung her head over the rail, ears forward. Dick allowed them to sniff noses when the mare suddenly pinned her ears, spun around and squealed, kicking out at the fence.
Dick petted the colt before leading leading him on toward the barn. "Don't look at me, I don't understand women either."
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Riding was a mistake. Or at least a distracted Dick Grayson riding a rambunctious three year old stud colt in a cool April wind was a mistake.
It doesn't matter how good a rider you are, and Dick was a very good rider, there are occasionally times when you dismount without permission. Dick had been putting Buster through his paces doing very large figure 8's and had established a steady working trot. But when Dick crossed the center of the arena, sitting a beat and changing the bite of the reins, Buster let out a single, huge buck. Instinctively, Dick let go and allowed himself to fall. Tucking his head, he rolled, his right shoulder impacting the rubber screenings of the arena.
Manny had been watching and just laughed, "hey Dick, you should have been an acrobat!".
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Tuesday wasn't too bad, but Dick was a little sore and iced his shoulder throughout the day. He worked on some investments and foundation matters. He headed over to the barn for a bit but didn't ride.
He was surprised he hadn't heard from any of his friends. Usually his phone started ringing by midafternoon. He knew his ER friends were angry with him. He also knew the best way to make everyone feel better. Even if it was a disaster when he talked to her, he had to talk to Kori. Not that he knew what he would say.
He picked up his phone and and scrolled through for her number. He hit send and wasn't sure if he was relieved or not when she picked up.
"Hello, this is Kori,"
"Uh, hi Kori, its Dick, Dick Grayson,"
There was a beat of silence on her end. His number had flashed 'Private Caller' so he hadn't realized it would be him on the line. "Oh, hi Dr. Grayson."
Her tone was distant but Dick was content that she hadn't hung up. "Hey, want to grab lunch tomorrow? I'd like to see you."
Another beat. "Oh, well I'm working at 3 and have a few things to do..." she started. She had wanted him to call for so long.
"How about coffee?" he offered.
Kori smiled hurt feelings easing a bit. "Sure."
They agreed on meeting the following day about 1:30 at a coffee house near the hospital.
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sorry, another short chapter but there's hope for Dick and Kori yet!
please review!