Don't own Grey' etc... blah blah.
A/N: So it's been a loooooooooooong time. I stopped this story when I found out Jason George was leaving the show...and now he's back, and I am determined to give Bailey a decent love story fan fic. Her character is strong for sure, but it doesn't mean she can't be sexy and loving and funny all in the same. Anyway, this chapter was written right after the first so it follows the timeline of last season. I will fast forward after that and bring us up to speed with the Eli incident and then move back to Ben. This will probably be a ten chapter story folks. I will really try my best to update often! I hate to be left hanging and I am ashamed to say have done it to readers in the past... not this time. I will finish this fic! So without further delay...
Chapter 2: Uh-Uh, It don't work like that!
Ben whistled his way into the surgical locker room. He had hoped to run into Miranda before shift, but as usual, she was already making rounds. He was still thrilled from the night before. Their first date had been a success, in the end anyway. It was an emotional day because she had shared so much of her personal feelings with him. He figured today could go one of two ways. She would either avoid him, embarrassed by what has already happened between them, or she would be hostile. He hoped for neither reaction, but expected the latter.
Working his way over to the surgical board, he spotted Dr. Robbins chatting with Dr. Torres over coffee. Making a quick cursory glance at the board to make sure nothing had changed since the night before, he approached the couple.
"Morning ladies; beautiful day, isn't it?"
"Good morning Dr. Warren, I was just telling Dr. Torres here the very same thing; nothing better than seeing the sun shine in Seattle!"
"Agreed. So, uh, have either of you seen Dr. Bailey this morning?"
Knowing looks passed between the couple, not unmissed by Ben. Clearing her throat, Callie responded. "Not as yet. Why would you be looking for her?"
Nosy women. It didn't bother Ben if people knew that he went out with Miranda, but he thought it might bother her. Erring on the side of caution, he casually replied. "We have a surgery later, just needed some information. See you ladies around."
Callie slumped; clearly disappointed on not being able to rib Bailey. Arizona, however, undeterred, poked her in the side and pointed to the board. After closer inspection, it was apparent that Bailey and Warren didn't have any scheduled surgeries together that day. Callie rubbed her hands together devilishly.
…..
Miranda scrubbed her left hand and forearm, keeping count in her head as she always did. She always scrubbed each arm for two minutes. Looking at her patient through the glass she saw he was about to be put under. Seventy two, seventy three, seventy four….
Arms came up around her and soon her neck was being nibbled on. Before she could react, Ben reached out and grabbed her elbows, holding them away from her body and him while still behind her.
"Wouldn't want you to have to start over; your patient is just about under." Crooning in her ear, she could feel the smile in his voice, and it pissed her off.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll move your damn hands and back off Dr. Warren!"
Ben sighed, apparently he was right, it was going to be hostile.
"Just came in to say good morning and give you a quick good luck kiss before your surgery."
"And what makes you think I need your luck or want your kisses. Hmph, you think just because…"
Cutting her off and turning her to face him, he pulled her closer, contaminating her hands.
"Doctor Warren, I'm giving you until…"
"You know Miranda, I've changed my mind. You're going to have to have to rescrub. I want a little more than a nibble this morning. I think I'll take a whole bite." And before she could protest any more, he was kissing her, in front of God and, well, staff. She was pushing at him, but he wouldn't relent, not until he felt her give and relax into the inevitable. Once she did, he stopped. Bending low to her ear, he whispered.
"We'll talk later Miranda. But I'm gonna tell you this right now. Don't mistake my being easy going with my being a pushover. If we are going to build something here, we are equals in this relationship. I'm not going to excuse you being rude or embarrassed by us. Either we are going to try this, or not. I don't hide; I'm proud to be with you and I don't expect you to slap me away when I try to show you a little affection."
She started to speak, but he pressed on. "Granted, that was a little more than I meant to do in a public setting, but I could tell you were ready to bite my head off, regardless of whether or not I touched you. It would have meant so much to me if you had showed me how you were really feeling this morning. I wanted you to know how I felt. I'm happy. We had a great time last night and I went to bed and woke up with you on my mind."
Letting her go and stepping back, he took his hand and ran it gently over her cheek. "Good luck, I'll see you for lunch." And he strode off.
"Of all the…well that's just… where the hell does he get off…" She was angry, but she could still smell his aftershave and still feel the warmth on her lips. Instinctively, she reached up and gently touched them with her own fingers. Okay, maybe he was a little right about her coming out swinging, but she was spooked and thrilled and she still couldn't believe he wanted her. Picking up her scrub brush to restart her process it was then she remembered what he said towards the end of his tirade. "I'll see you for lunch." Searching her mind, she realized they made no plans, he just assumed they would eat together. She smiled to herself, he was a cocky SOB, but she kinda liked it.
…
Miranda took her tray and scanned the cafeteria. Ben had sent her a text asking her to meet him around 1 for lunch. Not seeing him, she stood there awkwardly, not knowing exactly how to proceed. She rarely sat down for lunch and if she did, it was never in the cafeteria. She wasn't good with socializing and hated small talk. She noticed Grey, Yang and Karev seated not too far from where she was standing and quickly averted her eyes. She didn't want to explain why she was there and she certainly didn't want a pity invite. It still hurt her not to see George sitting there with them. She missed him terribly. Giving herself a mental shake, she decides to wrap up her sandwich and go find an on call room to wolf it down and take a nap. Just as she was turning to leave, Ben came jogging into the room.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. I was in surgery and it went a little over. I hope you weren't waiting long." As he was speaking, he gently took the tray from her hands and guided them over to an empty table, all but pushing her down into the chair. "Be right back." Bending down he gave he a quick kiss on the lips and sprinted over to the line.
She touched her lips with her fingertips and marvelled at how quickly and how easily he could make her smile and get her fired up. Still feeling a little dreamy, her eyes looked up and saw Callie and Arizona smirking at her from across the room. Damn. Sending them her fiercest scowl, she quickly wiped the smile off her face and averted her gaze. She was just going to have to nip this propensity of his for P.D.A in the bud before people started thinking she'd gone soft!
Ben wondered what was making Miranda scowl; probably the fact that he had kissed her in public. If he didn't have such a warm and inviting experience with her the previous night, he would have given up, thinking she was a cold fish. But she was soft on the inside and was so damn sensitive. He suspected that most people wouldn't know that about her and he was also starting to realize what an honor it was to get to know the real Miranda.
Setting his tray down in front of hers, he doesn't bother to turn the chair around, just straddles it and faces her. Her pulse jumps at the pure testosterone that he seems to emit. Grinning at her as if he can read her thoughts, she decides to rib him a little.
"So, read any good magazines lately? You know as a surgeon I never have that kind of time, especially while I'm working."
"Oh, so you got jokes, huh? Look, I was smart enough to choose a field where I still get paid as much, if not more than you do and I do less. Of course, you got to have real guts to be in Anesthesia, I mean, when something goes wrong, we get hit hard. We can't hide behind our malpractice insurance."
"That's cause your jobs so easy even a chimp can do it. I'm surprised anyone would even insure you… ya need to get it right the first time. There's no excuse, take the height and weight and be done."
"Ouch, really? That's all you think there is to it? Dr. Bailey, I had no idea you were so ignorant."
They keep ribbing each other, insults flying in good nature for a full five minutes. She brings it all to an end when she blurts out, "You know if you weren't such a good kisser and a good conversationalist, I wouldn't see a reason to keep you around..."
Ben cocks his eyebrow. Interesting. "So, you enjoy the kisses do you? Seemed to me with the exception of last night, anytime I touched you today just pissed you off. And I have to say, I kinda like pissing you off. You get all riled up, it's sexy. I think I'm gonna kiss you again" Miranda wants to protest, but she is in a trance, he's gorgeous and smart and funny and he is interested in her, so she decides to let him kiss her here in front of everyone. He starts to move his chair closer, but the friction of the action scrapes the chair on the floor and makes a loud rude noise. Everyone in the cafeteria turns and looks in their direction. Seconds tick by and finally the lull returns as everyone goes back to their conversation.
Ben closes his eyes and sighs in embarrassment. He knows when he opens them she will be there, mocking him. Deciding to man-up, he opens his eyes and is not surprised at all. She's laughing; uncontrollably.
"You know, you really know how to take a brotha down Miranda."
Still laughing, she manages to get words out. "Smooth, real smooth! You just knew you were going to reduce me to a puddle at your feet with your suave moves and you silky voice. Ha!" Taking a final bite of her sandwich, she rises from the table. "I'll see you later smooth operator."