Title: Dr. Mariano

Author: Marly Cook

Rating: T

Summary: She wasn't even my child. I had no relation to either of them besides the brief time we spend around each other. I think what made me so attached was the thought of myself being the first person Marina saw and me being the first person who saw Marina.

Disclaimer: Marina and Emely. Others are purely ASP's.

Thanks Red! :)

I leaned back in my chair, thinking I was finally going to catch a break when I heard my desk phone make a shrill beeping noise. I glared at it. Pathetic? I know. But honestly, I didn't think I could catch a break anymore. My practice had never been this busy.

I wanted to ignore it. I really wanted to just close my eyes and pretend that there was no one on the other line. But, the thought of money entered my head. I needed money. I groaned and sat up in the chair, then picked the phone up.

"Dr. Mariano," I answered, fiddling with the pen on my desk. I popped the cap up and clicked it back down a few times, waiting for someone to speak.

"Hi, I'm Adrianna Philmore," she cleared her throat and I rested my hand in my palm, "I'd like to set up an appointment to meet with you. I'm looking to have a breast reduction."

I nodded, writing her down on my calendar. Wait, I thought, Adrianna Philmore. I just gave her boobs two years ago! "What about the day after tomorrow. Ten that morning?"

"That's fine, Dr. Mariano," I heard her say, her voice shrill and high-pitched, "Thank you."

I nodded, "You're welcome." And then I hung up the phone.

I decided to glance up at the clock and let out a sigh of relief when I saw that I was now off the clock. I put down my pen and shoved everything back into their drawers. My computer was turned off, my jacket thrown on, and my door locked behind me as I left. I could hear the phone ringing in my office, distantly.

When I got into my car the first thing I thought was: I need to get something for Marina.

Why did that come to my mind? I have no absolutely clue. Instead of questioning it, I made my way to the hospital.

The gift shop, I thought, following the hospital signs down the hall once I got there. I made my way inside the little store and looked around for something appropriate.

Pink teddy bear? Too unoriginal.

A 'My First Teddy'? Nah. Still, too unoriginal.

Then I spotted it. A gray hippopotamus with the words 'My first hippo' written on the belly of it. The fur was soft and it was small enough for Marina to wrap her arms around. I smiled and grabbed it.

"Hey," I smirked, walking into Rory's room, "where's your mom?"

Rory smiled to me, lifting up in bed, her book now face-down on her lap and forgotten, "She had to run back to the inn. They needed her."

"Oh," I nodded, "she owns an Inn?"

Rory nodded to me and her eyes fell to my hand, I saw a smile break out on her face, "That for Marina or did you get lonely on your way over here?"

I couldn't help but laugh, "Marina's."

"Thank you, Jess," she smiled and I laid it in her lap.

"Did I miss Marina again?" I asked, hoping I didn't. It was as if she was my own daughter and I needed to see if she was okay.

Rory shook her head, "No. The nurse is about to bring her in."

"Good."

She smiled at me then, her eyes shining bright. Brighter than I had seen them, but that didn't say much. I didn't realize why she looked so vibrant until I glanced behind me and saw the nurse holding Marina tightly to her.

I took a deep breath and watched as the nurse set the baby in Rory's arms. I moved the hippo out of the way, giving Marina room to lie in her mom's arms. Smirking, I stood up and looked down at her. She stared up at me, her mouth set in a grin.

"Hey Marina," I smiled, my hand moving down to hook onto her tiny fingers. She grabbed my index finger and her face showed excitement. She was kicking like crazy and small noises came from her throat, making Rory and I both chuckle.

"I'm telling you," Rory said, smiling up at me, "she likes you."

"I like her, too," I said, glancing up at Rory. She grinned at me and stared back down at her daughter. I cleared my throat and asked the question she was dreading. "No Garret?"

"No."

"Oh," I nodded, "did he call?"

Rory nodded her head and ran her thumb across Marina's forehead, "Yeah. He called."

"Did he say when he would be home?"

She shook her head this time, shrugging her slender shoulders. I sighed and raked a hand through my hair. This was getting the best of me. I bit the inside of my cheek and held in any smart ass remarks.

I was a medical professional. So this was a hard task.

But when I looked at her, she was giving me a pleading look. As if she heard this speech, she was anticipating me to start on, from everyone else. I decided not to give it to her.

Instead I sat and looked down at the one thing that mysteriously linked us together. Marina.

I walked in our bedroom, just to see Emely packing up her suitcase. Her hair wild, I'm guessing from frustration, and her face twisted into a small frown.

"Emely?"

She looked up at me and gave a small smile, "My sister called. She needs me tonight."

I nodded and sat down on the bed. "But, you just got home," I mumbled, looking up at her.

Emely placed her hands on my cheeks and pressed her lips to my forehead. "Don't be a baby," she grinned, pulling away to zip up her bag.

I huffed and shuffled my foot against the carpet, "Fine. I'll just go see Marina tonight."

She looked at me, her eyebrow raised, "Again?"

"Yeah."

"Huh," she nodded, and then bit her bottom lip, "Oh! I can go with you on the way to my sisters and meet them. Both."

"If you would like to," I nodded and stood up, "want to go now?"

She patted my arm and looked down at her bag, "Trying to get rid of me?"

"No," I shrugged and helped her get the stubborn zipper unstuck. I needed to get her a new one. We stood in silence for a minute, I was waiting on her to make some kind of movement.

She sighed and threw her hands up, "Okay we can go now. I have nothing else to do."

I nodded, smirking at her stubbornness, "Come on."

Hoisting her suitcase off the bed, I kissed her cheek and made my way to the door. She grabbed her keys and unlocked the car from behind me. I heard the small beep as I walked outside. I thought about her car and smirked, "Pop the trunk, Em! I can't fit this in that tiny back seat!"

"Oh! Right! Sorry!"

I chuckled and watched the trunk rise.

When I shoved the over-packed bag into the small space I had, I slammed it close and looked up to see her smiling at me. Her over-sized sunshades pushed back on her head, and her ponytail reaching just past her shoulders. Her hair was getting a bit longer.

"You're going to follow me there?"

She nodded and bounced over to me, opening her door and stepping in. "Don't take me to a remote area and murder me."

"They'll never suspect me," I retorted, stepping away from her black Solstice.

She laughed and closed her door, cranking up the car and backing out of the driveway. I followed suit in my own vehicle and made my way to the hospital.

I used the parking spot that I had used the last two days and watched as Emely whipped her small car into the space beside me. I stepped out and waited on her.

I didn't understand what took females so long to get out of the car. When she finally stepped out, she locked her vehicle and stepped up to me. Her lips pressed against my cheek as she grabbed for my hand. I smirked and laced our fingers together.

This time when I walked inside the hospital I wanted to take a breather before we went inside Rory's room. For some reason, I wanted Emely and Rory to like each other.

She noticed my hesitation. I knew this, because she placed her other hand over ours and squeezed lightly. I smirked at her and kissed her head, pulling her close to me. I knocked once on Rory's door and heard her small voice.

"Come in."

I glanced to Emely before opening the door and walked in slowly. Her face lit up and she waved at me, sitting up in bed. "Jess," she grinned, "hey."

I smiled and pulled Emely up beside me, "Hey Rory, how are you?"

"Great," she smiled and her eyes fell to Emely, "and hello to you, too."

Emely gave her a small smile, "Hey there, I'm Emely. Jess' girlfriend. I've heard a lot about you and Marina. I was going out of town, but I wanted to meet both of you first. Is that okay?"

"That's perfectly fine," she smiled. "Marina's getting brought in soon."

I felt at ease, but then again, not so much. I wanted them to like each other and it seemed like we were headed that way, but something wasn't right. Something was wrong. Something made me uncomfortable.

"Well," Rory grinned and I swear you would never know she was in the hospital with that vibrant face, "sit and tell me about you. Jess only mentioned he had a girlfriend named Emely. He never told me details. So tell me things."

Emely laughed and let go of my hand. She sat down beside Rory and leaned back a little in the blue chair, "Things like what?"

"Anything," she smiled. "I've been cooped up in this place. I'm bored."

"Uh," Emely thought about it, before looking up at me with a confused smile. She looked back to Rory and shrugged, "I'm a Neurologist."

"Oh God," she looked so excited, "that sounds so fascinating!"

I couldn't help but keep my eyes on Rory. She was so lively. So vibrant and uncaring and free. She was fascinating to me. She had my attention all of the time, because I never knew what she would say. Or do.

I heard Emely laugh and say, "Well, it's something. It never gets boring, I don't guess."

"I had too weak of a stomach to do anything in the medical field," she shrugged. "Sounds fun, though."

"Sure," Emely smiled, "it's fun."

I could see it now. Emely was starting to understand why I spend time here. She looked up at me and gave me a nod, as if she got it. I smiled and leaned against the wall, listening to Rory yammer on to Emely.

She looked up at me and grinned, "So Jess, where's my McDonald's?"

"Shit," I mumbled, hitting my head, "I forgot, Rory."

"You're terrible."

"I know, I know," I shrugged, "I'm sorry?"

She waved her hand at me and smiled, "Eh, don't worry about it. I can have the yummy orange jell-o."

I shook my head, knowing she was being sarcastic. I watched her and Emely interact for another twenty minutes before the nurse walked in with Marina in her arms. I smiled as she was placed in Rory's arm and Emely leaned over to get a better look.

"Oh wow," I heard her say, "She's beautiful."

"Thank you," Rory smiled, looking up at me with a grin. She knew that was what I wanted to hear. I felt this surge of pride course through my veins once again. As if the baby was mine.

"Can I hold her?" Emely asked, leaning forward to touch Marina. Rory nodded and gently placed the bundle into Emely's soft arms. Emely grinned up at me, and squeezed Marina to her breasts. "She's just, too cute."

Rory smiled, touching her finger to the baby's soft curls. She looked distant. I wanted to reach out and touch her, hug her, or something. I didn't know what. She sensed me staring and glanced up, giving me a reassuring smile.

I sighed, attempting to smile back.

I walked Emely back to her car, my hands shoved in my pockets. She hooked her arm through mine and smiled up at me, the dreamy-baby look on her face.

I chuckled, "What?"

"She's a doll."

"I know," I nodded to her, "do you get it now?"

"Not at all," she shrugged, "but I don't have to get it. You're attached. To both of them."

"Come on, Em," I groaned, pulling her to stand in front of me, "I don't want to hear that again."

Emely sighed, her eyes rolling, "It doesn't have to be attraction. But you are attached to Rory as well as Marina. You're like their guardian."

I laughed, "Sure."

"It's hot," she muttered, pressing her lips to mine briefly. We got to her car and I opened the door, leaning against it as she settled into her seat.

I looked down at her, tilting my head to the side, "Calling me tonight, huh?"

"Or in the morning. It depends on how tired I am," she said, cranking up her car. I nodded, leaning down to kiss her again. She held my head in place, making it longer. "She's prettier than I expected," she whispered, her eyes bright.

"I never said she was ugly," I replied, knowing she meant Rory.

Emely nodded, "Bye Jess."

"Be careful," I said, tapping the top of her car. Then I walked back to the hospital.

So here is the deal. When you review, I want to write. When I get no reviews, I start failing to write more chapters. :P So .. review?