Chapter 6

"I feel so unattractive." Elliot told everyone in earshot, leaning against the nurse's station. "This is just like that time in sophomore year when everyone had a date to the Sadie Hawkins Dance except me. That's because I was going through a goth stage."

"Come on Elliot, it's not that bad. What about that guy you were seeing…Jason or something?" Carla asked, typing away on the computer.

"Jeffrey, Carla. Besides he's celibate. No nookie before marriage." Elliot sighed once again. "Before you ask, he doesn't want to marry me either. Plus I'm a believer in try before you buy kind of thing." She threw up her hands in frustration, before letting out a soft whine. "I can't believe everyone's got someone except me."

As a result of overhearing the conversation JD, wracked with frustration and guilt, snapped. "Geeez poor Elliot. You've only done it with half the hospital and the other half wants to. Stop complaining! You're not the only loner around here."

"JD why are you being such an ass?" Elliot replied, grabbing a patient's chart. "Besides from what I hear you're hooking up with someone, just no-one knows who."

"Believe me, you don't want to know either." Carla told Elliot, raising an eyebrow at JD.

JD felt shock coming on his face, remembering that Turk knew about his kiss with Todd. "Oh my god, Turk told you?!"

"No but that trick usually works on you." Carla replied. "I guess you've caught on and watch before you blurt out stuff huh Bambi?"

"Hello? Having a crisis here." Elliot turned the attention back to her. "I thought I was stronger than this."

"Relax Elliot, here comes Todd. Just drop a pencil and you're bound to feel sexy, albeit a bit dirty when he makes a comment." Carla told her, getting the look of satisfaction she did when she gave advice.

"Thank you Carla." Elliot dropped her chart just as Todd was walking past. She bent over to give him a full view.

To everyone's surprise, Todd said nothing and just kept heading towards the gym. JD's head was screaming at him to say something, or go after him, but he stood paralysed. He could have sworn Todd was looking at him out of the corner of his eyes.

For a brief moment, JD allowed himself to remember how Todd's lips felt that evening in his apartment. Then again in the bathroom three days previously. He tried to convince himself that Todd was a sexual deviant who wanted everyone, therefore he had no feelings, but the fire and guilt still remained.

"Oh my god, I can't even get The Todd to make a sex joke." Elliot pointed out. "Frick I should never have broke it off with Keith. I could be married right now."

"Actually come to think of it, Todd has been acting a little less...Todd lately." Carla gasped as though she realised something. JD couldn't help but be curious as Elliot gasped too.

"It's that time of year again." The two women said in unison.

Carla looked around, eyeing everyone as though the people nearby were suspects in a murder case. "I wonder who it is this time."

"Nurse Alicia!" Elliot exclaimed as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "She's this new surgical nurse that's helped him out a few times. Plus she's pretty hot." Following the comment she seemed to drift off into a little girl crush thought.

"No way, Alicia believes in giving everyone a chance. She goes out with everybody. If Todd liked her he would have made some move and she would have said yes."

JD finally decided to act on his curiosity. "Okay ladies, may I ask what the hell you're talking about?"

Turk appeared next to them, having overheard their conversation. He looked right at JD, making sure the medical doctor knew the words were directed at him. "It happens once every year, usually for about two weeks. The Todd, instead of just giving it up to everyone, falls for one particular person. He cuts down on the sex jokes, spends even more time in the gym, becomes more attentive with patients in case said person is watching and is basically all serious until the two weeks is up and he's back to his old arrogant self."

"I can't believe you've never noticed it before." Carla went over and gave Turk a kiss and hug. "It's been over eight years Bambi!"

"Yeah first it was Jaime from paediatrics." Elliot thought back, trying to remember the brief periods throughout the years. "Forth year there was that woman in the cafeteria with the big jugs, or he may have been looking at Matt. Oh that guy is so ripped."

"Actually Matt was sixth year, remember?" Carla pointed out to Elliot who nodded.

"Last year it was the guy with the orange smoothie stand at the mall." Turk mentioned, before thinking about it clearer. "Then again, Todd just has a thing for orange smoothies altogether."

"Then there was that period after Turk and my wedding because Todd liked one of my sisters. You must remember one of them."

Turk scoffed at his wife. "Please, you're talking to the guy that doesn't even see women who have a wedding ring on. See you at lunch baby." Turk walked off, glaring at JD before he left.

"What was that all about?" Elliot pointed back and forth between Turk and JD.

A confused JD stared after his best friend. "I don't know, but I'm about to find out." Chasing after Turk he managed to catch up. Turk tried to avoid him by stepping in the elevator, but JD managed to sneak in before the doors shut.

"JD, I'm not really in the mood to talk right now. Besides I have to get prepped for surgery." Turk explained before JD could say anything.

"Look I know your whole deal is to do the silent treatment, but would you mind telling me why?" JD followed Turk out of the elevator when it stopped on his floor. "I'm not going to leave you alone until you tell me."

Turk sighed and turned around. The look on his face told JD that Turk wasn't so much mad at him, but just not wanting to verbalise something. "JD you're my best friend and you always will be. That doesn't change the fact that Todd is also one of my best friends."

"I know that and I respect that." JD replied, still confused about the problem.

"Like it or not, he's into you and you just stand there acting like it's no big deal." Turk attempted to walk off again. It was awkward for him to think about Todd and JD together, even worse if one of them was hurt. Not to mention the weird position it put him in.

JD followed him to the sink outside the O.R. "It's like you said though, it only lasts two weeks and then he's back to his regular self. No big deal right?"

Turk began to wash his hands thoroughly. "This is different JD. For one it's been over two weeks. He asks about you and when he's not doing that he talks about you like you're the still point of the turning world." Scrubbing soap into his hands and up his arms, he turned to JD. He sighed before finally admitting his opinion out loud. "I can't believe I didn't notice it before, then you told me you guys kissed…JD, I think he's really fallen for you."

"Come on." JD couldn't help but laugh at how silly it sounded. "I understand that he has a little crush on me, but it will pass right? I mean, he's Todd."

"I know he's not perfect, or the smartest guy around, but he's loyal. Plus he's really maturing, as much as he can anyway." Turk finished washing his hands. The serious look on his face made JD's smile fall. "You may be seeing someone else but I can tell you like him too. I just don't want you breaking his heart."

"I don't want to break his heart." JD explained softly. It was only at that moment that he realised he actually had the power to really hurt Todd. He didn't want that burden, but leaving Perry didn't seem like a viable option. "It's just very complicated right now."

"You know if I'm forced to choose I'll choose you, but I don't want it to come to that."

"Okay Chocolate Bear. I understand." JD hung his head, knowing he had a soul searching journey ahead of him.

"Nothing about this situation is fair to me you know. Either one or both of my best friends get hurt, or those same two friends go and get their gay on." Turk slipped on his surgical mask and gloves, shaking his head in disbelief. "Just figure out your feelings and fast."

JD sat in the cafeteria. He was on a late shift but knew he couldn't concentrate until he figured out his situation. Plus at this point the cafeteria was practically empty. A few hospital personnel would duck in and out for a snack or beverage.

He sat with his journal, tapping at the pages with his pen. All the moments between him and his two objects of desire rushed through his brain. He tried to get his feelings out on the paper, but he had no idea where to start. Every time he thought he had the answer, something else would stop him.

"Perry. Perry. Perry." JD whispered, tapping a rhythm. "Todd. Todd. Todd."

The spot where he was sitting was very significant. A part of him hoped it would make his decision easier. Concentrating on the seat opposite him, he managed to bring back the memory of that night. The night when he and Perry first kissed. Soon, JD could see it in his mind like it was yesterday.

JD was depressed because a favourite patient had just died. He failed to save one coding patient and suffered a real scare with another. Then to top it off, Kim sprung the news on him that in a month she and Sam were going to England for awhile. As he was nursing a cup of coffee, Perry joined him. JD remembered his mentor's face, not daring to make a joke despite his obvious weakness. Perry offered comforting words, even when JD shed a tear his tone remained soft and gentle.

Their hands brushed in the middle of the table. JD grabbed Perry's desperately, not caring if Perry thought he was needy. Perry did make a comment about sucking it up, but made no attempt to let go. Instead he demanded JD look at him. Perry told JD that he was a great, caring doctor and he did his best.

JD had not wanted to hear it, so he tried to walk away. What JD didn't know was that Perry was feeling surprisingly needy too. Perry followed him, catching his shoulder and turning him back. They both stared at each other, knowing what would happen if they didn't turn away. Perry succumbed first and planted his lips on JD's desperately. JD was shocked as Perry pulled back and their eyes met again but he had no objections to returning the second, gentler kiss.

"We can't do this here. Come with me."

Perry ran out of the cafeteria, motioning for JD to follow him. Together they ran towards the stairs leading to the roof, bolting up them with lightening speed. The moment JD burst through the door behind him, Perry pulled him close. They surrendered, squeezing and kissing each other breathless as the full moon beamed down upon the start of their affair.

Letting the memory fade, JD figured his heart belonged with Perry. The only thing he could remember sharing with Todd at that particular table was when he pushed two donuts together and made "donut boobies." JD rolled his eyes, until he remembered that Todd actually gave him one of the donuts because Janitor had stolen his lunch.

"That was sweet of him." JD continued tapping his pen against his journal. Suddenly he had an idea. Folding two pages in half he made four columns He labelled one page of his journal PERRY and the other side TODD. Underneath the names he labelled one column on each page PROS and the other CONS.

"JD you're a genius." He smiled to himself before concentrating. "Now let's see…"

The first thing he thought of was Perry's brains. Perry was very smart and knowledgeable, where Todd was quite immature and prone to dumb moments. Then he remembered that Todd was in fact one of the top surgeons at Sacred Heart, even better than Turk. While Perry was a great doctor, he let his work become his number one which affected his emotions. Todd still managed to have that sense of fun about him.

Seeing the columns were even for both prospects, JD thought of another factor. Perry was a great lover. There was no denying that on JD's front. However since he hadn't slept with Todd, he found it unfair to write that. Plus if Todd's kisses were any indication, the comparison would be pointless. Sighing in frustration, JD gave up on that idea.

"Okay, just whatever comes into your head. Focus." JD shut his eyes and concentrated real hard, trying to write down the thoughts that ran through his mind.

Todd brought him presents to cheer him up after Sam left. Perry ended up spending the night. Perry is taken with two kids. Todd has never had a serious relationship and probably couldn't handle it. Perry cared about him deep down. Then again, so did Todd. Todd was always making immature sex jokes. Perry always made jokes at his expense. Perry abused him. Todd was in league with the Janitor. Perry comforted him when his patients died. Todd was there for him on the roof that day. Perry was a handsome older man. Todd was a hot guy his own age.

"Baaahhhhhhh!!!" JD screamed aloud, shocking a nurse who had come to get a diet soda. He shut his journal and put his head in his hands. There was no quick way to figure it out.

"Dude, are you okay?" Todd appeared at JD's table as if by magic. He sat down in the seat beside him.

"Where did you come from?" JD blinked, making sure he wasn't hallucinating.

Todd reached over and grabbed JD's hand, squeezing each of the fingers. "I need to talk to you about everything that's happened."

JD gave the surgeon his full attention though found it awkward looking Todd in the eyes. "Yeah it has been pretty weird. I thought you said it was no big deal though."

"The Todd lied." Todd replied bluntly. Pouting, he held up his hand in the high five position. "Sorry five?"

JD let Todd apologize in his unique way. Feeling the slap to his hand, he looked at his other hand, still clasped in Todd's. He smiled at it, watching and feeling his hand being squeezed.

"JD, I've developed some weird feelings for you." Todd confessed, his eyes turning as serious as JD had ever seen them. "It's like, I want to do you but instead of feeling it in my dong, I feel it here." He motioned to his chest.

"Okay then." It had to be the weirdest crush revelation JD had ever heard. He couldn't help but cut Todd some slack about it though, as the surgeon never did seem one for showing too much.

Todd took a deep breath, trying to get a bit deeper into his feelings. It wasn't just about sex this time. It was always much deeper when it came to JD. "When you're around I get all warm and fuzzy. It's kind of nice; more than nice. It's awesome!" He looked down at JD's hand, bringing it to his cheek briefly before continuing to just hold it. "But when you're not around, The Todd goes crazy."

JD felt his hand pulsating in Todd's grip as the other man's words hit him. "Are you trying to say that you like me?" JD swallowed a gulp of air, feeling his neck start to sweat and leg twitch rapidly.

"Now I know that both of us players have other people we're hooking up with but maybe, if you just think about it for a few days, I could have you all to myself." Todd was shuffling, which was odd considering his usual confidence. JD couldn't help but find it sort of cute.

Before JD could reply, a whistle rang out through the air. JD pulled his hand from Todd's and turned around to find Perry walking to him, Carla at his side. His heart pounded, but it was obvious they hadn't seen anything and he calmed down. However he could still feel Todd's stare on the back of his neck.

"Bambi we could use your help with this patient." Carla motioned for him to follow them.

Todd stood up from the table as JD did. "Just think about what I said. Get back to me in a week or so. Later JD."

JD watched as once again Todd and Perry were right in front of him. One going off in one direction to get a soda, the other walking out the cafeteria doors. Grabbing his journal, JD waved to Todd before running off after Perry.

NOTE: So I snuck a chapter in before the new year :-) Trying to get the story going. For those who haven't voted, there is a poll in my profile regarding this story and I would totally appreciate your opinions/predictions. Read it! Review it! Enjoy it! Happy festive season whatever you celebrate!