Hey everyone, thanks all the reviews so far. Keep 'em coming! I'm really enjoying writing this story so hopefully I cankeep updating as quickly as this. And trust me, the rollercoaster has hardly even started yet!
Elliot was in the cafeteria trying to decide between fries or vegetables when her thoughts were interrupted.
"Elliot?! Did you not hear me?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry Turk! I was trying to decide which is more fattening, fries or veg."
"Uh.. Elliot, I think it might just be the fries.."
"Really? Well you've obviously not seen what they put in those vegetables!"
"Well get the fries then."
"Yeah, you're right. I should get the vegetables. You're so decisive!"
For a moment, Turk found himself looking at Elliot as if she'd dropped off another planet. Well, this is Elliot. Snap out of it.
"Anyway, Elliot what I wanted to ask you is have you seen JD?"
"Um, no why?... Oh! Wait, yeah. Dr. Cox sent him home – with a pretty good tongue lashing too – or so I've heard!"
"He sent him home?"
"Yeah..why?" She asked while blowing the loose strands of hair out her eyes.
"No matter, thanks Elliot"
Before Elliot could say anymore on the matter Turk was already leaving the cafeteria.When she'd turned around, he had gone. Oh great, lunch alone again.
As Turk rushed down the corridor he felt his shoulder collide with what could only be described as rock solid muscle. Dr. Cox.
"Watch it Ghandi. Taken a leaf out of your girlfriend's book and started day dreaming?"
"Carla doesn't day dream."
"Oh, I beg your pardon, I should have said your wife.. or soon to be ex-wife if the tales are true."
"W-What?" No wonder JD looks confused half the time, this guy makes no sense.
"You.. hitting JD... or did he inject himself with concussion to get sympathy?"
"What? JD has concussion? Where is he?"
"Don't worry Chocolate, I've sent Vanilla home! Oh, and while we're both here, I would really like to thank you for punching him as it has been something I have dreamed of doing since the day I met him. But on the other hand, can I also reward you on your impeccable timing as he was supposed to be covering a shift tonight which he can now no longer do and no prizes for guessing who has been roped into covering for Priscilla? Yes, ding ding ding ding ding, correct answer! Me! Now I just want you to know I am holding you personally responsible for this so now would be a good time to let your family know your last wishes."
Yep, now I understand a lot of JD's behaviour, zoning really does block him out.
"Ok Doc, now I'm gonna ask you somethin'... If you've sent JD home, then who's gettin' him there? 'Cause he sure as hell better not be drivin'!"
I always knew Dr. Cox could be son of a bitch to JD, but until I saw the look of confusion on his face at that very second, I hadn't realised how little he actually considered his safety.
"Don't you dare tell me that he could be drivin' home with concussion! I can't believe you didn't think about that!! He could have had an accident, hit someone, gotten himself killed! What were you thinking??"
"Woah! Slow down Ghandi. I am not his nanny. He is a grown woman now and he can make his own decisions. If he has been stupid enough to get into a car in his state then that is not my fault... not my fault, nor my problem."
"You know as well as I do that when he is upset, he does stupid things! Like that time I slept with his ex-girlfriend and he tried to jump into that bag of used syringes just to get away from everyone. And you're not the only one who's been hearin' tales. What's this about you upsettin' him?"
"I did not upset him. I gave him a few home truths! If he can't take then – again... not my problem."
This guy is unbelievable, does he not realise how sensitive JD is?
"I will tell you this then, if anything bad has happened to him.. I will make it your problem."
"Oh mummy.. I'm so scared. The big boy in my class is picking on me! Wah, wa-"
"Happened to who?"
Wait, I know that voice... JD!! He's okay!! I spun around to give him the hugest hug but I must have startled him because his eyes went wide and he jumped back. God, his eye is a mess. Did I really hit him that hard?
"Dude, I was so worried. I thought you were drivin' home with a concussion!"
"Well, actually I was about to... but then I realised I felt a lot better so I came to check if that shift was still going?"
I saw JD eye Dr. Cox nervously. Whatever had been said, it had knocked him on his back.
"Oh Sheila, so now you want to work?!"
"I never said I didn-"
"Well you can't... you look like crap. You'll make the patients sicker than they are already. Just go home."
At this point I decided to interrup. "Eh, Dr. Cox. Now we're back to the original argument of how?"
"He can wait in the staff room until the end of your shift then you can give him a lift home Ghandi. See? A name well-earned."
"Yes, that's all gravy, but one small problem - my brother's gonna have to wait another 5 hours in this place until I can take him home."
JD looked at me confused
"My shift has been extended by 4 hours."
"What?!" What? What's wrong with JD now?
"What?"
"Your shift was extended?... So we couldn't have gone out tonight anyway?"
"Well... I didn't know that then"
I could feel JD's gaze piercing into my mind, unlocking the truth about this whole situation.
"Oh my God, you knew all along. You were annoyed about something else."
"No, JD it wasn't like that."
"Don't lie to me Turk, you know I can tell. I won't be annoyed." Maybe honesty is the best policy.
"Ok, yeah I did."
"What?? You knew? Yet you got annoyed with me and ended up doing this to me??!... How could you Turk?"
"JD listen," There wasn't much I could do now other than tell the truth. Even if discussing it in front of Dr. Cox was slightly embrassing. "I'm sorry, I've just had a really tough day. I'm getting sued by some jerk who thinks I murdered his father and then I find out that my own is dying and wants to see me!" I never realised the irony of it all until now. "But dude, please know, I never meant to take it all out on you."
"Oh man, I'm so sorry. Your father... that sucks. I...I really don't know what to say."
What? This isn't JD. Nothing to say?
"I know you probably really need somebody to talk to right now, and I really would like to be there for you. Truly, I would. But – I just... can't..right now."
"JD? Is this your payback for me hitting you or something? 'Cause I really can't be more sorry for that, dude. Like I said, I didn't mean to take it all out on you!"
"Well ...you did. Like everyone else does. Everyone dumps on good old JD because he never says anything, he never sticks up for himself. Spends most of his time "day dreaming"or in a fantasy world, thinking about women's clothing and the numerous men I have supposedly married. Good old JD, who gives people tips like "Maybe somebody jammed a penny in the door, that could be why it's broken" and gets tormented everyday for it. Good old JD who everyone turns to for cheer and a bit of support but never receives any in return. Well I tell you now Turk, and you for that matter Dr. Cox, I have had enough. You didn't wanna take anything out on me? Well you did...and I can't take anymore."
Not once had JD raised his voice during his upset. Then I realised, JD has been an easy target to many people over the years. Most likely because of the very traits that make him so endearing. Had I not been looking into his eyes and seen the tiredness in his mind it would have been very easy to once again sweep his complaints under the carpet and pretend nothing had been said. I wanted to laugh, but something in his face told me that if I did, I could lose my best friend for good. Unfortunately, Dr. Cox did not have the same common sense.
"Oh BRAVO Newbie! You finally grew a pair!" Dr. Cox clapped his hands enthusiastically until JD turned to face him. His expression stopped his mentor dead in his tracks. Both Dr. Cox and Turk saw the hate that radiated from the resident's mind and for the first time in his life, Dr. Cox knew how it felt to look for approval from somebody who obviously has nothing but contempt for you. He finally understood why today had been the last straw.