Wow, has it really been almost two years since I've written more for this story? I'm so sorry! I've been meaning to update this story for some time, but I wanted to read through the other chapters to get a feel for it before I wrote another installment. Okay, I know this chapter is kind of short, and might not be as good as the other ones, but forgive me for my rustiness; I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I'll try and write another one for you guys soon!

-Ashley

Chapter 6

"Scotch. Straight up." Joe sat the glass down in front of me with a smile. I took the glass and shot the whole drink back, not bothering to thank him.

"Another." I was having a pretty bad night, so that meant everyone else around me would as well. I heard the stool beside me scrape as it was being pulled out. I looked to the right of me and swore loudly.

"Seriously, Newbie, I am not in the mood for this right now." J.D. sat down beside me and motioned to the bartender.

"I'll have what he's having." J.D. said to Joe. I looked at him questioningly and thought about asking if he took his Man pills today, but as the thought was forming, a green, fruity looking drink was sat down in front of him in a martini glass. Of course.

"It's a little joke me and Joe have. I ask for whatever the guy beside me is having, just to start up a conversation, right? But he knows it's always Appletini time for me." J.D. took a delicate sip of his drink and smacked his lips appreciatively. "Top notch, Joe!" Joe rolled his eyes and walked away.

"I came by for a drink with Carla and Turk, but it looks like they might have blown me off for some alone time; as if they don't get enough alone time already. In their room, on the couch, in the kitchen, on my bed-"

"I'm gonna stop ya right there, Newbie. When I said I wasn't in the mood for this right now, I meant get the hell out." I shoot back my third glass that Joe filled for me automatically. Good man, that Joe. My harsh tone and words didn't seem to daunt J.D. in the least bit. He took another sip of his drink, sat it down, and then slowly turned to look at me.

"Perry, since we are colleagues, I think you and I should be able to talk equally about our feelings. And then hug after. Or hug first, whichever way you want to do this." At the look of murder boiling in my eyes, J.D. grabbed his drink and quickly walked away from me. "We'll finish this conversation later!" J.D. yelled over his retreating shoulder.

Finally, some peace and quiet with just me and my scotch. I look up to Joe and see him coming towards me with the bottle. "It'll save you some work if you just leave the bottle with me, Joe." He smiled sadly and sat the bottle down beside my empty glass.

What a mess. This thing with Elliot was supposed to be nothing but a fantasy, not something to actually be acted on. And Jordan and I were happy. We had Jack, we had our fights and we were happily divorced. Why would I go and mess that up? I am attracted to Elliot, and I think she's got some real potential as a doctor at Sacred Heart, which is always a good mark in my book. But she's chipper. And shrill. And from what I could see from her and Newbie's relationship, she's emotional. SO not my cup of tea. Or scotch, I should say. So not my cup of scotch. Speaking of scotch…I shot back another glass.

Still deep in my thoughts about the mess I've made, I don't hear the chair scraping back again. A delicate hand reaches out to take the shot glass from mine. I snap my head up, ready to chew out whatever incredibly stupid person thought taking my glass would be a good idea, to see Elliot. God she's beautiful. I watch her wordlessly pour a shot of scotch into the aforementioned glass and throw it back like it was water. She grimaces and wipes the back of her hand across her mouth.

"I don't think you've ever been more beautiful." Slips out of my mouth, amazed at the woman beside me who so recently seemed that she couldn't get it together. She smiled and leaned in to place the glass back by my hand.

"You haven't seen me drink whiskey, then." My mouth drops open again and she giggles appreciatively. "So what're we celebrating here?" Elliot asks, motioning toward the bottle of scotch and glass.

I sighed, remembering now why I was drinking. "Not celebrating, Barbie." Her eyebrows quirk upward, a questioning look on her face. I look down at my glass, not wanting to think about what happened, much less talk about it. "Jordan left tonight. She packed up and took Jack with her." Why was I telling her this? I should just keep my mouth shut and keep drinking. No need to bring Barbie in on my problems; it was my business, not hers.

"Perry, I'm so sorry. What happened?" Elliot placed her hand on my arm and that was it. I couldn't do this. I am not what she wants and she is not what I want. It was a stupid mistake and I needed to rectify it. I throw down some bills to pay for the bottle and stand up.

"Not important, Barbie." I walk past her without looking down and keep walking until I'm outside, on my way to my car. I get to my car and stop, hands over my face. Back to my lonely, big apartment. God I don't know if I can do this. As I'm thinking this arms snake their way across my stomach from behind me. I drop my hands, embarrassed that someone saw me looking so…vulnerable.

I turn around in the pair of arms encircling me to find it's Barbie, and I find my thoughts are changing from what they were just mere moments ago. I don't want to be alone tonight and it seems that I don't want to forget about her. I don't want to call this off; all I want to do is wrap my arms around her and kiss her for all I'm worth. So that's what I do.

Standing in the parking lot of a bar where most of Sacred Heart's employees frequent, I kiss another doctor passionately and I don't care. I pull back from her, to find her face slack and her eyes still closed. I smile to myself proudly.

Her eyes fluttered open and she fixed me with those beautiful eyes of hers and opens her full, slightly red lips and said, "Come back to my place with me." I don't think I've ever heard a more perfect sentence.