Chapter 5
James whistled on his way to the briefing meeting the next day. The previous night with Rose had gone better then he could have possibly hoped. He'd started to chip away at the mysteries behind some of her more unusual behaviors and he was determined to support her. The catch would be working Jackie though that time in her life. A portion of her psychiatric relapse centered around the withdrawal of her daughter, something he now knew that Rose was unaware of. Jackie, in turn, seemed unaware of what was going on in her daughter's life at that time. Getting mother and daughter on the same page would be a start, but conducting a dual therapy session would be tricky. Perhaps he could have one of the new medical residents run the sessions? She was rather brilliant.
Shooting off a cheeky good morning text to the very not morning person that Rose was, he flicked his phone on vibrate and entered the meeting room only to be greeted by seven solemn faces and one very smug face.
"Ah, I'm not late."
Dr. Mott came up behind James with a grin.
"No, but I don't think they have good news." Especially not with the way Saxon was practically bouncing in his seat. Smug git.
"Now that we're all here and a bit early at that, we can begin," Dr. Stoker, a serious man, with serious hair cleared his throat. "A…situation has been brought to my attention that may adversely affect the care and treatment of one of our patients." He looked at James. "Dr. McCrimmon, is it true that you are seeing the daughter of Jacqueline Tyler?"
He didn't dare look over at Wilf, not wanting to get the older physician in trouble.
"Yes, we started seeing each other about a week ago after having lunch together the day she came in to visit her mother. Not that I see it as anyone's business but we've only had one date. I don't understand how that would affect Mrs. Tyler's treatment here though. Rose and I agreed that outside of work her mother would just be mentioned as she would by any other couple dating. And she is medical power of attorney, so any mention of treatment wouldn't be a breach of privacy if she did have questions."
Wilf leaned forward in his chair. "Most of you are aware that Rose Tyler was an outpatient here for a time. I treated Rose during that time, though those records are sealed to a few of you since she was a juvenile, and I have never seen that young woman light up the way I saw her the day she bumped into Dr. McCrimmon."
Dr. Stoker steepled his fingers and tried not to glance down the table. Even without the look, it was obvious who brought up the complaint. Saxon way practically drooling to get his turn to speak.
"So you were aware of this relationship, Dr. Mott."
"Of course I was aware of it! Practically had to push the two of them out the door. Thought it would be good for the both of them. Dr. McCrimmon has spent far too many nights working late or sleeping here," Wilf shot him a look, "trying to be perfect in everything and Miss Tyler has her own struggles. The two of them are a good match." He sat back and looked and the group of gathered physicians.
"Dr. Saxon, you brought up the issue. Would you like to state your concerns?"
"Yes, I would." Saxon was up and pacing his side of the room before Stoker finished taking his own seat. While the rest of the physicians usually discarded their suit jackets and donned a lab coat, Saxon preferred to be impeccable in a three piece suit and well shined shoes. He never saw patients in his own office and set his students to typing up his dictation. A sanctimonious git.
"Have either of you considered how Mrs. Tyler will feel about Dr. McCrimmon dating her daughter? From what I understand she's not found of him. Slapped you a good one once, didn't she McCrimmon?"
Rubbing the cheek that still occasionally stung in Jackie's presence, James grimaced. "It was our second meeting. We were still in the getting to know you phase. I'd like to think that we're getting along better now."
"Hmmm and you see no problems working through a therapy session and being impartial with Mrs. Tyler?"
James could feel the eyes of the others boring into him. Thankfully, he'd been thinking of this just this morning.
"Actually, I have been thinking about that. As I get to know Rose, I get to know Jackie. And I can't help but think that is unfair – bringing up what I learn from one to treat the other – I was thinking of using one of the medical residents to run her sessions and me listening to the recordings and overseeing. I want to bring that up to Rose first."
Both Dr. Stoker and Dr. Mott looked impressed.
Saxon bordered on stomping his foot. "That's not what the residents are for! Your case load – at the very least Mrs. Tyler – should be turned over to me. I'm the most senior psychiatrist here and was completely overlooked for the Chief position. No to mention the scandal surrounding how McCrimmon actually got the job in the first place. He didn't even want it! He only got it because of the murd-"
Stoker stood. "That is more than enough, Dr. Saxon. There will be no changing of case loads. I don't see how dating the daughter of one patient warrants the loss of an entire load. However, the idea of having Mrs. Tyler's care overseen by different psychiatrist is sound. Who did you have in mind?"
"Martha Jones. She's bright, quick on her feet, and personable. I've seen her in group sessions and the patients interact well with her. She has a strong personality, which one needs with Jackie Tyler, but she's steady, got an even temper, which is a plus."
"Now, wait a minute, McCrimmon, if anyone is going to be getting additional patients, it's me. And we should talk about Dr. Mott's preferential treatment of McCrimmon while we're at it," Saxon huffed.
Wilf raised a bushy brow. "Preferential treatment? What preferential treatment?"
"I approached you the moment the Tyler girl was no longer under your care as a patient and expressed interest in her. Spoke to her in the canteen, tried to see her outside of the hospital setting and she refused. You never suggested to her that we should start a relationship."
Wilf rubbed his eyes. "And you answered your own question for everyone here. The difference between you and James is that Rose Tyler agreed to see James, she did not agree to see you. She did not agree to see you outside the hospital, nor did she give you her mobile number. The only time you saw her was when you sought her out. I am not a dating service. I simply reassured my next in line that I saw no problems with him seeing the daughter of a long time patient and that I would bring it up in this meeting if he still had concerns."
"I should still take over Jacqueline Tyler's care."
"A bit difficult since it is noted on multiple occasions that she refuses to speak with you or join a group that you are observing." Wilf opened a thick folder and paged through it. "Arrogant, slick-haired, weasel, incompetent, condescending, snob – would you like me to go on? She does get rather colorful."
Saxon slammed his hand on the table. "That is not the point."
James leaned back in his chair. "I think that is the point. If a patient doesn't trust their physician, then treatment will not be successful. You can still teach the methods but they won't be as effective without trust."
Stoker nodded. "A fair point. I think that settles it. Dr. Jones will take over the care of Mrs. Tyler with Dr. McCrimmon overseeing. Dr. Saxon will remain with his current case load. Dr. McCrimmon, I do want you find a way to bring up this relationship with Miss Tyler to her mother. Now, let's continue with the meeting.
James was exhausted by the end of the day. Rose hadn't answered any of his texts, which had him worried that he'd done something wrong. They hadn't made any plans but they had been talking everyday since they met. One of his patients disrupted a group session and ended up destroying part of the room. The paperwork alone on that incident was daunting and he was developing a headache on top of it all. He'd introduced Jackie to Martha Jones and the medical resident had been both nervous and excited to have a patient of her own to manage. Jackie had been her usual brash self, wondering why she was getting "ditched" yet again, but the women ended up bonding over Eastenders and overbearing mothers (Martha's own and how Jackie felt her mother treated her). He'd left the two of them sharing childhood stories. A tap on the door brought him out of his brood.
"Are you planning on leaving tonight, Jaime?"
"It's not that late, is it, Wilf?"
"After six. It's been a long day. Tomorrow is Saturday and you have the day off. Call it a night. Go and spend the evening with that lovely English Rose of yours."
Rubbing his eyes, James shut his laptop. "I would love to talk to Rose tonight but she's busy."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I texted her but she hasn't responded. I don't want to seem desperate." Even though he felt it. Rose was the first person he'd met in London that he felt comfortable around, who made him laugh. Well, other than Wilf but that was more of a fatherly sort of relationship. And he'd like to spend as much time with her as possible before he told her mother about them and got slapped into the next week.
"Then go home, have a glass of wine and relax. You deserve it after today."
"Will do. Goodnight." The trip on the Underground home was uneventful. He thought about picking up something on the way but thunder was rumbling in the distance, matching his mood, and the thought of just collapsing in front of the telly and watching the science channel beckoned. When the lift opened on his floor he noticed someone leaning against his door.
"Took ya long enough. The food's gettin' cold and the wine's gettin' warm. You're lucky I didn't crack inta it already."
"Rose?"
There she was, in faded jeans and a denim jacket with a pink hoodie underneath, sitting against his door with bags of Chinese take-away at her feet. She looked gorgeous. So did the Chinese.
"How?"
She took his offered hands and got to her feet, dusting off her legs. "Dr. Mott called me. He wanted to know what time I got offa work and if I had any plans. Said you had a rough morning. He gave me your address and said that you probably wouldn't pick up anything to eat for yourself." She shrugged. "I hope you like Chinese."
He unlocked the door and ushered Rose inside.
Rose glanced around the apartment curiously. Upon first entering the building, she worried someone would take notice of her worn jeans or her less than posh accent and ask what she was doing and kick her out. The Doctor's apartment was certainly more spacious than the one she shared with her Mum, or maybe it was just the lack of …things.
While his office was cluttered with all manner of things ranging from the normal to the odd (the slinky and the multi-hook banana holder came to mind), his home had a sterile, unlived in feel to it. The walls in the living room were a lovely slate gray which offset the oversized black leather living room set nicely. A black lacquer coffee table and end tables completed the look, which could have come straight out of the pages of a home and style glossy. It was all very posh, but very much not the Doctor's style. At least not what she'd come to associate with the Doctor The only thing that looked Doctor-ish was the overflowing bookshelf tucked in the corner of the room near a hall that Rose could only assume led to the loo and bedroom.
"Sooo, what'd you think?" James asked, flopping down on the couch after discarding his overcoat on the matching recliner.
"It's nice."
"Nice. Don't hold back, Rose, tell me what you really think." There was a chuckle in his voice but she could see the faint lines around his eyes and mouth. He looked exhausted. Maybe stopping in wasn't such a good idea.
"No, I mean, it really is nice but it doesn't seem like you."
"You are very right, my perceptive Rose. This was decorated by an ex of mine who desperately hoped the move to London would be the move that put her sharing an apartment with me." He'd closed his eyes during the explanation. "Obviously, she was mistaken."
"Obviously."
An eyebrow rose at her response but his eyes stayed closed.
Rose snorted. He was rude when he was tired. And she was rude when she was hungry so they were going to make a pair this evening.
She dumped the take-away on the coffee table, not really worrying now about the shiny surface. Shucking her jacket and shoes, she eschewed the recliners for the couch, lifting James' feet and dropping them on her lap, untying and tossing his shoes by the door before letting them settle.
"No shoes on the furniture. Or on me for that matter. That was always one of Mum's rules."
"But stocking feet are alright? Do they smell?" James shifted so one leg was behind her and the other in front, effectively pinning her in place. He lifted the foot in front to her nose, rubbing his sock clad toes across her nose. Laughing, Rose pushed him away.
"Mercy!" He settled his feet back down. "You look tired, I shoulda called before comin' over and seen if you wanted company."
His lids lifted revealing those chocolate eyes she could easily see herself falling into and smiled.
"If it's you, then the company is always welcome. Thank you for bringing dinner. At this rate we're going one for one with the date nights. Though does it count as a date if one of us isn't expecting it?" Sitting up, he dug into the bags, shifting around white carton of rice, noodles, chicken and vegetables. He groaned when he took a bit. Rose grinned.
"Good?"
"Mmmgggd." Swallowing, he nodded.
"So what happened today that was so bad? Dr. Mott didn't give me any ideas 'cept that it started right away."
He pulled the container of lo mein onto the couch with him so they could share easier before he began.
"Harold Saxon happened. Insufferable git decided to bring up our relationship for the whole physicians board to discuss. We've barely started on a relationship and he's there talking about reassigning my patient case load and how Wilf showed me preferential treatment and…Rose? Are you alright?"
Rose felt the blood drain from her face. Her hands were cold and the Chinese felt like a congealed mass in her stomach.
"I don't like Dr. Saxon," she whispered.
Dropping the carton on the table, James grabbed her hands and turned her to look at him. His thumbs rubbed gentle circles along the backs before he placed them both between his own and rubbed. The heat from them felt wonderful and Rose found herself leaning forward and resting her head on his shoulder, breathing in his scent.
"Saxon mentioned he asked you out. Said it outright during the meeting but he said you turned him down. What else did he do?"
"Promise you won't say anything?"
"Rose…"
Lifting her head, she pulled her hands free to cup his cheeks. "Doctor, I need you to promise me you won't say anything. Not to Dr. Mott, not to the other doctors, and absolutely not to Saxon. I won't tell you otherwise. You have to promise." Heart pounding, she waited for his answer.
Sighing, James nodded. "If it means that much to you, I won't say anything, but I don't want you hurt, either."
"You have to understand, that's what I'm tryin' to avoid. Saxon followed me around the hospital from the time I started seeing Dr. Mott till I made it clear that I would move Mum if he came near me again. At first he'd jus' sit with me in the canteen, try an' talk about Mum or school. Tell me I was pretty. Once I turned 18, it got worse. Now, I guess you could call it stalkin' but no one would in my case."
Frowning, James kept one of her hands in his and rested it on her knee. The other tucked an errant strand of blond hair behind her ear.
"What did he do? Why wouldn't anyone have called it stalking if that's what it was?"
Rose snorted. "Look at me. I don't know what you see, Doctor, but most people see a chav who didn't finish school. Dr. Saxon used that. Said that I should be flattered that he was payin' attention to me, that he was interested. I couldn't stand him. He was always touchin' me," she paused and smiled slightly at James, "and not like you do. His hands would brush my chest or bum when he held the door or he picked up somethin' for me. Kept tryin' to get my mobile number. That's one of the reasons my land line is cancelled. He got holda that some how and kept callin' and leavin' all these nasty messages."
"Rose, Wilf would have believed you."
"I know, but he was talkin' about retirin' and meeting with this bloke in Scotland, so he was busy. Plus, Saxon sorta did himself in when he tried to see Mum a few times. She hated 'im. Told him flat out that he was a wanker and she wasn't wastin' her time on 'im."
James laughed at that. "Oh, that I would have loved to see. He's still burned over it, too. Has he bothered you lately?"
Rose sat back on the sofa. "I hate to ask but I could really use a glass of wine right now."
James hopped to his feet, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "Oh, right, sorry about that. Be right back." He grabbed the bottle she brought and disappeared into the kitchen while Rose thought about their conversation. So far the impression the Doctor was getting of her couldn't be that good. He knew she'd run away at sixteen, dropped out of school and now had one of his colleagues following her around. Yeah, she was really a catch.
"Okay, so about Saxon."
She took the wine and swallowed. It was sweet and still cool. "He tends to leave me alone now. I don't stop for lunch in the canteen, I just visit with Mum and Dr. Mott and leave. Doesn't mean he's not still a creep."
"Oh, he's still a creep and a few other things that I'll not say in a lady's company. But he won't be treating your Mum, either. I have one of my residents taking over her care and I'll oversee. I'd like you to meet her next week some time."
James described Martha Jones and how she bonded with Jackie over television and parents. Rose thought the woman sounded wonderful. By the thunder had drawn closer and lightening was flickering across the sky. Rose got up to look out the windows at the London skyline. She'd always loved storms, how a good, hard rain drove out the dust and pollution and left the city sparkling. But she didn't want to stand at the bus stop in the rain either.
James came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Stay here tonight."
"Doctor…"
"Please. The storm's only just starting. We'll watch comedies and finish the Chinese. Drink too much wine. Say yes?"
Closing her eyes, Rose leaned back enjoying the warmth of James' body against her own. She was going to regret this, she just knew it.
"Okay, I'll stay."
Grinning, James swooped in for a kiss.