"Of course Mrs Taylor, no problem, if it flares up again don't hesitate to call and get another appointment" John smiled and nodded the grateful old lady out of the door then leant on the intercom.
"Helen, is the next patient here?"
"No, just got a call, they're not coming, you've got time for a cuppa- shall I bring one in?"
"Oh God Helen, yes please, you're an angel."
John dropped into his chair. He was knackered, and it was only 10.30. Helen pushed the door open and walked over to his desk with a steaming mug of tea and a file under her arm. She handed him the mug and put the file on his desk.
"You've got Mr Marks in ten, he's a frequent flier so I thought I'd bring you the full file."
"Brilliant, you're a star"
"No problem John, I'll buzz you when he gets here."
John leaned back and slipped both hands round his mug of tea. Now Helen, she was who he should have been on the sofa with last night. She was tall and slim, with dark hair and soft brown eyes. John closed his eyes and indulged in a little daydream, imagining leaning over to her, pulling a wine glass from her hands to place it gently on the floor, before taking her chin in his hand and dropping his head down, till his lips and hers were millimetres apart, then closing the gap, soft lips against his, then strong fingers tugging in his hair, the rasp of stubble against his jaw... John's eyes flew open. Greg. How had Greg got into his head, he was thinking of Helen with her deep brown eyes, slim build, dark hair with little flecks of gray... Oh. John carefully placed the tea on the desk, moved Mr Marks notes to one side, then thumped his head once, twice, three times against the top of his desk.
The door flew open and Helen strode in, looking worried, the noise of his head on the desk must have been pretty loud.
"John, are you okay, what's the matter?"
"No, it's nothing, I'm fine. I just... well, I just realised something."
Helen looked puzzled and not a little concerned. John couldn't blame her.
"Oh, okay, well, if you're sure you're all right..."
Helen backed out of the room and left John to his tea, his patient notes and what was beginning to feel a lot like the start of a sexual identity crisis. John waited until he heard her footsteps walk away down the corridor before quietly hitting his head against his desk again. Shit shit shit.