It's funny, how when we want time to speed up, it goes slower. When we want it to slow down, it speeds up. Life always has a way of kicking us in the pants.
Time begins to pass, slowly, and painfully, in Jackie's life. All she wants is a bowl full of pills, and a tub full of alcohol. Resisting grows more difficult with each day. She somehow finds solace in her work. She arrives to work, early, on Monday morning. She is wearing her dreaded navy blue scrubs. She heads into Eleanor's office. She closes the door, behind her. Eleanor looks up, from her desk.
"Do you need something?"
"What makes you ask that?" Jackie questions.
"You have an odd look on your face," O'Hara points out.
"I need to ask you something."
"Ok," Eleanor nods.
"And, I need you to answer me, honestly."
"Me first," O'Hara insists.
"Ok," Jackie nods.
"How long has it been?"
"Since what?"
"You went over to his place?"
"Four weeks."
"Good girl."
"I am super tense, and I am ready to snap."
"He's like a drug," Eleanor reminds her.
"I am an addict, don't you think I know that?"
"What have you been thinking about, lately?"
"I dream about eating ice cream, for breakfast?"
O'Hara furrows her brow, not believing her, "Really?"
"With narcotic flavored sprinkles," Jackie admits.
"What did you come in here, to ask me?"
"Do I look fat?"
Eleanor smiles, "What the hell kind of question is that?"
"Do I?"
"Why do you care?"
"Do, I?" Jackie repeats.
"No," Eleanor insists.
"Good."
"Is that what you really want to know?" O'Hara follows up.
"No."
"Is that a new top?" Eleanor wonders.
"I'll never tell."
"Are you ok?" O'Hara asks, seriously.
"I am not dying," Jackie reminds her.
Hours later, Jackie, and Coop are having a heated discussion, on their way down the hallway. He grabs her boob, before she can stop him. Once he does, she quickly smacks his hand away. He stares at her, with a peculiar look on his face. He wears a look of confusion.
"What?"
He looks around. He points towards the chapel. She follows him in. Cooper looks around the chapel, to ensure no one else is around. He closes the door. He leans against one of the pews. He points to the pew, towards the back of the chapel.
"Sit," he tells her.
She takes a seat. He slides in, next to her. She shoots him a look, "What is the problem? Why did you bring me in here? If you're going to beg me not to tell," she begins.
He cuts her off, "No. That isn't it."
"What?"
"You didn't have a boob job, did you?"
She furrows her brow, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"How many times have I grabbed your boobs?" he inquires.
She shrugs, "Too many."
"Several times," he agrees.
"What is your point?"
"I know them," he answers.
She shakes her head, and stands up. "I am not having this conversation," she begins to walk away.
"We can have it now, or we can have it later. We can have it here, or in front of the entire ER staff. It is going to happen, whether you like it, or not. So, make up your mind."
"Coop," she looks at him, sternly, as he rises, from his seat, "I don't have time for this."
"Jackie, chill."
"Chill?!" she snaps, "You want me to chill? I just want half a fucking pill. I don't even need a whole one. I just want to be high. Some people crave caffeine, or chocolate. I crave narcotics. All I want is a pill, and I can't even have it."
"I have some vitamin C, in my office."
"You know that's not going to do the trick."
"It's yours, if you want it."
"What good is it going to do?" she raises an eyebrow.
"Placebo effect. I can pretend it's a Percocet, or a Vicodin, or even a Roxy if you want."
"It won't work."
"I am not going to give you any pills."
"I am not asking you to."
"If you need support, I'm here."
"Coop, sometimes you are such a freaking idiot."
"Then let's talk about your boobs."
"You touch them, and I don't punch you, isn't that enough?"
"No."
"I don't want to talk about them. I want that even less, than to have you touch them."
"Do you want me to touch them, again?"
"Coop, this is sexual harassment," she reminds him.
"Just talk, and we can forget about this."
"I doubt that."
"Tell me, the truth."
"About what?"
"Your boobs."
"Do you know how perverted you sound, right now?"
"Jackie, answer the question."