My Choices
By: Selim
Summary: J.D. is offered the job of a lifetime, but there's only one thing in the way from his careers future and his personal future: Perry Cox. Established CoxJD
Rating: M+
Pairings: Perry x J.D., various canon
Warnings: Heavy Adult Themes
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Scrubs nor am I making any money off this fiction.
Beta'd by: quietncryptic

The rest of the night had been so quiet that JD had found himself, for the first time in Perry's arms, lost so far in thought that he found himself just imagining what his life would be at Hopkins. At work he was so strained. There was no man standing over his shoulder, breathing down his neck, calling him girly names. No one was forcing him to be one step better than he was and yet the ego in him saw him fitting in just like he did in Sacred Heart. Only… JD had seen so many old sitcoms he knew what happened when the good guy with so much charisma was shoved into an unfamiliar setting. The mighty would fall and, in reality, he'd be even more of a geek forgotten in the corner, ignored during rounds, unloved by a certain stuffy attending physician.

Through his thoughts, he could still feel the rough finger brushing against his hard nipple. Petting him just enough to remember that after his confession that the younger doctor hadn't run to pack up his bags. Instead he wanted to remain nestled in the older man's arms, smelling the faint scent of aftershave and spice. He became lost in the warm tension that raped his small frame as he waited for accusations. It was a dual sensation of fear and security. "Stop. Moving. Sally," Was the only cold comment that came before the silence took over again.

Hours later the two pulled out of bed, tired and tense. JD made breakfast (minus the waffle song) before going himself to take a shower while Perry started in on the breakfast. To his surprise the man was still there, chewing thoughtfully at a piece of waffle. Taking a seat across his lover, JD smeared the sugary goo across his breakfast opting to stay quiet after the glare passed his way. He spent enough hours with the older man to know when to stop talking. Obviously his job offer had affected the older physician enough. "I'm sorry." He finally said.

"For wh-ha-at, princess," the man cried out sarcastically.

"I don't know, for getting the offer. For turning it down."

"You turned it down? My God Scarlet, you've just been offered your future on a silver platter and you turned it down. You're stupider than I thought."

If he'd been an insecure intern, that would have hurt. But it was Perry's way of demanding to know why a resident at "Sacred Hell" would turn down such a chance. John Hopkins was only the best hospital in the country. Only the best of the best got selected, and for a resident to be chosen for another year of education with various other pluses was unheard of. "Well actually they gave me this week to think on it but…I'm not sure I really want to go out there. I like it here," his socked foot brushed lightly against Perry's bulky package, "with you…"

Pushing away from the table, Perry glowered at the boy across from him. "Make your own decisions, Princess. Don't drag me down to your level. I've got work, so get out." The man dropped his plate into the sink before opening the door to his apartment. Locked out of his second home, JD knew not to try following his mentor to the Porsche in the garage. He knew better. It was a bus ticket for him today. Maybe that nice man with the lisp would be willing to talk to him…

"Dr. Dorian!" Kelso's chipper than normal voice shattered through the hospital's corridors. Having forgone his typical morning one-sided argument with Janitor, JD turned to the old man and waited for what could possibly be Satan's pitchfork pushing him over fiery infernos and into Dr. Washington's stronghold. If Kelso was worse than the Devil, what did that make the other guy? Could there possibly be two Satans?

"Yes, Dr. Kelso?"The young doctor turned to face the Chief of Medicine. Behind the old man was just a slightly younger Dr. Washington, both sharing similar grins and pitchforks. He knew it! There was two of him!

"Is there a reason you kept that hypochondriac here? He's a druggie just after whatever medicine we'll dose him up with." The old man hissed.

Knowing that Carla wasn't on duty to save him on this one, JD stood firm. He knew he had made the right decision. "Mr. Dothen shows signs of withdrawal from a powerful drug. His questionable black outs could be real. According to this," a chart that actually did belong to the man, "he had passed out three times last night – none that involved shakes or exhaustion just high fever. His liver is deteriorating. Oh look, Lithium was found in his system. It seems somebody gave a healthy man a dose of something he didn't need and he abused it. I kept him to check just what he'd dosed up on and now we're going to have to keep him anyway. You're not going to send a man like that back on the streets?" His nonverbal fight with Perry drove his anger, forcing him to say things he'd never usually say to the man in front of him. But…that man now laying fifty feet from him in a withdrawal nightmare was actually sick now and would possibly be in terminal in a few weeks. He had to make that clear. "But tell me, what would you do Dr. Kelso? I'm new here, remember? I could always use a helping hand from a higher up."Did Dr. Cox think that it was his decision if JD agreed with going to another hospital? It wasn't his choice!

Washington smiled, his mirth apparent, as Dr. Kelso stormed off complaining about the younger generations of doctors not knowing how to respect superiors. "If it makes you feel better," Washington smiled, leaning his head in close to let his lips brush over the young doctor's sensitive ears, "I think you made the right choice keeping that guy. You might have saved his life because from what I've seen on his charts he's always brushed aside because he's a druggie. Good going."

"Um…" JD stepped back, pulling from the other doctor. Part of him wanted to defend the other doctor – Doctor Cox – but there was still this sense that it was all a trap made out by Dr. Kelso to get rid of him. To end the two's ongoing relationship so blessed with sin. "Page." He made a tapping motion against his pager before rushing down the hall just as his own lover turned the corner. Good, he didn't see the awkwardness that had just occurred and no one with a smart head on their shoulders would make mention of how he'd been almost in the arms of some weird guy. "Oh, um. Dr. Cox—"

"While you were frolicking in here, throwing flowers around like the pretty flower girl that you are, your patient, dear Mrs. Cain has been sitting around yapping and buzzing about her stupid column and guess to who—bingo, Daisy – to me! I don't handle that girly stuff like you do."

Smiling brightly, JD took off towards his favorite patient, Sarah Cain, a journalist known more for her small blurbs of "Ask Sarah" than anything else. She'd helped his relationship start off and her breast cancer made her a regular at the hospital, often asking medical questions that would occur to her overnight. It was a good thing she'd shown up today. If anyone could help him with his problem, she could.

"Well if it isn't JD! You're looking kind of strained, trouble in bed?"

Rolling his eyes, JD grabbed her chart to see what had brought her in this time. Ah, she was scheduled for a reduction later that day. Good, it was about time. "Not really, Mrs. Sarah. Sex life couldn't be better. Career however is causing tension in the love one. What about you? You're looking green around the gills, want to talk about it?"

"Just a tad nervous about the old girls. They're not big now and I'm getting them reduced to nothing. But I have my own personal charm; I'll just have to find another way to keep my old husband back at home."

"Hide his shoes. That's always worked." JD joked, taking a chair to sit at her bedside.

"What about that doctor you're seeing on the side, Cox? Still being a rough fellow?"

Smiling, JD wrote the woman's vitals down. "Naw, that's just how he says I love you. I'd start worrying if he started ignoring me. Which looks like it could be just about any day now. Tell me Sarah, if you had to make a crucial career choice that could affect your love choice, what would you do?"

"You know I can't just tell you what to do." The woman brushed her curly red hair behind a petite ear. If she had just been a few years younger and unmarried he'd so take her to his bed. She was a doll, a perfect patient with heavenly beauty. Mr. Cain sure was a lucky man to snag her. "So what's this career trouble that's causing such a strain on your pretty features?"

Glancing out the door to make sure both Cox and Washington were as far away as possible, the resident leaned forward. It wasn't approved when doctors became this close to their patients. It always led to problems with patients seeking free help on their own personal lives. "Well I got offered a job over at Hopkins to finish my residency which would mean having to leave this hospital and area. Along with my friends, I'll be leaving Dr. Cox and he's not taking that news too well. I think he's in the same boat I am. Torn. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone so early in the game, you don't want to throw away a good opening in the medical field. They rarely come. However, relationships that are actually working don't come very often for me either. I mean, ever since I started trying the other field, Dr. Cox is the only guy I've ever been with. I don't know how to … swing for dates."

Sarah smiled brightly, taking in all the information. "I do see your problem. When I was younger, starting my career I had a column called "What the Stars are Doing." I thought I'd never get out of there. I wanted to do something I would enjoy. I hated work and was so in love with a man that worked part time at a convenience store and was going to college alongside that. I wanted to make something of myself. I didn't want to be another trendy gossip machine that women were becoming because full journalists had to be male. Then I was offered the chance of a lifetime. To do a feature article on the war. I would be sent to the battle zone to do interviews with men who had seen it all. I would have become a full-fledged journalist getting good scoops writing for only the best newspapers. The New York Times wanted to test my skills as a writer. You know what I did…"

"Stuck it out with Mr. Cain?"

"Mm, no. I took it. I tested my skills and was thrown into a small paper that is a quarter at the convenience store where the guy I could have married once worked. He's now some politician with a wife and two point five kids and I'm married to the chief editor of the paper I still write gossip for. Jagged or not I wouldn't change any of that for the world."

Looking down at the chart in front of him, JD found his thoughts flowing. It was a case that he could go for it, fail, and still find love somewhere else (it was a big world) or he could stay with the man he likes and see how it unfolds from there. It was still a difficult choice. Failures, Success, Romance, or another dud love life. Sarah couldn't tell the future, she just said that. It was up to him to decide what road he took. "Thanks, let's get that blood sample, hm?"

"I'm overjoyed you're having fun poking me."

"It's why I became a doctor."

Rolling her eyes, Sarah smiled. "Of course… well, take my blood you vampire. I'm ready for pudding!"

"No food until after surgery."

"Damn!"

"Oh my god, did you hear, JD?" Elliot grabbed his arm as he was leaving the cafeteria line. His tray fell to the ground and he could feel the cold eyes of Janitor staring back at him, the wet floor sign just about to be lifted from where he'd been working all day. It was a shame he knew how to read lips because the dark haired janitor was saying just how he was going to kill the resident, hide the body, and live like a king afterwards. "Oops," the blonde jumped back, making sure her scrubs weren't hit by the potatoes and gravy, "Anyway, come here JD let me tell you what I heard—"

"Let me guess, that some less competent doctors are losing their jobs, right?"

"No…you mean someone's losing their job? I hope it's not me! Oh god! I didn't know the answer to that one question during rounds, do you think…"

"No, no." JD dismissed her fears. "The guy that is following Kelso around is just another Chief of Medicine from a, uh, another hospital. He's like a talent scout. Scooping the best to make his sandwich and whatnot." JD gave his best giant impersonation, but the young blonde wasn't impressed.

"Well we all have heard that one already, JD. What I'm talking about is he's already made his selections but it's all hush-hush from the top, you know? They grabbed a surgeon now they're after internal medicine. People have been trying to show off so they can get selected for that but it's no use if they've already selected right? So we're all good, I bet they went through our files to see what patients we've already done—"

"Nobody needs to hear about your sex life, Barbie." Cox growled out as he passed the two, dropping an apple not so subtly on the table for JD. It wasn't much and JD almost thanked his mentor (lover) for the thoughtfulness of noticing his tray was being stabbed at by a now very angry Janitor. "-And don't say anything princess or I will rip your tongue out. Have you any idea how far a tongue can stretch?"

"…No?"

"We'll just find out then, won't we Jasmine?" The man stormed towards an unused table, dropped his tray and ate at a slower pace, his eyes blankly staring at a wall.

Leaning across the table, Elliot glowered towards the man, "How can you sleep with that man?"

Chewing into his apple, JD raised an eyebrow. "Well, after you, I felt I was ready for – ow!" He jumped as his foot was smashed by another. "Sorry, sorry!" He pulled his leg back, ignoring the forced smile on one of his best friends. "Actually, I learned most of this yesterday night when they called me in for a meeting."

The blonde's eyes widened, a shocked look that made JD nervous of what she'd say. "You got selected? Congrats! Oh my god, what hospital is he from? I bet it's some small time place though, a new hospital just looking for a few new guys, couple old ones, just to start things off."

"Actually he's from John Hopkins…" The last part was a bit rushed, mumbled into his apple.

"J, John…Hopkins!" The girl cried out, startling the entire cafeteria with her outburst. "Please tell me you're going! That's like a dream come true for any doctor!" The sound of something clattering to the floor drew the attention from them and towards the seat that Cox once sat as he stormed out of the cafeteria, his food left on the floor for a very unhappy janitor to clean up. An index finger was raised, pointed towards JD.

"You're going down," Janitor hissed lowly.

Maybe a transfer would be safer?

Sitting back in her chair, Elliot stared over her food sickly, "Please tell me you at least told him before this? I just got over last month, I have a date tonight! With Keith!"

"He knew but he's been on a rampage since I told him. I haven't decided and I can't tell if he wants me to go for it or stay. It's really starting to make me stressed out."

"It's your career not his. This will further it along. Other guys, more understanding ones, will come. You should take this JD, if you don't then you really are an idiot." The girl grabbed her tray and left.

"You're the second one to say that."

"Is this seat taken?"

Looking up, JD found his heart stop ping at the charming smile Washington was giving him. This guy…is stalking me. But the polite side of him shook his head and pulled his slouched form properly up. "No, but wouldn't you be more comfortable with Kelso over there?" He pointed where the old man was enjoying his soup.

"I think I've heard plenty from Kelso today. I want to talk to you Jonathan—"

"JD, no one calls me Jonathan."

With a twinkle in his eye, Washington nodded, "JD, then. I wanted to ask you some questions."

"Shoot." JD chimed automatically, chewing into his apple.

"What's holding you to this one hospital? Is it all your friends? Friends can be made anywhere, you do know that right?" The older man moved his potatoes around his plate before taking a bite of them. "Or maybe a love interest? Would you be interested if I told you we have many pretty young nurses and pretty doctors joining the hospital this coming year? All of them will be in the same situation that you are, eager to make new relationships."

Just tell him…the voice in his head chimed. What was the worst that could happen besides losing his job, credibility, and respect? Ugh, all those thoughts were making his head hurt. "No, I'm in a committed relationship now. I don't want to lose that but just thinking about this is stretching my chances. I guess I just don't know, sir. The idea of joining such an institute like Hopkins…my God – I'm ecstatic that I was selected but Sacred Heart has become my home. I know everyone, I have patients I don't want to leave, and there is the fact that my god child is here with my best friend, his wife, my friends here at the hospital and—"

"Calm down, I'm not forcing your response now. Just think about it. What I would like to know is a little about you. Dr. Kelso and Dr. Cox have said nothing but good, if a little pained, things about you. Almost like they don't want to admit that you know what you're doing."

"Dr. Cox doesn't want to admit that anyone knows what they're doing unless it helps his ego." JD smiled. "Dr. Kelso would sooner sell his soul than admit that anyone in this hospital can do anything right. As long as we don't get the hospital sued with every patient he doesn't care. Dr. Cox takes care of us then. He's rough but he makes sure we're doing it right. Besides, if you can't talk to Cox there's no way in hell you can stand up to Kelso. That's the way things are. Gotta work your way up."

"I've noticed you and…Dr. Cox are rather close for just colleagues."

"He…helps me a lot. I look up to him even if it does annoy him." JD took a deep, pained breath.

"I see. I had a mentor like that when I was your age. Nicest fellow in the world though. Oh well, we all have our own teaching methods and his have seemed to work with you. Actually, is there somewhere more private we can go? Your little friend's outburst seems to have given me a lot of unneeded attention." Looking around, JD realized that everyone in the room was staring at the Chief of Medicine that was having a long drawn out conversation with the guy who got the offer. Feeling a bit shy, JD nodded and lead the guy out of the room, the apple core deposited in a trash can as he left. His mind was working fast. They eyes from the cafeteria were still following, word had spread fast that he'd been the selected internal medicine resident. He didn't know what possessed him to go into the on call sleeping quarters. From experience he knew that about that time it would be quiet and forgotten, a room only used at night. Behind him Dr. Washington shut the door smoothly, his eyes twinkling in delight. "You're a pretty popular guy, aren't you JD?"

"Um, I guess." JD took a seat, jumping as the locks on the door were latched.

"So no one comes in," the older man explained as he took a seat beside JD. "God it's been forever since I've been in a room like this. Back in my residency, our rooms weren't as pretty either. A steely death trap we called them. Had a guy whose mattress actually collapsed when he sat on it." A smile took JD's face at the thought. "Actually, this is a good place too. It has a sort of atmosphere."

"Huh?"

The other man's hand, which had been resting on the white sheets, moved until it was perched on the resident's thigh, squeezing just enough to send blood instantly shooting to JD's groin. "Makes you want to do things with a resident who's not only good at what he does but is also good looking." Instantly, his mouth closed in on JD's, tongue brushing past the weak resistance of shock as he mapped out each part of the brunette's oral cavity. Try as it might to drag JD's own back, the resident remained stiff as a board. Confused and disgusted, he found his hands finally moving on their own, pressing firmly into Washington's chest to push the man away but his strength was gone, his body pushed back against the mattress. Their groins brushed for a second, and it was just enough for JD to realize that he was turned on by this. By a man who wasn't even Perry.

"—Fucking hell, the door is locked! Damn it!" A fist slammed into the paneling of the on call room. Outside was Perry, furious as can be and inside, pinned down to a mattress was JD, still lip locked with another man.