elmo-doodle: Longest chapter yet, huh. Sorry about the even longer delay-- school is horrible. It's like a, like a, um, well, like a school I guess. All work and no play. Except for when I'm in Music. Then it's playtime. I keep this rant short and hope that you enjoy this chapter!!

Dislaimer: I own SCRUBS about as much as I own Nutella. Sadly, I own neither.

Chapter Ten

"He looks so peaceful," Carla murmured, gently stroking the hair out of JD's eyes. JD mewled in his sleep and nestled closer against Carla's stomach. "Sometimes I think I just want to keep him this way."

It was 11:30 that night. JD had been sleepy since Perry brought him home from the hospital. JD had actually objected to being on his own when he slept, so Perry had to let him sleep in the den while he turned the sound down on the TV. Well, JD hadn't actually fallen asleep-- he lay on the sofa watching the TV with the older man. When Carla had arrived, Perry invited her in to collect JD only to find that they younger doctor had finally dozed off. Not wanting to disturb him right after he had just fallen asleep, Perry offered Carla a drink before she went home.

"Yeah," Perry said, softly. He handed Carla a cup of coffee and he sat down on the other side of JD with his own. "But that wouldn't be fair to the kid."

"I know-- I wouldn't actually keep him like this," she told him. "I miss our JD."

Perry took a long sip of his coffee before finally admitting, "...Me too."

"Annoyed that you can't flirt with him?" Carla asked, smirking.

"Now that is just nawt funny," Perry said. "Besides, I don't flirt with him anyway."

Carla snorted. "Come on! I've seen the way you watch him when he walks away from you, or how you actually huff when he tells you off. Not to mention that you blushed a few weeks ago when JD bent over to pick up that pen."

Perry balked. "I did nawt blush!"

"You did, and shush," she said, gesturing to JD. "You don't want to wake Bambi." JD had shifted in his sleep again rolling over so that he was facing away from Carla. She sighed. "He's worried, you know."

Perry frowned. "About what?"

"That you're going to go back to being the hard-ass bastard at work," Carla said bluntly. "And he would kill me if he knew that I was telling you this."

Perry breathed out heavily and looked at JD, sleeping contently and cuddled up against Carla. "Carla... I can't be like this with him inside the hospital..."

"I'm not asking you to," Carla interrupted. She spoke firmly, but not loud enough to wake the slumbering man-child. "I know that you're scared of getting involved with someone because you think you'll sabotage the relationship and end up damaging the other person. But you can't let something like that scare you away from what you truly want," Carla said, looking deep in to his eyes. "I know you want JD. And believe me; he wants you just as much. I'm not asking you to change how you act at work-- maybe you could be less demeaning to him once in awhile since I know it would mean the world to him. You can be a bad-ass all you want, just make sure that Bambi isn't always on the receiving end of it. And tell him how you feel."

"Carla--"

"I don't want to hear any objections," Carla said, smiling softly. "Please, at least consider it."

Perry sighed. "Fine," he replied, just as softly. "What's making you say all of this now?" Carla hesitated. "What?"

"Kevin phoned me earlier," she said, not looking at him but instead watching her hand as it moved through JD's hair. "He said that JD will return to normal tomorrow night."

Perry actually froze. He had less than twenty-four hours to spend with the kid? "Well... that's good, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Carla said, looking at Perry with sympathy. "Look-- I managed to pull some strings and I got us all tomorrow off work, so that we can all go on a picnic. I kinda promised him that we would... and that you would join us."

"I--"

"Nuh-uh, you're going," Carla said, making it final. "Turk and I will pick you up at 11:30 in the morning, okay?"

Perry sighed. He wouldn't admit it, even to Carla, but he really wanted to spend some more time with JD before he ultimately changed back to normal. "Fine, I-- yeah."

"Good boy," Carla said, smiling. "I better be going," she added, looking at the clock with now read 12:00am. "D'you think he's deep enough asleep? I don't want to accidently wake him, because--"

"When he wakes up, he won't go back to sleep," Perry finished, earning a surprised look from Carla. "He's a heavy sleeper, so I think you'll be fine." He reached over and ran a hand through JD's hair, smiling a little when JD hummed in contentment.

"Can you lift him? I don't think I can like this." Perry nodded and stood. Then, he carefully lifted the slumbering JD off Carla's lap and held him to his chest while Carla got her things together. When she was ready, she gently took hold of JD and lifted him to rest on her hip and JD let his arms circle around her neck, resting his head on her shoulder. "Thanks for watching him again, Perry," Carla said, moving towards the front door. "We'll see you tomorrow." Perry just nodded as he opened the door for her, and watched as Carla walked away with his small protégé. When he shut the door he let his head fall to rest on it and let out a heavy sigh.

* *

"Baby, we're home," Carla called out softly as she walked in to their apartment.

"Hey," Turk said. "How is he?"

"He's okay," Carla answered, looking down at JD who still slept. "He just fell asleep a while ago, so I'm going to get him in to bed."

"I'll do it, baby," Turk said. "Your sister called-- I think she wanted you to ring her back as soon as you got in."

"Oh, okay," Carla replied. She handed JD over to Turk, who took him and went in to JD's bedroom while Carla picked up the phone.

As soon as Turk closed the bedroom door, he looked at JD. "I know you're not asleep, dude," he said.

JD shifted in Turk's grasp and looked up at him with wide eyes. "How did you know?"

"JD, buddy, I know you inside-out," Turk said as he set JD on the bed. "So did you hear Carla saying that Kevin phoned?"

"Yeah," JD sighed.

"So... how do you feel about it?"

JD shrugged. "I'm psyched to be getting changed back to normal. It's just... is it weird that I've really enjoyed being like this?"

"Not at all, dude," Turk said while hunting about for JD's pyjamas. "You've spent the better part of two weeks getting hugged and held by Carla and Elliot-- not to mention all the time you've spent with Doctor Cox." JD dropped slightly. "That's what's bugging you, isn't it? You're gonna miss all the time you spend with him."

"Can you blame me?" JD said in defence as he began to shrug out of his hoodie. "I mean, it's been like my dream to get him to hug me or to get him to show that he cares. And now I know that he cares, but he's not going to be like that when I'm back at work."

"JD, you don't know that."

"Yes, I do," JD said, defeated. "I heard Carla and Doctor Cox talking when they thought I was asleep... he said that he can't be like this inside the hospital, and..."

Turk raised his eyebrows. "And...?"

JD frowned a little in confusion. "Well, Carla said that Doctor Cox shouldn't be scared of going after what he wants, and then she said, 'I know you want JD'. She doesn't mean what I think she means, does she?"

Turk shrugged, trying to look indifferent. "I don't know, maybe..."

JD studied Turk intently as he helped to button up the younger man' pyjamas. JD narrowed his eyes. "You know something."

"What?"

"I can totally tell!" JD exclaimed. "You know something. What is it?"

"JD, I can't tell you that!"

"Why not?!"

"Because Carla has me sworn to secrecy," Turk said, and then whispered, "she threatened to take away the booty love."

"But I'm your best friend," JD whined. "We tell each other secret secrets all the time!"

"I know, but buddy--"

"Pleeease, Turk, pleeeeease!"

"Okay, okay, but you cannot let Carla know that I told you this," Turk warned, pointing a finger at JD.

"As long as you won't tell her that I was awake during her and Doctor Cox's conversation," JD reasoned.

"Agreed," Turk said, and they shook hands. "Okay, so a few days ago I heard Elliot and Carla talking about you and Cox. They were going on about how perfect you two are for each other. Apparently, Cox has told Carla that he, um... wants you. That's when Carla saw me and made me swear that I would not tell you."

JD felt his mouth drop open. "He wants me?"

"Yeah... dude, do you want him?"

JD blushed and turned away from Turk. He clambered up to his pillow and crawled under the blankets. "Well, yeah. I mean, I've liked him since we were interns and I never thought he'd see me in that way. But... you sure that's what Carla said?"

"Very sure," Turk nodded. "So... you're gay?"

JD shrugged. "I think so. I mean, when was the last time I dated a girl?"

"The second time you decided to hook up with Elliot," Turk said. "That's was almost three years ago. Besides, dude, sometimes it's kinda obvious that you swing the other way?"

"Huh? When?"

"Well, when you--" Turk stopped and put a finger to his lips, listening. There was the sound of a door being opened and closed, and then there were footsteps. "Carla's off the phone. You'd better look like you're asleep."

JD nodded and quickly settled in to the bed covers and closed his eyes, sighing. "Night, Turk," he whispered.

"Night, buddy," Turk responded just as quietly as he left the room, leaving JD's bedroom door open the tiniest bit.

JD yawned and snuggled even further in to the blankets. It didn't take him long to doze off considering he had been fighting sleep for the last three hours. The hum of his friends' voices soothed him as he drifted deeper in the slumber, the light sneaking through the ajar door creating soft glow. JD sighed once more a let sleep led him in to his last day. Sort of.

* *

"Yaay! We're going on a picnic, we're going on a picnic, we're going on a picnic!"

"Turk! Did you give him sugar?"

"No, baby, I swear!"

"So these candy wrappers I found under his bed just happened to appear?"

"Baby... anything can happen."

Carla rolled her eyes and threw the wrappers in to the bin as JD continued to run around the couch (albeit more carefully this time). It was 11am, and they were just waiting for Elliot to arrive so they could go over and collect Perry.

"You've packed the basket, right?" JD asked, jumping up and down on the spot and trying to look over the kitchen counter at Carla.

"Yes, Bambi," Carla replied, placing the basket on the counter for JD to see. "Elliot's going to bring round a few more things which we need to pack, and then we'll leave."

"Awesome! Hey, Turk, should we bring the soccer ball?"

"Great idea, buddy! Let's go find it-- it's in my room somewhere."

"You boys better not mess that room up!" Carla called as they ran in to the bedroom to look. "I just cleaned it this morning!" There was a knock at the door, and Carla, shaking her head at JD and Turk, went to answer it. "Hey, Elliot."

"Hey, Carla!" Elliot chirped, walking in with bag in her hand. "I brought the juice, fruit and chocolate."

"Great, thanks," Carla said, smiling. "Let's get it in to the basket. Turk-- while you're in there, find the picnic blanket and bring it out!"

"Sure thing, baby," Turk responded. He was searching under the bed for the soccer ball while JD was poking about inside the closet for it.

"Turk, does the blanket have a tartan pattern on it?" JD asked, his voice slightly muffled by the clothes.

"Yeah, it does."

"Then, I've found it!" JD said. "Okay, I'm coming out of the closet." He stepped out and then paused. "Hm, that could have been a bigger moment for me," he reflected, tilting his head to the side.

"I've got the soccer ball," Turk said, sliding out from under the bed and tossing the ball in the air and catching it. "Buddy?" he asked, when there was no response from JD. He looked over at him. "Oh..."

"I'd look good in a skirt," JD said as he came out of his daydream. "Whoa," he added, blinking, "I really do act gay, sometimes."

"Dude, sometimes?"

"Alright, a lot of the time," JD admitted. "Come on, let's see if Carla's ready to go!" JD scampered out of the room with the large blanket in his arms, obstructing his vision slightly. He placed the blanket on the couch and then ran over to the kitchen. "Elliot! You're here!"

"Hiya, JD!" Elliot said, catching the young boy as he ran towards her. Elliot lifted him up and set him on her hip. "Are you excited about today!"

"Hell yeah!" JD exclaimed. "Not only do we all get to go on a picnic, but I'm getting changed back tonight! I get to go to work tomorrow! I've never been more excited than this!"

Elliot bounced JD on her hip slightly. "You're awfully hyper already," she said, and JD giggled. "Have you had any sugar?"

"Nope," JD replied, smiling a little too innocently. "Well... not much."

"Meh, who cares-- you're gonna be changed back."

"I know," JD said giddily. "Are we ready to go yet?"

"Yes, Bambi, now we're ready," Carla said, closing the lid of the picnic basket. "Turk!"

"Coming, sweetie," Turk said, picking up the ball and the blanket. "I'll just go on out and put this in the car."

"Okay, we'll be down in a minute," Carla answered. When Turk had left the apartment, both of the girls turned on JD. "So, Bambi, what are you going to do about Doctor Cox tomorrow?"

JD frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Are you going to tell him you like him?" Elliot asked. When JD raised his eyebrows at her, she added, "Oh, come on, you think I didn't notice? Who do you think Carla's been talking to about this?"

"Definitely not Turk," JD murmured. "So... what do you think I should do?"

"I think you should tell him," Carla said. "I know you'd be much happier afterwards."

"I'm sure you do," JD muttered. "Okay, so... I tell him tomorrow that I... well..."

"That you love him?" Elliot suggested.

"Hell no!" JD exclaimed. "I don't want to completely freak him out! I'll just tell him that I like him... God, I'm going to sound like such a girl... oh, stop it," he added when Elliot and Carla gave him a look. "So I'm gay, woohoo."

"It's so weird hearing a four-year-old say that," Elliot said. "Also, a bit scary."

"Definitely," Carla agreed. She picked up the basket and grabbed the house keys off the counter. "Alright, let's go collect Perry."

JD didn't bother to hid the small cheer that he made at that.

* *

There weren't very many people in the park when they arrived, so it made finding a good spot to sit pretty easy. The girls laid out the blanket while JD and Turk went off to play soccer. Perry just hovered around the edge of the blanket, looking painfully uncomfortable in this scenario.

"Perry, stop being such a baby," Carla told him. "It was hard enough to drag you to the car with you kicking and screaming."

"I was nawt kicking and screaming," Perry objected. "I was huffing in a manly way."

"Why were you huffing anyway"? Elliot asked as she settled down on to the blanket. "I thought you'd be thrilled at the idea of spending time with JD."

"Yeah, but Elliot, he's in our company," Carla told her, sitting down next to her. "He can't be all cutesy and cuddly with JD when we're around."

Perry frowned. "I'm not--"

"Yes, Perry, you are. Now, be a good boy and sit down."

Perry growled but swallowed his pride and sat down beside Carla.

It was a nice day, with the sun shining above them. They were all wearing sunglasses, bar Turk and JD who had taken theirs off so they wouldn't lose them while they played. It was pretty warm and the sun was still creeping higher in the sky, casting a shadow on the tree under which they were sitting. There were more families starting to appear now, some of them setting up blankets like theirs and others just going for a walk.

Perry sighed and leaned back against the trunk of the tree. Through his sunglasses he watched as JD and Turk tried to get the soccer ball off of each other. Despite his size, JD was pretty good at playing, which was unusual since the kid sucked at basketball and almost every other sport. Perry watched as JD smiled, laughed and skipped as he played, and he wondered if he had ever seen the kid as happy as he was now. He let this thought (and a few others) dwell on him as he observed the younger doctor running around on the grass.

"Um--Doctor Cox?" Elliot asked a while later. "Doctor Cox?" she repeated when there was no response. Carla picked up one of the plastic cups she brought and threw it at him.

Perry blinked and looked round at them, a little confused. "What is it?" he asked. He must have been watching JD for quite some time-- the sun was over their heads by now, and the park had become a lot busier.

"I-I was just going to ask you if you wanted anything to drink," Elliot stammered.

"Oh," Perry said, caught off guard. "Um, sure." Elliot poured him a cup of water and handed it to him. "Thanks," he said, watching as Elliot smiled a little.

"You're right," she said to Carla, who was smirking, "he really does change when he's around him."

"What was that, Barbaroo?" Perry asked, turning away from JD and tuning in to their conversation.

"Oh, it's just something that I observed a while ago," Carla said, still wearing that evil-looking smile. "Whenever you're in close vicinity to JD, you turn into mush."

"Or putty," Elliot added. "Very soft putty."

"Yeah," Carla agreed.

Perry frowned at them. "Where are you going with this?" he growled.

"Well, we did have a long speech planned out but I think we'll just go in for the kill," Elliot said, waving her hand dismissively. "You want JD."

Perry almost choked on the water he was drinking. He cleared his throat and looked straight at Elliot. "Excuse me?" he said. He was used to this sort of thing from Carla, but Elliot? "I don't know what you're talking about, Barbie."

"Oh, give up, Perry, she knows," Carla said. "She's been JD's best friend for years. She can read everything about him."

Perry snarled a little but didn't bite back. "I'm not talking about this," he said, taking the sunglasses off and glaring at the girls.

"Fine," Carla said, shrugging. "But just answer us one question."

"What?" Perry scowled.

"Do you plan on telling JD how you feel when he gets turned back to normal?" Carla asked.

Perry stalled, unsure how to answer. He didn't feel comfortable talking about this in front of Elliot, but Carla trusted Elliot to keep this secret, and Perry trusted Carla. So, indirectly, he was trusting Elliot. Damn. He looked over to where JD was running after Turk who had gotten the ball and was dribbling it away. Despite JD's shouts of "Foul! That was a foul!" he was beaming and laughing. Would he tell JD how he felt about him? He didn't want to accidentally hurt or scar JD emotionally, so was letting the kid get involved with him really the best idea?

"Perry?"

"I don't know, Carla," Perry said, sighing. "I don't want him to get hurt."

"You won't hurt him," Carla retorted, reading in to what Perry was really saying. "It's all in your head, Perry. JD can take care of himself, and I'm pretty sure he can handle you if you go in to one of your funks. He pulled you out of it before, didn't he?"

"She's right," Elliot agreed, ignoring the annoyed stare that Perry gave her. "This could be the greatest thing to happen to you in your life, and you're just going to let an opportunity go like that? You're gonna regret never taking that chance, knowing that it could have made you happier than you've ever been before..."

"Alright, alright," Perry said quickly, knowing that a personal story usually followed Elliot's stories. "I'll... I cannot believe that I am telling you two people this, but... I'll tell him. I'm not saying when, but I'll tell him."

Carla smiled, happy. "That's all we wanted to hear," she said and Elliot nodded. "Come on; help me get the food out."

Elliot and Perry joined Carla in assembling all the different food in the centre of the blanket, leaving room for the five of them to sit around it. When everything was almost ready, Carla called Turk and JD over.

Turk nodded and scooped JD up and swung him over his shoulder. JD protested and began kicking and gently thumping Turk's but he was giggling. Turk set JD down and ruffled his hair before picking up the soccer ball and making his way back over to the others.

JD, still giddy from all the playing about, ran over to them, grinning. He was already having a great day and it was only early afternoon. "Doctor Cox!" JD called as the older man stood up to stretch. Perry looked over and smiled slightly at him. JD wasn't concentrating on what he was doing and just before he reached the picnic blanket, he tripped.

Perry, suddenly thinking when JD tripped last night, reached out and caught JD before he could hit the ground. Instead of setting the younger boy on his feet, Perry pulled him up and held him. "Newbie, you have got to learn how to use your feet." JD giggled embarrassedly and flushed pink. Perry almost grinned at him as he set JD on to the blanket and took a seat beside him. Carla and Elliot were giving him knowing looks, and Turk seemed to have taken no note of anything happening.

"Hey, baby," Turk said, sitting next to Carla and kissing her cheek. "So, can we eat yet?"

Carla rolled her eyes and slapped his shoulder. "Idiot," she mumbled, but she smiled. "Alright, everyone grab a plate and get stuck in!"

elmo-doodle: =] I forgot to mention above-- thank you to everyone who has been reviewing so far! This is definately panning out to be longer than I expected. I mean, this chapter was going to be twice as long, but I felt that that would have been too long. So we're looking at another... two, maybe three chapters. But, knowing me, that'll all just go out the window =] Please let me know what you thought of this chapter! I'll give you some Nutella (when I get it) and some cider (also need to get that... hm, must go shopping!)