elmo-doodle: Oh yeah, she's back! I'm aware that I only sent out that Author's Note recently, but I got the stitches out of my arm today, and I finally got rid of the horrible plaster that has been pulling at the bruise on my elbow. Once I realised I could type again without pain, I was like, "YAY!! WRITING!" And here is the result-- finally, the eleventh chapter of My Magic Box!! And you know what? I can't wait to get started on the story that you have all been voting for. It's exam period for me now, so I'll be working on the next story to help blow off some steam. Anyway, I'm rambling in joy. Chapter Eleven. Yay!!
Chapter Eleven
The food disappeared relatively quickly among the five of them. They chatted about idle things, and even Perry took part in the conversations which pleased JD to no end. When they got on to the topic of JD changing back that night, Perry became oddly quiet.
"So, how will it happen?" Elliot asked.
"It's simple," Carla answered. "When JD goes to sleep, we phone Kevin and tell him that he can unleash whatever weird power he uses and turn JD back to normal."
"Whoa, that really is simple," Elliot agreed. "Oh, by the way JD, you have tomorrow off so you don't need to come to the hospital."
"Okay," JD said shrugging. "I suppose that's good since we don't know what the side-effects of this change could be."
"Hey, you're off tomorrow, too, aren't you, Perry?" Carla said, casually.
JD spun round to look at Perry. "Really?" he asked, hope shining in his eyes.
"I-- uh," Perry stammered. "Yeah... I am."
"Huh," JD said, turning away again, but there was a smile on his face.
"What is it?" Perry asked, frowning.
"It's nothing," JD lied, still unable to hide the smile. "I was just thinking."
"Heaven forbid," Perry muttered. He smiled a little when JD giggled.
They continued to talk for a little bit longer until some dark clouds, which would be promising rain, began to make their way over the park.
"Maybe we should start packing away," Carla suggested, taking her sunglasses off and looking up at the clouds. "I'd rather be in the car when it starts pouring." Everyone agreed and they began the long task of stacking the plates and cups and setting them neatly in to the picnic basket. After a few minutes, there was a flash of light, and then a roll of thunder immediately followed. The noise made JD jump, and a few seconds later rain began to fall from the sky in huge drops.
Everyone stood in closer underneath the tree as the rain began to hammer at the ground.
"Well, that was a successful plan," Perry said, earning a glare from Carla. "What do you suggest now?"
"We need to get to the cars," Carla said, quickly packing the last of the cutlery away. "Perry, could you take JD for a while? I'm going to drop Elliot off home."
Very tactful, Perry thought sarcastically. "Why can't you take him home?"
Carla was about to reply when someone's pager started beeping. They all checked their pockets (including JD, before remembering that he didn't have his pager).
"Crap," Turk said, looking at his pager, "there's been a accident further uptown. They need me to do surgery in about 40 minutes. Baby, can you drop me off to the hospital after we've left Elliot home?"
"Sure," Carla said. "I might as well stay there so I can check up on my patients." She smiled at Perry. "Will you watch JD for us?"
Perry sighed and scowled at Carla before nodding. JD frowned. That worked out too well, he thought. He said hurried goodbyes to the other three before they ran out from under the shelter of the tree.
"Come on," Perry said, bending down and lifting JD up. "Let's get back to my place." They walked out in to the rain and Perry hurriedly walked them to his car.
**
"Baby, will you stop huffing?" Carla asked, looking at Turk through the rear-view mirror. "You'll only be back there for a few more minutes."
"I just don't understand why I gotta sit in the back," Turk whined. "This is my car, woman! I should be able to sit in the front!"
"Carla, do you think it was okay to leave JD with Doctor Cox?" Elliot asked, ignoring Turk as he crossed his arms in annoyance.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, JD is feeling pretty confused about his situation," Elliot explained. "He wants to get changed back to normal, but he's been enjoying all the time he's spent with Doctor Cox. They won't have that again come tomorrow and JD can't do anything about it now because honestly there's something illegal about that."
"I know," Carla sighed. "We just have to hope that when JD's back to normal one of them will be a man and admit how they feel to each other."
Elliot frowned. "You do realise that that is the complete opposite of what men should do?"
"I know. But we're talking about two men here, not your average heterosexual couple."
"Ah, gotcha."
"It'll be fine," Carla said, more to reassure herself. "And if it isn't... well, we can fix that."
**
"You're awfully quiet there, Newbie."
JD looked up from the floor where he was putting a puzzle together. He shrugged. "Jus' don't really feel like talking," he said.
Perry raised an eyebrow. "That's a first," he said. He frowned when JD gave him a faint smile and resumed his game. "What's wrong, kid?"
JD sighed and sat back from the jigsaw. "I'm getting changed back tonight," he stated, not taking his eyes off the floor.
"I know," Perry said. "I thought that you would be happy about that."
"Oh, I am," JD quickly replied. "It's just... never mind. It's stupid."
Perry frowned. "What is?"
"No, it's nothing." Nothing that you don't already know, JD said to himself. He looked up at the clock and saw that afternoon was quickly turning in to night. I'm going to be changing back as soon as I go to bed. I never thought I'd be so hesitant about getting changed back to normal...
Perry whistled sharply. "Newbie, you're daydreaming again," he said.
JD shook his head and sighed. "Sorry. I'm being such a downer tonight. I mean, it's not as if I'm never going to see you again," he spoke the last part quietly, and Perry had to strain to hear him.
"What was that?"
"I said I guess I'm tired from today," JD said, changing his words. He stood up and stretched a little. "I've been up early and I've been too excited."
"Do you want to sleep for a while?" Perry asked.
"No!" JD responded, hurriedly. "I mean, I think I'll just leave all the sleeping for later."
"Okay," Perry said, giving JD a curious glance. The kid was certainly not acting like himself tonight. It made him wonder if what Carla had said the previous night was true-- that JD didn't want to change back because it would alter the bond that had been developing between them over the last few weeks. A part of Perry didn't want JD to change back because of the same reason, but if Perry ever wanted to admit to JD how he felt, then the other man would need to be back to his proper age. Perry ran his hands over his face.
"Are you okay, Doctor Cox?" JD asked, recognising the action that Perry made when something stressed him.
Perry sighed and looked over at JD, who was watching him with his head tilted slightly to the side. "Yeah," he said, softly. "I'm okay. Come here," Perry said, moving up the couch so that there was room for JD. "We'll watch something that will keep you awake until Carla gets here."
JD nodded and clambered up on to the couch while Perry did a bit of channel hopping. He settled on a channel that was showing The Wizard of Oz, since there was nothing else worth watching. JD settled himself beside Perry and drew his legs up to his chest, resting his chin on his knees. He sighed before training his eyes on the TV. After a while, Perry noticed that JD was humming the songs under his breath and also mimed the words and giggled unashamedly at something the Tin Man said. Perry smirked slightly, but didn't have the heart (A/N: no pun intended!!) to mock JD. The kid looked so happy watching that movie, and Perry guessed that he'd get the same reaction if he put on any other Disney musical.
By the time the movie had ended, it was getting late. At some point during the movie, JD had leaned over slightly and was now resting against Perry's side. The older man felt an odd pang of longing to be able to be in that position with JD on a daily basis. Carla and Elliot's word were really sticking with him, and he was seriously considering talking to JD within the next week, once he was back to normal.
JD was just starting to yawn when Perry's mobile rang. He fished it out of his pocket and answered it with a tired grunt.
"It's me," came Carla's voice. "I was wondering if you would be able to bring JD over to his apartment?" she asked. "Kevin just called and said that he's going to be changing JD back very soon, but he needs to be in the environment that he first changed in for the full transition to work."
"Okay," Perry said. "We'll be over soon." He clicked the phone shut without waiting for a reply.
"Who was that?" JD mumbled sleepily.
"Carla's asked me to take you home," Perry said, sighing a little. "You need to be back in your bed to get changed back to normal."
There was a pause and then JD nodded and straightened up. He stretched a little and slid off the couch while Perry switched off the TV. JD yawned again and rubbed his eyes.
"Tired, Newbie?" Perry asked, smiling a little.
"Mm," JD replied. He took a few steps forwards but stumbled slightly from exhaustion.
"Whoa!" Perry quickly caught JD before he could have another accident. He lifted him up and held him. "I think I'll have to carry you, since you're too tired to even walk straight."
JD giggled lazily and got settled against Perry's chest, relishing in the feeling in case this was the last time he was going to be this close to him. He focus on this feeling as Perry grabbed his car keys and locked his apartment door. When they reached his Porsche, JD stopped himself from whining as Perry put in him the passenger seat and buckled him in. He watched the older man walk around the front of the car and get in the driver's side.
The short car ride to JD's apartment was spent in silence. Every time JD debating about saying something, he stop himself and tried to just cherish being in Perry's presence. When they got to the front of JD's place, JD unbuckled himself and let Perry lift him out of the car, silently rejoicing when Perry continued to hold him as they walked in to the building.
Just as they were in the elevator, JD mumbled: "I'm gonna miss this." He immediately cursed inwardly at his sleepy rambling, and he silently hoped that Perry hadn't heard. But the older man froze for a moment and JD knew that he heard. The only other response he got was a soft sigh from Perry that almost wasn't audible.
When the elevator opened to JD's floor, Perry stepped out and walked down to corridor to JD's apartment. As they stopped in front of the door, Perry didn't knock.
"Um... Doctor Cox?" JD asked, after a moment.
"Hear me out, kid," Perry said. "Tomorrow... if you want... you can come over to my place again."
JD looked up at Perry with hopeful eyes. "Really?" he asked.
"Yeah," Perry said, briefly looking at JD before turning back to the door and knocking on it. There was a shuffle of footsteps on the other side and Carla opened the door.
"That was quick," she said. "Hey, Bambi. You tired?"
JD nodded and reached his arms out to Carla. She reciprocated and lifted JD out of Perry's arms. Once JD was settled on her hip, he turned back to look at Perry with sad eyes, leaning his head on Carla's shoulder.
"Thanks for watching him tonight," Carla said to Perry. "I'm sure you're probably glad that you won't have to babysit again."
Perry didn't reply but instead looked at JD, his eyes oddly distant.
Carla frowned when Perry didn't rise to the bait. "Do you want to come in for a bit?" she asked.
"No," Perry said. "I should get home. Goodbye, Carla... JD."
"Bye," JD whispered, and his eyes watered slightly as he watched Perry walk away.
Carla shut the door and carried him further in to the house, where Turk was sitting on the couch, dozing slightly.
"So... how will this work?" JD asked.
"Kevin says to put something on that will still fit you when you change back, and then you just go to sleep," Carla said.
JD raised his eyebrows. "That's it?" Carla nodded. "I guess I'd better do this then. Set me down?" Carla obediently set JD on the floor, and watched as he walked in to his room, closing the door over.
Once he was alone, JD sighed and rubbed his hands over his eyes. He was so tired, and he was so frustrated and he wanted to cry. He had spent the last few hours forcing himself to stay awake so that he wouldn't miss a single moment of being beside Perry, and the end result had left him upset that he was changing and exhausted. As he slipped out of his clothes and located his large t-shirt, he let a few tears fall.
The last few weeks had been a blessing to him-- he had finally got to spend time with his mentor outside of work, but it had increased his feelings for the older man. His situation was cruel-- if he stayed like an infant he could spend time with Perry, but never being able to act on his feelings, or he returned to normal and sacrificed the connection he had made with the older man.
JD groaned as he pushed himself up on to his bed and crawled under the covers. This day had been the most tiring he had ever encountered. He didn't expect to feel tired once he got in to bed, but he was having trouble keeping his eyes open. As they began to drop closed, he heard Carla calling out to him. He managed a mumble of a response before his eyes closed and sleep took over him.
**
At some point during the night, JD imagined that his body tingled and felt like it was stretching. But the feeling was fleeting, and JD fell back asleep.
elmo-doodle: Sorry if there's some typos in there-- I'm pretty tired and I've probably missed a few spelling mistakes while I read over it. Please review! It'll let me know how many of you have stuck with me during the delay, lol! And there may be some cider for those who review... ;] Mm, cider...