elmo-doodle: Hey hey hey, chapter 13!! There's just the epilogue to go after this. I can't believe that this is almost over!! Also can't believe that I started this in February, heh. Anyway, thanks to all who have reviewed!! Over 100 reviews! Yay! =] I'm glad that you've all enjoyed this. Okay, sentimental stuff will come in the epilogue. Now... the chapter you've all been waiting for!!

Warnings: Slash!! And Swearing. But mostly-- slash!

DISCLAIMER: In. My. Dreams. Quite literally, in my dreams.

Chapter Thirteen

As JD ran out of the apartment, he vaguely wondered what he was going to say when he saw Perry. He would have to give a reason for why he was only turning up now at his place, but after that he was screwed. Was he going to tell Perry how he felt? Or was he just hoping that they were going to have a chat? JD really had no idea what he was doing.

He got on his scooter and started the engine as quickly as he could. Next he was driving the short distance to Perry's apartment. His heart was racing as fast as his scooter and he quickly grew nervous about what he was doing. What if Perry didn't want to see him now? What if he just told JD to get lost? Still... he had to try.

He arrived at Perry's apartment block a little sooner that he had expected. He chained up his scooter and then began got in the elevator to take him up to Perry's floor. Thankfully, the elevator was empty so JD had a few moments to freak out in silence. When the doors opened, JD hesitantly stepped out and turned his head to look at Perry's door, at the bottom of the hallway.

Was he really going to do this? He had spent the day in his own apartment after deciding that he wouldn't, couldn't, visit his mentor/man-crush, especially after the past few weeks. And now, here he was, standing in the hallway of the person he wanted to be with the most, but he was terrified.

JD shook his head and took a deep breath and walked down to Perry's door. He raised his hand and knocked.

**

"Hey. Sorry I'm late. Can I come in?"

Perry was frozen in shock for a moment before he nodded and stepped aside. JD entered his apartment almost nervously, and he stood awkwardly with his hands in his pockets.

"Relax, will ya, Newbie?" Perry said, although inside his own heart was racing. "You can sit down, if you want."

JD nodded. "Thanks." He walked over to the couch and sat himself down. He fidgeted nervously when Perry sat next to him. "First of all, I wanted to apologize for not coming sooner," he started, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, I know you were expecting me, but..."

"You weren't planning on coming at all, were ya?" Perry asked, ignoring how that thought actually hurt.

JD winced. "I wanted to... but I thought it would be awkward," he explained. "What with you taking care of me and all for the past two weeks."

"You thought this would be awkward?" Perry repeated, eyebrows raised. "Jesus, Newbie, it's only awkward if you make it. You're doing a killer job, by the way."

JD sighed. "You're right, I'm sorry, I--" He broke off, rubbing his hands over his face and relaxing back in to the couch. "It's just, the last few weeks have been so messed up for me, and I'm still adjusting."

Perry nodded, feeling sympathetic for him. "I'd say I know how you felt, but obviously I've never experienced aging down to being a baby before." JD managed a dry chuckle at that. "How are ya holding up, kid?"

"I've been better," JD replied. "Everything's a little confusing right now-- I was so used to being a kid that sometimes I keep forgetting that I can do stuff like use the toaster, or get myself something to drink."

"You don't seem to have had any problem re-adjusting to your height."

JD smiled. "I almost fell when I got out of bed this morning," he said. "I didn't expect my feet to reach the ground so quickly."

Perry chuckled, making JD feel a little bit lighter inside. Maybe this would work out...

"So, Nancy," Perry said, surprised as JD smiled at the girls' name, "do I get an explanation for this late-night visit? Or can I expect it from now on?"

Do you want me to visit every night? JD asked himself, before clearing his throat. "Well... I came to apologize for not coming over sooner, and to give a proper explanation, I guess."

Perry frowned. "You already said it was because you thought it would be awkward," he pointed out.

JD nodded. "That... that was only part of the reason," he explained, taking a deep breath. "I was scared to come over earlier... because I was afraid that you would have gone back."

Perry was confused. " "Gone back", " he repeated. JD was suddenly looking like he wished he hadn't said anything. "What do you mean?"

The younger man hesitated a little bit before giving in. "I was afraid you would have gone back to how we were before I was changed." He continued, making the most of his small spot of bravery: "I don't know about you, but I really enjoyed how our... relationship, developed these past two weeks, and I didn't want it to go back to the way it was before."

Perry raised his eyebrows and shifted in his seat so that he was more angled towards JD. Carla had already warned him about this, but hearing it come from JD himself was different. Did JD actually like him as she had said? "Newbie--"

"Wait, just hear me out, please?" JD interrupted him, and for once, Perry stayed silent. JD looked him in the eyes. "You have no idea how much our time together has meant to me. I wish that we could have it back again," he said, softly, "but I wish that it had happened when I was at my normal age. Being a kid was so restricting on how I wanted to act, or what I wanted to say."

The atmosphere in the room changed so quickly that it was palpable. There was a new tension in the air, and Perry knew that these next few minutes could either strengthen or destroy whatever was between them. He swallowed. "What did you want to say?" he asked, hoping that he would get a straight answer.

He wasn't disappointed. JD sighed and ran a hand through his hair (which was flat, Perry subconsciously noted). "I might as well do this now, before I lose my courage," JD murmured, before saying in a slightly stronger voice, "I love you, Doctor Cox." Perry was not expecting that. "I have done since my first year at the hospital. Even though all I got from you was abuse and insults, I fell in love with you." He laughed a little. "It seems impossible, since there was no relationship between us, but somehow I got caught up in my feelings." The smile left his face, and he suddenly looked a little sad. "I understand if you don't feel the same way, and don't want to have anything to do with this, I really do, but I--"

Perry was suddenly right in front of JD, their proximity making the younger man blush. "JD," Perry said, and JD could feel his hot breath on his face, "shut up for a minute, will ya?" JD nodded. "Good," Perry said, and then he brought his lips down to meet JD's.

JD let out a small squeak of surprise, but quickly relaxed and leaned in to the kiss. He responded with enthusiasm and brought his arms up around Perry's neck, his hands lacing through his hair. Perry growled at the touch and pushed JD back, so that he was lying on top of him on the couch.

"Listen up, Newbie," Perry said, once they needed to breath, "because this is not something you will hear every day: I love you. I do. The moment you started following me around at work was the moment that I knew I would be stuck with you. Granted, I wasn't expecting this turn of events, but it's one that I'm gonna welcome." He paused. "Actually... I thought that you not turning up today meant that you didn't want anything more to do with me."

"That's the complete opposite of what it really meant," JD replied, still blushing from their position. "But, Doctor Cox, I thought that you wouldn't want this, I mean, come on, you had to look after me as a kid for the last two weeks!"

"Jesus, Newbie, you still don't understand, do you?" Perry said, but he chuckled slightly. "Yes, physically you were a kid, but inside you were still JD and that's all that mattered. We were just playing the waiting game."

"Yeah," JD hummed, feeling reassured. "What game are we playing now?" he asked, smiling slyly.

Perry responded with a smirk. "A game where I try to get Newbie in to my bed." JD turned an even brighter shade of red and Perry leant down to kiss him again. "You should call Carla and let her know you won't be home tonight," he said, when he moved to kiss JD's neck.

JD laughed breathlessly. "I don't think she's expecting me back until tomorrow," he said.

Perry moved up to JD's lips again. "Perfect," he said, smiling against JD's mouth.

**

JD awoke to the sound of his mobile phone alarm in his trouser pocket. He wanted to just ignore it, but it got louder and the only way to get it to stop was to turn it off. JD groaned and sat up, looking about the room. His trousers were... somewhere. He could see his shirt, jacket, socks and shoes, but he couldn't see his trousers. Suddenly, he smiled as he remembered the previous night.

Carefully, JD shifted himself to the edge of the bed so that he wouldn't jostle it and wake its other occupant. Perry grunted slightly but continued sleeping. JD quietly made his way out of the room and in to the living room, where his trousers were laying on the floor beside the couch. Bending down, he fished his phone out of the pocket and flipped it open. The alarm immediately stopped, and JD saw that the time was 7:15am. Sighing, he made his way back to the bedroom, trousers in hand. He'd have to return to his apartment soon to get ready for work-- hopefully he'd be able to get in and out again before Turk or Carla could stop and question him.

JD threw his trousers on to the bedroom floor and crawled back on to the bed. He lay on his side and Perry's arm immediately wound itself around his waist.

"Where did you go?" the older man mumbled, pulling JD closer to his body.

JD complied, and snuggled closer to Perry's chest. "I had to turn my phone alarm off. Good morning, by the way."

"Morning," Perry replied, smirking, and finally opening his eyes. "Thought you'd disappeared on me."

"Nah," JD said. "Besides, why would I leave without my clothes?"

"You put your boxers on again last night."

"My peep got cold."

Perry chuckled and ran a hand over JD's back, caressing him. "After what we were doing?" He felt JD shiver in response. "Still, can't complain," Perry said, kissing the love-bite he had placed on JD's neck last night, "it just means that I get to take them off again."

JD moaned but pulled away from him. "Don't you start again," he remarked, but he was smiling. "I need to go back to my place before my shift," he said. "My stuff, including my pager, is over there, and I know, I shouldn't have left without it, but it wasn't exactly the first thing on my mind."

Perry sighed. "Fine," he said. He kissed JD firmly on the lips. "My shift doesn't start until after yours, so I'll see you later at the hospital."

"Okay," JD smiled, relishing in the feeling of being close to Perry before getting up and dressing himself.

**

Carla had checked JD's bedroom when she woke up that morning, so she knew that he hadn't returned home that night. She smiled to herself as she stood in the kitchenette drinking a cup of coffee. It was almost 8am, and she knew that JD had a shift at 9:15am so he would be home sooner or later to get ready for work. Carla herself was still in her dressing gown, but she was prepared to wait for JD to return.

She didn't have to wait long, as there was the sound of the door being opened a minute later. Carla watched with amusement and JD silently entered the apartment, turning and closing the door as quietly as he could. His back was to her the entire time, so he didn't see her standing there, watching him. He began to tip-toe his way across the apartment, making sure he didn't create any noise.

Just as he was walking behind the couch, Carla called out, "Good morning, Bambi." She had to suppress a laugh as JD made a small "eep"-ing noise and spun around to face her.

"Carla!" he exclaimed, holding a hand over his heart. "You scared the crap out of me!"

"Did you have a good night?" she asked. JD didn't answer but the flush that made its way up to his cheeks was answer enough. "I can see Doctor Cox left a little reminder on your neck," she commented, taking a casual sip of her coffee.

The hand over JD's heart immediately shot up to his neck. His eyes widened. "I told him not to leave a mark!" he said, frowning. "He is so dead. Never mind that now; is the bathroom free? I need to get a quick shower before work."

Carla nodded, and JD was beginning to move towards his bedroom when Turk stepped out of his own room.

"Vanilla Bear!" he exclaimed, running forwards and hugging JD.

"Chocolate Bear!" JD responded by fiercely wrapping his arms around Turk.

"Whoa!" Turk said, suddenly taking a step backwards and holding his hands in the air. "You had sex," he stated, pointing at JD. "And not lady-sex."

JD stared at Turk in amazement. "That's incredible," he remarked. "How do you do that?"

"It's a gift, buddy," Turk said, still looking at JD with mild confusion. "I take it things went well with Cox?"

JD grinned. "Extremely. It was--"

"Stop it right there!" Turk shouted, frantically. "You know I love you and all, man, but I'm just not ready to hear about you bumping uglies with Doctor Cox."

JD shrugged. "Fair enough. I gotta get a shower."

"Yes, you do."

**

JD had received a huge hug from Elliot as he stepped in to Sacred Heart that morning. She was so glad to have him back to normal that JD almost couldn't detach himself from her. Once he was Elliot-free he clocked in, and picked up his charts for his patients.

"You've got a few new admits that we've been covering for you," Carla informed him, handing over his charts and smiling at him. "Doctor Cox has started their treatment, but go and introduce yourself to them. Also, the interns are here, and they need someone to control them, or yell at them, or something."

JD frowned. "I hate this year's interns," he muttered, but he turned around and went off to deal with them anyway. He went to the stand in the middle of the ICU. "Okay, gather round, interns!" The interns took their sweet time to assemble around him, 30 seconds to be exact. "Awesome," JD said, unenthusiastically. "Do you move that quickly when a patient codes? As you can see, I am back at last and ready to kick your butts for any mistake that you make. Fortunately, since I am happy this morning, I'm feeling a bit generous. You each get two screw-ups before I start coming down hard on your lazy asses. Or, even better, I'll set Doctor Cox on you. Now scram!"

The interns shuffled away, albeit slight faster than the speed they moved at earlier.

"Bambi, check you out," Carla said appreciatively. "Doctor Cox is rubbing off on you. Those interns won't know what's hit 'em."

JD shrugged. "I've already tried the friendly-attending approach and it didn't get me anywhere, so now it's time for bad-ass-Dorian, whooh-pah!!"

"You're a dork," Carla said, chuckling. "Come on," she said, hitting him lightly on the arm with his charts, "let's go meet your new patients."

"Alright."

**

"Hey, JD!" Elliot called out to him, six hours later. "How's your first shift back going?"

JD leaned against the counter beside her at the nurses' station. "Pretty good," JD said. "The interns haven't managed to mess up that much, but I still have another four hours here, so anything could happen. Besides, I think they're a little scared that I'll sic Doctor Cox on them if they do screw up."

Elliot shrugged. "That's how they learn," she said. "We definitely didn't get to where we are today without some well-earned abuse. Besides, that lot deserve it."

JD nodded in agreement. "Hey, do you wanna go get something to eat?" he asked Elliot. "I'm famished."

"Sure," Elliot said. "Just let me finish filling out this chart." As she was writing, JD's pager went off. He looked at it and groaned. "What is it?" Elliot asked.

"Carla wants me to go to room 143," JD said, sighing. "That's an empty room. I'll meet you down in the cafeteria, okay?" He took the stairs to get down to the lower floor and hurried to the room. When he reached it, he saw Karl, one of the cocky interns who thought he was God's gift, and Carla, who was doing a good impression of the phrase 'if looks could kill'. Karl was actually fidgeting a bit nervously. "What's going on here?" JD asked, breaking the tension slightly.

Carla looked up at JD, still furious. "Take a look at the chart and see for yourself," she said, almost hissing a little. She handed JD the chart and walked past him and out of the room.

JD shot Karl a quick glare before flicking through the chart in his hands. His eyes widened. "You gave Mrs Holland MAO Inhibitors?!" he exclaimed, snapping the chart shut and glaring fiercely at the intern. "Karl, she has the flu, not depression! And on top of that, she's four months pregnant! She could have miscarried the baby!"

"Jeez, relax, Doctor Dorian," Karl said, making JD even madder. "She told me that she was feeling down, so I thought that the inhibitors would cheer her up. Besides, that nurse stopped me before I could even give Mrs Holland the medication. What's the big deal?"

Okay. That's it. "You wanna know what the big deal is, Karl?" JD asked, crossing his arms and fixing Karl with a stare. "You're not even three months in to your internship, and you've shown time and time again that your incompetence is putting others in danger. I've let it go until now, but not anymore. You've screwed up for the last time."

Karl looked shocked. "What do you mean?"

"You're finished here," JD stated. "I'm ending your internship, and I'm sure that Doctor Kelso will agree with me. You just better hope that Mr and Mrs Holland won't sue you for malpractice, which would probably ruin your life. Get your things out of your locker and go. You're not fit to be a doctor."

**

"Carla!" Perry called out, jogging down the corridor to catch up with her. "Carla, Carla, Carla!"

"What?" she snapped, stopping so suddenly that Perry had to make sure he didn't run in to her.

"Calm down, will ya?" he said, frowning. "I just wanted to ask you if you had seen Newbie."

"Oh." Carla took a calming breath before speaking again. "Room 143. He's tearing Karl a new one."

Perry raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What's the brat done now?"

"He tried to give MAO Inhibitors to a pregnant woman, because, and I quote his words, 'She wasn't happy'," Carla growled. "I think JD is gonna take this to Kelso. Karl isn't cut out of the life of a doctor."

Perry sighed and shook his head. "Fair enough," he said, turning around and heading down to room 143. He slowed down as he approached the room, and was surprised when he heard JD's raised voice. The door wasn't closed, so Perry stood just outside of the room and listened to JD effectively, shout, lecture and then end Karl's career. The intern exited the room looking angry and didn't even see Perry standing there.

Perry entered the room himself and leaned against the doorframe. "Good riddance, eh?" he said, trying to lighten the mood.

JD jumped a little, not expecting to see Perry there. He smiled tightly. "Yeah," he agreed. "He had it coming, though. All those mistakes...argh. I was never that bad when I was an intern, was I?" he asked.

"Nah," Perry said. "You had your downs, Mary, but... you were a fairly good intern."

JD smiled. "Aw, thanks. I appreciate it." He frowned as Perry stepped in to the room and closed the door behind him. "What are you doing?"

"I haven't seen you since this morning," Perry said, wrapping his arms around JD and kissing him on the lips. He pushed the younger man back until he was up against the wall.

"Elliot's waiting for me in the cafeteria," JD protested weakly, once his mouth was free.

Perry growled and gently bit his earlobe. "She can wait," he said, before replacing his lips against JD's.

elmo-doodle: AAAAAAAH!!!!! SLASH!!!! You were all wondering how I was going to do it (and admittedly, so was I). Did it turn out all right? I'm still a bit iffy about it, but meh. Just the epilogue left now, and then I'll be revealing what my next Scrubs story will be! I'm all excited about it!! I've got it all planned out and the first few chapters written, so yay! Okay-- review, and guess what you get? Cider! Hehe... what is wrong with me? I don't have a cider addiction any more! Koppleberg cider is too sweet, Magners is too watery... I'll go for something else now. Oo, Bailey's... Okay, enough about drinks!! Review, please? =]