Title: Imagination over Intelligence
A/N: The Episode titles after some of the chapter numbers generally means that those scenes take place in the context (though they're not always exactly like they were) in the episode, though I think I've made some textual context clues too.
I totally had forgotten about this story practically since I wrote it. (Maybe it was better that way, who knows). Anyway... here it is, just so that I know where -all- my fit to publish online stories are. (And that they're all in one place).
Rock, Paper, Scissors
Kerry walked into Doc Magoos. She glanced to her left, then the right. Kim sat in a booth on the right. Two booths in. Something was playing on the jukebox, but Kerry didn't hear it, her heart was echoing so loudly in her ears. She made her way over to Kim's booth. "Hey."
She slid into the booth and Kim started to gather up her things, "Oh, I was just about to leave if you want the table."
"No, no." Kim had looked so relaxed, and then suddenly she wasn't relaxed at all. It did not bode well. "Actually I called your office, and they said you might be here. I was hoping we could talk."
Kerry unhooked her crutch from her arm and settled it near her. To her, that meant she wasn't playing around, but Kim had never really
seemed to notice the crutch, before Kerry'd thought that a good thing, but...
Kim leaned forward a bit, her pen between her hands, "I don't know Kerry, we've already talked a lot today."
Kerry looked down at the table. She liked who she was, after years of uncertainty she'd figured out that she was who she was and screw the world. Except for every once in awhile, when she did something stupid like ream out a friend. She looked back up at Kim. "Look, I know it's been tense between us, but listen, I really don't mean it to be."
Kim put on her best Psychiatrist face, "I'm sure it'll pass."
Kerry shook her head, "Kim, I want you to know that I respect you as a colleague."
Kim bristled inside a little and turned the screws on Kerry a bit. Tilting her head to one side, "Today notwithstanding?"
"I miss you."
The look on Kim's face said more clearly than words ever could. 'Yeah, sure, and you have a bridge to sell me'. Her Psychiatrist mask slammed back into place, a slight smile with no happiness in it graced her lips, "Well, that'll pass too. In a few weeks we'll just be friendly
co-workers again."
Kerry's head hadn't moved since she'd sat down. She was stuck, staring at Kim, trying to put into words what was in her heart. "You know I've been thinking, and I'm not sure that's what I want."
Kim sat there and absorbed that sentiment for a second before she started to leave. "You have a good night, okay."
She stood from the table and heard Kerry say her name, say please. She went to the coat tree and got her coat, picked up her things. Either Kerry would stop her, or she wouldn't. Kim had had interactions like hers and Kerry's before. Before she had chased them. This time, it was up to Kerry.
Kerry watched as Kim went to the door. She switched her gaze to the table as she heard the bell tinkle. Kim was gone. Kerry sat alone in
Doc Magoos, Kim's words ringing in her ears. 'Friendly co-workers'.
She heard a voice, once, twice, and finally someone put a hand on her shoulder. "Chief... do I have to call the EMTs in here. It was the
fries, right?"
Kerry blinked and looked up to find Dave sitting across from here. She sighed. "What do you need?"
Dave shook his head. "Nothing, for once, nothing at all. But you looked pale and sorta out of it. I mean, you're a pain in the ass
Chief, but they could find so much worse."
Kerry raised an eyebrow, "Thank you for the vote of confidence Doctor Malucci. I'm fine, but I would like to be alone."
Dave stood, "'Course, have a good... meal."
He left and after a moment one of the waitresses came over. "Doctor Weaver." The red head looked up, "Are you okay?"
Kerry took a breath in, "Right. I should probably give up the table if I'm not using it."
The woman smiled, "You don't have to. We're having a special today you know?"
"Oh?"
The woman's smile turned to a smirk, "Sure, the burgers won't be burned."
This coaxed a chuckle from Kerry. "Not burned, okay, you convinced me Lisa, but I think I'll eat at the bar." Kerry paused, "Thank you."
"We aim to please..." She paused, "...and make you spend money." Kerry laughed.
"Did you and the blonde bombshell break up?"
Kerry's head snapped up, "What, no... we had... we work together and we had a disagreement. It'll... we'll figure it out."
Lisa shook her head. "You Doctors over there take everything so seriously. Need to lighten up, relax a bit."
Doc Magoos was nearly empty except for Kerry and a surgical nurse who wasn't Shirley at the other end of the counter. "I know... are you
hiring here?"
Lisa chuckled, "I think you may be over qualified."
"Probably... well, I should let you..." Kerry trailed off.
"You were going to say close up... alas, I've got two more hours here in this insanely fun place. Stay relaxed Doctor Weaver."
Kerry stood and threaded her arm through her crutch. "I'll try."
"And don't be too pissed at the gorgeous blonde one. She was probably right anyway."
Kerry shook her head as she walked out of Doc Magoos. It was so late, so late that it was almost early. She was on at nine tomorrow... which was actually today already.
Today was going to be a long day.