It Won't Be Long

Meg Shelley was already prepped and ready to go by the time Miranda. "Scalpel," Miranda said firmly. The scrub nurse handed her the scalpel and Miranda proceeded to make a deep cut into the stomach of the young girl. As she wrapped up, Ben asked if they were going to continue their night. Miranda blushed and looked around. She really liked to keep her professional life separate from her private life. Everyone might need to know everything about other people in the hospital, but they didn't need to know about her. Ben shook his head at her. "I'm trying to work here, Dr. Warren."

Ben fixed his gloves. "Wouldn't you believe it? I'm working, too, Dr. Bailey." Someone giggled. Miranda cut her eyes in their direction. Then she looked at Ben. He held up both of his hands. "Sorry."

Miranda continued to work. She was honestly relieved when she finished the procedure with no major problems. After she scrubbed out, she checked her phone. Ben had a text message: Where are you?

She texted him back: On my way to the locker room.

He responded quickly. Im talking to some people. Ill be there shortly.

Miranda didn't bother to respond, she just headed towards the locker room. There were more than a few people there, but aside from a head nod and a quick 'hey,' no one to socialize with. She checked the time; it was almost midnight and she was tired. She sat near her locker and closed her eyes for a second before she started to get dressed. A hand on her shoulder jolted her awake. "Sorry!" Ben said. Miranda stood up to face him. "I'm starting to think that you're scared of me."

"Well, maybe if you stopped creeping up on me like it's Friday the 13th and you're Jason, I'd stop jumping," she said a little crossly. Any other sane person would have stopped talking and cut the conversation short or just left her presence. Miranda looked up to see him smiling at her. He was out of his scrubs and back into his outfit from their date. He still looked good.

"I love your biting wit, especially when you're tired." Ben kissed her cheek. "Ready to go?"

"I just need to get out of our scrubs."

"Need some help?" Ben wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.

She pushed him away. "Just go. Give me five minutes." Ben kissed her cheek and walked away. Miranda put her jeans and shirt back on. She sat down and leaned back against her locker.

Ben woke her up again: "Still trying to go to sleep on me?"

With one eye open, she looked up at him and whined. "I am so tired."

He nodded in solidarity. "Let's get you home."

"That sounds great." Miranda bit the inside of her lip so that she would stay awake for the trip back to her house. She stopped when they pulled into her driveway. Ben put his head back on the headrest and scratched his beard. She smiled. "You look as tired as I feel."

He yawned. "I am. I am." They didn't speak as soft music poured from the radio. "Should I come in for a night cap?"

Miranda turned in his direction. "Excuse me! What kind of night cap are you talking about? Because if you think—" Her rant was cut short by Ben touching her neck and pulling her in for a kiss. Miranda moved closer to him and put a hand on his chest.

When she pulled away from him, she smiled. Miranda licked her lips. "Damn, is that all I have to do to shorten your lectures?" Ben moved his hand down to her shoulder. "I didn't mean a nightcap like that. I meant a nightcap like a glass of wine and some pizza, maybe some kissing."

Her face flushed. "I—I just…," Miranda blew air out of her mouth. "I'm sorry."

"Still a little jumpy about this being our 12th date?" She nodded slowly. "Okay, well… It's already 12, maybe I should go home?" He asked it as a question, giving Miranda the opportunity to invite him in or dismiss him.

Part of her wanted him to leave so she could get her thoughts together. The other half—"Stay. You and I are t-together. I want you to come in for wine and pizza and other… things." He smiled and got out of the car, running around it to open her door. He held out his hand for her to take. After a couple of slices each, Miranda put her head into Ben's chest. The TV was on, but it was muted. The pictures flashing on the screen meant nothing to her. She was focused on being with Ben. Even though he made her heart skip, even though he made the butterflies in her stomach feel more like elephants and even though her hands started sweating whenever he touched her, she felt so comfortable with him. "If I start snoring, just tap my shoulder," Miranda told him laughing. She looked up at him.

"I don't mind you snoring," Ben answered smiling.

She felt his lips brush the top of her head. Miranda tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and fell asleep watching Martin Lawrence cause mayhem on the screen.

"Miranda. Miranda." Ben was gently shaking her.

"Yes," she answered without opening her eyes.

"We fell asleep."

Yawning, she opened her eyes and realized that her head was in his lap. She sat up quickly. "Sorry about that."

"That's… fine."

"What time is it?"

"Almost two o'clock." Miranda didn't respond. She avoided looking Ben. She knew she must look a hot mess. She smoothed down her hair. "And I should get going."

"Okay. Good. Not, you know… 'good'," she said using quotation marks. "But it is late."

Ben stood up first and pulled Miranda to her feet. They walked to the door. She opened it, allowing the cool air to enter her home. She noticed that the rain had stopped. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly. Instantaneously, she settled her arms around his neck. "Can I just say that I can't wait for the day when I don't have to go home at two o'clock in the morning?" She cocked her head to the side. "When I can just walk with you upstairs and lay down with you next to me." Here it was: her heart skipping like the broken records her father played when she was younger, the small pang in her stomach, her moist hands. She couldn't even open her mouth to respond. What he was saying—she felt the same way. She wanted to fall asleep in his arms at night and wake up to his face in the morning. He continued. "I'm just saying, and this is on the record, if you didn't have to go in, we would have made love last night." Ben kissed her quickly on the cheeks and lips and left.