Romancing Dr. Bailey

Roll Call

Miranda looked at the OR schedule. There was no way in hell she'd be able to get over to the airport, pick up her mother and get back to the hospital in time for her liver transplant. No way. She looked at the board again willing the time to change. "Bailey, what are you doing?" Her mentor asked.

She didn't avert her eyes to look at the man. "Learning to control time."

"Um, why?"

"My surgery is at four o'clock." Richard didn't answer. "My mom is coming in at three."

"Ahh."

"Do you see my dilemma?"

"Yeah, I suppose," Richard laughed. "But you could just order a car to pick Elena up."

"My mom hates when I spend money on frivolous things. And a car service will be seen as frivolous. I keep telling her that I'm a surgeon and I got it like that, but she just doesn't care."

Richard laughed, putting his hands on his hips. "Cab?"

"She offered to get a cab, but I don't want her to think that I don't care enough to find her a respectable, safe ride."

"Tucker?"

"Already asked. He's busy," she scoffed.

"Warren?"

"Do I really want her to be able to freely interrogate him and make him want to pack up and leave Seattle by five o'clock?"

"Well, I give up."

"Thanks anyway, sir," Miranda said laughing. Richard scratched his bald head and stood in her sight line. "Yes?"

"You're being a bit melodramatic about Ben picking up Elena. He's your best option." Miranda started to speak. He turned his back on her. "Unless you happen to learn the art of time control in the next hour or so," he said over his shoulder.

Miranda shook her head and watched him walk away. "Maybe he's right," she said to herself.

"What am I right about this time?" Ben's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You are not right about anything," she answered turning on her heels.

He touched her arm and leaned down to whisper in her ear: "I was right about you." She rolled her eyes and headed to her office. "So?" Ben asked closing her door.

"So what?"

"Am I going to pick up your mom or are you going to keep pretending that you're going to have enough time to do it all?"

Miranda smirked and sat down in her office chair, facing her desk. "If it's not too much trouble, can you?"

"Now! Was that so hard?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Ben reached into her refrigerator and pulled out an orange juice.

"Because I don't want to get too comfortable with you being here."

"Oh, cut it out!" He laughed gulping the juice. She didn't respond. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Her doctor's office was calling. She made a mental note to call the number back once she got a free moment. "Miranda, is that how you really feel?"

When she didn't answer, he swirled her around to face him. "Miranda?"

"Can we just pretend that I didn't say anything?"

Ben nodded and tossed the empty bottle into the garbage. "We can for now because I am off to pick up Elena."

"Thank you, handsome," Miranda responded smiling up at him. She blew him a kiss.