Scrubs

Chapter 11; a

The next day Grey and I stayed in his bed chatting and watching movies together all morning. Then he drove me to work and we both got on with our shift but considering the circumstances and our newly developed situationship, it was very difficult to stay focused. I pride myself in my work and try to care for each of my patients as if they're my own family members so being distracted despite my best efforts to stay on task was incredibly frustrating.

Taking care of patients that are totally dependent on us means that there are a few of them that we have to feed and this often takes a good chunk of time. I was in the room with one of my favorite patients (I know you're not supposed to pick favorites but anyone who says they don't is lying). A part of the reason she's one of my favorites is because she's young and relatable, the only reason she's here is because she was dealt a bad hand. Anyways, she loves to ask me about my love life and we gossip, I entertain it only because I feel guilty she is stuck in the building with nothing to do and nobody to talk to except staff and the occasional visitor.

As she's finishing up her meal, Richard, my flamboyant middle aged coworker comes in the room and begins rushing me jokingly and getting on my nerves because he wants help with something before going on his lunch. He's a nice guy but he tries too hard and thinks he's funny when really he's being incredibly obnoxious and borderline inappropriate. My patient is finally done eating and as I'm leaving her room with her dinner tray in my hands, Richard thinking he's funny starts dancing up against me to whatever music he's listening to in his earbuds. I back away from him but he corners me.

I haven't had the best past with men and Richards actions cause me to totally clam up and freeze. I'm basically trapped until Grey comes walking out of a room and calls out to Richard. I didn't notice him until I heard his voice and when I look up and our eyes meet for a moment, I see a flash of anger or annoyance but it quickly dissipates. Richard and Grey go to take care of one of the larger patients on our hallways and I finish picking up all of the dinner trays and bring them to the kitchen.

I'm in the middle of prepping my supplies for one of my comatose patients when Richard pops his head into the room and tells me he's going to his lunch. A moment later the door opens again and Grey rushes in closing the door behind him abruptly. "You okay?" I question him. He let's out a breath as if calming himself. "I'm fine. Do you want help?" I shrug. "Sure." And I start cleaning up and taking care of my patient.

While I'm working on the man, Grey suddenly pipes back up. "When did you and Richard get so close?" I raise my eyebrow at him. "What are you talking about?" He rolls his eyes. "Well considering he was pretty much grinding on you I assumed you're all buddy buddy." I scoff at him. "Are you jealous or something?" He avoids eye contact and doesn't respond. "I don't know if you noticed but I was cornered with my hands full and was very obviously not a willing participant in what went down but if that's what you think of me, the door is right there." I nod my head toward the door behind him.

"I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't do anything like that, especially not at work." He finally speaks again. I smirk as the comment comes to mind. "Not with him at least." And I drag my eyes back up to him and directly into his own eyes. For a moment he looks stunned and his eyes darken slightly. We finish what we're doing and go to do our own work.

It wasn't until that little comment that I began having dangerous intrusive thoughts. My mind began wandering and I kept imagining Grey and I in various scenarios that would definitely get us into trouble. And then it turned into me thinking of all of the times and places we could get away with being intimate in the facility. There are various bathrooms and hallways we have access to after management leaves where nobody goes and the lights are turned off.

I continue working and trying to shove the thoughts out of my head until I go on my lunch break. I decided I wanted some fresh air so I went outside and sat in my car with the windows cracked and the music playing. I rested there with my seat reclined and my eyes closed my entire lunch just daydreaming and thinking about how quickly my life has changed so drastically. I've never really thought much when other people making big, sudden decisions in their lives as long as they don't have a pattern of erratic behavior but doing it myself feeling like I've committed a major crime.

I know I shouldn't care what others think but I've been this way since I was young. My parents are wonderful but growing up I was raised that people's opinions of you matter and you need to have their approval to move up in the world. That's also a contributing factor to why I haven't called my family about me leaving Clayton yet. I just know the reaction will be overwhelmingly negative and I'm not prepared to dig my way out of that hole. I know they'll love me no matter what but it doesn't make dealing with them in these situations any easier. Especially when my whole life I've been in the shadow of my two older, successful sisters. I have felt like a huge disappointment since I was in junior high school and that feeling weighs heavily on me to this day.

When my alarm on my phone goes off I head back into the facility and let the guys know I'm back from my lunch. Then I get started on my last rounds. They playlist I'm playing has put me in an upbeat, playful mood so when I'm done with my work I go offer help to Grey. He graciously accepts and I go from room to room with him saying cheesy pickup lines on occasion.

When we are done I say my last which I've been saving. "Grey, do you think my shoes match my eyes?" I bat my lashes at him. He trails his eyes down my body to my shoes and back up before I burst into laughter. I feign shock with my hand on my chest and my mouth propped open. "Mr. Vaughn... Did you just check me out?" He joins me laughing after picking up on my line. "I didn't need that joke to check you out. I do all of the time anyways." I giggle at his comment and gently smack his chest just as the night shift aide comes in.