Stern Men Always Finish Last

Chapter 4

Sean POV

6AM. Why in the world is my phone beeping at me at 6AM? I get 30 more minutes before I absolutely have to move to make it to that hell hole of a school. But nooooo, I'm woken up by a text message. That isn't even one of the emergency texts. So if it's not an emergency, why are you contacting me?

Nurse Caroline: I'm sick today Dr. Green. You'll have to cover the nurse's office.

Sick? Yeah, right. You told me that you had tickets for that concert last night. Did you think I would forget? I bet you're just sick with a bad hang over. But can I say that? Nope. I had to pretend to be the real life doctor who loves to treat hellions who just want out of class.

Sean: Of course! I would be happy to fill in. Rest up and call your regular doctor if your symptoms get worse.

After replying to Nurse Caroline I wonder if I can convince Owen that Nurse Pookie is needed as my assistant all day. At the very least for a nap-apple pie-baby oogling date at the hospital is needed and soon. I never get enough time with her. Owen at least has her all to himself during violin. I have to share her with a classroom full of hooligans who don't even care that I'm up there teaching. I would drop them all, even Victor, if it meant that I got her for 45 minutes a day to myself.

When my alarm goes off I reluctantly pull myself from my Pookie related day dream and head to the shower. After that Luke worthy day dream it should really be a cold shower. Oh future Mrs. Green, you know not what you do to me; to us really. While I wouldn't be opposed to Sang only wanting to be with me, I have to admit that sharing her with my brothers is the best plan. They obviously love her, even Mr. Bossy Pants although he hasn't come right out and said it yet. Regardless, Owen and I have spent too long building our family to lose any of them now. And that includes Sang now. She's the heart of this family. If she isn't there to pump oxygenated blood to the rest of us, we cease to exist.

The drive to school was uneventful. After signing in in the front office, I went direly to the nurse's office and opened up for the day. After a quick text message to Owen explaining that I wouldn't see him this morning, I was greeted with my first class ditcher. Sometimes I wonder if the students know just how predictable they really are. Thankfully, by the time 2nd period rolls around the steady stream of students looking to get out of class has calmed and I'm left with the two students who are legitimately in need of medical attention and their parents should be arriving shortly to escort them home. The parents arrive, I give them some care instructions and remind them to contact their regular doctor should any symptoms worsen and it is, finally, blissfully quiet. And just in time for 4th period to start. I drift to thinking about Pookie. If I'm not doctoring and working on Academy items I am usually thinking of her. Just as my mind is getting to the good part my phone buzzes with an incoming text. Looking at the screen, I've just been interrupted by the most perfect girl in the world.

Sang: Dr. Sean, have you seen Mr. Blackbourne today?

Hmmm.... It's 4th period, isn't she with Owen now? He would have texted me if he couldn't make class with her.

Sean: Why no, Pookie. I've been stuck in the nurse's office keeping the hellions alive. What's going on, Pumpkin? Is everything ok with Mr. Bossy Pants?

Hopefully there is no trouble. Or at least if there is that it is not serious and also that it means I get to kidnap Pookie for a few hours.

Sang: Mr. Blackbourne doesn't look like he has slept in days. Can you come by the music room and take a look at him?

Aw, she's worried about him. Well, I cannot miss this opportunity to get in a few jabs at Owen and see Pookie. I'll have to be careful though, this joke will work best if it is a surprise. And if he isn't sleeping again, the less time he has to argue with me, the better.

Sean: Of course! I'll be by during class. But don't tell Owen. I want it to be a surprise. ;-)

Time for a quick cat nap before going to confront Owen. I certainly cannot look unrested if I'm going to scold him for his lack of sleep. And after all of the times that he's been on my case about my sleep habits, I'm going to enjoy this.

I stroll down to Music Room B with a considerable bounce in my step. Not even bothering to knock, I enter the classroom and immediately lock eyes with Owen. He raises and eyebrow in question and the silent conversation is on.

Sean: Oh Owen, you are in so much trouble!

Owen: Sang tattled on me! And to you of all people!

Sean: She sure did, chief! And now you get to deal with me. Oh, what a glorious day.

Owen: When did she have time to tattle on me?

Sean: Earlier this class period. You must be tired to have not noticed.

Owen: We'll talk about this later.

Sean: Of course. I, for one, am looking forward to it.

As our silent conversation ends, I watch in great delight as Owen turns on Pookie and she just smiles and him and hands over her phone. Oh Pookie, you are just making my day that much better. Selling out Owen and showing him the evidence of this planned intervention? Brilliant. The bell rings and Owen is trying to gain back some control of the situation. Fat chance, my friend. Just send Pookie on her way and the teasing/lecture/greatest-thing-that-will-happen-today-unless-Pookie-decides-to-kiss-me can begin.

Pookie exits the class room and I turn on Owen. "So, you thought some concealer and powder would mask what you are doing to yourself? You can't keep going like this Owen! You need to find some way to lessen your work load and get some sleep or I'll put you on sick leave. And don't think for a second that I won't do it. Need I remind you about the poison oak incident?"

Ok, so I'm a bit of a bastard for bringing up the poison oak incident. We were 12 years old and by the time he made it out of the woods he was done for. Now, wrapping his arms in oven mitts so that he wouldn't cause more damage by scratching and putting him on sick leave for the rest of the missions we had planned that week? That was just good doctoring. Having to watch him go to a meeting with the academy elders like that? Priceless. Absolutely, priceless.

I escort Owen to the nurse's office and go through checking him over. "You're not taking care of yourself, Owen. After what we went through with Pookie, I would have thought you knew better."

He sighs. "There just isn't enough time, Sean. We're trying to finish this job, our favor bank is severely depleted so I'm taking side jobs, and we're still trying to get everyone on board with the plan. That means that the boys need time with Miss Sorenson. You know I'd do anything for them. So, I'm taking the bulk of the side jobs to give them more time."

"But at what cost to you, Owen? You're making yourself sick. And, what is worse, you are taking yourself out the dating Sang picture. You need to make time for her as well or this will never work. So here is what is going to happen. Tonight, you are going to go home, eat a good meal, and sleep until tomorrow. No stock market, no futures trading, no property investments, and NO missions. And that goes for the rest of the week. If you don't, I'll ground you myself. Do you understand?"

He gives me an exasperated sigh. "Fine, Sean."

I grin. "See? That wasn't so bad. You should always just agree with your doctor. And since, I'm your doctor you should really just admit now that I'm always right." Now to come up with a plan for Owen to spend time with Pookie. I know he wants us to get to know her, but he has to as well. And heaven knows, that he'll continue to put us before himself.

A/N: Ok, so Sean has a lotto say. I didn't want to leave you all hanging for too long so I'm going tobreak up Sean's POV into two chapters. Lots more plotting to come.no.co�;_�l��