The Doctor's Dilemma

Bonus Chapter 2: Scott & Nate (Part 1)

Friday, May 20, 2035
Jonathan's POV:

The day had barely started and Jonathan was already in a bad mood. His chest hurt and the room was cold when he awoke to an incessantly beeping alarm. This may be due to the fact that somehow, during the night, he had pushed all the blankets off the bed.

Shivering from the chill, he gets up and crosses the room to turn off his alarm. The beeping stops and he breathes a sigh of relief. It had been giving him a headache.

Jonathan pulls a blanket around his bare shoulders, grabs his glasses from his nightstand, and goes about his normal morning routine in a bit of a daze. Usually, he's not up before mid-evening, but he groggily recalls that there's something he's supposed to be preparing for later in the day.

Once the coffee is ready, he drinks deeply from the mug as soon as he puts some sugar in it. He somehow doesn't burn his mouth despite the fact that it's barely cooled.

Only after the mug is drained does his brain comes online for the day. Oh, right. He has a gig later tonight. Manning the sound booth for a theatre production. He sighs.

He usually sticks to doing freelance website coding and such, but he is very easily swayed by a little begging from friends. He doesn't have many, so he cherishes those who are willing to stick around. He knows he's not the easiest person to befriend.

And besides, it's been a while since he's stepped foot in a theatre. It's always good to see a production once in a while.

As he cooks french toast and eggs for himself, he lets his mind wander a bit.

He remembers the conversation that got him into this...

Sam had been Jonathan's friend since their college days. They still talked quite often but didn't meet up much. Jonathan was a bit of a recluse, only really leaving his house when someone asked him to or he had a job. But Sam had a favor to ask and they weren't afraid to call him and beg for it.

"Hey, Jonathan, my man. What's up my dude?"

"Sam. Always a pleasure to get a call from you. What do you need?"

"Ouch. Can't I just be checking in on an old friend?"

"If that were the case, you'd be texting me right now. You only call when you want me to do something for you."

"Jooooooohn... I'm hurt. Well, you're not wrong I guess. I do have a favor to ask of you."

"Thought so."

"So... you know that little theatre I run?"

"Yeah."

"We're doing a production of Bare: A Pop Opera."

"And you're calling me because...?"

"Ok, no more beating around the bush, got it. I need someone to run the sound booth. I had a sound guy - uh, gal - but she has a family emergency and can't make it for the first day."

"Oh."

"The production is on the twentieth."

"Sam. That's in three days."

"Please? We both know you're not doing anything."

"..."

"Jonathan? Pleeeeease?"

"Mmmm."

"Pleeeeeeease? Pwetty pwease?"

"Mmmmmm."