What If I

Part 7: If I...

Sitting in his living room, Max tries to think of how to make things right with Helen. He wishes he could have figured it out sooner than this because he could have mended her heart and been back in cahoots with her. His phone rings and it's Alice. He's about to hit ignore, when he picks up.

"Hello."

"Hey, I was wondering when you were going to talk to me. It's been like forever since we had a playdate." She seems so cheery on the phone and Max smiles a bit, but it's not how he feels.

"Oh, yeah...been busy with the hospital and Helen."

"How is she doing?" Her voice is like a gentle wind blowing through his ear drums, lulling him to spill his secrets.

"She's better than she was, that's for sure."

"Something's wrong with you. I know we haven't known each other very long, but I can definitely tell you are hiding behind that smile today." Max sighs and starts explaining to Alice the complications of the last few weeks. Maybe a woman's opinion on a woman's problem will help him solve this one. "I see, well, you really do know how to hook 'em and reel them in, but then lose them off the side of your boat."

"Not helping." Max says as he lays down on the couch.

"What you need to do is stop moping around and do something about it. If you really love Helen- which you do- then you need to show her, because sometimes telling people how you feel actually means less. Actions speak louder than words you know."

"You make a very good point." He sighs. "Playdate next Saturday?"

"Sure! Oh, hey, I gotta go. Bobbie is trying to climb the stairs again. I really need a baby gate for my baby gate." She stresses and then hangs up. Looking at his ceiling, Max wonders what Helen is up too.

Standing at the bar of Bulldog's Pub, Helen and Lauren order drinks, well, Helen orders drinks and Lauren gets a soda. As they grab two stools, Lauren can't help but look around at the other patrons of the Classic Dive Bar venue.

"So, why are we here?" Lauren asks and Helen sips on her Rum and Coke.

"I need a distraction. This is the only thing I could think of." She says and Lauren eyes her.

"What happened between you and Max? Yesterday you two were holding each other in the breezeway, you kissed... What went wrong?"

"I'm just a comfort zone for him. He's simply taking the easy route instead of actually finding someone right for him." Helen takes another sip and a few men walk over to her and smile kindly.

"What's your name?" A young twenty something guy, with dark brown eyes and blonde hair comes closer to Helen.

"Too old for you." Helen says and the guy leans in closer.

"I'm Reese. This is Sean. Do you to maybe, wanna get out of here?" Reese and a brown haired subservient man hit on both doctors and neither seem impressed.

"We're not interested." Lauren says and Sean walks over to her and pushes her hair off of her shoulder. "Hey! Don't touch me!"

"Are these two bothering you two?" Turning around, Casey is behind the bar and both guys look at him.

"Casey! What are you doing here?" Lauren asks and Helen smiles widely at her.

"So is that a yes?" Reese asks Helen and places his hand on her waist. Helen sighs and punches him, while holding her rum and he falls to the floor. She then looks at Sean and makes it a point to give him the correct message.

"Bugger off or you'll have a go." She says and Sean helps Reese up and they leave the two women. Casey nods, impressed by the strength Helen used to put that guy on his ass.