Daylight

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Song: Something To Talk about By Bonnie Raitt



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People are talkin, talking 'bout people.
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it.
They think we're lovers kept under covers.

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Kerry woke up and stretched lazily, luxuriating in the large double bed. She smiled as she felt the satin sheets rustle beneath her, for the first time in ages she did not want to move! She lazily stared at the ceiling, thinking that last night must have been make believe. She was sure she would wake up at any moment and find herself in her own bed. She rolled over, and hugged John's pillow to herself. She must have imagined it but for one brief moment last night she swore John had looked at her, as if she, well, existed. For one brief moment last night she had felt almost as if she was a sexy, desirable woman again.

She rolled over and stretched again, she felt so relaxed and peaceful, more at peace than she had been in years. She traced patterns on his pillow as she kept remembering how John had looked standing in the kitchen last night, his smooth chest with just the barest hint of hair on it. Those gorgeous eyes of his staring deeply into her own.

She did not want to get up. She could still smell John's masculine sent on the pillowcase, on the sheets She sighed to herself, if she didn't get up now, she might never leave his bed. It's time for the real world she thought, as she grabbed her glasses and crutch, then put on her robe. She quietly opened the door to the hallway; positive John would still be asleep.

He was.

She stood there for several moments just watching him sleep. He looked so vital and alive, so… well, so incredibly sexy. He was lying on his back, his hair tousled, sleep lines etched into his handsome face. Somewhere in the middle of the night he had kicked the covers off, and she could see his bare chest. She sighed inwardly, as she leaned back against the wall; she knew she was in big, big trouble. She watched him sleeping peacefully for quiet a while before she softly limped over and placed the covers back over him, without a backwards glance she quietly left the room. There was no way someone like him would want someone like her. Face it, she told herself, someone with your attitude and limp could never attract anyone as special as John.

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John woke up. This couch was not made for sleeping in. For a few moments he wondered why he was sleeping there in the first place. He instantly remembered: visions of Kerry in her practically see-through nightgown assaulted his senses. He determinedly tried to wipe them out; they reappeared just as quickly. He rolled over onto his side, wondering why he was suddenly so taken with Kerry. Her could still picture the look on her face, how her short red hair curled around to framed her face so delicately. He remembered wanted to kiss her so bad. Just the thought of her smile did things to him that he wasn't prepared for at the moment. He knew there was no way she would ever reciprocate the feelings that were suddenly coursing through his veins.

John counted the strikes against him; he knew he was younger than she was, he was probably younger than any guy she had ever dated. He knew she would never be attracted to him. Hell she had seen him at his worst. She had seen him mess up with patients, screw up his relationships, she had even been there to witness his downfall when he had turned to drugs. He knew that there was no possible way that she would ever be attracted to someone like him.

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Kerry wandered outside. John's garden, his whole backyard, was in desperate need of fixing. She wished she could just start yanking weeds. But not only was it someone else's backyard, but she hardly felt in the mood for such strenuous exercise at the moment. She wondered if he had a plan for the backyard or was just going to let it grow wild. Knowing John he would probably just pay some kid to show up and mow.

She sat down on the back porch, her toes lazily finding cracks to put themselves into. The morning sun was just perfect she thought to herself. If she only had a cup of tea. She glanced up when the front door opened, John stood there, he was still wearing only his pajama bottoms! She sighed inwardly, this is not fair!

John was holding two coffeecups, he silently handed her one. She could see the tea bag as he held the cup out for her. Now she knew she had died and gone to heaven! She smiled her gratitude to him.

"Did you sleep well?" His voice was deeper than normal still husky from disuse.

"I slept fine" She told him quietly, knowing she was lying. She had stayed awake half the night thinking of him. There was something about lying in his bed; visions momentarily assaulted her imagination. He's so good-looking, she thought, just once she wanted to reach out and touch his chest, just to see if it felt as smooth and as....

She cleared her throat.. "And you?" She thought of how she had left him earlier, lying on that old lumpy couch.

"Oh, fine!" John said lying straight to her face. It wasn't like he could tell her how she had invaded his dreams last night. He glanced down at her from that angle he could see way more than Kerry knew was showing…… He quickly looked away. If she knew what his thoughts were right now, she would kill him.

"You want the shower first? I can wait!" John asked her, then suddenly wished he hadn't said anything. Visions of Kerry undressed surrounded by steaming water…. He ruthlessly cut his thoughts off before they reached completion.

"If you don't mind?" Kerry answered him quietly, staring at his lips. She wondered what he kissed like, was he a slow kisser or was he the kind of kisser that ….

"I don't." John replied he glanced at his watch. "We'd better hurry up, if we want to eat before leave."

Kerry smiled up at him as he reached down to help her up. For one brief moment they stood facing each other, so close that only mere centimeters stood between them.

All Kerry could think about was how much she wanted to lock her arms around his neck and kiss him.

John wanted to kiss her so badly! He stared at her wordlessly, wishing he could communicate his desires to her, and wishing she would respond back to his silent communication.

Kerry smiled at him softly "I won't be long."

As she limped towards the door she stopped and turned slightly. "John?"

He looked up at her, a small smile on his face. "Yes?"

"Thank you for letting me stay over last night." She turned hastily and left for her shower not knowing that as she left, John stood there for a long moment and watched her go.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Several hours later, at the admin. desk
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I just ignore it, but they keep saying,
We laugh just a little too loud.
We stand just a little too close.
We stare just a little too long.
Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin'.

Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?

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"He does not." John said, openly laughing at her.

Kerry grinned back at him. "He does too!"

"Not possible!" He replied. He liked watching the way her smile lit up her face.

"John, it's so obvious!" Kerry impatiently shot back at him, thinking how handsome he was as he ran his fingers though his hair.

Luka walked by and glanced over at Kerry and John who were busy reviewing charts; they both looked up at him. For some reason Luka thought that they looked almost guilty Could they have been talking about him?

Kerry glanced over at him, "If you're minus a patient, there's a possible broken fibula in exam 2." She told him briskly, then deliberately looked back down at her paperwork, as he said in his quiet way, "I can take it."

They waited for him to walk down the hallway, as soon as he was out of earshot.

"Does to!"

"Prove it!"

"How?"

"Ask him, if he says yes then…. then…" She paused trying to think of something suitable "You have to paint the livingroom ."

"Paint your livingroom, that's a pretty steep price for being wrong!"

"So! Put your money where your mouth is!"

"And if you're wrong…. You'll have to… you'll have to…" He thought furiously for a few moments. "You'll have to weed my garden!"

"You're on!"

They shook hands solemnly.

* * * * * * * * * * *
A few hours later
* * * * * * * * * * *

I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You'd act so nervous, could you be falling for me?
It took a rumor to make me wonder
Now I'm convinced I'm going under

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Kerry and John met inside the lounge; John was in the process of getting some decaffeinated coffee, he sure missed caffeine. As Kerry entered he watched her silently for a few moments, staring at her wordlessly. She was so beautiful.

Kerry entered the lounge. She had known that John was headed in that direction, and like a schoolgirl unable to leave a cute guy's locker alone, she had entered the lounge to. She decided that she need a cup of tea, she sidestepped the fact that she wasn't even thirsty.

Neither one said a word for a few moments. Kerry remembered their bet from earlier. She started to worry, it was beginning to look like she was going to have to do some weeding. She kept a smile on her face though. It wouldn't be good for him to know yet she had lost the bet, mabey she could still bluff her way out of it!

John watched Kerry smile. Uh oh, he was in trouble, his sixth sense knew it was regarding their bet. He was not only convinced that he had lost but he was also positive that she was going to Lord it over on him. He was going to be painting forever!

Finally the suspense too much for her, she asked. "Well?"

His grinned impudently, "Looks like you have yourself a painter!"

"Really, but?" she paused.

"What do you mean but?"

"Well I asked Chuni when Carol called her today, and uh, Carol said it was mousse so." She paused, "uh, I.. already knew I had lost." She admitted to him sheepishly.

John laughed loudly for several moments. "Care to let me in on what's so funny?" Kerry snapped at him.

He was laughing so hard, he almost couldn't get the words out, "It's hair gel!"

"We both lost?!" Kerry looked nonplused for several moments.

"Well, I guess we need to argue over who does whose work first then!" John laughingly smiled at her. "But this time, we agree ahead of time! NO BETTING!!"

Kerry smiled mischievously back at him, paused dramatically then said. "You're on!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Several hours later in the lounge
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Thinking 'bout you every day
Dreaming 'bout you every night
I'm hoping that you feel the same way
Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin'

Let's give them something to talk about
Something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Kerry," he continued. "I was wondering.. are you busy later? I mean, for lunch?" John didn't think it was possible for anyone to say that sentence faster than he had. What if she said no? He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to ask her, but he so wanted to spend more time together. So what if he knew he was treading hot water. Just time spent together, he told himself, it's not a date. Dates are in the evening and they involved things like candy and flowers.

"Well, I don't actually have any plans." Kerry heard herself replying. Idiot you sound desperate and dateless, she inwardly scolded herself. "I suppose so, umm where do you want to go?" She turned away suddenly to stir some sugar into her tea, she did not want him to see how excited she was. It's not like it's a date she thought, he just wants someone to eat lunch with. She was positive that's what he was asking.

"Magoo's?" John replied watching her stirring in more sugar than she normally took. She looked so pretty today!

"Or we could go somewhere else if you don't want to go there?" he said quietly, then wondered if he looked too desperate, she's going to refuse now, he just knew it!

"Sounds good." Oh, God is he asking me out on a date? No, that can't be.. It's just a friendship thing, that must be it.

She looked up at him suddenly, "It's not like it's a date or anything right?" 'I can't believe I said that. Oh god, please open up the earth and swallow me whole.'

John opened his mouth to reply when Chuni opened the lounge door suddenly. "Dr. Weaver, your patient in exam 3's crashing!"

With that she turned around and ran back the way she came. Kerry put her cup of tea down the sink, took a firm grip on her crutch and left, with John followed straight after her.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Let's give them something to talk about, baby
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?
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Randi was at the desk, ignoring the ringing of the phone and reading the newest issue of People Magazine. She looked up periodically eyeballing both Dr. Weaver and Dr. Carter. All day long she had watched them. She noticed that Dr. Weaver seemed almost, well, almost cheerful today, and Dr. Carter….

Dr. Carter was almost radiant. He seemed to bounce all over the place. He even smiled at the women who had vomited and destroyed yet another pair of his scrubs. He was in such a good mood he was starting to irritate everyone around him.

In fact Randi, who was looking more exotic than normal with her new pair of snake earrings and matching snake skin shirt and mini skirt, an outfit seemingly designed to drive Dr. Weaver crazy had only received a polite "good morning," and a cheerful "interesting outfit, Randi." She watched as he strode over to pick up a chart.

He mumbled cheerily to himself. "History of vomiting, hmm, where's the temp, ah here it is."

He looked over the chart to catch a glimpse of Kerry who was sitting reviewing case histories nearby. He reached over her to grab some pretzels out of a small bag she had obviously gotten from the vending machine. His arm slightly brushing her shoulders. Kerry attempted to ignore the tingles it created, to no avail.

"Those are mine, get your own lunch." Kerry slapped him on the hand, her touch lighter and gentler than he would have expected.

"You told me not to eat lunch, remember, traumas come first." He alluded to the trauma that had prevented their aborted lunch run to Magoo's. He made a grab for her pretzels, and she grabbed his hand instead. Both pretended not to notice that she held on to it far longer than she needed to.

"Hands off, go get your own!" She pretended to glare at him again. They both looked up to see Randi watching them.

"What?" They said in unison! Randi looked confused for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders and turned her back on them. They were acting so odd today, both in good spirits, both excessively cheerful, in fact if she didn't know better …

"Are we still on for tonight?" John said he hopped on the counter next to her. He looked over to where Kerry was sitting, she looked so business-like and formal, and yet to his eyes prettier than ever.

"I thought so, why are you changing your mind?" She asked him, suddenly worried that now he didn't want to spend time with her.

"No, I was just making sure, I have a lot of furniture to buy." John said quietly, trying to allude to the fact that it was the furniture he cared about, not the obvious reason of wanting to spend time with her.

Randi looked over at them, something was going on between those to. It was almost like they were planning a date or something.

"Earth to Randi," she looked up to see Mark standing before her. "What has you so interested?" he asked.

"Them!" She nodded her head towards both John and Kerry.

"Them who?" Elizabeth asked curiously in her thick English accent.

"Explain!" Mark told Randi.

"Them?" John asked overhearing her conversation with Mark

"US!?" Kerry questioned at the same time as John.

Finally no longer able to control herself Randi let the question fly. "Are you two dating?" She practically yelled at them.

Shocked by the question, both John and Kerry vehemently denied it.
"WE'RE NOT DATING!"

They very carefully refused to look at each other, both just a bit confused and well past embarrassed.

Kerry blushed her skin color was beyond red and headed straight into crimson. "Isn't there some kind of work around here you people need to be doing?"

John said nothing, he pretended to be far more interested in his paperwork than he needed to be. But an astute observer would have noticed the obvious blush on his cheeks.

Randi turned her back on them, to go back to her magazine, you could here her plainly mutter. "You could have fooled me!"

"Maybe they just don't know they're dating." Abby said and rolled her eyes expressively.

Dave walked by, he openly leered over at Abby, then put an arm around her waist. "That sounds like fun, let's try that." Abby shrugged his arm off, but still headed down the same hallway as he did. Kerry's glare followed.

Mark looked at Elizabeth and said louder than normal. Obviously making sure they both heard him. "They're dating."

To which Kerry promptly glared at him. "Mark don't you have some patients you should be concentrating on instead?" she told him acidly! "Yes Mark," Elizabeth told him her accent more pronounced than normal. "Lets, go see some patients." She laughed at him then kissed him gently, taking his arm in hers she said as they walked along. "We'll leave these two love birds alone."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Let's give them something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?



Part 4
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