Title: Face the Change
Summary: JD feels obliged to patch things up with his newfound family. When Kim takes a job offer in New York City, he tentatively decides to apply for one of three open positions at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Scrubs/House crossover.
JD sighed as he sank into his couch, staring at the blinking red light of his answering machine. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, reaching his hand hesitantly towards it. It made a detour instead and gripped the warm handle of his cooling mug of cocoa.
He leaned back into the couch again, sipping his drink with a grimace. Standing, he made his way towards the kitchen and placed the lukewarm mug in the microwave. His eyes never left the answering machine.
The microwave dinged loudly, but JD was already making his way back to the living room. He held his breath as he pressed the flat, square button just below the blinking light, expelling it as he collapsed back onto the couch, his hand gripping the armrest.
"Good afternoon, my name is Doctor Lisa Cuddy. This message is for Doctor John Dorian. I'm pleased to inform you that you are a likely candidate for Doctor Gregory House's diagnostics team. Please call me as soon as possible so that we can discuss the rather . . . odd circumstances. My number is . . . "
JD let his head roll back against the couch cushion, a groan tearing through his throat. He leaned forward as the message ended, pinching the bridge of his nose as he took a retrospective step back and reviewed his options.
He'd done this under everyone's noses, albeit quietly. The job offer was not only an opportunity -- in fact, it was two. He'd be working for one of the most talented doctors in the east coast, and not to mention it was only a couple hours away from Sam and Kim. Although he enjoyed working at Sacred Heart, there was something tugging at him. He felt obliged to make his newfound family work, even if they were a bit dysfunctional. JD'd always promised himself that he'd do everything in his power to be a good and supporting father. He didn't want his son to feel how he had growing up, what with his own father being around so sparsely.
The only person he'd discussed this with was Doctor Kelso, and he'd pleaded with him not to let it get around. When JD had brought it up, it had been tentative. But now . . .
He sighed as he trudged towards his bedroom, his eyes settling wearily on his digital clock. 7:21 PM. JD plucked his backpack from the side of the bed and headed out of his apartment, each step towards the parking lot feeling heavier than the last. His shift didn't start for a good half hour, but he hoped that he could find Doctor Kelso and get this over with as soon as possible.
He parked Sasha in her usual spot, feeling entirely numb as he locked his gaze on the hospital's front entrance. His legs seemed to be on autopilot as he made his way into the building, his surroundings feeling familiar and at the same time vague as his eyes passed over the halls and the gurneys and the faces that he's seen almost every day for the past seven years. JD found himself knocking on Doctor Kelso's office door, opening it as soon as he heard the older man's gruff inquiry.
"Doctor Kelso?"
The man in question beamed up at him. "Ah, Doctor Dorian. What can I help you with?"
JD slipped into the room, closing the door behind him. "Doctor Lisa Cuddy called me this afternoon. She said that I'm a likely candidate for Doctor House's diagnostics team," he told him quietly.
"Well, congratulations, sport," Doctor Kelso replied cheerfully, tapping a pen against his mahogany tabletop. "When can I expect you out of my hair?"
JD gave a noncommittal shrug. "In two weeks, I guess." He turned to leave, but halted when Doctor Kelso called out to him.
"We'd hate to lose you, kid," Doctor Kelso said, almost too soft to hear.
JD merely nodded, swallowing down the lump in his throat. "I gotta get ready for my shift," he said dismally, opening the door. He glanced back. "I'll give you my resignation papers in the morning."
He walked out of Doctor Kelso's office with a sigh, heading towards the nurses' station to clock in. Carla smiled up at him, but it quickly melted into a concerned frown when she noticed how tense he was.
"Is something wrong, Bambi?" she asked gently, placing a hand on his arm before he could get away.
He tried to force a smile, but released a sigh as she shot him a stern look. "I . . . " A defeated expression slid over his features, his shoulders sagging as he leaned against the counter. "My shift doesn't start for another ten minutes. Are you busy?"
Carla hooked an arm through his, tugging him towards the lounge. The room was empty aside from Doctor Cox, who was seated on the couch and leafing through a newspaper. He gave them a wide smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Oh, look what the cat dragged in," he remarked cheerfully. He then glared at Carla. "Drag it back out."
JD made a move to exit the room, but Carla yanked him backwards none too gently, ushering him towards the couch.
"Not right now, Doctor Cox," Carla warned him with a glare of her own. She took a seat between them, facing JD. "Now, what's bothering you, Bambi?" she asked, getting straight to the point.
JD sighed, sparing a glance at Doctor Cox. "Can he leave?" he asked hopefully.
"He cannot," Doctor Cox replied absentmindedly before blowing on the edges of two pages that managed to get stuck together.
Carla shot the older doctor another glare, elbowing him in the hip before glancing back at JD. "You know we're going to waste a lot of valuable time getting him to leave, JD."
JD sighed, running a hand through his limp hair. It hadn't even occurred to him to gel it. "I'm leaving."
Carla frowned at him, and behind her Doctor Cox tossed his newspaper on the coffee table, crossing his arms to his chest as he turned his attention to JD.
"Run that by me again, Newbie?" Doctor Cox piped up, raising his eyebrows. He growled when Carla gave another jab to his side.
"JD, what are you talking about?" Carla asked, her voice sounding strained but cautious.
"I'm leaving Sacred Heart," JD muttered, his eyes downcast. "So I can be closer to Sam and Kim. I'm turning in my resignation letter in the morning, and I'll be out of here in two weeks."
"Bobbo's not going to be happy about this," Doctor Cox commented, keeping his voice carefully neutral.
"I've already discussed this with him," JD said softly, turning his head towards the door.
"How long ago was this?" Carla demanded, the shock evident in her voice.
"Three weeks ago," JD admitted, looking at her guiltily. "I . . . decided not to tell anyone. I didn't want anyone influencing this decision but me." He stood to leave, and this time Carla didn't stop him.
Instead, she turned to Doctor Cox, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "Talk to him," she uttered, pushing off the couch. "He listens to you."
The older doctor sighed heavily, staring blankly at the coffee table as she breezed out of the room.
He gave it a firm kick, watching as it hurtled towards the opposite wall with a resounding bang.