The Talk
Chapter Five
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights or the characters associated with Strong Medicine.
Peter and Lu walked dejectedly back to Rittenhouse. "I can't believe I lost that bill. What am I gonna do?" Peter said.
"You'll think of something. Don't worry," Lu said rubbing his back. "It's not like you have to propose tonight."
"I know, but it was absolutely perfect."
"I know it was," Lu said. "Think about this though, now you have more time to come up with an even better one."
"You're right, Lu. I know. It's just that Kayla deserves the world. I figured if I could at least give her a good proposal, you know something that she was going to remember for the rest of her life, that would make up for all of the other stuff that I couldn't give her."
They walked into Rittenhouse and passed Lana's desk, each in their own world. Peter was thinking about how he was going to rewrite his proposal for Kayla and Lu was thinking about how she was going to help her friend.
"Hey guys, what's wrong?" Lana said noticing the mopey faces on her two companions. "Why the sad faces?"
"Peter lost a bill and we went to the diner to find if and it's gone," Lu explained.
"Was it a public service bill, cable bill, or telephone bill? Because you know that if you call them up and tell them that you lost the bill, they'll send you another one. Or you could do what little old Lana does when she's strapped for cast and call them up the day before the bill is due and tell them that you never received it. They will send you a new one and you don't have to pay interest."
"Oh, that's real good Miss Hawkins. A wonderful example to set for out younger staff members," Dr. Jackson said walking over to Lana's desk.
"Ah, Dr. Jackson, lovely to see you. Glad you decided to mingle with us common folk today," Lana said.
"I'm actually looking for Dr. Campbell," Dr. Jackson explained. "Is she around here anywhere?"
"Nope, she should be in her office."
"You know, Peter, you shouldn't let those bills pile up. The interest can kill you," Dr. Jackson said in a fatherly tone. "Now, if you don't have the money to pay right now, call for a change of address. Tell them that you haven't been receiving your mail because the address is in the incorrect format and your postal carrier refuses to deliver it. They will change your address an won't charge you the interest and the fee that you would be paying had you sent the payment in late."
"Mmm hmm?" Lana looked at Dr. Jackson accusingly.
"What? How do you think I got through med school?" Dr. Jackson said in defense of himself.
"Did I say anything? I don't think I said anything? Did you guys hear me say a world?" Lana said.
"You didn't have to say anything. You just mmm hmm-ed. You don't have to say a word when you mmm hmm it's just there. Like the freaking Ice Capades or something."
"Are you alright, Dr. Jackson?" Lana asked. "You ranting and it doesn't make sense. You never rant and not make sense. What's going on?"
"It's just I haven't been sleeping and my daughter's started dating and I just…."
"Excuse me. I hate to interrupt this little pity party the two of you have going on, but we're talking about Peter here. This is about Peter," Lu said. "And while we're on the subject thank you both so much. It's really nice to know that we have such fine upstanding citizens working at this hospital."
"Well, thank you," Dr. Jackson said smiling. "I do try."
"Look, it wasn't a cable bill or a telephone bill or a credit card bill, it was a dollar bill," Lu explained. "Peter lost a dollar bill!"
Dr. Jackson turned to Peter. "You're getting this worked up over a dollar bill?"
"It's not the fact that it's a dollar bill, it's what was written on it," Lu said in annoyance. "The dollar bill had a marriage proposal on it.:
"Peter, you're going to propose?" Lana exclaimed.
Peter in the mean time was sitting on a stool staring off into space. "What?"
"You're going to propose to Kayla?" Lana asked.
"Yeah."
"That's wonderful. Let me see the ring," Lana said getting serious.
"Guys, we're in the middle of a hospital with a better communications system than the F.B.I," Lu said looking pointedly at Dr. Jackson and Lana.
"What are you looking at me for?" Dr. Jackson asked. "She's the one with the big mouth."
"Excuse me?" Lana put her hand on her hip. "Now I know you didn't just say what I think you said."
"Oh, come on Dr. Jackson, don't think I don't know that you and Andy don't gossip back and forth because you do. We all know that you do so don't try and hide it."
"I actually didn't know that," Peter said.
"What is your point exactly, Dr. Delgado?" Dr. Jackson asked folding his arms over his chest.
"My point is that here in the middle of the hospital at Lana's desk, the "Gossip Centre" of Rittenhouse is not exactly the best place to go pulling out rings. Got it?"
"You are absolutely right, Dr. Delgado. Here would be a terrible place to have this discussion. You're office on the other hand is perfect."
"Oh, God. I'm working with morons. That has to be it," Lu said following Dr. Jackson and Lana to her office. She dragged Peter with her
"Come on, Peter, if I have to go through this so do you."
Please Review.
I know it's been a while guys and I'm really sorry. I had a case of serious writer's block when it came to this story, but I'm working through it. Hope to have another chapter for you soon and just so you know, "the proposal" is already written.