AN: Another chapter. I hope you enjoy it. It ties a few loose ends. If mistakes are found, whatever….
Disclamer: Don't own. Do not own. NO. SHUT UP. I DON'T OWN IT!
I've never noticed but I have a freckle on my hand. It isn't very big and if I hadn't have been staring at my bony and very clammy hands, I might have passed my entire life without even noticing that it was there.
The freckle reminds me of that mole behind my ear. I mean, if I hadn't accidentally walked into that 'fun' house of mirrors (which wasn't actually that fun) and tripped over that dead rat then I never would have consequently fallen into a nearby mirror, shattered it and then been rushed to the hospital. Then I would never of had the doctor say, "Ah, I'll just remove this last shard from behind the mole," and then I never would have known it existed.
It's funny what can happen by accident.
Like
right now, I've found out something about my brother that I think
I've always known.
He's an idiot.
Taking a deep breath, J.D managed to force out a few words, "So… she took all of your money…. And now you're broke... and homeless…"
Dan whipped out his trademark cocky grin, which had charmed more than a few girls in high school. He could tell that the smile was only in place to conceal the hurt that the Vegas wife had so carelessly thrown at his eldest brother.
He wasn't in the best shape. His clothes looked like the only water they had seen came from the sky and an impressive amount of stubble had built up on his face. Dark rings also circled his eyes and his hair was hardly as gravity bending as it should have been. J.D could also see a few cuts on his hands, which indicated that he was either, A. in a fight or B. just being himself.
Either option still concluded the same thing: His brother…. Is an idiot.
Smiling, Dan answered with his hands clenched a ghostly white in front of him, "Pretty much, little bro."
How can he smile? Is he in denial, does he have a twitch? Perhaps these entire years mum has been hiding the real truth from me… that he's mentally ill… it would make sense…. I'm the doctor, I should know!!
J.D sighed and brushed his hand through his hair, it had got long lately and he had to remind himself to get a haircut.
Ah, who am I kidding, ladies love to run their hands through my gorgeous locks.
Hm…. I wonder what I'd look like with my hair long….
Shaking his head, J.D made sure that the fantasy that had suddenly popped up in his head was struck back down. He had important matters to take care of. That Dan had even bothered to come to see him meant that he was definitely trying to make amends with him. Or more likely, it was just because he was technically homeless since their mum threw him out. The latter was most likely….
Still sitting on the hospital chair that looked about thirty years old, Dan spoke through the thick air of tension, "So anyways, while I get back on my feet I'm going to crash with you."
Recognizing that there was no 'please' or 'if it's not to much trouble because I'll probably end up ruining your life as well,' J.D shook his head in an obviously negative action.
"Dan, can't you just…. Sleep in a ditch somewhere? Or how about that bench in the park near my apartment, you could use a pillow if you ask really nicely and maybe even a blanket if you're super good?"
Looking at him with a deadpan gaze, Dan responded, "You know, despite this place making you a cynical bastard, it at least gives you some back bone... But anyways, I'm staying with you so you'd better stop by the shops cause I want some drink for the bath."
"Ah no, not the bath again! I thought you weren't that distraught about this?"
An uncomfortable silence spread over the room and J.D realized his most unforgivable mistake.
He had opened up the door for a heart to heart.
Luckily for me, Dan wasn't the heart to heart sort of person. When I was young I would often try to talk to him about getting bullied and not once did my older brother look up from his jugs magazine. Not that I could really complain as I used to sneak in and grab the magazines from him when he fell asleep.
Ah... he was a pretty influential brother. I mean, if it weren't for him (aka, his penthouse, playboy and jugs stash), I wouldn't be this amazingly fantastic player that I am… I am amazing. I think I'll tell Elliott after this how lucky she is…
The uncomfortable silence had still not disappeared and J.D found when he came out of his musings that Dan was not looking away in embarrassment but instead staring straight at him as him trying to figure out what sort of drug he was on. J.D guessed that instead of the comment going the way he had wanted it to, it had instead turned on him like a vicious pack of dogs on an old lady.
He decided to venture a few words, "So... do you want to… talk about it?"
Dan looked away as his trance was broken, "Is Rowdy still around?"
A sudden rush of anger came over him and he stood up to show Dan, "Okay, you know what? You can't just bottle up all of these screw-ups and just pretend they never happened! They did and one day you're going to have to deal with that and sitting in my bathtub and getting it disgustingly dirty isn't going to help either! And I'm not going to get sidetracked over what sort of things I found in that tub but let me just say that I'm still scared of looking in that tub. I think we're seriously the only brothers that can actually say that the younger one looks after the older because seriously Dan, I'm always the one who cleans up after you."
Okay so maybe that was a little harsh but I need to stand up to him for once!! I am strong and powerful, I am man!
Dan leaned back in the chair, "Is that how you really feel little brother?"
"Good god don't hit me but yes."
To his surprise, his brother didn't ball his fists or come dangerously close to him in a good attempt of intimidation. Instead he unrolled a piece of chewing gum from his pocket and carelessly popped it into his mouth, munching loudly on it and grinning.
Standing up, Dan spoke again, "well, I'm still crashing with you. See this whole 'You're not welcome in my house' game your playing isn't really going to work 'cause I've had to put up with mum and her 'husband' for a long time and believe me, I haven't been welcome in that house since I was 12."
"Didn't you give grandma laxatives when you were 12?"
"It probably had something to do with it,"' Dan shrugged and chewed the gum some more, "I don't know. Whatever. Look, I'm gonna vacate this hole and see if you've got any Mr. Bubbles. See you around Mr. Doctor."
Spitting out the remains of the now unflavoured gum into the trash he grabbed the bag that had since gone unnoticed and slung it over his shoulder. With one last cocky grin he sauntered out of the room.
As he left J.D called out, "Please feel free to not exist when I get home!"
Groaning, J.D walked backwards and met the wall with a small thud. He allowed his tired body to fall gracelessly onto the sturdy yet very uncomfortable carpeted ground that thankfully had just enough sponginess left that it didn't leave a bruise on his perfectly sculptured bum.
He put his head in his hand and rubbed his temples, trying to relieve the pressure that had suddenly built up.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Looking up from his position on the ground he saw the smiling face of Elliot poked around the door of the room. He could see the hint of worry in her face and felt happy that at least one person was considerate of his feelings.
Pushing himself off the floor he smiled at her (though it was especially tight lipped), "Yeah, it's all good… sort of…. "
She walked over to him and he couldn't help but notice the tell tale sign of her hips swinging slightly more than usual. It was amazing what she could do subconsciously and it made him happy that the signature walk of hers was now his despite being used on countless rows of guys before him…. And apparently girls, which he couldn't really feel that jealous over, what guy would?
With a clip board in hand she shook a bang out of her eyes and spoke, "you know, if there is ever anything you want to talk about… you can talk to me about it, right?"
J.D sighed, "yeah, I know."
"So, what just happened?"
He bit his lip as he answered, "Nothing really, just Dan being Dan."
Elliot stopped and he could see a frown forming, "When I said that we should share everything I didn't mean that we should just leave each other out of our lives! I'm not letting this end up like my parents relationship where we have separate bedrooms and separate bed partners even though were still married! If we did then I'd just be proving to my mum that I am going to end up like her and excuse me for not wanting to end up like an alcoholic, snobby closet whore who can't keep her hands off the pool boy even though her 7 year old daughter is sitting right next to them and talking on the phone to her dad. And believe me, there is nothing harder then trying to pretend that the background noises are a pack of vicious dogs that had somehow used their doggy powers to unlock the doors and get into the house!"
AH!
"Bad Elliot!"
She paused and her head moved back slightly as if in awe of his strangeness, "Okay…. Care to explain that?"
Standing stiffly, J.D spoke quickly to her, "okay, before we start another fight I'm just going to get this all out there. Dan is homeless because he's an annoying idiot so is currently staying with me and leeching off of my finances (I assume) as his recently wedded wife from Vegas just stole all of his money. So that means that's there's going to be a whole lot of sexual tension between you two but please try to deny each other because we all know that I'm sexier. Got it?"
Nodding and staring off into the distance he could practically see the clogs turning in her head while she processed the information. After a while she nodded and her face lit up into a smile.
"See how much better it is to share problems!"
He smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her casually though accidentally getting a bit of her blonde hair in the kiss.
"I'm just so glad that while I'm busting my ass down in the corridors of hell you two are up here getting all lovey-dovey with each other. Maybe while I'm treating Mr. Fraser for a busted up lung I can have a front row seat booked for the incredibly clumsy yet strangely erotic show that you two can maybe preform. Unless of course what you're doing right now is in fact what you two call 'sex' and if it is then I'll just have to bust out the big book of 'so your kids still a virgin' and sit you two down for a big long discussion that will probably end up with you two becoming nuns."
Having broken apart long ago, Elliot and J.D waited patiently for Dr. Cox's rant to end.
He grinned abashedly, "Sorry Dr. C!"
The elder doctor cocked his head, "Shelley, did you just call me 'Dr. C'? And I would think about your answer very very very carefully because the wrong one will most definitely lead to me using your arm as my own personal pointer."
Suddenly having a mind blank, J.D stood in front of the intimidating man and tried to splutter out an answer.
Continuing, Dr. Cox folded his arms over his chest and grinned, "That's a good boy. See, you speaking is kind of like my favourite quote, 'If you don't have anything good to say then don't say anything at all,' except for the fact that with you it more like 'Just don't say anything and I'll consider not kicking your ass.'"
Scowling suddenly he turned and called over his shoulder, "Follow me lackeys!"
J.D and Elliot looked at each other and followed quickly.
Feeling courageous, (like a lion, perhaps I'm courageous enough to finally buy those pair of rosy slippers I've been looking at) J.D raised his voice for the doctor to hear, "can't you at least call us groupies?"
Stopping he heard an intake of breath from Elliot as she realized his mistake, "Well Newbie, unless you are having sex with me which would have to be while I sleep because I would never risk mistaking you for Jordan even if I am drunk, that word doesn't actually apply to our relationship if it is even a relationship."
Still walking they managed to finally arrive at the nurse's station and he smiled as he saw Turk and Carla. They were standing casually around as Laverne read one of her romance novels as she sipped her tea.
Turk greeted him with a causal nod of the head, "So how did the Danny boy wreck your life this time?"
Lavern looked up from her book in interest.
J.D responded, "Sorry guys but we have another roomy."
He heard Carla groan and felt guilty even though he really didn't have an alternative.
She spoke with her hands on her hips, "I really don't think you're standing up to him properly Bambi. I mean, if Dan can be so controlling of your life still then imagine how bad it will get later on."
Turning to her, Turk spoke, "That's great baby, I'm sure that putting even more pressure on him is exactly what vanilla bear wants."
Breaking into the conversation, J.D decided to speak, "Did you know that bears are used in traditional Chinese medicines and are commonly known as bile bears within Vietnam, China and South Korea and are kept in cages?"
"Dude, too much discovery channel."
Raising one eyebrow, J.D smiled mischievously, "oh no my African American friend, I have moved on from the Discovery Channel. Wikipedia is so much more stimulating."
Ah, my hours of precious precious time have been well spent…
Elliot snorted, "Oh my god, you surf Wikipedia to? That is so cool!"
In his peripheral vision, J.D could see Turk and Carla trade glances.
Dr. Cox interrupted them, "As interesting as this conversation is, I really have to inform you that people are dying here."
J.D sighed, "Oh right… the patients."
"I'm not talking about the patients, I'm talking about me because listening to your conversations just automatically makes my brain just give up all hope of life! At the rate this enthralling exchange is going I'm going to have to call the other lackeys I have following my every command and they're just going to have to pull the plug on me because I just ca-ha-not bear to live in a world filled with 9 hours of you people. Now get onto your job before I kick all of your Asses out of this grunge pit."
Picking up his chart J.D gave a quick kiss goodbye to Elliot and as he walked. Out of his peripheral vision he could see Dr. Kelso appear beside Dr. Cox and heard the brief words of, 'grunge hole is it?'. Thankfully he had managed to escape Kelso's presence over the past few days and at the thought he actually felt a wave of positive energy wash over him.
Moving towards Mr. Andrews's room he paused in the doorway and took a deep breath. Entering the room he felt a pair of eyes swivel to his.
"Well Mr. Andrews, how are you feeling?"
The patient smiled tightly and looked down and he heard a brief mumble of 'okay'. He could tell that the boy was beginning to feel anxious and was expecting his discharge at any moment.
Unfortunately, he seems well enough to discharge and it doesn't seem like he'll be receiving that much help when he gets home either…
Sitting on the edge of the bed he spoke softly, "What your going through isn't easy but I have tried to help. I gave your mother some information that could help the both of you."
The boy still hadn't looked up but instead kept his gaze glued to his lap.
J.D continued, "I know it's difficult and I'm not even going to pretend to know the extent of it all but if you ever need help, our doors are always open."
Looking up, the boy smiled at him before turning his face down to the creased sheets of the hospital bed.
Although he felt every inch of himself crying out to help the boy, he had done all he could without risking someone. He couldn't risk interfering and causing more harm to his patient. He was glad that he could at least offer a safe haven and help for the mother.
Doing his usual check up he carefully informed the boy of his discharge, not missing the look in his eyes as he told him.
When he left he passed the boys mother and was surprised when she stopped him.
The woman smiled genuinely and touched his arm lightly, "Thankyou."
He couldn't even bring himself to smile, knowing that he hadn't really done anything but give a few suggestions.
She continued, "I'm really going to take up the offer you gave me… I …. I have to be strong for my little boy. He doesn't deserve this."
J.D smiled, "That's great. You won't regret it… trust me, you won't."
Smiling once more, she patted his arm again and he noticed that her eyes were slightly glassy and gave her the appearance of crying. He didn't know whether she really had been.
Passing him, Mrs. Andrews slipped through the door and went to greet her son.
Perhaps things would turn out after all….
Even though my family has a long history of pretending that nothing ever happens, it doesn't mean that those conveniently non-existing fights aren't still remembered.
I mean, the tension is so thick in here that I could wade through it.
"Hey Johnny-boy, pass the lucky charms will you?"
God, it's like walking through the marshes of tension.
"How 'bout some milk?"
The strain is worse than torture.
J.D slid the probably out of date milk over in the pretence of a hockey game. He was really trying to pretend like nothing had happened but the look in his brothers eyes told him that Dan felt awkward around him as well. It was like something hadn't been said but still needed to.
It's probably why where sitting around at one in the morning eating dry lucky charms and watching Transformers. Not being part of the current generation has made me especially confused on why kids these days actually watch the new transformers episodes; the old ones are much better. I really have to admit that even though the new movie was kick ass there was hardly any dialogue from Starscream, I mean, what the hell were they thinking? He's so cool, almost as cool as pirates. But then again, robots are pretty kick-ass as well… I wonder if they're is such things as robot pirates. Like an island totally devoted to pirates and robots and creatures that are half robot and half pirate. It'd nearly be as good as that one of Spongebob with imagination land but it wouldn't be imagination land it'd totally be real and I would live there with Elliott and she'd never get stretch marks cause we'd just make our babies into robots, but pirates as well so they'd be robot/pirates. And Turk would be there but he wouldn't be a robot/pirate, he'd be the candy man and he'd be our food but he would always grow back more chocolate in the places we just ate…
Awesome…
Swallowing the handful of marshmallow bits he had scavenged in the box, J.D decided to ask the question that had been bugging him since the arrival of his brother, "So why hasn't mum told me about the baby?"
Dan looked up from the box, "Hmm?"
He repeated himself.
Thinking for a moment, Dan munched on the left over crunchy bits, "I don't know. You know how stubborn the misses is, if you don't call then she doesn't call you. I guess she kind of just assumed that you didn't really want to see her, I mean, you're the success of the family."
J.D answered quickly, "You're a success to!"
A silence filtered the room and it wasn't long until the two of them were laughing at the J.D's statement.
"So is the new husband nice?"
"Eh, he's a bit of a prick but he's got a stable job so he can't be that bad. I think mum's happy…."
Once again the silence, only broken by the sound of Optimus Prime and Hot Rod, reigned throughout the room. His eyes felt heavy and he yawned suddenly.
This is weird, am I still angry or what. He's a dick but he doesn't seem to find trouble…. I think I'll just play along…
Speaking again, J.D stretched his legs out in front of him, "Do you ever get angry about how mum acted when we were kids? You know, countless boyfriends and non-existent family lives?"
A small twist of the lips came from Dan and he answered, "Sometimes. It's hard not to when I get pestered by my little bro crying every night about the new guy," he turned to his little brother, "Remember that time you walked in crying on me and Cindy Stefford?"
Laughing J.D reminisced about the good memories of his childhood, "Oh yeah, you chased me for hours after that day, I thought you were going to kill me!"
"I was, she was the hottest thing that has probably ever been in our house. So are you and Elliott banging each other again?"
Yes… Yes we are….
Pretending to look affronted by the mention he scoffed, "Now why would you say that?"
Dan dug around in the sofa and retrieved a nasal spray, "You know, it's a good thing she names everything or I wouldn't have found out about you and the girl till tomorrow!"
Feeling another yawn come over him, J.D stood up and rubbed his tummy, "Whatever, I think I might hit the hay, I'll see you tomorrow."
Dan nodded.
Perhaps he actually learnt a lesson from this disaster, I don't think he's ready for any more screw ups for a while….
As he walked to his room he decided that he had a phone call to make to a certain lady.
AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I think things are really starting to slot into place. In case you didn't read it properly, J.D and Dan are made up, J.D and Elliot are back together and soon he will be making a phone call to his mum to try and start up the relationship again.
Please review!