Jing-Mei tugged lightly at his navy blue tie.

"Aw, come on, you know you want it…" she bantered playfully.

John Carter, M.D., looked deep into Jing-Mei's large brown eyes and cracked a slightly crooked smile. "Fine," he said, taking the charts from her outstretched hand, "You know, you owe me big time…AND lunch."

She laughed, "Right," patting him once on the head, "now why don't you be a good little boy and run along and tend to those patients!" Gulping down her coffee, she tossed the styrofoam cup into the trash and opened the door, adding seriously, "But really, Carter, thanks for covering for me…I do owe you one."

"Hey just kidding, Deb. It's no big deal."

"No, really, Carter, I owe you big time." With that, she turned to go.

"But wait!" he said, holding her by the shoulder, "You still haven't told me what the urgent appointment is."

"A lunch date with Malucci."

"A lunch date with – what? Wait, but Deb…" But she had already gone, the lounge door closing shut behind her. "Malucci?"

"Hey, Jing-Mei babe, how 'bout you and I catch some lunch together, eh?" grinned Dave Malucci as Jing-Mei walked by the front desk. He had his feet propped up on the desk and was reclining in the chair, hands behind his head, smacking his bubble gum loudly.

"When I'm in a coma, maybe."

Dave laughed. "I know you love me, babe…but really, what were you and Carter doing in there, huh? You guys were in there for a pret-ty long time…"

Randi, placing some files in one of the baskets, smacked Malucci across the side of the head. "What do you think they were doing, Dave? Get your mind out of the gutter."

Jing-Mei leaned in close to Dave's right ear and whispered lustfully, "We were making love…" then proceeded to slap him across the head as Randi had done. "God, we were just talking, okay, Malucci?"

"Okay, okay, doesn't anybody have a sense of humor anymore?" Dave said, raising his arms defensively, "And you guys really don't have to be so violent about it, okay?"

"Malucci!" Kerry Weaver's voice cut across the ER. "Head injury in Trauma 2. Go make yourself useful. And Dr. Chen, it's not like you to be loitering around."

"Oh, I have an important meeting to attend so Carter is tending to my patients."

"Well, good thing you found somebody to cover for you, but next time, you inform me first about any conflicts that arise, you understand?"

"Yes, Dr. Weaver."

"And moreover, if you want the Board to consider your application for Chief Resident under your circumstances, I suggest you spend as much time as possible here in the ER, so don't come back too late, you understand?"

"Yes, Dr. Weaver." Kerry nodded and hobbled off in the opposite direction. Jing-Mei had a puerile urge to stick her tongue out at the turned back. "'If you want the Board to consider your application,'" she mimicked. God, she thought to herself, sometimes, that woman could sure be, well, blunt… Clasping her coat in her arms, Jing-Mei hurried out the sliding doors and into the parking lot.