Chapter One

"Stitch that artery." The nurse calls out frantically as I grab for some suction. "If we don't get this bleeding under control we're going to lose this patient!"
"I'm trying." I reply to her as I apply suction to the bleeder. As soon as the blood is cleared away, I grab a needle and start to quickly suture the artery. Quickly glancing at the patient's vitals, I can't help but grin as I comment, "Good work. As long as the patient's pressure holds, we should be able to close and get him off to recovery."
"Sounds good. You did great, Doctor," the nurse comments happily.
"Thanks," I reply, right before the patient's pressure starts dropping and blood begins to spurt from the sutured area.
Grabbing a set of clamps, I start trying to control the bleeding as the nurse comments, "You have to suction the area or we're going to lose him!"
"I'm trying. It would be nice if you tried to help instead of yelling at me though!" I answer quickly, switching from the sutures to the suction so I can clear the area and see what I am doing. The sutures aren't cutting it, so I make a split second decision and grab for the laser to cauterize the fragile artery instead.
"The patients going to flat-line, Doctor." The nurse informs me.
"I know, damn it! Again it would be nice if you helped me instead of just standing there doing nothing." I frantically hit the button to activate the laser, hoping to get it off in time so I could get to the stimulant before it is too late.
"He's losing to much blood, Doctor."
"Well, do something useful then and hang another unit of O neg and charge the internal paddles to 200." I order trying to get over to the stimulant and inject it before I lose the patient.
"We're going to lose him if you don't do something soon!" The nurse barks at me as I depress the plunger into the patients heart.
"Damn it! I can't do everything you know." I snap at the nurse, "Now why don't you do your job before it's too late?"
Game Over
"Crap!" I say tossing the Nintendo Wii-Mote onto my desk.
"Do you always talk to yourself while playing video games, Isabelle?" A voice questions from my office doorway.
"Always. I don't know why I even play this game anyway. It drives me crazy."
Coming into the room was my oldest and dearest friend, Samantha Rose Kendall. She sits in front of my desk and shakes her head at me as she chuckles. "Let me guess, one of those Trauma Center games?"
"I'm one of the best Pediatric Cardiology surgeons around but I can't win at a game about surgery." I grin at her and lean back in my chair, "So what brings you to my office, and calling me Isabelle none the less, my dear Samantha?"
"Well, since you had to leave so early this morning I thought I'd be nice and bring you your mail." She answered placing a small stack of envelopes on my desk.
Reaching over I pick them up and start flipping through the pile. "And you thought that the sooner I get my credit card bills the better? You rock, Sami."
"Well, I know how much you value your correspondence with the fine upstanding people at MasterCard."
"What time is your first appointment today?" I ask, putting down my mail and leaning forward, tapping a few keys on my keyboard, "I'm free after a 12:30 consult if you wanna go grab lunch someplace."
"I've got a new patient coming in at noon, so I should be free sometime after 1:30 or so. We could check out that new Chinese place that just opened up around the corner."
"Works for me. So besides delivering my mail and enjoying my cheerful disposition what else brings you here this morning?"
"Calling you Isabelle none the less." She teases.
"Sami, you only call me Isabelle when you want my attention or are mad at me about something....And since you're sitting here talking to me like normal it's safe to assume that it's my attention that you're after."
"You really should have been a shrink the way you like to psychoanalyze some days." She comments crossing her legs and settling into her chair comfortably.
"What can I say? I've learned from the best." I reply, tucking my legs up underneath me on my office chair. "So, what's up, Babe?"
"Well, there was something in your mail that I wanted to point out to you but I think I already know your answer about it."
"Oh?" I ask picking my mail back up and flipping through it again. "Should I even ask? You didn't sign me up for a dating service and not tell me, did you?"
"No, but that is a good idea." She pauses for a moment and looks at me with a serious expression on her face. "There's another letter from that hospital again."
"That Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital?" I ask just as I come across the letter in question. "Looks like they got tired of sending me letters here."
"And promptly being ignored." She responds dryly. "You really should consider their offer, Izzy."
"And why is that?" I ask looking at her over the top of my glasses.
"Besides the fact it's a position as Head of Pediatric Cardiology? Something that you've had your eye on for years, if I might add, but it's also a fresh start away from Dr. Dick."
Sighing softly, I pull open my desk drawer and pull out my contacts case, "You mean now that Seth has announced his engagement to the bleached blonde tramp?"
"I mean you need to make a fresh start somewhere because every time you start to move on with your life, Dr. Dick does something that makes it impossible for you to do so."
"You really do love calling Seth that, don't you?" I ask, taking off my glasses and turning my chair around so my back faces Sami. "And I know you're right, but why should I give him the satisfaction of leaving this hospital?"
"Because you'd be leaving on your terms instead of his? Plus, whether he'll admit it or not he's losing one of the hospitals most valuable assets if you leave."
Tilting my head back to put in my contacts I chuckle softly, "He'll be more worried about the funding he might lose if I leave and you know it."
"The Board would hand him his nuts if you left and took your more, shall I say, well off patients with you."
Blinking my eyes a few times to adjust them to the contacts, I spin my chair back around to face her. "I thought you were the peace loving, non- confrontational one and I was the in your face bitch. What's with the personality switch?"
"You mean because you're all calm and collected about this whole Seth thing while I want to take your ex-husband, cover him in chum, and throw him into shark infested waters?"
"Something like that." I comment dryly. "You're more upset by his engagement than I am."
"It's barely been six months since the divorce has been final, Izzy. All this does is show everyone how little respect he actually has for you anymore."
"Yeah, it might have only been six months since the divorce was finalized but he and Carrie Lynn have been together for almost three years."
"I hear she's old enough to buy her own beer now." Sami comments grinning at me.
"Now, Sami she's not that young. I mean before you know it she'll be a ripe old woman of 25."
"That's the bitterness I was looking for." She pauses for a moment before turning serious on me again, "You should at least call them and find out a little bit more about the job. It would do you good to get out of town for a few days. Even if you don't take the job, you could still call this Dr. Cuddy and schedule an interview. Just to check things out."
"How is going to New Jersey, of all places, for a few days going to help? I mean, I could see if it was a place like Vegas or New York City, but Jersey?"
"It's not so much the place but the experience. See some new places, meet some new people. Who knows? You might even meet somebody."
"I'm not interested in a relationship. I meant it when I said that when my divorce was final I was going to be done with romantic entanglements. I really don't need that kind of headache or heartache ever again."
"You say that now but one day you will change your mind." She holds up her hand to keep me from interrupting her, "And I'm not saying that you should go out and jump blindly into another relationship right away."
"So, you're implying that I should what? Have a one night stand or something?" I ask, untucking my legs out from underneath me and standing up. Walking over to the glass doors that led out onto the balcony that was off my office, I open them, "Wanna join me outside for a few?"
Nodding, she stands up and follows me out on the balcony. Leaning against the railing, she watches me pull myself up and sit on the ledge, "As long as you're careful and use the proper protection, I can't see why not."
Looking at my best friend in shock as I pull my scrub clad legs up, wrap my arms around them, and place my chin on my knees, "Samantha Rose Kendall! I can't believe that you, of all people, would suggest something like that. I expect that sort of logic from Kyle not you."
Sami looks innocently back at me, "What? Are you really shocked because I suggested it, or are you shocked because a part of you actually wants to?"
"Trust me, I'm shocked because you of all people suggested it."
"At the risk of entering the TMI zone, I'm going to ask you something. Izzy, have you ever slept with anyone besides Seth? Ever? I mean you two got together in college and got married when you were what, 21 or so?"
"Tough to believe that was almost fifteen years ago." I comment, grinning at her, "And yes we are entering a total TMI zone, Sami."
"You still didn't answer me, you know?"
"And I'm not planning too."
"By your evasiveness in answering the question I'm going to assume that Seth has been the only guy you've ever had sex with."
Groaning, I hide my face in my knees, "First off, you know what they say about people that assume things, and I hate it when you play shrink with me, I really do."
"I'm gonna want clarification on that "assume" comment later, you know." Looking at me oddly, she grins, "If you want I could have Kyle hook you up with one of the guys he works with. The new pastry chef that he hired is kinda hot."
"You've got Kyle, why are you looking?"
"Hey, I'm not dead and I'm not touching. I am allowed to look. In fact, it's perfectly normal human behavior to do so."
"Why a pastry chef?" I question, looking up at her.
"Why not? He might have some creative uses for whipped cream." She mischievously replies.
"Samantha Rose, I must say that you still have the ability to surprise me even after 25 years of friendship."
"At least our relationship is never boring." She quips, standing up, "But seriously, Izzy, you should give that hospital a call. What's the worst thing that could happen? You don't take the job but get a nice weekend out of the deal? Or maybe, just maybe you might like the place and what they have to offer you."
"Is this your personal or professional opinion?" I ask quietly.
"Honestly? A little of both. Trust me, Isabelle, you need this more than you realize." She looks at her watch for a moment before turning her attention back to me, "I gotta go so I can look through some case files....Promise me you'll read the letter and call, ok?"
"I can't make you any promises, alright?" I answer, stretching my legs out along the ledge and crossing my feet at the ankles.
"Why not?"
"Because this is a big step for me. I've worked at this hospital for the past eight years, I have to think about this carefully."
"All the more reason to try something different. Read the letter and call. This way, if you still aren't interested in what they have to say you can let them down gently. Avoidance really doesn't suit you, Yummy Tummy." She laughs when I glare at her. "What?"
"I really hate that nickname, you know." I comment slipping off the ledge letting my feet hit the balcony floor.
"Hey, it's not like my old Phi Beta Delta nickname is any better." She replies heading back into my office.
"Pretty Pants is a hundred times better than Yummy Tummy." I call out after her as she stops at my desk and picks up something before heading back outside. "You let some frat guy do body shots off your stomach at ONE party and you get branded for life."
"If you don't like it, blame the frat guy who called you that." She comments, handing me a long white envelope.
"I did, but then I ended up marrying his brother and look where that got me." I answer looking at the envelope with the logo for Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in the upper left hand corner.
"Point taken. Catch ya later for lunch, Izzy." She grins turning around and heading back into my office. Calling over her shoulder she reminds me, "Read the letter!"
"Yes, Mother!" I yell back at her before turning my attention back to the piece of mail in my hand, as I hear my office door close. Sitting back down on the ledge I take a deep breath slipping my finger under a corner of the flap and pull, "Samantha's right, avoidance doesn't suit me."
Rip
Pulling the white rectangle out I slowly unfold it before talking to the empty balcony. "I've never been afraid to take chances before, and that is what makes me a great surgeon. I shouldn't let the events of the past year change that about me. I'm only reading a letter, it's not like I'm moving to New Jersey tomorrow."
Letting my eyes fall onto the unfolded paper I start reading:
Dear Dr. Prescott,
I'm hoping that this letter will elicit a response from you where the others that have previously been sent did not.
We here at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital find ourselves in the position of hiring a new Head of Pediatric Cardiology, and yours is one of the few names that keeps being brought up for serious consideration over and over again. The papers that you wrote on Pediatric Valve reconstruction were wonderfully insightful and informative. I can't help but believe that you would be a most welcome addition to our staff. I would like to set up an interview with you at your earliest convenience.
Please take a few moments to consider this letter and offer. You can contact me at the enclosed number. I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Respectfully,
Dr. Lisa Cuddy
Administrator and Dean of Medicine
Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital
"Can I come in?" A voice at my office door interrupts my thoughts and causes me to look up from the letter.
"It's a free country." I comment as Dr. Seth Richards, the hospitals Chief of Staff, pediatric oncologist, and my ex-husband walks in. Folding the letter back up I slip it back into the envelope, "I hear congratulations are in order."
Settling himself into the chair in front of my desk, he has the decency to look sheepish at least, "I take it that you heard about Carrie Lynn and myself?"
"It's the latest gossip at the nurses station this morning. What time is the kid with the mass in his heart coming in for his MRI today?" I ask quickly changing the subject.
"Around three. Are you available for a consult if needed?"
"I should be, but you know that I won't undertake an operation like that until all other options have been exhausted, right?"
"He's been on chemotherapy for months and the size of the tumor has stayed the same. Just about all options have been exhausted, Isabelle."
"Are you sure?" I ask, leaning back in my chair.
"You think I like having to put an eight year old on the table and have his heart cut into?" He asks crossing his arms over his chest.
"I think you like the media attention that procedures like this get the hospital." I unthinkingly snap at him, "I'm not a trained monkey here to do your biding whenever you want something done, Seth."
"Media attention gets this hospital much needed funding that allows us to not only buy the latest equipment that will help us save even more lives than we already do, but it also pays your salary." He grimaces slightly before continuing, "It also helped to pay for the car and apartment that you were awarded in the divorce settlement. You are my employee, Dr. Prescott, and you will do as you're told."
"I do my job to the best of my abilities and beyond the expectations of others. This hospital is damn lucky to have someone of my skills here and you know it." I reply, standing up and walking over to my office door, "Now, if you will excuse me, Dr. Richards, I have work to do."
"I'll page you if I find that a consult is needed. You will be available, unless you want to spend the next two months strictly on ER rotation." He stands up and comes over to me, "Remember, Isabelle, you work for me. You will do as I tell you, when I tell you, and don't you forget it." Without giving me a chance to respond he turns and leaves my office.
"Pompous ass." I mutter under my breath after I get up and close my door behind Seth. "He thinks just because he's Chief of Staff everyone should bow down to him and jump to do his bidding." Running my fingers through my hair, I make my way back over to my desk and sit down. Reaching into a cup of pens that I keep on my desk, I grab a ponytail holder out of it so I can pull my hair back in a low ponytail. As I sit back my eyes travel to the letter on my desk. I sigh and start talking to the empty room, "Maybe Sami was right....There's no harm in calling for more information, right?"
Big surprise, no one answered.
Picking the envelope back up, I take the letter back out and re-read it. Before losing my nerve, I reach for the phone to dial Dr. Cuddy's number.
"Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, Dr. Lisa Cuddy's office." A cheery female answers.
"This is Dr. Isabelle Prescott, is Dr. Cuddy available?" I ask nervously fiddling with the letter in my hand.
"One moment please while I transfer you." She said before putting me on hold.
"Cuddy's office." An irritated sounding male voice abruptly answers the phone after a few moments of cheesy elevator music.
"Is Dr. Cuddy there?" I ask putting down the letter and reaching for my PDA to check my appointments for the day.
"If she was here I wouldn't have answered her phone now would I?" He asks sarcastically.
Slightly taken aback by the man's attitude, I question him, "Do you know when she'll be back?"
"Don't know. Don't care."
"Could I leave a message for her?" I reply after taking a slow deep breath. Just who the hell did this guy think he was? I thought to myself, entering my password into my PDA.
"Of course, I just love playing secretary." He says sounding even more irritated as I hear the rustling of papers as, I hope, he looks for a pen to take down my message. "Go ahead."
"Please tell her that Dr. Prescott called in regards to the letter that was sent to me, and that I can be reached on my cell at 215-555-1398."
"Dr. Prescott?" He sounded suddenly very interested in what I was saying, "The same Dr. Prescott that Cuddy has been looking to hire for the past few months?"
"I've been receiving letters from Dr. Cuddy for a while, yes." I answer carefully. "May I ask why any of this matters to you, Mr....?"
"Doctor, actually." He comments, now sounding not only very interested but highly amused as well, "And I must applaud you, Dr. Prescott. Your tactics have worked beautifully, you know. Cuddy is willing to pay just about any price to get you as the hospital's Head of Pediatric Cardiology."
"Tactics?" I question, more than a little confused by the man's train of thought, "Just what the hell do you mean by tactics?"
"By ignoring her repeated attempts to contact you about an interview, all you've done is convince Cuddy that she should offer you more money."
"Believe me when I say that wasn't my intention at all." I remark, becoming more than a little annoyed with the man on the other side of the line.
"Sure, you just haven't answered any of the letters because you've been too busy painting your nails or shopping for shoes, right?"
"Are you always this much of an ass or is today special? Make sure Dr. Cuddy calls me back today." I snap right before I hang up the phone. The nerve of that Dr....It took a minute for me to realize that I never even got his name. Hopefully if I did take the job he wasn't someone I would have to work with on a regular basis.
"I must be an ass magnet." I mutter under my breath as I toss down my PDA, stand up, and grab my lab coat from the back of my chair and slip it on over my scrubs. Grabbing a stack of files on my desk with one hand, I hit a few buttons on my PDA to shut it down with the other. Walking over to my office door to attend morning rounds, I find myself seriously considering an interview with the other hospital, despite my encounter with the man over the phone. Stepping out of my office, I shut and lock the door after me, "I just hope I'm not trading in one pretentious jerk for another."
**********
"I called about the job." I causally say to Sami as we read over our menus after the waiter had taken our drink orders.
"And?" She asked after he had left.
"Dr. Cuddy wasn't there, but I left my cell number with the most pompously rude ass of a doctor that you could ever hope to have the pleasure of meeting."
Sami chuckles at me, "You have that habit of attracting jerks, you know that? What made you decide to call anyway?"
"Seth, came into my office and started with his whole 'You are my employee and will do what I say' shit."
"Ahh, Dr. Dick at his best. But you've been dealing with that attitude for years, why leave now?" Sami comments after the waiter had come back over and taken our food orders.
"Honestly? I think you were right in saying I needed a change. Seth, the snake, will make things too difficult around the hospital and I can't work like that. Besides, I like having the freedom to pick and choose my cases instead of being told what procedures to do like I'm Seth's own personal trained monkey." I pause when the waiter brings our drinks over so I can take a sip of my green tea, "Plus, I'm not all too hot on the idea of having Carrie Lynn paraded around in front of me at hospital functions like some sort of trained circus poodle."
Sami laughs nearly choking on her soda, "Sounds like an interesting little menagerie you're involved in. Snakes, monkeys, and poodles, oh my."
"It could be worse, I suppose." I shrug, dipping a crispy noodle into the dish of duck sauce, "There could be a gaggle of flying monkeys trashing the ER."
"Or they could drop a house on one of us." Sami quips.
"My only question would be which one of us gets the really cool shoes?" I ask as the waiter comes back with our food and places it in front of us.
"Depends on the day." She replies before digging into her lunch.
**********
Closing my door behind me, I toss my keys on the small table I kept by the door just for that purpose before turning my attention to the security pad and entering my personal code. Once the flashing red light turns to a steady green I walk over to the sofa, throw my light jacket onto the arm of it, and drop my messenger bag on the coffee table. Kicking off my high heels, I head for the kitchen for a glass of wine and to check my answering machine. Seeing the blinking red light, I hit the play button on my way to the cupboard for a glass.
"Izzy, it's Kyle. I need your advice on something special for Sami. Give me a call back, ok?"
Beep
I smile as I reach for the bottle on the top of my fridge and pour myself a glass. Kyle is Sami's long-time boyfriend, and Head Chef/Owner at one of the hottest restaurants in LA.
Beep
"Dr. Prescott, this is Lauren from the Daily Standard Speaker and -"
Beep
Leaning against the counter, I take a sip of wine and reach over to hit the delete button on the machine. Contemplating on what to have for dinner, I close my eyes and listen to the rest of the messages.
Beep
"Isabelle, this is your father. You do remember your father, don't you? Brown hair and eyes, around 6'2'', and a lawyer here in Los Angles. Sound familiar? Well, since I haven't heard from you for a few days, I thought that I'd check in. We're still on for that new Thai place on Saturday, right? I made reservations for 8 o'clock, call me soon. I love you, Tink."
Beep
Taking another sip of wine, I smile at the use of my fathers old nickname for me. I was so glad that my dad and I were as close as we once were, if not closer. I hated those few years that we didn't speak to each other. Placing my glass on the counter, I head over to the freezer and look inside. "I really have to get a chance to go food shopping." I comment, pushing a few things aside looking for something that might be considered fit for human consumption. Finally coming across some lasagne that wasn't too old, I pull it out and place it in the microwave to cook. Checking out the contents of my fridge I pull out a few things and throw together a quick salad as the time counts down on the lasagne. Refilling my glass, I grab it off the counter and head into my bedroom to change from my suit into something a bit more comfortable. As I was pulling on my old faded Johns Hopkins University sweatshirt, I hear my cell phone start to ring from my suit jacket pocket. Reaching down I pick the jacket up from my bed and reach into the pocket to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Dr. Isabelle Prescott?" A female voice questioned.
"This is she." I answer, looking at my bedside clock. It was almost eight o'clock, hopefully this call didn't end up with me having to go back to the hospital tonight.
"This is Dr. Lisa Cuddy, from Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. I'm so sorry to be returning your call so late, but I only just got your message a few minutes ago."
"No problem, I was in surgery most of the day anyway and probably would have missed your call. This just saves us having to play phone tag for the next few days. I must say that I'm surprised that you got my message at all though. The person I spoke to before didn't really seem that....inclined to take down my information." I answer, grabbing my glass and heading back out towards the kitchen where I had just heard my microwave beep.
Dr. Cuddy sighed softly before continuing to speak, "That would be Dr. House, and I'm very sorry about anything that he might have said to you."
"Is this Dr. House always so rude or was I just a special case?"
"Normally he waits until he can alienate people in person."
"He likes the personal touch, huh?" I can't help but chuckle, "Please answer me one question though please, Dr. Cuddy."
"Yes?"
"If I were to take the position that your hospital has been kind enough to offer, what are the chances that I would be working with this Dr. House on a regular basis?"
She pauses for a few moments before answering, "Unless it was a consult or speciality case, I can't think of many reasons that you would have to work with him. Unless, it was during clinic duty of course."
I raise an eyebrow and lean against the counter in the kitchen, idly swirling the wine glass in my hand, "Clinic work?"
"We here at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital require that all doctors perform so many hours of service in our free clinic a week. Is there going to be a problem with that requirement, Dr. Prescott?"
"No, not at all. In fact, I used to enjoy working at my hospital's clinic, but my schedule really doesn't allow me that anymore. I spend just about all of my time in either surgery or consults."
"I'm glad to hear that it won't be a problem for you then. May I ask when you might be available for an interview and tour of the hospital?"
"I'll have to double check my schedule and reschedule a few appointments, but barring any unforseen circumstances, I don't see any reason why it can't be as soon as possible. I'll start checking out hotels and book my flight for say....next week?"
"Please let us handle that for you, Dr. Prescott. It's the least the hospital can do since you're taking the time out of your busy practice to accommodate us."
I had to admit I was genuinely surprised by the offer, "That would be absolutely wonderful, Dr. Cuddy. I'll call your office tomorrow morning after I check my schedule at the hospital."
"I'll be expecting your call then. Good night, Dr. Prescott."
"Good night, Dr. Cuddy." I reply before I hang up my cell phone and stare into the smokey red depth of my wine glass in contemplation. Sighing softly to myself, I place my glass and phone on the counter and continue getting my dinner together. Looking at my plate of nuked lasagna and pitiful looking salad, I decide to kill two birds with one stone and pick up my house phone to return Kyle's call.
"Café Rose." A chipper and polite male voice answers, "How may I help you this evening?"
"I'd like to speak with Kyle Matthews, please. This is Isabelle Prescott returning his call."
"I'll see if he's available, Miss Prescott, if you don't mind holding for a few moments." The host answers smoothly.
"It's no problem at all." I reply, pushing away from the counter and heading over to my computer, listening to the soft strains of classical music coming from the phone. Sitting down at my desk, I turn my computer on and wait for it to load up while I was on hold.
"Good timing, Izzy. I just sat down to do some paperwork." Kyle's voice comes over the line just as I clicked on the AOL icon to log in so I could check my mail.
"What can I do for you, Kyle? You said something about needing my help with a surprise for Sami on my machine."
I hear papers rustling around as he looks for something, "Yeah, I was wondering if you had some free time next week to go shopping with me."
"For what?" I ask, deleting the junk mail that was in my SPAM folder.
"An engagement ring. I figured you've known Sami for so long that you'd be the right person to help choose just the right ring." He answers, the smile evident in his voice.
"That's wonderful!" I comment, feeling incredibly happy for my best friend, "Of course I'll help you, Kyle. I just have to check my schedule at work so I can let you know when would be a good time for me."
"Sounds great, Izzy. Hey, did you have dinner yet?"
"Not yet. I nuked something but it doesn't really look that appealing."
"We've got a great ahi tuna with a citrus reduction over a bed of baby spinach special tonight." He pauses for a moment before continuing, "and a delivery guy already heading to your neighborhood, if you're interested."
I wait for a moment to read an instant message as it pops up on my computer screen.
GHVic59 [8:10 P.M.]: Tell me again why we allow the moronic masses to breathe?
"Izzy, you still there?" Kyle ask's after a few seconds as I was typing in my response.
"Sorry, Kyle. I was just answering something here and that sounds great. Thanks."
"Ok, I'll let you go then and Eric should be around in about 45 minutes with that. Give me a call tomorrow after you get your schedule straightened out so we can set that up."
"Will do. Talk to you then."
"Later, Izzy." He answers right before hanging up the phone.
"Later, Kyle." I say, hanging up my house phone before I finish typing up my response to the message on the screen.
HeartDoc71 [8:12 P.M.]: Because as doctors, it's our duty to hold all life sacred?
GHVic59 [8:13 P.M.]: Even the moronic masses?
HeartDoc71 [8:14 P.M.]: Especially them.
GHVic59 [8:15 P.M.]: Damn it.
HeartDoc71 [8:16 P.M.]: Bad day at work?
GHVic59 [8:17 P.M.]: If it wasn't for the people, it would have been great.
I can't help but smile at his odd sarcastic sense of humor that was similar to my own. I had met him in a medical forum about 4 months ago when I had a case that completely stumped me and my surgical team. A healthy 9 year old with no history of heart problems had come into the ER with both kidney and heart failure, and after a battery of tests, I still had no clue as to what was causing his problems, so I resorted to researching the internet. Luckily, my research had led me to a infectious disease forum when I had met GHVic59 and with his help found out the cause was an environmental factor. Now the little boy was as healthy as can be and was the star player on his school soccer team. Meanwhile, oddly enough, this GHVic59 and myself had stuck up a friendship.
HeartDoc71 [8:19 P.M.]: If it wasn't for the people you wouldn't have all that fun solving medical mysteries, dear.
GHVic59 [8:20 P.M.]: True but I'd be so much happier.
HeartDoc71 [8:21 P.M.]: No you wouldn't. You thrive on conflict and showing up your colleagues.
GHVic59 [8:22P.M.]: I do not. I just can't help it if not everyone can appreciate my personality.
HeartDoc71 [8:23 P.M.]: By personality I'm assuming you mean sarcastic wit and caustic barbs?
GHVic59 [8:25 P.M.]: Ouch, your brutal honesty wounds me. Why I might just have to go lie down and cry.
HeartDoc71 [8:27 P.M.]: I'll wait here until you're done. I have some paperwork I brought home from work to keep me busy.
GHVic59 [8:28 P.M.]: And she calls me sarcastic. Any interesting cases today? I could use the intellectual stimulation.
HeartDoc71 [8:30 P.M.]: Nothing too much really. The part of the day I didn't spend in consults, I spent in surgery avoiding my ex-husband.
GHVic59 [8:31P.M.]: And why were you avoiding the ass today?
HeartDoc71 [8:32 P.M.]: I was avoiding the ass, as you so kindly call him, because if I don't consult on a procedure he wants me to perform, I get to be stuck on two months of ER rotation. I really hate ER rotation and he knows it.
GHVic59 [8:34 P.M.]: One of the perils of having the chief of staff for an ex-husband, I assume. Why is he your ex anyway? In the past four months that we've been talking, you've never said why you divorced him.
I can't help but stare at the screen for a few moments as I contemplate my answer. In the few months that I've been talking to this guy, whenever personal stuff like this had started to come up, I had quickly changed the subject. Taking a sip of wine I lean back in my chair and think for a moment, It's not like I have anything to hide about my divorce I thought to myself. But it just feels weird telling anyone but my few close friends and Dad about exactly what happened with Seth. After all, he did dump me for someone almost 15 years younger then me, and I had to admit to myself that it made me feel like a more than a bit of a failure in the relationship department. Maybe some of the things that Seth said when I confronted him about his affair with Carrie Lynn were true. I was thinking when the IM sound pulled me back to earth.
GHVic59 [8:39 P.M.]: Either you're thinking about something, your modem's acting up, or you're trying to figure out how to tell me that you left your husband to get together with another woman. And if it's that last one I want pictures, the more graphic the better.
Shaking my head, I put my wine glass down next to the keyboard and type in a response.
HeartDoc71 [8:41 P.M.]: It's just that we've never really talked about anything of a personal nature before. I mean I don't even know your real name, so forgive me if I hesitate before I tell you why my marriage failed after 15 years. Hell, it didn't just end, it came to a fiery crash.
GHVic59 [8:43 P.M.]: Greg.
HeartDoc71 [8:44 P.M.]: Excuse me?
GHVic59 [8:45P.M.]: My real name is Greg.
I hesitate for a minute before answering him, and when I finally do, type in a response I surprise myself with by typing in a name my twin brother, Jason, used to call me.
HeartDoc71 [8:47 P.M.]: Nice to meet you, Greg. I'm Belle.
GHVic59 [8:48 P.M.]: There, now that we know each other's real name and everything, you can tell my why you and your ex got divorced.
HeartDoc71 [8:49 P.M.]: You are nothing if not persistent, aren't you?
GHVic59 [8:50 P.M.]: Consider it part of my irresistible charm and gregarious personality. You know, I honestly never thought that your name was something like Belle. I was guessing it was something like Mary or Gertrude.
HeartDoc71 [8:52 P.M.]: Gertrude? Why in hell would you think my name was Gertrude?
GHVic59 [8:53 P.M.]: Because it's very proper and old fashioned sounding. Like somebody's favorite maiden Aunt or Grandmother.
HeartDoc71 [8:54 P.M.]: I remind you of somebody's Grandmother?!? Just how old do you think I am anyway? Eighty-four or something?
GHVic59 [8:55 P.M.]: No, more like seventy-eight, and no fair acting offended just so you can change the subject. Why did you get divorced?
HeartDoc71 [8:56 P.M.]: You're like a lion on a fresh kill, you know that?
GHVic59 [8:57 P.M.]: That's one of the nicer things I've been called in my life.
HeartDoc71 [8:58 P.M.]: I'm sure it is, Greg. Are you sure you really want to know why I got divorced?
GHVic59 [8:59 P.M.]: Yes, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know.
HeartDoc71 [9:00 P.M.]: Would you settle for irreconcilable differences?
GHVic59 [9:01 P.M.]: Nope. I want all the juicy sordid details, Belle. Don't leave out even the smallest bit that helps prove what an ass your ex is.
HeartDoc71 [9:03 P.M.]: Why do you keep calling my ex an ass anyway?
GHVic59 [9:04 P.M.]: Because he was stupid enough to do something to jeopardize your marriage.
HeartDoc71 [9:05 P.M.]: How do you know that I wasn't the one to put my marriage at risk? It's not always the man's fault that a relationship ends, and I was the one that filed for the divorce.
GHVic59 [9:07 P.M.]: That's my first clue that he was the one that screwed up.
HeartDoc71 [9:08 P.M.]: And what, may I ask, are your other clues that he was the one to mess up?
GHVic59 [9:09 P.M.]: Well, there's the fact that most nights you're here talking to me. Except for the nights when you're at the hospital or the rare weekend that you actually go out with friends or your dad.
HeartDoc71 [9:11 P.M.]: How does that tell you that he was the one to be unfaithful and not me?
GHVic59 [9:12 P.M.]: If you had been the one to cheat, you probably would have been doing more exciting things for the past few months than talking to me almost every night. Plus, you've been very evasive about why your marriage ended, and only just now admitted to me that it was because of infidelity. If you had been the guilty party, you would have been more open about it.
HeartDoc71 [9:14 P.M.]: Some people do prefer to keep some of the details of their private lives to themselves, you know. Just because I didn't want to talk about it doesn't mean that I was guilty or innocent.
GHVic59 [9:15 P.M.]: Plus, your damned determined for some reason to convince me that you were the one to throw your marriage away, so I'm going to assume that your ex husband did a hell of a number on you. Probably somehow made you feel like his cheating was your fault. He's an ass, just like I said.
Sitting there staring at the screen, I can't help but sigh softly. I hated to admit it to anyone, let alone myself, but Greg had hit the nail right on the head. Leaning back in my chair yet again, I fold my hands and steeple my fingers, lightly touching the tips of them to my lips as I think. No wonder he had been able to help me diagnose that kid so easily a few months ago. He is incredibly observant and straight forward. Maybe I should tell him what happened, I mean it's not like we're ever going to meet.
GHVic59 [9:19 P.M.]: Are you going to respond? Or are you trying to think of a creative way to evade me again?
A knock at the door saves me from answering him right off. Taking advantage of the reprieve that I had just been granted, I quickly lean forward and type in something before getting up and heading to my door.
HeartDoc71 [9:20 P.M.]: Be right back, my food is here.
I hear the IM ding go off as I pay Eric and thank him for including this on his rounds. After he leaves with a happy good night and a sizable tip, I head back to my kitchen where I grab the bottle of wine and some silverware before going back to my computer desk to see what he had wrote.
GHVic59 [9:25 P.M.]: Excuses, excuses.
Pouring another glass of wine I open the container of food and take a small bite before typing in a response.
HeartDoc71 [9:28 P.M.]: Ahi tuna with a citrus reduction over a bed of baby spinach actually.
GHVic59 [9:30 P.M.]: Stop avoiding my questions. Are you always this evasive when you don't want to talk about something?
Taking another bite of food, I put my fork down and let my fingers hover over the keyboard for a moment. Who knows, it might do me good to get an outsider's perspective of things.
GHVic59 [9:33 P.M.]: Belle?
HeartDoc71 [9:34 P.M.]: I'm not avoiding your questions and, yes, I am evasive when I don't want to talk about something, but that's not the case right now. I'm just taking a moment to put my thoughts in order.
GHVic59 [9:36 P.M.]: Trying to decide whether or not you should tell me anything?
HeartDoc71 [9:38 P.M.]: You're a little too observant at times, as well as persistent. I can see why people have a hard time dealing with you most days. Talking with you can be a little bit disconcerting.
GHVic59 [9:40 P.M.]: Again, I have to say that's one of the nicest things that has ever been said about me.
HeartDoc71 [9:41 P.M.]: How come I have a feeling that's putting it mildly?
GHVic59 [9:42 P.M.]: Because you've gotten to know me well enough over the past few months to know that I can be a real ass at times?
HeartDoc71 [9:44 P.M.]: And I can be a real bitch. Your point?
GHVic59 [9:45 P.M.]: Other than the fact you are going to tell me what I want to know? Absolutely nothing.
HeartDoc71 [9:46 P.M.]: You really are one cocky ass bastard, you know that?
GHVic59 [9:47 P.M.]: Consider it part of my considerable charm.
HeartDoc71 [9:48 P.M.]: I just may do that, Greg. Just answer me one question though.
GHVic59 [9:49 P.M.]: Shoot.
HeartDoc71 [9:50 P.M.]: Why is it so important to you to find out what happened between my ex and me?
GHVic59 [9:51 P.M.]: Because I want to know what makes a woman like you just get up and walk away from....How long were you married for?
HeartDoc71 [9:53 P.M.]: Almost 15 years....And just what do you mean a "woman like me"?
GHVic59 [9:55 P.M.]: As I said, a woman like you walk away from 15 years of marriage.
HeartDoc71 [9:56 P.M.]: Again, I must ask what do you mean when you say a "woman like me"?
GHVic59 [9:57 P.M.]: Smart, funny, honest, stubborn, loyal, dedicated, determined, tenacious....Shall I go on?
HeartDoc71 [10:00 P.M.]: Maybe I should go and change my name to Fluffy. You make me sound like the perfect lap dog.
GHVic59 [10:01 P.M.]: And when was the last time that you jumped up on someone's lap and started licking their face?
HeartDoc71 [10:02 P.M.]: Too damn long.
GHVic59 [10:03 P.M.]: My lap is available whenever you want it.
I was about to type in a response when my beeper started going off. Quickly checking it, I sigh softly and start typing.
HeartDoc71 [10:05 P.M.]: Looks like you're going to have to wait for the juicy details, Greg. I just got a page from the ER saying one of my patients was brought in a few minutes ago.
GHVic59 [10:06 P.M.]: Duty calls, huh?
HeartDoc71 [10:07 P.M.]: I know it sounds like a lame excuse to avoid answering your questions, but yes, duty does call.
GHVic59 [10:09 P.M.]: You don't seem like the lame excuse type, Belle, but the next time we talk I better get the un-rated verison of the story.
HeartDoc71 [10:11 P.M.]: I promise. Night, Greg.
GHVic59 [10:12 P.M.]: I'm holding you to that. Night, Belle.
Picking up my cell, I call the attending Doctor on duty in the ER as I log off of AOL and stand up. Slipping on my sneakers, I grab my purse and keys. Strangely enough, a part of me felt better for having opened up a little bit to Greg tonight. Locking my apartment door behind me and arming the security system, I wonder at how easily his real name popped into my head. It was like knowing that small detail about him made him feel so much more real to me than ever before. For the past few months, he had been nothing more than a screen name on the net, but now he seemed more like....a friend.
********
"New Jersey? You're really considering a job in New Jersey?" My father asks in stunned disbelief, "You've worked at General for a little over eight years. I can't believe that you're considering moving."
"Dad, " I soothingly say, pushing my hair behind my ear as I look around on my desk for a file, "It's not like I'm talking about moving to Turkey to work at a Taco Bell. It's only to New Jersey, and the position as Head of Pediatric Cardiology at a very prestigious teaching hospital. It's a great opportunity for me both personally and professionally."
"Are you sure about this, Isabelle? Are you really sure about this move?"
"It's just an interview and a tour of the place, Dad." I respond, picking up a folder from the desk, "I'm just checking out the place....Seth's marrying Carrie Lynn, I need to get away and make a fresh start someplace where they don't know the sordid details of my divorce. In all honesty, Dad, if it's not there it's going to be somewhere else."
"He's marrying her?"
"I found out yesterday morning when I got to work. It was all the gossip at the nurses' station when I got in."
"I can't believe that he's marrying her." My father sighed impatiently. "Cheating on you with one of his former patients has to be the stupidest thing he's ever done. I still think that you should have reported him and had his license revoked."
"She was his former patient and no longer under his care, so there really wasn't anything unethical about it. Plus," I joke with him, "you did get me the apartment and the Jag in the divorce settlement."
"Divorcing him was probably just about the second smartest thing that you've ever done, Tinkerbell."
"And what was the first?" I ask, opening the file in my hand and looking over it.
"Hiring me to be your attorney." He teased me, chuckling, "But seriously, are you really sure about giving up your life here and moving to Jersey?"
"Gee, Dad, if I didn't know better, I'd think that you wanted me to stay here in LA." I answer while a faint trace of sarcasm creeps into my voice.
"Don't get all sarcastic on me, young lady. I only want what's best for you and you know it."
"I know that, Dad, I really do. I just need you to know that getting away from General and Seth is what's best for me. If I don't take the job at Princeton Plainsboro, I'll be sending out my resume to other medical establishments in hope of finding a new position. Who knows? I might even look into going into private practice."
"Just promise me something, Little Girl." My father asks in a serious tone.
"And that would be?"
"Don't sign anything until I get a chance to look it over."
Shaking my head, I can't help but smile, "Ever the lawyer, right Dad?"
"Just looking out for my daughter's best interests. We still on for dinner?"
"Saturday at eight, right?"
"Glad to see you remembered....You know a new attorney just joined us at the DA's office. He's a nice kid, about your age and he's new in town. He could use someone to show him around, maybe I should ask him to join us."
Rolling my eyes, I pick up a pen and make a note in the file I was holding, "I told you, I'm not ready to start dating yet."
"I just want you to be happy and move on. Is that a crime?"
"It is if you become one of those pushy fathers that just has to have a say in every aspect of his child's life."
"I can't help it, you know. It's a father's job to worry about his daughter. Have you been keeping up on your medicine?"
Putting the file folder down, I sit in my chair and lean back. "Yes, I've been keeping up on my meds, and I love you for worrying about me, but remember I'm a big girl. I might be a little battered and bruised right now, Dad, but I'm far from broken. You're forgetting that I'm a fighter, just like my father."
"I know, Isabelle, but I'm always going to worry about you. It is my job after all."
"Thanks, Dad. You know, you drive me nuts some days, but I guess I'll put up with it for now." I say smiling, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and see a patient now. I'll see you Saturday, ok?"
"I'll pick you up at 7:30, take care, and I love you."
"I always do, and I love you too, Dad." I reply hanging up my cell phone. I really did love my Dad, but sometimes he was so over-protective, it drove me insane. Picking up another file, I head out my office door to go see my patient. As I walk down the hall, I look around the familiar walls and see the old familiar faces. As some looked sympathetically at me, I knew I had made the right decision about this job offer in New Jersey. I needed a fresh start, and like I told my dad, even if I didn't take this job at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, I was going to find something somewhere else.
Even if I had to go into private practice.