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Post by Amber Jefferson on Mar 30, 2009 13:43:13 GMT -5
(tag Laurie)
As she pushed another piece of lettuce around her plate, Amber tried to stifle a yawn. She had hoped stopping for a little bit of dinner - or was it breakfast? – might stimulate her brain into a more alert state, but so far the food the hospital cafeteria provided was proving less than fascinating. It had been hours since the kitchen closed and all that was available was what was in the chilled cabinet so it had been a choice between salads and sandwiches of varying varieties. She had chosen the one with the least dubious appearance, a decision she was now regretting. She couldn’t quite decide whether whatever was currently in her mouth was tomato or plastic but whatever it was, it wasn’t giving her the boost she was going to need to get through the rest of her shift.
Finally, she dropped the fork onto the plate with clatter, glancing around the empty cafeteria. She had lost track of the time long ago and couldn’t be bothered checking her watch but if her memory served, it should be somewhere around 3am. It hadn’t been long since she had started working night shifts and it was still taking its toll on her. Trying to adjust to spending her nights at the hospital and her days trying to recoup some of the lost sleep, even if it was only a couple of times a week, was taking a lot longer than she thought and though she was getting better at it, the last few hours of each shift were like running through water. It just didn’t work. Granted, she had the company of Dr Cullen, that certainly made up for the long hours. Unlike a lot of the other staff, he wasn’t prone to joking around or pulling pranks on various employees, but he was a comfortable person to be around, and was always a friendly ear if she needed to break the monotony, and for that she was grateful. She could so easily have ended up assigned to the same shifts as some of the less night-owl-like doctors, which would have been a nightmare. Instead, as she had been since she had started at the hospital, she was almost invariably assigned to work with Carlisle. Whether out of habit or out of convenience, she wasn’t sure, but either way, she was glad.
Another of the perks of working the same shifts as Carlisle was Laurie. Since starting at the hospital, he had become popular with the staff, but unlike most of the better-looking doctors there, apart from the ever-modest Carlisle, he didn’t let the attention go to his head. In fact, most of the time, he didn’t even seem aware of it. Instead, he was down to earth and genuinely pleasant to talk to, if a little shy. She saw a lot of him, since he was working under Carlisle, and sometimes she wondered if her occasional bubblyness unnerved him, but she couldn’t help it. Apart from now, that is. Finally, she mustered the energy to look at her watch, smiling slightly as she saw the time. That was the positive side of the cafeteria food, it didn’t take long to eat. It had only taken 15 minutes to eat her salad which left her a blessed three quarters of an hour for what she wanted most. Pushing aside her plate, she folded her arms on the tabletop and laid her head on them, closing her eyes and thanking her lucky stars that the cafeteria was more dimly lit than the staff lounge.
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Mar 31, 2009 11:48:03 GMT -5
Laurence looked down at his watch. 3am. His eyes were starting to blur from the lack of sleep and he knew he needed a caffeine jolt. He checked the chart in his hand, writing out an order for the nurse before placing it at the end of the bed. Laurie then walked over to the main board and checked on the status of the patients, everyone was stable, there were no transfers pending, and for the most part his patients were asleep anyway.
He found the head nurse and informed her that he’d be heading down to the cafeteria for some coffee, but to beep him if anything changed. Once inside the cafeteria he purchased his coffee and looked around at the mostly empty tables. A janitor had just finished mopping the floor and was on his way out. He felt too nervous right now to get any food, he was already thinking about his date the next night. He was second guessing himself and wondering what he would say, if it was too soon to be dating again, if he was too old for her, or if she’d end up having a horrible time with him.
Laurie looked past him to see a familiar face with her head down on the table. He got along well with Amber, and most of the staff. Being around her always seemed to lighten the mood. He also knew that he could really use some advice from her right now. It would be good to have a woman’s perspective, and one that he could trust to be honest if he was crazy for thinking something like this could work.
“Mind if I join you?” He asked walking over to her table with his coffee in hand.
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Post by Amber Jefferson on Apr 1, 2009 13:47:53 GMT -5
Amber jumped a little at the voice that broke through the slowly deepening doze that was settling over her. Mentally cursing whoever it was that was disturbing her nap, she forced her eyes open and raised her head before recognising the face standing over her. The smell of the coffee he carried and the familiar presence quickly calmed her irritation and she smiled at him, pushing herself upright with the help of the table’s edge. There were only two people who could get away with bothering her right now without triggering her rarely-seen temper and this was one of them. When she was this tired, even Mike couldn’t escape her wrath, as he had found out quite recently after her first all-nighter. She had arrived back at her house in the morning only to remember, too late, that it was one of the days on which Madison, and Mike, were to be staying at her house. She had been in her foulest mood in years that day, stomping around the house and glaring daggers at every living thing in sight, even her precious geraniums. Eventually, it had taken a well-aimed cushion bouncing off the back of Mike’s skull to bring her to her senses and make her realise what a fool she had been. Now, he knew well enough to allow her at least a couple of hours sleep as soon as she got home before attempting any kind of conversation.
Stretching her arms out in front of her in an almost cat-like fashion, she gestured to the spare seat at the table, shaking her head. “Not at all. I’m just relishing the silence, but I think I can handle one voice, especially since it’s you” she teased, grinning at him. Laurie was like a quieter version of Mike, when they had been friends, and she found it easy to push aside any bad humour when he was around. “What can I do ya for?”
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Apr 2, 2009 22:12:50 GMT -5
When Laurie saw Amber jump as he spoke he realized that she wasn’t just resting her head on the table in an attempt to pass the time but she must have been trying to get some shut eye in before her break was over. He immediately felt bad at having woken her, used to most people going to the on-call room when they had time for a nap. Just the mere passing thought of an on call room caused Laurie’s chest to tighten. He’d rather spend his free time anywhere else than going in that room. He knew logically that there was nothing left to see behind those doors, that even if he saw two people fooling around there, it wouldn’t matter, but the memory still upset him that it was his least favorite place in the hospital. He’d rather hang out in the morgue than have to open that door.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were sleeping…I can leave you alone if you like?” He apologized with his slight Australian accent seeping through. But he saw her motioning towards the seat and giving him a teasing grin as she welcomed him to sit. “Thanks” he said sitting across from her with his coffee”
He smiled as she asked what she could do for him. “Well…I’m actually glad I saw you today…I could use some advice” He admitted to her. He took a deep breath looking down into his cup of coffee and looking embarrassed. Here he was a practicing physician needing advice from someone years younger than him about women. “I’ve ummm…I have a date tomorrow…or later today actually”
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Post by Amber Jefferson on Apr 2, 2009 22:32:54 GMT -5
“Sleep. Who needs sleep? I barely remember what that is” Amber chuckled, rubbing her eyes and smiling as he sat down. “Nah, no need to leave, I’d just rather be here than the on-call room. Too much going on in there all the time. At least here there’s space.” Tilting her head, she listened as he began to speak, the tell-tale signs of embarrassment showing on his face. Her interest piqued, she nodded, leaning forward slightly, her arms folded on the table in front of her. “Well, I’ve got nothing on Dear Abby, but I’ll certainly do what I can” she offered gently. She didn’t know much about men, but she did know that they were far from happy to ask advice from anyone, especially anyone younger and even more so when that person was a woman. It was like a kick to the ego, and she wasn’t about to rub it in.
However, as he carried on speaking, her mouth dropped open and she stared at him in shock, the corners of her mouth gradually turning up into a delighted grin. “A date?! Go you!” she said excitedly, leaning further forward. “What can I help with? I wouldn’t have thought you’d need advice about women or dates or any of that stuff, but I’ll certainly try. Whatever ya need, I’m your girl. Well, you know what I mean” she added, frowning a little at herself. “Sorry, I babble when I’m tired, as you’ve probably noticed. Tell me everything” she ordered, leaning her chin on her folded arms and looking at him, ready to listen.
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Apr 7, 2009 0:21:40 GMT -5
“Try being an intern” Laurence joked with her as she mentioned barely remembering sleep. He knew Amber worked hard though, and did feel bad for interrupting her brief moment of relaxation with his problems. He wondered if he should just get up and let her go back to her resting, but she said he could stay. “Yeah,that makes two of us” He agreed as she mentioned rather being here than in the on call room. He’d rather stay up all night without getting any sleep than go in that on call room for a rest between patients.
“You’re better than Dear Abby, and you’re exactly the kind of person I need to talk to” He told her, knowing she was his best bet for any real advice. He also knew she was already in a serious relationship herself, so unlike some of the nurses here, she wouldn’t try to sabotage him to keep him single.
Laurie looked down a little embarrassed as she got so excited about his news that he was going on a date. He smiled as she rambled on, obviously happy for him as a good friend would be. “I can definitely use the advice…this one’s a little tricky…See she’s younger, your age actually, just graduated from high school…and she used to be a patient of mine” he said with a frown, knowing that was something that was discouraged. He figured he’d tell her this part before letting her in on the fact that the last time he dated someone he was engaged. Knowing it was a younger woman and a patient was enough to tell her now. “She’s beautiful though…and so nice, smart too”
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Post by Amber Jefferson on Apr 7, 2009 1:36:51 GMT -5
Nodding as Laurie explained about the girl he was going on a date with, Amber couldn’t hide the pleased grin that spread across her face. Laurie was such a good person, he deserved to be happy, and from the sound of the girl he described, she was perfect for him. Waving her hand dismissively, she shook her head. “None of that matters really Laurie” she said softly, leaning a little further forwards, resting a reassuring hand on his arm. “I mean, age is just a number, for one thing. I’m her age, you say? Well, I’d date you, older or not. The point is what the person’s like, and you’re a great guy. At least she’s graduated” she teased, nudging his arm. “Proves you’re right about her being smart.”
Thinking for a moment, her mind running over the legal and ethical sides of the second argument, she tilted her head. “You said used to be, right? So where’s the problem? And even if she still was, it’s not like you’re doing anything wrong as far as I can tell. All that stuff about not dating patients, it’s all so people can avoid legal battles. They don’t want to risk someone saying their doctor made advances without permission. You guys are going on a date, so I’d say it’s a safe bet you don’t need to worry.”
Grinning, she leaned back in her chair, finally fully awake, the feeling of usefulness she got from helping a friend pushing aside the tiredness. “She sounds perfect for you, you deserve it. You need something outside of this hospital, no matter how delightful our company may be.”
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Apr 7, 2009 17:04:20 GMT -5
Laurie was nervous as he waited to see what Amber’s response would be to the information. He knew some people could be pretty judgmental, but at least Amber wasn’t like that. She’d give him her honest opinion. “Her age doesn’t matter to me, but I’m 6 years older than her, and in a completely different place in my life, she’s just finishing high school which seemed like ages ago to me…I guess I’m just afraid that as great as she is, we won’t have anything to talk about, or she’ll get weirded out by the age gap” He said, then gave a light laugh as Amber teased him about the fact that at least she had graduated. “Yeah, and old enough to vote, just not drink”
Laurence nodded as she clarified that Matt used to be a patient wasn’t now. “Right, I treated her at the clinic on the reservation, just once though, it was how I met her” He told Amber. “You don’t think that’s a little odd? A doctor asking how his patient? I can’t imagine her parents approving and she’s still young enough to be living with her parents, so what they think makes a difference”
“I really do like her, I’m just afraid there’s so much already in our way I’m just setting myself up for a disaster” He told her, smiling appreciatively as she expressed that this was something he deserved. “I wasn’t looking to find anything outside of the hospital when I came here”
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Post by Amber Jefferson on Apr 13, 2009 11:08:38 GMT -5
Shaking her head as Laurie explained, Amber waved her hand dismissively at his reasons. “Trust me Laurie, if she likes you, she likes you, age won’t matter to her either. After all, we find plenty to chat about, besides work, and we’re just friends. Just think how much more likely you are to have something to talk to her about when you’ve got the whole mutual attraction thing going on. If she’s agreed to go on a date with you, chances are the age thing doesn’t bother her or she wouldn’t have said yes.” She laughed at his comment about her being underage for drinking, thinking back to her parents’ behaviour. “Believe you me, that’s probably a good thing. Besides, since when do you need alcohol to have a good time?”
Rolling her eyes, she shook her head again when Laurie asked if she found it odd. Sure it wasn’t the most well looked upon thing in the world, but it wasn’t exactly unheard of. “Laurie, you’re both adults, right? Just because you’re a member of the medical profession does not preclude you from dating, and just because she was, emphasis on the past tense, a patient of yours, doesn’t preclude you from dating her in particular. In the end, it all comes down to the two of you. And anyway, dating a doctor? Her parents’ll be thrilled. It proves you’re smart, responsible, hard-working, all those other things parents like about dates. If you like her, that’s half the battle over and done with already. Don’t look at the negative until there’s nothing positive left.”
With a chuckle, Amber blushed, looked down at the table, tracing her finger over the top. “I hear you on that one. When I moved to Forks all I wanted was to be in one place until I could get out of foster care so I could at least know the place when I ended up on my own. Now look at me, a job, friends, a boyfriend, a home of my own. Things come when you’re not looking for them, and a lot of the time they’re exactly what you need. Maybe that’s what it’s like with this girl.”
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Apr 19, 2009 22:33:32 GMT -5
“It’s easier to be friends with someone of a different age than to romance them. I mean I have a lovely time chatting up Ms. O’Donnell in room 306” He said referring to an elderly lady in her late 70s. “But there’s no chance in things going further there. The age difference being a big part of it” He knew it was an extreme example, but he felt like there was a lot separating him and Matt. In 20 years 6 years between them wouldn’t matter, but right now it meant more. She was barely legal. A couple years early and he’d be thrown in jail for their age difference.
He smiled as he listened to Amber telling him how she already agreed to goon the date with him so it probably didn’t bother her. It was true, she had agreed. But there was still the fear that once they went out she’d see it as more of a problem, and reconsider her agreement. Maybe she had only agreed to be nice. As a way of thanking him for his services. He had mentioned date when he asked her, but maybe she saw it more as a one time thing? He laughed as she mentioned not needing alcohol for a good time. “I never have been one to hang out at the pub”
Laurence listened to Amber continue to assure him that this wasn’t a problem and that her parents would be thrilled. He wondered if that was true. He couldn’t imagine himself being thrilled if it was his daughter, no matter what the guy did. He could see himself being an overprotective father. But Laurie did know that he was better than Matt’s last boyfriend. He would treat her better, which had to be something in his favor. “I hope you’re right…you know I’ve heard this is a big hunting town, so her father probably has a gun…if I come in here shot, be prepared for a big I told you so from me” He said with a grin, half joking.
“Things worked out pretty well for you” Laurie said with a smile as Amber listed off all the things she had gained when she moved here. “Maybe it’s the same…its just..” He said hesitating. He wasn’t sure he wanted to tell anyone about his past. He had tried to leave New York behind him, but it was something he knew would come up if he got involved with another woman. But maybe he could tell Amber about it. He knew he could trust her not to spread gossip about him. “There’s another problem…another reason I really shouldn’t be doing this, and told myself I wouldn’t when I came here…”
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Post by Amber Jefferson on Apr 22, 2009 13:53:26 GMT -5
“Hey, I happen to think you and Ms O’Donnell would make a great couple” Amber teased, sticking her tongue out at Laurie. “Just because she’s 18 and not 80, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s an adult and can make her own decisions. Parents, from what I can tell anyway, are a lot more open-minded nowadays. A few years doesn’t make so much difference anymore. Sure, if you were 34 it’d be less well accepted, but 24 is practically considered the same age now. Heck, if I wasn’t with Mike, I’d probably consider dating you myself if I didn’t think of you as a friend. And” she said quickly, holding up a hand to pre-empt any remarks, “That’s not because of your age, it’s just because I don’t think of you that way.”
Laughing, Amber patted his arm condescendingly, shaking her head as though talking to a child. “It’s a club, dear, or a bar. Forks doesn’t have a pub that I know of. Then again, it’d probably benefit from one. Something out of the ordinary for people to do. I know it’s not all that different from a bar but still, it’s the novelty value.”
“I wish you wouldn’t worry so much about her parents. Do you think she’d have said yes if she was worried about them not liking you dating her? Trust me, either she doesn’t care what her parents think or she thinks they’ll like you two dating, either way, you’re fine. I say go for it, she must like you if she said yes, like I say. But, if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll have a big cake made ready, just in case, with ‘Amber Was Wrong’ written in big letters across the top. Heck, I’ll even make it, to add to the shame of it all” she giggled, imagining him coming into the ER to the sound of fanfare with a huge cake to meet him. “And if you don’t get shot, be ready for a big I told you so from me too.”
“Yeah, they did. Better than I could’ve hoped.” Cocking her head to one side, Amber frowned, leaning back in her chair and watching Laurie’s face. She knew the expression all too well, that of someone who was remembering something they’d rather forget. She had worn it herself plenty of times and bit her tongue against asking what was on his mind. Things like that were best left alone unless brought up willingly. As he spoke, she leaned forward again, sliding her chair around the table slightly so she was nearer to Laurie. If he was having trouble deciding whether it was safe to tell her, it was a safe bet he didn’t want anyone else to know and the more precautions she could take against any unexpected arrivals overhearing them the better. “What is it?”
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Post by Laurence Chambers on May 6, 2009 22:36:32 GMT -5
Laurie laughed as Amber talked about what a good couple he and Ms. O’Donnel would make. “Okay so she is an adult, but I’ve been an adult for years while it still would have been very wrong for me to date her, but now that she is an adult its suddenly okay? What if her parents don’t see it that way? I don’t know if I had a daughter that I’d feel comfortable with this”
Laurence laughed as Amber went on to say how if she wasn’t seeing Mike she would have considered dating him if she hadn’t seen him as a friend, making it clear to him that age was not the obstacle. He knew that age may not end up being the biggest problem, but how could he expect Matt to understand that he was engaged before. That he had been serious enough with any one person to be ready to spend his life with them, and now was trying to move on with someone else. Laurie didn’t see how she’d possibly be able to cope with that news.
He sighed as she asked him if he thought Matt would have said yes if she believed her parents would have disapproved. “Maybe she doesn’t care what her parents think…but I’ve always been the type to want parents approval, to have their blessing. I respect them.” Laurence told her. He started laughing again as she told him about the cake and the I told you so. “It’s a deal. If this ends horribly though I think I’ll need a cake for that too to drown my sorrows”
Laurie watched as Amber moved her chair around to his side of the table so that she was closer to him. He appreciated her discretion. “I wasn’t going to start a relationship with anyone when I came here, that was the last thing I wanted. “ He hesitated a moment longer then knew he had to just come out and say it. “I’m coming out of a long term, serious relationship…I was engaged when I was in New York”
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Post by Amber Jefferson on May 11, 2009 12:57:50 GMT -5
“The point is, it would have been wrong then, it’s not now. Take it from someone who knows, you can’t live in the past and you can’t focus on what people think of you. It just makes you paranoid and it makes you miss out on the best things you can have. Age is just a number people use as an excuse to tell you what to do, half the time it doesn’t mean anything and nobody really cares one way or the other. Her parents will see you for who you are, a nice, caring, genuine, old-fashioned guy with values that most guys nowadays would do well to take a few lessons from. I’m sure of it.” Amber sighed a little as he carried on worrying about his date’s parents’ opinions, not entirely sure why it should matter so much. Parents were something she had never really had to worry about, in the approval stakes, and she had never seen any necessity in having the extra complication. True, she would have liked to have had a family, if only for a while, but even if she had, she doubted she would have allowed her parents to dictate who she dated.
She smiled as he spoke of his respect for his date’s parents, patting his arm gently. “Then she’s lucky to be dating you. There’s not enough guys like that around nowadays, it’ll certainly earn you brownie points.” Laughing, she swatted at his shoulder with the back of her hand, glad to see that he had a sense of humour about the situation. “It won’t, but if it does, you can have two big cakes, one that says ‘I’m’ and one that says ‘Sorry’. How does that sound?’
The humour in her expression softened as he explained about not wanting a relationship, she could understand how something like that could leave someone disillusioned. Being close enough to someone to be prepared to marry them was a major thing. Losing a relationship like that had to have been a blow. She just hoped that whatever had caused the breakup hadn’t spoiled the idea of love for him. “I’m so sorry” she said softly, her voice sincere. “I know it’s not my place to pry, but if you want to talk about it, you can talk to me. Nothing you say will leave this table, I promise.”
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Post by Laurence Chambers on Jul 5, 2009 18:01:12 GMT -5
"Maybe its not wrong now, but those are a lot of years, and there are a lot of people who will still see it as being wrong" Laurie told Amber. He knew she was right, as long as he and Matt didn't see their age difference as a problem, it shouldn't matter to him if anyone else did. "I hope you're right about her parents, when I meet them they'll probably be expecting some guy in high school still. "
Laurie smiled as Amber told him that Matt was lucky to be dating him because of his values. "Trust me, I'm the lucky one. She's great...if this actually doesn't blow up in my face, you'll have to meet her sometime" He told her, then laughing as she said she'd make two big cakes if she was wrong. "Might want to start baking the cakes now, you can add in the writing when we find out how it goes"
Laurie could see Amber's empathetic nature as he explained the situation, of having been engaged before, something that was probably what was making him the most hesitant about this whole thing, even more than their age gap. "Thanks" He said with a nod as she told him nothing he said would leave the table. "I was really in love, she was a med student in my class. We dated, and I asked her to marry her. We wanted our wedding night to be special, so we were...saving ourselves" He said a little embarrassed . "But for her I guess that only meant waiting until she got one of our attendings in the on call room...I had the pleasure of walking in on that." He admitted to her, the pain still as strong as it had been that day. "I don't know how long it had been going on, and I didnt want to know, I just broke things off and got as far away as I could for residency...it was how I got here"
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Post by Amber Jefferson on Aug 22, 2009 15:21:56 GMT -5
Biting back a furious remark, Amber gritted her teeth as Laurie told her about the woman who had broken his heart. She didn’t know him nearly as well as the other friends she had made, but he had become one of those she considered genuine and definitely a friend, if not yet a close one. That alone brought out the natural motherly side of her personality whenever he seemed upset, but to hear of the way he had been treated made her wish she could give the woman, if she warranted the term, a taste of exactly how she herself had always been treated.
“That’s awful” she said softly, forcing her tone to remain calm, “I can’t believe someone would do something like that, especially to you. I don’t blame you for wanting to get away, I would too.” She glanced down at her nails, her expression calm but her eyes narrowed slightly in a frown her closest acquaintances had quickly come to learn was possibly the most enraged expression that could be mustered on her usually gentle face. “She didn’t deserve you. At least you found out before it was too late and you’d married her. Now you have a chance to be happy with someone who’ll treat you right instead of just letting her hormones get the better of her.” She looked up sheepishly and gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry, it’s not my place to talk that way about someone I don’t know, especially someone you loved. It’s just the when people do things like that, it makes me so angry.”
Amber’s smile widened as she patted Laurie’s arm again enthusiastically and gave it a light squeeze. “On the plus side, it means you ended up here, and I’d say that’s her loss and everyone’s gain. Just you remember, if this new girl treats you badly, I will not be held responsible for my actions” she joked, a mock snarl on her face, almost more comical than it was frightening.
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