Title: Our Friends and Enemies
Author: Kipli
Email: Kipli@livejournal.com
Series: Scrubs
Pairing: Cox/JD
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~16,000
Sequel to: Our (un)Private Relationship
Beta: Mareel the fabulous. The only reason fics like these get finished is her constant positive feedback on each section.
Summary: Thursday has arrived. Cox and JD spend their first full day working together defending and explaining their relationship to those around them.
Notes: Holy crap do I need to start shortening up my fics. I added the word count to this one, as it is nearly 4k words longer than my last fic, which I thought was huge. This series is roughly set after the beginning of season four (since I alluded to the fact that Carla and Turk are married in the very first fic) and so Jack is about eighteen months to two in this fic. Enjoy!

***

Our Friends and Enemies

***

I wake up to the sound of JD's quiet snoring. Well, it's more heavy breathing mixed with the occasional soft whimper. Even in his sleep, he sounds endearingly girly.

I blink my eyes open to squint over at the clock. Damn. It's early morning but--since we both have morning shifts today--it's not early enough to warrant trying to fall back asleep. I sigh and press my face into JD's shoulder, breathing in the unique mix of vanilla body lotion and JD's own scent. I realize I've currently got an arm and a leg wrapped around him from behind, curled up against his back. I always knew I'd end up being the big spoon...

As lovely as he feels, I toss aside ideas of waking him. No matter how *nicely* I'd do so. We're still at JD's apartment and somehow, after last night's hissy fit, I don't think Turk would take kindly to waking up to us loudly moaning each other's names as I fucked JD into the headboard. No, no I somehow don't think that would go over very well. Even so, it is damn tempting all the same...

I sigh again as I carefully disengage from him, though I know JD is a fairly sound sleeper. He could use the sleep, anyway, after an evening spent ignoring the continued glaring and grumbling from Turk. Turk had calmed down and settled in for simply frowning at us by the end of the evening. At least it was all mostly directed at me...

How the hell am I ever going to convince Gandhi that I'm not doing this just for the fun of it? That I'm actually... fairly... invested--for me--in this?

I grumble slightly at myself as I slide backwards off the bed. Be more of a girl, Per.

JD mumbles a moment, alone on the bed, shifting around some at the loss of my warmth down his back, before he curls his legs up and settles down.

Why is it always so hard to leave him alone in a bed? Whether he's awake or not?

Maybe it's because I know he'd rather have me in it with him...

I grin a little at myself--getting pathetic, Perry--before I finally stop watching him and scrub a hand down my face. I find my shirt beside the bed and tug it on, already still in my boxers. I wonder if there's any kind of juice in their fridge. Or even a crap-tastic coffee maker. It's early. Far too early for Carla or Turk to be up. I should snag breakfast before the judgmental glaring resumes from Gandhi.

I pad barefoot to the door, quietly slide it open and closed behind me, and pause a moment to listen for sounds of anyone else awake. Nothing but silence greets me and I let out the breath I was holding. Good. I head swiftly for the kitchen. I can get two seconds to wake myself up before--

"I'm *never* going to get used to seeing *this* in the morning."

"Oh god," I sigh, mostly at the big guy himself for hitting me once again with his karma stick. I rub the sleep out of my eyes as Turk frowns at me from inside the kitchen.

Must try to remember, Per, that if you're feeling good about life, don't go thinking that it'll all stay so smooth.

"And good morning to you too, sunshine," I can't help growling at Turk as I step around the corner to continue on my way to the fridge. He's not scaring me off that easily. I need a damn drink of something. I should've brought a bottle of scotch over with me... but juice will do me just as well, I suppose. "What are you doing up so early, anyway?"

"Oh, I don't know, I just couldn't *sleep* for some reason."

For fuck's sake, we didn't do a thing last night when JD and I finally crawled into bed. We'd both silently agreed to simply go to sleep and not incur any further wrath from *you*, Gandhi.

I yank open the fridge and point a silencing hand at Turk. "Please, if you could hold off on the verbal abuse until *after* I've had something to wake me up, I'd appreciate it, really."

Turk grumbles at me before he more or less politely says with a wave of his own mug. "Coffee?"

I shut the fridge. Oh thank god, something with caffeine in it. "Fine."

Turk grabs an empty mug and sets it with a clink down onto the counter, pointing at the coffee maker behind me with his chin. "Freshly brewed french roast vanilla and hazelnut coffee." He grins smugly at my immediate face at the mutilated flavored coffee.

"Fantastic." Just think of the caffeine. You can get a proper cup of coffee later. I take the mug and reach to pour myself some. I can feel him eyeing me critically as I do.

He does at least let me take one sip of my coffee--god, this stuff is sweet, no wonder JD always tastes like sugar--before he mutters to himself, "I just don't see it..."

I raise my eyebrows as I turn to him. For once, he's just looking at me. No frowning, no glaring, no disgusted faces. He's just quietly watching me. "See what?"

"*Whatever* it is that JD sees in you. Whatever makes him think that you're *not* just screwing with him." Turk sets his coffee down and pulls himself back up onto the counter, settling down on his perch with a sigh. He grabs his coffee again as he huffs, "And whatever it is *you* see in him, if anything more than a hot piece of ass that won't talk back."

"The hell--he never shuts up. Ever." Less I put something in that mouth of his... "And he pushes back plenty hard whenever he actually wants to." I turn and rest my side against the counter. I take a breath and prepare to level with him. Just... start with what is very clearly lodged in his brain at the moment. "All right, so obviously, you've seen my name calling and pushing and... okay, harassment of him, over the years."

Turk snorts from his spot.

I raise a hand to keep anything else from him bottled up. "And would you not *also* agree that I worked very, *very* hard on such name calling and pushing and harassment? More so than with any of the rest of you? Than anyone else *in* that hospital?"

"'Personal punching bag' comes to mind--"

I give a quick, sharp whistle at him. "Quiet now. Making a point." Turk's frown returns but he does shut his mouth as he folds his arms across his chest. "So I'll take that as a 'yes, yes I would agree' from you." I lean in closer, dropping my voice. "Now here's the surprise of the century, Gandhi. I'm *not* a very open person. I like my space. I like to keep people at the utmost of maximum distances away from *me* and my space. And, self destructive as it is, I like to *push* anyone who attempts to get into my space. Anyone that I might actually care to possibly one day let *get* close to me."

Turk blinks at me. "Are you trying to tell me that you were mean to all of us, especially JD, because you *like* him?"

I take another deep swig of coffee before staring into the mug as I continue on. "Well, if I was a big enough *jerk*--as you put it so wonderfully last night--I was hoping he'd leave me the hell alone and I could pretend I wasn't staring at his lips when he came to babble at me incessantly. But... he is anything if not persistent. And if I did cross the line, usually I was the first to crack if he continued to give me the silent treatment. Because I did miss his babbling..." And the pretending not to stare at his lips.

I look up to see Turk shaking his head slightly at me. "JD is stubborn but... but he just wanted your damn approval."

I give a short laugh. "I gave it to him. A number of times. On a number of occasions. In a number of ways. Didn't stop him from continuing to follow me around. Didn't stop him from continuing to try and connect with me." I finally stare firmly at the other man as I state clearly. "I swear to you, *Turk*, that I tried my damnedest to keep him the hell away from me. For his own good. For my own limited hold on denial. I pushed as *hard* as I could... and he still kept coming back. I couldn't..."

I swallow as I look away. Hell, half of these words I haven't even spoken to JD yet, half of them I haven't even properly thought about myself. I just want the angry glaring from Turk to stop.

"...what was I supposed to do then, Gandhi? I couldn't get myself to stop *wanting* him around. I couldn't chase him away, couldn't get him to stop *wanting* to be around me. And then he figured me out..."

I can hear Turk take a slow, deep breath of his own as I continue to stare into my coffee. I close my eyes a moment. JD holds more power over me than you give him credit for, Gandhi.

"He approached you?" Turk finally asks into the silence.

I nod as I swallow hard again, still not looking up. "Pulled me into an empty patient room, declared that he knew why I teased him so much, and kissed me." I laugh and finally look to see Turk staring at me in surprise. "He did beg me not to punch him as he did so."

"He... He kissed you first?"

I shake off my sudden bout of honesty as I raise my eyebrows at him. "What did you think happened? I tied him up to a bed and had my way with him and told him not to tell *any*one or he'd never see Rowdy again?"

"Kinda." Turk shrugs, semi-apologetically.

I roll my eyes at him. "Please. I could have done that from day one. But I didn't. Because that's not what I want from him."

I cringe slightly as Turk boldly asks, "What do you want from him, then?"

God, Gandhi, I'm not even ready to ask *myself* that question yet.

I shake my head and turn away. I set my mug in the sink before I begin my retreat out of the kitchen. "I... I should go wake JD."

Turk hops down off the counter. He calls out after me. "You still gonna call him 'Newbie' and 'Princess' at work?"

"Hell, Gandhi, I call him that in bed." I smirk back at him as he blanches and blinks at me. I wink before disappearing down the hall toward JD's bedroom. "And don't think he doesn't like it."

***

I let out a quiet sigh as the parted lips on my neck lick and suck their way slowly up my neck and back behind my ear. A warm hand rubs along my side, ghosting lightly over my skin. I shiver at the wet touch of his tongue tracing my ear, before Perry whispers warmly into it, "Time to get up, Lillian."

I think I could really get used to Perry's wake ups... infinitely better than any alarm clock... and even the girls name brings a smile to my lips...

"Mmm, definitely *up*," I purr at him, eyes still closed. I turn my head and catch those lips in a deep, thorough kiss, earning a grunt from him as I successfully tease his lips open enough to dip my tongue between. For once he tastes sweet--oooh french vanilla coffee, Turk must be awake--and I fully explore that mouth with it's new taste combination. Definitely could do with more sugary kisses from Perry...

He gives my tongue one last firm suckle before pulling back, taking a steadying deep breath. I blink my eyes open finally and I have to grin smugly to myself at the flushed Perry sitting beside me on the bed, still stroking lightly at my side.

"Oh hell, I'd say you're *definitely* up, Newbie." I waggle my eyebrows at him and he pinches my side to get me to stop. "Turk's awake already. Carla is sure to be shortly. Don't be so evil as to tease me with something I can't have till later today, Jenna."

Does he really think I *never* want to fool around when Turk and Carla are in the apartment? Last night was just... exhausting. All the bickering between Turk and Perry. All my trying to stop it. Only to have it turn into a glaring contest between them for the rest of the evening. When Perry and I finally got to crawling into bed, I just only had the strength to kiss him senseless before we went to sleep. It had been a crazy day--a rollercoaster. But that didn't mean we were going to be monks whenever Turk and Carla were around.

I sit up some beside him and try for my best seductive grin, though I know it comes off a little sleepy still. "Who said you couldn't have it now?" He shakes his head slightly at me, going to argue the point with me, but then I slide a hand down his chest, rubbing smoothly over his thin t-shirt. I dip my fingers underneath it as I lick at my lower lip, gaining his complete attention. "Or did you *not* want to join me for a shower...?"

"Oooh, Newbie..." he groans low in his throat, gaze shifting towards predatory as he gives in to my request. Easy. So, so easy to corrupt you, Perry. Not that I'm really all that surprised. I smirk a little wider as his breathing hitches, my hand sliding up underneath his shirt making brushing contact with a nipple. "And here I just got Gandhi thinking semi-positively about us."

I bat my eyelashes at him. "You don't think I can keep quiet?"

"Mary Ann, I *know* you can't keep quiet." I pinch at his nipple just to get him to suck in a breath between his teeth. He growls lightly as he hooks his arms around me, kissing me feverishly, as he pulls us both up onto our feet. He drags me backwards into my bathroom, only breaking the kiss to tug off his own shirt. His gaze drops as he sighs happily at me pulling off my boxers. "But far be it from me to decline such an invitation from *you*, Ginger."

I tug at the hem to his boxers, snapping the elastic against his hip. "Just hurry up and get these off. So you can get *me* off." I laugh as I dodge a smack to my side, skipping to the side to pull back the shower curtain and turn on the hot water.

He manages to land a firm smack to my ass with me turned around adjusting the taps. "Damn demanding this morning, Newbie." He laughs as I playfully shake my ass at him so he'll smack it again. "I like it."

I toss a teasing look over my shoulder at him and his now clear interest in me, his boxers finally off. "Mmm, I can *tell*."

"Oooh, I'm gonna *so* make you scream my name for this. Loud enough for your *neighbors* to hear."

I just smirk as I step back into the shower, dunking my head into the stream of water, and watch him stare hungrily at me a long moment, before he moves to join me.

I slide arms around his waist as he kisses me so hard he ends up pinning me back against the tiled shower wall. Goddamn can he kiss me breathless. Each and every time.

When he breaks the kiss, his mouth moves to nip at my jaw line and down my neck as we start to grind our wet hips together. I manage to turn my head enough to flick my tongue out along his earlobe before purring into it, "Rather have you screaming *my* name to the neighbors."

It might even do Turk some good to hear Perry saying my real name so *adamantly*. I can't help an evil grin at the thought.

Perry groans quietly into my neck as his hands drop to cup and squeeze my ass. "Keep this up, JD, and you might just get your wish."

Oh god, the way he growls my name into my neck as he laps at my wet skin... Every time. Every damn time he says my name it gives me goose bumps. I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing it on his lips.

I lower my own hands to grab hold of his ass, earning another strangled groan into my neck, as I struggle to grind our slick cocks together between us. Not enough friction, not nearly enough friction. He's all wet and glistening and damn does his chest and arms and *every*thing look good with water droplets gliding down his skin.

His hands on my ass squeeze and knead, wet fingers dipping between my cheeks. I gasp as those fingers rub firmly, "Shit, I should've grabbed a condom."

He bites lightly at my neck as he pushes just a fingertip up inside me. "Now that *would* get you screaming to the neighbors, Caroline." I whine a little pathetically and he lifts his head to kiss me again. Damn, does he still taste sweet. When he pulls back, he sighs against my lips, "Besides, I plan on fucking you for lunch again. Hell, I could have you *every* lunch..."

I moan and roll my head back against the wall as he still continues to slowly push his own wet finger up completely inside of me, other hand still squeezing an ass cheek. I shiver as he laps at the water on my neck and collar bone. I manage to gasp, "Promise?"

"Oh, I have very *firm* reservations, Newbie. Your ass is *mine* at noon." I can't help the way my heart skips at his wonderfully possessive tone, as well as at how his mouth keeps licking its way down my chest. "But for now..." He reaches my right nipple and wraps his mouth around it, sucking hard.

"Oh fuck," I whimper, his teeth grazing over my nipple before tugging on it with his teeth. He soothes it with a wet swirl of his tongue, then sucks it hard again, sending me into a shudder, before he lets it go and laps his way across my chest toward my other nipple.

I move my hands up into his wet curls, holding onto him, as he starts to slowly thrust that finger up inside my ass just as he reaches my other nipple. I don't know what to do with myself. I should be--I should be doing something *other* than clinging to him. But I'm too busy swallowing down loud moan after loud moan, not to mention concentrating hard on *not* falling over in the shower.

My jaw drops open as Perry releases my nipple to lick his way down my stomach, sinking down onto his knees in front of me. Sexiest. Image. Ever. Wet Perry kneeling in front of me, tongue lapping across my stomach down to my hip, before he turns his head to glide his tongue along the length of my cock.

"Oh shit oh shit..." I can't tear my eyes off of him as he licks at my cock over and over again, ever more the tease with everything so wet all I can feel is the firm warmth of his tongue. I whimper loudly in protest as he slides his finger out of me.

He lightly glides his teeth up the length of my cock this time instead of his tongue. "Patience, Newbie." He repositions his hands, one moving to pin me back against the corner of the shower, to hold my hips still and to help keep me upright, while the other hand takes a moment to cup my balls, squeezing as he swirls his tongue over the head of my cock, before sliding back to thrust that finger back up into me again.

"Oh fuck!" I shout loudly before I can swallow it down. He bites at my hip to remind me to be quiet--who the hell cares right now?--as I simply whimper over and over again, "Oh more oh more oh more."

"Mmm, but do I like it when you beg..." Then he takes most of my cock in his mouth and sucks firmly as he slowly pulls up, only to dive back down again.

"Yes! Shit!" I fling one arm out to grope along the tiled wall a moment for the small windowsill in my shower as my legs melt beneath me. Perry does his best to help hold me upright, even as he starts to hum at the back of his throat and quicken the bobbing of his head.

I can't watch. It's still too mind-blowing to me--every time--that he *wants* to suck me off. It's all too much. He looks too fucking incredible with his lips wrapped around my cock. I close my eyes as I gasp breath after breath into my open mouth. I start to tremble as he sucks so demandingly on my cock.

I wonder if he'll swallow again...

That thought is nearly enough to push me over the edge, but then Perry adds another finger to the one thrusting into my ass, stretching and instantly scissoring, searching for my prostate.

"Fuck!" One firm rub against my prostate and I come with a shudder, bucking against his hold on me. "Perry!!" I moan his name louder than I mean to and hear it echo against the tiles. He keeps his mouth firmly wrapped around my cock as he swirls his tongue around and around the head. He teases at me mercilessly for every last drop--and oh god, he does swallow again.

Still a thoroughly please melted mass of happiness, I whimper as he slides his fingers out of me and finally releases my cock with a flick of his tongue. I blink my eyes back open. Damn, does he still look good. He keeps his steadying hold on me as he climbs back up onto his feet, mouth instantly kissing me ferociously, biting at my lower lip to gain access into my mouth. Now he tastes like sugar and me. I grin a little into the kiss.

Perry grinds his cock roughly against my hip, grunting in annoyance as he can't seem to find the friction he's searching for. He breaks the kiss panting harshly against my lips. Damn you, work legs work! I struggle to pull myself back together enough to return the favor to Perry.

"JD," he finally whines at the back of his throat, sounding gorgeously desperate. "It won't--won't take much... oooooh shit yes..."

I give up on my legs and simply slide down the corner of the shower, ass coming to rest on the tiny little nook on the rim of the bathtub, mouth ending up in the perfect position to slide my tongue up the length of his rock hard cock. He leans forward, resting with his elbows against the tiles, and leans his head forward to watch me, hovering over me.

I know he'll kill me if I tease for very long, so I only give his cock one long lick, swirling around the head, before I take it into my mouth and experiment with how much I can take in again. His thighs start to tremble as I pull back slowly, sucking hard. I reach a hand to his hip to steady him, not that I could manage to hold him back much if he decided to really thrust, and quickly speed up my pace.

He moans low in his throat and rests his head over onto an arm, still staring raptly down at me. "Oh fuck yes, oh *fuck*, JD--I'm gonna--gonna--Fuck!" I use the same trick he told me to use the first time. As he tenses in front of me, I move a hand to cup and squeeze his balls. His hips jerk instinctively forward as he comes and I have to quickly pull back so he doesn't gag me. I tease at his cock, earning a low, half strangled moan of my name from him, as I suck all I can out of him.

Damn.

As I release his cock, he reaches down to pull me back up onto my feet, kissing me breathless again. I wrap my arms around behind his neck as the deep, full kisses go on and on, his arms sliding down around my waist. Mmm, does he feel good, taste good... one of our best cuddles yet.

When we do finally break apart, he only releases me enough so I can turn around and get to actually quickly washing my hair. Carla's going to kill me if we use up all the hot water.

Perry keeps his arms wrapped loosely around my waist from behind me as he chuckles at my rush to shampoo and moisturize my hair. "Oh, I finally get to see the *magic* as it happens."

I laugh and jerk us both forward enough to wash out treatment number one. "I'd offer to do your hair too, but we need to get out of here before Carla finds out we used up all the hot water."

"My hair is perfection personified. Some of us don't *need* twenty hair products to look *good*." He lowers his head to nibble on my neck. "Besides, only you could pull off pina colada scented shampoo."

"Seven hair products. Thank you very much." I laugh again and rock my ass back against him. "And I have no complaints about how you look..."

"Oh, is that all, Pumpkin? My apologizes." He tightens his hold around me before he lets go as I rinse out treatment number two. "Do you have anything that *doesn't* smell like a fruit cocktail?"

I grin at him while I brush hair out of my face. I glance over at my multi-tiered shower caddy. "Umm, vanilla? I think that's as simple as I get."

I grab the small bottle and hand it over to him. He sighs dramatically. "I can hear Barbie's giggles already..."

My grin widens and I steal a quick kiss. "She'll just be jealous." I waggle my eyebrows at him. "I *never* let her touch my shampoo collection."

"Oh, then I'm honored, I'm sure." Perry laughs again as I grab my leave-in conditioner and sneak out of the shower to give him some space.

He's out in no time--did he even read the directions?--and reaching for a towel as he eyes me and my current stage of gelling.

"So, when you had girlfriends, Scarlet, did you *always* take longer to get ready than they did?"

I simply stick my tongue out at him in the mirror. Those girls knew I had to look my best...

"Oh, very mature, Melissa." He shakes his head at me and turns to open the bathroom door, only to instantly jerk back with a shout that makes me jump at the sink.

"What's wrong?"

But my concern vanishes as I turn around to see him glaring down at Rowdy, who had apparently been pressed up again my bathroom door. Perry shouts out loudly, "Very funny, Gandhi!!"

To which I can hear a muted, "Carla did it!"

"It was your idea!"

"Well, Rowdy was hearing so many *strange* noises--"

"Oh no, you go and enjoy listening in all you want, Gandhi!"

I giggle and ignore their bickering to wag a disapproving finger at Rowdy. "Naughty dog! No listening in on us! Bad Rowdy!"

"We're locking your bedroom door permanently," Perry grumbles as he carefully steps around Rowdy into the bedroom. Then he turns around and enjoys the view of me still fussing with my hair. He drops his gaze down to Rowdy and then back up to me. He raises his eyebrows at me and smirks before turning away. "I suppose he can watch you if he really wants to..."

Ha! Good Rowdy.

***

Today was going rather well. Considering.

I check my watch again. Not even past eleven yet. I cut off a sigh before it can escape from my lips and pick up the chart hooked onto the end of the bed in front of me. She's still here. Car accident victim number three from that pile up on the highway. It's been a number of days since the accident but she's been moved down into ICU rather than the hell out of this hospital. I frown and flip through her chart.

And I say 'considering' for a number of reasons.

For one, it's the first full shift JD and I have actually had to work side by side together since he pulled me into that empty room and kissed me. I think we've managed to be rather subtle, though Carla and Elliot's constant giggling whenever JD and I are in the same room together seems to indicate otherwise. Mostly we've been able to keep to opposite ends of the hospital in an attempt to cut off the ogling and to not distract one another. This hospital isn't that big, however, and I have perhaps--having passed him in a corridor--dragged him into a dark corner or two to kiss him senseless. I just... can't help myself... Lunch is taking forever to get here.

And the other reason why today is going remarkably well so far--the reason I'm trying so *very* hard not to actually think about--is that it's Thursday. Which means tonight JD and I have the extreme *pleasure* of hopefully getting Jack for the weekend from Jordan, along with whatever other new insults she's planning to bring. It should be so much fun, one just cannot wait for it.

This time I really do sigh as I flip the chart closed.

I just hope she actually brings Jack.

I mentally make a list of tests to run on our long term car accident victim and slide the chart back down onto the foot of her bed. As I turn around, I freeze.

Speak of the devil...

I frown as I spot Jordan at the very far end of the nurse's station in the ICU. Jordan talking with an increasingly uncomfortable looking JD. Jordan twirling something in her hands.

I really should have guessed. She hates to fight in front of Jack. So what else was she to do but she come here and fight with us *and* embarrass us in public. Two birds with one stone. She is a smart woman.

I march across the ICU toward them and notice Carla and Turk gossiping with Laverne. Hell, I can't be the only one disturbed by Jordan alone with JD! I whistle sharply and gain the threesome's attention. I keep moving even as I point over at Jordan, saying curtly to Carla, "Can I *not* leave him alone with you for two minutes?"

Carla snaps around and instantly swears under her breath, "Oh shit."

Indeed.

I hear them scrambling to follow me on the other side of the counter but my gaze is fixed on whatever it is Jordan has in her hands. JD keeps looking from it to Jordan's face and back down again. As I come up to them, I can hear him say, "No Jordan, thank you, *really*. But, um, pink's not my color. Sorry."

"Oh but sure it is, sweetie. Every girl looks good in a little pink."

It's only when I come up beside them that I realize what she's holding. I clench my fists and struggle not to strangle her on the spot.

"Jordan," I bark loudly.

And to her credit, she barely jumps at all. She simply turns her head toward me and that overly sugary sweet smile slides onto her face. "Why hello there, Per! I was just giving your little B--"

"Oh, no no no, Jordan. No! Not only will *I* kill you if you use that word in public--or how about *ever*--but Carla here will personally beat you into a bloody pulp before I *do* finally kill you."

Jordan tilts her head slightly and looks back over her shoulder to realize we have an audience. I'm not certain if said audience will only antagonize her further or not but I at least could use all the support and pressure *not* to physically harm Jordan right this moment.

Carla seems confused over what exactly she should be indignant over first. Turk just keep staring at JD's deer in headlights expression.

Jordan's gaze returns to me. "It's only the *truth*, Perry. But I suppose everyone is right, the truth does sting. You poor baby."

"And what the hell is this?" I snatch the pink, rhinestone studded dog collar and leash out of her hands. "Have you lost your damn mind?"

"What? I can't get the new woman in your life a nice present?"

"*Nice* present?" I hear Carla growl from the other side of the counter. Turk puts a restraining hand on her shoulder.

"Why yes. I spent a pretty penny. It's genuine leather and pink Swarovski crystals."

"Jordan, I swear to god, if you don't leave *right* now--"

"What? I know DJ's run away from a number of his relationships. I just didn't want him *running* off on you." She leans in to whisper to me, as if everyone else can't hear her. "Just yank the lead real good twice and he should *come* for you."

I can hear Carla fuming as she struggles to get loose from Turk's grasp, tearing off her name tag and stethoscope, as she prepares to throttle Jordan.

The comment finally seems to push JD over the edge as he snaps, "Jordan, I am *not* his dog!"

"No, honey, you're his little Bitch."

"That's it!!" I grab Jordan by the front of her suit and toss her up against the nearby wall. She blinks at me in surprise as I glare and keep her pinned to the surface. "You are no longer allowed to speak to him. Directly. Indirectly. With me. Without me. Over the phone. Ever! You got that, *Jordan*?"

Out of the corner of my eye, all I can see are the stunned looks on both Carla and Turk's faces. Hell, I'm being civil. I'd really rather strangle Jordan with that damn pink leash...

Jordan ignores me and instead arches her back, voice dropping into sultry tones, "Mmm, Perry, it's been *too* long since you've pinned me up against a wall like this."

Fuck her! JD jumps beside me as I slam Jordan into the wall again, harder, and growl loudly at her. "Never. Talk. To him. Again."

"So chivalrous for your little *Bitch*, Perry. Because that's what he is. Whether you want to *call* him that or not. He must be one *hell* of a good lay. All that girly whimpering and begging that you love so much." Witch! Jordan finally winces slightly at my ever increasing pressure on her shoulders. "But fine. Fine! I won't give him *any* more presents. And I won't talk to your precious little *girl* any more either." She bats her eyelashes at me. "Can you stop dislocating my shoulders now?"

I snarl at her as I finally let her go and step away from her.

As soon as I do so, however, I see a flash of purple scrubs--Carla having finally escaped Turk's grasp--before she actually slaps Jordan hard across her face.

"How *dare* you! JD is a *good* person and deserves none of your negative *bullshit*!"

"Carla!" Turk warns her, attempting to pull her back behind the counter again.

Jordan blinks in surprise at the sudden attack, holding her face with a hand. "Now you listen here, *Nurse*--"

Jordan tries to bark an order but Carla simply cuts her off, shrugging Turk away.

"No, you listen here! I think you are *severely* misinformed over the definition of a 'Bitch', so why don't you go look it up. You might just be surprised at whose botoxed *picture* is staring back at you. That's assuming you can actually *have* your picture taken without the camera bursting into flames."

Jordan gapes at Carla a moment. Good god, I think she's speechless for once. It doesn't last nearly long enough, though, as she snaps her jaw closed and glares at Carla. "Oh, you'll pay for that. And my *god* was Perry right, you *are* his mother."

"I don't care what you do to me--Turk!" Carla squawks as Turk finally picks her up around her waist and carries her back around behind the counter.

"Shush, woman."

I motion for Jordan to head on down the hallway. "I do believe it's time for you to go now, Jordan. But *thank* you for dropping by. Please don't ever do it again."

Her eyes narrow onto me. "Oh, my pleasure, Per. You burn all of my stuff yet or am I still coming over to pick it up?"

"Not all of it. And you can have it so long as you bring Jack."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Who am I to stop Sally Sensitive here from playing house with my own son?"

My gaze hardens and she smartly inches backwards toward the elevator.

"Seven o'clock, Jordan."

"Fine." And then she smiles sweetly at me again. "Tootles." Before she disappears into the elevator and out of sight.

I turn and collapse my head and shoulders onto the upper counter to the nurse's station, burying my head in my arms.

"Is that what you two went through the other night?!" Carla demands.

JD comes to simply stand beside me, silent comfort. He knows me well enough not to attempt to touch me right this moment. His voice is sounding a little lost though as he says, "More or less."

I should've been expecting this. I should've known she'd come hunt us down today. I should've been prepared. I should've kept JD closer. I should've piled all our patients into one room and then barricaded the door.

"Oh, Bambi. I can't believe she'd come and harass you both here too."

"I can," I sigh as I finally lift my head, propping myself up on the counter by my elbows. I stare down at the counter. "She'd rather not fight in front of Jack."

At least there's hope yet that she'll really bring Jack tonight.

"But to come here? With this?!" Carla snags the leash and collar still in my hands. I forgot I still had those. I should've chucked them at Jordan as she left... "She's lost her mind."

"Carla," JD attempts to soothe. God, *he* was the one handed a dog collar and a leash, and he's comforting *Carla*. "I told you last night. She's just scared."

"But--But--A dog collar?!"

"It's a really nice dog collar, at least."

Carla glares up at Turk. "Oh don't you start."

"What?!"

"I know you don't approve of them but you *can't* approve of this?!" She smacks the studded leather against his chest.

Turk glances over at JD and then me before back down at Carla. He drops his voice as he mumbles, cringing even though he still says what's in his thick head, "Well, ya know, he has always ordered JD around..."

Oh for the love of-- "So help me, Gandhi, we *talked* about this this morning!"

"And you harassing him because you liked him? That's supposed to make me all happy for the two of you now? That's a fantastic foundation for a real--"

"Turk!" JD calls out and to which Turk instantly shuts his moronic mouth. He actually looks semi-contrite to be snapped at by JD of all people. JD had slipped around to the other side of the counter while Turk was ranting and now grabs Turk by the arm, dragging him off. "Talking alone. Now."

"But--"

"Now!"

Turk glares at me as he's pulled backwards out of sight, ignoring Carla's snapping the leash threateningly in his direction.

"You really married that idiot?" I finally growl at Carla as I scrub a hand down my face.

"Don't worry, I'll kill him later. But he's not usually so dense." She sighs and chucks the leash and collar into a nearby trash bin. "I just hope JD can talk enough sense into him. At least enough to shut his damn mouth." She reaches out to squeeze one of my hands. "Perry, I'm sorry. He's just being overprotective."

"I know, I know."

It's what makes us clash so much. We're both protective of JD. Not to mention headstrong.

The quiet squeak of a chair alerts me to the one person I had forgotten was nearby. Hell, I knew Jordan would get the word out about me and JD as quickly as she could, but this was going to be painfully fast.

I sneer slightly as I look over at Laverne attempting to nonchalantly read one of her romance novels from just down the station, even as she squirms a bit in her chair. She at least knew better than to rush off with me still around before she circled the hospital with *this* piece of gossip.

"Damn it all, Laverne, just go scream it from the rooftop, before you explode."

She raises her eyebrows up at me as she calmly sets her book down. "Like it's gonna be *any* big surprise." Before she bolts out of the ICU and leaves the chair spinning in her wake.

I growl and lower my head back down onto the counter with a *thunk*.

Fantastic.

Carla gives the back of my head a pat. "Hey, just think of it this way." I raise my head enough to glare at her. "With how today is already going, *tomorrow* is bound to be terrifically amazing to make up for it, right?"

I frown as I push away from the counter. "Not with my luck."

Why the hell isn't it lunch yet?

***

"Stop pushing--we're here--stop pushing!"

I give Turk one last shove further onto the roof before I let go of him. Even though it was a bit of a climb, I wanted the privacy. I don't think I can keep from yelling at him...

It's a little overcast again today. Like the last day I was up here. I fight back a smile at that thought. Not now. Pissed off at Turk. Think about Perry later. What time was it anyway? No, no. Focus!

I fold my arms across my chest and watch Turk fidget quietly a moment as he chews on a fingernail. I still don't know what to say, exactly.

"Chocolate Bear, I... Turk..." Damn it. I sigh and shake my head as I look away. "Why can't you just be happy for me?"

"How can I be happy when I know--a week from now, three weeks from now, however long you can stand him, however long he can stand you--that he's just going to end up doing something cruel and leave you a crying mess? A mess for *me* to have to pull back together?"

Goddamn it! I look back at him and snap, "Isn't that up to me?! Isn't that *my* own damn decision? My gamble to make? It's my life, Turk! Not yours!"

"So I'm just supposed to stand back and watch you screw it up?"

"Yes!"

"I can't do that, JD!"

"It's my life! And I'm *not* screwing it up. I'm not."

"He treats you like *crap* for three years and now suddenly you think he's in love with you? He's insane! There's no *way* that he's right for you."

I blink at Turk. I raise a hand at tick off my points finger by finger. "First of all, who the hell gave you permission to judge us so harshly? Since when have you ever been perfect? Secondly, I'm just as messed up crazy as he is, so I'd say we're a damn fine match. And thirdly, it's no damn business of yours if he cares for me or if we're just fuck buddies, because it's *my life*!"

"Fine! If you don't want the input of your *best* friend, then fine. I won't say another word. I'll just leave Carla and Elliot to pick you up after *this* catastrophe is over with."

"I'd take your input if it was constructive in *any* way, Turk, but all you do is call him names and agree that I need a fucking collar around my neck."

Turk gapes at me. "Whoa, I did *not* say that!"

"Yes you did!"

"I said he seems to be the one in control all the time, that's all. I don't really think he has you on a leash."

"And now you're lying. Fantastic."

"I am not!"

I give a nearly Perry-ish growl--only it sounds way too much like an airy huff coming from me--as I step into his personal space and glare at him. "The only reason you think I'm with him at all is because you think I'm too caught up in pleasing him, in getting his approval in *every*thing, that I'm just *going* along with all this. That he's pressured me into it, that I don't hold any of the cards, that he *yanked* my leash and I just unwittingly moved from following him around the hospital to following him into his bed. That I had no real say in any of it. That's why you blame him. Because you don't think I see or know what the hell I'm doing. Because you don't think I could've told him no and *not* jumped into his bed when he *obviously* ordered *me* to do so." Turk opens his mouth to say something and I snap again, "No lying!"

I take a deep breath as Turk shuts his mouth and simply frowns at me silently. I knew it. I knew it!

I shake my head and turn away, hugging myself. "I can't believe you think so little of me, Turk..." I step away from him and over to the hip high rim along the edge of the roof, perching slightly on it.

"JD," he finally sighs. He carefully comes up beside me. "It's not like that."

"Yeah, well, how is it like then?"

"I just... Okay, yeah, I do think he holds this strange power over you. And I do wonder if maybe he's brainwashed you into thinking this is a good idea. But I... I do know you hold your own power over him. He told me as much this morning. And I think I believe him, too, maybe."

He lets out another long breath and turns around to sit on the edge of the roof, folding his hands in his lap and staring down at them.

"He said you started everything off. He said you figured him out. That you took the chance, you made the first move." Turk lifts his head to look over at me. "Deep down, I know he isn't forcing himself on you, that you *definitely* could have pushed him away if you'd wanted to, that he's not such an evil bastard as to take you unwillingly as a partner. I just... I don't know, man... I... The Doctor Cox I've seen marching around the hallways growling at you for twenty minutes for just spilling his coffee, and the Doctor Cox I saw this morning talking to me about how he *doesn't* want just anything from *whatever* this is you two have together... They don't mesh, in my head."

I struggle not to get sidetracked by the last of Turk's words. Perry... wants more than just... sex and dating and flirting? He alluded to that with *Turk*? My heart skips and I have to swallow hard before I can speak again.

"I don't know how to make you see him as *both* men. I don't know how to fix that for you, Turk. I don't. Other than to tell you to *stop* being such an ass and just stand back and watch us, like Carla told you to from the beginning."

He huffs beside me. "You know I never listen to her."

I crack a slight grin at him. "Yeah. But maybe you should. For once." I chew on my lower lip as I look away again. "You know what made me finally confront him? What finally made me think he *wouldn't* punch me if I kissed him? I realized he was like a little boy in a schoolyard, teasing the cute girls by pulling their hair and calling them names. Oh sure, he tried to push me away, but he never really gave it his all, never *really* tried to push me that hard. He could've scared me off. He could've ignored me completely. But he didn't. Not for long. He didn't want me to *really* leave him alone. He's always liked me. Least in a screwed up friendship, colleague sort of way. If he's not calling you a nickname, if he's not tormenting you, then he doesn't like you, doesn't even read you on his radar. And who in this whole hospital has the most nicknames?"

"God, he must have a book full of girls names hidden away somewhere to still be coming up with new ones for you."

I grin my goofy grin at him. "Exactly."

Turk shakes his head at me, saying mostly to himself, "You really do like the girls names."

"I like what they really mean, what he's really saying when he calls me them."

He sighs and looks off into the distance for a long moment. Finally, he mutters, "And you really do like him."

"A *lot*," I answer and can't help grinning like a fool again as I do.

Turk turns to eye me and my silly grin. "But he's such a mess, JD."

"He's working on it. And I'm not exactly normal myself, Turk. How do you think he feels trying to connect with someone who he's *never* seen even attempt a long term relationship? Other than Elliot and I's yearly tumble into bed together, which *really* doesn't help my case any."

He snorts a laugh beside me. "Okay. Point taken." He shakes his head at me again. "I just... I can't help worrying about what he might do to you. How badly he could screw you over. He's done some awful things to people you claim he cares about. What will he do if things go south for you guys? Huh?"

I shrug. "I'm just dating him, Turk. Not marrying him." I pause and tilt my head to the side. "Although with my skin tone, I would look really *fantastic* in white lace..."

"Whoa!" Turk bolts up onto his feet, pointing his hands at me. "Not cool. I so did *not* need that mental image."

I smirk up at him. "What? Did you want me to talk *him* into wearing the dr--"

"JD!"

I struggle not to laugh as I try for my best serious face. "It'll take me some time but if I start now I might be able to wear him down in a decade or two."

Turk covers his eyes with his hands. "No Doctor Cox in a veil, no Doctor Cox in a veil, no Doctor Cox in a veil."

I finally burst into laughter. Perry could never pull off the lace anyway... Turk glares and makes a face at me as he drops his hands.

"Just *dating* the man, Turk. Can we stick to you dealing with that and not the long term psychological damage he *might* inflict on me weeks, months, or years from now?"

"Fine."

I shake my head at him.

He's still not okay with this. He still thinks this is a mistake. But since when have I ever made smart decisions when it came to relationships anyway?

I stand up and eye him critically, before I ask, "Please just... don't antagonize him, don't question us in *front* of us. We already have Jordan to do that."

"I'm sorry, dude. I am. I didn't mean... I didn't mean it how it came out."

"I know. But just as much as you don't understand Perry, he isn't really getting the most beautiful picture of you right now either."

He just nods and crosses his arms across his chest. "I'll keep quiet."

"Thank you." I let out a long breath. I hope he does. All this fighting is driving me crazy...

He reaches out to squeeze my shoulder, pulling me against his side and toward the stairwell. "Come on. We'd better get going." He flashes me a grin as he jokes, "We can't be late for lunch!"

"Lunch?! What time is it?"

***

Continues here

x-posted to jd_cox scrubs_slash scrubsfic