Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Hi Dan."

"Hey little brother!"

JD opened his mouth to speak. Now wasn't exactly a good time.

"Listen, I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time…"

Bingo. He thought.

"I just wanted to let you know I'm in town…"

JD squinted his eyes. Trying to remember the last time he'd seen his brother. It'd been years. It might be nice to see him, especially right now, but it wasn't like his brother to just pop by. There has to be some sort of catch. He turned his head, as if forcing other thoughts to another part of his brain.

"I just thought it might be nice to finally see you. It's been a long time. I haven't really gotten a good chance to see you since you left for Med School. And that was before I knew about all the stuff with mom…"

JD quickly interrupted him. "Did someone die Dan? Is that why you want to see me? Is there something wrong with you?"

Dr. Cox glanced up. He would've told the kid to put the phone down already, but something about JD looked so disheveled. His movements weren't fluid and it was almost like his eyes were searching for answers that were supposed to come out of thin air. The tired bags under his eyes had only gotten worse since he'd bumped into him earlier in the shift. It might be best to just give him a minute. Let him cool down.

But hearing him ask if someone had died pulled him from his observation state. His ears strained and eyes stared calmly trying to gather information.

"No. No one died. Can't a guy just come to town to see his brother?"

No. Dan couldn't have just wanted to come see me. There has to be something more. JD stood and started slowly pacing the room.

"Dan. I know what you're trying to do here. I'm not a little kid anymore. You don't have to protect me." Not that he was ever very good at that in the first place. "Can you please just be honest with me and tell me what's up?"

He could hear Dan sigh through the phone. "I'm sorry JD."

"Sorry for what?" Pausing mid-stride. "What are you sorry for Dan?"

Dr. Cox stood. Maybe it'd be best to give him some time alone. Being there for people wasn't exactly a strong suit. In all honesty, it wasn't a trait he held at all. Being sensitive. Holding people's hands. It's hard enough having to deal with patients and their personal problems, not to mention the other people in his life. Deciding he wanted nothing more than to sidestep this whole, 'rub your back while I tell you it's going to be fine moment' he stood up from his position on the bed.

JD wasn't sure what impulse it was that made him take his next action. But once he saw Dr. Cox stand to leave, his body took 2 large steps towards him, took him by the shoulder, and pushed him back down. Between trying to listen to Dan's next words, and remembering the fact he had just yelled at that poor nurse. Did I make her cry? He stunned himself by the action, and before Dr. Cox could yell at him for touching him, he turned away. He didn't want to start yet another argument today.

Dr. Cox just stared at him. Not scowling. Not angered. Just stared. This wasn't right. Since when did he take orders from someone else? Not sure what it meant, he sat back down.

"JD. Listen. I meant to call you earlier but I had a hard time trying to figure out what I was going to do."

"Dan. Please. Just tell me." JD sat back down. Tears began to form in his eyes from all the scenarios playing in his head.

"Look. I came because I was trying to get here before Mom and…Duncan." Desperately trying to figure out how to phrase his next sentence. "Duncan sent mom on this guilt trip. Convinced her that she should see her son. I don't know what they're planning. And they don't know I came. They don't know I'm here. But JD…I couldn't let you face them alone. Not again."

JD pulled the phone from his ear, and looked up at Dr. Cox with a face that was filled with void of all emotion. Was Dan still talking? It didn't matter. He was done listening. With the remaining energy he could muster he lowered the phone to his lap and ended the call. Turning off his phone he put it back into his pocket.

"I'm going to go put this in my locker." JD stood and mindlessly left the room. He opened the door no more than necessary and closed it on his way out. Trying to create distance between himself and Dr. Cox.

Dr. Cox stood. Tilting his head slightly to digest everything that just happened. What the hell?

-----

"JD. Buddy. Are you there?" Dan looked concerned. He stood in front of JD's apartment door, a large duffle bag lay by his feet. His hair was a mess and it looked like he'd just been running. It's not like he was in bad physical shape, but this situation was different. His mind was working overdrive. Whatever their plan was. Whatever reason they were traveling miles to see JD couldn't be good. JD had left for good reasons. He wasn't about to have him move even further away without a fight. And although he'd never really been there for him in the past, he could do it now. He had to.

He picked up his duffle bag and regretted packing so much of his stuff. But at the time he wasn't sure when he'd be heading back home. Taking the keys for the car he'd rented back out of his pocket, he headed out. Someone would be able to tell him how to get to Sacred Heart. It couldn't be that far. JD had to do the drive on his scooter. He'd already driven all this way to make sure JD was all right. What's another hour?

-----

Closing his locker JD sat down. What's wrong with me? Why can't you just let this go?

"Hey Pricilla." Dr. Cox let the door close behind him.

JD turned to face him without ever making eye contact.

"Go home. I think you're done for the day."

"My shift isn't over for another…" He looked at his watch. "5 hours."

"I said you're done. Go home. I don't need you here today making people cry." Why on earth did I say that? Carla's right. Why can't I just give him a break?

"I'm not leaving. I can do my job." JD stood. Hesitating about walking towards the door.

"Listen. You look like crap. You clearly have some personal issues going on that you need to take care of. And you basically lost a patient." Dr. Cox cleared his throat waiting for JD to look up at him. Once he got eye contact he continued. "I checked your charts. You don't have that many. Nothing the nimrod pathetic interns we have in this awful place can't handle. Go home."

"But Dr. Kelso…"

Dr. Cox rolled his eyes. "I'll deal with it. Just go home. I'll see you tomorrow." He turned around and walked out. There. I did him a favor, that's as nice as I can be.

On any other day, JD would've been ecstatic that Dr. Cox was finally a treating him like a friend. That he was actually giving him what appeared to be some sort of respect? Tears came to his eyes. Not now JD. Just go home before they change their minds. Throwing on his regular t-shirt, and not even bothering to change out of his remaining scrubs. He packed everything into his backpack, and quickly took off.

-----

He'd gotten directions. He'd gotten to Sacred Heart. Now he just needed to get out of the car. What if I bump into him? He shook his head. That was stupid. You're here to see him. Just get out of the car. A heavy sigh with his hands on the steering wheel, mind gathering courage, he opened the door and took his first steps out. First stop, finding Chris. He'd look for JD after. He just couldn't face him yet.

-----

Turk leaned over the nurse's station "Gimmie some sugar woman." Giving Carla a kiss.

"Now Turk. I love you. But if you refer to me as your woman one more time."

"You'll feed me to the wolves. I know." Leaning back to his side of the counter getting back is field of vision behind her. He spotted someone he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Dan?"

"Chris! Just the person I was trying to find."

"What are you doing here? Does JD know you're in town?"

"Yeah. He knows I'm here. I'm looking for him." Dan looked around to see if JD was nearby. "Listen. Could I maybe borrow your keys? I wanted to wait for him inside the apartment. It's a little awkward waiting in your hallway."

"Yeah. Of course! I'll just have to get them from my locker." Turk started to walk away. "Here for any special occasion?"

Carla watched them walk away with an eye of suspicion. She jumped up as someone touched her shoulder.

"Dr. Cox. Can I help you?"

He didn't look at her and kept watching Turk walk away with someone. Based on the hair and eye color he could only imagine that it was the elusive Dan. Though he'd never met him he couldn't count the number of times JD had mentioned him from past stories. "Who's the skinny girl walking away with your boyfriend?"

"I think you know who that is." Her eyes followed her husband down the hall. "The question is, why is he here?" She turned to face Dr. Cox. "Where is JD any way? He normally follows you around like a lost stray."

"I sent him home. He shouldn't be here today."

-----

"Hey Dan. Did you hear me? Are you here for any special occasion?"

"Umm, well. No. Not really." Dan shifted his eyes to another part of the hallway. Did JD tell anyone here?