Generation 3- Chapter 7: Aussitôt dit, aussitôt fait

The electricity generated by the kiss felt like it was heating the air around us. The moment I pulled away from his embrace I regretted it because reality flowed in, the drunk buzz that had lead to this awkward moment was wearing away quickly but the mind-numbing electric current generated by the kiss was trying to silencing my conscious that was lecturing me: I had just kissed the attending who had been making my life a nightmare. What about Lemon Drop? What was I doing?

"Dr. D'Asti, I don't think..."

"Margarita, let's not think tonight. Unless I'm far off base, and I'm usually not, you felt what I just felt and you kissed me back."

"Dr...Draegan, I can't talk about this while I'm not entirely sober...why don't I call you a cab or you can crash on the sofa if you want....I think I should go to bed..." he opened his mouth as if the protest but then seemed to think better of it and said, "I'll be downstairs in the morning." He gave a little smirk.

As soon as I heard footsteps fade down the stairs I felt myself relax a little but I found myself extremely tired. With my mind racing, it took more effort than usual to get into my PJs and then the bed. I couldn't help but let the scene in the bathroom replay in my head...it was like a video on loop. What did it all mean, did I have feelings for him? Even though he was a jerk? I drifted off into that peaceful sleep that nectar can create on occasion with the image of Dr. Draegan's face in my head.

******

I opened my eyes to face the wickedly bright sun seeping through the shades in my room. *Groan* My head was throbbing. I knew it was not the worse thing I'd have to face today. Might as well get it over with. I slid over to the desk and pulled out my organizer. Today was Sunday and I had absolutely nothing written on the page, went meant I had absolutely no excuse to run out of the house. Crap.

I made my way downstairs and I didn't see Dr. D'Asti on the sofa. I relaxed a little and headed into the kitchen to make myself some coffee to see if I could perk up. I was headed into the living room to search for the TV remote when I heard the dreadful noise that was someone clearing their throat. A male someone. I froze.

"Oh, Dr. D'Asti. I had forgotten you were hear....more like hoping it was all a dream (I muttered under my breath"

"Oh no you didn't Margarita, you remember exactly what happened last night and so do I, unlike you however, I'm not one to beat around the bush."  I shot him a look that should have startled him if he had been anyone else...anyone capable of being startled. That old sense of irritation he caused me had made it's way back to me.

"Margarita, I realize we've made things a bit difficult between us and beings I'm your supervisor, I would understand if you wanted to pretend this never happened...but personally, I'd like to see this become something more. I'm very attracted to you and your unwillingness to cower around me like so many of the other students. I'd like to take you out on a real date beings we seem to be doing things backwards. However, if that did become the case we'd have to change the work situation..." He sounded hopeful, a vulnerability I never thought someone like him capable. This stalled my immediate reaction to deny the whole situation and refuse him....Did he....care about me? My mind was reeling...was I attracted to this man? Hmmm... I gave him the once over, he was tall, handsome in a regal kind of way, very intelligent but at also arrogant, bossy, obstinate...

I plopped down on the sofa. He sat beside me and I looked up to see him with that insidious smirk across hiss face...I guess he could see my gears turning in my brain. I'm surprised steam was coming out. I sighed. I didn't know how I felt. Didn't know what to say or do. 

"Margarita...you don't have to figure out everything in one day. Take the weekend, see how you feel after a couple of days...but as you know I'm not a very patient man." He said all of this quietly but some how I detected a hint of uncertainty in his voice. I looked up at him, my emotions were playing a rough game of tug-o-war. "Dr. D'Asti...I mean Draegan....you are always so mean to me though. You treat me like dirt in school then one time I tell you off and you follow me home and....and... kiss me like you did?" I was a little exasperated.

"Margarita, you ARE funny. I've been watching you through the residency program. I've realized that you are very driven to become an excellent physician, you care tremendously about your patience but even with that drive you don't let it take you over, you're kind to your colleagues and very bright. I've come to care about you as a student a great deal so of course I've been hard on you. I want you to be a successful student and doctor, more so than anyone else I've come across."  I looked at him skeptically but I could tell by the tone of his voice he was serious. "Just think about it..." He stood up to go with that o-so-serious face he always wears and said "Good-bye" with a gentleness very unfamiliar to his voice. One that caught me in my gut, making me almost want to jump up and kiss him good-bye. But I stayed firmly sitting on the sofa until the door had closed behind him then I flopped back on the sofa and closed my eyes. My head, I can't think. 

I stood up and headed to the kitchen where I took an aspirin literally almost the size of my head. Yuck!

Before I had time to puzzle the situation any further, I heard the cellphone ring upstairs.

The screen flashed "Home"

I answered it, "Well its about...."

"Marg!" It was Dad, "Hi sweetheart! I hope everything's going well. Listen my favorite oldest daughter, I am sorry we have been getting to talk to you much lately but, well I have some news."

"Dad! I've missed you guys so much, just hearing your voice has made me homesick. What's been going on? Tell me everything!"

"Well, Margie, I would like if you could come home for a little while, maybe see if you could talk some sense into your little sister. She's been given me some problems and well, I haven't been so well myself. Without your mom around....I've just been kind of depressed lately and I guess you  could say not having you around doesn't help much."

"I'll be home today, give me a few hours. I'll stay as long as you need."

I hung up the phone, got dressed, packed a few things and settled at the computer long enough to type up a general e-mail to Diana and Dr. D'Asti letting them know I was needed back home in Sugar Valley for awhile and that I would be taking a leave of absence.

I sighed. So much for getting to deal with my own problem, maybe I could figure out my emotions on the very long drive back to Sugar Valley.

The cab I called arrived and as I settled in for the long haul, I noticed how dreary the city appeared. It seemed to match my mood. I had no idea when I'd be back, if I came back.