Old Friends

[featherborn]

Some sense of old mischief makes June give a false name when she books an appointment at Marcus' law firm. She wants the upper hand. He might not even connect this woman with crows wrinkles and laughter lines with the woman he knew before.

She comes dressed smart in a business suit, with hair tied back in a loose bun and strides through the door to Marcus' office, barely waiting for the secretary to finish announcing her.

"They say you are the best lawyer in the city when you have someone trying to sue you."

Comments

[featherborn]

"It's Ms," she says easily as she takes a seat crossing one ankle behind the other. It is rather shocking for someone of her age to take that title. Why, back in her youth, she would have expected to be married by her eighteenth birthday.

She takes a file from her bag and slides it across the table. "This is Stewart Jones. He was involved in a car accident. These," she taps the top page, "Are the list of injuries he came in with. Nothing too severe. By the time I was finished with him, I could declare him fit for work."

She takes a second sheet out, the record of his suit against her. "Now he says I'm cheating him out of damages and sending him back to work before he is ready and I owe him compensation." She huffs in annoyance.

"To be candid, I did heal him a little faster than another doctor might have, but I was doing my job."

[keepstheirsecrets]

Its the huff of annoyance that clues him in. It's one he's heard time and time again, more times than he could count. It's also one he used to fund oddly endearing, which had of course only annoyed her more. Well well...

Not revealing his thoughts, he simply takes the paper as she gives it to him, looking it over with apparent full concentration. And he does read it fully, committing what it says to memory.

"Well, to be fair, Ms. Fields, your methods would be a bit over the top at an ordinary hospital, but I digress... If the man has a clean bill of health I fail to see why he should be on leave. I'm sure we can make this go away quite quickly and easily." So in other words, yes June Fields, you have been recognized.

[featherborn]

For that recognition her lips crease up into a smile. His mind has certainly not dulled over the years. "I quite agree, Mr Flynn." She sits back in the chair and takes up an infinitely more relaxed. "It's good to see that time hasn't completely wiped me from your memory Marcus."

[keepstheirsecrets]

Now Marcus does smile even though he doesn't seem more relaxed. Either he's not comfortable enough for that, or this is simply how he is. "Oh, hardly. It has certainly been a while, but my memory hasn't failed me yet."

Rising back up from his desk he goes over to the window where a table with a few crystal carafes are sitting with various hues of ambler liquid, and pours them each a small measure. "May Errol... That should have clued me in."

Walking back he hands her one of the glasses. "It isn't martini and lemonade, but perhaps it will do."

[featherborn]

"If it was, I would do something about that." She says accepting the glass. A man like Marcus Flynn should never suffer the indignity of losing a fine mind. She clinks her glass against his.

"I couldn't resist the name." Oh she can remember the days when she used to compare the two men. His surname had been the first thing that had drawn her attention back in the day. "It would have made a great stage name." What folly to talk about that now.

"Will you forgive me my deception?"

[keepstheirsecrets]

"There is nothing to forgive," he assures, returning to his seat. "A little break in the routine of the normal everyday events can on occasion be quite welcome. However..." He lays his fingers against the paper she had given him.

"I assume that you haven't only sought me out for company and old time's sake, but rather that this is an actual matter to attend to?"

[featherborn]

"I had intended to look you up for old time's sake earlier. The last I had heard of you, you were based in this city. But I was busy." She nods in answer to his question. "Your name jumped out when this little problem came up." Her brows crease in frustration. "I was careful, I always am. But I want this to go away quickly in case anyone starts asking questions."

[keepstheirsecrets]

"Naturally," he agrees. He wants this gone as soon as possible as well. It's something he's learned in the many years he's held this position; how quickly and unforeseen small issues can escalate into large problems. He'd rather nip this in the bud, and so he'll see to it quickly.

"So am I to take it that you have moved here?"

[featherborn]

She trusts him with it. No one wants someone nosing around in matters that don't concern them. "It was time for a change of scenery," she says and sips the drink he had given her. "As you know my age and appearance don't exactly match. I had been at the hospital long enough."

There had been an old promise she had made to come across to the east coast if she ever tired of the west, one she had not forgotten. "In one of your last letters you said that I might enjoy life better here."

[keepstheirsecrets]

Oh, he knows she is older than she appears to be. The same is true of him, and like her he has had to relocate a few times to hide this fact. Now in the nation's capital, he doesn't think he will need to relocate again. This will be his last post before he eventually retires, though he's sure that that is some ways off yet.

Had he said that in his last letter? Truly, how long had it been since he last wrote her, now? Some time indeed... It isn't wrong, though. "I have always thought the east coast would suit you better than sunny California," he confirms. "Have you ever considered employment in one of our own hospitals, where you could work more freely and not have to risk patients such as..." He peers at the paper again. "Mr. Sanders, here?"

[featherborn]

"I have considered it more than once," she admits. When she was younger there had been a thrill in working in secret while making a difference. "The question I keep returning to is where can I do the most good?"

She looks down at the papers. "For every Mr Sanders, there are at least three who I can save with an early detection of a hidden ailment." It is simple enough to choose which tests to include which will detect other abnormalities than the one they are looking at.

She folds her hands in her lap. "I will listen to a pitch for your hospitals. The benefits had better be good. I am a qualified surgeon." Her training to the next level had initially held her in the city when Marcus moved.

[keepstheirsecrets]

"No pitch," Marcus says, idly swirling the drink in his glass before taking a small sip, enjoying both the flavor and the burn of it.

"You know what it is, a hospital with no less resources than what you have on hand in your current workplace, but where you can use all your skills openly. If you are interested and wish to know more I am sure you will ask." He knows that she is skilled and would be a good asset to them, but he won't beg her to come work under Organization management unless she wants to.

[featherborn]

The lack of begging is a good sign. She's always preferred more straight forward deals and she has done her research. On the West Coast she had been approached once or twice to swap over but she had been too content where she was to change. Here, it is different, she has not put down close ties in the hospital yet.

Still...she is cautious. She is not used to working out in the open and like she doesn't want to tie herself down too heavily. "Match my salary and give me a year's fixed contract with the option to extend after that." Her piercing eyes meet his and she gives a candid reason for her decision. "It would make sense to work under the Organization while this case blows over."

And there is that little huff of annoyance again. "First time I've been sued in my life," she grumbles.

[keepstheirsecrets]

He knows she's good. She had been already before they moved apart, and he was sure her skills would have only grown since. However, just because they had history it did not mean he would make shortcuts for her. Or, well, perhaps it did, but it would not mean there would be a done deal just like that.

"Give me your resume and I'll have a word with management. But I should think that would be reasonable terms."

[featherborn]

Her back stiffens, she is a proud woman. "I don't need you to have a word on my behalf," she says. "I will drop you an email with my resume and a hard copy." Her eyes sharpen on his. "You can tell them my terms, nothing more."

[keepstheirsecrets]

He actually hadn't thought of doing much more than that. Turn over her resume with nothing more than a suggestion that she might be a person of interest if there is an opening. To be fair, however, he knows that the simple fact that he will hand over her resume will weigh in June's favor. It is not all for her benefit; she's skilled and they could have good use of her.

"As you wish, then." He bows his head just briefly.

[featherborn]

So long as it goes no further than that. She's always been an independent woman and doesn't like to feel beholden to anyone. Especially someone she does remember fondly.

"That concludes business then," she says briskly. "When may I take you out for a meal to catch up on our private lives?"

[keepstheirsecrets]

"My evenings are mostly free." As they have been for years now, ever since his wife passed away. Evenings had been sacred for them, free of work unless some emergency truly did call for them. Even after her passing, it is like he's simply stayed in the habit, of leaving his work in his office at the end of the day.

He leans forward a bit, flipping through is calendar to see if there is anything planned. "Not Thursday. Other than that I'm free."

[featherborn]

June takes out a small planner. While she does have a copy of her schedule on her phone, there is something comforting about the old school. In opposition to him, she works the shifts that younger doctors and surgeons put in.

"Wednesday," she says after some consideration. "I am not on call the next day, I can afford a drink and a late evening if that happens."

There is a glance down towards his hand and there is nothing there, so she does not feel so bold suggesting they may talk into the night.

She is not conscious of how lonely she might be making her like sound.

[keepstheirsecrets]

Indeed, there is nothing on his hand. It has been a while, now, since he took his ring off. He still carries it, though; on a silver chain around his neck, along with the wedding band his wife wore.

In this moment, he has no thoughts as to what June may or may not be thinking or wanting. It has been a very long time, after all, and all he thinks is that it would be nice to catch up.

"Then Wednesday it is. Do you ave any place in mind you would like to go?"

[featherborn]

She names a small, exclusive restaurant where they might relax. Being in the limelight, or surrounded by scores of either dinners is not her idea of an enjoyable evening. "I know the manager, I have a table there any time I want it." She had done much to save his teenage daughter after a car accident and had struck up a friendship with the family in the long days between operations.

Her lips curl up into an amused smile. "He is Italian and would be very offended if he heard I went elsewhere."

[keepstheirsecrets]

Oh, she has recently moved out here and she's already on such good terms with the proprietor of such a fine locale? She does work fast, doesn't she?

"Then we had best not disappoint."

[featherborn]

She is a people person or so she would claim. But it is down to pure luck, who comes through the doors and lands on her table.

"No," she laughs. "Do you remember the time we got banned from two restaurants because we annoyed one waiter?" Or to be fair, that might might have been more her fault, in her wilder days when she let her temper show.