Scott and Madelyn at the HeliX benefit

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Madelyn claims the promised dance from Scott at the HeliX formal. They chat a little, including about Betsy, and Scott makes Madelyn a promise.



Scott leaned back against the wall, looking around with a bit of a frown. He wasn't sure where Betsy had gone, and he didn't really feel like trailing along through the crowd looking for her like a lost puppy dog. Much bigger crowd than he'd expected, too. Not that it wasn't a good thing.

"You're far too pretty to be a wallflower," Madelyn told him, appearing suddenly at his elbow.

Scott blinked at her, then couldn't help a smile. "You look gorgeous, Maddie," he said warmly, if quietly. And she did. That was... quite the dress. "Betsy would probably smack me for saying so, but I think you and Moira have succeeded in outshining everyone else here. Must be all that time hiding a light under your respective bushels down in the labs."

"It's good to keep people on their toes," she informed him with a wicked grin, but there was the slightest hint of a pleased blush. Scrubs never got this many compliments. "And I have to say, you look very dashing tonight. Very James Bond."

Scott couldn't help feeling a bit pleased at the compliment himself. "Why, thank you, Dr. Bartlet," he said with a certain amount of teasing formality. "You don't seem to have a long line of men trailing along after you - which shocks the hell out of me - so can I assume you'd be free for a dance?"

"Since you promised one for me, I thought I'd ditch the harem and come and collect." Madelyn replied, that grin still evident. "Shinobi keeps being kidnapped to talk business-type stuff, so I'm finding myself free to mingle. And keep Clarice's parents at opposite ends to the party at all times."

Scott straightened, then shook his head. "Then you need to take a break from playing human shield," he said firmly, extending a hand. "Shall we?"

"Indeed we shall." Madelyn took the offered hand and followed Scott onto the dance floor. "So, are you enjoying yourself?" she asked. "Because I believe that was the idea behind tonight. Besides fund-raising, that is."

"I'm... enjoying myself, yes," he said, hoping she wouldn't point out the pause. "Looks like the fund-raising side of things is going swimmingly, too..."

Madelyn caught the pause but decided now was not the time for another of her heavy-handed pep talks. "And everyone brushes up so very well," she said. "Even Cecilia, although you should have heard her bitching about her dress." Scott was quite a good dancer, she noted with pleased surprise. Her toes had suffered enough trauma tonight with various students and prospective patrons.

He chuckled softly. "I'm glad Cecilia's having fun," he said sincerely. "And yeah, all these dressed-up people... I am glad so many of us seem to be having a good time. I think we're due, after this summer."

"No mentioning the Summer of Doom," Madelyn mock-scolded. "Because if we start reminiscing about Disasters of Summer Past, we'll both have nervous breakdowns, and that won't be very pretty at all." She looked around. "But you're right - it's good to see people relaxing."

Madelyn was an extremely good dancer, Scott thought, relaxing a little more and enjoying himself. "I'm trying not to watch people obsessively," he confessed. "Hard habit to break."

"Keeping an eye out?" Madelyn asked. At his nod, she smiled. "I've been doing the same thing too - after seeing most of the kids and the staff in the medlab at one time or other, it's difficult not to fret about them. Even if it means sometimes I get a little pushy." She hesitated, then broke the rule on 'no serious topics' she'd made for herself. "Betsy might have mentioned something along those lines."

"She... did," Scott said a bit hesitantly, trying not to tense. "I..." He stopped, shaking his head with a sigh. "I'm not much of a good influence on her these days when it comes to things like this," he said, his voice low and unhappy.

"I won't deny that I'm worried about her, Scott. This mention of hearing Kwannon's voice in her head, the drinking..." Madelyn shrugged a little. "Brain surgery isn't child's play, and she really needs a follow-up, especially after the Summer from Hell. I shouldn't be asking this of you, but... talk to her? See if you can't get her to come down for at least the MRI?"

"I will," Scott said quietly. "And you're right. Some things... well, some things shouldn't be neglected." He would just have to be... judicious about pushing.

"Sorry to add to the burden, Captain." Madelyn squeezed the hand she held. "I wouldn't ask unless it was important. And I think I might have overstepped my bounds a bit."

"If there's something I've learned," Scott said wryly, "it's that boundaries are flexible. Have to be flexible." He squeezed her hand back. "Don't worry about it," he said more quietly, knowing she'd know he meant her 'adding to his burden'. "Let's just enjoy the dance, okay?"

"Not difficult, I don't think, with such an excellent partner," she replied, and let him lead them off again.