Doctors 2 and 3, Backdated because of overwork and stupid LJ

[x-mactaggart.livejournal.com]

While Madelyn's getting ready for the day, Moira pops in to relax with a friend and workmate she's been missing. It's very obvious Moira's going to have a baby and that she's stressed over Rory's disappearance. Some ideas are hashed out, some tears are had, and Maddie gets another peek at someone else's previous dating experience.



Hank had been as good as his word and taken the second half of the night shift, which meant Madelyn was up bright and reasonably early, ready to relieve him. She was just finishing her morning coffee when there was a tap on her suite door. "Come in!" she called, beginning the Great Shoe Quest. Probably Kurt or Scott, checking up on her...

Opening the door, Moira raised an eyebrow as she caught Madelyn digging around under various objects. "Lose somethin'?" she asked, cheerfully, shutting the door behind her as she came in fully. "If 'tis sanity, I'm sure we've jus' restocked downstairs."

"Moira!" Forgetting shoes, Madelyn came over and gave the other woman a tight hug. "There, I've been meaning to do that for a while, but there wasn't time. How are you feeling? I was just on my way down to relieve Hank. Provided I can find my sneakers, that is." She wriggled her toes in their fuzzy blue socks as they both looked down.

Giggling a little, Moira returned the hug enthusiastically. There was no way she was getting enough of the hugs before she left. "Henry doesnae wear shoes," she pointed out. "Most o' th' time, anyway. An' I'm good. A wee bit tired but 'twas good ta sleep in me suite again an' bein' back 'as raised me spirits up a lot."

"Hank also has feet that are impervious to cold and most spills, and he can type with his toes," Madelyn pointed out with a grin. "Now I've gotten warm again, I'm not risking another chill. You wouldn't believe how many hot showers I've had since Tuesday..." Holding Moira out at arm's length, she looked her up and down keenly. "You look good," she pronounced at last. "How's the morning sickness? Settled down yet?"

"I can understand 'bout th' cold. First time Nathan dunked me in a lake, 'twas a near frozen pond in January in Scotland. Dinnae get warm for days." She smiled at Madelyn's concern. "Settlin' down some, but th' baby was nay impressed wit' th' teleportation. So been a wee bit more sick since I arrived than I 'ave been."

"Interesting side-effect… Are you going to be okay going back? Maybe we should run some tests, make sure things are okay…" Madelyn began, then faltered under the look Moira was giving her. "I'm fussing, aren't I?"

Laughing, Moira patted Madelyn's arm. "A wee bit but ye know, ye cannae be worse than me cousin, so I dinnae mind." She gave the other woman a fond look. "Besides, part o' me enjoys it ta some degree, if ye know wha' I mean? Especially from friends."

"Nothing wrong with a little spoiling," Madelyn agreed. "Make the most of it while it lasts... Ah-hah! There you are, you sneaky sneakers you!" She pounced on the sneaker that was peeking out from under a sheath of newspapers.

A giggle escaped. Nothing like seeing a dignified doctor pouncing on a pair of hiding shoes..."'ow've ye been while I've been away? Bein' kept busy, o' course?"

"Not as busy as you'd think, at least until this week..." Deciding that hopping around on one foot while she pulled on a sneaker was just _too_ undignified, Madelyn flopped into one of the arm chairs and waved Moira to a seat. "There's Jono, of course, and the usual aches and pains and bugs. Team evaluation too - we started that back up, since we got behind with Hank away. Just in the nick of time, too - there's been an awful lot of overtraining going on."

Grimacing, Moira settled herself down, feet glad for the break. "Glad 'twas nay as bad as I was afraid o'. I 'ope I'm comin' 'ome soon, I 'ate leavin' ye all wit' this work. An' I miss workin' over 'ere. I love Muir but 'tis nay th' same, I'm th' only doctor there, so it can be a wee bit lonely." Shaking her head, she smiled a little. "Been spoiled over 'ere, I swear."

Madelyn paused in her shoe-acquiring to reach over and squeeze Moira's hand. "We've missed you too," she said, smiling gently. "And not just for your enormous brain." A thought occurred to her. "You know, once we're back down to an empty medlab, I could always get Clarice to 'port me over and help out occasionally. Hank's the field medic anyway, and the kids have more than proved they can prep the lab at short notice."

Her eyes widened suddenly. "Ye wouldnae mind?" No, no crying. Really, no crying. Crying was bad and stupid. "I'd 'ate ta ask but...'tis different wit' Rory gone."

"Of course I wouldn't... Damn, I would have offered sooner, only you seemed to have things under control, and then there was the mission..." Second show forgotten, Madelyn moved to sit beside Moira on the couch and slip her arm around her. "We're the Doctors Three. We look out for each other, remember?"

"I know, I just wasnae prepared for 'ow quiet it would be without Rory." There was something quivering in her voice, obviously Moira was still hurting over Rory's abrupt and silent departure. "I should either miss th' bastard or be mad at 'im...nay bot' at th' same time."

"Who says you can't feel both?" Madelyn pointed out. "He's a good friend who left you in the lurch - I'd be feeling the same."

She still looked slightly defeated. "Aye, I know. I think I'm mostly mad because I realize now tha' 'is leavin' was 'uge but tha' there were problems before then. I need ta balance me time between Muir an' 'ere an' I cannae find tha' balance yet."

"And you're feeling torn," Madelyn said, face sympathetic. She knew what it was like to have two jobs she loved, but having to choose between them. "Well, now Hank's back at least, and things are settling down a bit, maybe it'll be easier to find that balance. And you can always rely on us to help you out, be it going over there to lend a hand, or covering you here."

"Tha' 'elps a lot." Reaching her arm around Madely, she leaned into a hug. "Stupid workacholic tendancies," she half grumbled. "Almost wish I could fly over there or somethin'. Because I'll need ta keep me 'and more at Muir than I 'ad been. I 'adnae realized 'ow ragged me staff 'ad gotten without me presence there."

"Well, far be it for me to suggest using a student for their powers, but... if you asked Clarice, I'm sure she'd be more than happy to 'port you over whenever you needed. Although not so much until we're sure Junior there doesn't mind too much," Madelyn said, returning the hug. Then her face lit up, and you could practically see the lightglobe appear over her head. "You could always have Clarice act as assistant for you while you're over there. She'd be getting training out of it, and it would mean you could go back and forth pretty much as you need. That, plus whoever you get to replace Rory, who I'm sure will be brilliant since Hank's helping there, should ease things up a lot, yes?"

"Aye, tha's a really good idea." Moira's face was lighting up at the thought. "'Tis a wee bit rough on th' babe but nay anythin' neither o' us can 'andle. Wee thin's a bit...grouchy, I think. Th' mornin' sickness jus' seems ta be gettin' worse. Tha' way I can oversee any mess tha' 'appens at Muir an' nay neglect th' students or ye all." She glanced over, amused. "I'd say yer brilliant but we already knew tha'."

Madelyn couldn't help preening just a little. "Well, as long as it doesn't hurt you or the baby, I'd say go for it. Clarice seems to be thinking seriously about medicine as a career, and I think it's time she got to see a real clinic in action. And yours at least wouldn't have issues with her mutancy."

"God nay. It'd be 'ard pressed ta get th' nurses away from 'er, actually. Th' new set are bein' introduced ta mutants as a whole an' are intrigued enough ta be gleeful about any 'ealthy mutant tha' crosses their pat'."

"Then I think we have a cunning and devious plan, then, wouldn't you say?" Madelyn said, grinning broadly. Solving two problems with one solution - maybe she _was_ brilliant.

"I believe so!" Once Moira got back to Muir she'd work out the logistics and then talk to Clarice. "I jus' cannae wait until I'm back 'ere for good. Th' occasional weekend away ta Muir is good but this is ta lon' for me tastes."

"And not just yours - Nathan's been positively pining for you," Madelyn said with a small chuckle. "Although I think Hank managed to find a way to get him to eat regularly - he asked Dani to make sure he ate at least once a day, and it seems to be working."

Laughing at that, Moira nodded. "Lord, Henry knows 'ow ta be sneaky when 'e wants ta be. God knows tha' man can get 'is way more often times than nay."

"It's the puppy eyes. Gets us every time," Madelyn agreed solemnly, before breaking into giggles. "That and the chocolate bribery."

Snickering, she found herself hard pressed to disagree. "Henry is verra good at knowin' exactly wha' our soft spots are," she agreed. "An' uses them ta 'is advantage shamlessly. Though I cannae make meself mind all tha' much, 'tis far too much fun at times, wouldnae ye agree?"

"Definitely - the place just wasn't the same without him. I've got to tell you, I've never been so pleased to see someone as Hank when he came through that shield of Bourne's during the mission," Madelyn said wryly. "I could have kissed him on the spot."

Moira's lips twitched, just a little bit, at that. "I can imagine," she said, serenly. As only pregnent, about to marry women could do.

Madelyn rolled her eyes slightly. "In a purely platonic, 'boy am I glad to see you because I have five critical patients here and I'm going crazy' kind of way," she informed Moira.

"I know but I've nay been able ta tease anyone but me cousin," she said, grinning. "Besides, I think I'm required ta wit' all this..." Moira waved vaguely at her stomach and ring. "'Tis in th' contract, I believe."

"Maintaining the pregnant engaged woman's conspiracy to ensure everyone is married with kids as well?" Madelyn teased. "Well, teasing I can handle. Hank's a good friend, and he knows that."

"Henry is very dear ta me. God, been fourteen years or somethin' like tha' tha' we've known each other." Moira paused and scrunched up her nose. "I am gettin' old. An' some o' th' kids were sayin' they could play tha' Kevin Bacon game wit' me."

Madelyn snickered. "Six degrees of separation?" she asked. "Well, you do have an awful lot of connections to an awful lot of people..."

"An' ta many o' them I've dated."

The other doctor laughed out loud at that one. "And we say the kids' lives resemble a soap opera," she teased. "You Scottish temptress, you."

Her hand fluttered to her chest and she tried to look innocent. "Ach, who me? Wild past? Never?" Moira burst out laughing at the skeptical look Madelyn shot her. "All right, so maybe I rebelled a wee bit. But really--jus' Sean an' now Nathan. Charles doesnae count, one date does nay a relationship make."

It was probably a good thing Madelyn hadn't been drinking anything then - as it was she choked on air. "No, it doesn't, really," she managed to squeak out. "Okay, I have to ask. When was this?"

"Ages an' ages ago, when we first met," Moira said, snickering softly. Not too many people knew about it, besides Nathan. Who had promptly nearly died while eating a sandwich. That had been before they were together, even. "'e asked me out, I agreed an' then spent th' rest o' th' night talkin' 'bout science. End o' th' date, we kind o' looked at each other an' busted out laughin' at the idea o' a good night kiss."

"Not usually an indication of romantic interest no," Madelyn managed between giggles. The mental images were just hysterical, and she was so doomed the next time she saw Charles, since she wasn't going to be able to help herself from projecting them. "What did Nathan have to say?"

"Besides pointin' an' coughin' like a bloody loon?" Laughing, she leaned back and recalled the scene in her head. He'd looked so--flummoxed was probably the best word. "He looked completely, utterly bowled over."

"I can imagine..." Madelyn shook her head, still chuckling. "Well, it's certainly the month for finding out more about my colleagues. Alison and I had a chat that involved Hank the other week." She left it fairly open - she guessed Moira knew about the thing between Alison and Hank, but didn't want to spell it out in case she didn't.

Moira nodded at that, smiling. "I'd never met Alison durin' tha' time, was ta busy wit' lockin' meself up at Muir," she said. "Though I do remember gettin' some verra 'appy letters from Henry 'bout 'er. When I met 'er, I could see why."

"Mmm. From what Al said, they seemed pretty happy together, while it lasted..." It was on the tip of Madelyn's tongue to mention the disastrous date, but she figured it ought to be up to Hank to tell Moira. As he probably would. "He's lonely," she settled for. "Lately, I mean. It's hard not to see - I wish I could help him, but I'm not sure how."

"Glad I'm nay th' only one who noticed it." Moira frowned. "Henry's so verra self-concious 'bout wha' 'appened ta 'im, even if 'e doesnae show it. I knew 'im well, well before tha' ever 'appened. An' I know 'e's been through so verra much since then. Henry keeps up th' smile but sometimes I know 'tis more ta make us feel better.,"

"That's Hank to a tee, always trying to make sure everyone else is okay, even at his own expense." Madelyn sighed a little. "I'd love to see him happy, but yeah, like I said, I can't really see how I can help there. Except by reminding him there are those of us who don't care what he looks like."

"Keep doin' tha'," Moira said firmly. "Every chance ye get. It took me, god, days ta get 'im ta come out an' speak ta me after it 'appened. I literally camped out in front o' his doorstep an' tha' finally got through ta 'im. I 'ad a few pieces ta pick up from tha', th' poor thin'."

"I think meeting Carlie helped a bit too - I'm sorry you missed her, even 'though she would have talked your ears off. She adored Hank." Madelyn smiled a little. "If he wasn't so much older than her, I'd be tempted to turn those match-making tables on her."

"'opefully she'll be by soon. I'd love ta meet 'er. Ach, I've been on th' look out for someone for Henry for ages." She grinned sheepishly. "An' th' baby an' th' weddin' an' all--aye, makes me want ta play match maker even more."

"I've no doubt she'll be back soonish - she's interested in helping the kids reboot Helix, for one, after the mess at the cafe," Madelyn replied. "And I know she loved being here." She chuckled at Moira's last. "Not content with planning your own wedding, you need to prompt the rest of us, eh? How's that going, by the way? A bit stalled with how busy you've been, I'm guessing?"

She groaned at that. "Ye 'ave nay idea. We've nay even talked 'bout th' bloody thin' yet. An' I do want ta be married before th' wee one decides 'tis time ta join th' world an' make a presence. An' before I get ta big because even I get vain once in a while. Beyond th' fact tha' we're gettin' married an' 'tis goin' ta be at Muir? Nay one idea."

"Too bad Nathan's brain isn't really up for focussing - him being stuck in a medlab bed would make for perfect timing," Madelyn said wryly. "Should I lend you my tranq gun?"

"I'd 'ave ta catch th' bastard first," she said, pouting a little bit.

"That's when it's handy, having a crack mutant crisis response team in the basement," Madelyn pointed out, innocently. "Haroun would take great delight in chasing him for you."