Doctor, Doctor

“Thirteen,” the solemn voice answered.

“That’s a pretty unlucky number,” came the reply with shaky laughter.

“Did you want me to put an extra one in?”

“Uh, no. Thanks.”

The last knot pulled perfectly into place and the doctor sighed quietly as he carefully clipped the thin tie. The patient peered down at the puckered skin and mottled thread.

“Is it going to scar?”

Dr. Mika Robbins sighed quietly; why was that always everyone’s first concern? The gash was ugly looking, but it had stitched up nicely and hadn’t gone nearly as deep as the all the blood had hinted.

“Most likely, no,” he answered and absently picked up the man’s chart as he watched the nurse secure the final bandage in place.

The gloved fingers lingered a little too long on the lightly tanned skin, but the patient didn’t seem to mind.

“I’ll need your signature,” Mika said blankly.

“Sure. Anything. Thanks, doc.”

Mika murmured faintly as he filled in the paperwork, his mind already drifting away as the nurse smiled and let the patient give him a quick wink. Mika interrupted them just long enough to hold out the completed chart.

“Sign here. Keep it clean and covered. The nurse will schedule you for a follow up and to have the stitches removed.”

“Well, actually,” the man said with an embarrassed smile. “I’m on the boat tomorrow.”

The nurse’s eyes darkened dangerously and the room suddenly got colder. Mika nodded. That was often the case after all, but the patient winced and gave the nurse a nervous grin.

“I see,” Mika said. “Then be sure to visit your mainland doctor when you get home.”

“Sure thing,” the patient said. “And doc, really, thanks. I didn’t even see that--”

The explanation cut off abruptly as Mika shut the door behind him. The nurse could finish. One hand slid up to push thin framed glasses back into place and then up through dark hair. It seemed to be a stitching day. He’d already sewn up three people and chances were good that he’d see four more before another hour passed. A new nurse appeared at his side and held up another chart.

“Exam room three,” she offered.

Mika nodded and flipped open the paperwork.

“That was the third accident report from Day Tripper’s in the last two days,” Mika said. “Call the island PD and have them send an officer over to give them a friendly reminder that bleeding tourists aren’t good for business.”

“Yes, doctor.”

“Which room?”

“Three.”

“Thank you.”

Mika looked good in a white coat, respectable but still approachable, though some of the staff found his blank stares and distant expression disconcerting. Black hair was tucked behind his ears and his eyes were a soft shade of hazel outlined in grey, sort of a classically elegant looking man. Perpetual preoccupation lined his face, as if he was always just about to grasp something vitally important but it managed to somehow escape at the last minute. He was quiet and every bit the professional in discreet manners that an island like this needed. And there were times even in a tourist hot spot that medical discretion was a valuable thing to have.

Anteros Island’s hospital had the same crisp white halls and antiseptic smell that too many people associate with sickness. It was a modern marvel tucked in the folds of the jungle and blessed with some of the world’s unknown doctors who someday might be the world’s best known. A few months earlier, one of Mika’s former classmates had come to Anteros supposedly to visit him. He’d toured the hospital and had seemed surprised to find it so modern. Apparently he’d been expecting some backwater fly by night fake clinic, not the state of the art hospital that Anteros so easily supported. After all, tourist well being was a number one priority and that meant top of the line medical care. The ‘friend’ had then spent the rest of his visit on the beach and avoiding Mika. It hadn’t particularly bothered the doctor.

It was unlikely that he really noticed.

He flipped open the chart as he opened the door, a faint frown now in place.

“Mr. John Smith?” he said.

Hazel eyes lifted to glance over the top of the paperwork and an attractive brunette coyly grinned back.

“Hi, doc.”

Mika’s eyes narrowed and he glanced back at the chart as the nurse shut the door behind them.

“What’s the purpose of your visit today, Mr. Smith?”

“Remy.”

“What?” Mika asked with confusion.

“Remy,” the other man said again. “My friends call me Remy.”

“How fortunate for them,” Mika said. “The reason why you’re here?”

“It burns when I pee,” Remy said sweetly.

An annoyed look passed over Mika’s face as his eyes again lifted to the other man.

“The real reason you’re here,” he ground out flatly.

“You don’t believe me?” Remy asked and toyed with his zipper. “Come on. All the other docs are willing to at least take a look.”

Burnt green eyes again lifted to the patient and Remy gave another playful smile. His hair was almost too long, and swung in loose waves against his shoulders, his eyes a cindering shade of brown that hinted at warm coffee and late mornings in bed. His smile changed then, becoming one that made him cinder in a whole new way, and he let his gaze run down Mika’s body.

“I made the trip,” Remy purred. “I at least want to get felt up.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Smith,” Mika said flatly as he turned on his heel.

“Wait, wait,” Remy called. “Look. Here.”

Mika took a steadying breath before he turned, the other man holding out a dully orange colored bottle now. The doctor took it and scanned the label.

“Your name isn’t Smith,” he said.

Remy burst out laughing. “No, it isn’t.”

“This is a prescription for sleeping pills.” “Mmmm. And as you can see, it’s empty.”

“You realize these can be addictive?”

“Yes, I get the same speech every time I come in for a refill. You new around here?”

“No.”

“How long have you been on good ol’ Joyboy?”

Mika’s eyes lifted at the name favored by locals and Remy gave him an amused smile.

“Long enough to get that joke, huh?” Remy said. “You don’t usually work days.”

“No, I was on nights.”

“Yeah, night time’s a busy time for me,” Remy said. “I can’t exactly make hospital runs then. Can you write me a new scrip, doc?”

“You need an examination,” Mika said.

“Bullshit.”

“I don’t have a medical history,” Mika pointed out. “Just a fake name on an empty chart.”

“That’s for insurance purposes only,” Remy said. “Just punch in the name on the bottle and get me a note for a refill.”

“Oh, so you met Remy.”

Mika glanced up from the computer screen, Dr. Patrick Tears grinning over a cup of coffee. Tears looked like something out of a swimsuit ad; blonde, tanned, and always smiling with perfectly white teeth.

“How’d it go?” Tears asked. “How long did it take for him to get his pants off?”

“He’s here for a prescription refill,” Mika said blankly.

“Yeah,” Tears said and rolled his eyes. “Or trolling for new clients. You know who he is right?”

Mika stared dumbly back. Tears sighed and shook his head.

“No, of course you don’t,” the blonde said tiredly. “Look, he’s what my grandmother would have called a gentleman of the evening. My mom would just call him a hooker. He prefers ‘high class escort’.”

Mika frowned and another wide grin split Tears’ face.

“You’d be surprised just what kind of shady business tourists can finance.”

Mika fell into the day shift easily enough. There weren’t really all that many differences from nights, maybe a few less nervous tourists fumbling through questions about STD’s, but for the most part, it was just a change in lighting. After a week, a new routine had been established and he comfortably let himself glide into it. There was really only one hitch to it.

“Morning, doc.”

For some reason, the sound of that voice made Mika’s eye twitch.

“What are you doing here?” he asked tiredly.

“What kind of bedside manner is that?” Remy teased.

“The only kind you’re going to get,” Mika said flatly. “Two days ago you thought you’d sprained your ankle, yesterday it was a suspicious looking rash.”

“No, the rash was Monday,” Remy said as he toyed with the handle on one of the supply cabinets. “Yesterday I lied about an ear infection.”

Mika’s eyes lifted to the other man and Remy shrugged.

“Look, I get bored during the day,” Remy said. “And you’re the most boring guy I know. Is it so surprising I’d think of you?”

“Who’s paying for all these fake ailments?” Mika asked tiredly.

“Don’t worry,” Remy said. “I have special insurance.”

Mika frowned and Remy chuckled quietly.

“Didn’t know hookers had insurance, did you?”

Mika remained silent and Remy sighed as he sat down again on the examination table.

“Come on, doc, entertain me.”

“Go see a show,” Mika said. “I’m not here to amuse you.”

“But you’re doing such a good job of it,” Remy said happily.

“What do you want?”

“If I said to strip you naked and tie you down to this table, do you think I’d get it?”

“Goodbye, Mr. Smith.”

“See you tomorrow,” Remy waved cheerfully.

“Remy likes you.”

Mika came as close to a glare as his flat expression could muster and Tears chuckled.

“He’s been here everyday,” Tears pointed out.

Mika remained silent.

“And he always waits for you.”

Still nothing.

“And he goes on and on about how good you are.”

Mika flatly ignored him.

“Just what do you do in that exam room anyway?” Tears asked as he rested his chin in one hand.

Mika’s steely expression lifted and Patrick actually felt the urge to take a nervous step backwards.

“Nothing.”

“The next time I see you, you had better be bleeding,” Mika said flatly.

“You don’t really mean that,” Remy said coyly.

Mika’s lips thinned. It annoyed him that that was true. It shouldn’t annoy him that that was true; he was a doctor and doctors shouldn’t want to see anyone hurt. But, dammit, Remy was annoying as hell.

A soft chuckle caused his eyes to lift and Remy gave him a too knowing look.

“What?” Mika asked.

“Nothing,” Remy answered.

“You’re fine,” Mika said as he scrawled his name across the bottom of the chart. “Stop coming here to amuse yourself.”

“You’d miss me.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Mika opened the door and Remy followed him out into the hall.

“Hey,” Patrick said as he lightly tapped Mika’s shoulder with a chart. “You done with him? I’ve got a case you should take a look at.”

Remy clicked his tongue loudly and noisily zipped his jeans up.

“We’re done,” he said with a cat like smile.

Tears laughed and Mika shot an annoyed look over his shoulder.

“I’ll be back to play with you tomorrow,” Remy promised happily.

Patrick found himself watching as the other man strolled down the hall, Mika stubbornly staring at the chart he was holding. The blonde sighed and shook his head.

“You know, he’s always good for a smile.”

“He’s not going to care.”

Remy scowled at Dr. Tears and shook his head.

“He will,” the hooker pressed.

“He won’t even notice,” Patrick said.

“He will,” Remy said again.

“Well, it’s twenty minutes after your usual ‘appointment’, and we haven’t seen any sign of him.”

“He just doesn’t know I’m here yet,” Remy sulked.

“He doesn’t care.”

“Tears is a horrible name for a doctor,” Remy snapped.

Patrick looked up with a cocked eyebrow.

“Do you really want to start lobbing insults back and forth with me? I’ve seen every single one of your school pictures. I can destroy you.”

“You should never keep your old life friends,” Remy grumbled.

“You’re the one who followed me here.”

“Pass up a tropical island filled with half naked men and lots of money? I thought you knew me.”

“Lucky me,” Patrick said and glanced at the clock. “He’s not coming.”

“Would you stop ruining this for me?” Remy said, both hands now resting on narrow hips.

“How long have we known each other?”

“Too long,” Remy moaned.

“Then know that I’m telling you as a friend, doctors don’t look good with hookers. Especially not doctors that want to have a career.”

“Which is why I don’t tell the whole world we grew up a block apart.”

“Yeah,” Patrick said tiredly.

Remy sighed as he caught one of the doctor’s hands and squeezed lightly.

“It’s okay,” Remy said. “We’re still friends.”

“And now you have Doctor Mika,” Patrick said.

“Would it really be so bad if we got together?” Remy murmured.

“It would probably be good for him to have someone,” Patrick agreed with a shrug. “I’m just not so sure you’re the best choice.”

“Because I fuck for money?”

Patrick frowned. “Why do you do that? I know what you do. Why do you have to say it like that?”

“It’s safer,” Remy answered.

“What--”

The door clicked open and Mika stepped inside, a puzzled frown pulling at his features as he glanced between the two of them.

“’Morning, doc,” Remy said as he pulled his shirt off.

“Good morning,” Mika said, his expression darkening with confusion. “You…you weren’t in your usual room.”

“You have a usual room?” Patrick asked with a frown.

Mika scowled slightly.

“We always meet in room three,” he mumbled.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about me today,” Remy said with a dismissive wave. “I’ve got Dr. Patrick to take a look at me.”

His eyes slid almost warningly to Dr. Tears.

“Isn’t that right?”

Patrick somehow resisted the urge to both sigh dramatically and roll his eyes. Instead, he just gave Mika a quick smile and nodded.

“No problem.”

Remy batted his eyes and shook back his hair.

“Unless you want to make this a threesome,” he offered.

Mika’s lips pursed and he pulled the door open again.

“His chart,” Mika said as he handed the paperwork over to Patrick.

The door clicked shut.

“Told you he wouldn’t care,” Patrick said almost triumphantly.

“Wait for it,” Remy murmured.

Both watched through the exam room window as Mika walked down the hall, the doctor slowly coming to a stop to glance over his shoulder once. He looked almost disappointed.

“See?” Remy purred.

“You think I’m weird, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Mika answered without pause.

“You’re supposed to ask why,” Remy said testily.

“I already have reasons.”

“Oh.”

Mika paused, the short notation he was making about Remy’s latest fake muscle soreness broken in the middle. His eyes wandered up over the other man and he found something in his gaze softening as he took in the distracted way the brunette toyed with the edge of the exam table.

“What’s bothering you?”

Remy’s eyes slid to him and the hooker smiled slightly.

“Is that a line, doc?”

“No.”

“Damn,” Remy laughed.

“What’s weird about you?” Mika asked as he closed the chart.

Remy gave him an odd look and shook back some hair.

“I’m an insomniac hooker on a tropical island cruising for a date with my doctor,” Remy said. “What makes me normal?”

“Do you know why they call him Remy?” Patrick asked.

Mika sighed. “Can I please just finish this paperwork?”

Patrick smiled slightly and drummed his fingers on the file Mika was trying to fill out.

“Aren’t you curious?” the blonde asked.

Another full body sigh escaped Mika and he threw his pen down.

“If I ask, will you leave me alone?”

“Maybe.”

Mika closed his eyes.

“Why do they call him Remy?”

“You don’t want to know.”

Mika’s jaw dropped and he shot Patrick a very annoyed look. The other doctor grinned in answer.

“I don’t play these games,” Mika bit out.

“But Remy wants you to,” Patrick pointed out.

“How would you know that?”

“I know Remy.”

Mika’s eyes narrowed a little and Patrick chuckled.

“We’re just friends,” Patrick said. “I’m not a customer or anything, I’ve just known him for a long time.”

Mika grunted noncommittally.

“Glad to hear that?” Patrick asked.

Mika scowled. Tears just smiled again.

“Ask again, and I’ll tell you.”

It was a line he should not cross. Mika knew it. It was showing an interest in Remy that he had no reason to have. It went beyond medical care and they both knew it.

“Why do they call him Remy?”

A smile that was both smug and surprised darted over Patrick’s face and he leaned back.

“Because he’s good at French things,” the blonde said lowly.

“Doc, you’re just too stoic.”

Mika’s lips pursed absently as he lifted Remy’s shirt and stared down at smooth soft skin.

“It’s a bruise,” he declared.

“But it hurts when I poke it,” Remy said.

Hazel eyes lifted to him with a little annoyance as the other man’s shirt fell back into place. Remy gave him a wide grin and shrugged.

“Couldn’t you at least think of a better excuse?” Mika asked tiredly.

“Couldn’t I stop bothering with excuses?” Remy said, his voice suddenly dropping.

His fingers twined around Mika’s tie and slowly pulled, the doctor’s head tilting with confusion as Remy brought them face to face.

“Couldn’t I just get what I really want?” Remy asked quietly.

Mika could feel the other man’s breath on his face, and his lips suddenly itched with something he thought he’d given up on long ago. He could see the smile in Remy’s eyes, and feel the slow questioning tease of lips against his.

“I’m your doctor.”

The words rushed from his mouth too fast for Mika to even realize he had panicked himself into saying them. The insistent tug on his tie hesitated, and Remy sighed quietly. The smile remained on his face as he pulled away, but there was something almost sad about it now.

“And I’m very patient,” Remy promised softly.