"I think it is, especially if I've been chosen as the guy to get you off the blocks." Jasper's good humour was beginning to reassert itself. A flush came to Jon's cheeks at his words, and Jasper realised it caused his boss' eyes to shine a deep dark chocolate brown. His breath caught at the startling contrast between the fair hair and dark eyes, and for a second he wondered what else could make those eyes sparkle.
"DR Edwards, all you need to know is that I don't date my staff, even if I was ready to 'get off the blocks', as you so eloquently put it. End of discussion." With that Jon turned and walked into the ward, his back firm as he put all thoughts of his new, sexy colleague out of her mind.
It was easier said than done and he was very aware of Jasper as he undertook his first round of the ward. It was the one time he should be exhibiting total professionalism. He was the new boss. This is what he'd been waiting for so long and now that it was here all that he seemed conscious of was where Jasper Edwards was standing. Jon's senses seemed to have tuned themselves into the other man, and even when Edwards was out of sight, his fresh scent worked his way into Jon's synapses and continued to tease him to distraction.
Twice he had an intern waiting patiently for him to answer a question. The whole entourage, which was made up of med students, interns, registrars and her fellow consultants -including Jasper- watched her intently, waiting for her words of wisdom. The problem was, he had no idea what the original question had been, all due to his awareness of 'Eddie.'
Jonathan was cross with himself for not maintaining total control. He's had to freeze out the world before and he could do it again, especially if it mean he avoided making a fool out of himself in front of his staff. Sarah may have thought Jasper Edwards up to the job of melting his hardened heart but Jon knew better. He'd been called the iceman at his old hospital and he wasn't all that perturbed about continuing that name here- especially if it meant that colleagues like Jasper Edwards kept their distance.
After they'd completed the round, Jonathan was about to head back to his office to take another look at his schedule for the day when the clinical nurse consultant called him over.
"There's a call for you DR Thornegate."
"Thank you." Jonathan took he receiver to discover it was Martha.
"Your morning head of unit meeting has been cancelled. Professors Dorian and Fitzgibbon have flu and won't be in."
"It seems to be chasing me," He muttered absentmindedly.
"Pardon?" Martha asked.
"It was going around in Melbourne and I managed to avoid it. It doesn't matter. Does this mean I need to head to clinic?"
"Yes, Eddie will show you around if you're not sure where to go."
"Thank you." There was no point in telling his new secretary he wasn't about to rely on 'Eddie' for anything. If he got lost, he'd ask someone else for directions. After all, he was a gay man, and if there was one thing a gay man could do better than a straight man it was ask for directions.
"I've rebooked you in to have your ID photo taken at one o'clock, which should give you enough time to finish up in clinic," Martha continued. Jonathan listened to his secretary, pleased that Martha was not only highly trained but communicative as well. It was sort of strange having a secretary to himself; as deputy head of unit at his last hospital he'd had to share secretarial support with three other consultants.
When he'd finished on the phone, Jon closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep, calming breath. His eyes snapped open when that now familiar spicy scent wound itself around his senses once more.
Without turning around, he said, "Is there something I can help you with, Doctor Edwards?"
"How did you know I was here?" Jasper asked softly.
"I'm good like that." He turned slightly to see Eddie lounging in a chair, his hands fiddling with a pen he'd picked up off the desk. He was handsome. Jon'd give him that. Those eyes of his, which were now watching him intently, were the most amazing colour and Jonathan had the feeling he could lose himself in them quite easily... Bt he was stronger than that. He could quite easily resist. Straightening his shoulders and lifting his chin with a hint of defiance, she waited for him to continue.
"Better than you were during ward round I hope," he stated with the quirk of an eyebrow.
His words put Jon on the defensive and he crossed his arms, his tone crisp and concise. "Meaning?"
He put his pen down and lifted his hands, palms facing outward. "Nothing, just teasing."
Jonathan looked down his nose at Jasper, needing to put him in his place; because then he'd hopefully be able to gain better control over his own wayward emotions. "Well, I'd kindly ask you to keep comments such as those to yourself in future."
"Ah, and there he is. The iceman who terrified med students, interns and registrars in his previous hospital. When I met you this morning I thought Ted McGinchley had been wrong, you were so friendly and charming. Although I guess id someone is rubbing you the wrong way you're bound to be in a defensive mode sooner rather than later."
"Let me guess, you enjoy rubbing people up wrong way. Sparing a reaction and then having a good chuckle about it later."
"I don't chuckle about it. Sometimes though, ruffling a few feathers makes life a little more exciting, don't you think?" Jasper's look was direct, his gaze unwavering, and Jonathan found himself unable to move for a moment. His mind also seemed to have been wiped plank yet again and he had no idea what they had been talking about. he needed to gain control again and fast.
"Well, if you don't want anything, I'll head up to the clinic." He turned and walked toward the ward doors, thanking the CNC on his way out. Jon feels it the second Jasper's long strides close the distance between them. Damn him for being so tall.
"I thought you had a meeting."
"It's been cancelled."
"Right." They fell into an uncomfortable silence as they walked along the corridor toward clinic. Jasper wasn't quite sure why he'd been teasing Jonathan. He guessed it wasn't good to antagonise the man who could give the green light to certain projects he was contemplating. As an ortho-consultant, Jasper was one of two full-time surgeons employed full-time at the PA. Jonathan was the other. Usually consultants spent a certain number of hours at the hospitals and the rest at their private practices, but as Jasper's main interest was trauma medicine, working at an hospital full time gave him the opportunity to become an orthopedic trauma specialist. Jonathan, however, was now in control of his department s budget so he'd do well to remember that.
He knew on a psychological level that he should try to distance himself from his boss. He'd hear from his colleague in Melbourne that Jonathan Thornegate didn't care about anything except his work. It was no wonder he'd been expecting a fire breathing dragon, and he was still trying to get over his initial surprise at the way Jonathan had smiled and laughed with him earlier that morning. He'd been even more surprised to discover he'd liked the way his new boss had look; a slim fair Nordic looking blonde with inexplicably deep dark eyes that had sparkled with mirth. Jasper had been instantly drawn to him; and damn, that sizzle he had felt helping Thornegate into his coat would not be forgotten anytime soon.
Jasper had been further intrigued to learn not only about the connection with Sarah and Matt, but that Sarah was trying to get Jonathan to date again. Again? What had happened in Jonathan's past to make that a necessity? Had he lost someone close to him? Jasper, of all people, knew what it was like to feel the agony of losing a loved one and relying on work to get you through, but he also knew it was important to get back into life, or you could end up losing yourself. If he hadn't had the twins, he wasn't sure he would have survived Eric's death, but he'd had to go on living -raising his beautiful girls- and he was glad he had. Sure, it wasn't easy, but life was about the journey, not about rushing to the end.
However, much he was intrigued by the new head of unit, he'd do well to keep the relationship strictly professional. Jonathan had met his daughters. There was nothing he could do about that; Jasper might even see him from time to time at the many BBQs and big family gatherings that Sarah loved to organise, and he could deal wit that, too. But that would be the extent of their personal contact and if DR Thornegate was going to freeze him out, well Jasper might just let him.
They entered the clinic without another word spoken between them, as though they had both been making firm resolutions and were now intent on keeping them. Jasper politely introduced Jon to the outpatient clerical staff as well as the nursing staff and then picked up a file and called his first patient though.
Clinic was busy as Jonathan had expected and he was glad he'd been able to help rather than being stuck in a meeting. The only glimpse he had of Jasper was when he was escorting a patient into his consulting room while Jon had been escorting one out.
"Professional" he whispered to himself as he went to have his ID photo taken. He could handle anything as long as he maintained a professional persona.
It was well after seven o'clock when Jon finally swapped his lab coat for his winter coat and scarf. He had a briefcase full of work to keep him company that even ing and was ready to head back to Matt and Sarah's place.
As he walked to the front of the hospital, he hear someone call his name and turned to see DR Edwards heading in his direction. He prepared himself for the next onslaught of what Jasper was called teasing. Jon hoped he wouldn't; he was worn out and just wanted to be left alone. What he hadn't expected were the tingles that assailed his body as Jasper drew closer; he tried to ignore them and went on the defensive.
"Dr Edwards." He nodded curtly. "Forgot to say something else this morning? Perhaps an extra insult you wanted to get off your chest before you left for the night so you could sleep in peace?"
'Ooh, and there's that sarcasm of yours. Right in my face and making me want to say something to definitely rub you the wrong way."
Jonathan stared defiantly up at the taller man for a moment then the tension seemed to flood out of both of them and they laughed. "I'm sorry." He said shaking his head.
