Foreman didn't need to do much convincing. Which was a damn good thing, because he wasn't in the mood to chivvy this group along. If they'd argued seriously, he would have had to use his authority as backup, and right now it was on very shaky ground, as they all knew. He watched impassively as they made a few muttering complaints but finally shuffled out of the hall. He hoped Cuddy had a backlog, because with six extra doctors, she'd probably find herself with enough bodies in the clinic for the first time ever.
Amber was the last one to gather her things. Foreman could feel the strain on his indifference as she came toward him rather than walking straight out the door with the others. If they'd parted on good terms this morning, then now would be the moment to let his facade crack, offer her a smile or a brief touch or at least a bit of sympathy for being stuck dealing with whiny, snotty-nosed kids for the rest of the day. They could talk. Instead, he felt like even now he couldn't let his guard down. He had to keep up his professional mask in place as well as assure her that he hadn't forgotten that she had been angry--he wasn't treating how she felt as frivolous, something that might have changed in the hour or so since he'd seen her last.
A confused frown passed across his face when she asked to meet him. Another mixed message--she wanted to be discreet but she was demanding an assignation? He was supposed to--he had to, as long as Cuddy was watching his performance--treat her like all the others, which would mean ordering her to the clinic and refusing to follow her. But that would mean not hearing what she had to say. And not telling her what he'd been thinking since they'd left the car. Foreman sighed and let the lecture hall door slam behind him. It would take a few minutes, and he could postpone any more important talks until after work. But he'd meet her. He wanted to know that they were all right. That she'd heard him when he'd told her that he wanted this.
There was no one in the hall when Foreman reached the locker room. Good. First the cafeteria and now this--no one seemed to want to choose anywhere actually private for these conversations. But it was between shift changes, so it was unlikely that they'd see anyone else. Foreman stepped into the locker room and rounded the first row of lockers, looking for Amber.
no subject
Amber was the last one to gather her things. Foreman could feel the strain on his indifference as she came toward him rather than walking straight out the door with the others. If they'd parted on good terms this morning, then now would be the moment to let his facade crack, offer her a smile or a brief touch or at least a bit of sympathy for being stuck dealing with whiny, snotty-nosed kids for the rest of the day. They could talk. Instead, he felt like even now he couldn't let his guard down. He had to keep up his professional mask in place as well as assure her that he hadn't forgotten that she had been angry--he wasn't treating how she felt as frivolous, something that might have changed in the hour or so since he'd seen her last.
A confused frown passed across his face when she asked to meet him. Another mixed message--she wanted to be discreet but she was demanding an assignation? He was supposed to--he had to, as long as Cuddy was watching his performance--treat her like all the others, which would mean ordering her to the clinic and refusing to follow her. But that would mean not hearing what she had to say. And not telling her what he'd been thinking since they'd left the car. Foreman sighed and let the lecture hall door slam behind him. It would take a few minutes, and he could postpone any more important talks until after work. But he'd meet her. He wanted to know that they were all right. That she'd heard him when he'd told her that he wanted this.
There was no one in the hall when Foreman reached the locker room. Good. First the cafeteria and now this--no one seemed to want to choose anywhere actually private for these conversations. But it was between shift changes, so it was unlikely that they'd see anyone else. Foreman stepped into the locker room and rounded the first row of lockers, looking for Amber.