InsaneJournal

Who: Grumpier Old Men Obi-Wan and McCoy
When: Wednesday Afternoon 9/4
Where: Irvine General
What: Random Encounter/Obi’s looking for Faiza at the hospital
Rating/Warning: Low/None
Status: Complete!



He had plans to see Faiza as soon as she was finished work, but Obi-Wan thought it would be nice to surprise her at the hospital, even if it only meant catching her for a few minutes. He hoped for a smile, a sign of what was to come, when they finally met that night. And he searched for word on her whereabouts from desk to desk, much like any other man longing for news on a family member.

McCoy and Obi-Wan knew each other from random, chance encounters here and there. Nothing big. They’d been introduced once or twice, shaken hands and exchanged greetings, but the two weren’t close. McCoy didn’t even know what the other man did for a living. All he knew was that Obi-Wan and Faiza were together, and appeared to be a happy couple. When McCoy saw Obi standing there in the hallway, he came over and gave the other man a clap on his shoulder. “Looking for Faiza?” He asked in lieu of a greeting as he passed a folder to the nurse at the desk.

All of those random interactions had taken place right there in the hospital. Dr. McCoy was Faiza’s colleague, but other than that he didn’t know much else about him. Like Faiza, he seemed to live at the hospital. But he was a familiar face in a sea of unfamiliar ones that were mostly sad and/or hostile. Obi-Wan was glad to run into him. “I am,” he replied. “Any idea where she might be at the moment?”

“No, sorry. I can help you look, though.” McCoy offered, turning to lead Obi away from the desk. “I heard you were gone for a bit. I hope you had a nice trip?” He said, making conversation. McCoy wasn’t great at making conversation, really. Normally people just talked at him, and he nodded when they paused for breath.

Obi-Wan followed, slipping his hands into his pockets. If he was wearing his robes, he might have pushed his hands into his wide sleeves, a casual stance for a Jedi. "Yes," he replied. "Canada and then Scotland. More of a...pilgrimage, really. A visit back home."

“Oh yeah?” McCoy gave a little nod, turning to walk casually with the other man down the hallway. He was technically still on the clock, but could take his time walking between the nurse’s station and his office. “I could go for a pilgrimage myself lately.” He certainly had a lot of things on his own mind.

It was a statement any overly busy doctor could have made without batting an eye, but Obi-Wan sensed there was more to it than something to chuckle about. He looked sideways at the man, knowing they didn’t have the sort of relationship where he could outright ask what was wrong. “And where would you go?”

McCoy took a moment to think about that. “...somewhere warm, where I don’t have to cut people open.” ...which, granted, could be quite a few places. But honestly, McCoy wasn’t all that picky. “And it might be nice if my daughter could come along.”

“Well, there’s always Disney World,” Obi-Wan replied. “You may have to pry a fainting mascot out of his costume when it’s hot, though.”

McCoy chuckled. "I suppose there's always the chance that someone's going to need a doctor, no matter where I go." That was part of the oath, right? That's why he became a doctor in the first place. "But getting away from this place would do me a lot of good. Maybe after Joanna's settled in school."

Obi-Wan felt it was more clear that McCoy was hinting that he needed someone to talk to. Still, he was hesitant, partly because he was caught up in his own concerns. Things with Faiza were sort of teetering on the edge. Playing off the doctor’s jokes with another chuckle would more than suffice, and the two of them would go along being pleasant acquaintances.

But instead, Obi-Wan dared to change that. “Hm. Is everything alright...” he realized there that he didn’t know the man’s first name. “...McCoy?”

“Leonard.” McCoy said. “And everything’s… calming down a bit.” He responded after a moment’s thought, slipping his hands into the pockets of his white coat. He nodded and turned down a hallway, moving through the ICU to look for Faiza.

Leonard. Ah. “So… things are going better, then? Still, you look a little like you’ve… been through something.”

“Ah. Yes.” McCoy lifted his hand to rub at the back of his neck. It was as if he was trying to sort out the kinks there with the gentle press of his fingers. He really could go for a massage. Perhaps soon. “Well, my girl and I had a bit of a scare. Thought we may… Thought there was a chance we’d surprise my daughter with a baby brother or sister.” That was a good way of putting it, right? “...turns out it’s not gonna happen this time.”

Obi-Wan’s eyes widened for a moment, and then cooled with sincere understanding. He’d never been in that exact situation, but been through plenty his own relationship troubles. McCoy himself looked as relieved as he did conflicted, which made perfect sense in his opinion. “But things are coming back together, between the two of you?”

“I don’t think that was ever in question,” McCoy said, shaking his head. “I was never going to leave her. I think she was more terrified that I might, should the test come out positive.”

"But a scare is a scare. And a lot of truths come out during those times, things you might not be prepared to deal with."

“I’ve been through it before. Granted, my wife and I were married at the time, but we weren’t trying for a family. We weren’t prepared to have a child together.” McCoy explained. “I had to come to grips with the idea. And once I did, I think I would have handled it well. In any case, I’m not planning on leaving her. Not now, not ever.” It was almost a surprise to him that he said it. And the way he said it. As if he was discovering it all as he spoke.

Obi-Wan, meanwhile, felt a hollow clatter in his chest. Perhaps his heart had actually skipped a beat. He didn't know where he stood with Faiza, he had no idea what would come from their conversation tonight, and he found himself questioning his decision to surprise her at the hospital. He swallowed. "That's good, Leonard. That's very good." His voice was distant, now.

McCoy paused when he noticed the change in his walking companion’s demeanor. “You all right?”

Coming to a halt, Obi-Wan scratched his beard, which was in dire need of trimming, by the way. "I'm just thinking... It seems awfully busy here. Perhaps I should just wait to see Faiza tonight."

McCoy knew from scruffy beards. He wasn’t that scruffy today, but he was often. He paused. “Well, I can’t say for sure if she’s going to be occupied, but it is pretty busy around here today. So…” He stopped at the juncture of the hallway that would take him to his office. “...I suppose I’ll say welcome home and see you around, Obi-Wan.”

He nodded, but his shoulders simultaneously dropped. McCoy had opened up to him, and that should be a two-way street. The hitch, however, was that the man worked with Faiza--and that meant divulging her private matters wasn’t exactly appropriate. “Yes, thank you…” he said, accepting that he was all he could say. “You can tell Faiza I was looking for her, if she turns up.”

"I will." McCoy paused for a moment. "You're welcome to call," he said, somewhat awkwardly. "If you need a drink." Then McCoy turned and headed down the hall toward his office.

“Alright. I just may call you for one,” Obi-Wan replied.