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Post by Jordan Wells on Jan 21, 2012 0:50:33 GMT -5
Unlike many of his coworkers at the hospital, Jordan had a very regular schedule. There wasn't much call for a physical therapist during the night shift, so for the most part, Jordan worked the proverbial nine-to-five schedule. But although his official job was as a therapist, he was also trained in healing, so when he had no patients to work with, he often helped out in the emergency department. Sometimes they needed all the help they could get.
Today was a fairly average day for Jordan. He'd started it out with yet another fight with his wife, which had caused him to leave the house a little earlier than usual. Since he'd had to go without breakfast, he stopped into Joe's for some coffee and a pastry. The coffee helped revive him a little, but he still felt worn down and out of sorts. Not that his patients would ever guess. He'd had two patients already this morning. First was a session with old Mr. Witherspoon, who was learning to walk again after being injured in a cauldron explosion, and then a session with a young man who had suffered a severe head injury while playing Quidditch.
Now Jordan had a couple of hours before his next session, so he slipped down to the hospital lounge for a break. Maybe a little rest would perk him up. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down on the couch, closing his eyes.
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Post by Chase Kelly on Jan 25, 2012 13:12:38 GMT -5
Chase felt like he was ready to drop. Yes, things were quieter since the Hogsmeade attack, and no, he wasn't the head doctor here, but he wanted to be, one day. And he knew a lot of people looke to him for guidance anyway, and, similarly, he felt responsible for the other doctors and nurses. He was worried about Kieran, especially with the vampire still here. That wa another thing he was stressed about. He was fighting with Angelique to get the creature out of here- he had staff to be concerned about, and it wasn't their job to babysit a prisoner of war.
He sighed, pushing the door open to the lounge and heading straight for the coffee maker. He didn't even see Jordan at first, and was contemplating a quick nap. 10 minutes of rest would do him a world of good. And then the coffee would kick in and he'd be good to go again.
He nearly fell back into a plushy chair, head back and eye closed. He should owl Maia too, while he had a moment. He sighed, opening his eyes and finally taking in his surroundings. His friend was there, it turned out.
"Rough day?" he murmured quietly.
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Post by Jordan Wells on Jan 26, 2012 0:20:06 GMT -5
Jordan didn't react at first when he heard movement in the lounge. Staff members came and went all the time during the day, in search of the good coffee or a quick five-minute break. He didn't want anyone to feel they had to stay if they were on their way out again. Besides, it was almost too much effort to open his eyes at that moment.
But at the sound of Chase's voice, Jordan opened his eyes and turned his head in the other man's direction. "Hey, Chase," he greeted him.
Chase looked almost as tired as he did, he noticed, and since it was easier for Jordan to concentrate on someone else than to get bogged down in his own problems, he straightened up a little more. "No more than usual," he said with a smile. "You look pretty tired yourself. Everything OK?"
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Post by Chase Kelly on Jan 26, 2012 1:33:52 GMT -5
Chase shrugged. Sure, everything was fine, really. He stressed too much about this place and he knew it, but since he had operated on that vampire with Kieran, he felt responsible for both of them, and right now, he didn't trust leaving either of them alone.
"I think my girlfriend's forgotten what I look like, I've pulled so many shifts lately," he quipped in a near mirthless tone. He took a long sip of his coffee.
It may have been funnier if he wasn't half entertaining the idea that it was, in fact, somewhat true. He sighed slowly, turning up another smile. "I haven't even seen you around much. Still have a pretty steady flow of patients?"
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Post by Jordan Wells on Jan 26, 2012 1:45:07 GMT -5
"You work too hard," Jordan remarked. "I'd pick up more shifts here if I could... anything to keep away from the tension at home."
He sighed at this, not really meaning to drag his personal life into it. But he sympathized with Chase, who had a great thing going at home. Maia was a great girl; Jordan had met her several times in the past. And even though Chase and Maia weren't married, somehow they seemed more solid than Jordan's own marriage. Sometimes Jordan wondered if Chase had the right idea.
"Yeah, you know how it is. Patients come and go. I think I could make my whole career on quidditch injuries. Seems like that's most of my cases these days."
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Post by Chase Kelly on Jan 26, 2012 14:16:16 GMT -5
Chase remained quiet for a moment, just watching the other doctor after that sentence. He knew he was extremely lucky to have Maia, in so many ways. She didn't get mad at him for the amount of time he spent here, and they rarely fought at home. She made him happier than he ever imagined, and if he Was honest, she was way out of his league. She just never acted like it, as if she didn't notice it.
"Sorry, mate. Trouble with the misses?" Again, he added silently. He could tell that whatever tension was going on at home was really getting to Jordan- if only he was a psychiatrist. Maybe he'd suggest that to Jordan one day. Couples counseling with Nadine.
"Anyway, I wouldn't wish for more shifts. I'm exhausted. And by the time I get home, Maia's going to be fast asleep."
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Post by Jordan Wells on Jan 27, 2012 16:02:31 GMT -5
Jordan sighed again, wishing he hadn't brought the subject up. Most everyone knew a little about his situation, but he didn't like to burden other people with his problems. He took everything all upon himself, until his shoulders could no longer bear the weight of it all. He always felt like he had to take care of everyone, and if there was a problem, he honestly believed it was all his fault. He knew that Caroline was unhappy, and he believed it was because he was doing something wrong. He just hadn't figured out what it was yet.
"Yeah... I'm sure it'll blow over. She's just bored... I keep trying to encourage her to get a hobby, but she's just... not interested in anything."
He knew there was more to it than that, but she seemed so unreachable sometimes that he just didn't know how else to explain it. "Maybe she and Maia could go out for a girls' night sometime. Caroline needs to spend time with people other than just me."
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Post by Chase Kelly on Jan 31, 2012 0:23:37 GMT -5
Chase kept his face carefully impassive. The two had been married for a decade now- and Jordan was at the hospital for a while. He wasn't sure why this boredom thing was new to Caroline, and to him, it seemed like a major warning sign of a wandering wife. Why else would the change seem so recent? Not necessarily sudden. He could remember when Jordan came into work happy all the time, and it was a steady decline. But he was a third party- of course it was easy for him to see.
"You know, that's a great idea. Maia would live it- she loves girls nights and things. You're lucky you're married, or she would probably try and set you and Caroline up. She's still determined to find a girlfriend for Kieran." He laughed a little, trying to lighten the mood.
"Really though.... You and Caroline both are welcome over any time."
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Post by Jordan Wells on Jan 31, 2012 22:17:44 GMT -5
Jordan smiled softly. "I'll have to mention it to her. I'm sure she'd like to get out and do something. I know she was going to try and make friends with one of our neighbors, but it might be fun for her to go into the city and do something fun."
He chuckled lightly at the idea of being fixed up with Caroline. He still considered himself very lucky to have her... she had been a very popular girl back at school. He was fully aware that a lot of the other guys were shocked that she chose to be with the "pretty boy" from Hufflepuff, instead of a Slytherin boy. But he was always sure that he was the only one who actually understood her and saw her as more than just a beautiful face.
"I hope she doesn't try too hard to fix Kieran up," he said. "I don't think he's going to be ready for a while."
Jordan didn't know about Kieran's drinking problem, but his depressed state was common knowledge among the staff. "I wish he'd reconsider talking to Nadine. No one should have to go through what he's going through alone."
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Post by Chase Kelly on Jan 31, 2012 22:33:11 GMT -5
"I know working isn't exactly a necessity for her," Chase said slowly, "But maybe she might like a job? A part time thing. I'm sure Maia knows some people who could use someone." Caroline was well set from her parents, but it would at least pass the time for her.
He leaned forward and nodded about Kieran. "That's what I keep trying to tell her. I don't even know if he's talked to his mum about it... and you know, she should be talking to someone too. The whole thing is just so... tragic. I wish I could help."
He was more clued in on the drinking problem... he just really hoped it didn't get to the point where he had to say something.
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Post by Jordan Wells on Jan 31, 2012 23:44:39 GMT -5
Jordan sighed. "I've suggested that to her... I've also suggested volunteering somewhere. It usually ends in a fight."
It was a complicated line he walked with her most days. He always tried to encourage her, to make her see how wonderful and beautiful and intelligent she was. For all her beauty and wealth, she still seemed to think she was worth nothing, and he cursed her parents for that. There had to be something she could do, something she would enjoy, that would make her feel fulfilled. He hoped it might be motherhood, but even the slightest mention of that usually resulted in another fight. Or worse, she'd shut him out completely.
"Maybe I should suggest getting a dog," he mused aloud. "She could take care of a dog during the day, and it would keep her company."
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Post by Chase Kelly on Jan 31, 2012 23:57:57 GMT -5
Chase laughed out loud. "If you do, I wouldn't phrase it quite like that. It sounds patronizing."
He was pretty sure that Jordan would be careful how he phrased things. Even if they weren't having a rough patch, 10 years with someone would teach you how to appraoach them. He knew Maia's moods now practically by the way she breathed, and he acted accordingly.
He shrugged. "Maybe don't even suggest it at all... just bring a puppy home." Well, he was still a guy, and didn't see how that could start an argument. Who could be mad with a puppy licking their face?
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Post by Jordan Wells on Feb 1, 2012 1:08:12 GMT -5
For the most part, Jordan had learned how to talk to her. He'd known her more than half his life at this point, and he understood her pretty well. He felt like he was walking on eggshells with her most of the time, trying not to upset her in any way. But the worst part was, her moods could change on a dime, and sometimes it was nothing that he said at all. She just... seemed to pull away from him. He could see that scared little girl in her eyes retreating, when she should have known she didn't need to be afraid of him.
"Maybe I'll do that," he said. He liked the idea of a puppy... that way even if she was in a bad mood when he came home, at least the dog would be happy to see him. "Girls like small dogs, right?"
He could picture Caroline with a small dog, and although he would have liked a big, goofy golden retriever, he was getting it for her, not for himself.
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Post by Chase Kelly on Feb 6, 2012 19:10:18 GMT -5
Chase shrugged. He tried to imagine Maia with a dog, and honestly, he could see her with something big and dopey. But he supposed that many women liked little dogs- some sort of motherly instinct, he supposed? Not know any ether, he mentioned this.
"Yeah. I guess little dogs are like babies to them- letting them get all motherly and what not."
He leaned forward, forcing himself to be more alert as he finished his coffee. He couldn't wait to get home to Maia... He wondered if Lindsay would give him a couple days off. He needed it, and Merlin, he just wanted to spend a couple days alone with his girl, before she forgot who he was entirely.
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Post by Jordan Wells on Feb 7, 2012 0:04:28 GMT -5
For some reason, this thought depressed Jordan. He saw, in his mind's eye, Caroline fussing over a cute little puppy, calling it her little baby, and it reminded him of the frigid reaction she gave him every time he mentioned having children. He was sure they had talked about having children when they were first married and she hadn't seemed so set against the idea... but now whenever he brought it up, she went cold or started a fight. Would she feel differently about children if she learned to take care of a dog first? Maybe she was just scared.
He wasn't stupid. He knew about her family history, and he knew it was a sensitive subject for her. It was part of why he had fallen in love with her. He had always been the caretaker of his family, and he thought he could take care of Caroline, too. And maybe she thought she would become like her parents if they had children. But he had always seen the best in her, and he was sure she would learn from her parents' mistakes and not repeat them. Maybe she just needed to get a feel for motherhood.
Jordan sighed and rubbed his head. "What if she doesn't have any maternal instincts?" He hadn't meant to say it aloud.
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Post by Chase Kelly on Feb 7, 2012 15:37:11 GMT -5
Chase didn't have an answer for that. While e wanted to say that all women had maternal instincts, he realized that no.... Some women really shouldn't be mothers. He didn't know about Caroline, but the way tht Jordan asked the question was actually quite sad.
Jordan would be a great father. And Chase wanted children with Maia (though he had a vague suspicion that wouldn't happen unless he married her, and that was a conversation for a different day). "I don't know, man. I'm sure she does. Most women do. And hey- watching her with a dog would let you know either way, right? And if it doesn't work out with the pup, Maia and I could probably take him. I'd have to talk to her first."
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Post by Jordan Wells on Feb 8, 2012 0:52:33 GMT -5
Jordan wasn't generally in the habit of dumping his problems on other people, and he felt a little guilty for doing so now. Ever since his father's death, he had been the one to take care of everyone... his mother, his sister, and later, Caroline. It had never really bothered him before that he helped everyone and no one was ever really there for him. He'd never really had any problems that he couldn't handle on his own. But now it was starting to bother him that he did everything for Caroline, and he never really felt like she was there for him. Instead, he was always chasing after her, just like when he was 12 years old, chasing a girl who was completely out of his league. He had thought when he married her that he had finally "caught" her... yet he was still chasing her. It was wearing him down.
"You're probably right," he said distantly. "The puppy could be a good test... although I probably shouldn't tell her that."
The issue of children continued to weigh heavily on his mind. He honestly thought they would have had kids by now. They had certainly tried enough when they first married, even if they hadn't actually discussed it. He was a little worried that there might be some sort of problem, and was considering going to a doctor (probably in another hospital) to make sure everything was working properly. But whenever he brought up the subject of children with Caroline, she seemed to freeze up, and he didn't even know how to ask her why.
He took a final sip of his coffee, which had now become cold. "Anyway, thanks for your advice. How are things with Maia?"
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Post by Chase Kelly on Feb 18, 2012 20:14:08 GMT -5
Chase chuckled. "No.... No, don't quite phrase it like that if it's a fight you'd like to avoid." Even without problems, telling a woman that you were giving her a puppy to see if she would be a good mother was a recipe for sleeping in the doghouse. With the new puppy.
He eyed Jordan for a moment, almost wanting to pry deeper into whatever problems he was having, but it seemed silly with a handful of trained psychologists downstairs. Besides, that was more Maia's thing.
He ran a hand over his face at Jordan's question. "I don't know. Great, actually. She's amazingly patient to deal with this job. I just feel like its the calm before the storm. We haven't talked about marriage in a while, do that arguments due," he said with a mirthless chuckle, then a sigh. "We'll see. I want to bring up kids... But she only wants then if she's married."
Normally, he wouldn't have given any kind of detail, but he followed all of this up with a friendly smile, as if to tell Jordan that they all had their problems. "But I'm happy. That never changes with her."
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Post by Jordan Wells on Feb 21, 2012 1:03:01 GMT -5
It seemed like most of Jordan's time at home was spent avoiding fights with Caroline. He hated fighting with her, but sometimes it seemed like it was the only way he could reach her. If they weren't fighting, they barely seemed to talk. She would pull away from him and turn cold, and having any kind of conversation with her was like pulling teeth.
Jordan swirled his coffee around in his cup for a minute, then took out his wand to perform a quick heating spell. No sense in letting the coffee go to waste.
"I'm beginning to wonder if you have the right idea, actually," Jordan said in a low voice. "Maybe marriage isn't all it's cracked up to be."
But that was a defeatist attitude, and Jordan wasn't a quitter. At least, he wasn't ready to quit just yet. There were still good moments between him and Caroline. They were becoming few and far between, but they were there. All he had to do was figure out how to hold onto those good moments and build on them. It sounded so easy, and yet...
"Don't mind me," he said quickly, shaking his head. "I'm just a little frustrated. I'll deal with it."
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Post by Chase Kelly on Feb 26, 2012 21:08:42 GMT -5
Chase sighed. "It works for some people. And if I was ever going to get married, Maia would be the one. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with her... I just don't believe in marriage. It's like a cage... There's so much pressure and expectations and I just am a firm believer that love is enough. Of its not, you're with the wrong person."
He ran a hand through his hair, fighting the urge to turn sideways and lie down. He was just do damn tired. "Do you want to talk about it? I mean, Dr Richmond might have a deeper insight, but I promise I'm a good sounding board. What's going on? What are you frustrated about? I always thought you and Caroline were the perfect couple."
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