I felt nervous as I paced outside the office of my attending. I had never asked for accommodation before. While logically I knew it was what had to be done, a part of me worried if it would affect my career.

The door to her office opened.

"Come in, Dr. Walton," Dr. Anne Turney said.

She stepped to the side and allowed me to enter her small office. It was nicer than mine, which was shared by the two other residents.

We exchanged pleasantries as I sat down on the couch that lined the wall while she settled behind the desk. She laced her fingers together then gave me a warm smile. "What can I do for you, Reed?"

"I uh...." My mouth felt dry as I searched for the words. "I have a conflict of interest with one of my patients."

Anne's eyebrows knit together. "I see. Which one?"

"Jakub. Gorzynski." I'm sure she didn't need the clarification with the last name considering his first was already pretty distinctive.

She slowly nodded. "Okay. May I ask why?"

I sighed. "I'm uh... attracted to his granddaughter," I tried to put it delicately.

"I see." Anne nodded her head and leaned back in her chair. "I think we could get Rose to take him on. One of her patients was discharged a few days ago."

That was easier than I anticipated. I had spent so much time building up this conversation in my head. I had even prepared my rebuttal to her saying no. I hadn't thought about what I'd say if she agreed.

I settled on, "Thank you."

I finally let the wave of relief wash over me.

"You'll still need to check on him today and advise him of the change," Anne told me, "but after that, consider this matter settled."

"I can do that." I nodded eagerly.

I stood up, smoothing my lab coat as I did. I gave Anne a warm smile before turning to leave. Suddenly, a worrying thought crossed my mind.

I turned back. "Is my Dad going to find out?"

Anne chuckled. "I don't see why he would need to. This isn't his department."

"Again, thank you."

I exited the office and began my journey to Jakub's room. I felt a pang of sadness at the idea of letting him go; at the same time I knew it was in his best interest.

I gently knocked on his door and entered only to immediately bump into someone.

"Oof!" A familiar woman's voice spoke.

My heart fluttered. Piper.

When I finally got a look on her face, her expression was not what I was expecting. It looked cold and distant.

"Excuse me, Dr. Walton." She breezed by me.

I looked at Jakub. "I'll be one minute."

It was unprofessional, but it was no secret to me that I struggled to be Dr. Walton when she was around. In fact, I didn't want to be him. I wanted to be Reed.

"Piper." I touched her arm as I caught up to her.

She stopped and looked at me. "Reed, I really can't do this here."

"Do what?" I searched her face for a clue as to what she was thinking. Feeling.

"I'm... Really embarrassed about last night." She crossed her arms. "I read everything wrong, and I'm sorry."

No! "You didn't read anything wrong," I reassured her. She pressed her lips together as she looked at me. I turned my head to make sure no one was listening. "Piper, I wanted nothing more than to kiss you. I just can't."

"You can't?"

I sighed. "Your grandfather."

Realization washed over her face. "Of course!" Her face grew red again. "I didn't even think...." Suddenly her features drew down.

"What?" I asked.

"I guess it dawned on me that my grandfather will be a patient for a little while," she admitted.

"Not as long as you think." She looked up at me sharply. I continued, "I was going in to tell him that I would be transferring his care."

"You can't do that!" Piper declared. "He needs a good doctor!"

"He'll have one," I promised.

"No, he needs you. You're a good doctor Reed."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I'm not a good doctor for him," I told her.

"Then I don't want whatever it is that you were coming out here to do." She put her hands up and took a step back.

"Piper, even if you say no to me I can't take care of him."

"Why?"

"Because every decision I make has to do more with you than him." It was the hard truth. I wasn't objective anymore. "He needs a doctor who isn't just in that room staring at the door waiting for you to walk in."

She blinked a few times as she processed what I was telling her. I ran my fingers through my hair as I waited for her to say something, anything.

"You wait for me?" Her voice was low. Had the hallway had any noise in it I probably wouldn't have caught it.

I nodded my head. "Every fucking day."

A small smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. "I wait too." Her admission made my heart beat a bit a faster.

"So, can we stop waiting and maybe I can take you out?" I asked.

"Like a real date this time?"

I nodded my head. "Like a real date."

"No friends?"

"No friends," I agreed.

She let out a small giggle and nodded her head yes.

"Actually, there's a charity thing this Friday at my parent's country club. I've been dreading going but...." The realization of just how long it had been since I asked a woman out on a date was painfully obvious.

"I'd love to go," Piper saved me from my awkwardness.

"It's kind of formal," I told her. "A notch below black tie."

"Sounds fun." Piper shrugged, a large grin on her face.

"I'll pick you up at six."

She nodded her head. "I'll see you then."

I smiled as she turned and began down the hall. She stopped and turned back to face me, "You're sure my grandfather is going to get good care."

"I promise."

"Okay." She nodded her head, but I could tell she was still a little nervous.

Her heels clicked on the floor and I didn't take my eyes off her until she turned the corner toward the elevators. I let out a breath. She said yes. I looked over my shoulder back at Jakub's room. It wasn't going to be easy. It would be my first time letting a patient go. I tried to remind myself it likely wouldn't be the last.

I reentered Jakub's room. He was squinting at a tablet of some kind.

"What do you have there?" I pulled a chair closer to the bed.

"Piper got me this... e... something or other." Jakub looked at it. "She said it would be easier to read my books because of well..." He looked down at his limp arm. "Anyways. She loaded some of my favorite stories on here but I can't seem to find them."

"Let me help you," I offered holding out my hand.

He passed me the device and I patiently walked him through how to access the books. I smiled when I saw the complete works of Ian Fleming.

"James Bond." I handed the e-book back.

"They're Piper's favorite too," Jakub informed me.

"I've never read them. Or seen the movies."

"You should add it to your list of things to go before you die." Jakub chuckled. "Well, I'm guessing you're here to check me over, not help me figure out my crazy new book thing."

I smiled to myself at his description. "I am here to do the usual check up, but also for something else as well."

"Is something the matter?" Jakub looked concerned.

"Not with you," I reassured him. "In fact your labs are looking phenomenal. It's just, you'll be getting a new doctor starting tomorrow."

"Are you leaving the hospital?" His brows raised.

"No," I told him. "I'm just not the right fit for you anymore."

"Because you're falling for my granddaughter." He knew. Was I so obvious? I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to answer him while keeping what little professionalism I had left. Luckily for me, he filled the empty space. "It's okay Dr. Walton. I'm an old man who has known love. I'd rather she have you, than me."

I smiled warmly at the old man. "Let's do this one last check."

I finished up in Jakub's room advising him of who his new doctor would be and reassuring him that he would be well cared for by her.

It was a clinic day, so I found myself downstairs among the other Geriatric residents and attendings who were on. I loved the clinic and the wide variety of the patients that I would see. It was as I had told Piper, I spent my days managing complex health problems. All the while I got to enjoy the company of people who had vast life experiences.

At the end of the busy day I made my way back upstairs to my office. It was empty. I sat down behind my desk and pulled my phone out. A few messages from the guys, but nothing from the one person I was hoping might text me.

It was juvenile to worry about who should text who and when. We were both adults after all. I just couldn't seem to keep myself together when she was around whether physically or not. My nerves got the better of me so instead I texted Declan.

You off shift?

I waited for a reply. I shut down my computer and slipped my lab coat off when phone vibrated twice in quick succession.

Just getting out of court.
Meet along the Canal by that cafe you like?

See you in 15

Declan was still in uniform as we sat down with our drinks. I watched as he swirled the plastic cup, combining the coffee and milk together. I scrunched my face.

"You should really let the espresso just drip in there," I told him, taking a sip of my own.

"Gross," he commented as he lifted the plastic cup to his lips. He took a long drink before asking, "So, did you call me here to tell me how it went with your boss?"

"Obviously," I responded.

"Well?"

"I'm taking her out Friday night," I told him.

"Good for you man."

"Thanks." I could feel myself smiling. I probably looked like an idiot, but I couldn't help it.

"It's nice to see you happy like this again," Declan commented.

I nodded my head. "It's nice to feel this way again."

"Just be careful, okay?"

"What do you mean?" I looked at him.

Declan sighed. "I mean, with Michelle you walked into the relationship thinking it would be forever. She was exactly the woman your father would've approved of." I nodded in agreement taking another drink as Declan continued, "I get the feeling that Piper might not have the same... pedigree."

"She's not a dog."

"You know what I'm saying," Declan countered.

"You don't know Piper," I reminded him.

"I'm not saying she's a bad person. In fact, what time I have spent with her, I quite like her." Declan tapped his fingers on the table. "I can just see how much you like her and if there's something damning you don't know well...." Declan sucked air between his teeth.  "I just know you don't like to disappoint your dad.."

"What are you saying?"

"That there used to be six of us." Declan shrugged. "And Barrett Walton forced one out because he didn't approve. Then there were five."

"That has nothing to do with my past romantic relationships."

"Doesn't it? You have only ever gone on dates with women you know you could parade around the country club should it come to that." Declan looked at me. "And it took you a long minute to finally break up with your patient."

"So?"

"You can't hide from me, Reed." Declan looked me straight in the eyes. "I hope you're really ready for what you're about to get into. Piper may be the battle that ends a thirty year war. It's just a matter of who is going to win."