what the hell am i doing here, what do i deserve?

[coppelganger]

WHO: Sarah Manning and George O'Malley
WHERE: Nonah, #007 > Some bar
WHEN: Backdated to September 7
WHAT: A ~DATE~
WARNINGS: Language, probably. Thanks, Sarah.



[ Sarah has never really done dates. Not the kind where the guy picks you up at the door at a prearranged time, anyway. Her romantic life has always been less… structured. Yeah, that's a good word for it. God, what a joke. Even with Cal, arguably the most sane relationship she's had in a long time, things have been so hectic and filled with clone drama that they hadn't had a chance to do much of anything together before she got Ported in. And now this seemingly normal guy. He's a nurse, for god's sake. Well, surgeon-turned-nurse, anyway.

She's not sure which bar they're going to, but she has a feeling punk rock's not George's style, so she dresses a bit nicer than she might be otherwise. Better to save the real punk stuff for later. Assuming there is a later. She can't help but be nervous as she answers the door—for a lot of reasons—but she manages to hide it well. Acting's always been her thing, after all. ]

Hey, man.

Comments

[coppelganger]

Are you?

[ Because she likes George—more than she counted on, she likes him—but she's not sure about sleeping in his bed while he's not around. ]

[puppydoctor]

[He quickly retraces, shaking his head and scooting back to his pillow.]

No, I mean. I'll stay in bed as long as you do. I'm off from work today.

[coppelganger]

[ Part of her really does want to stay in bed and just keep this going, whatever it is. Another part of her is screaming that she can't turn one date into some weird, prolonged... thing, because that will just make it harder to stop pretending. Instead of going back to sleep, she sits up straighter in the bed and starts looking around for her clothes. ]

No, no, it's good. You're up, I'm up.

[puppydoctor]

[He's startled by her sudden shift, but goes with it, helping to locate her shirt and bra from over the edge of the bed.]

You want breakfast?

[coppelganger]

Yeah, breakfast sounds good. Your, uh... the people you live with, they won't mind?

[puppydoctor]

They shouldn't. I mean, they barely notice I'm here the rest of the time. It's not like I bring home a lot of girls.

[coppelganger]

Well, you're still new, yeah? Pretty soon I bet you'll have a reputation.

[ She pulls her shirt on and slides out of bed to grab her pants off the floor. She's never been great at this part, the morning after, but she's trying. In her way. ]

[puppydoctor]

As what, the clumsy mathlete who's okay in bed?

[But as he bends over to get his pants and shirt from the floor, he gives her a little side grin - he just wants to hear her contest it.]

[coppelganger]

Better than just okay.

[ Pants on, she runs a hand through her hair, trying to make it less of a crazy mess and semi-succeeding. ]

So do you always get up this early?

[puppydoctor]

[Goddamn, just her smile alone is a major turn-on.

Just be casual, O'Malley. Be cool. Don't get weird.]

Oh, I'm usually already working. I get there around 6:30.

[coppelganger]

Shite, that's like... a real job.

[ She realizes how idiotic that sounds and winces. ]

I mean—you know.

[puppydoctor]

[He laughs, as he shrugs on his shirt and starts to button it up. There's a loose button from last night's activities - the thing was $7.99 though, so he can't ask for much quality.]

It's almost enough to make me seem like a real adult, or something.

[coppelganger]

More of one than I am, that's for sure.

[ The taxi gig is literally the first legitimate job she's had in her life, aside from the few weeks she was pretending to be a detective. And she's pretty sure that doesn't count. ]

[puppydoctor]

You're an awesome mom, I think that's a major adult achievement right there.

[At least, if he was a dad he would consider it to be.]

Meanwhile, I lived in a hotel for the entirety of my eight-month Vegas marriage. I was basically the plot of that movie about McCauley Culkin in New York City.

[coppelganger]

[ She could tell him that she doesn't consider herself very awesome in the mom department, but what kind of conversation is that for a first date? Or the morning after a first date, even. Instead she gives him a crooked smile when he talks about Vegas, happy that he's changing the subject. ]

Hey, why buy a house when you're spending most of your time at work, right?

[puppydoctor]

That was her thinking. She had the money, but she'd spent the past few months living in the hospital tunnels just for convenience.

[He feels weird talking about Callie. Not for the first time, he wonders how badly his death affected her.]

[coppelganger]

[ She'd judge the whole tunnel living thing, but... well. ]

So after the hotel you moved into the Crapartment?

[puppydoctor]

Well, I lived at the hospital. And then with my best friend... slash, girlfriend? And then the Crapartment.

[coppelganger]

I didn't know you could do that. Just... live at a hospital.

[puppydoctor]

It's not fun, but it's doable. Just sleep in the on-call rooms, eat the cafeteria food. And I couldn't just move back home yet, not after...

[He shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck as he makes his way to the door.]

It wasn't a nice divorce.

[coppelganger]

Oh. Right. Say no more.

[ Awkward. ]

[puppydoctor]

[Very awkward.]

Yep, that's me. Bringing up all the heavy stuff on the first date.

[He looks back at her apologetically.]

Of course, it's not a "first" unless there's gonna be another one at some point...

[coppelganger]

Wooould you wanna do this again?

[ Since he brought it up, y'know. ]

[puppydoctor]

Yeah, definitely.

[He wraps his arms around her waist, and leans in to give her a quick kiss at the top of the stairs.]

[coppelganger]

[ Oh, this is not good at all. ]

So would I.