Dialogue from sims with Vickie and Alison

It was about 0320 when the nurse woke him. He had fallen asleep in front of Janson and Anreson's tanks. She had been taken out and was now resting in the room to which the nurse led him.

Hobbie rapped lightly on the open door. "Hi."

Anreson sighed and waved a hand for him to enter. "Hey."

He shoved his hands into his pockets and moved to the bedside. "So, are you mad at me?"

She smirked, "Perhaps."

"Sorry," he winced.

"I would have been just fine with some rest and no bacta, anyhow," she sighed.

He lowered his head and sighed deeply, "Okay. Well, I guess I'll go wait on Wes." He turned to head out the door.

She looked up at him, "Major Klivian... Derek. I..." She looked away again.

He turned back, "Yes?"

"Thanks anyway.... I don't hurt anymore." She quirked a smile, "I guess doctors just don't like going to doctors."

"I'm glad you no longer hurt, it wasn't fun seeing the pain in your face."

"Sorry."

"I hate to think what could have happened if Wes hadn't..." he frowned.

"Don't think about it then. Force knows it was luck, and I should have payed more attention in Self Defense training."

"Kinda hard not to, since you both.... What happened, exactly?"

"Both what?" she asked, facing him and raising an eyebrow. He simply shrugged, and Anreson hardened her gaze, giving him the 'tell me' look.

He winced slightly, "Since you both got hurt and had to go into bacta. Yeah, I'm used to it, but I still know it isn't fun."

"No, it's not. It tastes terrible," she made a face. "But we're fine, and there's nothing to worry about."

"Sorry," Hobbie shrugged. "It's in my nature to worry."

"I know," she said quietly. Then she raised her voice to a normal decible, "So, anyway..."

"Uh, yeah..."

"You were going to check on Wes."

"Yeah..." he turned toward the door, then looked back. "Wait... What exactly happened?"

"In the lift?"

He turned back around to face her, nodding. "Yeah, I mean, how did you and Wes end up getting so hurt?"

When she shrugged, the hospital gown bared her shoulder, yet she ignored it. "They tried to rob us. We didn't like that."

Hobbie noticed her smooth shoulder and was glad for his jacket, as he held it before himself. "Okay. But what happened?"

She sighed. "They stopped the lift's ascent, then one of them rammed Wes into the wall, holding a vibroblade at his neck. They told me to hand over anything I had, or they'd kill him. So, I took off my jewelry and went to hadn it to them. Wes struggled as the one holding him against the wall took his wallet. Then..." she shook her head.

Hobbie waited patiently, expectantly, for her to continue.

"I swung the briefcase at his head, and then we were all fighting," she shrugged. "Like I said, I should have payed more attention in SD. Wes took two down while I struggled with the third, then between the two of us, he went down too."

"I shouldn't have left," Hobbie growled to himself.

She didn't quite catch what he'd said. "I'm sorry?"

"Nothing.... I just.... Nothing."

"Alright," she chuckled. "Good thing I agreed to let Wes take me up..." she said to herself.

Hobbie blinked, "What?" Let him talk you up?

She looked up, "Hmm? Oh, Wes insisted on walking me up to the office."

"Oh, yeah. I guess that was good. I... I shouldn't have left last night... Maybe we could have avoided this entire thing," he sighed.

"There's no way you could have known... and fate chooses what she will. You, Major," she said teasingly, "Need to let it go."

"I have trouble doing that... maybe I should go see a doctor," he gave her a slight grin, as his eyes twinkled with mischeif.

Anreson looked up at him and laughed, "Well. If you see this doctor, you can't see this doctor."

He looked at her confusedly, "What?"

"I don't date patients. They're too messed up," she laughed again.

Hobie worked his jaw open and closed several times, trying to find words. "Are you saying that we're dating?"

She looked away, "Well... We did go out twice. I don't know if that describes us as 'dating' perse... but I was..." her voice trailed off uncertainly. "You were going to check on Wes," she stated.

"He can wait," Hobbie waved a hand towards the door, his attention completely on Anreson. "You were what?"

"Nothing," she shook her head, still not looking up at him. She suddenly realized her shoulder had bared itself, and pulled her gown up again.

Hobbie watched the movement, enthralled by her smooth, tan-coloured skin. "No, you were going to continue.... I want to hear what you have to say."

"There's nothing to say. I spoke out of turn."

"So, we aren't dating?"

Anreson shrugged.

"Wait a minute..." As he thought, Hobbie ticked on his fingers, trying to puzzle out all she's said. "Amanda, you are more complex than an Ithor-cube."

She raised an eyebrow and looked at him with piercing near-black eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," he gave her a mischevious look.

Anreson frowned.

"Don't frown, just think of it as me speaking out of turn as well."

She chuckled and shook her head. "Alright then." She looked up at the wall chrono. "Wes should be getting un-tanked about now. Why don't you go ahead and be there when he gets out."

Hobbie nodded, "Okay. You get some rest. I'll try and see you before they let you go."

"I certainly will. I never get this much downtime, it'll be nice to catch up on some sleep. I'll see you later then."

He favoured her with a soft smile. "I certainly hope so," he said before turning and leaving the room.

* *

Janson was lifted from the tank. Still sleepy, he was showered and taken to a room. He lay in the bed, half-asleep, mumbling to himself.

Hobbie knocked on the doorjamb. "Hey..."

"Go 'way," Janson groaned.

Hobbie walked in. "How are you feeling, Wes?"

He rolled over to see Hobbie. "I'm okay... but where am I?"

"Hospital, Wes. You had a concussion."

Janson groaned as he closed his eyes. "I don't remember anything.... How'd I get here?"

"Oh man..." Hobbie sat in the chair beside the bed. "What's the last thing you remember, Wes?"

"I remember..." he smiled. "I remember blowing the sky out from under Fel in the sim. Then.... uhm... I took a shower, I think. Did I stumble back to the apartment?"

Hobbie chuckled, "We found you in the apartment. You were talking crazy."

Janson sighed, then looked up. "We?"

"Dr. Anreson. We came to the apartment to get out of the storm."

He sighed and leaned his head back against the pillow. "Sorry Dude..."

"Hey, it isn't a problem. I was worried about ya. Amanda just took over, she was great."

"No, I mean.... I'm sorry I ruined your date."

"If it wasn't for you, I may not have anyone to date. Thanks."

"Oh yah, you're welcome that I got so sick I snapped. No prob... do it anytime," Janson grinned.

"That's not what I mean Wes," Hobbie sighed. "I meant about yesterday morning. But, don't ever do it again," he frowned.

"Tell that to the street punks..." he groaned and raised a hand to his head. "I didn't think he hit me that hard."

"Hoth, Wes, why didn't you say something about being hurt in the first place?"

"I didn't think he hit me that hard!" He sighed, "Sheesh.... I was letting you dote on Amanda. If I thought I was hurt, I would have told ya. I didn't know!"

Hobbie sighed, "Yeah. Well, all that doting didn't work. I think she's mad at me now."

"Hobs, I'm sick. Do I have to listen to your love life now?" he winked.

"Right, right... You need anything?"

Janson looked at a brown-haired nurse passing by the room. "Uhm..." She giggled and waved at him, before moving on. "I could use a sponge bath... find me a nurse," he grinned.

Hobbie shook his head, "Okay, I'll leave. I need to go get me some shut-eye anyway."

He yawned, "Where's the good Doc anyways?"

"Just down the hall, but I'm not going to say anything else. You don't want to hear it."

"Hear what?" Janson sat up a bit in his bed.

"You don't want to hear anything. You've already said that," he told him.

"I was kidding... You're my best friend, Hobbie. If you need to talk, I'll listen... Probably nod off halfway through it, but I'll listen."

"It's nothing Wes, don't worry."

That rare seen, once-in-a-blue-moon, serious look came to Janson. "Hobs..." he prompted.

"Wes, I am not you. She sits in there and talks to me, and then you show up and she flirts like crazy. She won't talk to me like that. I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong."

He closed his eyes and smiled, "Oy.... It's worse than I thought."

"I knew I shouldn't have said anything."

"Hobbie, don't you see?" Janson's face broke out into a huge grin. "She has the hots for you!"

"But she ignores me."

"She's playing hard to get. She flirts with me because she knows me inside and out," he sighed. "Too much, I think."

"Impossible to get is more like it."

"If she was an impossible target, that lunch date would never have happened."

"I just don't get it," Hobbie shook his head. "She's so complex."

"She's a doctor... Psychiatrist... Of course she's complex. She's also a woman," Janson told him.

He leaned his head back, "Why can't she be more like most of the women we date?"

"You want me to answer that?"

"Not really," he mumbled.

"Hobbie, forget everything I've said before. I think Doc likes you for you. Why, I dunno," He mumbled the last part, then coughed. "Just be yourself."

"I'm wondering the same thing," he shrugged. "Okay. I'll try... she won't like it, but..."

"Do you really like her, Hobbie," Janson asked his friend seriously. "I mean, more than any other girl we've had."

"When I'm with her, I feel.... Like I'm flying over the ocean. It's... it's indescribable."

Janson nodded, a sad tone coming to his voice, "You're lucky then, Hobs. Very. Just be yourself and let the Force guide you." He yawned, "Why don't you go visit her. I think I need to get some sleep."

"Okay," Hobbie nodded. "I'll come see you later. Take care, my friend."

"You too," he closed his eyes.

* *

Hobbie walked out of the room, and down the hall to peek in on Anreson. She faced the door, her eyes closed, and lips parted slightly in slumber. He went in and pulled the covers up over her, kissing her lightly on the forehead.

"Sleep sweet, lovely lady."

She sighed in her sleep, licking her lips slightly, and huddled against the pillow. Hobbie shuddered, and leaned down, gently kissing her lips.

"Mmmm....... Derek...." she whispered.

"Ye-" Hobbie froze.

She huddled up to the pillow slightly and sighed, still asleep.

He shrugged and decided to try again. He kissed her softly once more.

"Mmmm," she stirred slightly.

Janson had snuck out of his own room, and was carefully, and quietly, peeking around the doorway.

He licked his own lips, then kissed her once again. Her eyes startledly fluttered open, and he froze. "Oh..." she gasped slightly.

"Sorry," He whispered breathlessly.

Anreson just looked into his eyes, not saying a word. As she was silent, Hobbie decided to kiss her again. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she untangled an arm from beneath the covers, to touch his face lightly. He started at her touch, then reached up with a hand to press hers against his face.

They broke the kiss breathlessly. "Uhm..."

He still held her hand. "Yes?"

"I uhm..." she turned her head. What about him kept making her feel so nervous? She fell back on flippancy, "What time is it?"

Hobbie stood, inwardly groaning and turned his arm, still holding her hand, to look at his wrist-chrono. "Almost 0400."

"It's almost time to wake up. You ought to be getting some sleep, not kissing tired patients."

"What if I'd rather be kissing tired patients?"

Anreson looked toward the doorway as she heard a cough from the hallway. Hobbie didn't move. Janson pulled back, and muttered silently to himself, not moving.

She looked back to Hobbie. "Then you have strange pass-times."

"Yes, obviously." He sighed defeatedly and kissed her hand gently, then let it go. "I'm going to go home and get some rest. I'll talk to you later."

She nodded. "Sleep sweet."

Janson coughed, "Wuss."

Hobbie mumbled, "Yeah, whatever."

He walked out of the room, saw Janson there, and glared. Janson got that womprat in the headlights look. "What? I was just... Uhm... Looking for Aly... Yeah... What're you looking at? Get back in there and kiss her!" He winked at his taller friend, turned, and walked off.

She leaned back in the bed and sighed. "Why can't you just talk to him, Amanda?" she asked herself quietly.

"She doesn't want to be kissed by me," Hobbie said as he walked off in another direction.

Janson stopped and shouted, "DOC? IS THAT TRUE? DO YOU WANT HOBBIE TO KISS YOU?" Janson grabbed a beanieball from one of the nurse's desks and threw it at Hobbie, then went to stand near Anreson's door again.

Anreson yelped and sat straight up in her bed confusedly. That sounded like Wes... "What the Hoth?" she shook her head. "I must be hallucinating," she lay back down.

Hobbie turned and ran up to Janson, slapping a hand over his mouth. "Sith, Wes. This is a hospital."

Janson struggled to get Hobbie's hand off his mouth. "WHAT'S THE ANSWER DOC?!"

Hobbie winced, waiting for the entire floor to come running up to stop them.

Anreson sat up in her bed again, That definitely was Wes. "No, I'm not hearing things..." she started to laugh. "Of course I do, Wes!" she called back honestly.

He looked Hobbie in the eye, smiling. "You heard Doc. Now follow the Doctor's orders."

"She's on drugs, Wes. She doesn't know what she's saying. She probably misunderstood you."

He turned Hobbie around and marched him back into Dr. Anreson's room. Her eyes widened as she realized Hobbie must have heard her, and she blushed furiously.

Janson pushed Hobbie inside and smiled, "Now. You two figure this out. Goodnite." He shut the door behind him, and hooked a chair under the latch.

Hobbie tried to open the door. "This isn't funny, Wes."

Anreson started giggling.

Janson smiled and waved at the curious nurses passing by. 'Lover's spat,' he mouthed to them. They nodded and moved on.

Hobbie jumped, startled, and looked behind him. "I had nothing to do with that," he said, his hands still fiddling with trying to get the door open.

She fell back onto the bed, laughing.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked her, bumping at the door with his hip.

"Don't you see it?" she tried to regain control. "This is just like a holoflick!" Or rather, a play I was in once in gradeschool.

Janson sat backwards on the chair and watched through the crack. "You ain't getting out untill you kiss her!"

Hobbie whispered through the door, "I already did that, now let me out."

"Not until I think you earned it," Janson whispered back.

Hobbie groaned, then turned to Anreson. "What do you mean?"

She finally stopped laughing. "Wes, let him out!"

"Not until he listens to the doctor's orders!"

Hobbie threw his hands up in defeat. "I give up," he said as he slid to the floor.

She wrapped the sheets around herself and went over to the door. "Wes, this is no time for games, now open up."

Janson pretended to snore.

She hit the door with her fist, holding the sheet around herself one-handed. "Major Janson!"

Hobbie reached up and grabbed the edge of Anreson's sheet, tugging slightly. "Forgive him, okay?"

The sheet slipped slightly, and she pulled it up a little. "Oh, I'll forgive him... right after I break his neck!"

Janson's snoring mixed with laughter.

Anreson glared at the door, just *knowing* Janson was awake.

Hobbie moved to stand, and tripped over the sheet, landing on the floor, the sheet beneath him.

"Woah!" she had been holding the sheet tightly, and fell down on top of him, nose to nose. Then she rolled away a bit and half sat up.

He grabbed the sheets and pulled her back to him. "Well, he won't go away if we don't," he said just before he kissed her.

Her surprise was complete, and mixed with shock, along with a pierce of lightning. He slid both his arms around her, and softened the kiss. She melted against him.

Janson smiled from behind the door, but couldn't quite see what was happening, as the doctor's sheet-swathed rear was blocking his view.

Hobbie finally broke the kiss to take a breath. "Woah."

She pulled away a bit and sat up, putting a hand to her lips. "Uhm..."

"Uh, can we, maybe, try that one more time? I don't think I got it quite right."

She stammered, "Well, Uhm... I..."

Humor the boy! Janson thought.

He lifted himself up on an elbow, "Amanda..."

She looked down to where he was, leaning forward slightly. "Yes, Derek?"

He pushed himself forward and kissed her lips. She leaned into his kiss.

Janson smiled and removed the chair quietly from the latch and peeked in. "That's better. I'm going to bed now. 'Nite." He winked and walked away, closing the door behind him. He went back to his room, climbed back into bed, turned onto his side, sighed, then attempted to fall to sleep.

They ignored him as Hobbie put a hand behind Anreson's head to hold her gently, deepening the kiss as they lay back on the floor.

*******END*******