Aaron sat his desk and drummed his fingers, a common thing he did when he was thinking something over. He stopped as he realised the psychiatrist in him was about to tell him why he drummed his fingers. Some Freudian thing. Finally he did the only thing he could do, picked up the phone and hit the speed dial. There was only one person who could help him make the decision of going on the cruise or not. He only hoped he was home.
In a home very far away a dutiful foster father was helping his daughter get ready for a afternoon nap. As the precocious child refused to wiggle into her nap gear the phone rang. Dr. Jeffrey Geiger, world renowned heart surgeon stopped what he was doing and hit the speaker phone next to his bed.
"It's your quarter."
"Hi Jeffrey." Aaron said twirling a pencil.
"Well hello there. You have got impeccable timing you know that?"
"I know, we gotta talk."
"I had a feeling youd say that. Stop twirling that pencil, you'll poke an eye out." Jeffrey picked up the phone. "Don't ask how I how I know that, I just do."
"Good." Aaron said abuptly putting down the pencil. "I have a proposal for you."
"I thought you decided not to date anymore of your coworkers after Camille."
"Very funny." Aaron said sitting up. "Say Phillip gave me a cruise ticket. It's in New York. Why a Chicago radio station is giving away a cruise in New York I'll figure out later."
"And what you want to do is figure out whether out if you want to go on this cruise or give the ticket to a young buck like Dr. Billy Kronk."
"That's it." Aaron said. "On a totally seperate note Kronk is now married and an expectant father."
"I missed a lot. I have to come back and get on your nerves a lot more often." Geiger said patting Alicia on the head. Jeffrey took over the care of Alica after her foster father Alan Birch, a beloved friend, was shot and killed in a failed robbery attempt. "You should go Aaron, the only girl in my life is a three year old who wont take her nappy right now. Do it. Get laid for the both of us."
"You really think so?" Aaron said smiling.
"Defintely. This is not just for you, its for me and any other man not getting any this weekend. Go for it Aaron!
You have the Jeffrey Geiger seal of semi-sane approval.
And thats worth more than you think." Jeffrey said.
"Okay, thanks buddy." Aaron said as he hung up. It was a slow day at Chicago Hope. Kate Austin had gone gung-ho and taken two other peoples procedures that afternoon so it wasnt your usual day. Since no one else needed mental help for that day Aaron closed up shop. He stopped by Phillips office on the way out.
"Hey Phillip." Aaron stuck his head in the door. "I'll take them cruise tickets after all."
New York
Having a friend with a 50% percent discount at Bloomingdales was a mixed blessing thought Monica as Rachel took her through the new bathing suit selections. Rachel worked as a personal shopper at the famed store and was now happier than a pig in mud to be shopping for her roomate, and for free too.
"Try this on." Became the mantra for the afternoon. Monica tried on suit after suit. One was so thin it could have been fashionable dental floss. Monica also got a little bent out of shape as the afternoon went on.
"Rachel, why do I need a suit, I dont even know if the suit has a pool yet." Monica protested.
"You gotta be prepared." Rachel said. "Remember Girl Scouts?"
"We werent in girl scouts." Monica said.
"Whatever. You have to expect the unexpected on this trip."
"Remember the last time someone went on a three hour tour?" Monica asked. "They got stranded on an island."
"Well, unless your crew includes the skipper and Gilligan, I think you're pretty safe."
"Joy."
"Monica, you have to be open to lifes experiences. You could meet a guy, fall in love, get married." Rachel said dreamily.
"All in three days?"
"Its been known to happen."
"Yea. On Days of Our Lives!" Monica said. She picked up a black two piece swimsuit. "I'll take this." She went up to the counter to pay.
"She'll also take this." Rachel said grabbing a shear nightgown. Monica gave her a look that would fry an egg. "Its for me and Joshua."
"Ok. Will you still have that when Joshua notices you?" Monica said as the skimpy piece was stowed in a bloomingdales bag.
"He'll notice me." Rachel said. "Well he will!"
Monica shook her head as she followed her friend out of the store.
Chicago
Aaron and Phillip stood on the top of the grand hospital and waited as the helicopter they used to deliver organs descended on them. Aaron and Phillip backed up as the helicopter landed.
"Isn't this a slight abuse of power?" Aaron yelled over the whirling helicopter blades.
"Yes, it is. But I'm doing it because I can and I don't
want you to be late to you cruise with destiny."
"Great." Aaron said as the copilot put his bags on board the helicopter. "What else is gonna happen."
"You could meet the girl of your dreams." Phillip suggested as Aaron boarded the helicopter.
"Gee, the chances of that are one in a billion."
"Don't cut yourself short Aaron. You'll never know whats gonna happen, anything is possible." Phillip said as Aaron closed the door. Aaron strappped in to the back seat.
"Are you ready?" The pliot asked through the headphones Aaron now wore.
"Ready as I'll ever be." He said as the helicopter begun its ascent up into the sky and into the great unknown.
