At the hospital, Vermont, October.

[teachyouwhoiam.livejournal.com]

"Go ask him, Eleanor!" a trio of nurses attempt to goad the youngest (and only unmarried) member of their ranks within earshot of Carlisle ensconced at a desk working on patient charts.

Why me.

Carlisle offers Eleanor - Nurse Keim, Carlisle reminds himself - the kindness of waiting until her white smocking appears in front of his desk before looking up with a polite smile.

"Dr. Cullen," Eleanor starts carefully, "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all. What can I help you with?"

Eleanor doesn't appear to have heard Carlisle's question. " -- and I would completely understand if you don't want to answer, but I was wondering, obviously if you have the time -- "

Carlisle puts his pen down now, keeping the smile on his face as he places his hands on Eleanor's forearms sheathed in the sleeves of her uniform to calm her. The nurse looks up at him with something close to a dazed expression.

"What is it that you would like to ask me?"

It comes out quickly as Eleanor exhales; ripping off a bandage. "Do you have an escort to the charity gala on the thirtieth?"

One of the more onerous tasks in Carlisle's job here is learning how to avoid the events the hospital administrators enjoy attempting to coerce their doctors into attending.

"Alas, I will be on-duty that night to allow for the attendance of others," Carlisle replies in what is hopefully interpreted as an appropriate apologetic tone. Thank God.

"No you're not."

What?

At Carlisle's confusion, "You're not on the register for that night. I checked before I asked."

Damn that schedule nurse. They all plot together!

"As I had not been made aware of my change in schedule," Carlisle starts immediately, "I am afraid I am unprepared to lead such a lady as yourself to an event. My apologies, Nurse Keim."

Disappointed but stubborn: "Eleanor."

"Eleanor," Carlisle concedes with a smile returning and a drop back to his seat.

It's the overheard commentary of "I wonder what's wrong with him" as Eleanor returns to her friends that makes the smile fade again.