I Only Wanted Whiskey

[Jason Campbell]

When Jason went out tonight, it was in order to get a drink. Nothing fancy, no loud music, no lousy entertainment, no bunch of college kids hoping to get laid. Just a bar, a seat and a drink. This was precisely why he picked this bar in particular. You might get the occasional band or humorist testing new material but you were generally left alone. Generally was the word here for when Jason came in, it was not quiet at all.

There was a bachelor’s party. A group had seized a good part of the bar to celebrate, having some dancing girls to entertain them. Jason said dancing girls because he wasn’t certain they were strippers. They had a coconut bikini with the hula skirt and they did dance very close to the gentlemen sometimes but none seemed about to drop said bikini top.

No need to say the employees of the bar had to ask other customers to leave them to their entertainment. Jason would have done just that. He had spotted a seat, in a corner, not far from the bar. The perfect spot. But then one of the man called him out. Well, not called him, unless Jason’s nickname was ’hey’ but he pointed in his direction. Jason had no idea who this man was, therefore assumed he made a mistake or there was someone behind him, the real Hey guy. But no. Soon, Coconut Girl came to him and placed one of those fake Hawaiian flower necklaces around his neck before dragging him with the rest of the crowd. Jason stared at the seat. He’d almost extend his arm, hoping for it to stretch all the way to the bar so he could resist. He just wanted whiskey! Oh hey, there was a beer in said hand now. He stared at it, wondering where it came from. Looks like Coconut Girl handed it to him before joining the others. Oh, what was he doing here? Perhaps, if he did it subtly, he’d be able to walk out of their circle and go to the bar.

[Reid Chase]

Outfit Reference

Had it been five years ago, Reid would have thought bar-hopping was the coolest thing she would ever do in her adult life. Now, even going from her house to the local watering hole was a pain. She should have just stocked up her liqour cabinet and poured it into her tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream and call it dinner.

But she took a shower, dressed up and headed out to 'socialise'.

Entering the noisy bar, immediately her eyes were drawn to the spectacle that was a fake luau bachelor party in the middle of the room. She chuckled at the presentation, letting one of the coconutties put a lei around her.

It took her awhile to recognise one of the participants and when she did, she did a double take. "Dr. Campbell?" She called out with a confused wave.

[Jason Campbell]

Jason was not asking for a social life when going out for a drink. If he wanted some social, he would have called Guy and him for a beer at their usual spot. He could also invite JJ but the man’s definition of socialisation was naked on your knees. The reason why he was going out despite no particular desire to talk to anyone was so he would not drink alone. Ironic, right? But that was still the case. A single glass, while watching television or to reward himself after hours of work, it was fine. Drinking several of said glass, all alone, it was depressing. But in a bar, there were people around, noise, animation. Maybe they were all on their own but they were all on their own together, making it appear less depressing. It was enough pretense for Jason.

Of course, now he thought it was too crowded. And he sure didn't ask for it. They were not discriminating the other people in the bar, but the beer they bought and the girls were clearly more working for the bachelor and his friends. Which made Jason wonder why he ended up here? He could almost imagine a guy looking almost like him coming in any minute now and wondering what this stranger was doing at his place.

He heard someone calling him out. It was no doppelganger. But Jason still wasn’t sure whether he preferred it or not. He came towards Reid. “= I think they mistook me for someone else. I just walked in and they decided I was of their group. You know anyone?” he asked her. He could tell that some were of his age group and so Jason might know them. But it had been a while since he talked to anyone he met at the school and many must have changed since then. He could not recognise for sure any face. Though one Coconut Girl looked familiar.

[Reid Chase]

Looking to the group of people, she really couldn't see the stoic Dr. Campbell participating in something like this. Of course, she didn't know him all that well. Maybe this was exactly his scene and she just never saw it because he was a professional.

She laughed and shook her head before taking off her coat, pulling her hair out from under the lei that had been stuck around her neck. Hey, they had sprung for fresh flowers for the lei, the least she could do was wear it proudly.

"Um..." she scanned the crowd, trying to match faces to memory but none pulled up. "I don't think so." She shook her head as she folded her coat over one arm. Pointing to the nearest empty table, she turned to look at the doctor. "Do you want to join me for a drink? Well, you already have one but...join me anyway?" She chuckled.

[Jason Campbell]

Jason did try on occasion to get out of his comfort zone, to go out, meet people, do something a little wilder than what he would normally do. But the truth was he generally stayed with friends and preferred to order pizza and drink some beer comfortably at home. Even at college, even at the Academy, Jason had never been the life of a party. This situation, although funny, was uncomfortable for him. If only he knew those people, he could relax, enjoy the booze and the girls, perhaps even dance with one if any of the other men were to push him into doing it. But he didn’t know them and so he wanted to leave for a quieter spot. Even if that meant finding another bar.

He did realize his tone could sound like he was trying to justify himself, as if he was caught at fault here by his patient. But they were not kids and the woman could not go and tell his parents or another adult of his behaviour. Even if she did, who would care, other than JJ who’d probably pat him in the back like some proud older brother?

Jason stared at the empty table she pointed at. “Yes,” he exclaimed and he knew there was perhaps too much enthusiasm in his answer. But he was eager to leave them have their party together, without him. He placed the beer between the group, figuring they would drink it at some point without thinking twice about it and walked away from them. “Sorry, but I wanted to get away from them. But please, call me Jason. No lab coat means I’m not a doctor,” he told her as he walked towards the table, relaxing a lot now that he was away from them.

[Reid Chase]

If he had held a tone, Reid didn't catch it, all she knew was that he was down to join her for drinks.

His apology had Reid frowning before shaking her head. "No apologies necessary. I kinda get the whole wanting to run from them." She chuckled, nodding when he asked her to call him Jason.

"Right. Jason. Ah nah, you'll always be doc to me." She grinned affectionately, reaching over to pat him on the shoulder. "And you obviously know my name so introductions are moot." She joked, signaling for a waiter to take their orders.

"I see you didn't get leid." Reid teased Jason, not seeing the ring of flowers around his neck.

[Jason Campbell]

Jason had to admit, he didn’t know too much about Reid. He had a sample of her personality during medical visits but he had yet met her in a casual environment. He assumed she was wilder and more impulsive than he was, but he also knew he was no reference. Jason had to be the most predictable and simple person one could meet. He might try to be mysterious sometimes, more than he is. But he always had the feeling the truth was obvious to the eye.

He chuckled a little as she could not call his Jason. “Doc will have to do I suppose,” he granted her. As long as she was not saying Doctor Campbell all the time. It would be awkward to be called like this during an informal encounter. He’d feel forced to call her Miss Chase. He’d rather not, not when they were about to have a drink together.

At first, he frowned, not getting what she meant but then he saw the necklaces of flowers around her neck. He chuckled as he got what she meant. “One of the girls put one around my neck earlier. I took it off while they were dragging me,” he explained. He pointed at the one she had. “You were not spared either I see.”

A man joined them and Jason could finally order something. Just as he asked for the whiskey, a loud acclamation came from the group. He turned around and noticed they were drinking some shots and he was pretty sure he saw a lime in a girl’s mouth. Right, he recalled that ritual. He did that too, once or twice, in what seemed another life. He came back to the waiter to make sure he heard his order. “It’s a little more crowded than I expected but now that they are ignoring me, I don’t really mind anymore,” he said, a small smile showing on his lips.

[Reid Chase]

Reid felt as though they were on common ground when it came to how much they knew of each other. Which is not much. They hadn't ever gotten the chance to hang out outside of the hospital. But that would definitely change tonight, she thought to herself.

"Great. And you can call me Reid. Miss Chase had always made me feel just slightly like I was a twelve year old." She shrugged with a chuckle.

The look on his face at her statement was priceless and when he finally got the joke, Reid chuckled as well, nodding when he revealed what had happened to his. "No, I wasn't. I don't mind. They actually smell pretty nice." She pulled one ring up to her nose and took a deep whiff.

Ordering when the waiter came, Reid chose whatever was on tap, her attention stolen by the ruckus that suddenly erupted from the bachelor party. She chuckled and shook her head in amusement at how loud they were being.

When the waiter left, Reid nodded at Jason's statement with a grin. "I don't quite like crowds either. I mean I don't mind them but I do get a little anxious if I have to actually push through one."

[Jason Campbell]

There was something a little weird, having a drink with Reid. He couldn’t say she was a stranger to him. But at the same time, he knew little other than her medical record, her job and the few things she might have decided to share over the time. Of course, she could say the same about him. He was the doctor, it was his job to listen, not to share his life. He chuckled at her words. Being away from the bunch of people had him relax. He could loosen up, be himself more, or at least show the relaxed part of himself so many people didn’t see in him or so it would seem.

He supposed, since she laughed, that his face must have been funny. It was true that it must have been amusing to see. Strange what a homophone can do. He’d rather not think about it. They did look nice and Jason had to admit they put some money and organization in that party but he still preferred not to be part of it. Especially since he didn’t even know the groom. “They probably wished for you to join in,” he said, one of his eyebrow arching up. He didn't want to look too suggestive while saying that so the smile and the brow had to be enough to give out what he thought. “Maybe they had a spare coconut bikini,” he added. He had to admit, it would be funny to see it but he also knew she’d look sexy in one. He had seen her naked, well partially, he could tell.

He quickly stared at the group as she mentioned crowd but turned his gaze back on her before replying to it. “Yes, me neither. It’s not that I hate people I simply like my peace. I guess I’m a bit of a hermit. But it’s not like this all the time and they aren’t bothering anyone,” he said, shrugging some as he thought of them. They had fun, people enjoyed it even if they were not invited and so far no one seemed about to punch someone else. It brought some life into the place.

[Reid Chase]

Reid's jaw dropped a little at Jason's suggestive remark before she reached out and smacked him on his arm. "Doctor Campbell!" She laughed, not expecting him to be that teasing but enjoying it nonetheless. Obviously the guy knew how to wind down.

Pushing her hair over one shoulder, she nodded when the doctor explained his stance. She wasn't entirely surprised that he felt that he was a hermit. And it was good that he didn't find his reclusiveness a problem. As long as they were comfortable, Reid figured people can do whatever they wanted.

"That's true. Although I have to admit, I am more of a homebody than anything. It's just, I force myself to go out so that I can easily say that I do have a social life." She shrugged and laughed a little.

Thanking the waiter who came with their drinks, she held her bottle of beer up in Jason's direction and grinned. "To trying new things, eh?"

[Jason Campbell]

Jason chuckled as she seemed surprised and amused of his comment. He couldn’t help but to look down even though he was smiling. He knew that was a side of him that didn’t come out a lot and one Reid had probably never seen. He didn’t have the occasion to joke a lot when tending to people’s wounds. It did feel good not to be professional for one evening.

Jason was not one to go out a lot. Work for him did not end after he took off his lab coat and exited the clinic. He was doing a lot of research at home. If he was not more of a social creature, it was more for the other people’s sake than his own. When working on something, it soon reached obsession with him. He could forget to wash, eat or sleep. He knew that did not make him a very good friend and the only way to prevent having people complain they don’t see enough of him was not to have too many people around. A simple equation.

“I know what you mean. I work so hard all the time I forget about life. When I finally allow myself a break, being all alone in my house all the time is just too depressing,” he replied. “I wouldn’t have expected you to be a bit of a loner though,” he added, staring at Reid. Maybe it was a cliché to think a woman such as herself must like going out. Still, he wouldn’t have thought she preferred to be on her own.

The waiter returned and Jason took his glass. He was about to drink from it but Reid proposed a toast and Jason smiled, raising his glass with her before finally savouring his whiskey. About time.

[Reid Chase]

Okay so it was a little cute that a grown man was actually acting embarrassed after making her laugh. It was definitely a side of him she never thought she would see.

If she were being honest, Reid would say it wasn't that she didn't enjoy going out. It was more the fact that she enjoyed staying in. Sure, she would go out for drinks because how not fun was it drinking at home alone? But if she had to choose, she'd definitely stay home in her pajamas with bottles of beer scattered all around her floor.

"Eh, I'm not much of a loner. I like being around people. Just...not so much outside of my house." She grinned with a shrug.

Taking in her drink, Reid was distracted by one of the coconut girls gesturing to her. Well, it looked like she was gesturing to Reid but when she turned around, there was a guy standing behind her who waved and moved over there. Okay...that wasn't embarrassing.

"So hey, we finally managed to see each other outside of the hospital. How about that?" She chuckled.

[Jason Campbell]

Jason chuckled lightly at her answer. As he thought, she was not a loner. How old was she exactly? Mid or late twenties probably. He knew teenagers seemed to think that once you’ve reached thirty you were old and had to act like one but once you reach this age, you know it isn’t the case. He bet a woman like Reid could teach those younger ones a few things. In fact, he bet someone like her could get anyone. It probably was why he was surprised she preferred to stay at home. Then again, he bet many were surprised to find out she worked for the police. Didn't matter how many sex girls you’d see on CSI you still don’t expect them to look like this.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a loner either. I know, I’m always into my work but I also like being around people. And drinking alone is kind of depressing,” he replied. Who would have thought they had that in common? Although Jason suspected her to be of a more pleasant company than he was. At least she was nicer to the eyes.

The bachelor’s party had reached a point where it would seem they allowed just anyone to join them, except they were not paying their drink. Jason had no problem with that, it even was amusing, now that he was sitting and not dragged towards them without his consent. He looked back at Reid when she mentioned they were finally seeing each other outside of the hospital. “That’s true,” he admitted as he seemed to realize it as well. “To be honest, I never thought it would happen.”

[Reid Chase]

The concept of ageing was relatively scary for Reid and not for obvious reasons. She just didn't want to live too long to find out the side effects of her abilities on her health.

"Although I wouldn't mind admitting to the fact that I don't do crowds too well. Moderation and whatnot." She shrugged with a grin. "I'm the type of person who when I'm at home alone, I want someone to come over and keep me company. But the moment I step out of the house, I'm just like ugh...people." She rolled her eyes before laughing.

Tilting her head when he admitted his doubt, Reid chuckled lightly and leaned forward. "How come?"

[Jason Campbell]

At thirty-three, Jason didn’t consider himself as old. He might have a few grey strands in his hair but he knew it was more due to his power than the passing of time. He was aging prematurely and knew it was not about to stop. Having you heart rate constantly playing from normal to dangerously low as you heal people, forgetting to eat and sleep for a few days until you nearly collapse and pulling on weight fast once you remembered to take care of previously mentioned needs can have terrible effects on one’s body. Jason should know better, being a doctor, but he was still asking a lot to his heart. Without someone to moderate him he couldn’t really bring himself to do so, even with an application reminding him to eat and a watch that could read his blood pressure.

He chuckled a bit at Reid’s words. “I’m what you would call a workaholic. We naturally don’t make good company. I try to spare people,” he replied. He tried to make it sound like he didn’t mind, but Jason did need some social life. He wasn’t cut out to be a total hermit. He needed some interaction, more than simply asking about symptoms. He felt the need at times to forget about work, otherwise he knew he would be way too into it. He saw his father being obsessed to the point of destroying his life, he didn’t want the same thing to happen to him.

“I didn’t picture you like that,” he admitted with a light smile. He thought her more sociable than that. Maybe not going out every night but he didn’t think she needed a good reason to go out and meet people. He shrugged at her question. “All work and no play...” he began to say, not ending as he thought it was self explanatory. He did consider himself a dull boy.