Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The following day, everyone were seated in the tiny meeting room at Yan Sum hospital reserved for only doctors. But Ethan was able to make an exception for the team. Everyone was already there seated except for the speaker himself. Rebecca sat on her cushioned chair with her arms crossed, her head tilted to one side. She was nodding off “I guess punctual isn’t one of his best qualities.” She snickered.
“Maybe he’s just running a little late. He’s never late for my session.” Mia stood up for her friend. Darren rolled his eyes but decided not to comment.
“Well I’m gonna get some coffee. Anyone want any?” Rebecca got up.
Doug raised his hand “I want a latte, extra foam.”
“Can I get a muffin? I’m starving.” Darren added.
Ted laughed, “I just want regular coffee.”
Mia wrinkled her nose “I just want some orange juice.”
Rebecca raised both hands to stop them “Okay, I was just being nice. What do I look like? A waitress?”
“I’ll help you.” Erin offered as she got up and followed her friend outside.
“You’re the nicest one there!” Rebecca wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
“No, I just had to get out of the room. When we’re not doing something productive, I start thinking about Brad.” Erin said honesty.
Becca stopped her as she used her hands to spin Erin around “Erin…I know I can’t get you to forget but maybe it’s better than you take a break?”
“And what? Let the thoughts eat me alive? If I don’t go crazy from it…” she saw Becca’s looking worried “I’m okay, momma.” She teased, “I just need some time.”
“Because time is the best medicine in the world.” Rebecca finished for her. Suddenly, she felt a heavy body knock her off her feet. The girls stumbled to catch their feet. They saw a guy who looked to be balding and he had a beer belly bigger than Santa himself “Watch yourself!” she scolded.
“Sorry.” He mumbled “Can one of you pretty ladies show me the way to Room 101?”
Becca raised her brow “Do we look like we work here?” she asked haughtily.
Erin shook her head at her friend “This is why you DON’T have a boyfriend.” She smiled at the stranger “It’s down the hall to your left.”
“Thank you.” He smiled and dashed on his way.
“Why are you so nice to people?” Rebecca frowned with disgust as they continued on to the hospital cafeteria “Men need to be trained.” She ordered the drinks and muffin.
Erin shrugged “I'm not nice to everyone. But because he’s our new lieutenant, I had to make an exception.”
“NO!!” Rebecca said in shock, her eyes popping out of their sockets “He’s too fat. How could he even run? And how do you know?”
“Because he’s going to the same room we were in, Einstein.” Erin rolled her eyes as the girls paid for the stuff and began walking back.
“It can’t be.” Becca refused to believe it “See, the room is right up there. And this room to our right says #106. It can’t be…”
“Wow, you really pay attention to detail.” Erin said with extra sarcasm.” They approached the door and she tapped her nail on the door “You can read numbers can’t you?” Becca looked defeated as they entered the room.
Sure enough the guy they ran into was standing in the front of the classroom, making a roll call. He had a piece of crumpled up paper in his hands “I am Charles Lam or if you guys want, you can call me Chuck or Big Chuck if you want. I always preferred just plain Chuck. Then again a few people have called me by my nickname C.L.” he said it all in one breath and not to mention the nervous laugh didn’t give away the fact that he was not use to the attention.
The guys exchanged glances strangely for they didn’t know what else to say. Mia looked around and slowly raised her hand “I have a question.”
Chuck nodded at her with a wide grin “Great! What is it…”
“Who are you?” she asked bluntly.
He widened his eyes and then clapped his hands “Oh, did I forget to introduce myself?”
“Oh dear God, they sent a grandpa to watch us.” Becca muttered with shaky hands. The tray in her hands shuttered while Erin took over for her.
“Chuck is our new lieutenant.” Erin announced to everyone while she took a seat between Mia and Ted before passing out the breakfast “Am I right?”
His grin grew wider “Smart and pretty, you must be Mia.” He pointed at her while glancing at his sheet.
Erin shook her head “Nope.” She could already see the jokes flying from Doug’s face. He was trying so hard not to laugh.
“Then you must be Darrel.” Chuck nodded firmly, sure that he got it right this time.
Again Erin shook her head “No, but who is Darrel?”
“Are you in the wrong room? Oh, that must be it!” Becca clapped her hands “That would explain everything.” She sighed with relief.
Chuck looked confusingly at the team “But isn’t this the P.R.A. team?” Becca let out a groan while the guys covered their smiles. Erin nodded at him and he shook his head “I don’t get it. Why did Joe tell me there was a Darrel? And why would it be spelled D-A-R-R-E-L shouldn't it be D-A-R-Y-L? I know it’s a girl’s name.”
Mia raised her hand “I think you mean Darren.” She corrected with a wink of the eye.
He looked at again at the paper, his lips turned into an ‘o’ shape “I see…yeah, my writing is a little messy. Plus Joe called me at the last minute. I just made some scribbles. So who is Erin?”
She raised her hand with a small smile “Present.”
Chuck lifted his brows and walked over to her with a hand abroad “Hi. I heard about Brad. I know you two almost got married. I’m very sorry to hear that.”
She looked away sadly while Becca cleared her throat “Put your foot where your mouth is.”
He turned to her blankly “Excuse me?”
“Oh, so your hearing isn’t all gone yet.” She nodded with a grin “That’s good.”
Mia laughed loudly “I was just thinking that!”
“Great minds think alike.” Becca snorted.
“Girls, be nice.” Ted warned.
“Yes, sir!” Rebecca stood up and saluted him.
Suddenly there was a gush of wind that blew from the door. Ethan was disheveled from head to toe. His coat was put on half way and his foot had some toilet paper stuck under and his hair looked a like there was static “I am so sorry everyone. There was an accident on the subway and then this guy pushed me to the ground when I was trying to get off my exit. I dropped my papers and the wind blew it everywhere.” He explained while dropping his suitcase on the table with the papers shuffled together. Ethan quickly noticed Chuck at the front, the guys faced each other “Hi. And who are you suppose to be?”
Mia raised her hand “A very chubby man.” Her comment made Doug and Becca crack up with laughter.
Ted shook his head at his teammates but a smile was still on his face “Dr. Chan, this is Chuck Lam, he’s our new lieutenant. I thought Joe advised you already?”
“No, not really.” Ethan shook his head “And please, call me Ethan. Dr. Chan makes me sound like an 80 year old man.”
Rebecca shook her head “No, it doesn’t. That man is an 80 year old man.” She pointed at Chuck.
“Ooh, you’re funny. You must be Mia. But wait…don’t you have amnesia?” Chuck asked Becca.
She rolled her eyes dramatically “No, but I might as well if that's what it takes to forget you.” She muttered under her breath.
Mia raised her hand again “Actually, I’m the one with the brain problem. That is Rebecca or Becca.”
“Oh…yeah. Joe warned me about you.” Chuck narrowed his beady eyes at her.
“What is that suppose to mean?” she argued back.
Ted spoke up “Okay, we can go on all day. Could we just not waste Ethan’s time?”
Chuck pointed at him “Doug!”
Ted shook his head “Ted.”
“Oh, Captain Ted Kwong. You’re even more handsome than Joe mentioned.” He reached out and shook his hand.
“I didn’t know Joe was gay.” Ted joked.
“I didn’t either, but thanks for the heads up.” Chuck quipped with a laugh.
Ethan exchanged glances with Mia and he circled his index finger at his right temple making her giggle. Chuck turned to her strangely and she quickly covered her mouth “Okay. Let’s get started!” Ethan clapped his hands.
Doug turned back in his chair when Chuck took a seat behind the team “I’m Doug, by the way. But I think you already figured that out.” Rebecca jabbed him in the ribs while she laughed out loud.
Ethan nodded to the team with a polite smile “As you all may know. Joe specifically requested I do a personal session with all of you. Erin, we’ll start with you tomorrow at 10am sharp.” She nodded in response and he continued, “We’ll start a little slow this time. I think everyone knows the basic human gestures. For instance, between a man and a woman…how do you know if the other person is interested?” he looked around at the curious group and pointed out at two people “Mia, Darren, why don’t you two come up here and show the class. I’ll give you a scenario.”
She reluctantly stood up while Darren practically popped out of his chair. The three huddled in the corner and after a few minutes they were ready for the scene. Mia stood on one side of the room while Darren walked over to her coolly “Hi there.” He greeted “Nice party huh?”
“Stop!” Ethan commanded. He turned to the rest of the group “So what does Mia’s reaction tell you?” he glanced over at Ted “Let’s let the new Captain get the first question.”
Ted tilted his head and took a wild guess “She’s saying I don’t care to talk to you. Her arms are crossed, it’s a blocking sign for anyone to stay away.”
“Very good.” Ethan complimented “Would you agree? Becca?” he asked the girl when she had her fingers balled into a fist at the chin.
“I agree with Ted. But I was going to say she looks like she’s saying ‘not in your lifetime buddy.’ But what Ted said is good too.” She added.
Ethan furrowed his brows but he nodded “Okay, how about we let someone else have some fun?” Mia sat down quickly and Darren followed “Becca and Doug.” He waved for the two of them to come up.
They too were at a party. Except Becca had her hands at her waist and Doug seemed to be holding a drink “Can I get a you something to drink?” he offered.
Rebecca smiled with a nod and Ethan stopped them “Okay, Mia what does her body language say?”
Mia pressed her lips thoughtfully “Hmm, I think she’s interested but she still has her guard up.”
“Right!” Ethan nodded with a smile. Erin disrupted them with her hand raised in the air “Did you have a question, Erin?”
“Yes. What does this have to do with anything?” Erin frowned “I don’t see what would help learning about woman’s body language at a party.”
“Exactly!” Ethan pointed at her and it only made her face squirm with confusion “Body language is the key. In your type of work, what do you always look for in the enemy’s body language?”
Ted nodded slowly, understanding where the guy was coming from “We usually look for any type of movement. Whether they are going to attack or just be on the lookout for suspicious people.” It was something he’s learned at the police training but they never went into detail like Ethan.
“Yes! The part you all need to learn is how they will react. If their eyes dart somewhere, it means they are just trying to distract you or even give you a clue that maybe something or someone is coming.” Ethan nodded at Ted with a smile “I believe the officer has learned Human Sociology.”
“Just a little.” He said timidly.
“Okay, so let’s move on. I’ll give you all some more facial and body expressions. You guys tell me what you think I might be thinking.” Ethan began the session and it didn’t finish til hours later.