I Love My Doctor- Sharpwin

Max P.O.V

I let them in, just like that. As my friends and colleagues file into my messy apartment, I turn back and notice Georgia lingering closer to me.

It's okay that you let them in Max. I want you to start living again. Helen just wants to help. They all do. You're lucky you have them.

"I know."

"You know what?" Iggy asks, as he picks up a bag beside the door.

"Oh...I meant to say, I know my place is dirty and I'm sorry in advanced. You guys really don't have to do this." As I cover up my insanity, Lauren and Helen are huddled over Luna. It's the first time either have really been close to her without me being attached. I want to go and take her from them, just to be close and comfortable, but I feel Georgia on my shoulder.

It's okay, Max. Let them. Did you forget that Lauren saved our baby in the first place and that Helen is one of the few people in this life you actually trust with your life?

I pull back once more and decide maybe Floyd needs my help. He's in the kitchen clearing off my counters and sorting them into what I assume is a keep or throw away method. Beside him, Kapoor is making space on my stove so he can cook something in his cast iron skillet and whatever is in his stew pot.

"Anything, I can do?" My voice is feeble, and I shake just a bit. I don't like this whole idea of my friends being in my space- our space.

"Yes, actually." Helen comes over to me. Her sweatshirt is baggy, her leggings clinging to her toned thighs, and she seems shorter. Looking down, I notice she's in sparkly pink Crocs. I guess I never really seen her without heels on before. "Can you help me bring up my mop and buckets?"

"Sure." I take one more glance at Lauren playing with Luna in my armchair in the bedroom and I take a deep breath.

"Max?" Helen calls to me. Her pink gloved hand rests on my arm and I barely notice it. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah...yeah." I turn and follow her to my front door and then out into the hallway. Walking towards the elevator, I feel strange. Glancing down, Helen seems off tonight. She wears a smile, but it's not the same kind as all her others. The ones like the hospital, where she seems to beam and radiate joy. The one where if you tell her a story, she smiles widely and tries not to laugh because sometimes she snorts and becomes embarressed. No. This smile is different. Sad almost, but not, because I've seen that smile as well, many times and that is not this current smile on her face. Pressing the button, the elevator comes quickly and I gesture for her to step inside first. She does and I follow. Pressing the first floor, we ride down in silence, slowly. I study her the best I can without actually looking directly at her. Aside from the relaxed outfit, and lack of height, she seems so out of place here. Maybe it's me? Maybe I'm off. I know I've avoided her the last three months and we've been at odds, but I thought I cleared that up a few days ago when I apologized about her expensive gift. Maybe she's mad about that? Maybe she doesn't want to be here. She probably would rather be spending her Friday night with Dr. Penthaki. Walking to her car, I'm not the least bit surprised it's a 2015 Mini Cooper, British Flag decal on the roof, red finished body. It would be less embarrassing if it was all black, but the red body and the checkered flagged side mirrors really brings it all together. "Ha, nice car."

"Are you making fun of me?" She raises an eyebrow and now her smile is the normal Helen Sharpe smile. Toothy and cheeky.

"I would do no such thing. It's just, the Union Jack? Come on?"

"So it's perfectly fine for you to wear American Flag underwear, ties, suits, and every other bloody thing on the market, but us Brits can't support the Jack with a little flag decal on their car?" Her gloved hands are on her tiny waist and she pops her hip to the right side.