Pairing: Derek&Angie, light Tyler&Leslie and Greg&Cybil

Trauma Center (c) Atlus

A kiss on the lips means...

Derek walked into the office, chilled to the bone and shivering. It started snowing last night and the streets were covered in the white flurries. As he stepped inside the on-call room, he took notice of the red and green streamers and miniature Christmas tree on an end table beside the couch. The table was covered in a festive white tablecloth that had little red hats and ornaments on its ends.

Christmas was right around the corner.

A smile spread across his face at the thought. The entire Caduceus group would be spending Christmas at the Kasal’s for a night of partying and cooing over the newest addition to the Kasal family, Kari. He couldn’t think of a better way to spend his Christmas Eve.

“Morning, Doctor Stiles,” Angie Thompson greeted as she walked through the door.

Derek turned to his right and replied, “Good morning, Angie.”

Soon enough the duo was met with the long-term couple, Leslie and Tyler, bursting with joy over the upcoming party. However, Sidney Kasal soon came to put a halt to their festivities and eggnog opening as he rushed them into an operating room.

“Ready for two more PGS surgeries?” Derek asked his partner-in-crime.

The blonde returned his smile. “Of course, Doctor.”

--

“Derek! Good to see you!” Greg Kasal led the surgeon to the living room with a smile where he was soon greeted by the Iron Vixen.

“Merry Christmas,” Cybil said, giving Derek a hug. “But it looks like you’ve got a long way to go.”

Derek quirked an eyebrow. “What do you—”

However, his questions seemed to be answered when a blonde soon walked through the doorway he had just previously entered from. His bespectacled eyes widened as they drunk in the beautiful figure of Angela Thompson.

The normal pink nurses’ outfit was gone and in its place was a shimmering blue dress that reached the woman’s knees. The blonde’s hair created spirals as it led from her head to the waist, brushed back neatly from her face.

“Aren’t you going to say anything, Derek?” Cybil nudged. His eyes jerked to the woman who was now wearing a smirk. He could see Tyler and Leslie urging him on with silent cheers behind Cybil, and Greg Kasal smiling knowingly.

Derek gulped visibly as he walked towards Angie. “You look… beautiful.” His voice was barely above a whisper, but he was sure she heard it.

There were light tints of red on the nurse’s face as she smiled back at him. “Thank you, Doc—Derek.”

Lost for words, he could only continue to gaze at the woman’s dazzling features. He could feel his body lean closer before…

“I forgot to greet you merry Christmas!” he seemed to shout. His face was only inches away from Angie’s face, their lips so close to touching. Derek could feel everyone around them sigh and mutter and slap their foreheads to honor his stupidity.

Luckily, Angie had the grace to reply, “Merry Christmas, Derek.”

“Merry Christmas. Um—” There was a pause.

He was once again saved as Cybil Kasal appeared with little baby Kari in tow saying, “Time to eat!”

Dinner was the classic Caduceus + Kasal family event. The Kasal brothers teased each other, Leslie and Angie cooed over Kari, Cybil threatened Victor, and Tyler was pestering Derek about Angie. Now there was no way to deny he had feelings for the blonde nurse.

“So, what did you get her for Christmas?”

“None of your business, Tyler.”

Tyler wouldn’t take no for an answer. “It is. Especially if Angie absolutely hates it and you get depressed, I’ll be the one driving you to the nearest bar tonight then!”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I said, no.”

“Let me guess! It’s lingerie! That’s what I got Leslie for her birthday last year.”

“What? No!”

“Hmm… Did you get Angie jewelry? I got Leslie that too.”

“At least you gave her one normal gift.”

“What? Like lingerie isn’t normal.”

“It isn’t!”

Finally, Derek couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up, cleared his plate, and walked outside on the porch. The air was cool and brisk; snow continued to gently fall from the sky. Derek took in a deep breath before watching it become fog in his hands.

“It’s cold, isn’t it?”

He spun around to see Angie Thompson, arms folded, wrapped in a warm jacket that reached her knees.

His hand found its way to the back of his head as he smiled nervously. “A little. You should go back inside, Angie, you could get sick.”

“I could say the same thing.”

“I just needed to clear my head a bit. Get away from…” He wanted to say, everyone’s talk of us being a couple. “The noise.”

But Derek saw it. He knew that Angie knew what was on his mind ever since he left the dining room, maybe when they spoke in the living room. Then again, it wasn’t too hard to find out. His mother always told him he was like an open book.

Angie took two steps closer so that less than a foot of space separated them. “It could happen.” she told him cryptically, before walking back inside.

Noting the silent, almost unnoticeable gesture to come inside, he quickly followed after her, grabbing her wrist when they both stopped at the doorway.

“Derek?”

In a not so far distance, he could hear the distinct whistling of his best friend and squeal of a certain green-haired nurse.

“M-Mistletoe,” he said nervously. Derek Stiles could feel his heartbeat quicken and gradually become louder. The nurse in front of him raised an expectant eyebrow before closing her eyes, patiently waiting for the doctor to make a move.

Slowly, he began to lean down to meet the woman’s lips. Then when they finally met, he almost didn’t want to let go. All of his emotions, his love, seemed to pour out into that very kiss without abandon. Reality seem to fade into the distance. As they began to reach for each other, trying to bring the connection to more than just their lips, both of them heard a loud snap and felt as if the light around them suddenly got brighter.

“All right! Go Derek!”

“Aww!!!”

“Finally!”

“Good for you, Derek.”

The surgeon and nurse duo broke apart for air, finally taking notice that all of the other party guests had surrounded them.

“What’s everyone doing here?” Angie shouted in shock, her hands flying to her mouth.

Derek flushed a deep scarlet as he did his best to avoid eye contact with Tyler before finally turning to the blonde. When she noticed his eyes on her, she saw it. After months of pining for the man, she knew.

He was in love with her too.

…I love you.

Sorry about that everyone! This should have been posted... a few weeks ago. I am truly sorry. But this is the finale to my five chapter ficlet! Yay! Thanks for sticking with me!

And another apology! I won't be working on Trauma Center for a while. Or maybe sooner than later? I've been really into the Bleach fanfics and I've decided to try my hand at them! No worries, I won't forget my TC origins. Well, see you when I get back on the Trauma Center fanfics!

- Jammed Radio