Okay, the cafeteria was super busy and every table was occupied with at least one person. Micah surveyed the group, trying to decide which table to invade. Then in the corner he spotted Dr. Montgomery -- Linus. By himself of course. He really didn’t want to sit there but the other choices weren’t that great either. Geoff Spencer was sitting with a couple of other doctors and things had been awkward between them since the other night. Their ... second night stand, he guessed.

Biting his lip, Micah approached Linus. “Can I sit here?”

Linus shrugged. “Why not?”

Not the world’s most welcoming pronouncement, but Micah set his tray down and took the sear directly next to the doctor.

“You had a salad?” Micah asked, just to make conversation.

“Yes.”

“I’m having the meatloaf,” he offered.

Linus looked at his tray. “Obviously.”

He huffed out a breath. “Do you ever get friendlier or is this your common bedside manner?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know. It’s just you’ve been here a month or so and no one really knows that much about you. You don’t really socialize and when someone does talk to you, it’s like they are committing some horrible breach of etiquette.”

“Look, Micah, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m guessing you’re chatting me up with the idea of making me your latest conquest, but I can save you the trouble right now. I don’t date co-workers. Or have just for fun sex with them either.”

Micah stared at him for a moment and then burst into laughter. “Seriously? You think I’m working my way through the staff or something? You actually believe that rumor? Listen, I do a lot of flirting, yeah, but I can count on less than three fingers who I’ve actually dated or had sex for fun from the hospital.”

Linus blinked rather owlishly behind his glasses. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have said all that.”

He shook his head. “You’d hardly be the first to assume things. I’m young and having fun and I definitely won’t apologize for that. But I don’t sleep through the hospital staff.”

“I feel like an ass.”

“Well.”

Linus laughed then to Micah’s surprise and it was a nice laugh. And the fact that he thought it was a nice laugh freaked him out a little. Micah reminded himself he didn’t do guys like Linus.

“Anyway, we’re cool,” Micah said. “Actually maybe you should be my new BFF.”

“Huh?”