Chapter Text
Shaun was sitting in the passenger seat of Neil's car as they headed to work, listening intently to a song he had playing lowly. After they spent their day off together, it became routine for Neil to drive Shaun to and from work. Neil was currently trying to turn Shaun on to jazz music so every time they got in the car he'd turn a song on low enough not to bother him for Shaun to evaluate.
As they pulled into the hospital's parking lot, Shaun turned slightly to face Neil as he told him seriously, "I will think about it and text you my thoughts."
Neil smiled at him as he nodded. This was a normal response from the younger doctor because he didn't feel he had enough time to think about the song during the drive. They had been texting more often, basically any moment they weren't working and together. It made things easier on Shaun to text things as they come to mind instead of remembering them all until the next free moment they had together. Since the day they made lunch together, the pair hasn't had any days off together. Other than the occasional quick meal together, the ride to and from work is the most time they've spent together and Neil hated it.
As they walked into the hospital lobby, Neil reached out to tug on Shaun's arm to get him to stop walking. Shaun complied immediately looking over at him curiously, not pulling his arm away, Neil noted with a smile as he questioned him quietly, "You have tomorrow off right?"
"Yes I do. Did you not look over the schedule?" Shaun inquired with a questioning look. From anyone else, that would be considered sarcasm, but with Shaun he was genuinely curious.
"I did, but I wanted to double check. Do you want to come over to my apartment tomorrow? I can pick you up?" Neil asked him, trying to keep his face neutral but his heart was pounding. He was annoyed at his nervousness, he was a adult who had asked people out many times over the years, but Shaun always brought out new reactions out of him.
Shaun's face broke out in a grin as he nodded enthusiastically, rocking his whole body as he did as his answer rushed out, "I would like that."
Before Neil could do anything more than smile back at Shaun, Audrey appeared at his side, her voice laced with annoyance, "I'm double booked for surgery. I need you to take one."
Shaun walked off without another word, surprising neither surgeon as they discussed which case Neil was taking today. Audrey nudged Neil with a grin after she caught him looking the direction Shaun disappeared in with a smile, questioning him enthusiastically, "So, was that a date I just witnessed being planned?"
"You are way too interested in my love life Lim. Get a date yourself." Neil teased her as he grabbed the case file and started walking towards his office, knowing she would follow him.
Audrey caught up with ease, falling into step with her long time friend as she sighed dramatically, "Oh come on. I'm rooting for you two so I feel like it's a healthy amount of interest."
Neil stopped in front of his office door as he gave her a disbelieving look. Audrey shrugged her shoulders with a smile as she waited for him to speak again. Looking down the hallway to make sure they had no unwanted listeners before he leaned closer to her, Neil told her quietly, "Be prepared to take him as a resident."
Satisfied with his answer, Audrey winked at him before walking off, calling behind her, "I'll be ready!"
Shaking his head at her, Neil smiled at the possibilities of tomorrow.
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Shaun was pacing the length of his living room when Lea walked out of her room the next morning. She watched him for a moment with amusement before stepping out of her doorway clearing her throat to alert him of her presence. He jumped as he spun to face his roommate, relaxing when he saw her smiling at him, "Good morning Lea."
"Good morning there Shaun. Are you waiting for Neil?" Lea asked him as she flopped herself down on the couch.
Sitting down next to her more carefully, Shaun nodded at her as he confided, "I find that I am nervous. Is that normal?"
Grinning widely at her friend, Lea nodded enthusiastically as she confirmed, "Yeah for sure. I'm always nervous when I first start dating someone. I think he really likes you though Shaun."
"I like him too." Shaun told her as he started twisting his hands in front of him, looking around the living room.
Before Lea could comfort him further, they were interrupted by three knocks on the door. Grinning at him again, Lea got up to answer the door as she told Shaun quickly, "Just be yourself and you're gonna have so much fun. I swear. Good morning Dr. Neil."
Neil gave her an amused look as she flung open their front door, telling her with a chuckle, "Just Neil is fine, Lea. Hey Shaun. You ready to go?"
As Shaun walked over to where they were standing, Lea teased Neil with a grin, "But where's the fun in that? I like Dr. Neil better."
"She calls Dr. Glassman Glassy." Shaun supplied helpful as Neil rolled his eyes playfully.
Smiling over at Shaun, Neil laughed a bit before asking, "Want to get out of here Murphy?"
"I would like that. Goodbye Lea." Shaun told her cheerfully as he walked out of the apartment.
Neil gave Lea a wave as he turned to leave as she called out as he shut the door, "You crazy kids have fun!"
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It was late in the day as Neil and Shaun laughed in the kitchen, the younger doctor sitting at the island while Neil leaned against the counter. Neil had let Shaun teach him how to make a particular dish that he adored and then they watched a medical show. It delighted Shaun to point out medical inaccuracies and Neil loved to listen him to detail the correct information in his matter of fact tone. As the sun started to set, Neil noted that he should drive Shaun home as he closed the lid on the leftovers for him to take.
"I had a lot of fun today." Shaun told him without making eye contact as he shifted in his seat nervously.
Stepping closer to him slowly to study his reaction, Neil smiled at him as he concurred with the younger doctor, "It was a really good day. I have a lot of really good days with you Shaun."
Shaun's eyes flitted over to him in surprise, but he didn't reply. He studied Neil with interest as he came to stop in front of him, closer than usual. Neil waited to see if he would protest the closeness, but he remained quiet and curious. Reaching his hand up to cup his cheek, running his thumb over his cheek bone, Neil opened his mouth to ask Shaun if he could kiss him when Shaun's lips collided with his. Smiling against Shaun's lips, Neil kissed him back slowly as Shaun wrapped his arms lightly around his middle.
Pulling back gently, Neil smiled widely at him as he chuckled without moving out of Shaun's space, "We had the same idea."
"Claire always say that great minds think alike though I do not think she knows that for a fact." Shaun told him with a smile as he looked to side.
Leaning in again, Neil brushed his lips over Shaun's for a second before murmuring, "I really like you Shaun and I want to date you."
"Yes. I want that too." Shaun told him as he wrapped his arms tighter around Neil for a second before releasing him with a wide smile. "Lea is going to make very loud noises when I tell her."