Can't Let You Go

                Mid-morning on Friday found Douglas sitting behind his desk, working through a mountain of papers and other work that needed dealt with before the nightclub opened that night.  Isabela was sitting opposite while leaning back with her feet propped up on the heavy antique wood much to Hawke's tightlipped chagrin.  Complaining never worked anyway; she actually seemed to enjoy watching him squirm when he worried the heels of her boots would mar the old wood.  Finally bored of watching papers shuffle, she asked, "Well, you didn't exactly expect him to call did you?"

                Douglas frowned at the papers in his hands before setting them aside.  He sighed, "I suppose not."

                "I mean, you knew Nathaniel would have been out for blood after that.  And you knew he was definitely not going to let a friend date you; let alone an ex he most likely still cares about, cares about enough to come to your club with."

                "I know."

                "Well, then I think we need to snap you out of this funk.  Maybe Bianca knows someone."

                "No, thank you."

                "That girl is a model and you are saying no, thank you?  I'm sure she knows some male models, too."

                "I said no, Isabela."

                "Well, if you think I am going to sit here and watch you mope, you are sadly mistaken."

                "Well, why are you?  How does the Rose even stay open when you are never there?"

                "I have a good staff under me."

                Douglas snorted, "I'm sure you do."

                She winked at him.  "Seriously, Hawke, let's go do something fun.  Maybe go away for the weekend after the party tonight."

                "Maybe," he grudgingly agreed.  "What do you have in mind?"

                "How about going to the coast?  We can work on finally getting you a tan."

                "And ruin my perfect, pale complexion?  I don't think so."

                "Fine, you think of something."

                Douglas leaned back in his chair, trying to figure out something to do but only succeed in thinking about addictively sweet lips.  He was starting to agree with Isabela and just should have went for it, but if just a kiss affected him this much, he could only imagine what he would be doing if he had actually slept with Anders.  While lost in thought, his cellphone started ringing on the desk.  Without a glance, he pressed the speaker button.  "Hello?"

                "Uh… hi.  This is Anders… from the other night."  Both Douglas and Isabela fell forward in their chairs toward the desk in shock.  "Hello?"

                "Yes, I remember.  And hello, how are you?"  Douglas picked up the phone, taking it off speaker and bringing it to his ear while Isabela gave him a nasty look.  The wall of mirrored glass overlooking the empty dance floor now held his outward interest for at least being far enough away from the desk that his best friend couldn't eavesdrop.  "I'm glad to hear that.  ...  Better now.  ...  No, not yet."  Douglas chuckled, "No, a perk of being the boss; you set your own schedule."

                He looked at his watch.  "Lunch?  I can do lunch," he looked at Isabela over his shoulder with an apology at the cancelation of their own date and she waved it off.  They finalized their meeting place and Douglas hung up the phone, turning to look at Isabela with a goofy grin.

                "You, my friend, are hopeless," Isabela sighed.

                Douglas rolled down his sleeves, letting Isabela reattach his hawk cufflinks before he buttoned his collar and straightened the tie.  She "fixed" his hair and he immediately ran a smoothing hand back through it to flatten most of it back down.  The intercom button was depressed on the desk's phone and he asked, "Norah?"

                "Yes?"

                "Will you have the car pulled out front?  I have an appointment.  Also, send Sandal to pick up my tux from dry cleaning.  I unexpectedly needed it tonight."

                "Yes, sir."

                The button was repressed, ending the conversation.  Douglas asked, "Want to head back to the Rose or do you want to drop me off and head back to the estate?"

                Isabela smiled slyly.  "I'll head back to the estate."

                "Alright, just make sure you send the car back for me this time."

                She laughed before agreeing, "No problem, babe." 

                They both gathered their things and headed out to the waiting car.  On the ride across town, they talked about other possible plans and upcoming social events.  As they got closer, Douglas said, "Make sure you are ready to leave at 7:00; we have to be there at 8:00."

                "Varric and Bianca?"

                "Meeting us there."

                "Balls.  That means I'll have to do my own hair...  What about Fenris?"

                "I have another meeting at 6:00, so unless he wants to go out ahead, there will be no room in the car because I will have to drive."

                "Good thing I wasn't planning on the ball gown, then."

                Douglas rolled his eyes.  "Please, as if you would wear anything that fluffy besides your hair."

                Finally, the car stopped in front of the Chinese restaurant where Douglas was supposed to meet Anders.  A kiss was planted against a tanned cheek before an exit was made.  Hawke reminded Isabela again to send the car back and then sent her on her smirking way.

                He was completely overdressed for the place, but he was used to that; Douglas spent more on his wardrobe than most people spent on their cars.  He checked his watch again; there was still a little time to make a call before Anders would show up.

                The phone was answered in short order.  "Bodahn, Isabela is on the way there.  Make sure the car comes back for me.  ...  No, they know where I am.  …  When he gets up, tell him I'll call when I am done with my appointment.  I know he wanted to talk to me today.  ...  No, I can't give you a time, just when I am done.  ...  No, I cannot give a guess.  …  Alright, bye."  Douglas hung up and turned the phone off before slipping it back into his pocket.

                Anders showed up a few minutes later, walking around a corner in a pair of worn, green scrubs.  He chuckled at Douglas when he got closer, "Well, don't you look nice."

                "Why, thank you.  So do you."

                "I must look like I went through a blender compared to you."

                "Doctors are sexy by default."  Douglas smirked while pushing back a stray strand of blond hair.

                Anders blushed slightly.  "Well, shall we?  I only have about half an hour for lunch."

                "After you."  The two men went inside and were shown a table near the back.  They made small talk while the menus were looked over and when a waitress came back speaking with a thick accent, Douglas ordered in flawless Mandarin.

                The reward was a smile from the woman, and it was returned along with the menus.  She reflexively giggled nervously at the handsome man before retreating quickly.

                Anders raised an eyebrow at him.  "You speak Chinese?"

                Douglas shrugged.  "Just something I picked up."

                The blonde's brow arched higher.  "Right."

                Douglas changed the subject, "So, did you walk here?"

                Anders seemed a little surprised by the dismissal, but answered, "Yes; my clinic is right up the street."

                "Your clinic?  Well, and here I thought I was special by owning a club."

                Anders laughed, "You know, I heard that place was owned by the Coterie."

                Douglas laughed back mirthlessly before shaking his head.  "No."

                "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to offend you."

                Douglas smiled apologetically himself.  "It's alright.  They have been after my place for years.  I'm almost getting used to hearing that by now.  Anyway, so your clinic?"

                Anders seemed relieved to be changing the subject this time, "Oh, right.  I started the free clinic about five years ago."

                It was Douglas' turn to raise an eyebrow.  "Free?"  This could explain a lot of things.

                "You know, I get that reaction a lot.  Yes, free.  After I got out of school, I noticed a larger need for medical services by people who couldn't actually afford to see a doctor."

                "That makes sense; poorer diet and lack of preventive care would equal a larger need."

                Anders smiled.  "Exactly.  So, my clinic sees everyone, no questions asked."

                "No questions asked?  Aren't you afraid of people taking advantage of your graciousness?"

                Anders laughed, "No.  I find most people who can afford a doctor won't wait the time necessary to see one for free, nor would even want to sit in the waiting room with the people who actually need me."

                "The uppity bastards…  I would wait forever to see you."

                Anders blushed again but the food was mercifully brought before he had to come up with a response to the comment.  The two men ate in silence for a few minutes, Douglas amazed at how quickly the food was disappearing from the plate across the table.  Hawke was about to make a comment when a beeper went off.

                Anders grabbed and looked at it.  "Shit, I gotta go."  He dug around for his wallet, the brown leather of which was as worn as his scrubs.  Throwing some money on the table, the blonde looked apologetically at Douglas, "Sorry to cut this short."

                "It's alright."  They exchanged a quick smile before Anders took off rapidly for the door.  Douglas checked the time; the car wouldn't have made it back yet.  So he returned to eating, looking at the empty seat across from him while silently wondering if this was what being a doctor's wife felt like.

                Once he was done, the waitress was summoned again.  Speaking in her language, he asked if she knew of the clinic and where it was located.  The young woman actually gushed over the establishment, explaining some of her relatives had been treated there and that it primarily worked on donations.

                After thanks was given for the answer, she left and returned quickly with items he had also requested: two envelopes, a sheet of paper and a carryout box.  The food from across the table was boxed up and placed in a bag.  A large tip was given with a larger smile and then Douglas returned to the paper, writing out a quick note, and folded it into one of the envelopes along with Anders' money.  Once sealed, it was placed in the bag as well.

                He paid for the bill and left, giving the driver directions to the clinic a short distance away.  He pulled the rest of the cash he had out of his wallet spare a $50, placed it in the second envelope before sealing it and placing it his inner coat pocket.

                They arrived at the clinic within minutes and Douglas went inside.  A cute woman with light brown, curly hair and bright red, trendy glasses sat behind a cluttered desk piled high with files.  Hawke waited patiently while she multitasked through talking to a few people around the desk and several phone calls all while sifting through her own organization of the files.

                She finally looked at him, a little bit in awe and suspicion of his clearly out-of-place attire before he turned a bright, easy smile at her, and she smiled back.  He placed the bag of food on the desk.  "Anders left before he could finish his lunch.  I just wanted to drop it off in case he got a moment to finish it."

                "Well, that was very kind of you."

                "You are both clearly very busy, I will bother you no further."  He smiled again, and turned away from the desk, spying an elderly woman sitting near the door.  Walking over and sitting down beside her, once again suspicions were eased with just a smile.  Douglas asked, "Will you take this envelope to the woman behind the desk and without telling her it's from me?"  He pulled it from his coat pocket, handing it to her.  "Just a small donation for the good doctor and his generous staff.  And this, dear lady, is for you, for your gracious acceptance of my offer."  The $50 that was withheld was presented as an offering.

                She took both with a smile and got up immediately to complete her end of the bargain.  The woman behind the desk looked confused and opened the envelope to find nearly $3,000 inside just as Douglas slipped out the door.