City Shopping Spree! (Griff)

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

Griff blushed furiously when he was called wonderfully kind. That was a new one, he'd never heard that before. "No, you're just being amazing." He admitted softly, leaning into the touch on his head like a cat. "I just can't imagine someone NOT wanting to help an animal like that, or even a human like that." He paused then. "I always used to go out and have a chat with the homeless people in the city near my town. I don't see why having less money makes you less of a person."

"Oh! Nathan's the partner at the Pilot Ridge Surgery. He owns the place. He's a great doctor." He smiled enthusiastically. "I'm sure he'd think it was a good idea, he's a really nice person." He edged a little closer to Danny, and felt himself lean on him. It was almost as though he couldn't stay away from the other man - he'd felt like that about Riley too. "You can be my glamorous assistant." The man teased, grinning up at Danny.

All of these compliments were causing the doctor to just blush right the way over his neck. "Stop it, you'll make me go bright red." He said bashfully, shrugging his shoulders. "She was called Tootsie. I loved her, missed her when I went to Kocher." He said thoughtfully, remembering her fondly. "She's long gone now, but she was a good little cat. Very loyal. Used to climb on the fence outside the house when she knew I was coming home for the holidays and wait for me."

[Danny Silverman]

“I’m really not,” Danny disagreed, now blushing right along with Griff. He did mean it, though. He really was wonderfully kind. And so was Riley. He couldn’t see how either of the men could think that they were any other way. And when he leaned in to his touch, Danny blushed and smiled down at him. “Me too. I used to volunteer at soup kitchens and stuff. I was poor enough for a while where I never understood why other people didn’t feel that way.”

“Oh!” He blinked at the name, then grinned at him as he leaned against him, more than happy to pull him close and enjoy the contact with the other man. He grinned back at him but turned red again when he said he could be a glamorous assistant. “I dunno about that,” he said doubtfully. “I don’t dress up real well. It’s the scruff.” He rubbed his hand over it, then grinned.

He liked Griff bright red. But he would tell him that later, maybe when neither of them would be so embarrassed about it. “She sounds really cute. As I said—never really had any pets. Except fish.” He laughed. “I was always pretty good with fish. And it was fun to decorate the aquariums and everything. Maybe I should start trying that again.”

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

Seeing as both men were now red, Griff decided to drop it, and instead focus on the fact that Danny volunteered at soup kitchens - which was a lovely and noble thing. "I think it's nice to give back, I wouldn't charge for my medical care, but I'm in America now and I also need to feed Gladys." He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Still takes a bit of getting used to."

"Nonsense, I bet you look gorgeous." Griff could imagine Danny looking amazing in a nice suit, especially a well tailored one. "But I do think you'd be really helpful, and because I've taught you a few things already, maybe you could help some of the students and adults get pulse reading techniques down and knowing what's normal and what's not?" He offered, squeezing Danny's arm gently.

"Fish are very relaxing, I was tempted to set up a tank in my room. But I'm not sure if the cleaning staff would appreciate the extra cleaning." He admitted, shrugging. "Pets are extremely therapeutic though - in my medical journals there's actually a few very clear studies that show cancer patients and other people with severe illness heal better if they have an animal to stroke and talk to." Griff nodded slowly. "I don't know if the local hospital has a service that allows people to bring in therapy animals..."

[Danny Silverman]

Danny hadn’t ever thought that volunteering was a noble thing, and certainly not lovely. But he liked doing it and he liked working with the homeless. He’d stopped volunteering once he got here, though. Which was sad. Maybe he’d have to find some other place, although if he was asking about first aid, maybe he could help Griff and volunteer that way. He had to think about it. He laughed at Griff’s mention and nodded. “Well, they have free clinics and stuff if you want to volunteer still. I think they’d really like having you around.”

Now Danny was REALLY red, and he coughed, trying to think of a way to regain his bearings and largely failing. “Oh, um. Thank you. But I’d like that. Even if I didn’t wear a suit.” He smiled shyly at him and reached up so he could take Griff’s hand in his own gently. He liked this a lot.

“If it doesn’t, you should encourage one!” This subject Danny did know about. He’d heard some things about it. “I think that program is amazing. I know it’s really helped people.” He smiled at him. “And it would be good for the area. Maybe fish’ll be it, then!” he looked cheered by the idea. He could deal with fish, and fish didn’t eat models! “Any advice for a fish tank?”

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

Griff nodded in thought to what Danny said. "That'd be nice, it's so sad when people can't afford healthcare." He didn't know what anyone would in the UK would do without the NHS, really. It still felt very odd in the private system here. "I certainly wouldn't mind giving up my free time to make sure people were healthy and well, it's a basic human right." All the same, he leant against Danny and held his hand, feeling as though his head was buzzing with so many ideas.

If it weren't for the fact Griff had this lovely image of Danny in a pinstriped suit, he would have commented on the blush. But alas, he was in a world where Danny in a suit was a happy regularity, and maybe a few shirt buttons were undone and... "Ahem. That sounds great. We can help Pilot Ridge a lot that way."

"Maybe I could take Gladys in? She's a very sweet natured thing, even if she does chew things. I'm sure some patients would be happy to see her." He made a mental note to ask Nathan about things like that when he came into work tomorrow. "Hmm. Well, it depends what sort of fish you want I guess. I always like the tropical ones best myself, so you have to have a special sort of tank for them."

[Danny Silverman]

He nodded in agreement. Considering he’d been there at some point in his life, and had only survived with his parent’s help, he could definitely agree with the account that it was sad. Because it was. He just wished he knew what he could do about it. Sure, he donated to charity and everything. But he didn’t have enough to make a big difference. He leaned back against Griff and held his hand tightly.

Of course, the blush would have been worse had Griff mentioned what he was envisioning. Although he wouldn’t have minded. Not really. It was very, very flattering to be thought of like that. Why in the world would he mind if someone thought of him like that?

“I think that’d be great!” he said cheerfully. “Do you think I could come along? Maybe I could help out.” He rested his head on Griff’s shoulder and smiled up at him. But I guess I could try tropical. I think I could keep it up. Or I’d do my best to. I don’t see why I couldn’t.” He smiled at him, then glanced down at the food, which he hadn’t touched all that much. “Mm. Maybe I should have boxed this up.”

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

Feeling the hand squeeze, Griff smiled and cuddled Danny closer. "I think everyone finds it tough at some point." He said quietly, nodding. There was no shame in struggling - he'd done the same when he was first out of medical school, and it had only been through his parents and brothers that he'd managed to find a good job and do what he wanted.

"Definitely." Griff said with a big grin, nodding again at the food. "Yeah, maybe." He laughed warmly, stroking Danny's arm. "If we can get a box, we can get it sealed up then maybe head off to the art gallery?" He offered.

He really wanted to have Danny's opinion on art, the man was so creative it was incredible. "We can eat on the way there, and I think there's a pet shop somewhere round here too, so we can have a look at some lovely tropical fish if you'd like?" That way they had more of an excuse to spend time together, too.

[Danny Silverman]

Danny nodded. “I think it builds character. Which sounds cliché, but…” He shrugged, embarrassed now, and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “I guess if you don’t go through it, you don’t learn a lot? I dunno. I’m no good with words.” And he grinned at him.

“Yeah!” he didn’t want to leave it, but boxing it up sounded like a great idea, and he really did want to see the art gallery. It sounded wonderful, and all the better because he had Griff by his side. On a semi-date. No. On a real date, because he liked the man and he wanted it to be real. And when he suggested that they go to the pet store too, his lips turned into a shy smile.

“I’d like that.” He squeezed the man’s hand again. “Thank you.”

((Annnd let’s wrap!))