Crack in the persona - tag drgabrielgray and drpeterpetrelli

[howtheydied]

I meet with the forensic pathology department at Mercy Heights first. I guess I wanted to get a tour of the place, build up to meeting Dr. Petrelli again. Their facilities are good, the location is closer to my apartment, the staff is friendly enough, and they appear eager to have me. The head must have googled my name before I arrived. I

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[drpeterpetrelli]

The alarm for the end of the hour goes off and I'm disappointed. Tony is one of my patients that I love fucking with and I was really having fun with him today, I'd gotten him to break down into a blubbering mess. Again. He thinks he's making headway but he's actually sinking lower and lower into his depression. I don't think he's going to last too much longer. Too bad.

Putting my hand on his shoulder, I give it a squeeze as I lead the way out of my office, telling him to keep the box of tissues. I wonder if he's going to make it back next week or if he's going to crack to the point of ending it. I hope he comes back. I murmur some words of false comfort and send him on his way. I almost turn back to my office when I see Amy's office light on. God, I hope like hell I'm not getting a new neighbor, it's so much better to have the offices to myself.

Going over to the door, I see who's in there and I grin. "Gabriel, Ted. It's great to see you both, I wasn't expecting either of you." I go over and hold my hand out to Ted. "I see you finally made it over here and met Gabriel. Why don't we go into my office and relax. I'm done for the day and I have scotch if either of you are interested. Did you get the tour yet Ted?"

[howtheydied]

"Peter mentioned you to me, as well. It's good to meet you, Dr. Gray," I say, offering a hand to shake. I take his advice and follow him to the other office. I was pleased to see my initial guess was right, and I almost wish Peter didn't reappear so soon. Having some time to talk to Gabriel alone could have told me a lot about him, such as why he seemed so pleased all of a sudden. But this- this is likely to be very informative, too.

I can see a bit of the hallway through the window next to the door. Peter appears, leaving his office with his patient. The patient's a wreck, but there's adoration for Peter when I catch his eyes. I'm kind of glad I don't have to deal with anything but the dead stares from my cases.

He comes right on over and seems glad to see us. I shake his hand, smiling, and I speak as I follow him back to the office. "Well, I got the basement tour, anyway, which is all I really need to know. It looks good- I've already decided to transfer. I think I'll be happier here," I say, matter-of-factly. "Thanks again for the suggestion. Oh, and I'd love a scotch. It's been awhile for me."

I have plenty more questions, but I'm going to quiet down for a bit, see where this conversation heads, first. That last, intriguing one could always have been a fluke- but I kind of doubt it.

[drgabrielgray]

"Dr. Grey." The handshake is easy. He's not picking up anything odd about me, and that's fine with me. I work very hard to look and act normal when I meet new people. "It's good to meet you too."

Peter's door opens, and I can almost feel the misery radiating from his patient. It's probably drowned out by the glee that Peter's barely containing. He does seem to enjoy making his patients cry. It amazes me that no one's caught on. I loved when Elle realized that of the two of us, Peter was the more dangerous and cruel.

"A drink sounds great," I tell him as we shift to his office. "I had another craptastic day in the ER. Some little kid puked on me. Ted, you've got the best job of the three of us. Your patients don't barf. Although I suppose they do occasionally pop."

[drpeterpetrelli]

"You have? That's great." I tell Ted as we move into my office. That really is good to hear, it means that Gabriel and I can watch him and figure him out some more. I'm also glad that Gabriel's here so he can meet him and if he can see what I do. "I'm glad you're coming over here, you're just what's needed in this place." Especially if you're someone that we can use when we play.

Pouring them each a drink, I hand them their glasses and then pour my own. "Christ, I'm glad I don't have to deal with that. I just get wet furniture and a garbage can full of used tissues." I sit down with a sigh. "I'm glad you got a chance to meet Gabriel now." I make a face at Gabriel's comment about patients popping, I so did not need that visual.

[howtheydied]

I take a glass from him as Gabriel talks about his day in the ER. I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that. He mentions patients popping, and I laugh. "You're right, and that's happened a couple of times- but by then we're mostly covered so it's not a problem. We know we're going to have to clean up afterward anyway. It does wreak havoc with our procedure, but I'd still say I'm the lucky one.."

I take a sizable gulp and feel the scotch burn down my throat. I nearly close my eyes, enjoying it, and I smile at Peter. "Good stuff. Thanks."

I lean back in my chair, getting myself settled. Then I look toward Gabriel. "I imagine the ER shifts are never much fun. What comes through there is almost as crazy as the sort of things they tend to send me. Hope you're done with it for awhile."

[drgabrielgray]

I swirl the scotch in my glass a bit to chill it with a touch of frost. Ted can't see what I'm doing while he talks to Peter, and I do like my drinks cold. That's one thing I do love about Peter. He always keeps the good stuff on hand.

I drop down into my usual chair across from his desk and lean back with a sigh. "Well at least you can get away with hosing down your patients. They tend to frown on me doing that."

"Luckily I only do a couple of ER shifts a week. I like to keep an eye on things, and as much as I love the power, being the Head of Neurology can be dull as watching paint dry. Other than the occasional puke festival, I kind of like the rest of it. I never have minded getting my hands bloody."

[drpeterpetrelli]

I loosen my tie and relax against the back of my chair, letting Ted and Gabriel get to know each other. I can see that Gabriel's enjoying him as much as I did, if not for the same reasons. I just hope Gabriel can see why I'm curious about this one, why he might not be prey but maybe, maybe, an ally.

Gabriel's last comment almost makes me choke on my drink and I barely stop myself in time. I give him a look, trying hard not to let the laughter escape. Is he trying to get me to screw this up or something. The corner of my mouth quirks up and I turn towards Ted. "Which is part of the reason he's in neurosurgery and not in the trenches. The fact that the human brain fascinates him is the main reason." This time I can't help the small smirk.

"I would take both Pathology and Neurosurgery over some of the patients that I have. Some days, I'd love nothing more than to tell them to just shut up and get over themselves. But, of course, I can't do that and I do enjoy helping them along." Especially the ones that I push in the wrong direction. Seeing them fall apart right before my eyes is so much fun.

[howtheydied]

A reference to 'getting my hands bloody' that makes Peter look like he swallowed a fly (for only a bare moment, of course), and another bit of apathy showing through- I'd guess we're into the real conversation now. Again, I wonder how Peter really 'helps them along' sometimes.

"And we get to the heart of why I could never be a psychologist," I say, with a smirk. "I'd probably end up telling them all to shape themselves up within a week or two. I just don't have patience for a lot of people, much less ones with real problems. I will stick over in the field where you hack your patients up. Sounds like Dr. Gray is with me on this."

I give him a small smile and turn more toward him. "Of course you have to be much more careful. Neurosurgery takes such a delicate hand. You're the head of the department, you said? Do you like having such a high position? The extra paperwork seems like such a detriment to me, but of course there are tons of perks." He doesn't seem very old yet- ambitious one, isn't he? I'm not surprised.

[drgabrielgray]

"It'd annoy the living shit out of me too," I say with a snort and finish my drink. I sure as hell miss getting a buzz from alcohol, not that I mind being immortal especially considering the enemies I've made. "I much prefer sticking my fingers in a brain and making someone twitch."

"I sort of fell into the position. My predecessor got a job out of state, and Dr. Scully wanted me to take her place." Not that I didn't have to force the issue with Chandra, but with Mohinder taking up residence in the hospital incinerators he didn't have sonny boy around to take my spot. "I was top of my class from Stanford, and I was the only person on staff up to the job. I do hate the meetings and paperwork though."

"It's a lot better when you get to play with your food." Yeah, let's see what Ted thinks about that comment. Peter liked it enough to chuckle.

[drpeterpetrelli]

I might not get to hack my patients but I do get to hack into people, not that I can tell Ted that. "It's not always easy, believe me. Especially the ones that can't see that they're the ones causing the problems, not everyone else." I finish my drink and stand up, binging the decanter over to see if they want more too.

Gabriel explains how he got the job after Dr. Scully left and I smile, remembering why Chandra, and especially Mohinder, weren't there to do the job. I really wish we could've enjoyed killing Mohinder more but I'm sure that others will eventually come through so we can have more fun with them. A never ending supply of Mohinders to torture, god that sounds great.

I swear to god Gabriel is trying to make me crack up in front of Ted and he's doing a damn good job of it too. I can't help chuckling while I finish filling my glass and set the scotch down on the desk within reach of them both. My eyes flick to Ted to see how he reacts to that throw away comment. Whatever darkness I saw in him before is still there and I think Gabriel is bringing it out even more with his comments.

[howtheydied]

'Making someone twitch'? No swallowed-fly look from Peter this time. If I hadn't watched them drinking the Scotch, I'd wonder if it was drugged. Even Jake wasn't this honest with me the first time we met. But then this isn't my first meeting with Peter. And I'm a little different now. They might be able to tell.

Nonetheless, I sit up a little more in my seat. Gabriel mentions playing with his food, Peter chuckles, and I just can't keep it in. I laugh too, shaking my head. "Interesting way of putting it," I reply, giving him a smile.

I should be scared, but instead I'm just tense-- awake. "So are we going to speak plainly, or is half the fun talking in riddles? Because I'm fine with either. We've just about run out of work-related gossip, though, unless you want me to get into why I transferred out of my last residency." I'm being a smart-ass. It's what got me into trouble the last time, too.

[drgabrielgray]

Aw Ted's getting impatient and there I was doing my best to be interesting. I give him a sly smirk while I refill my drink and lean back. stretching my legs out before me. It's not as if Ted could hurt either of us. He's no threat at all, but he could be an ally. Hell, he could be a friend.

"I'd love to hear why you left. Do tell." Please make it a good story, Ted. Peter will know if you're lying, and where would the fun be in that.

This will be a challenge for Peter and I. Neither one of us wants to use a power in front of Ted. We've got to play this human. Well as human as a pair of serial killers get.

[drpeterpetrelli]

Ted's impatient but able to keep control of it, that's a point for him. I can't blame him for wanting to know what's going on but he's going to have to wait a little bit longer. Gabriel's the only one I've ever told about my games to and now, to tell someone else... I'm not scared, just wary. The fewer people that know what we do, the better but Ted feels different. Like he could be one of us, join our merry little band of killers.

Gabriel encourages him to tell us why he left his last residency and I pay attention. What he says here will tell us a lot on whether we can trust him with anything about us, other then the public faces. "Gossip is boring but Gabriel's right, we would like to know why you left. It sounded like you had a good thing going there, so what changed?"

Ted looks slightly uncomfortable but not enough to not talk to us. Besides, he opened up the conversation for this topic. "I'm sure it can't be that bad." A smirk quirks the corner of my mouth.

[howtheydied]

I weigh in my mind what exactly I want to start out saying to them. As much as I sounded like I was complaining, I do have fun with this dance. Besides, there's no way I'm going to out myself as a murderer when Ben's the only one who knows-- about one. However....

"My fiance died," I say flatly. I knew I'd have to mention that, so I get it out of the way as quickly as possible. "In my apartment. It was arrhythmia brought on by a mitral valve prolapse, so it was very sudden. I didn't want to be reminded of it."

I let the quiet sink in before I look up at them and continue. "Strangely enough, four of my fellow residents died that day, as well. Burned to death in a subbasement area they'd apparently been using to do drugs." I shrug. "They wouldn't have noticed the gas leak before they lit up," I say, with a small half-smile.

[drgabrielgray]

His fiance died. I wonder if Peter picked up the proper amount of grief. What I'm getting is anger. It's deep, hidden beneath a heavy layer of his ego. And yes Ted Grey has an ego that might rival mine.

Didn't want to be reminded about it my ass.

"That sounds like a horrible, horrible accident." Now the talk about the other residents. There's a flair of pride there, and a hint of smugness in his eyes. "They should have been more careful. Good thing you were engaged in their activities. You might have been killed too."

[drpeterpetrelli]

He's not lying about his fiance and he does still love her, that's pretty easy to read on his face and I wonder what really happened. There was a prolapse, he's not lying about that but there's something not...completely truthful about what he's saying. Whatever caused it, he knows and it pisses him off. I want to know what it was.

Then he talks about the other residents and there's that same tingle. It's a half lie, an incomplete truth and I glance over at Gabriel. I'm not sure he's getting any of this off of Ted and we'll have to talk later. "Of course, if you had been part of their group, it's very lucky that you weren't there when the explosion happened." There's a flicker in his eyes at that and I'm almost sure I'm right.

He is one of us. Maybe not exactly like us but his hands are bloody and not from his job. "That must've been hard though, losing fellow residents like that. I can see why you wouldn't want to stay there. Getting far away from...trouble is good. If you had anything to worry about that is." I know you did.