The shrill wail carried out the hospital room and down the corridor, causing Mindy to look up from the papers she was doing at the nurses station. Inside the room, Sydney was trying to soothe the little girl who was having to get another blood sample taken. The needle hadn't even touched Sally's arm when she had started screaming. Jamie, the nurse's aide who was in there helping, held the child's arm as Sally's mother squeezed the little hand.

"Shhh." Sydney said softly, catching the child's eyes with a lollipop she had pulled out of her pocket. "Can you be a brave girl for me and Jamie?"

Sally whimpered and nodded, earning a relieved sigh from her mother. Sydney handed the lollipop over to the mother and while Sally was distracted, performed the stick. She got a little cry when Sally felt the needle, but she didn't start screaming again. As soon as the last test tube was filled, Sydney quickly withdrew the needle and placed a bright orange Band-Aid on the spot.

"There. All done. Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Sydney asked as Jamie let go of the arm and patted the little girl's shoulder.

"Noooo." Came the reply, as she received her promised lollipop. As she was distracted, Syd assured the mother that they'd have the test results back in the morning. With a pat on the head for the now happy little girl, Sydney left the room with Jamie a few steps behind.

Sydney scribbled instructions on the chart Mindy thrust under her nose when they reached the nurses station and handed it to Jamie. Jamie took the chart and the blood samples and headed down to the lab. Sydney leaned on the counter, feigning exhaustion. Mindy shoved her finished paperwork into another doctor's mailbox and grinned at Syd.

"Didn't want to take the stick, did she?"

"No," she sighed, standing straight and stretching her back. "She began screaming before I even touched her."

"So I noticed, in fact, I think the whole wing noticed." She glanced down the hallway behind Syd and grinned. "But don't worry, you're shift is over. Now Dr. Richardson will have to deal with her."

"Hmmph." Came the unenthused reply. She was about to settle her elbows back onto the counter when she was suddenly caught in a tight hug from behind. "Hey!" She spun around to greet the hugger with a grin and a kiss.

"That's all I get?" Steve asked pitifully, his blue eyes laughing.

"This is a hospital, more precisely a pediatrics wing, not Lover's Lane." She replied, looking up at him since she stood almost a head shorter. "And besides, I don't think Mindy wants to watch a make out session."

Mindy grinned and studied the couple for a moment. "I don't know, Syd. With someone as handsome as Steve participating…" She laughed and turned away to answer the call button for one of the rooms. "Be careful, you might just have competition for him." She laughed as she stood to respond to the call.

"Better not," replied Syd, grinning back at Mindy as she headed down the hall. She then looked back up at Steve. "Come on, otherwise we'll be late for dinner."

~ ~ ~ ~

It turned out that Mark was the one late for dinner. He arrived at BBQ Bob's apologizing profusely for being late. Syd assured him that it was alright as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and seated himself across the table. Steve was in the back helping Jesse bring out their plates. Jesse was working the counter since they were a little shorthanded tonight. She grinned as the two of them brought out trays filled with the restaurant's famous ribs. Syd sniffed appreciatively as Steve set a huge plate of them in front of her.

"Good thing I like barbecue." She said, watching Jesse set a similar plate in front of Mark. He nodded in agreement and stared at Steve's place which had an even larger plate of ribs. "You're going to eat all that?" She asked incredulously, staring as he sat down next to her.

"I thought you would have noticed Steve has a huge appetite by now." Laughed Mark, as he placed a napkin on his lap and took another handful to place next to his plate.

"I think she does, she just doesn't want to admit it." Steve acknowledged, leaning over to give Syd a kiss before they began to attack their plates.

"Have you received any more calls, Sydney?" Asked Mark, pausing to wipe his sauce covered fingers and take a sip of water.

She shook her head, "No. Fortunately, all's quiet on the western front."

"That's good. Did you ever read that book?" Mark asked in reply, receiving a nod from Sydney. Before she could say anything her cell phone began ringing, interrupting conversation at the table. She blushed and apologized as she reached into her purse to retrieve the ringing phone.

"Uh huh… Yeah sure, I'll meet you at the house in about twenty minutes. Okay, bye." She hit the "end" button on the phone and turned, still blushing, to the rest of the table. "I hate to be a party pooper but I gotta run. I need to meet Chris at the house, so I have to run."

She stood and bent to give Steve a kiss on the cheek and waved goodbye to Mark as she headed for the door. Steve shook his head as she went through the door. Mark looked quizzically at him. "What?" His question was answered a moment later when Syd stepped back through the door looking quite embarrassed.

"I forgot that I didn't take the car today."

"How'd you get to work then?" asked Mark, wiping barbecue sauce from his fingers. A smile spread across Syd's face.

"I took Steve."

Steve shook his head and pushed his seat back form the table. "Sorry, Dad. Looks like I have to go too. Since I seem to be the transportation of choice."

Mark nodded, and picked up another rib. "Well, I'm going to stay here and finish dinner. Don't have too much fun."

Steve flashed a grin at his dad as he slid an arm around Sydney's waist. "We will." And with that, they headed out the door to Steve's truck.

~ ~ ~ ~