Medical Center, Lobby
Adam caught sight of a familiar figure.
Though he'd only met the guy once, this wasn't someone you'd forget—a rugged, stoic man with a mix of grit and tenderness, like some kind of war hero.
Yup!
It was none other than Elliot Deacon—the small-town funeral home director and mortician Monica and Rachel swooned over in their teenage years. The guy who played the ultimate rescue-dad in a bunch of shows.
Mr. Elliot Deacon himself!
According to Monica, he'd lost his wife young and was the most eligible bachelor in their area. But he loved his late wife so much that, despite tons of women chasing him, he never budged. He kept his distance, staying single—lonely yet oh-so-romantic.
Last time, when Monica's grandma passed, Adam asked her about this supposed war-god of a man, and her face turned red in a heartbeat.
Tsk tsk!
If Monica could see her teenage crush now—the quiet, gentle, brooding heartthrob—flirting with a woman he'd probably just met, wonder how she'd feel?
Adam stepped closer, locking eyes with the war-god-esque Deacon.
He flashed a smile.
Deacon smiled back, clearly remembering him too.
"Adam, you know him?" Dr. Montgomery asked, surprised.
Yup—turns out, the woman chatting up a storm with Deacon was none other than Montgomery herself!
"Long time no see, Mr. Deacon," Adam said with a grin. "I'm Adam Duncan, a doctor here."
"Nice to see you, Dr. Duncan," Deacon replied with a warm nod. "I recall you're a friend of the Geller family, right?"
"Spot on," Adam nodded, still smiling.
They exchanged a few pleasantries before Deacon excused himself. He was there to pick up a body for burial, and lingering too long would've been awkward.
"Adam, spill everything you know about Elliot!" Montgomery yanked him aside, her voice urgent.
"Seriously?" Adam blinked at her. "You just met him, right? And weren't you just down in the morgue reflecting on life?"
"Yeah…" Montgomery's cheeks flushed, but she powered through the embarrassment. "Adam, do you believe in love at first sight?"
"Nope," Adam said, pulling a classic Leonard-from-Big Bang Theory deadpan face.
"…"
Montgomery faltered, then laughed awkwardly. "Well, most people do—and I do too! Back when I met Derek, it was like that. We were glued to each other, the envy of everyone—'the happy Shepherds,' they called us.
Sure, it didn't end great.
That was my mistake.
But those early years? We were head over heels."
"And Deacon's giving you that vibe again?" Adam asked, dropping the teasing since she owned her past.
"Yes!" Montgomery's face lit up. "Even stronger than before! I was down in the morgue, staring at those bodies, reflecting on everything, when he walked in to collect a patient. His smile just… pierced right through my gloom. I couldn't help but smile back."
"Really?" Adam raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"What's up?" she pressed, eager.
"In my head, he's not that kind of guy," Adam mused. "I met him at my friend's grandma's funeral. She told me that after his wife died young, he never got over her. Never remarried, never even got close to any of the women chasing him. Seeing him like this with you—it's wild."
"That's love at first sight!" Montgomery's eyes sparkled. "He's gentle, romantic, and so devoted! My gut's right—he's nothing like Derek or Mark!"
Adam chuckled.
Mark's a sleaze—anyone's better than him.
As for Dr. Shepherd? Yeah, he cheated and pulled some baffling stunts, but that was after getting double-stabbed in the back by his best friend and wife.
Turning into the Hulk from all that green-eyed rage? Understandable.
Still, understandable or not, when it comes to character and devotion, he doesn't hold a candle to Deacon, who's stayed solo for a decade or two out of love.
"Well, congrats in advance then!" Adam said, grinning at her.
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Deacon's rock-solid good-guy image in Adam's mind definitely outshone Montgomery's two exes. If they ended up together and she found some emotional stability, she'd be a better doctor for it—a win-win.
Since Monica was pregnant, Adam decided not to tease her with this juicy update.
A Few Days Later
Adam spotted Deacon at the medical center again.
This time, Mark—fuming that Montgomery hadn't picked him or Shepherd—was glaring at his "true love" sparking it up with this classy dude. Without a second thought, he stormed over to confront them.
"Here comes the drama!" Cristina slid up next to Adam, her eyes gleaming as she stared at the showdown. She was one popcorn bag away from kicking back to enjoy the show.
"Let's hope they fight! Mark messes up his hand and tanks his career forever!"
"Wow, he's really pissed you off, huh?" Adam tilted his head at her, channeling Leonard's vibe when Raj insists on dissecting a rom-com mid-watch.
"Uh-huh!" Cristina shot him a "duh" look.
Over there:
"Mark Sloan, head of plastic surgery here at the medical center," Mark said, thrusting out his hand.
"Elliot Deacon," Deacon replied, shaking it but keeping his intro short and his expression neutral.
Emmm.
Deacon was pushing fifty, looking a bit weathered.
Mark and Montgomery, both in their thirties, were in their prime. Mark worked out religiously—face, income, physique, the full package. Without that, how else could he swagger around, stealing his best friend's perfect wife?
So, flexing his brawn, Mark went for the oldest trick in the book: a handshake power play. He squeezed hard, aiming to put this "old man" rival in his place.
But his smirk froze fast.
The "old guy" in his eyes? Strong as hell. No matter how hard Mark gripped, Deacon didn't flinch—just stared back calmly.
The real pro was right here all along.
The clown? That's me.
Facing a rival who looked unfazed and could clearly crank it up a notch, Mark started sweating.
Those hands were his money-makers!
"Mark!" Montgomery clocked his game the second the handshake dragged on, snapping furiously, "Let go!"
Deacon smoothly released his grip.
Montgomery rushed over, grabbed Deacon's hand, and checked it with a worried frown.
Mark's face turned a sickly shade of green.
Adam narrowed his eyes, watching it all unfold.
(End of Chapter)