Summary: Things don't always work out as they should. You live. You learn. But what about love? This is about love working in very strange ways.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is Chad and Troy AU…Troy and Chad. THIS IS NOT EDITED!

Author's Note: This is just a preview of a story I've been working on since 2011! Yes…2011. The thought has been with me since 2006! I have 10 chapters so far but I'm in grad school now!

Chapter One.

Beads of water dribbled down his cheek, slipped under his chin, and slide down his neck. Splashing water on his face did barely a thing. Wasn't cold water supposed to wake one up?

Staring into his eyes through the reflection of the bathroom mirror, Chad wondered why he was up. It was summer time and school had let out less than three weeks ago. Chad had looked forward to the idea of sleeping in, slouching about, and hanging out with his core group of friends. Ever since he had come back from Winter Break, the countdown to summer vacation was of top priority. At school, he was a 'B' student and certain courses spoke to him more than others but the thought of not going to school for eleven weeks was paradise. And, alas, paradise was pulled out from underneath him when his mother approached him about a possible volunteer position.

He trudged his way back to his room after he cleaned his face and brushed his teeth. Yanking on a graphic T-shirt, Chad's body jolted with electricity. Anger briefly consumed him as he thought about why he had agreed to work at his mother's hospital.

His father had run out on his mother.

It had been Chad and his mother since early February. He tried his hardest to take care of his mother who was left high, dry, and without a paddle to fend for herself. So, when she asked him a few days ago if he would like to help her out at the hospital. He couldn't help but agree.

She wanted him to have as many extracurricular activities as his college applications could handle...at least that's the spin she put on it. He didn't know how much of this was true but he figured his mother wanted him around her - in her sights and smells - for as long as she could since Chad was basically all she had left.

He stared at his alarm clock. It read 10:27am. It was too damn early for him especially since the last few weeks he made it his mission to wake up at 12:00pm every day that summer was in session.

"Honey, let's go!" His mother bellowed up the staircase. Without responding, he shoved his feet into the nearest Air Force shoes and bounded down the stairs. He headed straight for the kitchen where a bowl and his favorite sugar high of a cereal were waiting on the counter for him.

"Thanks, mom." He squeezed her shoulders while she read over a few bills.

Toni Danforth was a vibrant woman in her mid-forties. The twinkle in her coffee brown eyes was dimmer than usual since the break-up yet Chad was amazed that she was able to laugh and enjoy those around her. Chad wouldn't say it out loud but he adored his mother and would do anything to make her happy.

"No sweat. Just hurry up. We're going to be late."

Lazily, he pulled the cardboard tabs of the cereal box apart. This was top speed for him.

"I mean it." Her voice lowered as she pulled her shoulder length wavy hair into a ponytail.

"Guess, no healthy breakfast. Aren't you always telling me-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm a horrible and hypocritical mother. Now, take the box with you and let's go." She grabbed her keys and walked out of the kitchen, towards the front door.

Robotically, he followed his mother's wishes. With a check in his pockets for his wallet and keys, Chad left his house, locking up while juggling a box of cereal.

He opened the passenger side door of his mother's Murano. "Again, why am I getting a ride with you?"

"Again, you don't have an ID badge or know which floor you'll be on."

Chad laughed dryly.

"Besides," his mother continued, "I want to take my only son to his first day of work."

"Work implies I'm getting paid...which I'm not." A mouthful of dry cereal impeded some of the words from sounding as they should but he figured that his mother should be able to figure it out.

"Poor baby," she laughed as she revved the car.

His mother was a Nurse Practioner in the Intensive Care ward of the Albuquerque Regional Medical Center. She started out as a medical scribe, became a R.N. in the Emergency Room and worked her way up to N.P. status. She had quite a bit of clout in the hospital and was able to pull some strings to get her son into a volunteer program.

"I know," playfully pouted Chad as he dropped a few more cereal pieces into him mouth.

Lulling into a comforting silence, Chad's mind wandered to what his duties would be. When his mother first informed him that he would be volunteering in the waiting room, Chad was relieved. The fantastic fantasy of sleeping in, watching expanded cable, and hanging out with his friends still swam about his mind yet knowing that the most that would be asked of him would be filing or helping wheel out patients helped soothe the sting of working. It wasn't the toughest duty he ever had.

Besides, his iTouch and phone were fully charged.

Staring out the window while eating his fill of crunchy, sugary gold, Chad wondered about his day. His mother informed him that he would be helping out Monday through Thursday from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Not terrible.

As his mom traced the familiar route to the medical center, the teenage-aged boy watched the medical center come into focus; its four sun bleached buildings of varying heights was what he always remembered. Clustered together forming a tight, concrete corridor flashed and winked as the rising sun reflected off of the windows. Chad hadn't visited his mother's workplace since he started school this year. He just hadn't had the time to visit once basketball season began. Seeing the buildings again, in all their foreboding glory, made small knots accumulate in his stomach.

His mother swiftly pulled into a parking spot within the attached parking garage and entered the hospital's main floor. Approaching the waiting room caused snippets of memories to bubble up within his mind. The room was already filled with people in various stages of distress. One woman was in a wheelchair while a young child was whisked away in the arms of a nurse who disappeared behind the doors that led back to the bustling units of the hospital.

"First we need to get you your temporary ID badge." Toni informed as she led her son to the front desk in the waiting room."

Trying his hardest not to stare, Chad peered around the room as Mrs. Danforth went behind the plexiglass enclosed desk to retrieve the badge.

"Here you are."

The grey and red slab of plastic was as basic as could be. Nothing special really but since he wouldn't be venturing deep into the bowels of this medical beast, it was alright.

"I know that you don't have to do this but...I'm glad you stepped it up and said yes." His mother smiled at him, her warm brown eyes glinted in the fluorescent lights.

"Oh, stop," whispered Chad as he pulled his mother closer, resting his cheek on her head.

Slinging her arm around her son's waist, Toni led them to the elevators.

"You're on the eleventh floor with Mercedes." His mother blurted out before the boy could protest. "You'll be assisting her since the lead nurse is out on maternity leave. Most of the time you'll be dealing with linens, organizing and filing records – you know."

"Um, huh?"

A wide, nervous smile bloom across Toni's face. "I'm sorry, honey. Mercedes really needs the help up there. And you were down here but could help up there…" She trailed off.

"Okay…" His mother was the sneakiest person he'd ever met. "Sooo, I'll be working in what unit? ICU? Orthopedics? Where?"

A murmur was his answer.

"I know you think I play my music too loud but I know I'm not deaf. Could you please repeat that?"

"The eating disorder clinic."

Remembering that he was in public, the blurt he wanted to let free was reigned in.

"Come again?"

"I know. This typically wouldn't happen but the clinic is new. The lead nurse is out on bed rest. There is so much to be done that they needed someone to help out until Elaine comes back or a replacement is found. I got the call this morning. I didn't know until then. They need the help – what was I to say?"

An image of depressed, pencil-thin girls staring at him, the intruder, clouded his mind. How could he work there?

"Wouldn't my being there be detrimental to their progress?"

Toni pressed the elevator button. "Detrimental? I'm so glad you're using your SAT 2 vernacular."

"This isn't funny." He grumbled as he stepped into the elevator.

"I know. Just help them out. That's what you're here for."

Chad kept quiet as he rode the elevator up. How could this have happened?

The ding of the elevator rang out as the doors opened. Chad took in the office sights.

The elevator opened directly onto the reception area. Scanning the room he noted that this area was more like a living room or a common room. Though there was a small nurses station just to the right of where he stood, Chad thought the pale yellow walls and white fluffy rug placed over the hardwood floors looked comfy. A large, modular sofa with a lounge end was situated against the farthest wall. There were two black chairs opposite the sofa and a glass coffee table between the pieces of furniture. Non-descript art was well placed on the walls and lush green plants were tucked nicely in a corner.

Plants I'll be watering…great. Chad rolled his eyes.

"Pretty swanky, no?" called his mother as she leaned against the nurses' desk.

"It's like a hotel."

A young woman – maybe 24 years old - emerged from the hallway directly in front of him. She wore lavender scrubs with white tennis shoes. Her black hair was pulled into a high bun. Her caramel skin radiated under the fluorescent bulbs. She approached Chad and his mother.

"Hey, Toni! This has to be Chad. I'm Mercedes."

Chad's eyes ran up and down her body, taking in the sights. Perhaps this could be interesting.

"Um, no. I'm getting married." She smirked at him while flashing him her ring.

Behind him, he heard his mother scoff.

"Sorry. Lovely ring. Brilliant." He scratched his head, not knowing what to do next.

"Alright…now that the awkwardness has passed we can get down to business. Bye, Toni." She waved to his mother as she re-enter the elevator.

"Yeah. I'm really sorry about that one."

"No worries." She winked at Chad's mother. "Welcome and I'm so glad you're here. I'm Nurse Jimenez but you can call me Mercedes. I truly appreciate the help. With the recent budget cuts and you signing up as one of the first volunteers…the higher ups that this would work."

Smiling as graciously as possible, Chad shrugged his shoulders. "It's nothing really. How many other staffers are there?"

"Including me? Me. I'm all there is here for now. They tried to have me do this on my own for a few weeks now. Though there are eight live-in residents and four others who once lived here but now come in for continual after-care, I still need back up. Follow me."

Chad did as he was told. "What are my duties?"

"Basically, whatever I tell you to do." She threw a grin over her shoulder as they walked down the same hallway she emerged from earlier.

"This hall is where the psychologists' offices, dining and laundry rooms are located." The décor of the common space seemed to be continual down the hall.

"The hallways to the left and right of the common space are where residents sleep. Down the right hallway is also an extra room used for group therapy which is where everyone is right now. Dr. Marcey and Dr. Larin are the main psychologists who treat the patients individually as well as in group. Dr. Battaglia, a physician and nutritionist, comes in once a week or so to talk with everyone about nutrition, to check vital signs, to keep track of weight progression…all that jazz."

The two walked passed the doctors' offices whose golden plaques nailed to their doors gleamed in the light. A door across Dr. Marcey's was labeled "Laundry". Mercedes shoved the door open, holding it so he could enter. The inside reminded him of his own laundry room. Metal shelves lined the walls, filled with bed sheets, games, a DVD player, some movies, a sizeable TV on a rolling stand, and a few first aid kits. Atop the stack of quilts was a digital scale. At the back of the room was a white washer and dryer set.

"What you'll be doing specifically is what I tend to do when Tracy is here. I'll help you out with that though. Some duties will include supervising the patients in their down time, maintaining the chore chart, cleaning off the dishes, helping prepare the lunches, and possibly filing records…that sort of thing. I don't plan on following behind you, making sure you're doing every little thing correct. I trust you – you live with your mother who I know would not raise you in any way less the respectful and diligent."

"Yeah. I can handle this. How do you know my mother?" He sat on top of the dryer.

"I use to work in the Cardiac Recovery Unit which I love but I'm studying to be an R.N. and I need this job. It's much easier to do while I study for the NCLEX-RN."

"Why not stay an L.P.?"

"I don't want to clean up after people or take basic vital signs. I want to be able to treat people one-on-one without having to report to other nurses so they can check up after me. Plus, the pay is better."

Chad chuckled. "I understand that. I'll let you know that you won't need to follow behind me."

"Good 'cuz I hate it when Tracy does it to me. She's sweet but…she's sweet." Mercedes smirked. "Come on. It's lunchtime and I want to show you how to prep them."

Hopping down, Chad led the way out – this time holding the door for Mercedes. "Let me."

"Oh! And manners too!"

The two enter the dining room which had a wall of windows that let the sunlight in. The sun's rays filtered through the blinds and fell upon the one long dining table that was covered in a white table cloth. The room was painted light green and the floors were a honey colored wood. To the right was another table.

"That's where we put the food so that the patients can grab and go when they're ready. We want to teach them how to take control of food as well as what proper portions are for them. Over here is a small kitchen." She went through a door behind the spare table. The room was basic. There was a stove, refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, and some counter space. On the counter were three covered aluminum pans.

"The food comes from the hospital or a restaurant that Dr. Battaglia's daughter runs and every weekend the patients will cook. Sometimes I'll fix something since the food from downstairs – though better than some hospitals – isn't the greatest in the world and the restaurant doesn't supply us with enough food for my taste."

"What's on today's menu?"

"Fruit salad, chicken, and tabbouleh couscous salad which is from the restaurant and I love it. It's okay if you sneak a little."

"I'm beginning to like this gig."

Mercedes went to uncover the dishes and immediately the smells wafted towards Chad. He regretted eating breakfast.

"So, can you preheat the oven to about 325°F to warm up the chicken? Typically, we just set the food out in smaller serving dishes. Can you also grab some measuring cups?" She turned around, uncovering the food, and pulling out some bowls from the cabinet.

"Why measuring cups?"

"You have to remember that this is the place where people go to recover from eating disorders. For most of them, food induces anxiety. It represents all that they can't control. By measuring the food out, we reinforce what they learn from Dr. B about how to take control of one's nutrition. And since we have two patients who are quite new, we prepared their plates for them."

Chad began opening drawers. Once finding the right one, he pulled out some stainless steel measuring cups.

"Traditionally speaking, here want to make sure the patients are serving themselves a cup to a cup and a half for carbohydrates. For veggies or fruit, two cups and meat…the size should be no larger than a deck of cards. Those are rough estimates but out in the dining room we have an extensive chart of specific food portions."

He peeked out of the small kitchen. Sure enough there was a huge poster that looked to be handmade, color-coded by specific food groups and foods, with detailed amounts of what one should eat depending on sex and level of activity.

"Wow."

"I know, kid. Let's get this going so that we can set these out. Lunch is at noon sharp."

The duo went about preparing lunch. They traded information about themselves typical of first meeting a new co-worker. Twenty minutes later, lunch was set up in the dining room. The two went back at the nurses' station, lounging after their long tour of the center.

"Here." Mercedes pulled open the bottom drawer next to the computer. She pulled out two packaged shirts: one was dark blue and the other was green. "I snagged these from downstairs."

"Thanks. I have some at home that Mom bought for me."

The group therapy door opened and out came a group of girls. They passed by the nurses station, too caught up in their own conversations to notice Chad sitting there. Behind the girls were two older women.

"Hey, Dr. Marcey, Dr. Larin. This is Chad, Toni's son." Said Mercedes.

"Hello." He stood up, shaking either woman's hand. Dr. Marcey was relatively tall and had a friendly face worn with laugh lines. She had short brown hair and wore glasses. Dr. Larin had deep red hair that was tied up in a bun. She gave off the impression of impressive intellect as her suit was crisply pressed and heels shining.

"Nice to meet you. Michael will be glad to have another male around." Dr. Marcey laughed. The two women headed down to the dining room.

"Michael is Dr. Battaglia." Informed Mercedes. Her eyes darted towards the left hallway of additional bedrooms. "Will he or won't he?" She muttered aloud.

"There's a guy here?" Chad tried not to sound surprised.

"Yes. Guys can have eating disorders." Mercedes eyebrows lifted in warning as if to silently dare him to object or say something stupid.

Chad put on his most charming smile to, hopefully, dissipate any tension that was lingering in the air. "I hear you. Lead the way."ll, let's go get him." to object or say something in warning of d thorugh She muttered aloud.

Mercedes headed down the hallway, leading Chad to the bedroom at the back right corner. The door was left ajar as the young nurse knocked twice.

"You need to be in the dining room. It's lunchtime and you know it. And don't think your absence wasn't noted at today's group session."

As Chad peeked around the door to get a better look at the room, a voice called out from what he assumed was a bathroom.

"Sorry, I was talking to my mom, Mercedes."

Glimpsing the room, Chad noted the two twin beds, two identical dressers and desks placed at the perimeter of the room. A laptop, DVDs, clothes, and other personal effects were strewn about the floor and across the spare bed.

Upon hearing the door creak open, Chad fixed his posture and put on a neutral face. He didn't want the guy to feel uncomfortable around him. As the guy came out of the bathroom, Chad's breathing hitched and his face dropped as he locked eyes with the patient.

"Troy, this is Chad. He'll be volunteering here for the rest of the summer."