Could you do some sort of ficlet for Modern Glasgow of Jamie and Claire interacting with her fellow med students and him claiming her in front of them or vice versa.
Modern Glasgow AU: Chronological order || Publication Order [AO3]
(set about 1.25 years after Jamie and Claire's wedding, early in her first semester of medical school)
A gust of wind pushed across the courtyard, and Jamie turned up the collar of his jacket.
"It's a bit nippy for September. Hope this doesnae bode ill for the winter."
"It's overcast," Claire remarked beside him, stepping carefully around the puddles left from last night's rain. "And we're in Scotland. The weather can take a turn at any moment."
Jamie huffed. "Reminds me that I need to fix the insulation around the window in our bedroom. Cannae have my wife freezing."
She readjusted her satchel (a gift from Jamie) on her shoulder, and squeezed his hand. "Well, as long as we continue to use our bed in the way we do, I wouldn't worry about that."
He flushed, and she smiled. He coughed.
"Remind me again when you'll be done wi' the study group?"
"Our lab session is until noon, and we'll probably grab lunch afterward at that cafe I told you about. You're welcome to join us."
They had arrived at the grand old university building where Claire now spent the majority of her waking hours. Students burdened by backpacks streamed in and out of the revolving door, earbuds blasting music, faces a mix of exhaustion and exhiliration.
Jamie turned to face Claire. "Text me when you're on your way. Rupert wants to go over the Christmas printing schedule wi' me...and ye ken that could take minutes or hours." With his free hand he brushed a stray curl behind her ear, smiling as he glimpsed the earrings she wore - the small diamond studs his father had given his mother, and which Jenny in turn had given to Claire last Christmas.
She smiled at him. "Show me," she said quietly.
He drew back his hand, so that she saw the C tattooed at the base of his thumb.
She reached up to caress his chin with her thumb, then pulled back - showing him the J tattooed there.
He swallowed. "I love you."
"I love you," she smiled, and he leaned down to kiss her long and sweet.
Finally she pulled away and smiled again. "I'll see you later."
He smiled back. "I cannae wait."
It had been an intense session in the anatomy lab that morning, but Claire's partner Jeanne was (fortunately) just as focused and determined as she was. Despite only knowing each other for a few weeks, since the beginning of term - already they had settled into a good working rhythm. Jeanne too had previous medical experience - she had worked as a paramedic in Paris for a year or so, and after a particularly traumatic incident decided to shift gears and train as a doctor.
It was through Jeanne that Claire had met the rest of the study group. There was Millie, a fresh university graduate from Edinburgh who lived down the hall from Jeanne in the university's student housing. And Peggy, Millie's roommate from Belfast, who had taken a gap year working at a clinic Nigeria before university. And Doug, who always wore a sweater from his native Shetland Islands, and Bruno, who never said much but clearly knew his facts. Millie and Peggy had met Doug and Bruno at a first-year student event, and immediately offered to form a study group. Claire - and, she suspected, Jeanne - wasn't quite sure if it was just a ploy to hook them as boyfriends.
But she was happy to get to know several other students - especially those with very different backgrounds from her own - and have them as her "team". They were fun, they were focused, and they certainly made her feel at home.
It was now their post-lab or post-lecture routine to grab a quick coffee or lunch (depending on the time of day) at the quiet but vibrant cafe right off campus. Despite its proximity to the university, the cafe was frequented more by neighborhood regulars than students - and never minded the group of six sitting in the back booth for several hours on end, mulling over the day's lessons.
Claire had texted Jamie when they'd locked up their lab drawers and headed out for the cafe. He'd quickly replied - Still at the printshop, don't wait for me, i love you mnd - and she'd tucked away her phone for the short walk across campus, chatting with Jeanne and Doug, with Millie and Peggy and Bruno following close behind.
Halfway to the cafe, Jeanne's mother called - and she hung back a bit, Claire only able to pick up a few words here and there amid the rapid-fire French.
"I'm concerned with the pace of all these lectures," Doug said to Claire.
She shrugged. "I'm not. I don't have a frame of reference to know if it's too fast or slow."
"I've asked around and been told that our lecturer is new this year. Maybe he's trying to push us all a bit hard."
"I wouldn't know. Besides, I don't mind if it's a bit accelerated. I quit my job for this - I'm all in."
"That's right," Doug said, quickly glancing over his shoulder to see Bruno and Peggy and Millie laughing hysterically. "You were a nurse, if I remember correctly."
Claire nodded. "At an A&E here in Glasgow, mostly."
"You must have some fascinating stories."
"I do. But more than anything, having that experience taught me to trust my instincts."
They paused at a crosswalk, waiting for the signal to change.
Doug turned to look at her - his eyes strangely intense. "Is that right, Claire?"
She raised her eyebrows skeptically. "I don't know what you're insinuating. But I'm warning you, don't go any further."
The other four members of the group were still a few steps behind. Doug's eyes remained intense on Claire's.
"You know exactly what I mean, Claire. I can give you whatever you want. And things you could never dream of. Trust your instinct on this."
Claire gaped, fire burning in her heart. But just as she replied -
"Claire!" Millie and Peggy sprang up behind her. "Bruno just told us the most wonderful joke. Bruno, can you repeat it!"
Claire pasted on a smile. Her left hand formed a fist in her pocket, thumb tracing her wedding ring.
Claire hadn't the appetite for food, but a hot Earl Grey did cheer her somewhat.
When they arrived at the cafe, she'd deliberately sat as far away from Doug as possible. Normally she sat on the inside of the booth, but today she sat on the edge, almost as if she wanted to make a break for the door.
She listened idly to Peggy and Millie chattering with Bruno and Doug, knowing that Jeanne picked up on her silence but wisely did not ask.
Just as she finished her tea, Jamie strode through the door, glancing around the cafe.
How her heart soared when he saw her and smiled.
Not caring about the conversation in the booth, immediately she stood. And then he was there, squeezing her hands. And then she pulled him down for a deep kiss.
He pulled away, quirking an eyebrow - he'd ask her later.
She turned to the group. Narrowed her eyes at Doug - who showed no emotion.
"Everyone - this is Jamie. My husband."
Jamie nodded. "Good to see you again, Jeanne. Hi everybody."
"This is Millie and Peggy."
Bruno stood to shake Jamie's hand. "A pleasure," he smiled.
Doug nodded a cool hello.
"Quite the Fair Isle knit you've got there," Jamie remarked in his thickest brogue. "I'd think that you Shetlanders would consider this weather to be quite balmy."
"Perhaps my blood has thinned a bit from living with all you Southerns," Doug retorted coolly.
Claire squeezed Jamie's hand, and dug her thumbnail in the flesh at the base of his thumb. Their silent signal indicating: I need you desperately.
Jamie dragged a chair to sit at the end of the booth, still gripping Claire's hand. "How was the lab?" His thumb swiped the underside of her wrist - another silent signal indicating, I understand.
For about fifteen minutes Jamie remained, chatting with his wife and her classmates, learning more about them and their aspirations. He never let go of Claire's hand beneath the table - their fingers twining and re-twining in a silent promise of what was to come.
Finally when Bruno stood up to leave, and the group broke up - Jeanne gave Claire a quick hug goodbye, and Claire didn't even acknowledge Doug as he turned back to the university.
Two minutes later she and Jamie were in their car.
"I'm going to drive us home, and you're going to tell me what's going on, Claire."
"I will, but you must promise to not do anything."
He turned on the car and looked at her. "I'm not going to hurt anyone, if that's what you're insinuating. But if you want me to defend your honor - "
"Doug propositioned me," she said baldly.
He pursed his lips. "I see. Show me, Claire."
She reached out her hand, palm up, the letter J bold and dark against the pale skin of her hand.
"I'm going to ask Jeanne to remove him from the study group."
Her thumb traced the seam of his lips.
"He said he could give me whatever I wanted. And things I could never dream of."
He parted his lips, and took in her thumb.
"He can never understand that it's only you who does that for me. Who could do that for me."
He sucked gently, eyes burning.
"My heart hurts with love for you, Jamie."
He bit gently on her knuckle. Offered his thumb - with her C tattooed at the base - for her to kiss. She did, and bit softly.
He released her thumb with a soft, wet pop. "It is the greatest honor of my life, Claire, to be that person for you. For you know it's the same for me, aye?"
He smiled. "I love you. Let's go home."
Her hand squeezed his thigh the whole way.
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