<\/p>\n
\u201cChoose your attitude,\u201d Nick had once been advised by a wise college professor of his; it was one of four sayings that accompanied the professor\u2019s philosophy on how to live life and make a difference. Choosing your attitude meant that you<\/em> got to decide how to feel about or react to the situations that came your way. But to Nick, on this particular day, there was no choice in the matter.<\/p>\n Today was going to suck \u2013 that was a fact \u2013 and the most positive attitude in the world was not going to change it.<\/p>\n It was Valentine\u2019s Day, a day which normally sucked anyway, because it was mushy and gushy, expensive and full of expectations if you had a girlfriend, and lonely and pathetic if you didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n For years, Nick had been in the latter category, one of the poor pathetic souls in his class at school who couldn\u2019t get a girlfriend because he was scrawny and the girls thought he was weird, that loner who drummed in the marching band, sang in the show choir, and played video games in his free time. He\u2019d never had many friends; at his school, the cool kids were the jocks, not the music geeks, and while Nick had been on the basketball team, technically, he had spent more time warming the bench than actually playing.<\/p>\n Then puberty had finally hit in full force, and Nick had quickly entered the former, the club of guys with girlfriends, girlfriends who liked him more for his looks than anything else and expected roses, chocolates, and a fancy dinner on Valentine\u2019s Day. As Nick, too, had dated the vast majority of his string of high school and college girlfriends more for their looks than anything else, he had quickly come to loathe the \u201choliday\u201d even more than he had when he was pathetic and single. He hated blowing his hard-earned money on girls he didn\u2019t really care about anyway.<\/p>\n But this year, it was different. He was poorer than ever, but now that he was with Isabel, he found that he really did care. He wanted<\/em> to give her a nice gift and take her out for a romantic dinner. She was the only thing in his life that had been keeping him sane lately, as his surgical rotation had been intense. She was what he looked forward to, even more than sleep, on the rare days they both had off.<\/p>\n Though he was working today, he had managed to avoid being scheduled for the night shift and had looked forward to being able to spend the evening of Valentine\u2019s Day with Isabel.<\/p>\n The only problem was, she had been stuck with the night shift. And all of her attempts to trade shifts had failed. No one wanted to work the night of Valentine\u2019s Day, and she was the lowest rung on the ladder in the cardiology department. And so, while other couples were out trading heart-shaped Valentine\u2019s cards and sampling chocolates from heart-shaped boxes, Isabel would be examining real hearts at the hospital.<\/p>\n It was valiant, sure\u2026 but it sucked. It sucked big time.<\/p>\n So as Nick changed into his scrubs and sterile gown and went to scrub in for his first surgery of the morning, it was hard to follow his professor\u2019s advice. He was working while Isabel was off, and as soon as he got off, she would be starting her shift. There wouldn\u2019t even be time to meet for dinner.<\/p>\n And his mentor wasn\u2019t even on call today. Dr. Richardson had the day off, and he didn\u2019t even have a girlfriend anymore. It wasn\u2019t fair. Now Nick would be stuck working under the critical eye of Dr. Brunson all day, which made his predicament even worse.<\/p>\n Yes, choosing a positive attitude was going to be near impossible.<\/p>\n Kevin Richardson looked around his apartment with a critical eye. To his disappointment, not a thing was out of place… every book was arranged (in alphabetical order) on the shelves, his DVD collection was categorized by genre (with sub-sections in alphabetical order, of course), his current magazines were stacked neatly on his otherwise immaculate coffee table (not<\/em> alphabetized, but in date-of-publication order), and not a mote of dust could be seen on a single surface (even his mother would be in awe).<\/p>\n The rug had been vacuumed several times (although it was brand-new), the furniture had been arranged and rearranged a dozen ways until everything was just right. There wasn\u2019t a streak on the expansive windows that overlooked the scenic view of the river and surrounding woods; indeed, there wasn\u2019t a thing out of place.<\/p>\n Which left him with an entire day off and not a single thing left to do.<\/p>\n Oh, he\u2019d tried to get in a shift at the hospital; had practically begged, but Brunson had declared that he was taking the day off, no arguments. She said that he had put in far too much time in the last two months and that she wouldn\u2019t allow him to burn out, not while she was in charge of things. When the Chief of Staff said such, in that<\/em> tone, one didn\u2019t bother to protest.<\/p>\n Glancing at the clock, Kevin wondered what in the world he was going to do for the ten remaining hours that marked Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n Without Elizabeth… without a significant other… the day sort of sucked. A whole day devoted to love and romance… fine, if you were connected. Lousy if you weren\u2019t.<\/p>\n He sighed, then was struck by a thought. Groceries! Surely he needed to re-stock on some basics. If he took his time, and went to the market across town, it\u2019d take him at least an hour. Happily, he grabbed his coat, grateful for something to do.<\/p>\n To his chagrin, the grocery store didn\u2019t provide the escape from Valentine\u2019s that he had hoped for. Instead, the aisles were packed full of bouquets, chocolates, decadent treats, cards, balloons (when had grocery stores turned into mini-malls, anyway?), and a hundred other reminders of romance. By the time he\u2019d turned his cart down the coffee aisle, he was muttering under his breath about hating the color red.<\/p>\n He looked up at the sound of a familiar laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cNow there\u2019s something… a surgeon hating the color red.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHayley!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here, Kev, slumming?\u201d she teased, her hazel eyes full of laughter.<\/p>\n \u201cI just kind of needed to get out of my apartment for a while, decided to get a change of scenery. What about you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was down to a can of tuna and some bendable celery. Desperation set in, so I figured it was time to get some supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n A silence settled between the two friends for a moment. Hayley looked into his cart and raised an eyebrow. \u201cThree frozen dinners, six eggs, and a head of lettuce? Wow, you\u2019re going all out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell… I haven\u2019t gotten to the pasta section yet…\u201d he defended.<\/p>\n She rolled her eyes. \u201cI know you can cook, I\u2019ve seen you do it. And don\u2019t tell me you can\u2019t afford stuff, not on your extravagant salary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI deserve every penny I make,\u201d he said, a small grin appearing. \u201cEspecially for putting up with certain surgical nurses on my team.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh? Who are they? I\u2019ll have a talk with them.\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin finally laughed. \u201cI knew coming here was a good idea.\u201d He looked down for a second. \u201cTruth is, it\u2019s been hard being alone since Liz and I broke up. I mean… why cook, just for one person?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know what you mean,\u201d Hayley said. \u201cThere are days when my dinner consists of popcorn and Hershey bars.\u201d<\/p>\n He made a face. \u201cThat\u2019s sad, Hay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t I know it,\u201d she said, shrugging. Then, her eyes narrowed. \u201cYou don\u2019t have any plans for tonight, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither do I. And you know what? The last thing I want to do is sit home feeling sorry for myself, and I bet you feel the same.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I sure don\u2019t want to sit home feeling sorry for you, that\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n She gave him a smack on the arm. \u201cKev, you\u2019re such a doofus. You know what I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled. \u201cYeah, I do. So what are you suggesting?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go out to dinner. Someplace where we can talk and laugh and have someone else cook, serve, and do the dishes afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTonight? But it\u2019s Valentine\u2019s Day-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n He blinked. Hayley was right.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sure sounds better than scrambled eggs with a side of self-pity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat!\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll pick a place and you can buy dinner. Sound fair?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait a minute, how come I-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you make the big bucks,\u201d she interrupted with a smirk. \u201cDeal?\u201d<\/p>\n He laughed once again. \u201cDeal, you crazy woman. How about I pick you up around seven?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerfect. It\u2019ll be our Un-Valentine\u2019s dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n With a smile, she gave him a wink and continued down the aisle. By the time Kevin had paid for his purchases, he was truly looking forward to a fun dinner with his best friend, romance be damned.<\/p>\n Imagine having your appendix burst on Valentine\u2019s Day. Nick shook his head as he walked out of the OR, feeling sorry for the woman he had just assisted Dr. Brunson in operating on. Valerie Abrams would not be feeling up to eating a box of chocolates anytime today. He still thought it sucked that he and Isabel would not get to do anything special for the holiday, but at least they\u2019d be here at the hospital as staff, rather than patients. Things could always be worse.<\/p>\n He disposed of his surgical gown and washed his hands before heading to his locker in the lounge to grab his lab coat. Slipping the white coat on over his scrubs, he instinctively shoved his hands in the pockets of it as he wandered back out. His fingers brushed something stiff, a smallish, thickish piece of paper. Confused as to what he might have put in his coat pocket (he didn\u2019t remember sticking anything in there), he pulled the paper out.<\/p>\n It was a small index card, he saw, folded over once. He didn\u2019t recognize it, but when he opened it up, he did recognize the handwriting.<\/p>\n Big, loopy, and flowing, it was undeniably Isabel\u2019s.<\/p>\n It said:<\/p>\n You\u2019ve been working hard with surgical tools,<\/em> Nick smiled. A treasure hunt! She was sending him on some kind of treasure hunt for his \u201cgift.\u201d He could recognize a clue when he found one in his pocket. It even rhymed. He wasn\u2019t surprised. Isabel was just the type of girl who would take the time to make her clue rhyme.<\/p>\n He read it over again, focusing on the last line. Go to where we first met.<\/em><\/p>\n That was easy. They\u2019d met here at the hospital, though not on this floor. Downstairs, on their way into the ER, the first day of their rotation. He would never forget how nervous he had been, and how confident she had seemed, and how her smile had both relaxed him and twisted his stomach into even tighter knots because it was such a beautiful smile.<\/p>\n His own smile growing, he slipped the clue back into his pocket and ducked out of the lounge, stopping by the nurses\u2019 station just long enough to announce that he was running downstairs and would be back in a minute. He hoped Brunson wouldn\u2019t be looking for him, but he didn\u2019t really care. At this particular moment, he would gladly endure a lecture from the head surgeon just to satisfy his curiosity about Isabel\u2019s note.<\/p>\n Taking the stairs two at a time, Nick trotted down to ground level and wove his way through the ER, which was bustling as usual. He waved a few quick hellos to the nurses he\u2019d gotten to know, but was glad they seemed too busy to stop and chat. He was on a mission.<\/p>\n He slowed as he reached the entrance on the other side of the emergency department. This was where he had met Isabel, when they\u2019d arrived together that first morning. Looking around, he wondered where the clue might be. There weren\u2019t exactly a lot of places to stick a piece of paper and not worry about someone else picking it up.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t see it anywhere on this side of the double doors, so he pushed through them and stood on the other side. It was quieter here and, for now, deserted. He took his time, hunting for any place where a note could be wedged. His eyes were drawn upward, to the sign over the doors that said Emergency Room<\/em>, and as he stared up at it, he was taken back to the first time he\u2019d laid eyes on it.<\/p>\n Looking up at the sign mounted over the doorway, he gulped. Now that he was here in front of these doors, his stomach was cramping up horribly with nerves, and he felt slightly nauseous.<\/em><\/p>\n He took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach. He was so busy worrying and trying to get up the courage to open those doors that he didn\u2019t even notice the soft footsteps of someone walking down the hall towards him. It was only when he heard the voice that he realized someone had come up behind him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLet me guess \u2013 med student?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Nick whirled around, surprised, to find a petite young woman standing behind him. \u201cUh\u2026 yeah,\u201d he choked out, his heart pounding. \u201cHow did you guess?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She smiled. \u201cIt was pretty obvious.\u201d Laughing, she added, \u201cYou look terrified.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n For some reason, Nick suddenly felt much more at ease. Her smile and laugh were contagious, and he couldn\u2019t help but sheepishly smile himself. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m pretty nervous,\u201d he admitted. \u201cSo, how about you? Are you a med student too?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She slid the strap of the large bag she was carrying back onto her shoulder and nodded. \u201cYup. Isabel Rivera. I\u2019m a third-year, too.\u201d She held out a hand, and Nick shook it. Now that he had relaxed a bit, he had a chance to step back and take a good look at her. She was quite pretty, Hispanic, with bronze skin, dark curly hair, and chocolate brown eyes.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Nick Carter.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Nick grinned now, not just because of the memory, but because he had spotted a small bit of white poking out from behind the gray sign. Reaching up, he pulled out another folded index card that had been wedged behind the sign so that only a corner was peeking out for him to find.<\/p>\n Unfolding the card, he read the second message.<\/p>\n Hello, Nick! You\u2019re well on your way<\/em> More rhyming<\/em>, he thought and smiled, pocketing the note as he walked down the hall to the gift shop. He hadn\u2019t the slightest idea where to even begin to find a clue hidden in here, but thankfully, he didn\u2019t have to look. As soon as he walked into the shop, the woman behind the counter looked up, smiled, and motioned him over.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Carter,\u201d she said, reading his ID badge. \u201cI believe I have something for you.\u201d And she reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a third note.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d replied Nick as he took it, surprised at how easy that had been. He stepped back to read the third clue.<\/p>\n By now you\u2019ve read clues two and one,<\/em> Nick chuckled; apparently her mentor, Dr. Shannon Chung, was in on this charade, too. Guessing he was to head up to cardiology next, he thanked the gift shop cashier for the clue and hurried to the elevators.<\/p>\n He was lucky to bump into Dr. Chung right in the hallway of the cardiology department. Clearing his throat, he said to her, \u201cHi, um, I\u2019m Nick Carter; I\u2019m a med student in surgery. Um, do you by chance have anything for me from your student, Isabel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh! Mr. Carter.\u201d The cardiologist\u2019s almond eyes brightened with recognition, and Nick felt a surge of triumph, which quickly turned to confusion when she said, \u201cI thought you came up for your EKG.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d Nick was puzzled. \u201cWhat EKG?\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Chung arched one slender brow. \u201cI thought your mentor would have told you. The administration is requiring that all staff members undergo a routine EKG, just as a precautionary measure.\u201d<\/p>\n Nick frowned. \u201cWhy? I\u2019ve never heard of that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t want any liability issues, I suppose. Over in Indian Valley last year, a nurse died of an MI while on duty. His family tried to blame it on the hospital \u2013 rigors of the job and such \u2013 but the autopsy showed he had an abnormality which could have been detected with a simple EKG. If they\u2019d caught it earlier, they could have treated it and prevented his death. Such a tragedy,\u201d she added regrettably, shaking her head. \u201cIf you\u2019d like, we could get your EKG out of the way now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? No, I can\u2019t,\u201d Nick said quickly, \u201cI\u2019m on call in surgery, and I\u2019m not even really on a break; I just came down to-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo worries. If they page you, the tech can stop it early,\u201d Dr. Chung replied breezily. \u201cI\u2019m on good terms with the head of surgery. You won\u2019t be in any trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBrunson?\u201d Nick was surprised that anyone could be on good terms with Holli Brunson. Dr. Richardson was the closest, but Nick had seen even him butt heads with Brunson.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re slow today. I can get you set up right now; it won\u2019t take long. Why don\u2019t you come with me?\u201d<\/p>\n Nick\u2019s first impulse was to keep resisting; he didn\u2019t want to do this. But Dr. Chung, in her subdued, patient way, was oddly persuasive, and before he knew it, Nick found himself on a cot in a room with her telling him to take his scrub top off. \u201cThe tech will be here in just a few minutes to get you started,\u201d she promised when he did, and left.<\/p>\n What am I getting myself into?<\/em> thought Nick as he sat shirtless on the cot, looking around the room. He felt jumpy; something about this just didn\u2019t seem right. Why hadn\u2019t he heard anything about this requirement?<\/p>\n Then the door opened, and the tech walked in, and Nick felt, if anything, more uneasy. She \u2013 he could tell she was a woman only because she was short \u2013 was gowned up fully, the way he dressed for the OR, in baggy scrubs, a surgical gown that hid her body, a cap over her hair, and a mask over her mouth and nose. All he could see of her was her eyes, and just as he opened his mouth to tell her that she must be in the wrong place, he recognized them.<\/p>\n Her eyes. Deep brown and sparkling, like two pools of molten chocolate, he could gaze into them for hours.<\/p>\n He swallowed, a sigh of relief escaping his throat, where his heart had been lodged. \u201cAre you here to check my heart, Dr. Rivera?\u201d he asked, smirking up at her.<\/p>\n As the mask came down, Isabel\u2019s grin was revealed. \u201cDid it skip a beat when you recognized me?\u201d she returned, her lovely lips curving upwards.<\/p>\n \u201cIt did,\u201d Nick nodded.<\/p>\n Isabel smiled again, radiant. \u201cThen there\u2019s no need. Things are just the way they should be.\u201d<\/p>\n Nick snickered. \u201cYou just wanted an excuse to get me without a shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n Shrugging, Isabel turned and shot him a devilish smile over her shoulder. \u201cMaybe,\u201d she quipped as she walked to the door, closing and locking it. Then she tore off her cap, shook out her mane of shiny, black hair, and started to strip off her surgical garb, one garment at a time. First came the mask, which she tossed across the room, strings flying. Then the papery gown, which she dropped to a heap at her feet, leaving her in just a pair of blue scrubs.<\/p>\n \u201cIs your heart rate climbing?\u201d she asked as she stalked back towards him, almost panther-like, her eyes seductive.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah. Lose those scrubs, and I\u2019ll be downright tachycardic.\u201d<\/p>\n She arched an eyebrow. \u201cWell, we wouldn\u2019t want that, would we? How about a compromise?\u201d She pulled her scrub top up over her head, and he was disappointed to see she had on a tank top underneath. Disappointed, that was, until he took in the sight of her lean, toned arms, her collarbones rising above her smooth, caramel skin, and the gentle swell of her breasts beneath the thin, white material. He\u2019d never been with anyone more perfect, he couldn\u2019t help but think.<\/p>\n Still cat-like in her movements, she climbed gracefully onto the cot and into his lap, straddling him so that they were face to face and almost touching, her legs wrapped around his waist. His pulse had<\/em> quickened, the way it always did when he was near her, and he gently took her hand and placed it in the center of his bare chest. He watched the smile spread across her face as she felt his heart beat.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not tachycardic,\u201d she said after a few moments, \u201cjust horny.\u201d She winked, and he grinned broadly.<\/p>\n \u201cA fair assessment, doctor,\u201d he concurred and pulled her closer, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d you like my treasure hunt?\u201d she asked, in between kisses.<\/p>\n He smiled and kissed her smooth forehead. \u201cI liked it,\u201d he replied. \u201cIt led me to my treasure, didn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Grinning back, Isabel seemed to glow. \u201cHappy Valentine\u2019s Day, Nick,\u201d she said, before pulling him back to her again. She knew as well as Nick that they had to make the most of his \u201cbreak.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think of summer?\u201d Rita said as she walked over to Howie. It had only been two months since they became engaged, and they were just starting to get into the hard part \u2013 deciding and planning a wedding. By some luck, they both had breaks at the moment and had ended up in the emergency department together. The staff lounge\u2019s table looked like it had exploded with bridal magazines and calendars. With two weddings being planned at the same time, Howie and Rita and Jack and Addie, the staff lounge suddenly became Wedding Central.<\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be too hot? You know how it gets during the summer months\u2026\u201d Howie responded. Rita sat in a chair next to Howie and glanced at the calendar.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u2026 I don\u2019t want us to sweat on our wedding day,\u201d she said, chuckling at her remark. It was simple little things like that that made Howie love her. She could be serious at some times, but totally relaxed and bubbly at other times.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I take it you don\u2019t want to freeze on our wedding day either,\u201d Howie remarked. Rita smiled and looked at one of the bridal magazines\u2019 winter specials.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue, but they make lovely formal coats\u2026\u201d Howie flipped through the calendar and stopped at the picture that accompanied September. It was a simple picture \u2013 a small pond in fall. It had fallen leaves everywhere, which illuminated the pond with their orange and gold colors.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about fall? It won\u2019t be cold from winter yet, but it won\u2019t be that hot either,\u201d he said, showing Rita the picture.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm\u2026.\u201d was all that Rita was able to say, before his pager went off. He checked it, and Rita gave him a small kiss before they both walked toward the door.<\/p>\n \u201cDuty calls,\u201d he said. Rita gave him an understanding look. She knew all too well that sometimes, work had to come before life.<\/p>\n \u201cSee you at home?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYup. Tell Dani that I\u2019m really sorry. From the look of the page, it\u2019s really bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. Now go do your job.\u201d Howie gave Rita a quick kiss before joining Harry and the others, who were down the hall.<\/p>\n If there was any time I wanted to kill that pager, that would have been one of them,<\/em> Rita thought, returning to the Cardiology department.<\/p>\n Risha headed to her desk after a long, tiring surgery. One that had ended with the patient\u2019s death due to complications she couldn\u2019t control. It just added on to her saddened mood. It was hard not to feel sad on Valentine\u2019s Day, a day she hated, began to love, and now hated once more.<\/p>\n However, on the desk, she spied something she far from expected that day.<\/p>\n It was covered in roses of every color, balloons trying to escape through the doorway as she entered. And then, her ocean-like orbs caught sight of the final treat, a\u2026 No\u2026 Was that a dancing stuffed Hershey\u2019s Kiss with an Elvis wig and sunglasses on, shaking its booty on the desk as it played the tune \u201cBurning Love\u201d??<\/p>\n There she saw a note, and only skimmed the name.<\/p>\n Chris<\/em>, she thought. Great<\/em>.<\/p>\n Obviously he had gotten the wrong message, so how was she going to tell the obviously eager young man she wasn\u2019t interested, or even near ready for a relationship?<\/p>\n It had been awhile since she had received anything like this, however. She picked up a chocolate despite herself, eating slowly as she pondered quietly. Most guys had gotten the \u201cnot ready\u201d vibe she had been sending off ever since John\u2019s accident.<\/p>\n A sigh came. As hard as it was to move on, it was natural to think of him on Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n She had been out late. Between her rotations at the hospital and trying to keep up with school, she didn\u2019t have as much time for John as she liked. The idea saddened her, and she resolved to work on that more.<\/em><\/p>\n She had gone to pick up John\u2019s Valentine\u2019s Day gift, the most she could afford. A simple, yet handsome watch laid upon a long delicate gold chain with his name engraved on it. It would set her back a bit, but he was worth it. Also, she would never tell him how much it did cost her, or how much she could not afford it, even though she had bought it anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n The young red-headed woman trekked up the stairs to her apartment, when an odd smell reached her nose as she wrinkled it in distaste. Was that smoke? Shaking her head and heading to the door, she saw the note from her roommate, Kimmy, taped to it.<\/em><\/p>\n Rishie,<\/em> She opened the door and was seemingly almost attacked with smoke. Coughing she waved it by, leaving the door open so it could air out.<\/em><\/p>\n Risha went in further, to the source of it, worried. Did Kimmy leave an oven mitt on top of one of the stove burners? She raced to the oven quickly, only to find the most surprising yet interesting sight.<\/em><\/p>\n There stood John, fanning the stove with an oven mitt frantically. His light brown hair stood out in tufts under a big chef\u2019s hat. He wore an apron splattered with different types of food. His bright blue eyes sadly went to \u2013 well, Risha wasn\u2019t sure what it had started out as, but it was now nothing more than possible coal.<\/em><\/p>\n She started laughing, uncontrollably, and grabbed her stomach as she entered a complete fit of giggles. John turned around, his gentle, slightly-freckled face giving an apologetic look at the chaos that surrounded him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHappy Valentine\u2019s Day?\u201d He said, with a shrug of hopelessness, seeing his doom.<\/em><\/p>\n She laughed and hugged him tightly. \u201cI love you, you goober. Happy Valentine\u2019s Day.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The Hershey\u2019s Kiss Elvis\u2026 thing brought her back to the present when it belted out its final note in an odd manner. She ignored it and smiled at the memory. At least she had those. She\u2019d try to sort the Chris ordeal out later and just hoped she wouldn\u2019t run into him today.<\/p>\n Suddenly, she spotted her watch and realized her break was over. She sighed and looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cHappy Valentine\u2019s Day, John,\u201d she whispered and headed out, back to where she was needed.<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Harnett! They need a doctor with the team coming into the ER. ETA is two minutes!\u201d a nurse interrupted Ivory\u2019s thoughts as she walked through the emergency room.<\/p>\n Ivory hastily set down the mug of coffee she\u2019d been carrying with her on her way to a ten-minute break. \u201cWhat\u2019s the condition?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cForty-three year old female in heart failure. Her husband found her clutching her chest as she lay on the floor of the bathroom. She\u2019s on the transplant list at the moment, but you know how those things work,\u201d the nurse answered as the phone at her station rang again. \u201cExcuse me, Dr. Harnett.\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory nodded and began to make her way towards the doors to the ER. She\u2019d had a relatively peaceful day with a few broken bones, some stitches, and an ice skater with a concussion. If she had it her way, the rest of the day would be just as peaceful. After all, it was Valentine\u2019s Day, and she needed a way to figure out how to tell Brian that she was almost definitely taking the job at her cousin\u2019s clinic in Seattle.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that can wait for a better time,\u201d she muttered to herself and rolled up her sleeves as the sound of an ambulance\u2019s sirens became increasingly louder.<\/p>\n When the gurney was wheeled off the ambulance, she rushed over to it. AJ glanced over at her as they pushed the cart into the hospital. \u201cShe was pretty bad when we got there,\u201d he spoke low and fast, hoping the woman\u2019s husband wouldn\u2019t hear. \u201cHer heart sounds are irregular and too slow. We stabilized her on the way over, but it\u2019s definitely not over for her yet. You good to take her?\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory let the gurney get wheeled into a room and looked over her shoulder at AJ. \u201cWe\u2019re good. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem. Happy V-Day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Ivory murmured, whipping out her stethoscope. \u201cYou, too.\u201d She moved over to the bed and tried to listen to the heartbeat even as she watched it show up on the monitor that the nurses worked to hook the woman up to. AJ was right\u2014it was too slow and very irregular. If this woman didn\u2019t get a transplant soon\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cDoctor?\u201d The woman\u2019s husband stepped up next to the bed, worry etched in every feature of his face as he took his wife\u2019s hand between his. \u201cIs she going to be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory managed a grim smile. \u201cI can\u2019t promise anything, Mr\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDonnelly. Michael.\u201d He squeezed his wife\u2019s hand again. \u201cAnd this is my Kate, who\u2019s been trying so desperately to hold on, but the doctors can\u2019t find a damn heart in the whole world for her.\u201d His voice grew angry. \u201cIt\u2019s not right nor fair. I can\u2019t lose the woman I love because the doctors are slow, so please, Doctor, please help us.\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory sighed, handing a note to one of the nurses for the meds that Mrs. Donnelly would need before turning back to the woman\u2019s husband. \u201cMr. Donnelly, I\u2019m going to try my hardest, but you should know that it is very difficult to obtain a heart for a transplant anywhere. Kate\u2019s not the only one on the list; there are thousands just like her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. No, they aren\u2019t like her because I\u2019m not married to them.\u201d He looked up at Ivory now with a heartbreaking face. \u201cI can\u2019t lose her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going anywhere, Michael.\u201d The voice was weak and faint, but Ivory moved closer to Kate.<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Donnelly, I\u2019m Dr. Harnett. How are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n Kate licked her dry lips. \u201cLike a thousand pound anvil is weighing on my chest,\u201d she whispered. \u201cHow bad am I this time?\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory didn\u2019t know how to answer other than with the truth. \u201cI\u2019m not going to lie. It\u2019s not good. We\u2019re going to run a couple of tests, but, in the meantime, we\u2019ve got you on medication that will keep your heart stable. I\u2019m going to go call in to see if there are any possibilities for available donors any time soon, and I need you to stay as comfortable as possible. How\u2019s that sound?\u201d<\/p>\n Kate nodded and smiled weakly up at Michael before turning to Ivory. \u201cThat\u2019s fine. I\u2019m not expecting any miracles, Doctor. I\u2019ve been on the list for five years, and they\u2019ve yet to find me a heart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t hurt to try,\u201d Ivory replied with a smile. \u201cRest, and I\u2019ll be back in a little while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBrian, I\u2019ve got one for you in room two.\u201d Melissa held out a chart as Brian made his way towards the nurses\u2019 station. \u201cBad asthma attack coupled with a possible onset of pneumonia. You good for it?\u201d<\/p>\n Brian tore his mind from the plans he\u2019d made for Valentine\u2019s Day for himself and Ivory. His apartment was currently a mess involving a few dozen various scented candles, what seemed like a thousand different CDs full of romantic music, and the beginnings of a homemade dinner of Ivory\u2019s favorite foods. Tonight would, if all went right, be a way to get Ivory\u2019s mind off of her investigation and hopefully make her relax. He hadn\u2019t seen her relax in weeks, months. Tonight, he vowed that he\u2019d see her let loose and laugh. Really laugh.<\/p>\n But that was for later. Right now, it was time to get back to work.<\/p>\n He nodded at Melissa as he took the file from her. \u201cI\u2019ve got time. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem. Got any plans for later tonight?\u201d she asked, leaning against the counter so she could hear him over the squawking cries from a fussy toddler.<\/p>\n Brian smiled. \u201cOh, yeah. Ivory needs a real night off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t hear any arguments from me on that one,\u201d Melissa agreed. \u201cWhat do you have up your crafty sleeve, Dr. Littrell?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll just have to ask Ivory tomorrow, won\u2019t you?\u201d he teased her.<\/p>\n Melissa rolled her eyes. \u201cI can keep a secret, Brian. Come on. I\u2019ve got to get my Valentine\u2019s Day kicks from somewhere if I\u2019m going to spend it single.\u201d When he remained firm, she shook her head. \u201cYou\u2019re good, Brian. She\u2019s lucky to have you. And speaking of Ivory, how\u2019s the investigation going?\u201d<\/p>\n The sparkle vanished from his eyes. \u201cNot good,\u201d he admitted. \u201cIt seems like they can\u2019t make up their minds, but Ivory\u2019s convinced that, because Brunson hates her, she\u2019s not going to rest until Ivory\u2019s out of Atlantic Memorial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019m so sorry. That witch!\u201d Melissa added heatedly. \u201cShe has no feelings, does she? I wonder how she\u2019d like it if-\u201d<\/p>\n Brian spotted Brunson making her way down the hall and drew his finger across his throat in an exaggerated motion. \u201cThanks for the file, Melissa. I\u2019ll get right on that patient.\u201d<\/p>\n Melissa\u2019s eyes widened for a moment as she saw the older woman, too, before she cleared her throat and nodded at Brian. \u201cNo problem, Dr. Littrell.\u201d<\/p>\n Avoiding Brunson\u2019s hard stare, he sped down the hall, weaving his way around other doctors, nurses, and patients to get to his patient. He was practically under scrutiny, too\u2014at least, he was under Brunson\u2019s scrutiny because he was involved with the woman who was number one on her personal Wanted list. That was nearly as bad as being the one who was under suspicion, and he was determined to avoid the older woman as long as he could.<\/p>\n Knocking on exam room two\u2019s door briskly before he pushed open the door, he stepped in and found himself face-to-face with a teenager whose pretty face was tear-streaked. From the look of her formal dress, he figured she must have been getting ready for a Valentine\u2019s Day date. Glancing down at his chart, he noted her name.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Sabra.\u201d Brian pulled out his stethoscope and slid a pair of latex gloves on his hands. \u201cI\u2019m Dr. Littrell. I\u2019m not going to ask how you are because I bet you\u2019re hating being here tonight, but I\u2019ll ask if you\u2019re able to breathe any more easily.\u201d He listened to her breath sounds and heartbeat before settling her back.<\/p>\n Sabra wiped the tears out of her large, blue eyes before she lifted the oxygen mask to speak. \u201cI\u2019m supposed to be at a dance. How long am I going to be here before I can go back to it?\u201d<\/p>\n Brian pulled a chair over to her bedside and sat. \u201cYou know why you\u2019re here, right?\u201d When she nodded reluctantly, he continued. \u201cSabra, you had a pretty bad asthma attack tonight. Would you mind telling me what exactly happened?\u201d<\/p>\n She rolled her eyes, and Brian had to hold back a smile at her stubbornness. She was obviously in pain, but she didn\u2019t want anyone to really know. More set on getting her way and getting back to a certainly more important social function, she seemed to be debating whether telling him would get her back to the dance quicker or if she should just ignore him all together. To be a teenager again, he thought briefly.<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t breathe right at lunch today,\u201d she admitted finally. \u201cI just thought it was a tiny attack, but I didn\u2019t really think about it because I was too excited about the dance\u2014the one I\u2019m supposed to be at right now,\u201d she added for emphasis. \u201cRyan McCourt actually asked me to the dance, and I\u2019ve been, like, over the moon for the last two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRyan must be a lucky guy,\u201d Brian said with a smile. Poor thing was stuck in the hospital on what was supposed to be a special night. He remembered being a teenager and wanting to go with that special girl to the Winter Ball. He\u2019d gotten to go, but Sabra was stuck in the hospital.<\/p>\n Sabra shrugged. \u201cNot really. I\u2019m<\/em> the lucky one because Ryan\u2019s never looked at me twice before this year, and, all of a sudden, we\u2019re lab partners for chemistry. I hate chemistry, by the way,\u201d she added. \u201cSo, anyway, Ryan\u2019s not so good at it, and I start tutoring him. And then he asked me to go to the dance. It\u2019s been a total fairytale come true.\u201d She sighed. \u201cAnd now I\u2019m being forced to stay here even though I feel fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me be the judge of that,\u201d Brian replied. \u201cSo, you had a tiny attack at lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but, like I said, I just ignored it. It sort of got worse as the day went on, so I used my inhaler. Nothing happened, though, so I just thought if I ignored it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would get better?\u201d Brian finished. \u201cSabra, did you think that maybe if your inhaler didn\u2019t help you feel better, maybe it was because it wasn\u2019t working properly?\u201d<\/p>\n She shrugged. \u201cYeah, the nurse told me that. Said she\u2019d have you fill out a prescription for a new one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I will,\u201d Brian agreed. \u201cSo what made you come to the hospital?\u201d<\/p>\n Sabra slumped lower on the bed. \u201cMy older sister. She was doing my hair for the dance, and, all of a sudden, I couldn\u2019t breathe at all. I guess she freaked out when I passed out. Next thing I know, I\u2019m in an ambulance.\u201d She sighed sadly. \u201cRyan\u2019s never going to ask me out again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf he really likes you, he will.\u201d Brian checked her vitals again and jotted down a few notes on her chart. \u201cI\u2019m afraid you\u2019re going to miss the dance, Sabra. You\u2019ve got a fever, and you\u2019re displaying a few signs of pneumonia. We\u2019re going to keep you a little longer than you\u2019d like, but we want to make sure you\u2019re safe and healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n She let out a little moan of anguish and smacked a hand to her forehead. \u201cThis is the worst<\/em> night of my life!\u201d<\/p>\n Brian waited until he was out of the room before he laughed a little. \u201cKid, you\u2019re gonna have a thousand worst nights of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStep six\u2026 stir the sauce. Easy enough,\u201d Logan Cole said, walking four steps from the tiny kitchen counter to the stove, where a small pot sat over the burner. He stirred the sauce and looked around the small apartment. Everything had to be perfect. The candles were lit on the table, rose petals were scattered in a pathway from the door to the table, and dinner was almost done. The only thing left was to put dinner on the table and have Carrie walk through the door.<\/p>\n \u201cStep seven\u2026 pour sauce on chicken and place on plate. Okay. I can do this!\u201d Turning off the stove, Logan took the sauce pot off of the burner and grabbed a serving spoon. The two plates of chicken and mashed potatoes were sitting on the counter, waiting to be complete. Surprising himself, he poured the sauce with ease. When both plates were finished, Logan grabbed both of them and walked to the table. He placed one at one chair, and reached to place the other one. His elbow accidentally hit the large candle in the middle, knocking it over. It proceeded to hit the other candles, knocking them down as well.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my god!\u201d Logan yelled, running to grab the fire extinguisher. When he came back with it, the entire table, as well as the drapes, was entirely on fire.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026no, no, no, no, no!\u201d he screamed, using the fire extinguisher as much as he could. He used half of its contents, but the fire still burned. It then reached the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cOh n-\u201d was all Logan could fit in before the flames met the gas from the stove. The stove exploded, and Logan held his arms in front of his face so it could be protected. He howled in pain, as he could feel his arms burning. He then heard the fire alarms ring and ran out of the apartment, unable to think of anything but getting away from the fire.<\/p>\n He saw other tenants frantically running out of their houses, trying to figure out where the fire was. The fire was rapidly growing, and smoke filled the entire building. Logan saw that someone was already on their cell phone, calling 911.<\/p>\n As soon as he was out of the building, he looked back on his former home. There was no way he would be returning that night. At that moment, he felt a familiar box shape in his pocket.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least that wasn\u2019t lost\u2026\u201d he thought, as he started to cry. What was he going to tell Carrie?<\/p>\n \u201c…and then I looked up, and down the hall comes the patient, buck-naked and making kissy noises!\u201d Hayley said, giggling.<\/p>\n \u201cNaked?\u201d Kevin asked, trying not to snort.<\/p>\n \u201cBuck-naked,\u201d she affirmed. \u201cApparently the security straps weren\u2019t all that secure. He was fairly out of it, thank goodness, so we just kind of steered him back to his room and settled him back down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not exactly a common reaction to anesthetic,\u201d Kevin said, taking a sip of their complimentary champagne.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re telling me,\u201d she said. \u201cHe didn\u2019t remember a thing afterwards, and I didn\u2019t have the heart to tell him what an exhibitionist he\u2019d been. Can you imagine what a shock that would have been to a fifty year old English teacher?\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin sat back and grinned. \u201cI don\u2019t know, maybe he wanted bragging rights.\u201d He watched as she drained her glass; picking up the nearly-finished bottle, he poured them both a final portion. \u201cYa know, Hay, this was such a great idea. I haven\u2019t laughed this much in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo friends,\u201d she said, raising her glass.<\/p>\n \u201cTo friends,\u201d he echoed. After a clink, they finished the last of the bubbly.<\/p>\n He sat his glass down and looked at the woman across from him. Hayley\u2019s cheeks were flushed from laughter and champagne, her eyes bright with their usual spark. In the candlelight, she looked positively alluring. Beautiful, even. The way she had her hair, upswept…<\/p>\n \u201cEarth to Kev,\u201d came her voice. \u201cWhat, do I have spinach in my teeth or something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Oh, no, sorry… I was just thinking there for a second.\u201d<\/p>\n She tilted her head in consideration. \u201cThinking about what?\u201d<\/p>\n He was quiet for several seconds. \u201cAbout you. How wonderful all this is, how beautiful you look… how things seem different tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n She blinked, clearly not expecting his reply. \u201cDifferent?\u201d she finally managed.<\/p>\n He leaned forward. \u201cI always laugh and relax when I\u2019m with you, Hay. I never feel pressure to be something or someone I\u2019m not. I never realized that until now.\u201d His hand moved up, almost of its own volition. With the gentlest of touches, he brushed her cheek. \u201cYou are really something else, Hayley.\u201d<\/p>\n Her look of astonishment blossomed into a tentative smile. \u201cI could say the same about you,\u201d she said, her heartbeat quickening. \u201cBut… why all this now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s the magic of the day, maybe it\u2019s the champagne or the fine meal or the ambiance of this place…\u201d He paused. \u201cOr maybe I just woke up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKind of seems like a dream to me,\u201d she said, wondering at the glimmer in his deep green eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you ever considered… I mean, thought about… us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUs, like in a not-just-a-friend us? Like an us<\/em> us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n Hayley shifted slightly in her chair. \u201cYou never really indicated that kind of interest before,\u201d she said, eluding a direct answer.<\/p>\n \u201cBut would you be willing to explore the possibility?\u201d<\/p>\n His words sent a sensual shiver up her spine. Are you kidding? After all these years I\u2019ve wondered what it would be like…<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d she heard herself say.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve always had a great friendship,\u201d he said. \u201cBut maybe… that\u2019s not all it has to be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis feels weird, talking about it in such a public place,\u201d she said. \u201cPerhaps we should go elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n With a smile, Kevin signaled for their dinner check. Soon the pair were making their way to his car.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you okay to drive?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he assured her. \u201cThat champagne was really good, but we didn\u2019t have that much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have another bottle collecting dust in my cupboard,\u201d she said. \u201cA remnant from New Year\u2019s. I was going to pop the cork for a midnight toast, but ended up falling asleep on my couch.\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin chuckled. \u201cI can so see you doing just that,\u201d he said. \u201cWell, maybe we could take advantage of that poor, neglected bottle tonight. Maybe talk about a few things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know the way,\u201d she said, fastening her seatbelt.<\/p>\n Harry Littrell drove down the street, racing to the scene of the fire that had just been called in to the dispatcher. Harry already knew how to get to the apartments \u2013 they were old, dilapidated, and always having some sort of problems. He knew that most new couples and college graduates lived there since the rent was cheap. In fact, when he had first moved to Atlantic City, he had considered living there. When they arrived, Harry parked the car and looked for a group of people outside. Chances would be that anyone who needed help would be with other people.<\/p>\n He ran to the first group of people, eying who would need the most help before he reached the group. There was a man sitting on the ground crying, trying to hold his arms, and looking at the apartment building in shock. Harry knew by instinct that he would have burns on his arms, so he was mentally prepared for the worst.<\/p>\n \u201cSir? My name is Harry Littrell, from Atlantic City Memorial Hospital. What happened?\u201d he asked the man. The man couldn\u2019t have been older than twenty-five, and he continued to look at the apartment, crying.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026 it was\u2026 I\u2026\u201d was all he said. Harry started wrapping the man\u2019s arms, and the man didn\u2019t even notice.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked again. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d Finally, the man acknowledged Harry\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n \u201cLogan Cole. I\u2026 I didn\u2019t mean to! I was just\u2026\u201d Logan cried. The fire had gotten worse since Harry and the paramedics arrived. The flames had just reached the third floor of the five-story building.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay\u2026 Logan? I need to know exactly what happened. What were you doing when the fire started?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026 I was cooking dinner for my girlfriend. She works as a waitress at Le Ch\u00e2teau, and she gets off work late because it\u2019s Valentine\u2019s Day, you know? So I thought it would be nice to cook for her. But now\u2026 aah! I\u2019m so stupid!\u201d Logan said, and tears were still running down his face. Because the fire was so bright then, Harry looked at Logan\u2019s face. It was a little burnt, but not as bad as his arms. Logan must have tried to protect his face by putting his arms across it.<\/p>\n \u201cShhh\u2026 it\u2019s okay. We\u2019re here to help. Now, how did the fire start? Do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was putting the chicken onto a plate on the table, and I accidentally knocked over a candle. It was a huge candle, and started burning everything instantly. I tried to stop it with the fire extinguisher, but it didn\u2019t help. The fire reached the stove within a few minutes, and\u2026 and…\u201d Logan looked at the ground, looking as if he was cursing himself.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be okay, Logan. We\u2019re \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cNo! It\u2019s not fine! Where will we live? Where will we go? This was the only place we could afford. But now\u2026 now what will we do?\u201d Harry felt bad for the guy. He couldn\u2019t imagine losing everything he had in one night.<\/p>\n \u201cListen, I have to take you to the hospital to look over those burns. The Red Cross will take you in for as long as you need, okay? You\u2019ll get free food and a place to stay until you are able to find a new house. Was your girlfriend in the apartment during the fire?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. It was supposed to be a surprise. Guess this is more of a surprise than any engagement ring, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Cheesy, huh?\u201d Finally, Logan cracked a little smile. Suddenly, Harry heard a voice screaming and saw a girl running towards them. It had to be Logan\u2019s girlfriend.<\/p>\n \u201cLogan? Logan?? Where are you??\u201d a young woman asked. She had blonde hair and was still wearing a work uniform.<\/p>\n \u201cCarrie! I\u2019m right here!\u201d Logan said. Carrie tried to hug him, but stopped as soon as she saw the bandages.<\/p>\n \u201cI came as soon as I could. I overheard someone talking about the apartment, so I just left. Are you okay?\u201d Carrie then noticed Harry standing next to Logan. \u201cWill he have to go to the hospital??\u201d<\/p>\n Logan then looked at Harry, with a twinkle in his eye. \u201cYeah, but Carrie? I have something to ask you.\u201d Logan leaned towards Harry. \u201cReach into my left pocket and grab the box in there,\u201d he whispered. Harry, knowing what was going to happen next, grabbed the box in Logan\u2019s pocket. \u201cOkay\u2026 now open it towards her.\u201d<\/p>\n Harry did.<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026 I can\u2019t use my arms right now, and I know we don\u2019t have a home anymore, but Carrie Reinwald, will you marry me?\u201d Logan asked.<\/p>\n The ring was a simple band with one diamond on it. Carrie started to cry.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I will!\u201d she said. \u201cUmm\u2026 does he have to put it on my finger?\u201d All three of them laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cLogan? It\u2019s your call. But I have to take you to the hospital soon, so make up your mind quick,\u201d Harry said, smiling at the newly engaged couple.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I can kinda hold the ring. The tips of my fingers aren\u2019t burnt.\u201d Harry took the ring out of the box and placed it so Logan could sort of hold on to it. Carrie moved her finger into the ring. As soon as it was on her finger, she held her hand out, looking at the ring.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess you got the perfect night after all. Well\u2026 besides the fire. Congrats, Logan.\u201d<\/p>\n Bianca rushed down the hall, looking for an empty trauma room as AJ and Howie followed her, wheeling a gurney. Their current ER patient was a woman who\u2019d gone into labor as her apartment building had filled with smoke and flames.<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. McHeart,\u201d AJ spoke to her gently as she struggled against the hands that kept her from sitting up. \u201cWe promise that your husband and son are fine. They\u2019ll be here soon. You need to worry about giving birth right now. Dr. Parker is going to make sure your lungs weren\u2019t damaged by the smoke inhalation before she gets you checked into the maternity ward. Everything will be fine. We promise.\u201d He exchanged a sympathetic glance with Bianca and knew they were both thinking the same thing. The unexpected fire had forced them to cancel their romantic dinner plans. But there wasn\u2019t much they could do about it.<\/p>\n Bianca guided them into a trauma room just as Lianna pushed AJ\u2019s hands from her shoulders and managed to sit up. \u201cI can\u2019t be giving birth tonight. I\u2019m not going to have my baby until my husband and Sam are here. Please,\u201d she reached for Bianca\u2019s hand, \u201cfind my husband first. I can\u2019t do this without him.\u201d Even as she spoke the words, she struggled through the first contraction. \u201cI can\u2019t,\u201d she added, even as she clutched her belly. \u201cI need Matthew and Sam. They have to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Bianca nodded and pressed Lianna back gently, even as nurses rushed to hook the woman up to sensors to detect the baby\u2019s heartbeat and an ultrasound machine was rolled into the room. One nurse gently stripped Lianna\u2019s nightgown off and slid a hospital gown on instead. Another nurse applied gel to Lianna\u2019s belly while Bianca set up the ultrasound machine. Noting her patient\u2019s heart rate, blood oxygen level, and the fetal heartbeat, she positioned the ultrasound wand on Lianna\u2019s abdomen, and the first flickering images of the eight month old fetus appeared on the screen.<\/p>\n \u201cLianna, your baby is in the perfect position for birth,\u201d Bianca told the laboring woman. \u201cHow fast have your contractions been coming?\u201d she asked, even as the next contraction had Lianna moaning a little. \u201cThree minutes,\u201d Bianca answered herself. \u201cGreat! You\u2019re almost through this part.\u201d<\/p>\n Lianna shook her head emphatically. \u201cI can\u2019t do this now! My baby\u2019s not even supposed to be born yet! I\u2019m only eight months along, and I can\u2019t be having my baby right now. Not as long as Matthew and Sam are still missing!\u201d<\/p>\n Bianca took Lianna\u2019s hand in her own, knowing that, the more hysterical Lianna became, the more dangerous it was for her baby\u2019s health. \u201cLianna, I can\u2019t promise you that Matthew and Sam are going to be here before your baby is born. Your baby is ready to enter this world, and, if you wait and worry, you\u2019ll hurt both of you. Don\u2019t you think your husband would want you to take care of your nearly-born baby the same way you\u2019re trusting him to take care of your son?\u201d<\/p>\n Lianna seemed to consider Bianca\u2019s words even as she struggled through another contraction. When the woman didn\u2019t say anything, Bianca sighed and moved away. As she checked Lianna\u2019s cervix, the eight-and-a-half centimeter dilation told her what she already knew. Lianna was speeding through labor and, whether or not her husband arrived in time, her baby was going to make an entrance. Soon.<\/p>\n \u201cDoctor?\u201d Lianna\u2019s labored breathing made her voice waver. \u201cYou\u2019re right. Matthew would want me to concentrate on having our baby. I\u2019ll just pray that he and Sam make it through safely.\u201d<\/p>\n Bianca nodded. \u201cGreat. Let\u2019s get you into a delivery room. You\u2019re almost ready to deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n As Bianca and one of the ER nurses wheeled Lianna\u2019s gurney towards an elevator to send her up to the maternity ward and into one of the delivery rooms, there was a shout from down the hall. Glancing back to see what was going on, Bianca saw a man in his early thirties rushing towards them, clutching a little boy in his arms. Both their faces wore light streaks of soot, but the cry of relief from Lianna confirmed what Bianca had already figured out. The McHearts were going to be just fine.<\/p>\n \u201cMatthew!\u201d Lianna\u2019s arms went around her husband even as her son burrowed his face against her neck. \u201cI was so worried about both of you. I didn\u2019t know if you\u2019d gotten out or not, and then the medics said that I was in labor, so-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI found Sam, and I\u2019m so glad you\u2019re all right. But\u2026 labor?\u201d Matthew broke off, confused, and glanced from his wife to Bianca. \u201cShe\u2019s only eight months along. How is she in labor? Isn\u2019t that bad?\u201d<\/p>\n Bianca shook her head. \u201cEverything will be just fine. The stress from the fire and worry pushed her into labor, but so far your wife and baby appear to be perfectly fine. In fact, we\u2019re taking her up to the delivery room because she\u2019s just about ready to give birth. So if you\u2019d like to join us\u2026\u201d The elevator doors opened, and the gurney was pushed onto it. She noticed the shocked look on Matthew\u2019s face as he stood rooted to the spot. \u201cMr. McHeart? Would you like to come up with us? I\u2019m sure Lianna would appreciate your presence enormously.\u201d<\/p>\n That seemed to push him out of his shocked state. \u201cYeah, of course.\u201d He clambered aboard, Sam held tightly in one arm. With his free hand, he reached down and took Lianna\u2019s hand in his own. \u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow that you and Sam are here, I\u2019m perfect.\u201d Lianna squeezed his hand and smiled. \u201cWhat a Valentine\u2019s Day!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can say that again,\u201d Bianca murmured to herself. Even as she smiled at the happy family with her, she couldn\u2019t help but think that it was too bad she and AJ had to cancel their plans. So much for that romantic dinner for two.<\/em><\/p>\n Justin was sitting at a table in the lounge, reading one of his textbooks. It was slow, since not many people had surgeries scheduled on Valentine\u2019s Day. While he wanted to concentrate on his book, he couldn\u2019t. All he could think about was what Dr. Richardson had said to him. It\u2019s all he had been thinking about for the past month.<\/p>\n Am I not cut out to be a doctor? What if I chose the wrong path?<\/em>\u00a0he thought, turning the page in the textbook.<\/p>\n \u201cTimberlake! Come on! We have to go to the ER!\u201d Dr. Cannon yelled through the lounge door. Justin closed the textbook and was a little happy that something was going on.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh? Why?\u201d he asked as he stood up and walked out of the lounge.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a serious fire, and all of the ER staff is taking care of them. They need us to help take care of those who need help, but weren\u2019t involved in the fire.\u201d Dr. Cannon explained.<\/p>\n As soon as they got to the ER, Justin was amazed at how packed it was. Many of the doctors he knew were rushing around, trying to get to each patient. Justin couldn\u2019t help but like the feeling of being busy again. He couldn\u2019t stand being bored. He looked to his left, where Dr. Cannon was, but she was already gone. Justin hadn\u2019t stepped more than 10 steps forward when Dr. Parker stopped him.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! Are you busy right now?\u201d she asked quickly, looking around a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cI \u2013 \u201che started to say, but Dr. Parker had already shoved a chart in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Room 2. He\u2019s all yours\u2026\u201d Dr. Parker ran to another room, leaving Justin to wonder why she was in such a hurry.<\/p>\n Odd<\/em>, he thought, walking to the room. He opened the door and found\u2026 a guy lying on the bed with an erection. Justin\u2019s eyes bulged. No wonder Dr. Parker was in a hurry. Maybe I should have looked at the chart first\u2026<\/em> Sure enough, the chart said \u201cprolonged erection due to Viagra.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cErr\u2026 umm\u2026 hello. My name is Justin Timberlake, and I\u2019ll be\u2013\u201d he started, but then Dr. Cannon rushed through the door.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, God\u2026 They sent you in here by yourself?\u201d she whispered to him, shaking her head. She took the clipboard from Justin and walked towards the patient. \u201cHello, my name is Dr. Amory Cannon, and I\u2019ll be your doctor tonight. Can you tell me how long this has been going on?\u201d she said as calmly as she could. Justin couldn\u2019t help but be in awe of how she handled the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe\u2026 condition\u2026 you have is known as a priapism. We\u2019ll perform a procedure to fix it, so don\u2019t you worry. It won\u2019t take very long, and if all goes well, you might be able to go home tomorrow.\u201d She leaned towards Justin, and handed him back the clipboard. \u201cHave you seen one of these before?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026 but I\u2019ve read about them\u2026\u201d he said, trying not to stare at the man.<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026 you\u2019re going to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n Andy Coburn was sure he would die of embarrassment. Fear and desperation had finally compelled him to go to the emergency room, but now he wasn\u2019t so sure that he could live through the humiliation. Why had he been so stupid?<\/p>\n He\u2019d walked into the ER with his jacket over one arm, draped in front of his hips. It had taken almost two minutes to explain his \u2018problem\u2019 to the receptionist; he hadn\u2019t even been able to look her in the eye. Amazingly, she had taken the description in stride, making notes on a chart and handing him paperwork to fill out while he waited.<\/p>\n He could feel everyone staring at him as he tried to answer the trivial questions on the forms; he knew they were secretly laughing behind his back. It was almost a relief when he was finally called back to an examination room. Almost.<\/p>\n He was horrified to find a female doctor standing before him, asking him to describe his problem. Face flushed red, the words choked in his throat until he finally was able to ask if there wasn\u2019t a male doctor on duty instead. The woman had raised an eyebrow, given him a disapproving frown, but didn\u2019t try to argue. Instead, she had turned on her heel and left without further comment.<\/p>\n Less than a minute later the curtain had opened and a young man entered the room. After a surprised look and a long stare, he introduced himself.<\/p>\n \u201cErr… umm, hello… my name is Justin Timberlake, and I\u2019ll be-\u201d<\/p>\n Another doctor, a woman<\/em>, came into the room. Andy shrank back on the examining table as he felt his face redden once again.<\/p>\n \u201cHello,\u201d she said, glancing at the chart in her hand. \u201cMy name is Dr. Amory Cannon, and I\u2019ll be your doctor tonight. Can you tell me how long this has been going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI… I asked for a male doctor,\u201d Andy said, licking his suddenly dry lips. \u201cI don\u2019t think-\u201d<\/p>\n She lowered her clipboard and spoke in a clear, no-nonsense voice. \u201cMr. Coburn, I am the doctor that has been assigned to you. Your condition is serious and must be attended to ASAP. This is not the time to be prudish; trust me, I\u2019ve seen it all. The ER is very busy and no other doctor is available, but if you want to risk the possible loss of penile function permanently, or worse…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cW-worse?\u201d Andy croaked, his horror hiking up a degree.<\/p>\n \u201cMuch worse,\u201d Dr. Cannon asserted. \u201cMr. Timberlake is going to be here, assisting me, and I assure you we are professionals. Now… shall I proceed, or did you want to wait-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, I don\u2019t want to wait,\u201d he said in a shaky voice.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well then,\u201d the doctor said with a nod. \u201cNow, according to my information here, you took four tablets of Viagra all in one dose, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n Andy could only nod.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere did you get the prescription?\u201d<\/p>\n He mumbled something, then looked up when the doctor cleared her throat.<\/p>\n \u201cI, ah, bought them online. One of those internet sites you see everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo prescription required, correct?\u201d When he nodded, she made a notation. \u201cVery dangerous thing to do, as you obviously have discovered,\u201d she said. \u201cAt least you came in to seek treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt had b-been, like, four hours, you know, and…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe condition you have is called priapism,\u201d she said in an even voice. \u201cThere are treatments we can try, and with any luck there will be no permanent damage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cO-okay,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst thing we have to do is draw a blood sample.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be glad to do that, Doctor,\u201d Justin piped up, eager to participate in something. He didn\u2019t notice Amory\u2019s flash of a grin.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. We\u2019ll need two vials pulled, and I\u2019ll get them to the lab stat.\u201d She opened a drawer and got out the blood kit.<\/p>\n When Justin stepped up to the examination table and reached for Andy\u2019s arm, Dr. Cannon cleared her throat.<\/p>\n \u201cNot from his arm, Mr. Timberlake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst we must examine the area affected,\u201d she explained. \u201cThen, you\u2019ll need to draw blood directly from-\u201d<\/p>\n Andy felt the room begin to spin as he realized what the doctor was saying. He\u2019d never liked needles, and now they wanted to stick him there<\/em>? Right in his-<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Coburn!\u201d the doctor was saying, her hand gripping his upper arm. \u201cDeep breaths, nice and slow. Focus, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n He did as requested, finding the dizziness easing a bit with each breath.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you with us now?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d he said in a hollow voice. \u201cI just… the idea… do you really have to draw blood from\u2026 from there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid so,\u201d she said. \u201cHopefully, the treatment will be much less… invasive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBelieve it or not, if the blood gasses are what I expect they\u2019ll be, we can treat you with what amounts to a decongestant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike, for a cold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. If all goes well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if… if not?\u201d<\/p>\n She caught his glance and held it. \u201cLet\u2019s cross that bridge if we come to it,\u201d she said. \u201cBut trust me when I say that we\u2019re hoping the first treatment works.\u201d<\/p>\n Andy swallowed against the lump in his throat, his fear and anxiety replacing his humiliation. He shut his eyes and tried to think of other things.<\/p>\n Justin stood with a blank look on his face until Amory nudged him. \u201cIf you feel you can\u2019t do the procedure,\u201d she began in a low voice.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, I can do it,\u201d he said. \u201cJust the idea… I mean, my God, right in the-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust be thankful you\u2019re not the one on the bed,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n With a heartfelt nod of agreement, Justin prepared to draw the needed blood. As he swabbed the area, he wondered, once again, if his place truly was being a doctor. This is the kind of stuff they don\u2019t really warn you about in the classroom<\/em>, he thought as he clenched his jaw and prayed for a clean stick.<\/p>\n Amory Cannon watched closely, noting to herself that Justin\u2019s face was as pale as Andy\u2019s. However, the young resident went forward with the draw and did as required. With approval, she accepted the vials and headed for the lab.<\/p>\n \u201cYou, ah, okay, Mr. Coburn?\u201d Justin asked in a slightly unsteady voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess so,\u201d Andy mumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I ask… why you took four? I mean, you\u2019re so young and all-\u201d<\/p>\n Andy gave a groan. \u201cThere was this girl I met,\u201d he said miserably. \u201cI mean, she was hot, you know? But every time I was alone with her I got nervous. We had a big date all lined up for tonight, and I was hoping… well, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to be ready. I figured that if one pill was good, four pills would be awesome. I didn\u2019t think the damn things would act so quick! At first I thought, great, but then when it wouldn\u2019t… ah… go away…\u201d<\/p>\n Justin shook his head. \u201cNot what you had in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo way. Man, this is the worst day of my entire life. I hate Valentine\u2019s Day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I\u2019m just lucky,\u201d Justin said, thinking of Britney and the evening they had planned. With her around, he\u2019d never need artificial stimulation. And after seeing what had happened to the young man on the bed, he swore he\u2019d never take a single pill of that nature.<\/p>\n Ivory was livid, furious, downright outraged. Of all the nights that the hospital board wanted to see her, tonight was not only last-minute but certainly inconvenient. She had plans with Brian, and she didn\u2019t want to cancel or delay them. This hospital, she thought as she made her way back to see how Mrs. Donnelly was doing, was driving her crazy. She was more than halfway convinced that she should just quit and take Tom up on his offer to be his partner at his Seattle clinic.<\/p>\n Shaking her head at the thought of leaving behind everything she\u2019d worked hard to attain since finishing her residency, Ivory stepped into Kate Donnelly\u2019s room. The machines were beeping steadily, though the heart rate wasn\u2019t any more regular than it had been an hour earlier. The medicine pumping through the woman\u2019s system simply made it less erratic.<\/p>\n Though Michael Donnelly was nowhere to be found in the room, Kate\u2019s weary gaze shifted towards the door when Ivory stepped into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Harnett. Anything?\u201d she asked in a scratchy, weakened voice that was barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n Ivory sighed and shook her head as she moved over to the bed. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mrs. Donnelly. There\u2019s nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m out of time, aren\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d Ivory shook her head again. \u201cYou\u2019re certainly not a lost cause. There are so many different treatments we can put you on while we wait for a heart. Don\u2019t lose hope yet. Modern medicine\u2019s made a lot of headway in ways to keep your heart functioning in its diminished capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n Kate gave her a small smile. \u201cDr. Harnett, what if I told you that I didn\u2019t want any of those procedures? That, at this point, I don\u2019t really want to spend anymore time in a hospital waiting for a heart that will never come?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you go home, it\u2019ll only be a matter of time before you\u2019re back here again,\u201d Ivory pointed out. \u201cActually, the instant we take you off the medicine, perhaps even before, you could go into cardiac arrest again, and then you\u2019ll be back to the stage you\u2019re at right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s only going to happen if you administer some sort of treatment to stabilize me again, right?\u201d Kate asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019d rather you not give me any more treatments. If something goes wrong, I\u2019d rather you, or other doctors, did nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory swallowed. Hard. \u201cAre you saying you\u2019d rather pass away than undergo more procedures to help save you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what I\u2019m saying.\u201d There was a faint gleam in the older woman\u2019s eyes. \u201cI\u2019d like my file to have the \u2018Do Not Resuscitate\u2019 classification. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you should speak with your husband about this first,\u201d Ivory began, but Kate cut her off.<\/p>\n \u201cMichael would never agree. He doesn\u2019t understand how tired I am of this constant fatigue, the attacks, the hospital visits. He loves me too much to believe that I\u2019d rather just let nature take its course with my heart,\u201d she explained. \u201cHe would never agree, so I\u2019m asking you, on my own, to please help me fill out the proper paperwork. I want to die on my own terms.\u201d<\/p>\n Duty warred with wanting to help a patient. Despite her internal conflict, though, Ivory understood. She may not have agreed, but she understood and would help Kate Donnelly sign the necessary papers to prevent any further life-saving treatments. \u201cAll right. I\u2019ll get the papers together, as long as you\u2019re sure this is what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore than anything,\u201d Kate replied firmly. \u201cThank you, Doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Ivory jotted down the woman\u2019s vitals on her chart before moving towards the door again as Michael came back into the room. \u201cI\u2019ll be back in a bit, Mrs. Donnelly. Just try to relax.\u201d<\/p>\n She offered a sympathetic smile to Michael before stepping into the hallway again. She hadn\u2019t even made it ten steps down the hall before the alarms from Kate\u2019s room beeped. Rushing back to it, she discovered that Kate had coded.<\/p>\n It was the hardest thing she\u2019d ever done to step back and, while Michael Donnelly alternated between raging at her to do something<\/em> and tearfully holding his wife\u2019s hand, watch Kate Donnelly pass on.<\/p>\n \u201cIsabel,\u201d said Dr. Chung, \u201cI need to run down to the ER. There\u2019s been some sort of incident; a heart patient of mine died, and the husband is blaming the ER physician who treated her. I need to go and help sort out this mess. Can you carry on with rounds without me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Isabel replied with an understanding smile, watching her mentor hurry off to the elevators. She couldn\u2019t complain about being left up on the lonely cardiology floor while Dr. Chung went to where the action was; after this morning, she owed her mentor a big one. Dr. Chung was hard to read; she was a kind woman, but very reserved and straight-laced, not the sort of person Isabel normally would have involved in something as frivolous as a Valentine\u2019s Day surprise for her boyfriend, especially with her assessment for this rotation on the line.<\/p>\n But Dr. Chung had walked into the lounge yesterday when she was there on her break, writing the little poems she planned to leave as clues for Nick, and when she\u2019d asked Isabel what she was doing, Isabel found herself explaining all about how she and Nick were working different schedules on Valentine\u2019s Day and would not have time to do anything together, so she was planning a little surprise for him. And to her surprise, the doctor had smiled and asked if she needed any help. \u201cI know it\u2019s hard,\u201d she\u2019d said, in her quiet, gentle way, \u201ctrying to date and live your life with all of this hard work and pressure. It\u2019s a lot to balance, even after your years of medical school.\u201d<\/p>\n Isabel was amazed at how understanding she could be, and to her amazement, the women had spent their break conspiring the whole EKG story to give Nick and her a moment of privacy. Isabel had a new admiration for her mentor after that. Not only was she an intelligent and talented cardiologist, but beneath her conservative outward appearance, there was a sense of humor just waiting to be coaxed out.<\/p>\n Isabel was so happy with her mentor and her rotation and how well this morning had gone, she really didn\u2019t even mind having to be here on the evening of Valentine\u2019s Day. True, she would rather be with Nick, but at least they\u2019d gotten to see each other. And maybe, if it stayed slow, she\u2019d be able to leave early and drop by his place. Normally she liked to catch up on her chartwork before she left the hospital, but tonight, that could wait. She\u2019d just come in early tomorrow and finish.<\/p>\n She was just finishing her rounds when one of the nurses on the floor, Tricia, approached her. \u201cIsabel, Dr. Chung just called from the ER. A man is being flown in on the life flight chopper in full arrest; she wants you to meet her up on the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2026 okay!\u201d Isabel was a little surprised; she\u2019d been up at the landing pad to meet life flight patients many times during her ER rotation, but as a cardiology student, she usually didn\u2019t see patients until after the ER physicians had worked on them and called for a consult. But she wasted no time in getting upstairs. Throwing open the door that led out to the roof, she was glad to see that there was no sign of a helicopter yet; she had made it with time to spare. Made it before even her mentor, it appeared, for there was no one anywhere near the landing pad.<\/p>\n She looked around, wondering where everyone was, and as she was wondering, her ears picked up the faint sound of music, music which was gradually getting louder. Frowning in suspicion, she realized it sounded like it was coming from the roof, and so she went looking for the source. Edging along the building, lest she get too close to a sudden landing helicopter and lose an appendage, she rounded a corner and found herself staring in surprise at a small band, complete with a guitarist, bass player, keyboardist, drummer, and\u2026 Nick.<\/p>\n Nick, standing front and center behind a microphone. Nick, grinning briefly at her before opening his mouth to sing.<\/p>\n She recognized the instrumentation of the song seconds before the first lyric flowed smoothly from his lips. \u201cI\u2019ve got sunshine\u2026 on a cloudy day\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It was \u201cMy Girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it\u2019s cold outside,\u201d<\/em> Nick crooned, \u201cI\u2019ve got the month of May\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It was, in fact, chilly up on the roof, but even so, Isabel could feel her heart melting and knew that the goosebumps rising on her arms had little to do with the cold.<\/p>\n \u201cWe-ell, I\u2026 guess\u2026 you\u2019d\u2026 say\u2026 what can make me feel this way? My girl\u2026 talkin\u2019 \u2018bout my girl\u2026 my girl.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He had a good voice. A <\/em>really good voice<\/em>, Isabel realized, staring at her boyfriend in awe as he sang to her. Nick Carter\u2026 was amazing<\/em>. How had he pulled this off?? The band, the roof, everything\u2026 it was all so romantic and incredible. Isabel had never had a guy put together something so special and elaborately simple for her.<\/p>\n But right now, she didn\u2019t care how he had done it, what strings he\u2019d had to pull to make this work. All she could focus on was his smooth voice and his vivid blue eyes, which gazed directly into hers as he sang.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got soooo much honey, the bees envy me. I\u2019ve got a sweeter song\u2026 than the birds in the trees\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Isabel grinned at the smile he gave her; he was too adorable. And as he launched into the chorus again, she knew it was true\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cMy girl\u2026 talkin\u2019 bout my girl\u2026 my girl.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She was his.<\/p>\n \u201cHappy Valentine\u2019s Day, baby,\u201d he said over the mic when the song finished, but then he put the equipment down and left his band to join her.<\/p>\n She practically threw himself into his arms, grateful for the warmth they offered as much as the comfort of his embrace, and as they hugged, she replied, \u201cHappy Valentine\u2019s Day, Nick. That was incredible!!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe least I could do after your little treasure hunt this morning,\u201d Nick returned, winking, as he released her.<\/p>\n She chuckled; in her mind, her little surprise had paled in comparison to the display of sweetness she had just seen from him. \u201cThat was nothing. This was really amazing, Nick. You made me feel so special.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are special. You\u2019re my girl,\u201d Nick smiled. Pulling her close again, he tipped her chin towards his and bent to kiss her lips. He drew the kiss out, making it long and sensuous, and when it ended, he whispered, \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n Logic would have told Isabel that was it too early to say such things; they had only known each other six months, only been together for a few. She had never said those words to a guy and meant them, but right now, looking up into Nick\u2019s eyes, logic was thrown out the window. She was not a medical student on call anymore; she was a puddle at Nick\u2019s feet, formerly a woman who felt more in love than she\u2019d ever been. It was Valentine\u2019s Day, and her heart was pounding faster than Nick\u2019s had been this morning, and so it just seemed natural to say it. And when she did, the words slid out easily, comfortably.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Not bothering with formalities, niceties, and any sort of regard for decorum, Ivory stalked into the meeting room and let the door slam shut behind her. The nine members of the board turned their identically disapproving stares on her.<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Harnett,\u201d the director of the hospital greeted her coolly. \u201cWe\u2019ve received a very recent report regarding the admittance, subsequent lack of treatment, and death of a patient of yours. The incident took place less than an hour ago, in fact.\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory didn\u2019t bother to sit and leaned against the table, turning a glare on each member separately. \u201cWould you mind giving me a minute to explain?\u201d After a moment, they all nodded, and she took aim carefully. \u201cI came to this hospital because I\u2019d heard all about its fantastic programs, its integrity, and its outstanding reputation among hospitals in this state. With all of those credentials, I\u2019d expected to gain far more than I\u2019ve received during my time here. Several weeks ago, I acted on impulse and harmed a patient\u2019s father. I regret that unfortunate action on my part, but, whatever else I\u2019ve done, I stand behind fully. I did not<\/em> intentionally cause the man who car-jacked another patient of mine to die. I did everything I could to save him, yet this board is determined to believe the word of a young, fairly inexperienced nurse over mine.\u201d<\/p>\n She took a breath to steady herself before continuing. \u201cToday, Katherine Donnelly passed away on my watch because she was a DNR patient.\u201d<\/p>\n At her words, the members of the board murmured to each other before Holli Brunson spoke. \u201cDr. Harnett. Nowhere in Mrs. Donnelly\u2019s file does it specify her wishes to be filed as a Do Not Resuscitate patient. Please explain how you could make such a horrid mistake and not help save a woman\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n God, I hate you<\/em>. Ivory shoved the thought back and focused. \u201cMinutes before she coded, Mrs. Donnelly explained her wishes to me, and I had been on my way to get her paperwork to complete when she coded. Her husband did not know of her wishes because she believed that he would not support her actions. I, however, did know of her request and followed through on it. This board may not believe me, and that\u2019s fine. I have decided that I can no longer wait and have you play games with my career. I am a damn good doctor, and I have provided outstanding treatment to hundreds of patients at Atlantic Memorial. Unfortunately, the working environment here is not conducive to my practicing medicine, so I\u2019ll do you all, and myself, a favor. I quit<\/em>.\u201d She took a deep breath at the words she\u2019d just spoken and barreled on before she lost her nerve. \u201cI have two weeks of sick leave and two weeks of vacation time coming because I\u2019ve been working round the clock for the last three years, so consider that my month\u2019s notice.\u201d<\/p>\n Not bothering to wait for their reactions, she stormed out of the room and didn\u2019t let herself think until she reached the lounge. She fumbled through her bag for her cell phone and, flipping it open, dialed a number.<\/p>\n When she\u2019d made the necessary calls and put the next chapter of her life in motion, Ivory let the horrible pressure in her chest ease as hot tears spilled over her cheeks. She hated<\/em> letting them win. She\u2019d loved her job at this hospital, and she\u2019d made so many good friends here. She\u2019d done her work eagerly, even when she\u2019d been pulling thirty-hour shifts. Medicine was her life\u2014but Atlantic Memorial no longer was a part of that life.<\/p>\n She wondered how she\u2019d tell the people she cared for most at this hospital that she was leaving. That she\u2019d quit her job. Some of her closest friends were doctors here, and she couldn\u2019t imagine not seeing them, working side by side with them day after day.<\/p>\n And Brian. She closed her eyes as the painful thought of leaving him worked its way through her heart and mind.<\/p>\n \u201cIvory.\u201d<\/p>\n Her eyes popped open. How had he known where to find her? How could he have known that she\u2019d needed him at that moment? Swiping the tears from her face, she turned to face him. The watery smile she\u2019d mustered up was wiped off at the cold look on his usually cheerful face.<\/p>\n \u201cBrian. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t come closer, though he could see she\u2019d been weeping. A tiny part of his anger broke off at her sorrowful face, but he needed to know what the hell she\u2019d been thinking. \u201cHow could you let a woman die just because there was no heart readily available for her heart transplant?\u201d<\/p>\n The accusatory words slapped at her, and she felt herself bleed from a dozen new wounds. \u201cI don\u2019t have to explain anything, Brian, but I can tell you that she\u2019d requested to be a DNR. I couldn\u2019t just up and deny a patient\u2019s wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe wasn\u2019t officially a DNR, Ivory. She hadn\u2019t signed the paperwork, and you could have saved her. She might still be alive if you\u2019d abided by the oath you took when you became a doctor instead of following your personal agendas.\u201d<\/p>\n Ivory nearly sputtered in shock at his words. \u201cI can\u2019t believe this. Oh, God. How could you be the one who won\u2019t believe me? Brian,\u201d she pleaded with him, but the coldness remained.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know how I feel about patients with heart problems, Ivory,\u201d he replied, reminding her that he, too, had once gone under the knife for his heart troubles. \u201cThere\u2019s always something you can do to save a patient, and you could have helped that woman. You chose<\/em> not to for reasons that escape me, and I can\u2019t agree with it. I\u2019m sorry, Ivory, but she wasn\u2019t officially DNR, and you let her die<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Frustrated, hurt, and devastated that the one person she\u2019d relied on as support was abandoning her, too, Ivory stood and gathered her things. \u201cWell, it\u2019s done now, and there\u2019s nothing I can do to change it.\u201d She slipped into her coat and blinked back the tears in order to see him clearly. \u201cI suppose it\u2019s best that we\u2019re at such odds,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n Brian frowned at her uncharacteristic meekness. \u201cWhy is that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I\u2019m leaving in a few days for Seattle. Permanently,\u201d she explained. \u201cI quit today, and I\u2019m going to move to Seattle to help my cousin with his clinic. It\u2019s going to make the move easier to know that there\u2019s not much I\u2019m leaving behind,\u201d she added, tears clogging her throat and making it difficult for her voice to stay steady.<\/p>\n The shock of her news punched through the wall of anger he\u2019d built up against her and had him taking steps towards her, but she was already at the door. \u201cIvory. You can\u2019t just-\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled sadly. \u201cI can, and I am. I do want to thank you, Brian, for being my rock during all the craziness of the last few months. I guess a rock has to crack sometime, too, though. Either way, I wouldn\u2019t have lasted this long without you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIvory, don\u2019t do this.\u201d Brian wracked his brain for reasons why she should stay. \u201cLook, I can get past whatever happened today, but you don\u2019t have to leave. Come on, Ivory. You don\u2019t have to go all the way to Seattle. We\u2019ll talk to the board together, and they\u2019ll let you stay. You\u2019ll see.\u201d Even as he spoke, he knew his arguments were fruitless. \u201cIvory,\u201d he whispered, his blue eyes full of devastation. \u201cDon\u2019t leave me.\u201d<\/p>\n Setting her bag down, she crossed to him and wrapped her arms around him. \u201cThank you,\u201d she whispered, her voice fierce with emotion. \u201cThank you for everything. I\u2019m going to miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n His arms banded around her tightly. \u201cI\u2019ll miss you, too.\u201d He leaned back and brushed at her bangs before laying his lips over hers in a soft kiss. \u201cThere\u2019s still time for you to stay,\u201d he tried again, knowing he was wasting his breath.<\/p>\n Pressing a kiss to his cheek, Ivory slid out of his hold and picked her things up again. \u201cGoodbye, Brian.\u201d And she was gone.<\/p>\n Justin walked into the small apartment, with roses in one hand and his present for Britney in the other. He was emotionally drained, a bit traumatized from his last patient, and all he wanted to do was have a nice night with Britney. He was just about to turn on the lights when he heard moaning from another room.<\/p>\n Maybe Brit\u2019s watching a movie,<\/em> he thought as he walked toward the sound. With each footstep, the moaning got louder. Finally, he was at their bedroom door.<\/p>\n Odd\u2026<\/em> With a quiet breath, Justin let his curiosity get the better of him and opened the door. He looked around the dark room and saw Britney on the bed. With another man. Frustrated and hurt, Justin threw on the lights. Britney pushed the man off of her, but it was too late. Justin dropped the roses and her present on the floor. After a moment of silence, Justin finally spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long?\u201d Justin asked quietly. He stared directly at the pair, not letting either of them out of his sight. Britney and the other man looked down at the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long?\u201d Justin asked again, a little louder. There was still no response from either of them.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long, Britney? How long have you slept with him??\u201d Justin yelled, not caring if the neighbors heard or not. He could feel the tears forming in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026 well\u2026 you see\u2026 I\u2026 um\u2026 got lonely when you were working late, Justy!\u201d Britney finally answered.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me that anymore! And you STILL haven\u2019t answered my question!\u201d Justin now was furious. It was obvious that she was stalling.<\/p>\n \u201cUmm\u2026 Jacob and I met last year, during the hurricane. We were evacuated to the same place, and we just started to talk.\u201d Britney said, looking at Jacob for approval.<\/p>\n \u201cThe HURRICANE?!\u201d Justin still couldn\u2019t believe it. Those two had been together for 4 months. And all behind his back.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we hit it off, and exchanged phone numbers. But, when you worked late again on Thanksgiving, I was lonely and depressed, so we decided to go drinking and dancing. Then\u2026one thing led to another\u2026and here we are.\u201d Britney continued.<\/p>\n \u201cSo\u2026 at Christmas\u2026.\u201d Justin started to say. He didn\u2019t even want to know the rest.<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2026 he was there. I\u2019m so sorry, Justy,\u201d Britney said, reaching toward Justin. Her arm almost touched his, but Justin slapped it away.<\/p>\n \u201cNO! Don\u2019t touch me. I was an idiot to think that I could trust you. I\u2026 I thought we were happy, Britney. Weren\u2019t you?\u201d Justin could feel a tear running down his face. He didn\u2019t care how he looked. Not anymore.<\/p>\n \u201cI was, Justin! But you kept on working late! What was I supposed to do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait for me to come home! Stay loyal! But instead, you meet up with some guy not even a month after I started working at the hospital! Just\u2026. go away. Get out.\u201d Justin pointed to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Justin!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo! Just get OUT. I don\u2019t want to see you anymore.\u201d Britney held Jacob\u2019s hand, trying to find support.<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2026where will I go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care. Go stay with him if you want. Just get out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet OUT, Britney. We\u2019re over.\u201d Britney and Jacob walked to the front door. Jacob put his arm around Britney\u2019s waist, and Britney had the sheet wrapped around her like a strapless dress.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll come by for my stuff later.\u201d She said angrily. And with the resulting slam of the door, Justin knew they were gone. Stunned by the past event, Justin walked to the bedroom. He saw the roses and present on the floor, looking sad and forgotten. Justin growled angrily and threw them across the room. Then he sat with his knees tucked in, held his head in his hands, and let the tears flow down his face.<\/p>\n \u201cSo then I dropped them all off with Lianna\u2019s OB\/GYN who showed up just as we got off the elevator. I stuck around for a while.\u201d Bianca followed AJ up the stairs of his apartment building and recounted her time with the McHeart family.<\/p>\n AJ stopped in front of his door and fished his keys out of his pocket. \u201cSo, the baby was delivered normally? Everyone end up healthy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, yeah.\u201d She ran her hand through her hair, making it stick out a little more than it already did from her harried shift in the ER. \u201cNeither the dad or the little boy had any real medical problems. Just a little smoke inhalation. Nothing a little time breathing clean oxygen couldn\u2019t cure. Lianna came through labor pretty well.\u201d Bianca leaned against the wall next to AJ\u2019s door as he frowned and fumbled through all the keys on his key ring, looking for the right one.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good. Damn it, I know which key goes in this lock! Where\u2019d it go?\u201d AJ tried one of his keys in the lock and cursed under his breath when it didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n Bianca chuckled at his consternation. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. Besides, you can hear the most romantic part of the whole story. I know how much you love romance,\u201d she joked.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yeah. Me and romance go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo Lianna gave birth to a little girl,\u201d Bianca continued, as though AJ wasn\u2019t becoming grouchier by the moment. \u201cThey named her Amanda. Don\u2019t you want to know why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAmanda\u2019s not exactly the most unique of names, Bianca.\u201d He stuck another key into the lock, and, this time, it opened the lock. \u201cFinally!\u201d<\/p>\n Bianca followed him into the apartment still recounting the story. \u201cAJ, they named her Amanda because it means \u2018love\u2019 or \u2018worthy of love\u2019 is how Matthew explained it to me afterwards. It\u2019s like a\u2026\u201d Her voice trailed off as she stepped into the living room and was dazzled.<\/p>\n Dozens of glowing candles were scattered about the room and, in the center of the room, a table set with dinner for two sat. A fingertip vase with a single red rose was in the middle of the table, flanked by two long, white tapers whose glow matched that of the other candles in the room.<\/p>\n \u201cAJ, I don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d She finally managed to speak in an awestruck voice.<\/p>\n He grinned and held out another beautifully red rose. \u201cSay you\u2019ll be my Valentine.\u201d<\/p>\n Her bedazzled eyes swept the room once more before returning to land on him and the delicate bloom he offered her. As her fingers reached out to stroke the petals and wrap around the slim stem, a smile spread across her features. \u201cYou know I will.\u201d<\/p>\n The wick of the candle was starting to get as long as Jaela\u2019s index finger. The food was getting cold, and the flowers had wilted hours ago. And yet, Paul wasn\u2019t home. Jaela couldn\u2019t understand where he could be. It was Valentine\u2019s Day, for crying out loud. She sat at the table, hoping to hear Paul walk through the front door. The materialistic side of her wanted him to walk through the door with a present and a good explanation. But in reality, all she wanted was her husband to come home.<\/p>\n After another half an hour of waiting, Jaela finally heard the front door open. But something was wrong. Was he\u2026sneaking in? Curiosity got the best of her, and she crept toward the front door for a better look. He was quietly closing the door and taking off his shoes. He was acting like he had done something wrong, and didn\u2019t want her to find out. Jaela couldn\u2019t stand it anymore. She walked up to Paul and tapped him on the shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Paul. Where have you been?\u201d she asked. Paul jumped a bit and turned to face Jaela.<\/p>\n \u201cOh geez!\u201d he yelled. \u201cHow long have you been standing there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLong enough to know that you\u2019re late. Where have you been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was out with some friends. I thought I told you already.\u201d Jaela sighed. She\u2019s heard this excuse before.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you didn\u2019t. I had dinner prepared and everything, Paul. You were supposed to be home at seven\u2026 and now it\u2019s past midnight.\u201d Jaela started to walk away. She was too tired to fight\u2026again, and she had work the next morning. \u201cI\u2019m not waiting anymore, Paul. I\u2019m tired, and I have work tomorrow. Your present is on the table. Goodnight, Paul.\u201d She turned around, and walked to the stairs. She paused at the pictures on the wall, especially on their wedding picture. They looked so happy\u2026 so hopeful\u2026 so promising\u2026\u00a0 Was this what they were waiting for? Arguments and forgotten dinners?<\/p>\n \u201cOh, and happy Valentine\u2019s Day.\u201d Jaela said, walking fully up the stairs, leaving a stunned Paul to his thoughts.<\/p>\n Brian wandered the halls not knowing what to do with himself. His shift had ended hours ago, and he\u2019d gone home\u2026to nothing. Seeing the candles, the flowers, the beginnings of the dinner he would\u2019ve cooked had caused him misery. It had driven home the point that he was alone, that he should\u2019ve had dinner with the woman he cared about, but it was over. That part of his life was over.<\/p>\n The worst of it was that she hadn\u2019t let him fight for them. She\u2019d just given up.<\/p>\n Unable to sit in his apartment alone, Brian had returned to the hospital. And, like a small town, news of Ivory\u2019s departure had spread like wildfire through the staff so that he was greeted with sympathetic glances from everyone upon his return. Hating the looks, however well-meaning they were, and hating the situation he\u2019d found himself in, he avoided speaking to anyone.<\/p>\n When he saw the room and the accompanying chart, he smiled for the first time in hours and pushed the door open.<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Littrell?\u201d Sabra looked up from the magazines she\u2019d taken to flipping through aimlessly.<\/p>\n Brian offered her a sympathetic smile as he settled down in the chair he\u2019d been seated in earlier. \u201cHi, Sabra. How\u2019re you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n She shrugged. \u201cOkay. I still wish I didn\u2019t have to be here, but I know it\u2019s for the best,\u201d she added, resigned. \u201cWhat are you<\/em> doing here? Is there something wrong with my lab results because you told me I was okay before. Did something change?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no. Definitely not.\u201d Brian patted her arm. \u201cYou\u2019re fine. Barring any complications, which I don\u2019t think there will be, you\u2019ll be on your way home tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d She nodded slowly, looking him over. He was no longer wearing the requisite lab coat, and she had to admit, though it made her squirm, that he was pretty cute for a doctor. And that thought made her cheeks pink. \u201cUh, are you off-duty?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d He sighed. \u201cActually, I am. I\u2019m a regular old person now, and I just thought I\u2019d drop by to see how you were doing. And I brought these.\u201d He held out the box of chocolates he\u2019d initially bought to go along with the dessert he\u2019d planned on making for Ivory. While that had gone down the drain, he hadn\u2019t seen any reason why the chocolates had to, so, when he\u2019d thought of going back to the hospital, he\u2019d brought them with him, thinking that he\u2019d just pass them on to somebody else. Besides, it was too feminine to spend Valentine\u2019s Day eating chocolate and sighing over past loves. Not that he was against getting in touch with his feminine side, but\u2026he was thinking too much again, he realized. And his patient was staring at him like he\u2019d grown three heads.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d Sabra took the box and set it next to her. \u201cWhy are you still in the hospital and not on some V-Day date somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n Brian frowned. \u201cWhat makes you think I should be on a date?\u201d Was his pain that transparent?<\/p>\n \u201cBecause, uh\u2026\u201d How could she tell him she thought any woman would be lucky to have him because he was just too cute? He was her doctor<\/em>, for crying out loud. \u201cI don\u2019t know, you just seem like the kind of guy who should have a girlfriend?\u201d Sabra mentally smacked herself. God, could she sound any lamer?<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a nice thought,\u201d Brian replied with a smile. \u201cActually, my girlfriend and I broke up today.\u201d It was interesting, he thought, to finally admit it out loud. He and Ivory were broken up. It would no longer be Brian-and-Ivory or Ivory-and-Brian. No more Harnett-and-Littrell or Littrell-and-Harnett. He blinked and refocused when he realized Sabra had asked him a question. \u201cSorry, what?\u201d<\/p>\n She felt bad for him because he looked sad. Still cute, but sad. \u201cWould it be too weird if I asked why?\u201d And then quickly, she added, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to tell me or anything if you don\u2019t want to or whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI, uh, it\u2019s okay. She worked at this hospital until today,\u201d Brian began. \u201cBut the people who run this hospital didn\u2019t always agree with how she practiced medicine. Hell, I didn\u2019t entirely agree with Ivory all the time, either, but she got fed up and quit. She\u2019s moving to Seattle in a couple days to work with her cousin in a clinic there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWow, she found a job that fast?\u201d Sabra thought maybe it would be best to steer clear of the relationship aspect of her doctor\u2019s life and focus on something else. Otherwise, it was just too awkward.<\/p>\n Brian frowned. \u201cNo, no. I guess it wasn\u2019t really that fast. I mean, she\u2019d been talking to her cousin lately because he asked her to find him someone to be his partner. I just didn\u2019t realize that she\u2019d been thinking about doing it herself,\u201d he finished, thinking it over as he spoke.<\/p>\n It had<\/em> been a rather quick decision on her part, he realized. How could she just have gone from working at the hospital then switching within hours to working with her cousin? Hadn\u2019t she given herself time to be upset over the loss of a job at all? Most people would\u2019ve needed at least a few days to regroup, but, apparently, not Ivory. It was almost as though\u2026 as though she\u2019d been thinking about it for a while, and the decision had been practically made before she\u2019d even quit.<\/p>\n As that puzzle began to fall into place, his heart broke again. If she\u2019d been planning it all along, Ivory hadn\u2019t told him. She\u2019d never said a thing about contemplating switching jobs, switching coasts. Had she stopped trusting him lately? Was he just like everyone else to her?<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe she forgot to tell you? Or maybe she meant to tell you, but everything happened really fast today?\u201d Sabra, having read far too many romance novels during her fifteen years, figured he had to have been thinking along those lines. He was a man, after all, and most romance novel men thought like that. And it was really weird, she decided, that she was thinking about romance novel male leads during a time such as this.<\/p>\n Brian sighed. \u201cYeah, maybe. Either way,\u201d he looked over at her and managed a brilliant smile, \u201clooks like you\u2019re not the only one with a bad ending to Valentine\u2019s Day, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Littrell?\u201d Susan, the nurse who\u2019d been a part of the reason Ivory had been under suspicion, poked her head in the door. \u201cCould I see you for a second?\u201d<\/p>\n Brian patted Sabra\u2019s hand. \u201cBe back in a bit.\u201d Once outside, he watched Susan coolly, knowing he was irrationally partly blaming her for the loss of his relationship. \u201cWhat did you need?\u201d<\/p>\n Susan gestured behind her, so that Brian noticed the suit-clad teenage boy standing nervously to the side. He had a bunch of flowers and a large bag under one arm as he used his other hand to tug at the dark hair that fell over his eyes. \u201cThat\u2019s Sabra Elliott\u2019s dance date. He just showed up a couple minutes ago, asking if he could surprise her. I was hoping, since you\u2019re in there with her anyway, if you could get her out for a few minutes so he can do his set-up. Please?\u201d<\/p>\n Brian had to smile at the hopeful look on the boy\u2019s face, which made him think that Sabra would be over the moon once she found out Ryan McCourt really did care about her. \u201cOkay. He\u2019d better hide, so I can bring her out of the room.\u201d Stepping back in to see Sabra, he smiled. \u201cWanna go for a walk, Miss Elliott? I bet you\u2019re tired of being cooped into this room for the last few hours, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Sabra\u2019s jaw dropped. \u201cI\u2019m gonna be let out of this crappy room?\u201d She winced. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s a really nice room and all, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Brian laughed. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. It is pretty dull.\u201d He held out his arm. \u201cShall we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah!\u201d Sabra enthusiastically leapt out of the bed and let him lead her out and down the hall.<\/p>\n Twenty minutes later, after he\u2019d given her a tour of the ER, Brian brought his young patient back to her room and watched her eyes widen as she saw the flowers, balloons, and the table her date had set up for her.<\/p>\n \u201cRyan!\u201d She was in shock, and Brian didn\u2019t need to be a doctor to know that.<\/p>\n Ryan took her hand and led her to the table, and Brian decided he\u2019d leave the two lovebirds alone. As he made his way back to his car, once again avoiding everyone\u2019s knowing looks, he found he had to smile. Despite the terribly unexpected twist to what should have been a good day, things, when he really thought about it, weren\u2019t as bad as they could have been. He had ended a good, solid relationship, but it didn\u2019t have to mean that he and Ivory could never see each other again. If nothing else, he thought as he turned his car on, they could keep in touch. He did hope she would do well in Seattle and wished her all the best.<\/p>\n And, he decided, turning his car onto the road, he would be okay, too. Because, despite the obstacles it often hurdled, the human heart always endured.<\/p>\n Episode 21: Burning Love \u201cChoose your attitude,\u201d Nick had once been advised by a wise college professor of his; it was one of four sayings that accompanied the professor\u2019s philosophy on how to live life and make a difference. Choosing your attitude meant that you got to decide how …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":66,"menu_order":21,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-250","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":251,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/250\/revisions\/251"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/codeblue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}+++<\/h4>\n
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\nBut I hope that you didn\u2019t forget\u2026<\/em>
\nIt\u2019s Valentine\u2019s Day, and I have a gift for you.<\/em>
\nTo find it, go to where we first met.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nTo getting your gift for Valentine\u2019s Day,<\/em>
\nBut while you\u2019re down here, you might as well stop<\/em>
\nAt Memorial\u2019s own handy gift shop.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAnd now you\u2019re onto the third.<\/em>
\nCould this be the charm? Just ask Dr. Chung!<\/em>
\nP.S. Put in a good word!<\/em><\/p>\n+++<\/h4>\n
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\nOut with my lover boy tee hee! Be back tomorrow-ish!<\/em>
\nHugs, Kissies and Wishies!<\/em>
\nKimmy<\/em><\/p>\n+++<\/h4>\n
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